Beating Fergie - Football Manager Stories - FM14

Deleted Account #151676

02 May 2014 19:22:24

http://www.gazzetta.gr/sites/default/files/article/2011_11/sir-alex-ferguson-v-bayern-1999_2433060.jpg

Hello and welcome to my new Football Manager 2014 game in which I will be chronicling my (probably futile) attempt to complete the Sir Alex Ferguson challenge.

What is the SAF challenge? I hear you ask;

From the Susie challenges forum;

It’s back! This was one of the most popular challenges last year with the retirement of Sir Alex Ferguson from football after 27 years at the helm at Old Trafford. Many supporters have never known another United manager and most agree that there will never be another quite like Fergie as the Red Devils begin the search for the person charged with the unenviable task of succeeding the most successful manager in British football history.

That’s where you come in….

Your challenge is to equal Sir Alex’s trophy haul, there are several ways you can do this;

The Easy Way: - Start with the now manager-less Manchester United and continue the Red Devils’s dominance of English football for another quarter of a century.

The Moderate Way: - Begin with a mid table English club who haven’t won a league title in over 25 years and turn them into world beaters, developing several generations of new superstars along the way.

The Fergie Way: - Beginning in Scottish Division one, take charge of any side for a season (SAF started at East Stirlingshire) You do not need to win a trophy here, eventually move on to a bigger first division club (SAF: St. Mirren) and guide them to promotion. Eventually take over at an SPL side that is not a part of the Old Firm (SAF: Aberdeen), emulating the great man here will be the toughest part of the challenge, particularly in Europe (You’ll be going for the Europa League instead of the now defunct Cup winners cup) Finally, after checking of Scotland you can move South of the border, taking on a fallen giant side from the Premiership (SAF: Manchester United) and guiding them to the staggering haul of silverware that Mr. Ferguson has amassed in the last 27 years.

I will be attempting the hardest path and starting in the Scottish first division, can I go the distance in this most difficult of FM challenges, time will tell but I do intend to give it my all.

Wish me luck, I’ll need it!

Deleted Account #151676

02 May 2014 19:40:57

Ok, it’s time to get going; I am beginning with England and Scotland loaded. You will notice I have checked the ‘disable transfer budgets in first window’ and 'don't add key staff' options in order to give me a good feel for my squad and staff before I start chopping and changing, use of the ingame editor is also disabled.

http://i1319.photobucket.com/albums/t675/rick871/2_zps1b264570.png

All British and Irish players are loaded to provide me with plenty of options domestically as well as enabling the better players from Europe and South America to ensure things are competitive later on in the challenge.

http://i1319.photobucket.com/albums/t675/rick871/3_zpscb206e44.png

I’m using a a few additional files, Sortitoutsi’s real name fix which is available here and FM Updates by _pro which is also downloadable here.

Here’s a quick shot of my managerial profile;

http://i1319.photobucket.com/albums/t675/rick871/1_zps463ed757.png

Everything is true to life aside from me being a former ex-pro, I chose that setting as that is the level Sir Alex himself was at when he entered management.

So now all that remains is to reveal the club who shall provide my stepping stone to greatness *drum roll*…..

Telegram Sam

16 years ago

4 months ago

5,082

Premium

02 May 2014 19:56:12

Good luck mate. Will be a long story!

SpinSwimScream

14 years ago

1 month ago

1,598

02 May 2014 20:05:13

good luck pal

Deleted Account #151676

02 May 2014 20:07:11

Yes, Dumbarton FC will be the first stop on my journey to the top, admittedly I know next to nothing about the club themselves, aside from I liked the badge and kits, which as we all know are the most important factors in FM!

Lets allow the oracle of Wiki to enlighten us a little;

Dumbarton Football Club is Scotland‘s 4th oldest football club, founded in 1872, just after Queen’s Park (1867), Kilmarnock (1869) and Stranraer(1870). They come from the town of Dumbarton in West Dunbartonshire and play their home games at the The Bet Butler Stadium, next to Dumbarton Castle.

The club were one of the greatest clubs of the nineteenth century, winning the Scottish Football League in the first two seasons of the competition. Since then the club have spent the majority of their history outside the top flight, and last played at the top level in 1985, thus being the only existing Scottish league champions to not have competed in the current Scottish Premiership.

That final sentence provides me with a nice target to aim for, taking the club back to the top flight will be my first and foremost priority, although it won’t be easy with the Son’s predicted to finish ninth out of the ten clubs;

http://i1319.photobucket.com/albums/t675/rick871/2_zps41ce3504.png

They have a stable chairman which is good. I will however be aiming to make enough money in order to both take the club to professional status and expand the tiny 2,000 seat stadium which will severely limit our potential income and thus our chances of achieving top-flight football.

http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/64914000/jpg/_64914891_sons.jpg

Training at the small but scenic Bet Butler stadium. Dumbarton castle looms over the stadium from atop Dumbarton Rock. Giving the football club their nickname; ‘The sons of the rock’

In my next update we shall take a look at the squad and staff I have at my disposal. until then, thanks for reading!

Deleted Account #151676

02 May 2014 21:18:33

Meet the Players

http://i1319.photobucket.com/albums/t675/rick871/7_zps04575656.png

Goalkeepers

http://i1319.photobucket.com/albums/t675/rick871/1_zps6259266b.png

The experienced Stephen Grindlay and Jamie Ewings will vie for the number one jersey, both are decent shot stoppers who should suffice for our current ambitions within the Scottish Championship, however I suspect I shall look for a replacement in the long term. Sixteen year old Josh Lumsden is one for the future, some more youth football for him this year I think before we try to broker a loan deal somewhere down the league ladder next term.

Fullbacks

http://i1319.photobucket.com/albums/t675/rick871/2_zpsa117889d.png

Pretty well stocked in this position, Paul McGinn and Scott Linton are without doubt my starters, both of whom love to get forward whenever they can and can both defend when required. young Josh Horne is looking to break into the team this year. Seventeen year old Mikey Miller is with us from Celtic for the season in order to gain some first team experience before going back to the Scottish champions next term.

Centrebacks

http://i1319.photobucket.com/albums/t675/rick871/3_zps1850e563.png

Captain Andy Graham is the rock I will build my squad around, he has vast experience as well as being a born leader. as to who will partner him, that remains undecided, Mark McLaughlin is now 37 and will struggle to keep pace with many of the forwards in the league, Scott Smith appears to be the more viable option, the former Hibs defender played 19 games last term for us. I will give St. Mirren loanee Callum Thompson and possibly send Joe Coleman out on loan to get some first team games under his belt.

Midfielders

http://i1319.photobucket.com/albums/t675/rick871/5_zpsbe768f76.png

Lots of options here, I could easily field a five man midfield should occasion require, I'll have to juggle Hugh Murray, ChrisTurner, Nick Phinn and Scott Agnew carefully with planned rotation in order to keep all four happy

Wingers

http://i1319.photobucket.com/albums/t675/rick871/4_zpsdee1a50f.png

The weakest area of the team, Steven McDougall and Mark Gilhaney will suffice but I'm not sure about Jordan Kirkpatrick and Kjed McIntyre who is not a winger by trade but will be retrained, I will probably look for a natural left sided player who can come in on loan.

Forwards

http://i1319.photobucket.com/albums/t675/rick871/6_zps29ede5d6.png

I have three good strikers in Bryan Prunty (who I will remove from the transfer list), Mitch Megginson and the experienced Colin Nish (who is also our youth coach), Chris Kane is a loanee from St. Johnstone who will provide backup whilst hopefully gaining from his time here.

Staff

http://i1319.photobucket.com/albums/t675/rick871/1_zpsd142707d.png

Pretty basic setup in the backroom, I will be needing a scout as well as a adding another coach in order to provide better training for the players.

Deleted Account #151676

03 May 2014 19:43:43

http://i1319.photobucket.com/albums/t675/rick871/1_zps0a209d13.png

July 2013

My inaugural pre-season campaign came to an end after a respectable set of results before the very first game of my soon to be glorious career in which we eased into the second round of the Challenge cup with a convincing win over league two side Albion Rovers;

http://i1319.photobucket.com/albums/t675/rick871/1_zpsf1fd3ccc.png

That win sets up a second round clash with Arbroath;

http://i1319.photobucket.com/albums/t675/rick871/2_zps118ec8bd.png

Tactically I am building from the back as all good managers faced by a relegation battle do, utilising a standard 4-4-2 with the following team instructions;

http://i1319.photobucket.com/albums/t675/rick871/5_zps46f55c49.png

My defence lacks pace so I have set us up to drop deep and play narrow in order to keep things compact and plug gaps as much as possible whilst still ensuring we get the ball forward as quickly as possible.

August kicks off with an away league cup tie with Berwick Rangers before we begin our league campaign at home to Raith Rovers, here is the media's prediction for us;

http://i1319.photobucket.com/albums/t675/rick871/3_zps60cc4fab.png

I'm hopeful of finishing mid table and avoiding a dogfight, Just staying out of the bottom two all season will be good enough for me and provide a good foundation for next year.