Fraz Plays FM19 pt2

In the last post I decided on the three projects I'm interested in doing and sent out a Twitter poll to let Gods of the internet decide which one to do.  

While I'm waiting for the answer, I thought I'd scope out the teams a bit to see what they're like.

“That’s great. Tell him he’s Pele and get him back on.”

John Lambie on being told striker Colin McGlashan was involved in a clash of heads with an opponent.

I've had experience of managing the Jags before in FM as back in the early Champ Man days I managed to take them from the depths of league 1 to dominating the Prem with five titles on the trot and a Champions League final appearance to boot.  

So that was then, what about now?  

Struggling in the Championship badly relegation last season so the goal for this project is to forget about their struggles and get them back in the big league at the first time of asking.

Managerial Style

I'll be basing myself on the Jags legend that is John Lambie, who was known for his eccentricity, cigar smoking and fondness for pigeons.  

Squad

Keepers

Shit, one keeper.  It's Cammy Bell who, to be fair, is a decent stopper but I'm going to have to find a good back up to keep him on his toes.  

Defenders 

thin on the ground, I'll have to find a few if we want to achieve anything.  Midfield - Not too shabby, Blair Spittal, Gary Harkins, Miles Storey and Prince Buaben are the pick of the bunch here.  

Attackers 

I could have a ready made Chick Charnley 'maverick' in Souleymane Coulibaly already.  If I can get him to replicate his old Killie form then he's going to tear up the Championship.  If not, I'll be expecting good things from Scott McDonald and Kris Doolan.

Transfer thoughts are that there's major surgery required at the back but quite a bit of promise in the middle and up front.  

"He was an absolute fucking bampot” 

- Dave Bowman describing Jim McLean

It's hard to believe it these days but United were THE team (along with an Aberdeen team with Fergie at the helm) when I was growing up.  There's been some tremendous teams in Scottish football but United's of the early-mid 80's takes some beating. 

So that was then, what about now?  

Unable to recover from relegation a few years' back.  My task in this project will be to get them back where they belong!

Managerial Style

It has to be on Wee Jum.  Press conferences will be frosty, players will be getting fined aplenty for indiscipline and new signings will be getting locked into five year deals and bumped straight to the reserves for the slightest sign of backchat.

Squad

Keepers

Crapola, one again!  No idea what Benj Siegrist is like so on that basis alone, he's gonna have to fight for his place right from the off.  United have a history of some class goalies so can I find the next Hamish McAlpine or Seb Diekstra?  

Defenders 

Jeez, that's a depressing array of 'who?'  We've got Mark Reynolds on load from Aberdeen so fingers and toes crossed they don't want him back in January!  

Midfield 

Morgaro Gomis is a player but right from the off, the real talents of the side, Fraser Fyvie and Peter Pawlett are both injured which while an accurate reflection of the real world, is a worrying sign of things to come for the season.  

Attackers 

Currently features Nicky Clark and the injured Osman Sow which should do a good job but if Sow can't keep away from the treatment table, Cammy Smith is going to have to get his finger out and realise the promise Aberdeen once thought he had.

Transfer thoughts are I don't think there's going to be the finances for the major overhaul of the squad that's required.

"I'm a rolling thunder, a pouring rain"  

-Hell's Bells (AC/DC)

They first caught my attention years ago with their flag and punk attitude.  At first I thought they were a weird footballing version of the LA Raiders but I then got to know what they were all about and realised I'd got them all wrong.  

A true community club that abide by a set of principles which dictates how the club is run and is all about the society of the city of which they are a part of.  

A club that puts the fans first and is very aware of the political world of which it's part of.

But to be honest, they had me with the thought of the team running out to Hell's Bells.

Managerial Style

I don't have any knowledge of the managerial history of the club so I've a bit of a blank canvass here.  I'll adopt the progressive culture of the club and be good to the players but as for style of play?  It'll have to be a hipster Klopp-esque approach, I think.  

Attack with pace and flair and win promotion in style.

Squad

Keepers

Hey, hey they've got three keepers!  There's bound to be a decent first choicer there.  

Defence

Healthy numbers for every position along the back four, very promising.  Midfield - we're covered for the wings but there's an alarming lack of central and attacking midfielders.  

Attack 

Just the two out and out strikers but there's a few midfielders who can also play up front so not too bad.

Transfer thoughts are that it doesn't look as though much is required.  It obviously depends on the quality of player in the squad but assuming they're not all haddies, it looks as though I could be able to just spend the budget on a couple of quality midfielders.

And there we have it.  Once the decision of who I'm going to be taking control of has been made, I'll have a more in depth look at the squad and the club.  I'm genuinely swithering between all three at the moment but hand on heart, my very first thought was Thistle so I have to put them in first place.  However, it's not my choice so if you want to change my mind, get voting!