vikeologist

Vikeologist's 2039/40 Hibs Report Crazy end to the season. With 9 matches to go, we were in 3rd and 10 points behind leaders Celtic. My priority was the Champions League, and also rotating my squad so the youngsters were developing and the seniors (and a lot of them really are seniors now) were rested should we get to the business end of the Champions League. Readers, we did not get to that business end. Rangers, Celtic and ourselves all won our CL groups and then went out in the 1st Knockout stage, which given that all the other Scottish sides are no help, was very bad news for our coefficient and hopes of reaching 4th and the 4 CL group stage spots. The more immediate problem though was that I obviously stood no chance of overtaking Celtic from that deficit. Our goalie was injured, meaning I had to put a 16 year between the sticks, and we had a few other players out with injuries as well. The only thing I could do was play my strongest team until we failed to win a league match and hope for a miracle. Well, the miracle happened. In fact we nearly screwed it up by drawing our last 2 matches, but we still won the league for the 7th time in a row, albeit by a single point. Nothing to be proud of. Our 84 point tally was the lowest title winning total; by any SPL champions ever probably. Celtic had their revenge on penalties in the Scottish Cup final after we had a player sent off early. Top Goalscorer – Ethan Wilson – 25 Matty Duffy 35b scored only 2 fewer goals despite starting only a third as many matches. Wilson is supposedly a better player, but Duffy consistently scores more goals. As always the disclaimer that Wilson tends to be picked for the more difficult matches. I’ve lessened Wilson’s squad status, but he complains very quickly about his playing time. As with many positions, at some point I’m going to have to commit to the next generation and drop the veterans. Highest Average Rating (minimum 10 matches played) – Brandon Hunter – 7.59 The veteran world class midfielder I managed to sign back a couple of seasons ago. Man of The Match – Martin Duncanson / Brandon Hunter - 7 Most Valuable Player– Martin Duncanson Duncanson is our best player. Best right winger (where he plays) but also best striker and attacking midfielder. It would be nice if I could clone him. Wonderkid / Youth Watch We had 2 players in the NxGn 50 again. Eric Strickland 36a was 3rd and Mark Davidson 38b a promising left winger. Neither of them are actually starters. There was a third Scottish player in the list; John Rennie, who’s the new Richard Gough apparently. Anyway, I’ve signed him, and he’s joining in the summer. I have signed a lot of central defenders, and had promising ones come through in the intakes. I just need one to develop into a first teamer. No official Scottish wonderkids at the moment. Hibs Season Position MVP Notes 21/22 4th Kyle Magennis Scottish / League Cup double. 22/23 3rd Kevin Nisbet No trophies, but massive progression. 23/24 4th Kyle Magennis Scottish Cup Winners 24/25 2nd Kyle Magennis Another domestic cup double and first CL qualification. 25/26 4th Kyle Magennis League Cup and reached the group stage of the Champions League 26/27 2nd Josh Doig Europa Conference Winners 27/28 3rd Chris Mochrie Scottish Cup winners 28/29 2nd Chris Mochrie Scottish Cup winners (again) and CL S/F 29/30 2nd Chris Mochrie Threw away league title last match of the season. 30/31 1st Chris Mochrie League/ Cup double. 31/32 2nd Chris Mochrie No trophies 32/33 2nd Ethan Wilson Threw away a 7 point lead with 4 matches to play. Europa League. 33/34 1st Chris Mochrie Won league with about 8 matches to spare. CL 1st KO Round. Lost Sc Cup final. 34/35 1st Chris Mochrie Unbeaten league season. CL 1st K/O 35/36 1st Chris Mochrie League / Scottish Cup double. CL Q/F 36/37 1st Chris Mochrie League. CL 1R 37/38 1st Martin Duncanson League/LC double. Cl Q/F Last season at Easter Rd. 38/39 1st Martin Duncanson League/LC double, but went to last day. CL S/F. 39/40 1st Martin Duncanson 7th title in a row, from a 10 point deficit with 9 matches to go. Scotland Season World Ranking Next Year's Euro Coefficient Prem League Ranking 21/22 41st 10th 11th Qualified for the World Cup 22/23 18th 8th Promoted from Euro League Div B after winning all 6 matches. World Cup R2 23/24 19th 8th 9th Topped Euro Championship Qualifiying. Reached Euros Q/F 24/25 16th 8th 8th 2nd in Euro League group. 25/26 17th 10th 8th Qualified for World Cup 26/27 20th 6th 9th Eliminnated in WC R2. Stayed in NL Dision A. 27/28 18th 6th 7th Qualified for Euros. Reached Euros Q/F 28/29 16th 6th 7th 3rd in Nations League group 29/30 18th 5th 6th Qualified for World Cup (on goal difference, in 2nd place). 30/31 12th 5th 6th World Cup 3rd place. Avoided Nations League group of death relegation. 31/32 11th 6th 6th Euros Q/F 32/33 8th 5th 6th Nations League S/F 33/34 10th 5th 6th World Cup R3 34/35 9th 5th 6th Failed to make NL S/F 35/36 6th 5th 6th Won 2036 Euros 36/37 6th 5th 6th Nations League SF 37/38 6th 5th 5th World Cup 3rd place (again). 38/39 5th 6th 5th Nations League SF 39/40 5th 6th

Vikeologist's 2039 Nations League Report About to post a new Hibs season report, and realised that I'd never said what happened last summer in the Nations League. Yeah, knocked out in the semifinals, and of course i realise that getting Scotland to the point is good, but it really does bring home how many times we've fallen short in major semifinals. Scotland - 1 final (2036 Euros which we did win). 5 Semifinals defeats. 3 Nations League, 2 World Cup. Hibs - 2 finals (Europa Conference and Europa League, both of which we won). 2 semifinal defeats in the Champions League. Honestly, I don't really think of the Europa League and Conference as major tournaments, and sure we've never lost a continental or international tournament final, but it is frustrating to have lost so many semifinals, especially those 2 World Cups. Obviously we've played in a lot of Scottish domestic cup finals.

I'm not a Republican. I might watch the news for 10 minutes this evening, but I don't really get it. It's just a funeral. Nothing's going to happen. I mean, obviously if I was live screen-shotting I could get ahead of the memes. It is going to be one of the most important days for memes. I concede that. The Coronation might be a bit interesting, and for those people who watching it all is important, that's fine. Ceremony is important for some.

963 is just the highest number of appearances anybody's ever put in the Records thread, (which I know is a joke because I'm the only one who even enters records there anymore.). I've never come close to it though, even when I've done long saves at one club. Maybe in part because I've never tried to maximise players' appearances, (and almost none of my long standing players in my current save have actually come through my club's youth ranks, so typically don't join the club until their early twenties) but still, I doubt I've had players go much over 600 appearances.

This isn't really an idea for a new challenge per se, but would anybody be interested in pitching our best challenge teams against one another in Versus mode? It's the kind of thing we could do near the end of an FM version /iteration.

Maybe the only similar challenge was for a player to get 1,000 goals. I think it was called the Danny Roberts challenge, nd perhaps there was an even earlier version clalled the Pele challenge. Oh,no. I'm wrong. There was this. Anyway, if your players do rack up a lot of appearances, or goals, you could see if you could break the CSE Forum record of 963. (Yes, I'm never going to stop flogging this dead horse, and I know it's not the actual record).

@Gregg88This is the tough things with bugs. Sometimes they don't affect everybody, or start for no apparent reason. That's why it's important to send savegames to SI, but we're obviously in a situation now where perhaps they'd really only be testing the new game to see if they can reproduce it in that. Maybe people have mentioned this earlier in the thread. I'll have a look. Update: The problem that could be fixed by saving the day before the nation reload date was a different problem (and FM21), so maybe I can't help. The problem I came across was when I was adding leagues (and then trying to stop adding them before the reload date because I'd changed my mind) so maybe not exactly the same. There's a section in the first post of the thread where I usually identify the bugs that I'm aware of that may affect the challenge, but this year there's just too many.

No, I've seen this bug. In fact, it's what made me give up on my occasional Ult Challenge this year. I presume it's the same. when I added leagues, but then changed my mind, when it came to rest day, all the leagues from that nation reappeared. I mean, it wasn't exactly the same, because they weren't there before the reset date. I'm not sure it will work, but if you save the game the day before the reset, and try removing them on that day. I realise that this is a save destroying bug. One of many, which partly accounts for my lack of enthusiasm on this challenge this year. Let's hope FM23 is better.

What is the adjective? Actually, I've looked it up and there is no firm precedent. The rule of Charles I was the Caroline era. That of Charles II was the Carolean. I suspect it's Carolean that was take hold.

Trump has released a statement. Just nobody cares. (He didn't say anything embarrassing though. I mean, I doubt he's even seen what he said).

Well, being blunt, he's not really the third Charles to be King of Scotland, so yes, in fact he is Charles IV of Scotland. #Jacobites (Bonnie) Charles Edward Stuart was King of England as well in reality.

Yes, he can call himself anything, although using any of his four names would have been most likely. The first name of the King before Liz wasn't George.

As I'm genuinely curious, is the confirmation he's going to be King Charles III just the Truss statement? because when she said it, I thought she may have just assumed. All the official Palace statements have avoided stating this.

Maybe someone has pointed this out, but the title of this entire thread is wrong. Operation London Bridge is only if she dies in London. If she dies in Scotland it's called Operation Unicorn. This is why it's taking so long. Everybody has been conditioned to expect a text message saying 'London Bridge is Down' but instead they've all received messages saying, 'The Unicorn has lost its horn', and they think Boris is pissed and still has control of government comms. Not many people know that the unicorn is the national animal of Scotland, and as a Scot, the fact that it's something completely mythical makes absolute bloody sense to me.

It's almost certainly going to be one of his names. Luckily he has 4. Charles Phillip Arthur George. Arthur's the tricky one, because he'd be (in HoT parlance) the first of that name, which would upset those who think there was a real King Arthur.

Nothing at all, and I really don't know that he's ever committed to Charles. I mean, I do think someone would advise against Thanos, but apparently he's quite stubborn.

This is a conspiracy theory I could get behind, that Liz has been on death's door for a week, but found one final burst of life to get up and laugh at Boris, 'Incidentally, I'm about to die, and I just want you to know that you've missed your chance to be the centre of attention when it happens'.

Wen announcement? (Sorry, spending too much time on web3).

Olympics and Pan-American have never been part of the challenge. It doesn't seem like 2 years since the Confed Cup disappeared, but maybe I'm losing track of time as I speed towards my inevitable demise. Anyway, your challenge. Up to you whether you do 33 if that's an option.

Welcome to the challenge. If you're doing it on FM20, are you going to try to also win the Confederations Cup, which would the 33rd trophy? (I think that was in FM20). You don't need to. You can just do the same 32 as everyone has to do now. 32 is plenty, but I'm just letting you know that in those old days, there used to be 33 things to win. You are of course more than welcome to post your progress on this thread, however many landmarks you're aiming for. This thread is not version specific.

@CrispypaulWelcome back (welcomed belatedly, I suspect) to the only leader board that matters.

Goddamnit. Nice won the Europa Conference and managed to overtake both us and Germany, which means that we'll only have 2 clubs in the CL group stage next season. This is ridiculous, but we should be able to overtake both France and Germany over the next 2 seasons.

Sorry, saw this overnight, and then forgot to reply. Normally you just do as you say. Load up and remove leagues as you need them. If you start in a big European league, you may have to go quite low in the leagues before you get a job. That's what I'm going to do when I do this challenge in FM23, start in England, probably in the Conference, and work my way up. That's what I did do in my aborted FM22 attempt at the challenge, until a bug made that save unplayable. So I would only load up one nation in Europe to start with, unless your computer is super powerful. If you are starting in Asia or Africa however, and do Europe last, you should be able to just manage in the top leagues. I think the 1st time I did the challenge, I only ever managed in top divisions, but that's almost impossible to do now. I believe to be able to get a job in the top division of one of the big 5 nations, you'd probably need to win all the other bits including the Libertadores, or win another biggish Euro league, but it's not that simple. Largely because you'll also be managing international teams, and that has both positive and negative effects on the jobs you can get. Your reputation can fall as well as rise. Doesn't matter what version of the game you're playing. I don't do a new thread every year, and this will be the same thread for FM23, unless.... And it's a big unless Women's football is introduced in FM23. And even then I might just have separate challenges for men's and women's football. Not to cater for haters of the women's game. I'd just have to see how many trophies one could win in the Women's game before deciding whether the challenge will be split. Anyway, if something big changes in the game that affects the challenge, we'll need a new thread, but otherwise I'll keep this one going for FM23. Hope that answers all your questions. Let me know if you have any others.

Vikeologist's 2038/9 Hibs Report Reached the semi-finals of the Champions League for the second time, 10 years after the first, but we nearly paid for that continental progress with the title race going to the last day of the season. We gave up a hefty league lead and finished with by far the worst points total of our league wins, but needing a point in our final match, we won 6-0 to secure our 6th title in a row. We were thoroughly outclassed by Real Madrid in the Champions League semi despite having a full strength team. I really think this is the best Hibs team of my save, but maybe we’re just a season over the hill, and our chance has probably gone now. At the start of the season I signed back Brandon Hunter, which meant that the Hibs and Scotland first eleven are now identical. Hunter, 34 now, was very expensive, but now we’re in a new stadium, which is already being further expanded, it was worth a shot. I wonder what would have happened if I hadn’t sold him 10 years ago, but I’m not sure I had a choice at the time. IIRC he would have just left on a free at the end of his contract. We came really close to finishing 4th in the Euro coefficients and securing a 4th Champions League group spot for a Scottish team, but we’ll have a small chance next season, and a huge chance the one after that. On the other hand, France are right behind us so it’s a 3-way fight. Let’s be honest, the 4th Scottish team wouldn’t know what to do with the CL group stage spot, but maybe the money would give them the necessary kick. The weird thing is that 3 times in the last 5 seasons St Johnstone have finished 4th, and the 2 seasons in between they haven’t even finished in the top 6. There is no clear cut threat to the bug 3 (the Old Firm and us). Our (Scotland’s) NYR / Generated Players is now 99. It might hit 3 figures this summer, (from a start of 83). Top Goalscorer – Jai Bannister 33b / Brandon Hunter – 16 Jai Bannister is an attacking midfielder, and ex-wonderkid. Hunter takes the penalties, which made up 12 of his 16 goals. Our starting striker Ethan Wilson was injured for 2 months, and of course I rotate a lot, but it was still a really bad season for him finishing with 14, and only 8 in the league. Wilson’s backup for the last 5 seasons or so is leaving in the summer for Newcastle. Billy Hughes 31e did ok when Wilson was out, but I have 2 young strikers who are probably as good if not better than him, and I think he’s been going backwards on the bench in my 1 striker formation. It may be a mistake, but his salary is enormous, and I’m pretty certain one of the youngsters can step up. The question is whether to drop the now 31 year old Wilson for a kid, probably 19-year old Matty Duffy 35b, after this bad season. 20 year old Darren Little 34b, whose been out on loan his whole career is also an option. Little has never played a first game match for Hibs, but he has picked up his first international cap, and he scored. Scotland has a surfeit of top strikers, which is a pain given the one striker formation, which I could of course change Highest Average Rating (minimum 10 matches played) – Brandon Hunter – 7.52 I don’t remember the last time Chris Mochrie didn’t win this, but he is 36 now and in evident decline. He’s still my second best dedicated shadow striker so not about to be dropped just yet, but his 18 year-old replacement is snapping at his heels. Mochrie’s 13th season as a starter may be his last. We’re nearing the end of an era. Man of The Match – Brandon Hunter - 7 Most Valuable Player– Martin Duncanson Duncanson is our best player. Best right winger (where he plays) but also best striker and attacking midfielder. It would be nice if I could clone him. Wonderkid / Youth Watch We had 2 players in the NxGn 50 again. Eric Strickland 36a was runner up and is Mochrie’s replacement in waiting. The other is Matty Duffy 35b who is Etan Wilson’s heir apparent. I don’t think there are any official Scottish wonderkids at the moment, but there are some good young players. Just not sure we have all the positions covered. Reached the semi-finals of the Champions League for the second time, 10 years after the first, but we nearly paid for that continental progress with the title race going to the last day of the season. We gave up a hefty league lead and finished with by far the worst points total of our league wins, but needing a point in our final match, we won 6-0 to secure our 6th title in a row. We were thoroughly outclassed by Real Madrid in the Champions League semi despite having a full strength team. I really think this is the best Hibs team of my save, but maybe we’re just a season over the hill, and our chance has probably gone now. At the start of the season I signed back Brandon Hunter, which meant that the Hibs and Scotland first eleven are now identical. Hunter, 34 now, was very expensive, but now we’re in a new stadium, which is already being further expanded, it was worth a shot. I wonder what would have happened if I hadn’t sold him 10 years ago, but I’m not sure I had a choice at the time. IIRC he would have just left on a free at the end of his contract. We came really close to finishing 4th in the Euro coefficients and securing a 4th Champions League group spot for a Scottish team, but we’ll have a small chance next season, and a huge chance the one after that. On the other hand, France are right behind us so it’s a 3-way fight. Let’s be honest, the 4th Scottish team wouldn’t know what to do with the CL group stage spot, but maybe the money would give them the necessary kick. The weird thing is that 3 times in the last 5 seasons St Johnstone have finished 4th, and the 2 seasons in between they haven’t even finished in the top 6. There is no clear cut threat to the bug 3 (the Old Firm and us). Our (Scotland’s) NYR / Generated Players is now 99. It might hit 3 figures this summer, (from a start of 83). Top Goalscorer – Jai Bannister 33b / Brandon Hunter – 16 Jai Bannister is an attacking midfielder, and ex-wonderkid. Hunter takes the penalties, which made up 12 of his 16 goals. Our starting striker Ethan Wilson was injured for 2 months, and of course I rotate a lot, but it was still a really bad season for him finishing with 14, and only 8 in the league. Wilson’s backup for the last 5 seasons or so is leaving in the summer for Newcastle. Billy Hughes 31e did ok when Wilson was out, but I have 2 young strikers who are probably as good if not better than him, and I think he’s been going backwards on the bench in my 1 striker formation. It may be a mistake, but his salary is enormous, and I’m pretty certain one of the youngsters can step up. The question is whether to drop the now 31 year old Wilson for a kid, probably 19-year old Matty Duffy 35b, after this bad season. 20 year old Darren Little 34b, whose been out on loan his whole career is also an option. Little has never played a first game match for Hibs, but he has picked up his first international cap, and he scored. Scotland has a surfeit of top strikers, which is a pain given the one striker formation, which I could of course change Highest Average Rating (minimum 10 matches played) – Brandon Hunter – 7.52 I don’t remember the last time Chris Mochrie didn’t win this, but Mochrie is 36 now and in evident decline. He’s still my second best dedicated shadow striker so not about to be dropped just yet, but his 18 year-old replacement is snapping at his heels. Mochrie’s 13th season as a starter may be his last. We’re nearing the end of an era. Man of The Match – Brandon Hunter - 7 Most Valuable Player– Martin Duncanson Duncanson is our best player. Best right winger (where he plays) but also best striker and attacking midfielder. It would be nice if I could clone him. Wonderkid / Youth Watch We had 2 players in the NxGn 50 again. Eric Strickland 36a was runner up and is Mochrie’s replacement in waiting. The other is Matty Duffy 35b who is Etan Wilson’s heir apparent. I don’t think there are any official Scottish wonderkids at the moment. Next Up- The Nations League semifinal with Scotland. In 2 years time I hope to be in the World Club Championship with Hibs and won't pick any Hibs players for the Nations League semis even if we get there, so this might be my last chance at this (admittedly not all that important) competition. Of course, if we ever had a higher reputation than England (and it is quite close), I could ask all the duel-nationality Sassenachs to play for us instead. Hibs Season Position MVP Notes 21/22 4th Kyle Magennis Scottish / League Cup double. 22/23 3rd Kevin Nisbet No trophies, but massive progression. 23/24 4th Kyle Magennis Scottish Cup Winners 24/25 2nd Kyle Magennis Another domestic cup double and first CL qualification. 25/26 4th Kyle Magennis League Cup and reached the group stage of the Champions League 26/27 2nd Josh Doig Europa Conference Winners 27/28 3rd Chris Mochrie Scottish Cup winners 28/29 2nd Chris Mochrie Scottish Cup winners (again) and CL S/F 29/30 2nd Chris Mochrie Threw away league title last match of the season. 30/31 1st Chris Mochrie League/ Cup double. 31/32 2nd Chris Mochrie No trophies 32/33 2nd Ethan Wilson Threw away a 7 point lead with 4 matches to play. Europa League. 33/34 1st Chris Mochrie Won league with about 8 matches to spare. CL 1st KO Round. Lost Sc Cup final. 34/35 1st Chris Mochrie Unbeaten league season. CL 1st K/O 35/36 1st Chris Mochrie League / Scottish Cup double. CL Q/F 36/37 1st Chris Mochrie League. CL 1R 37/38 1st Martin Duncanson League/LC double. Cl Q/F Last season at Easter Rd. 38/39 1st Martin Duncanson League/LC double, but went to last day. CL S/F. Scotland Season World Ranking Next Year's Euro Coefficient Prem League Ranking 21/22 41st 10th 11th Qualified for the World Cup 22/23 18th 8th Promoted from Euro League Div B after winning all 6 matches. World Cup R2 23/24 19th 8th 9th Topped Euro Championship Qualifiying. Reached Euros Q/F 24/25 16th 8th 8th 2nd in Euro League group. 25/26 17th 10th 8th Qualified for World Cup 26/27 20th 6th 9th Eliminnated in WC R2. Stayed in NL Dision A. 27/28 18th 6th 7th Qualified for Euros. Reached Euros Q/F 28/29 16th 6th 7th 3rd in Nations League group 29/30 18th 5th 6th Qualified for World Cup (on goal difference, in 2nd place). 30/31 12th 5th 6th World Cup 3rd place. Avoided Nations League group of death relegation. 31/32 11th 6th 6th Euros Q/F 32/33 8th 5th 6th Nations League S/F 33/34 10th 5th 6th World Cup R3 34/35 9th 5th 6th Failed to make NL S/F 35/36 6th 5th 6th Won 2036 Euros 36/37 6th 5th 6th Nations League SF 37/38 6th 5th 5th World Cup 3rd place (again). 38/39 5th 5th

Hi. Didn't realise you were on double figures. Have added you to leader board. In my defense, that table is pretty hard to read for the running total on my laptop, and I usually read the updates on my phone.