[FM24] Tulach Bòide [Scotland Tier 13]

[BML]

5 minutes ago, Jimbokav1971 said:

My initial thought when I saw that (39c) Telfer (F.Pro) 6'2" * had been sold for just £600k is that we should have bought him, but that thought soon vanished when I saw that he was getting paid £47,000 per week. Our whole playing staff wage spend is only £105,659 per week, so the idea that we would be able to pay someone £47k is for the birds. 

3 and a half years too! Hopefully he'll be more amenable to your wage structure once he hits 34.

[Jimbokav1971]

Youth Intake day. Mar 2045. 

[Jimbokav1971]

3 hours ago, BML said:

3 and a half years too! Hopefully he'll be more amenable to your wage structure once he hits 34.

It's going to be very hard for us to re-sign players in the near future because of the wage demands. 

Will do an update soon on our scout reports showing the expected wages and you will see what I mean. 

[Jimbokav1971]

NxGn 2054. 

[Jimbokav1971]

Mar 2054. 

Scottish Premiership. We're unbeaten in 13 league games now, but we're only 3 points clear of Hibs at the top and we don't have a game in hand. 

Champions League. (These fixtures were actually played in Feb, but I forgot to include them in the Feb update. Apologies). Either way, we got knocked out of the Champions League by another Scottish club, (albeit a very good Scottish side). 

Internationals. I'm not 100% positive, but I don't think we have had a single player called up to the Senior (SCO) squad while they were still with us. Now we have not 1, not 2, but 3 players in the senior (SCO) squad and all of them teenagers. 

Transfers. 

Goal-scoring GK's.

Finances. 

[Jimbokav1971]

Apr 2054. 

Scottish Premiership. 3 more wins mean that we're now unbeaten in 16 games in the league and with Hibs dropping points we're now 9 points ahead with just 4 games to play and have a goal difference of +16 compared to Hibs. If we lose the league from here then I need shooting. It just can't happen. It can't. 

Debuts.

Internationals. 

Transfers. 

Goal-scoring GK's.

(23) Brass (Bal) 6'2" is 5/8 from the spot at 63%. (Is no longer at the club).
(23) Ewing (Bal) 6'1" is 17/20 from the spot at 85%. (Is no longer at the club).
(25c) Christie (F.Sport) 6'1" is 46/52 from the spot at 88%. (Is no longer at the club). 
(26p) Marsh (CAN)(SCO) 5'10" is 15/17 from the spot at 88%. (Is no longer at the club).
(30a) Ogilvie (Fickle) 6'2" * is 47/64 from the spot at 73%. (Is no longer at the club).
(31k) Lawrie (Unamb) * is 23/29 from the spot at 79%. (Is no longer at the club). 
(33a) Black (Fickle) 6'0" * is 2/3 from the spot at 67%. (Is no longer at the club). 
(37b) Niven (F.Loyal) 6'4" * is 24/41 from the spot at 59%. (Is no longer at the club).
(39c) Telfer (F.Pro) 6'2" * is 29/44 from the spot at 66%.(Is no longer at the club).
(40e) Qurbonov (UZB) (Res) * is 0/2 from the spot at 0%. (Is no longer at the club). 
(43n) Welsh (F.Pro) 6'4" * is 58/73 from the spot at 79%.
(41h) Cairney (Unamb) 6'2" * is 7/12 from the spot at 58%. (Is no longer at the club). 

Finances. 

[RoguPL]

This is the year ! 

[jrobertgordon13]

Remember @Jimbokav1971, no lead is safe in FM

[Jimbokav1971]

46 minutes ago, RoguPL said:

This is the year ! 

I hope so, but time will tell. 

[Jimbokav1971]

42 minutes ago, jrobertgordon13 said:

Remember @Jimbokav1971, no lead is safe in FM

The FM Gods see everything and they are more than capable of screwing me over if they suspect I am getting too big for my boots. Fingers crossed I can get it done. 

[Jimbokav1971]

May 2054.

Scottish Premiership. By beating Hibs, we have won the league with 3 games to spare, (which is an astonishing achievement in a save like this). When I started this save I wasn't sure that we would ever get here, so to do so in our 10th season in the Premiership is brilliant. This should also have a big impact on our reputation. 

We're unbeaten in our last 20 games in the league now, only lost 4 league games all season and with any luck we'll start next season as we finished this. 

Internationals. 

Transfers. 

Awards. 

Goal-scoring GK's.

(23) Brass (Bal) 6'2" is 5/8 from the spot at 63%. (Is no longer at the club).
(23) Ewing (Bal) 6'1" is 17/20 from the spot at 85%. (Is no longer at the club).
(25c) Christie (F.Sport) 6'1" is 46/52 from the spot at 88%. (Is no longer at the club). 
(26p) Marsh (CAN)(SCO) 5'10" is 15/17 from the spot at 88%. (Is no longer at the club).
(30a) Ogilvie (Fickle) 6'2" * is 47/64 from the spot at 73%. (Is no longer at the club).
(31k) Lawrie (Unamb) * is 23/29 from the spot at 79%. (Is no longer at the club). 
(33a) Black (Fickle) 6'0" * is 2/3 from the spot at 67%. (Is no longer at the club). 
(37b) Niven (F.Loyal) 6'4" * is 24/41 from the spot at 59%. (Is no longer at the club).
(39c) Telfer (F.Pro) 6'2" * is 29/44 from the spot at 66%.(Is no longer at the club).
(40e) Qurbonov (UZB) (Res) * is 0/2 from the spot at 0%. (Is no longer at the club). 
(43n) Welsh (F.Pro) 6'4" * is 59/74 from the spot at 80%.
(41h) Cairney (Unamb) 6'2" * is 7/12 from the spot at 58%. (Is no longer at the club). 

Finances. 

[Rikulec]

What a season, over 100 goals scored in the league as well. Congratulations. 

[Jimbokav1971]

2 minutes ago, Rikulec said:

What a season, over 100 goals scored in the league as well. Congratulations. 

Thanks. I hasn't actually noticed that, but yeah, 103 goals at 2.71 goals per game. 

Although I'm happy with that, only 3 outfield players hit double-figure goals for the season, and nobody scored more than 19. 

[jrobertgordon13]

Congrats on your first Scottish Premiership trophy! 

[Thebaker]

Well done on winning the Premiership, i would be happy about the goals being shared. It means that injuries and loss of form have less effect on the team and that more players will have higher ratings and improve more as a result.

When did you stop GK taking free kicks, also have your other GK's (except Welsh) ever played for the club since none have scored a goal which seems surprising in 100+ apps.

[Jimbokav1971]

14 hours ago, jrobertgordon13 said:

Congrats on your first Scottish Premiership trophy! 

Thanks very much. It was a long time coming, but we did it with a bit to spare in the end. 

[Jimbokav1971]

4 hours ago, Thebaker said:

Well done on winning the Premiership, i would be happy about the goals being shared. It means that injuries and loss of form have less effect on the team and that more players will have higher ratings and improve more as a result.

I completely agree about the goals being shared. This is partly because I have 2 completely different teams for weekend/midweek games, (because I think it gives me an advantage where fitness is concerned), and also in light of the type of save this is it both allows me to run with a bigger squad, (keeping fringe players around who might not be 1st choice now but who will be needed soon), and also because it allows me to blood and develop young players who aren't quite up to the required standard now. 

I don;t really mind not having a 30+ goal a season striker, and when you consider that my GK scored 10 goals, (and missed another 3 spot kicks), then we could have quite conceivably had a 30+ goal a season striker anyway had the GK not been on pens. I'm sure we will score more next season anyway. 

[Jimbokav1971]

4 hours ago, Thebaker said:

When did you stop GK taking free kicks, also have your other GK's (except Welsh) ever played for the club since none have scored a goal which seems surprising in 100+ apps.

I haven't had my GK's on free-kicks at all in FM24 quite simply because SI have changed the way that you populate the set-piece takers list. In order to do that I would need to take control of all of set-pieces, (attacking and defending), and I just don't want to do that. I might change my mind in the future, (I've been close a few times), but for the moment I'm ok sticking with pens only.

What I really want is to be able to allocate set-piece takers, but not control any other aspect of set-pieces, (attacking or defending). You would think that with SI''s focus on making thnings easier for the user this would have been part of their strategy, but no. For me to do what I have done for years, I now have to do much much much more clicking and work and I can't take control and then delegate once I'm in there. It's all or nothing and I suppose I should just be happy that pens aren't included in that. 

[Thebaker]

2 minutes ago, Jimbokav1971 said:

I haven't had my GK's on free-kicks at all in FM24 quite simply because SI have changed the way that you populate the set-piece takers list. In order to do that I would need to take control of all of set-pieces, (attacking and defending), and I just don't want to do that. I might change my mind in the future, (I've been close a few times), but for the moment I'm ok sticking with pens only.

What I really want is to be able to allocate set-piece takers, but not control any other aspect of set-pieces, (attacking or defending). You would think that with SI''s focus on making thnings easier for the user this would have been part of their strategy, but no. For me to do what I have done for years, I now have to do much much much more clicking and work and I can't take control and then delegate once I'm in there. It's all or nothing and I suppose I should just be happy that pens aren't included in that. 

I can agree with that, the number of times a random person takes corners or free kicks when not down as taker is frustrating. Why a player has to be a right or left footer to take a free kick from one side or the other is just odd, with no option to select certain players due to their preferred foot.

[Jimbokav1971]

4 hours ago, Jimbokav1971 said:

I haven't had my GK's on free-kicks at all in FM24 quite simply because SI have changed the way that you populate the set-piece takers list. In order to do that I would need to take control of all of set-pieces, (attacking and defending), and I just don't want to do that. I might change my mind in the future, (I've been close a few times), but for the moment I'm ok sticking with pens only.

What I really want is to be able to allocate set-piece takers, but not control any other aspect of set-pieces, (attacking or defending). You would think that with SI''s focus on making thnings easier for the user this would have been part of their strategy, but no. For me to do what I have done for years, I now have to do much much much more clicking and work and I can't take control and then delegate once I'm in there. It's all or nothing and I suppose I should just be happy that pens aren't included in that. 

 

4 hours ago, Thebaker said:

I can agree with that, the number of times a random person takes corners or free kicks when not down as taker is frustrating. Why a player has to be a right or left footer to take a free kick from one side or the other is just odd, with no option to select certain players due to their preferred foot.

I really must look at set-pieces. I'm probably going to leave it until FM25 and then look at it seriously then. Maybe if I get a little bored later in this save I will have a little peek. It should be an area that is completely customizable. 

And you are spot on about pens not being included. Thank God for that. 

[oche balboa]

Jimbokav is the greatest FM manager of all time

[Jimbokav1971]

1 hour ago, oche balboa said:

Jimbokav is the greatest FM manager of all time

Nah, I'm just persistent. 

[BML]

22 hours ago, Jimbokav1971 said:

What I really want is to be able to allocate set-piece takers, but not control any other aspect of set-pieces

This speaks to me; my set piece coach keeps allowing my 6'6 striker to take corners. His height is basically a cheat code at this level domestically, it's so frustrating to see him take them. Just a list of free-kick takers like we get for Pens would be sufficient!

Congrats on the league title, only 10 years into Prem life is a good clip and quicker than I would have expected.

It's a shame 16 y/o Brownliee missed out on the World Cup despite making the long list, hopefully he'll still be your player by the time the next one rolls around as he's obviously a massive talent.

Edited April 22 by BML

[Jimbokav1971]

2 minutes ago, BML said:

This speaks to me; my set piece coach keeps allowing my 6'6 striker to take corners. His height is basically a cheat code at this level domestically, it's so frustrating to see him take them. Just a list of free-kick takers like we get for Pens would be sufficient!

I'm actually tempted to have a delve into set-pieces and I absolutely will if I get a big TM through an intake. The current UI is just so frustrating and seems completely at odds with how SI say they want to develop the game. 

[Jimbokav1971]

6 minutes ago, BML said:

Congrats on the league title, only 10 years into Prem life is a good clip and quicker than I would have expected.

Yeah we progressed pretty well and while 10 seasons is pretty decent, we probably should have won the league the previous season but we fell apart at the end. 

[Jimbokav1971]

14 minutes ago, BML said:

It's a shame 16 y/o Brownliee missed out on the World Cup despite making the long list, hopefully he'll still be your player by the time the next one rolls around as he's obviously a massive talent.

Yeah (53a) Brownlie (Dri) 5'11" * is good and I've got him signed to a 2+3 deal that I will look to try and extend if possible. 

We have a few nice 5.0 PA players now and importantly in different positions. For a long time we've been quite heavily reliant on striker depth. 

In this group we don't have a GK, but we have 3x DC's, 1x WB, 3x MC's and 1x SC. That's pretty nicely balanced. 

We have 3x 4.5 PA players and they're all strikers. 

[turnip]

5 hours ago, Jimbokav1971 said:

I'm actually tempted to have a delve into set-pieces and I absolutely will if I get a big TM through an intake. The current UI is just so frustrating and seems completely at odds with how SI say they want to develop the game. 

I've seen my Set Piece coach arrange all kinds of stupid stuff - when he's supposed to be pretty good at his job. Like you, I don't really want to have to sort it all out myself, so it's just a source of frustration when my Target Man is allowed to stay up for Defensive Corners, or my covering defenders on Attacking Corners are aerial threats. 

[Jimbokav1971]

59 minutes ago, turnip said:

I've seen my Set Piece coach arrange all kinds of stupid stuff - when he's supposed to be pretty good at his job. Like you, I don't really want to have to sort it all out myself, so it's just a source of frustration when my Target Man is allowed to stay up for Defensive Corners, or my covering defenders on Attacking Corners are aerial threats. 

I've had a decent TM come through the intake, (I think). I don't think he was big, (I seem to remember him being 5'11" or so), but I don't know was it this season or last season or the season before. We certainly haven't seen anyone come through like the Rangers bloke Selfridges or whatever his name was. 

Let me have a look now and see what we've got in terms of "big" forwards. 

(50a) Donald (F.Det) 6'0" * is 6'1, but he's not suitable as a TM at all. 
(51c) Mackie (F.Pro) (IRL) *** is 6'0", but he's not suitable as a TM at all. 
(47a) Currie (Bal) 6'1" * is 6'2" and he could do a job as a TM, but he's not a cheat level of TM like we have seen elsewhere and not really worth experimenting with. 
(46f) Weir (F.Sport) * is 6'1", but he's not suitable as a TM at all. 
(53i) Ślęczka (Res) 6'5" is the player I was thinking of. He came through the intake not last season but the year before, but he hasn't really kicked on and his PA has dropped. Not sure he is going to be good enough though. 

[Jimbokav1971]

Jun 2054. 

TV Rights. 

Transfers. 

(41b) Gourley (NIR)(F.Sport)* had 2 years left on his contract, but with so many strikers of a decent level, it made sense to sell him even though he was technically 1st choice SC. Apart from 3 seasons where he scored 23, 23 and then 30 goals, he hasn't actually been as prolific as I hoped he might have been. Don't get me wrong he's been great, but I just expected him to be better based on how he looks. I'm afraid this is a "problem" for our SC AF(a), who gets squeezed by the 2 wide strikers, (both PF(a)'s), and this causes the AF(a) to drop deeper than I would have expected and become more of a link player than a finisher. I would love the AF(a) to eventually become a TM type player, (without the direct play). 

Reputation. 

Before the new season ticks over. 

After the new season ticks over. 

European nation coefficients. As of NEXT SEASON, the Scottish Premiership will be given a 7th European spot. We've had 6 spots for the past 3 seasons so even Rangers who finished bottom of the top half of of the split will get European football. In future, the side who finishes top of the bottom half of the split will also get European football. 

European Club rankings. 

European Competition rankings. (Rep). 

Internationals. 

Finances. 

[Jimbokav1971]

Squad Depth. Jul 2054. 

GK. It's a gamble running with just a single senior GK, but I'm going to do it anyway. Assuming all 5 of the GK's earmarked for loan go out, I will just play 1 of the kids if we get and injury, and/or recall 1 of the loans. I have a sneaking suspicion that I can actually sign a GK in an emergency if we get an injury, but I assume that's only in the window. 

1st Team. (43n) Welsh (F.Pro) 6'4" *
2nd Team.
Loan. (44f) Gordon (F.Pro) 6'1" *
Loan. (46e) Hunter (Res) 6'0" *
Loan. (45c) Paskowski(POL)(Bal)6'0 *
Loan. (49h) Broughton (USA)(F.Det) *
Loan. (52c) Aly (IRL) (EGY) (Spirit)
U21's. (51i) Pascazio (IRL) (F.Pro) *
U18's. (53l) King (F.Pro) 6'3"
U18's. (54k) Weir (Unamb) 6'0"
Sell/Release. (52j) Brass. (Pro)

WBL.

1st Team. (46d) Bentley (AUS)(F.Pro) *
2nd Team. (51b) Kirkwood (F.Det) ***
Loan. (49f) Clark (Res) *
Loan. (51f) McGrandles (L.Det)
Loan. (52p) Grady. (L.Det)
U21's. (50f) Knudsen (FRO)(DEN) 5'5 *
U18's. (53b) Cowie (Unamb) 5'3"
Sell/Release. (51g) Stuart. (Temp) SELL

WBR.

1st Team. (43a) Quinn (F.Pro) *
2nd Team. (47i) Anthony (Unamb) 6'0" WBR
Loan. (50e) Taylor (Unamb)
Loan. (52g) Duncan. (F.Pro)
Loan. (52n) Reid. (SCO)(AUS) (Unamb)
U21's. (51h) Smith (Sport) WBR *
U21's. (51d) Montgomery(Bal)(NIR) WBR
U18's. (54b) Reid (Bal)
U18's. (53f) Stewart. (F.Det) WBR
U18's. (53h) Tosh. (Unamb)
U18's. (54p) Costello. (Bal)

DC.

1st Team DLC. (44e) Henry (F.Pro) 6'0" *
1st Team DC. (53a) Brownlie (Dri) 5'11" ***
1st Team DRC. (50b) Wilson (Unamb) 6'4" *

2nd Team DLC. (46p) Weir (Driven) 6'1" *
2nd Team DC. (46a) Savoury (Real) * DC
2nd Team DRC. (44h) Lemetti (F.Pro) 6'3" *

Loan. (45g) McCroary (Merc) 6'4"

U21's. 
U21's.
U21's.

U18's. (52f) Dorrans (Pro) 5'11"
U18's. (52e) Davidson (F.Sport)
U18's. (53k) Dunne (F.Pro) 6'0" *
U18's. (54a) Hopkin (Temp) 5'11" *
U18's. (53o) Moffat (F.Pro)
U18's. (54c) Ferguson (L.Det) 6'2"
U18's. (54j) Hall. (F.Loyal) 6'0"

Sell/Release. (51n) Mealor. (Bal) DC SELL
Sell/Release. (51m) Paudice.(Bal) 5'10" SELL

MC.

1st Team MLC. (52a) Fraher (IRL) (F.Det)*PPM
1st Team MRC. (45e) Brass6 (Fickle) MC *

2nd Team MLC. (48c) McKee (L-Heart) * 
2nd Team MRC. (44b) Harvey (Spirit) *

Loan. (49d) Sutherland (Merc) *
Loan. (43b) Bradley (F.Det) *
Loan. (50c) Sørensen (FRO) (Fickle)

U21's MLC. (51a) Maley (F.Det) (IRL) **
U21's MRC. (52b) Hastings (Det) 5'9" **

U18's. (53c) Robertson (L.Heart)
U18's. (53d) Romanis (F.Pro) *
U18's. (54l) Morrison. (Bal)

SC.

1st Team SLC. (51c) Mackie (F.Pro) (IRL) *
1st Team SC. (50a) Donald (F.Det) 6'0" *
1st Team SRC. (47b) Smith (Det) *

1st Team SLC. (48a) Edwards (F.Det) 5'5" *
1st Team SC. (47a) Currie (Bal) 6'1" *
1st Team SRC. (49b) Courts (Bal) *

Loan. (46f) Weir (F.Sport) *
Loan. (47d) Warnock (IRL) (Temp) *
Loan. (47k) Bonar (L.Heart) *
Loan. (51l) Hillcoat. (Bal)
Loan. (52m) Butterworth. (Bal)

U21's SLC. (53m) Koloušek (CZE) (Merc)
U21's SC. (50j) McMullan (Unamb) * 
U21's SRC. 

U18's. (54d) Lochhead (Loyal) 5'8"
U18's. (53i) Ślęczka (Res) 6'5"
U18's. (52d) Porojan (ROU)(Spirit) **
U18's. (54e) Hilson (Bal) 5'11"
U18's. (52i) Glass (F.Det)
U18's. (52o) Stapley (ENG) (Resil)

[Jimbokav1971]

Jul 2054. 

Season Tickets. 

Transfers.

Finances. 

[Jimbokav1971]

Aug 2054.

Friendlies. I don't usually show you the results of friendlies, but we had quite a few arranged in pre-season that were the result of clauses in transfers, and it meant that the standard of opposition was higher than normal and as a result we lost quite a few games before the start of the season. I think that this has led to our slow start in the league. What I should have done is spaced them out a little more so that we were more competitive. 

Scottish Premiership. The other big factor at play here is that of course we sold 2 of our strongest players in (41b) Gourley (NIR)(F.Sport)* and (45e) Brass6 (Fickle) MC *, and this will have weakened us a little at least. Add in the morale hit after losing the friendlies, (and getting spanked by a really good Hibs side on opening day), and that's all that's needed to turn a win into a draw and a draw into a loss. 

It's a bit of a shock to the system to see Ross County 11 points ahead of us after the 1st month, but I don't expect them to keep up that form so I'm not hugely concerned by them. Of more concern are Aberdeen and Hibs who are 10 points and 7 points ahead respectively. Unless we can change our form around pretty quickly then we could be in for a long old season. That being said, this is certainly a season of rebuilding after winning our 1st Premiership title last season and moving on 2 of our better players, so as long as we finish in Europe then I'm fine with that, (and that shouldn't be a problem with so many European spots available now). 

Champions League. The fixtures haven't been kind to us win games against Liverpool, Porto, Spurs, Barca & AC Milan, but this is the Champions League I suppose. I guess we just count the money and say "thanks very much", and then plan for next season in Europe. 

League Cup. Quarter Final Schmorter Schminal. They're just friendlies remember. 

Season Tickets. 

Transfers.

Goal-scoring GK's.

(23) Brass (Bal) 6'2" is 5/8 from the spot at 63%. (Is no longer at the club).
(23) Ewing (Bal) 6'1" is 17/20 from the spot at 85%. (Is no longer at the club).
(25c) Christie (F.Sport) 6'1" is 46/52 from the spot at 88%. (Is no longer at the club). 
(26p) Marsh (CAN)(SCO) 5'10" is 15/17 from the spot at 88%. (Is no longer at the club).
(30a) Ogilvie (Fickle) 6'2" * is 47/64 from the spot at 73%. (Is no longer at the club).
(31k) Lawrie (Unamb) * is 23/29 from the spot at 79%. (Is no longer at the club). 
(33a) Black (Fickle) 6'0" * is 2/3 from the spot at 67%. (Is no longer at the club). 
(37b) Niven (F.Loyal) 6'4" * is 24/41 from the spot at 59%. (Is no longer at the club).
(39c) Telfer (F.Pro) 6'2" * is 29/44 from the spot at 66%.(Is no longer at the club).
(40e) Qurbonov (UZB) (Res) * is 0/2 from the spot at 0%. (Is no longer at the club). 
(43n) Welsh (F.Pro) 6'4" * is 59/74 from the spot at 80%.
(41h) Cairney (Unamb) 6'2" * is 7/12 from the spot at 58%. (Is no longer at the club). 

Finances. We've got £113M in the bank and are owed another £21M in guaranteed transfer income, so money is no longer a problem and shouldn't be a problem ever again in the save. 

[Jimbokav1971]

Sep 2054.

Scottish Premiership. Our form in the league has improved and we were unlucky not to get something out of the Ross County game. We're up to 5th though and have a game in hand on 2 of the teams above. We've got lots of ground to make up though. 

UEFA Champions League. Despite the fact that we're in 2054, we still have a ridiculously young squad. So young in fact that we were only able to register 15 players for our Champions League squad because everyone else is too young to require registration. 

League Cup. The group of friendlies might be coming to an end at the Semi-Final stage. 

Transfers. 

Internationals. 

Goal-scoring GK's.

(23) Brass (Bal) 6'2" is 5/8 from the spot at 63%. (Is no longer at the club).
(23) Ewing (Bal) 6'1" is 17/20 from the spot at 85%. (Is no longer at the club).
(25c) Christie (F.Sport) 6'1" is 46/52 from the spot at 88%. (Is no longer at the club). 
(26p) Marsh (CAN)(SCO) 5'10" is 15/17 from the spot at 88%. (Is no longer at the club).
(30a) Ogilvie (Fickle) 6'2" * is 47/64 from the spot at 73%. (Is no longer at the club).
(31k) Lawrie (Unamb) * is 23/29 from the spot at 79%. (Is no longer at the club). 
(33a) Black (Fickle) 6'0" * is 2/3 from the spot at 67%. (Is no longer at the club). 
(37b) Niven (F.Loyal) 6'4" * is 24/41 from the spot at 59%. (Is no longer at the club).
(39c) Telfer (F.Pro) 6'2" * is 29/44 from the spot at 66%.(Is no longer at the club).
(40e) Qurbonov (UZB) (Res) * is 0/2 from the spot at 0%. (Is no longer at the club). 
(43n) Welsh (F.Pro) 6'4" * is 59/74 from the spot at 80%.
(41h) Cairney (Unamb) 6'2" * is 7/12 from the spot at 58%. (Is no longer at the club). 

Finances. 

[Scribe]

Congratulations on the league title, a great achievement!

[Jimbokav1971]

Oct 2054. 

Scottish Premiership. Our form is better, but we're still not firing on all cylinders. The draw with Hibs was a fair result and I would have been delighted with a draw before the game so I'm certainly not complaining, but we should have beaten Livingstone. 

We're up to 3rd though and are now just 5 points behind Ross County and Hibs, but Hibs have played 1 more game than Hibs. 

I'm not sure what has happened to Celtic and Rangers, (2nd and 3rd bottom), although they do have games in hand. 

UEFA Champions League. It was an even game against Porto, but they stuck the ball in the net twice. 

1500 Up.

Debuts.

Transfers.

Goal-scoring GK's. We've played 20 games this season and haven't been awarded a pen yet. 

(23) Brass (Bal) 6'2" is 5/8 from the spot at 63%. (Is no longer at the club).
(23) Ewing (Bal) 6'1" is 17/20 from the spot at 85%. (Is no longer at the club).
(25c) Christie (F.Sport) 6'1" is 46/52 from the spot at 88%. (Is no longer at the club). 
(26p) Marsh (CAN)(SCO) 5'10" is 15/17 from the spot at 88%. (Is no longer at the club).
(30a) Ogilvie (Fickle) 6'2" * is 47/64 from the spot at 73%. (Is no longer at the club).
(31k) Lawrie (Unamb) * is 23/29 from the spot at 79%. (Is no longer at the club). 
(33a) Black (Fickle) 6'0" * is 2/3 from the spot at 67%. (Is no longer at the club). 
(37b) Niven (F.Loyal) 6'4" * is 24/41 from the spot at 59%. (Is no longer at the club).
(39c) Telfer (F.Pro) 6'2" * is 29/44 from the spot at 66%.(Is no longer at the club).
(40e) Qurbonov (UZB) (Res) * is 0/2 from the spot at 0%. (Is no longer at the club). 
(43n) Welsh (F.Pro) 6'4" * is 59/74 from the spot at 80%.
(41h) Cairney (Unamb) 6'2" * is 7/12 from the spot at 58%. (Is no longer at the club). 

Finances. 

[Jimbokav1971]

28 minutes ago, Scribe said:

Congratulations on the league title, a great achievement!

Thanks.  Yeah, we've done well since getting to the Premiership. We seem to have taken a little step backwards this season, but there are still plenty of games to play. 

[Jimbokav1971]

Nov 2054.

Scottish Premiership. We had lots of injuries, (especially up front), for the Airdrie game so that possibly explains why we didn't manage to score. 

Celtic have started to pick up a little, (as you would expect), but Rangers look like are in trouble, (again). 

UEFA Champions League. 

Rangers have a new manager this season, and it appears that he's not doing very well. I'm guessing he's playing a short passing game rather than lumping it at Selfridges or whatever the big bloke up front is called. It's really not hard. Smash it up at him and then win the 2nd balls! 

Transfers. 

Internationals. 

Goal-scoring GK's. 24 games played now this season and 0 pens awarded for us. We have faced 4 however, (saving 2). 

FInances. 

[Jimbokav1971]

Dec 2054. 

Scottish Premiership. It was frustrating to lose to Aberdeen because I would have loved to keep our unbeaten run going. That's the way it goes sometimes though and it was just a close game that could have gone either way and went theirs. We were 2nd before we played Aberdeen, and although we have dropped to 4th it's still pretty tight at the top with 4 points separating the top 4. 

Strangely, both Celtic and Rangers each have up to 5 games in hand on some of the other clubs, and I don't really understand why. We're still in Europe so they shouldn't have played many more games than us. Celtic had to play 4 qualifying games in the Europa League, so that goes some way to explaining why they might have missed fixtures. but although Rangers played in Europa Conference qualifying, they didn't actually qualify so they have got no excuse for missing fixtures..... They're currently on a run of 17 games in the league without a win and in my opinion the manager is having an absolute shocker and needs to be shown the door immediately. There is no way they should be struggling like that with that squad. They have failed to score a goal in 8 of their matches this season. 6'5" Selfridge is doing his bit with 9 goals in the 1st half of the season, but the rest of the squad have been performing poorly. 

UEFA Champions League. We had a player sent off after just 2 mins in Croatia, but still managed to smash 6 (SIX) goals past them.  With 2 games left to play, we probably need at least 1 more point to qualify, and with us having to face Barca & Milan, that's not guaranteed at all. 

League Cup. This might only be a collection of friendlies...... but still. 

Internationals. 

Goal-scoring GK's. We were awarded 0 penalties in the opening 29 games of the season, and then we were awarded a penalty in each of the 30th, 31st and 32nd. 

(23) Brass (Bal) 6'2" is 5/8 from the spot at 63%. (Is no longer at the club).
(23) Ewing (Bal) 6'1" is 17/20 from the spot at 85%. (Is no longer at the club).
(25c) Christie (F.Sport) 6'1" is 46/52 from the spot at 88%. (Is no longer at the club). 
(26p) Marsh (CAN)(SCO) 5'10" is 15/17 from the spot at 88%. (Is no longer at the club).
(30a) Ogilvie (Fickle) 6'2" * is 47/64 from the spot at 73%. (Is no longer at the club).
(31k) Lawrie (Unamb) * is 23/29 from the spot at 79%. (Is no longer at the club). 
(33a) Black (Fickle) 6'0" * is 2/3 from the spot at 67%. (Is no longer at the club). 
(37b) Niven (F.Loyal) 6'4" * is 24/41 from the spot at 59%. (Is no longer at the club).
(39c) Telfer (F.Pro) 6'2" * is 29/44 from the spot at 66%.(Is no longer at the club).
(40e) Qurbonov (UZB) (Res) * is 0/2 from the spot at 0%. (Is no longer at the club). 
(43n) Welsh (F.Pro) 6'4" * is 62/77 from the spot at 80%.
(41h) Cairney (Unamb) 6'2" * is 7/12 from the spot at 58%. (Is no longer at the club). 

Finances. 

[Jimbokav1971]

Jan 2055. 

Scottish Premiership. Only 1 league game, but a win sends us back up to 2nd in the league. now just 1 point behind Ross County, (although Hibs and Aberdeen do have a game in hand). 

UEFA Champions League. 

Scottish Cup. (The Big one). 

Transfers.

Goal-scoring GK's.

(23) Brass (Bal) 6'2" is 5/8 from the spot at 63%. (Is no longer at the club).
(23) Ewing (Bal) 6'1" is 17/20 from the spot at 85%. (Is no longer at the club).
(25c) Christie (F.Sport) 6'1" is 46/52 from the spot at 88%. (Is no longer at the club). 
(26p) Marsh (CAN)(SCO) 5'10" is 15/17 from the spot at 88%. (Is no longer at the club).
(30a) Ogilvie (Fickle) 6'2" * is 47/64 from the spot at 73%. (Is no longer at the club).
(31k) Lawrie (Unamb) * is 23/29 from the spot at 79%. (Is no longer at the club). 
(33a) Black (Fickle) 6'0" * is 2/3 from the spot at 67%. (Is no longer at the club). 
(37b) Niven (F.Loyal) 6'4" * is 24/41 from the spot at 59%. (Is no longer at the club).
(39c) Telfer (F.Pro) 6'2" * is 29/44 from the spot at 66%.(Is no longer at the club).
(40e) Qurbonov (UZB) (Res) * is 0/2 from the spot at 0%. (Is no longer at the club). 
(43n) Welsh (F.Pro) 6'4" * is 62/77 from the spot at 80%.
(41h) Cairney (Unamb) 6'2" * is 7/12 from the spot at 58%. (Is no longer at the club). 
 

Finances. 

[Jimbokav1971]

Crashes. Feb 2055. 

I've had a few crashes here and there throughout the save, but nothing significant or regular and nothing that worried me about the long-term stability of the save...... until now. 

While I was selecting the team for the Villarreal game, (and promoting players from other squads because we have quite a few injuries at the moment), I kept getting crashes when I was moving players into the Senior squad after already picking them on the bench, but in the end I saved it day by day and moved the players at different times when not selected in the match day squad and it worked fine and I was able to get through the game. I think there were either 4 or 5 crashes during this period.

The next game though was the Scottish Cup game against St Johnstone and this time the game didn't crash, but it also didn't allow me to progress to the actual game because it told me we only had 2 GK selected, (and we needed 2), but we had a 2nd GK on the bench, (which isn't usually the case). 

Although it didn't crash, I was unable to fix this and in the end I had to just holiday through the day and let the Ass Man do the job. We won the game, (on pens), but my concern is that there are quite a few issues that keep happening and it's obviously on my mind. I'm just thankful we don't need a GK on the bench for league games or I would be really worried. 

Fingers crossed this isn't the beginning of the end, but it's certainly given me a scare. 

[Jimbokav1971]

Feb 2055. 

Scottish Premiership. We've been absolutely smashed to bits by injuries over the last 6 weeks or so, and it all came to a head in the Celtic game, when after we lost 2 more players with a virus in the build-up, and another during the game itself, we just ran out of steam and got turned over comfortably. We've still got 11 games to play though and although we're 4 points off Hibs and 2 points off Aberdeen, there is still plenty of football still to be played. I fully expect the league to go right to the wire, (and fingers crossed we're still involved at that stage). 

UEFA Champions League. We took Villarreal to extra time, but we just couldn't hang on for pens. We had started with a 17 year old debutant in midfield and we were hanging on for most of the game if I'm honest. We were just missing so many players and couldn't cope with 3 more games in 8 days. There is such a fine balancing act between making sure you have enough players that you can cope with the demands of so many competitions, and keeping too many players at the club which involves stunting their development. I think I've done it pretty well across this save, but I definitely got it wrong this season. The biggest mistake I made was thinking 1 midfielder is like any other other midfielder, and that's just not the case when you're replacing an experienced player in his prime who is used to making 40(ish) appearances, (including subs), every season, with a teenager who is very much untested in professional football. Every day is a school day as they say. 

Scottish Cup. (The Big one). We've won this and been Runners Up before. I really want to win it again. St Mirren play in League 1 so we should be able to to overcome them. 

Debuts. 

Transfers. 

Facilities. We haven't been able to request this for a while, but I checked again and there is was so I was straight in. 

Goal-scoring GK's.

(23) Brass (Bal) 6'2" is 5/8 from the spot at 63%. (Is no longer at the club).
(23) Ewing (Bal) 6'1" is 17/20 from the spot at 85%. (Is no longer at the club).
(25c) Christie (F.Sport) 6'1" is 46/52 from the spot at 88%. (Is no longer at the club). 
(26p) Marsh (CAN)(SCO) 5'10" is 15/17 from the spot at 88%. (Is no longer at the club).
(30a) Ogilvie (Fickle) 6'2" * is 47/64 from the spot at 73%. (Is no longer at the club).
(31k) Lawrie (Unamb) * is 23/29 from the spot at 79%. (Is no longer at the club). 
(33a) Black (Fickle) 6'0" * is 2/3 from the spot at 67%. (Is no longer at the club). 
(37b) Niven (F.Loyal) 6'4" * is 24/41 from the spot at 59%. (Is no longer at the club).
(39c) Telfer (F.Pro) 6'2" * is 29/44 from the spot at 66%.(Is no longer at the club).
(40e) Qurbonov (UZB) (Res) * is 0/2 from the spot at 0%. (Is no longer at the club). 
(43n) Welsh (F.Pro) 6'4" * is 62/77 from the spot at 80%.
(41h) Cairney (Unamb) 6'2" * is 7/12 from the spot at 58%. (Is no longer at the club). 
(46e) Hunter (Res) 6'0" * is 1/1 from the spot at 100%. 

Finances. 

[Jimbokav1971]

Youth Intake day. Mar 2055.

The intake doesn't look great. 

[RoguPL]

You caught up quite a lot of ground. I think you were 15 or 16 points behind Ross County and Hibs ! 

On the other side, imagine Celtic and Rangers go down to Championship in the same season, new Scottish football reality if they become yo yo clubs 

[Jimbokav1971]

2 hours ago, RoguPL said:

You caught up quite a lot of ground. I think you were 15 or 16 points behind Ross County and Hibs ! 

Yeah, we had games in hand I think. 

[Jimbokav1971]

2 hours ago, RoguPL said:

On the other side, imagine Celtic and Rangers go down to Championship in the same season, new Scottish football reality if they become yo yo clubs 

Rangers are a shambles. Their squad is plenty good enough to finish in the top half if they were being managed by me. Their 6'5" TM should be running riot. They've even got a 6'6" backup TM who is reasonable so they don't even have to change tactic.  

Celtic is even more ridiculous. They got to the last 16 of the Europa League, (losing to Lille), but are struggling at the moment because 3 of their best 4 players are injured and they have lost 5 on the bounce in all competitions right now, (scoring just 1 goal over the 5 games). Their problem is that their 3 main goal-scorers  are injured at the moment. They have scored 33 goals between them, and the next highest goal-scorer in the squad has scored 3. When they get their goals back on the pitch I expect them to be fine. 

In any case, while Celtic might be 3rd from bottom at the moment, Rangers are 2nd bottom but have exactly half their number of points. That's ridiculous. 

There are 8 games to play and although Celtic aren't going to finish in the top half, I still think there's a decent chance that they finish 7th and qualify for Europe. 

[Jimbokav1971]

3 minutes ago, twocutepenguins said:

@Jimbokav1971, I may have found why you cannot increase your youth facilities, because I'm experiencing the same thing in my save. Basically, if your regular training facilities are maxed out, you can no longer upgrade your youth facilities, regardless of factors such as reputation or finances. Since you have the in-game editor, you can check by changing your training facilities from 20 to 18 or 16; at this point, when you go to the board requests screen, you should have the option to increase your youth facilities. It's a bit silly, but it's what I found.

If this turns out to be the case on your save as well, you can either wait for the game to automatically downgrade your training facilities due to technological advancements (or whatever that message says) or do the same thing manually, by using the in-game editor. Then, make sure you max out your youth facilities before your training facilities.

Obviously, there are other factors in play, such as your board's preference for youth development, but having maxed out training facilities seems to prevent you from being able to upgrade your youth facilities.

Thanks for the reply @twocutepenguinsbut I don't actually think you're correct because I've recent managed to do it. I think it's restricted by a number of hidden factors and in my case I think the... "Financial weighting" in Scotland, (I'm not sure what the accurate term is in the game), but the suggestion is basically that a really big club in Scotland is able to spend significantly less money on infrastructure than in comparison to Scotland, so this is somehow factored into the game to make it harder. Other areas that will be of consideration are finances and/or reputation and I think these all play a part. 

This is our current facilities.

And this shows that the Youth Facilities upgrade will be completed in 5 month. 

I think sometimes, because we can't see the inner workings of the game, we just assume that something is a bug simply because we don't know why it's working as it is. In this case I don't know your situation so it could well be a bug, but from my point of view I was prepared to give it the benefit of the doubt for a while and see if I could improve in areas which might make an impact, (if a bug didn't exist). In my situation at least this has worked ok and at least for now I have been able to request an upgrade. WHat I would expect is the next level to take some more improvement to "unlock". 

Do you mind if I ask a few questions about your save?

What year you are in.
What club/Nation you are managing at/in? 
What is you club reputation, (in stars and numerical value if you have the editor)?
How successful has your club been?
What are your Facilities, (words and numbers if you have the editor). 
How long ago were you last able to request an upgrade?
What is your club bank balance? 

[Jimbokav1971]

NxGn 2055. 

Of course I've won this award before in FM, but I'm almost positive that I have never had #1 & #2 and also pretty sure I haven't had 3 players in the Top 10. 

We've got 8x 5.0 PA players at the club currently. 

4 were on the NxGn list this year. 
1 was too old to get on the list this year. 
Last season we had #8, #10, 20 & #41

(51c) Mackie (F.Pro) (IRL) * was #10 in 2054 and #2 in 2055. 
(52a) Fraher (IRL) (F.Det) * was #20 in 2054 and #22 in 2055.
(53a) Brownlie (Dri) 5'11" * was #8 in 2054 and #9 in 2055 and ridiculously has 2 more years on the list. 

You might notice that 3 of the 8 players are currently injured, and I'm starting to worry that I am playing them too often, too early and this is taking a toll on them. We've been absolutely smashed with injuries this season. 

Edited April 26 by Jimbokav1971

[Jimbokav1971]

Mar 2055.

Scottish Premiership. How have we dropped 5 points against bloomin Rangers of all people? I'll tell you how! By disparaging them here in the thread and falling foul of the FM Gods. That's how! 

Scottish Cup. (The Big one). We have a decent chance of making the Final because Partick Thistle are 5th in the Championship. 

Internationals. 

Injuries. 

Goal-scoring GK's.

(23) Brass (Bal) 6'2" is 5/8 from the spot at 63%. (Is no longer at the club).
(23) Ewing (Bal) 6'1" is 17/20 from the spot at 85%. (Is no longer at the club).
(25c) Christie (F.Sport) 6'1" is 46/52 from the spot at 88%. (Is no longer at the club). 
(26p) Marsh (CAN)(SCO) 5'10" is 15/17 from the spot at 88%. (Is no longer at the club).
(30a) Ogilvie (Fickle) 6'2" * is 47/64 from the spot at 73%. (Is no longer at the club).
(31k) Lawrie (Unamb) * is 23/29 from the spot at 79%. (Is no longer at the club). 
(33a) Black (Fickle) 6'0" * is 2/3 from the spot at 67%. (Is no longer at the club). 
(37b) Niven (F.Loyal) 6'4" * is 24/41 from the spot at 59%. (Is no longer at the club).
(39c) Telfer (F.Pro) 6'2" * is 29/44 from the spot at 66%.(Is no longer at the club).
(40e) Qurbonov (UZB) (Res) * is 0/2 from the spot at 0%. (Is no longer at the club). 
(43n) Welsh (F.Pro) 6'4" * is 63/78 from the spot at 81%.
(41h) Cairney (Unamb) 6'2" * is 7/12 from the spot at 58%. (Is no longer at the club). 
(46e) Hunter (Res) 6'0" * is 1/1 from the spot at 100%. 

Finances. 

[twocutepenguins]

7 hours ago, Jimbokav1971 said:

I don't actually think you're correct because I've recent managed to do it

You're right. I've removed the post to avoid spreading misinformation.

After seeing that you got your upgrade, I tried out some more theories and it seems that club reputation also plays a part. Provided that your club meets a certain reputation threshold, you can request a youth facility upgrade. Financial considerations are also important, as part of a more complex algorithm. Certainly not a bug.

It's been over two in-game years since my last upgrade and I'm currently managing an Atlético de Madrid side with healthy finances, so I just got a little antsy.

My apologies. Keep up the great work!

[Jimbokav1971]

4 hours ago, twocutepenguins said:

You're right. I've removed the post to avoid spreading misinformation.

After seeing that you got your upgrade, I tried out some more theories and it seems that club reputation also plays a part. Provided that your club meets a certain reputation threshold, you can request a youth facility upgrade. Financial considerations are also important, as part of a more complex algorithm. Certainly not a bug.

It's been over two in-game years since my last upgrade and I'm currently managing an Atlético de Madrid side with healthy finances, so I just got a little antsy.

My apologies. Keep up the great work!

I completely understand it. I remember in a previous save thinking there was a decent chance that something like this was a bug, but until I know for a fact I always have hope.