Rikulec Posted March 29, 2020 Share Posted March 29, 2020 FM20: The Scottish Game Having tried (and failed) to guide my real life club to glory, this time I set out on an adventure more akin to what I usually do on FM. The Aim To achieve as much as possible in a realistic journeyman career starting from the 7th tier of Scottish football. First I'm going to holiday until November 1st 2019 to shuffle the cards just a little bit and then we're kicking off. Here are a few rules I'll be following: - I can only sign players my manager could realistically know about, i. e. those recommended to me by scouts, agents, or themselves; - I can't apply for jobs while employed. If unemployed, I can only apply for clubs that are at the same level as my last club or lower; - I can only do coaching courses after getting promoted to a higher league in order to avoid unrealistic reputation growth; - attribute masking will be enabled. The Manager My usual British alter ego. While on my FM13 Rangers save he became one of the best players in club's history, in this timeline he didn't quite make it and he decided to pursue a slightly different career very early on. The Save Pretty much the usual stuff. For the Scottish lower leagues I'm using this database by @Morrissey. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rikulec Posted March 29, 2020 Author Share Posted March 29, 2020 It's December 5th and my first interview will be with a team that sits bottom of the East of Scotland First Division A after 11 games. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rikulec Posted March 29, 2020 Author Share Posted March 29, 2020 (edited) I've signed a one-year contract on £240 per week. Here we go! Ryan Clark's Management Career - New Club - Kinnoull FC Everyone has to start somewhere! Club Name: Kinnoull Juniors FCNickname: NoullYear Founded: 1943Status: Semi-ProfessionalStadium: Tulloch Park (2,200 capacity) I've seen worse squad, there seem to be some decent quality players for our level. Only practice will tell though. There seems to be a ton of cups and I can't say I've ever heard of any of them before. I guess we'll just do our best when they come. Things are looking rather bleak in the league, the board only want me not to finish bottom and hopefully I can deliver that. Edited March 30, 2020 by Rikulec 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
metallimuse Posted March 30, 2020 Share Posted March 30, 2020 Good luck ma man, I’ll be watching. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andychar Posted March 30, 2020 Share Posted March 30, 2020 That is a lot of cup action! Good luck with the save. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Makoto Nakamura Posted March 30, 2020 Share Posted March 30, 2020 Best of luck with this Rikulec! What's up with that stadium name though? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toffle Posted March 30, 2020 Share Posted March 30, 2020 Will be following of course! The realistic settings are great! Best of luck and have fun Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rikulec Posted March 30, 2020 Author Share Posted March 30, 2020 5 hours ago, metallimuse said: Good luck ma man, I’ll be watching. 5 hours ago, andychar said: That is a lot of cup action! Good luck with the save. 2 hours ago, Toffle said: Will be following of course! The realistic settings are great! Best of luck and have fun Thanks a lot guys. 4 hours ago, Makoto Nakamura said: Best of luck with this Rikulec! What's up with that stadium name though? I hope the lads don't mind a bit of travelling for the home games. Gonna change it when I launch FM. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rikulec Posted March 30, 2020 Author Share Posted March 30, 2020 I'm not getting excited. It would be nice to get someone who's going to improve the first team right away. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rikulec Posted March 30, 2020 Author Share Posted March 30, 2020 Ryan Clark's Management Career - December 2019 - Kinnoull FC East of Scotland First Division A My first point and my first clean sheet! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muttley84 Posted March 30, 2020 Share Posted March 30, 2020 Seems like Scotland is a pretty popular destination now on the forum. I'd wish I had the time or possibilities to start as low as you guys, but will have to settle in the Championship with my Thistle save. Best of luck, you will probably reach Premier League before me anyways :)) 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rikulec Posted March 30, 2020 Author Share Posted March 30, 2020 1 hour ago, Muttley84 said: Seems like Scotland is a pretty popular destination now on the forum. I'd wish I had the time or possibilities to start as low as you guys, but will have to settle in the Championship with my Thistle save. Best of luck, you will probably reach Premier League before me anyways :)) I don't think I will, @Makoto Nakamura is much more likely to do that. Cheers! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ManUtd1 Posted March 30, 2020 Share Posted March 30, 2020 5 hours ago, Rikulec said: I'm not getting excited. It would be nice to get someone who's going to improve the first team right away. I'll get excited for you, then... 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rikulec Posted March 30, 2020 Author Share Posted March 30, 2020 Ryan Clark's Management Career - January 2020 - Kinnoull FC East of Scotland First Division A It's going to be an epic battle for 11th between us and Ormiston. Transfers Conrad Courts - we had no proper left back, so I signed a 36-year-old. Zac Hannay - for our level this is an actual good midfielder. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rikulec Posted March 30, 2020 Author Share Posted March 30, 2020 1 minute ago, ManUtd1 said: I'll get excited for you, then... 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nobby_McDonald Posted March 30, 2020 Share Posted March 30, 2020 Gloriously crap. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rikulec Posted March 30, 2020 Author Share Posted March 30, 2020 1 hour ago, Nobby_McDonald said: Gloriously crap. Precisely. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rikulec Posted March 30, 2020 Author Share Posted March 30, 2020 *champagne popping and bagpipes in the background* Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rikulec Posted March 31, 2020 Author Share Posted March 31, 2020 Ryan Clark's Management Career - February 2020 - Kinnoull FC East of Scotland First Division A Uh, where do I start... okay. A perfect month with no goals conceded shoots us all the way up to 9th! I even though we might actually score two goals in one game, but Ritchie blasted a penalty into the advertising board in the 88th minute of the Oakley Utd game. King Cup We were never going to get past them, they're 2nd in the other group of our division. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rikulec Posted March 31, 2020 Author Share Posted March 31, 2020 (edited) Ryan Clark's Management Career - March 2020 - Kinnoull FC East of Scotland First Division A Boo. East of Scotland League Cup We did well to take it to extra time against the leaders of the other group. Transfers Brad Raiker - we got ourselves a new right back. He looks good... ish. Edited March 31, 2020 by Rikulec Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rikulec Posted March 31, 2020 Author Share Posted March 31, 2020 I got a new deal! 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
metallimuse Posted March 31, 2020 Share Posted March 31, 2020 11 minutes ago, Rikulec said: Brad Raiker - we got ourselves a new right back. He looks good... ish. He is decent for that level. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rikulec Posted March 31, 2020 Author Share Posted March 31, 2020 1 hour ago, metallimuse said: He is decent for that level. I agree, he's quick and that's pretty much all we need. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rikulec Posted March 31, 2020 Author Share Posted March 31, 2020 But... we still have to play one game! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rikulec Posted March 31, 2020 Author Share Posted March 31, 2020 Oh dear. Looks like my stay at Kinnoull could turn out to be shorter than expected. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rikulec Posted March 31, 2020 Author Share Posted March 31, 2020 (edited) Ryan Clark's Management Career - April 2020 - Kinnoull FC East of Scotland First Division A A very poor game and we find ourselves bottom before the final day. We host Burntisland, Peebles host Dunipace, Craigroyston host Lothian Thistle and Ormiston host Oakley Utd. Youth Intake I've seen worse! Chris Erskine Steven Hughes Steven McLaren David Ross Neil Sutherland Erskine is going straight into the first team. Edited March 31, 2020 by Rikulec Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rikulec Posted March 31, 2020 Author Share Posted March 31, 2020 No updates on the new manager, they might be keeping me after all! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rikulec Posted April 1, 2020 Author Share Posted April 1, 2020 Ryan Clark's Management Career - May 2020 - Kinnoull FC East of Scotland First Division A A massive final day win lifts us from the bottom, which means I've met the board's expectations! \o/ \o/ \o/ 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rikulec Posted April 1, 2020 Author Share Posted April 1, 2020 Ryan Clark's Management Career - Season Review - 2019/20 - Kinnoull FCEast of Scotland First Division A Results (Aug-Nov) (before my arrival) - Results (Dec-May) (after my arrival) Competition Performance: 11th I guess you can say I did better than the previous gaffer. The first half season was always going to be about assessing the squad and trying to work out a tactic, so I think all in all we didn't do terribly bad. At least the board should be happy, we got what they wanted! East of Scotland Qualifying Cup Competition Performance: First Round I had nothing to do with this... Alex Jack Cup Competition Performance: Second Round ...or this... South Challenge Cup Competition Performance: Second Round ...or this. King Cup Competition Performance: Second Round Tynecastle were way too strong for us at that point... East of Scotland League Cup Competition Performance: Second Round ...and so were Hawick RA Utd. Squad Some of the players are good enough for the league. Most aren't. Transfers (grey line marks my arrival) - Finances Plenty of activity, but we need much more if we are to take our game to another level. Our financial situation is surprisingly good. This kind of money should be enough to keep us going for a few seasons. Player of the Season 1st - Craig Ritchie - our top scorer with a whooping six-goal tally. 2nd - Gary Allison - he looks absolutely terrible, but our goalkeeper has actually put in some good performances during my stint so far. I might actually keep him! 3rd - Ryan Gordon - frustratingly inconsistent, but a very creative and valuable player for us on his good days. Next Season Improve the squad and see where that takes us. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rikulec Posted April 1, 2020 Author Share Posted April 1, 2020 Ugh, so this is why we have so much money. I don't like it, but I guess there's nothing I can do about it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rikulec Posted April 1, 2020 Author Share Posted April 1, 2020 Ryan Clark's Management Career - Season Preview - 2020/21 - Kinnoull FC Board Expectations:East of Scotland First Division A: Top half finishSouth Challenge Cup: Be competitiveEast of Scotland Qualifying Cup: Be competitive East of Scotland League Cup: Be competitiveAlex Jack Cup: Be competitiveKing Cup: Be competitiveMy Expectations:East of Scotland First Division A: It would be nice to meet the board's expectations.South Challenge Cup: Not important.East of Scotland Qualifying Cup: Not important.East of Scotland League Cup: Not important.Alex Jack Cup: Not important.King Cup: Not important. Budgets:Transfer: £21,904Wage: £610 (currently spending £223)Balance: £345,943 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rikulec Posted April 1, 2020 Author Share Posted April 1, 2020 Ryan Clark's Management Career - Pre-Season - 2020/21 - Kinnoull FC Friendlies A good pre-season in terms of results. We beat Stirling Uni, who are in the Lowland League! Transfers Plenty of new players in, I'm really optimistic about this. Jack Harrison - a quick centre back to hopefully fix up some ****-ups of the other guys. Barry Welsh - an even quicker striker to beat the defenders to our numerous hoofballs. Arran McKie - a decent young midfielder. Michael McGee - I'm thrilled to have him, he's an absolute star for our league. Grady McGrath - another quick midfielder. Nathan Durham - a very good young left back. Stephen Dingwall and Archie McShane have been promoted from the reserves. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rikulec Posted April 1, 2020 Author Share Posted April 1, 2020 Ryan Clark's Management Career - August 2020 - Kinnoull FC East of Scotland First Division A Not without trouble, but we're off to a winning start. East of Scotland Qualifying Cup A much more dominant performance even if the scoreline doesn't suggest that. Alex Jack Cup Three games this month, three wins. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rikulec Posted April 2, 2020 Author Share Posted April 2, 2020 (edited) Ryan Clark's Management Career - September 2020 - Kinnoull FC East of Scotland First Division A A very up-and-down month. The league is shaping up to be quite tight and we're in a good position so far. South Challenge Cup The fixture congestion meant there had to be sacrifices. This is the sacrifice. East of Scotland Qualifying Cup We faced our fierce rivals, who are one division above us, and unfortunately the difference showed. Alex Jack Cup Complete and utter domination, but poor finishing forced us to carry on all the way into extra time. Transfers Calum MacDonald - we lost Brad Raiker on a free transfer and replaced him with a better player. Edited April 3, 2020 by Rikulec Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rikulec Posted April 3, 2020 Author Share Posted April 3, 2020 (edited) Ryan Clark's Management Career - October 2020 - Kinnoull FC East of Scotland First Division A Our tendency to concede silly goals cost us big time against Dundonald. Still all to play for. Alex Jack Cup Injury time heartbreak, the deciding goal was scored after our 94th minute equaliser. A good showing against a Lowland League outfit nevertheless. Edited April 3, 2020 by Rikulec Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rikulec Posted April 3, 2020 Author Share Posted April 3, 2020 Looks like a rather tough Brexit. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rikulec Posted April 3, 2020 Author Share Posted April 3, 2020 Ryan Clark's Management Career - November 2020 - Kinnoull FC East of Scotland First Division A Two wins from two games, including some injury time drama. We've hit the top spot at the halfway point, albeit we're only one of three teams on 22 points with another two lurking just behind our backs. It's getting more and more interesting! 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rikulec Posted April 3, 2020 Author Share Posted April 3, 2020 Ryan Clark's Management Career - December 2020 - Kinnoull FC East of Scotland First Division A Two away games this month and we've lost the top spot. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rikulec Posted April 3, 2020 Author Share Posted April 3, 2020 Ryan Clark's Management Career - January 2021 - Kinnoull FC East of Scotland First Division A We've now kept three clean sheets in a row and we've also reclaimed the top spot with seven games to go. Transfers We're getting torn apart: we've lost Barry Welsh, Jack Harrison, Arran McKie, and Michael McGee. Dan Carmichael - our new starting right winger. Iain Gray - a direct replacement for McKie. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bitner Posted April 4, 2020 Share Posted April 4, 2020 Don't you think you would avoid me, did ya? Cheers, Bitner Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rikulec Posted April 4, 2020 Author Share Posted April 4, 2020 9 hours ago, Bitner said: Don't you think you would avoid me, did ya? Cheers, Bitner I was wondering when you were going to show up. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rikulec Posted April 4, 2020 Author Share Posted April 4, 2020 A new contract with the slightest wage increase. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rikulec Posted April 4, 2020 Author Share Posted April 4, 2020 Ryan Clark's Management Career - February 2021 - Kinnoull FC East of Scotland First Division A It was always going to go that way with the quality of players we've been losing lately. Somehow we're still top, but it's tighter than ever. King Cup Any other result would have been a disgrace, they were awful. Transfers Ryan MacLeod - we got a goalkeeper who can apparently play on the left wing. Danni Bruce - Nathan Durham left us, so we needed another left back. He's not as good, but he should do the job. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rikulec Posted April 4, 2020 Author Share Posted April 4, 2020 Ryan Clark's Management Career - March 2021 - Kinnoull FC East of Scotland First Division A Looks like it's going to be a three-way battle between us, Burntisland, and Ormiston. East of Scotland League Cup We gave away a soft penalty and that was enough. King Cup Here a penalty could have saved us late on, but we blew it. Transfers Alan Cook - a decent player for the left wing. Reece Paterson - a quick lad to provide cover for a number of positions... from the next season. He's already played for two other teams. I'm dumb. Dylan Falconer - I expect him to be our new star striker. So far he has missed a penalty in his debut in the King Cup. Charlie Exley - our first non-Scottish player. His pace should come in handy even at centre back. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rikulec Posted April 4, 2020 Author Share Posted April 4, 2020 A massive statistical advantage without a win? Check. Going three goals up and not winning? Check. Missing a penalty in the process? Check. Injury time equaliser? Check. Have you ever seen a more complete FM-ing? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Makoto Nakamura Posted April 4, 2020 Share Posted April 4, 2020 4 minutes ago, Rikulec said: A massive statistical advantage without a win? Check. Going three goals up and not winning? Check. Missing a penalty in the process? Check. Injury time equaliser? Check. Have you ever seen a more complete FM-ing? Yes, most of your matches in Poland. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rikulec Posted April 4, 2020 Author Share Posted April 4, 2020 31 minutes ago, Makoto Nakamura said: Yes, most of your matches in Poland. Oh for ****'s sake. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rikulec Posted April 4, 2020 Author Share Posted April 4, 2020 Ryan Clark's Management Career - April 2021 - Kinnoull FC East of Scotland First Division A Plenty of goals this month. The league is ours to lose now... Youth Intake Utter dross. I'm not signing anyone. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rikulec Posted April 4, 2020 Author Share Posted April 4, 2020 Ryan Clark's Management Career - May 2021 - Kinnoull FC East of Scotland First Division A Of course we had to make it dramatic. No matter though - champions! 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rikulec Posted April 4, 2020 Author Share Posted April 4, 2020 Hopefully the first of many trophies in this save! 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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