Jimbokav1971

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.

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 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.

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

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.

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.

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.

I hope so, but time will tell.

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.

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.

NxGn 2054.

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.

Youth Intake day. Mar 2045.

Feb 2054. Scottish Premiership. 3 good wins, (especially as 2 of them were away), but we're conceding too many goals for my liking. We're 2 points ahead of Hibs now and also have a game in hand. The gap between them and Aberdeen in 3rd has grown to 8 points and it would seem to be down to a 2 horse race now. Scottish Cup. (The Big one). Not happy. Not happy at all. Debuts. Transfers. 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. 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 57/72 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.

It's ranked #8 at the moment. 185 Premier League. 180 Serie A. 180 LaLiga. 173 German Bundesliga. 172 Ligue 1. (Not active league). 166 Liga Portugal. (Not active league). 162 Eredivisie. (Not active league). 153 Scottish Premiership. 152 Süper Lig. (Not active league). 147 Austrian Bundesliga. (Not active league). I know that league reputations are now fluid, but I'm also aware that they're not "very" fluid and that any changes are very small and very gradual over a long period of time. I don't know what the starting figures or even the starting positions were. In terms of reputation stars though, the Premiership are the highest of the 3.5 * competitions, with 4 rated at 4.0 * and then the top 3 at 4.5 * rating. I will try to remember to come back and look at the repn ratings each season.

TV Rights. Racing CFF in France £18M, Tullibody in Scotland £1.5M Sponsorship. Racing CFF in France £7M, Tullibody in Scotland £1.6M. League Prize money. Racing CFF in France £8M, Tullibody in Scotland £2.4M. Attendances. Racing CFF in France 10,500, Tullibody in Scotland 10,502. By the looks of these we're miles off France, (which is a fair bit off England). I'll keep an eye on my request list.

Which structure are you managing in by the way?

Jan 2054. Scottish Premiership. After playing 8 league games last month, we only have to play 1 this month. UEFA Champions League. I think we've done really well for the 2nd Team to get to the Champions league Playoff at the 1st attempt. Scottish Cup. (The Big one). I've still got the hump about losing in the League Cup, (despite it effectively being a friendly), so I made sure we made no mistake here. 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 57/71 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.

Good info to have. I think it's unlikely that it's a bug. I think it's more likely that some of the Scottish structure stuff under the hood relates poorly to the same English structure stuff. What would allow an English club to request an upgrade won't allow a similar Scottish club. Game Importance is likely to be very similar between the 2 Nations/structures, but the Finances aspect of that should probably be significantly different and that's probably what's causing the issues here. If you compare the average level of Facilities in Scotland compared to Facilities in ENgland then there is an enormous difference. It will be interesting to keep an eye on this and see how we unlock opportunities for improvrmrnt.

I think there is a difference between the board not being willing to upgrade facilities, and the option to a request an upgrade being unavailable. I know there was a problem with this in the past, (bug), but that was only at the very top levels and that wouldn't seem to be the case here. It could be a bug but I just prefer to think that it's something in the game that we just haven't triggered yet. Money is no longer an issue so it definitely isn't that, so reputation is the obvious answer, (although maybe not 100% accurate). There are 28 clubs in Europe with a Worldwide reputation. 1. AC Milan (9,997) 2. PSG 3. Atletico 4. Spurs 5. Real Madrid. Then there are 41 European Teams with a Continental reputation. 29. Hamburg (8,242) 30. Eintracht Frankfurt 31. Bayer 04 Leverkusen 32. FC Kaiserslautern 33. Everton Then there are 6 Major European clubs with a National reputation. 70. Werder Bremen (7,304) 71. Wolfsburg 72. Wolves 73. FC København 74. PSV Eindhoven So there are 75 "Major" clubs in my game. (I don't know if this is always the case). When we also add in Minor Clubs we appear. We're 64th of the "National" Rep clubs so we're 133rd on the list. 89. Celtic (7.014) 94. Hibs (6,960) 103. Aberdeen (6728) 131. Saint-Étienne 132. Fortuna Düsseldorf 133. Tullibody (6467) 134. Rostov 135. FC Utrecht 152. FC Viktoria Plzeň (6301)

Dec 2053. Scottish Premiership. 8 league games in 1 month is a lot, so to take 17 points from a possible 24 is pretty good going. The Airdrie result was a real shame, but to be honest we were poor and they deserved the win. It means that we're back to the top of the table, 2 points clear of Aberdeen, but we have 2 games in hand on them. 2 points further back are Hibs, and they actually have 1 game in hand on us, so to me hibs seem like our nearest challengers. Celtic are 14 points off the pace at the moment and it will take something special from them to get back into contention. UEFA Champions League. After 3 losses in Europe, we're back to winning ways. With 2 games remaining to play it's still in the balance as to whether we will qualify for the Playoffs or not. We probably need to win 1 of the remaining games to do so. Debuts. Although he's only 16 years old, (53c) Robertson (L.Heart) is a reasonable looking MC. with quite a few players out on loan and a little spate of midfielders getting injured, he came in and started the Champions League game against Lyon, (5-0 win), and then the Premiership game against St Johnstone, (2-0 win). Job Offer. I've just seen Barca absolutely bottle the 2nd leg of the Champions League Quarter Finals against PSG. No way I'm going to this interview! Transfers. I'm keen to keep selling players, even if only to clear the pathway for the next generation. It's a real shame that this graph only shows the income from initial sales, and doesn't include the receipt of add-ons and clauses and the like. I'm not even sure if it includes payments by instalment, (I don't think it does). Something that I think a lot of people overlook in FM saves in Transfer Debt. This usually means, (in a normal save), how much you owe other clubs for transfer deals which you've done in the past, but where the fees, (instalments), haven't been paid yet. In this case our Transfer Debt is red and in brackets which means it a minus figure. A minus figure for debt means it's not a debt at all. In fact it means that other clubs owe us £16M in guaranteed transfer income. This isn't like potential clauses that might be made. This is absolutely 100% guaranteed income that will be paid no matter what. In this particular instance we're owed over £16M in guaranteed The £16M comes from the sale of 6 different players, but you will notice that I put 3 different instalment clauses in the recent (42b) Potter (F.Pro) * sale, (just because I was keen to push things a little). (52a) Fraher (IRL) (F.Det) * has been recalled from his loan spell in the Championship Records. Facilities. It's frustrating but I haven't got the option to request a Youth Facility upgrade. It could be a bug, but it also could be linked to reputation, (although I would have thought that the ceiling for our current rep would be higher than the current Youth Facility level of 9. I'm not really sure what to make of it, but I guess I'll just keep plugging away and hope that an option to request an upgrade appears soon and maybe after we pop to Continental reputation now that we're in the Champions League. 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 57/71 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.

Nov 2053. Scottish Premiership. We were poor against Aberdeen and they probably deserved their win. It means we've now lost 3 on the bounce in all competitions. UEFA Champions League. The 2nd Team are struggling a little at the moment and lose 2 more European games, both by a single goal. League Cup. We should have won this in the 90. We had gazillions of chances but couldn't take enough of them to get the job done. Debuts. Internationals. Records. Goal-scoring GK's. Finances.

Goal 50. Nov 2053. Mark McCoist isn't one of our players and also isn't a product of our Academy, but the only reason he's being included is simply because he's Scottish. Bayern have 4 of the top 10 and 6 of the top 20.

It was interesting that after I posted this, we seemed to go on a little spree of our MC's scoring and assisting just about everything. Against Rangers, both (42b) Potter (F.Pro) * and (45e) Brass6 (Fickle) MC * scored from central midfield. Against Celtic, (44b) Harvey (Spirit) * grabbed a goal and an assist and (48c) McKee (L-Heart) * also scored from central midfield. Against Hibs, (42b) Potter (F.Pro) * provided an assist. That's much more often than I usually see the central players contribute. It's strange how it works sometimes. In the spirit of fairness, they provided absolutely zilch in the 4th, 5th and 6th games of the month though. It's was just worth the post because it came immediately after my previous comment.