Saving the Scottish Game

[Mr_Grieves]

Season 9 - 2021/22



Targets
SPL - Win
Scottish Cup - Win
Scottish League Cup - Youth Side
Europe - In Europe after Christmas




I expect us to Win the League after last seasons performance and i want to retain the Scottish Cup since its becoming our trophy with 3 wins on the trot. European challenge beyond Christmas is still enough for me with this developing side.






Transfers
View attachment 376122


So it seems were as bad as Celtic when it comes to selling players abroad.




In


Nuno Marques - MR
View attachment 376121
Loosing both my starting wingers in the summer so i simply had to strengthen the position as well as bringing through the youth players.



Gus Johnson - MC
View attachment 376120
An immediate replacement for Dockal. Since Ruddy hasnt got long left with us as he enters his mid 30's he will mainly be to develop youth players and back up for the big games.



Piet De Waard - DR
View attachment 376119
Last seasons signing of Mentel to fill the right back role flopped so im hoping the Dutch defender will work out better. Might have to look to loan a player again for depth but will give him a month to prove himself.




The hunt for depth and youth team players will go on till deadline day but so far no reward from my attempts to add to the youth squad.




Out


Rooney was going to fall down the order so i let him leave on a free. Dockal, Almeida and Manuel were all part of the revolt who wouldnt extend there deals past next summer so i had to cash in on them. From the youth team the offers for Andrew Macleod my back up youth defender was too good too turn down while Rigby, Moore and Assis all failed to develop into anything like a Dundee Utd player.






Staff
View attachment 376117
I let go of Scout and long term United player David Bowman and goalkeeping coach Alan Combe to upgrade each position while upgrading a few other coaching positions.






Around the League
View attachment 376115
Oh Celtic! Sell 2 stars for ?7m then loan 7 players to fill the gaps
Hearts have a quieter summer than previous years
Rangers spend over ?1m again
Aberdeen try and get back on track by clearing out the team
St Mirren in my view have the best summer.




FM Season preview
View attachment 376116
Ourselves and Celtic are equal favorites again while the top 5 should be in the top 6. Dunfermline are favorites to return quietly back to the championships.






Current Starting 11
View attachment 376114
Quite a few changes this time. A change to our right back after Mental let me down. Caballero and Tidman are promoted to starters while new players Johnson & Marques walk into the starting 11.



​

 

[Mr_Grieves]

August


Unbelievable start with a 9 goal tayside derby against St Johnstone
The goals dont dry up as we average 5 a game in August
I reach my 500th Game as a manager against Motherwell.
Champions League draw puts us with the defending champions in a very tough group.






Fixtures
View attachment 375427




SPL
View attachment 375426
We made a perfect start scoring a rediculous amount of goals with Vadala proving why he was worth sticking with after a injury riddled season last year.




Champions League
Group E
View attachment 375425
We'll play the defending champions Barcelona while Everton and Stuttgart will probably battle for 2nd leaving us with lots of work to do to secure football after Christmas. We were the best ranked team of the 4th seeds


Other teams
Celtic Loose there playoff to Man Utd so end up in the Europa League with Hull, Bourdeaux and Steaua
St Mirren pull of a miracle coming through 3 rounds including one against Braga to reach a group with Valencia, Spartak & Legia


Hearts went out to Genk & Hibs were thrashed by Zilina




Transfers

Another rediculous offer comes from England for one of my youngsters. Celtic buy a youngster from Man Utd who usually produce good youngsters.




Fabinho - DR
View attachment 375424
Brought in for back up. Will probably sell him in December due to his mega wages


Robert Przybyszewski - MC
View attachment 375423
One of the few youngsters who were interested i joining me



​

 

[Mr_Grieves]

Thinking of giving this a go can you be any top SPFL Team

Yeah. My plan is to bring the clubs up to continental standard with a decent youth team, decent stadium 40,000ish then move onto the next side.

 

[Mr_Grieves]

September


I decided to let my best attacking team loose against Everton but found out were not quite on that level yet.
Youth Win in the League Cup
With our draw against St Mirren we set up our for our 1st clash with Celtic level on points.


Fixtures
View attachment 375370

SPL
View attachment 375367
Ourselves and Celtic are tied at the top and play off next. Aberdeens good start goes on with Hearts and St Mirrens juggling SPL and European action is making life more difficult for them. All are doing better than St Johnstone, Ross County and Dunfermline at the bottom.




Champions League
View attachment 375366


Everton are looking good after beating Barcelona who we face in a double header next.




Player Watch
Antonio Loja
View attachment 375365


Arrived in January 2019 and broke into the 1st team a year later as long term keeper Jan Mucha prepared to retire. Is now comfortably out No1 and has had a couple of games for Portugal too as he looks to become there long term No1. Has just over 18 months left on his current deal at the club so we'll have to talk in the summer to see if he has a long term future at Tannadice.



​

 

[Mr_Grieves]

IS there any decent youngsters I should sign for my team

Kilmarnock, Mark O'Hara, Greg Kiltie
Hamilton, Stephen Hendrie
Rangers, Rhys McCabe
Hearts, Jason Holt
Any youngster from Dundee Utd

 

[Mr_Grieves]

October


Celtic beat us by scoring all 3 of there shots on target to beat us at Tannadice and take top spot in the League
we hold Barca to a 0-0 draw leaving us in contention in Europe going into November
We win a thriller against Aberdeen in the League Cup Quarter finals


Fixtures
View attachment 375249


SPL
View attachment 375248
Celtic's victory puts them top of the league after the first quarter of the season. St Johnstone's chairman looking to sell up as they hit bottom spot.




Champions League
View attachment 375245
****** ****! Everton can wrap up top spot in the group if results go there way next time out.




Player Watch
Nichlas Bundgaard
View attachment 375244


The Danish center back started his 5th Season at United in familure fashion and now having hit 20 he's hitting his prime and is my best Defender.



​

 

[Mr_Grieves]

November


Going down to 10 men, loosing my best defensive midfielder then getting my other one sent off all inside half a hour led to a defeat at the Nou Camp
A result at Gooderson park means we have a chance going into the final match.
Perfect in the SPL but still 3 points behind Celtic



Fixtures
View attachment 375155


SPL
View attachment 375153
Celtic remain top while were right on there heels after we both have perfect results in November. Hearts still leading the battle for 3rd. At the other end Ross County & St Johnstone start to fall behind the rest.




Champions League
View attachment 375152
Defeat at Barca looked to have ended our interest for a year but Match day 5 turned the world around. We need some help from Everton at the Nou Camp but if we win and Barca dont then we go through to the last 16 and whatever happens we'll be in the Europa League knockout phase.




Player Watch
Guido Vadala
View attachment 375151


After spending last season picking up injury after injury only managing 11 starts in all competitions my best player has minally started getting back to his best this season. Had a small break with injury in November but is back and raring to go!



​

 

[Mr_Grieves]

December


Champions League ended thanks to Barca thrashing Everton.
Draw with Celtic were we ended up 5 points behind them going into the new year.
Motherwell sack Malky Mackay. Steve Clarke replaces him taking up his 4th job in the SPL






Fixtures
View attachment 374961




SPL
View attachment 374959
We know all about the battle for 1st. Anyones battle for 3rd place and at the bottom St Johnstone has been abandoned at the bottom.




Champions League
View attachment 374958
We did the buisness against Stuttgart but Barca won 5-0 against Everton which meant that despite getting 10 points were down to the Europa League.




Europa League Draw
View attachment 374956


We'll play Swiss side Grasshoppers and more exciting than that if we win & Celtic beat FC Twente then we will play each other for a Quarter final place after they won Group L. St Mirren ended up 3rd in Group A a long way off Valencia & Spartak Moscow..




Player Watch
Jack Love
View attachment 374955


Im trying to give this guy the chances to develop but i think it might be too late. Does the buisness in the SPL but needs to get better to be a stand out player for me.



​

 

[mickiac]

Just caught up, really good story!

 

[Mr_Grieves]

January


4 New players join as 4 leave
Dunfermline & St Johnstone have failed takeovers and Hearts open talks on a takeover
Enes Unal scores the only goal in his final match against Hibs to secure League Cup final spot


Fixtures
View attachment 373723


SPL
View attachment 373721
Celtic have there worst month of the year so far to let us close the gap to 2 points. Little change elsewhere





Transfer Window
View attachment 373719


8 transfers involving us while Celtic sell off a few good players as is expected.




In


Andreas Wikstrom - AT
View attachment 373717
Brought in to replace Unal up top for the European and cup games


3 other players are youth teamers
View attachment 373712View attachment 373710View attachment 373709




Out


My main sale was Unal who was half way through his 4th season at United scoring 69 goals in that time. Lost out to Scotsman Love for the starting spot in the end but was a very reliable player in Europe. Youth players Daniel Bryk & Lorenzo Dainese got crazy offers so they were moved on along with the flop of the save so far Blagoje Mirilovic,



​

 

[Mr_Grieves]

February


A Draw at Fir park lets Celtic increase there league lead
We wont be playing them in the last 16 as they lost to Twentee while we beat Grasshoppers
Victory in the cup against Hearts sets up a Quarter Final with Rangers




Fixtures
View attachment 373651




SPL


Celtic are 6 points clear, more like 5 with our goal difference advantage. Still have to play them twice so the league is far from lost. Close battle for the European places. St Johnstone look doomed while Ross County will chase Motherwell & Hibs for the playoff spot




Europa League
Last 32
Dundee Utd 6-2 Grasshoppers


We thrashed them in the 1st leg setting up a match for the kids in the 2nd leg.




Player Watch
John Souttar


At 25 The home grown Souttar star is firmly settled in our defensive unit. Signed up for the next 3 seasons this is a player i have no plans of letting go.



​

 

[Mr_Grieves]

February

A Draw at Fir park lets Celtic increase there league lead
We wont be playing them in the last 16 as they lost to Twenteewhile we beat Grasshoppers
Victory in the cup against Hearts sets up a Quarter Final with Rangers


Fixtures
View attachment 373650


SPL
View attachment 373649
Celtic are 6 points clear, more like 5 with our goal difference advantage. Still have to play them twice so the league is far from lost. Close battle for the European places. St Johnstone look doomed while Ross County will chase Motherwell & Hibs for the playoff spot




Europa League
Last 32
Dundee Utd 6-2 Grasshoppers
View attachment 373646


We thrashed them in the 1st leg setting up a match for the kids in the 2nd leg.




Player Watch
John Souttar
View attachment 373647


At 25 The home grown Souttar star is firmly settled in our defensive unit. Signed up for the next 3 seasons this is a player i have no plans of letting go.



​

 

[Mr_Grieves]

March


The fight on 4 fronts continue!
300th game at United is a Europa League victory over Twente on our way to 3 Europa league wins in a row.
Must win match against Celtic goes our way to keep our title hunt alive.
League Cup returns to Dundee as we thrash Inverness CT



Fixtures
View attachment 373507


SPL
View attachment 373506
A big month of results considering we were playing in 3 other competitions we beat Celtic in a must win tie and the gap is down to 6 points with a game in hand. St Mirren & Aberdeen are on the tails of Hearts to get 3rd while at the other end St Johnstone have a lot to do to catch Ross County & Motherwell for a play-off spot.




Europa League


Last 16
Dundee Utd 4-1 FC Twente
View attachment 373505


A tight win in the 1st game and a early goal here left us shutting up shop early and holding out to win again and reach the last 8.




Q/F Draw
View attachment 373508
Hull in the quarter finals which is a decent draw but if we win there its Spurs or Bayern in the Semi's. Looking good so far as we take a 4-1 1st leg lead.




League Cup Final
Inverness 0-6 Dundee Utd
View attachment 373504


We regain the League Cup in one of our most dominant displays of the season. I was worried that this match being between the two Twente games that we would be tired and struggle. Under no circumstances did i expect to win all 3 games in this week.






Player Watch
Oscar Caballero
View attachment 373503
Proabably my best freebie teen signing so far. The Spanish Defensive midfielder broke into a starting spot in his 4th season at the side. Has never contributed to the attacking side of the team but thats not his game.



​

 

[Mr_Grieves]

April


Europa League miracle's go on with victorys over Spurs & Hull set us onto the road to The Allianz Arena where Zenit will face Scottish opponents like in 2008 where they beat Rangers
Inverness sack Paul Lambert and is replaced by debut manager Allan McGregor
He doesnt make a great start however loosing 4-1 to us in the Scottish Cup Semi Finals. Celtic unsurprisingly await in the final.
Hearts takeover completed and are yet to decide on the future of Gary Locke




Fixtures
View attachment 373437




SPL
The title will almost certainly be decided in the 1st match of May as we host Celtic at Tannadice in match 37/38. We simply must win!
Hearts secure 3rd while its anyones guess who will finish 4th while St Johnstone & Motherwell will fight for 11th & 12th




Europa League


Quarter Final
Dundee Utd 6-2 Hull
View attachment 373436
We started by thrashing them at there own ground 4-1 making the 2nd leg a formality. Half the side were youth and back up players and they still won to keep our over 30 match unbeaten run going. Further south Spurs scored a 86th minute winner to beat Bayern and meet us in the Semi's




Semi final
Dundee Utd 2-1 Tottenham
View attachment 373435
Both sides won the away legs but thankfully we won our away game by more goals and thats the maths that leads to the clubs second appearance in the Europa League final



​

 

[Mr_Grieves]

May


The Football Gods just didnt want us to win the League. We dominated Celtic making chance after chance but only managing a draw. Both sides win there final games so Celtic Secure the title.
The following day Kone, Loja, Bundgaard & Vadala hand in transfer requests
Dunfermline are the latest team taken over.






Fixtures
View attachment 373394




SPL
View attachment 373392
Celtic won the most games and broke 100 points so deserve the title. Our poor run while in the European games was the difference. St Johnstone go down while Motherwell face a playoff.




Europa League Final
Dundee Utd 0-1 Zenit
View attachment 373391
23 shots on goal and we loose without grabbing a single goal. We've come far but fallen flat on out faces at the final hurdles. Changes for next season i think!




Scottish Cup final
Dundee Utd 3-2 Celtic
View attachment 373391
Thats more like it! A epic encounter that should do wonders for the Scottish game. This epic had everything the other two major games of the month didnt.



​

 

[ZeroMusic]

How have the hot talents at the beginning of the game developed on yours mate? Could you post a screenie of the likes of McMullan, Gauld, McGinn etc please??

 

[Mr_Grieves]

Youth Stars of 2013


Stevie May
Good Championship player. Alright in the Premiership
View attachment 372869View attachment 372868

Billy McKay
Guarrenteed 10 goals till he reached 33
View attachment 372867View attachment 372866
J McGinn

Has yet to have a standout season in any league.
View attachment 372865View attachment 372864



Ryan Gauld
Has he ever lived up to his hype or value?
View attachment 372863View attachment 372862



Stuart Armstrong
Another solid Championship player but no good in the top flight
View attachment 372861View attachment 372860



Andrew Robertson
Wow! Wish he had stayed for me to benefit from
View attachment 372859View attachment 372858



Paul McMullan
Still yet to have 10 goals in a season
View attachment 372857
View attachment 372856



​

 

[Mr_Grieves]

Season 9 Review


Motherwell need penaltys to keep there place in the League
Still no sign of that Stadium WAKE UP BOARD!!!!
The continental rise of Dundee Utd continues as were now ranked 30th in the world.




Dundee Utd 2021/22
Season stats
View attachment 372743




SPL - Runner Ups
Scottish cup - Winners
Scottish League Cup - Winners
Europe - Europa League Runner Ups




Two cups and runner up in the League and Europe. Dissapointed to go into may with it all in our own hands but such is life. More hard work ahead next term.




Key Player
Guido Vadala
View attachment 372742
Here is the difference between my team stumbling out early doors in europe and getting to a Europa League final while dominating the Scottish game. Will have my biggest battle to hold onto his this summer.




SPL Review




Celtic - 8/10 - Celtic beat my team to the title which can only be commended. Doing it with loan players though is a big no no! Develop more youth guys!




Dundee Utd - 7/10 - Down to 2nd and down in ratings Results in November and feburary cost us the title. Winning both cups saved face and gave me a 7/10




Hearts - 7/10 - Another year and still comfortably the 3rd best team in the League. A recent takeover will make for an interesting summer at Tyncastle




Aberdeen - 7/10 - 3 ticks for the Dons. Euan Smith started scoring again, Dropped over a dozn players on free before the season started and played the loan game to return to the top half. Good work Pardew




St Mirren - 6/10 - Sticking with being a top 6 team and who can fault a small outfit for doing so. A new found link with Lyon led to the usual intake of quality youngsters




Rangers - 5/10 - Spent over ?2m and to break into the top 6 it would probably be justified but no long term building blocks! and still no sign of McCoist going away!




Inverness CT - 5/10 - Top achievement this season was making a big profit on Marcus Fraser. Forwards didnt have as good a year as last year either.




Hibs - 5/10 - Back in the bottom half. William Gauld missing much of the season was a huge blow




Dunfermline - 8/10 - What a performance for there 1st season back in the SPL. John Collins maybe linked with bigger jobs next season after this effort.




Ross County - 5/10 - One of Countys biggest spending seasons so far tipping the scales at ?500k but nowhere near repeating the top 6 finish of last year. Only a good run at the end kept them away from the play offs.




Motherwell - 3/10 - Oh dear oh dear! Lots of changes with the squad did not have the desired effect and they fell back after making some small steps forward last year.




St Johnstone - 4/10 - A Very short stay in the SPL. Even big name accusition Jason Puncheon & James Keatings couldnt save them.






Champions League Final
Paris SG 0-1 Chelsea
View attachment 372740
An early goal in a less than impressive display for the English Champions as the French side lost there head!




Europa League Final
No more to say here!






Season Awards




Player of the year
Guido Vadala
View attachment 372739
A Great season and an award long over due




Top Scorer
Jack Love
View attachment 372737
30 goals was a great haul but i really wanted him to go after Larssons record of 35 in one season.




Young Player of the year
Emmerson Griffith
View attachment 372736
A Celtic loanee




Manager of the Year
Alan Thompson
View attachment 372735
The former apprentice has come a long way. Expected Laudrup to beat me to the award but if any team was going to do it im glad it was Aberdeen.




Team of the Year
View attachment 372731
5 from United and 6 from Celtic






Continental Standings




National Coefficients
View attachment 372729
12th again but were right on the tails of Ukraine


European Places
From 2024/25


Competition Rankings
View attachment 372728
SPL is still 13th as a few leagues move around



​

 

[Safc-mad-scotty]

Still loving the story mate! Is it a case of getting a new stadium for Dundee United and then moving on? If so, is there any particular team that you would like to go to next?

 

[Mr_Grieves]

Still loving the story mate! Is it a case of getting a new stadium for Dundee United and then moving on? If so, is there any particular team that you would like to go to next?

Cheers Scotty. I think thats where we are now squads good, youth depth is crazy for a SPL team. I want them to have a 40K+ stadium before moving on but would probably settle if a 30k one is offered.

As for Next team i've had thoughts but would have to be the right oppertunity like a team with a bit of money so i can get right to work rebuilding