phnompenhandy
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Posts posted by phnompenhandy
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Just the ticket to get my reign started. Very much men against boys, and as I expected, but valuable lessons observed nonetheless. Delighted to see Player of the Match Kyle McAusland, very effective as a wingback on support duty. I remember Kyle well - I used to sign him from Ayr United as a youthful central back - it must be 13 or 14 years ago now! He doesn't remember me. My First XI, in the main, has plenty of pace - the back four and front four especially. It allows me to play a high line - too far for the keeper to roll the ball out and as much as he wants to wally the ball up to the target man, he never made it once. I'll have to think on that. The midfield two might operate better as a DM pivot - I'll experiment with that. Overall, the passing and movement was very nice. i've arranged matches against Stornoway United and Harris FC to see how we do against known opposition.
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Ah, I wasn't aware this was in the pipeline. I'm told Ferguson arranged for a young left back and central defender to arrive soon. We need the numbers.
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I've assessed the squad and am prepared for my first friendly, with our hosts Portree Juniors. Half the kids are on their holibobs, so this shouldn't be difficult.
They were playing a 4-4-2/4-1-3-2; I've only tweaked it slightly in playing inside forwards and doing away with the crude route one in favour of a little bit of football. I can see how lumping it up to the two macs is a winning formula, but I want to see if going out wide then in makes for more attractive viewing. In the main, we appear to have a very good first-choice (apart from left back - the only choice is very poor. I have no idea what to do if he's tired or unavailable). The ten backup players (Lochhead and nine babes) are very weak. I will have to break a few kids in later in the season, though. Presumably, some of the old guard will hang up their boots at the end of the season, so the kids will need to be ready. If Lochhead is the only senior player not starting, 17-year-old Houghton in goal and 15-year-old Richardson on the right flank along with Seydak by default are my only teenager starters.
I just learned that Barry's final act before he left the club was to release 11 players. Couldn't he have left that decision to the next manager?
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Oh, and after having signed on non-contract terms, he's decided to give us all salaries! Not much, but we can afford to eat
The locals on amateur contracts just put in a couple of hours' a week. As I mentioned, Danny our Head of Youth Development is the school sports' teacher (massive conflict of interest with Portree Juniors, but no one's saying anything), and as I've moved all the youths into the first team squad, Bob's a spare part for now. I'll leave Caitriona to figure out what Cameron does. If you're paying attention, you'll see once Caitriona had described our living arrangements, Isla and Jürgen rushed off Shetland to join the gang. Six staff from Shetland FC have joined me at NW Skye. Sorry, Shetland.
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I'm building up a clearer picture
I didn't arrive after the upheavals; I'm very much part of that process, although hopefully the final part. The process of Hugh putting in the money, buying out the owners and hiring a new manager has all happened over the last month. I have a clearer understanding as to why Barry Ferguson left - what I'd been initially told was accurate enough, but there's more. Hugh's big vision is to diversify the economy of Skye, making it less reliant on tourism. Raising the profile of sport is part of the vision. Skye does have one of the finest shinty teams in the world, but few people outside the western Highlands follow that sport or have even heard of it, whereas football is the biggest sport on the planet. Growing the club and creating exciting prospects for the island's youth is key to his plans, and he's very interested in bringing international focus through the asylum programme. It occurred to both him and Barry when they met that their interests sharply diverged. The previous manager was primarily ambitious for his personal career and always saw the club as a stepping-stone; I deeply impressed Hugh with my honesty as to my reasons for leaving Shetland, and he could see that I'm fully prepared to stay long-term if my vision accorded with his and that we could potentially enhance each other's ambitions. He didn't seem to consider that my lack of experience and ability in doing the job might be a drawback, so I didn't bring that up.
That photo you can see is not Portree - it's Dunvegan, with MacLeod's Tables in the background, as also feature in the club logo.
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And our home ("our" is me, Dougal, Caitriona, Hannah and Mollie)
Can you see us waving' oot the windae?
Not really, this is Hugh's family house, the longest-constantly-occupied dwelling in Scotland or something; home of the famous 'faerie flag'. He's given us, in lieu of wages, rather splendid holiday cottages for accommodation
And the use of a Defender to get from Dunvegan to Portree, where most of the players reside (and Uig)
Feels like a big step up.
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North West Skye - who we are
According to Twitter/X, we were an amateur football club with U15, U18 & senior teams, formed Jan 2015 when Dunvegan FC & Struan FC merged.
I went on to learn that the new club initially played at Portree High School (sharing facilities with the two Portree teams) but relocated to Uig to play on grass in 2019. Since then the club has played at both Uig and Portree High School's plastic pitch depending on the weather. Last year Hugh, Clan chief of MacLeod, decided to buy the football team and take them to glory. He turned them semi-pro, immediately upgraded youth facilities, lured Barry Ferguson to Skye and put down an ambitious programme, including building a stadium on the outskirts of Portree. He says he has the capital, but he's waiting to see if I can take the club forwards. We need to get to know him next.
The controversial figure has recently become very rich due to investments he doesn’t like to talk about (denies it was through cryptocurrencies; insists it’s mostly renewable energy technologies).
His vision is of the club beginning as a local grassroots club, but he has pledged to invest in infrastructure to make the team the best in the Highlands and from there, Scotland and eventually Europe and the world. He accepts that challenging Inverness CT and Ross County will be enough for his lifetime.
Danny, the Head of Youth Development is a PE teacher in Skye’s only high school, Portree High, and we maintain close links with Sabhal Mor Ostaig, the Gaelic college based in Sleat as well as the Skye branch of the University of the Highlands and Islands [West Highland College UHI in Portree] and Active Schools Football Team (formerly Uig FC).
Where are all these places?
Portree (Gaelic: Port Righ - port of the king) is the main town on Skye. We're far from Shetland (isn't everyone?) but the ferry to Stornoway leaves from Uig.
The club has two homes; I have three, kind of.
Our home games are either at Portree high School
Or Uig
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We have a very small squad - 21, the majority of whom are academy kids. We be heavily relying on the nine senior players staying fit and nurturing the youngsters over the campaign. The real difference makers, I'm told, are the two strikers, captain Gus Mackenzie and his striking partner Dylan McArthur. Keep them fit and keep them sweet and my job with be a cinch, apparently.
Here are highlights of their victory at Sleat & Strath last month:
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I'm learning, bit by bit.
The bookies have us as red-hot favourites
The does suggest we have a strong squad.
The chairman is being very reasonable
The chairman, Hugh, is cutting me some slack. Personally, I don't think there was a cat in hell's chance Barry would have stayed with a club in the 11th tier for another year, but the chairman seems to feel he might have been to blame. There's no doubt the expectation would have been to do the treble and gain promotion under Barry, but he's holding back given my lack of experience. Given the investment, that can only be for a year, though. Apparently, the five-year-plan requires promotion this season, but he can deal with a one-year delay. The way the league is structured, whilst the top three clubs get promoted from Divisions Two and One, there is a massive bottleneck to get out of this league, the highland Premier League. Last season, due to restructuring, there was no promotion possible, despite NW Skye winning the title. This season, the champions will play off against the bottom-placed club in the 10th tier West of Scotland Division Four. There's nothing for finishing second. We are to 'challenge' for the title - second or third would be tolerable for this season, and we're to do 'well' in the two cups.
My enthusiasm for developing players coming through the youth system was a major reason why I got the job; unlike Shetland, the chairman has already invested in junior coaching and youth recruitment:
He's aware of the asylum-seeker programme and is open to joining. Given he's the Clan Chief of half the island (more on that later), he has the power to make it so; therefore, it's possible we might get one or two refugee youths integrating with the main intake next April.
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I returned from my break, not exactly relaxed, but happy to exchange those sweltering hot tropical beaches for a cool Shetland ones, only to find the club in a state of chaos. The chairman, wossisname - had he resigned or not? He was nowhere to be found, and no one seemed to be clear what the status was. This had an immediate impact on me as Caitriona's hands were tied concerning finances. If last preseason was bad, this was a farce:
Caitriona and I were full time communicating with any and every club around. In the end, we got some games:
Three friendlies. That was it. I rely on playing at least ten, usually 12 or 13 preseason friendlies to get my squad prepared. This was impossible; I couldn't even get the first team playing the second team to get match fitness up. What a joke. Players started to leave; I couldn't experiment changes to line-ups and tactics to adapt. I was sure in this soup of uncertainty, more players would take up offers to move elsewhere. I felt we had the players, and we had the staff, but if the board was going to be so neglectful, our changes of success were nil.
And then I saw an opportunity.
Barry Ferguson. Rangers legend. Played in the English Premier for Blackburn and Birmingham. Managerial career started at Blackpool, and then on to Clyde, Kelty hearts and Alloa, with the ultimate ambition to manage Rangers some day. Then a year ago, he took what he came to regard as a step backwards. North West Skye. He led them to the title of the Highland Premier, the William Turner trophy and the final of the Alba Amateur Cup. The club must have known he'd never stay, and indeed he's left to pursue a job back in the SFL. So ...
'Board'? I don't even know who you are. You've blocked everything I've tried to do. Your empty words are worthless.
Such a shock, I don't even get
This is different gravy. Semi-professional, monied, very ambitious. Fortunately, with a month of preseason to go, but I will need time to figure out what I've got myself into. Oh, and some of my staff have joined me - Dougal and Caitriona, and medics Mollie and Hanna.
[NB originally, my next job was intended to be in Ireland, and I did get offers, but I've already killed that league due to the financial shenanigans. I'm minded now to limit my journeyings to the Highlands. I may well get sacked from here and be open to various offers, but if I'm successful, the only way up is Inverness Caley and Ross County, so maybe I'll be here for the long haul.
I'll have the backstory for you in due course.
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9 hours ago, Zeonflux said:
Cheers for the help people.
Ive had 2 talks of takeovers and both have been supporters groups (both have failed) so support from there isn’t coming either way.
Cup runs definitely seem the way to go but I think I’m probably looking at having at least 2 seasons before getting to the Vanarama N/S, 1 to consolidate in this league and 1 to get promotion (if I’m lucky)
A common pattern I see with LLaMas is getting promoted, taking 2 seasons to consolidate, then pushing for promotion in the third season.
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1 hour ago, Brodie21 said:
Not a complaint, a mere query. I'm experiencing multiple injuries in my small squad - many long-term. Anyone else getting this or just a freak couple of seasons for me?
Just has a similar injury-ravaged season with small squad. Worth checking your tactics and training.
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12 hours ago, ashok_mittal_83 said:
Thanks. So in my screenshot, when it encourages me to sign a player as it meets the criteria of developing a player in the youth system, that's not entirely correct then. Technically the player will develop in the first team system.
Anyway, good to know.
No, if you sign him for the under 18 squad, the quality of facilities and staff should help him develop better than at a club without them.
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I habitually use very lower league databases. Takeovers are common but in the vast majority of cases no investment happens so you're back to square one.
As in real life, the vast majority of clubs at this level run at a loss and pray for that unicorn of an FA Cup run to fill the coffers. Failing that patience and perseverance is the name of the game.
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3 hours ago, Jimbokav1971 said:
That's very interesting, (and surprising). Do you mind if I ask what his personality is and that of the other players who developed well?
I've found that at very low levels it's not that unusual if they start all the competitive matches. However, they usually stall the next season despite being first team mainstays, and what's more their boost in CA often does not correspond to high form on the pitch. It's a reminder that CA on its own doesn't mean that much.
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Dave's got a realism pack for FM24 and the Around the World pack for FM24 is pretty much done. There's no need to start a save in FM23 now.
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Been following this monster marathon of a thread sporadically, but finally read it from front to back. Currently in the early days of an Academy-Only career with a 13th tier potless amateur club (also an island), I wasn't sure if there'd be a glass ceiling. You've shown us it's possible to go all the way with patience and perseverance.
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21 hours ago, Jimbokav1971 said:
Oh wow. That's not good news but could have been much much worse.
I'd say that fraction of a second where I cried out "look out" and my wife hit the brake was the difference between him smashing the front corner and the driver's door, So "Yeah!"
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It was only a few weeks ago that I was amongst the many decrying the ridiculous number of cricket scores we'd experience in FM24. They seem to have gone now; most of my games, like yours are very tight, low-scoring dramas, with the points going either way. It makes for constant jeopardy and a far more satisfying narrative to follow.
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Very good start.
A career with a deeply personal dimension, making it mean more.
Proper lower league, none of your stratospheric Vanarama nonsense (by the way are you using the db of LeoMessi or Dan the formerly Burgess Hill fan?)
Proper lower league tactics, no exploit.
Nice writing style.
Keep Up The Good Work!
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22 hours ago, Stuniverse said:
Oh no. Hope you're all ok and not too much damage to your vehicle.
You could always take out a loan to cover the opposition's travel expenses...
Front end's a mess. Looks worse than it is, is what I'm telling myself.
Good idea. Logistics is part of my wife's job - I'll get her onto it when we've got a spare minute. Bit busy right now
Underworld in my earpods, Alice in Wonderland in my tablet in one hand, a cold beer in the other, white sand between the toes, ocean waves lapping at the feet; proving we get the car back tomorrow, I'll be in fine fettle to tackle that difficult second season, unless the new chairman has wrecked the club in my brief absence.
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Greetings from the beach. Trauma getting here when some jerk jumping a light and hit us. Missus just calmed her nerves now - all is well.
Less fun without Jack for sure. He's our landlord though, so might make an appearance.
You can see from the ability stars, the intake looks poor. They might be good enough - the league looks weak, but will need preseason to see, and even then only if I can organise useful friendlies - I hadn't foreseen our location would be so problematic.
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1 hour ago, Stuniverse said:
Congratulations on your promotion. It was a Jekyll and Hyde type season for you I feel, flying for the first half then limping over the line in the second half.
Good luck in the division above next season, assuming you decide to stay at Shetland.
Did I read that correctly? Father Jack has stepped down. Mr Wright took over, made no investment, increased the club’s debt, all of that in a single month and now he’s stepping down? Wow! It’s a Shetland Soap Story Saga!
Enjoy your romantic short break.
Thanks. We actually leave tomorrow morning. I don't want to be in an intense moment in the season then have to step away for three days, so I'll pause here.
It was truly bizarre - Jack "stepped down" then Wright came in and he was gone in one month! He did invest, but with a secret bank loan, and some council money came in, but how he was gone so fast I have no idea. Never seen anything like it.
I'll stay, although if being refused coaching courses becomes a chronic thing, I'll reconsider whether I'm here for a third season. I don't want a repeat of last season, but I can't figure out why it happened. I should probably have a second tactic in my back pocket if opponents 'figure us out'. Last season we began as rank outsiders, with opponents attacking with gay abandon; this season we're one of the favourites - with a younger and surely weaker squad. The league is no stronger than Division Two was, so we have a chance.
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Include new role/modify existing role to include goalkeeper in backline while building up
in Football Manager Feature Requests (PC/Mac)
Posted
You're a wee bit ahead of the curve there. This is a new tactic that will become popular, like inverted wingbacks in the next year or two. We'll want to see more keepers dribbling outside the area, too.