Deleted User #151676 - Comments

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#74112 Welcome to Goodison Park
Deleted Account #151676
Surprised Martin O'Neil doesn't seem to be getting a mention.
#74110 Rick's Career
Deleted Account #151676
August 2012
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/6/6d/Dumbarton_FC_logo.svg/150px-Dumbarton_FC_logo.svg.png


Well my first month in charge of the Son's hasn't really gone to plan, just a single point gained in the league after three games has us lingering in ninth place at the end of August, to make things worse we were knocked out of both the League and challenge cups early on.
http://i1106.photobucket.com/albums/h361/Richard_Beale/1-39_zps8ad9a5a3.png
http://i1106.photobucket.com/albums/h361/Richard_Beale/2-23_zps5e3e51f9.png

To be fair our actual football hasn't been too bad with the exception of a 4-0 mauling by Hamilton all the games have been close, our main problem has been the lack of chances fashioned by our creative players for the strikers, my wingers just don't look capable of whipping in a decent ball which may force my hand in the transfer market despite me initially wanting to wait until January to bring anyone new in, We could easily find ourself adrift and heading back to division two by then if we can't supply some ammunition up front.

The opening day draw with Raith Rovers was certainly a point gained in my eyes against one of the better sides in the division, Rovers enjoyed much of the possession throughout the opening hour of the game, but sensing their frustration at their inability to take the lead we pushed up and began to take the ascendency ourselves although we weren't able to snatch a goal.
The League defeat to Hamilton was a complete disaster, I tried to counter the 4-5-1 formation they had utilised in the cup game with us two weeks earlier by employing an untested 4-2-3-1 with the intention of making their five man midfield have to drop deeper to mark my three attacking midfielder's and lone striker, unfortunately this had the reverse effect and Hamilton pushed higher to ruthlessly exploit the additional space between my defence and midfield. At least I learned what not to do against a 4-5-1 for next time.

We were very unlucky to come away with nothing against Livingston, I again tinkered with my formation but this time to a much more desirable effect, I set out my side in a 4-5-1 of my own with the two wingers pushed up to support my lone striker Jim Lister, we found ourselves behind just after the half way point of the first half through a dubious looking penalty decision, however my lads kept going and it looked as if they were to be duly rewarded for their efforts in the 88th minute when Gary Flemming belted home an equaliser. unfortunately our luck was well and truly out as Livi went straight up the other end and restored their lead to inflict a cruel defeat upon us.
We produced another battling display in the League cup game with Dumfermline, showing courage after finding ourselves 2-0 to the Pars after half an hour who are top of our division, we pulled to back to 2-1 with quarter of an hour left on the clock and went in search of a dramatic leveller which unfortunately remained elusive despite our pressure.


By Sean1967 | Permalink | On 10 May 2013 - 10:08 AM
Looking forward to this and might give it a bash!

Go for it mate. keep reading though.
#74098 The Night Thread Mk. IX
Deleted Account #151676
Anybody want a two months free Lovefilm voucher?
#74061 The Sir Alex Ferguson Challenge
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By mr.SPANKY | Permalink | On 10 May 2013 - 09:34 AM
Gonna give this a whirl, interesting challenge.

Good luck mate.

I've just started a thread for my challenge. Emulating the great man
#74060 Rick's Career
Deleted Account #151676
My initial squad looks a fairly strong one which I feel should be able to achive the boards minimum expectation of avoiding relegation back to the second division...
http://i1106.photobucket.com/albums/h361/Richard_Beale/1-39_zpsc09c63b2.png

Because of us already possessing a decent squad, as well as the tight financial situation most Scottish clubs find themselves in, I am going to wait until the January transfer window before bringing anybody in, this will allow me time to better assess who is worth keeping and who is deadwood.

Here's a quick overview of the club's facilities...
http://i1106.photobucket.com/albums/h361/Richard_Beale/2-23_zps64305898.png

As with the squad, everything seems adequate for a club of our standing and I shan't be looking to convince the bard to spend money on improving the facilities, not least because I don't intend on being here that long.

Our pre-season schedule was something of a mixed bag, three solid wins, and two rather dismal defeats to lower league opposition, particuarly going down 4-0 to Ayr, they players received the old hairdryer treatment after that one I assure you.
http://i1106.photobucket.com/albums/h361/Richard_Beale/3-16_zps700aeaff.png

Note the win over Fergie's real fist club, East Stirlingshire though!

My first game in competitive management will be a first round Challenge cup match against fellow division one side Hamilton before more knock out football the week after as we take on Stirling Albion in the League cup.
The league kicks off at home to Raith Rovers before we square off against Hamilton again the following week.
#74052 Rick's Career
Deleted Account #151676
Sir Alex started his management career with East Stirlngshire in the Scottish first division, East Stirlingshire are now down n the third division so I am going to begin with the lowliest first division club, Dumbarton.
http://tylkopilka.pl/system/photos/28445/original/Dumbarton_FC.png?1351346048?2013-6
Name: Dumbarton Football Club
Nickname: The Sons (of the rock)
Founded: 1872
Ground: Bet Butler Stadium (Capacity: 2025)
League: Scottish First Division
2011/12: 3rd in Scottish Division Two


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 Premier League.
In May 2009 Dumbarton were crowned Third Division champions after a late run of form; however, the following month club captain Gordon "Guido" Lennon died in an offroad car accident in Inverness. Despite an understandable difficult start to the 2009–10 campaign the team managed to consolidate their place in the Irn-Bru Second Division with a 6th place finish. In 2011–12 they earned third place and won the promotion playoffs to go up to the First Division for the first time since 1995–96.
http://www.scottishfootballleague.com/docs/009__034__club_grounds__Dumbarton_Strathclyde_Homes_Stadium__1294220992_standard.jpg
Dumbarton Castle towers over the Bet Butler stadium.


Sir Alex only spent a single season with East Stirlingshire, without winning anything, so there is no pressure on me here at Dumbarton, it will mostly be a reputation building exercise, If I can win something then that would be great though of course!
I'm starting with a 'professional footballer' reputation as SAF did back when he started out in the management business, almost fifty years ago.
#74046 Rick's Career
Deleted Account #151676
Hi everyone and thanks for reading!

This story began as an Alex Ferguson challenege thread, however it has now organicly bloomed into something else entirely, here's a quick recap of my career thus far;

http://i1106.photobucket.com/albums/h361/Richard_Beale/1554_zpsa17aabea.pngDumbarton - June 2012 - June 2013
41 Games: 16 Wins, 7 Draws, 17 Losses,
39% Win Percentage
http://i1106.photobucket.com/albums/h361/Richard_Beale/1593_zpsf6e3ac65.pngRoss County - June 2013 - December 2014
71 Games: 38 Wins, 16 Draws, 17 Losses
54% Win Percentage
First Division Runners-up 2013/14, Challenge Cup Runners-up 2014/15
http://i1106.photobucket.com/albums/h361/Richard_Beale/1570_zpsa0371034.pngRangers - December 2014 - May 2016
68 Games: 38 Wins, 11 Draws, 19 Losses
56% Win Percentage
First Division Runners-up 2014/15 & 2015/16, Challenge Cup Winners 2015/16
http://i1106.photobucket.com/albums/h361/Richard_Beale/1204_zps52a21cc7.pngSkonto Riga - April 2017 - Present
114 Games: 72 Wins, 25 Draws, 17 Losses
63% Win Percentage
Higher League Champions 2017 & 2018, Latvian Cup Winners 2018, Livornia Cup Winners 2017 & 2018, Baltic League Winners 2019
http://i1106.photobucket.com/albums/h361/Richard_Beale/777_zps55edded8.pngLatvia Under-21's - September 2017 - Present
9 Games: 2 Wins, 4 Draws, 3 Losses
22% Win Percentage
#74027 English Premier League 2012/2013
Deleted Account #151676
Aston Villa are inducting him to their hall of fame, I can't help but feel a hall of fame should be for the very best players and managers a club has ever had, Petrov was good but he never really scored any important goals or won any silverware. perhaps retiring the #19 shirt and making a donation to his leukaemia charity would be a more fitting tribute rather than cheapening the HOF at the club.
#73950 English Premier League 2012/2013
Deleted Account #151676
By Portaloo | Permalink | On 09 May 2013 - 14:04 PM
Stillian Petrov has retired.

I didn't expect him to return to be honest but it's still sad news. He's starting his own leukaemia charity apparently.
#73947 The Sir Alex Ferguson Challenge
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By Benson_Hedges | Permalink | On 09 May 2013 - 13:46 PM
I've been looking for a challenge to do on FM for a long time (havent played it for 5months). I also won't be buying FM14 so I think I can play this career here and there (too busy for constant play) for the next year.

Great write up.

Infact i've now talked myself into it whilst writing my reply!

I know this maybe easier but seeing as he supported Rangers, I have an urge to take them up the divisions, and my hamper myself by making their reputation worse and have less money..and then follow the rest of the Fergie way rules. IE..Take Rangers up to SPL, win league back from donating Celtic, Leave for another SPL club (clearly not celtic) and then go from there OR Rangers to the SPL, try to win europa League then go south of the border to either Villa/Everton/Sunderland/Newcastle..Any thoughts on that idea.

I can't see why not mate, it's only on the 'Fergies way,' route of the challenge that you have to stay fully faithful to his career.
I've started a save with Dumbarton in the Scottish first division who are the lowliest club in the division to start off with.
#73765 The Sir Alex Ferguson Challenge
Deleted Account #151676
By KH89 | Permalink | On 09 May 2013 - 09:17 AM
I've got a strong urge to try this.

Go for it, you know you want to.
#73741 The Sir Alex Ferguson Challenge
Deleted Account #151676
http://i.smimg.net/13/19/alex-ferguson_7.jpg

As I'm sure everybody already knows, legendary Manchester United manger and Knight of the realm, Sir Alex Ferguson yesterday announced his retirement 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.
http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/images/uploads/alex-ferguson-trophy.png


-Start with professional footballer set as your experience level.
-You may manage the Scottish national side during the course of your career as Sir Alex did briefly.
-Remember, Fergie's rule #1, No player is bigger than the club! if some prima donna starts acting up, give him the boot.
-If you manage to win the treble, you earn the right to nickname yourself 'Sir'

Scoring system

10 Points - Scottish First Division
15 Points - Scottish League Cup
15 Points - Englih Community Shield
20 Points - Scottish FA Cup
30 Points - Scottish Premier League
30 Points - English League Cup
40 Points - European Super Cup
45 Points - FIFA World Club Cup
70 Points - Europa League
70 Points - English FA Cup
100 Points - English Premiership
150 Points - UEFA European Championship (ONLY if won with Scotland)
150 Points - UEFA Champions League
150 Points - FIFA World Cup (ONLY if won with Scotland)

5 points - per Manger of the Month award
25 points - Have a Player win domestic player of the season award
25 points - Have a player finish highest scorer in your league
40 points - Have a player who you have brought through your academy win domestic player of the season award
40 points - Have a player who you have brought through your academy finish highest scorer in your league.
75 points - Manager of the year award.
80 points - Have a player win World player of the year award
100 points - Have a player who you have brought through your academy win World player of the season award

Bonus points

5 points - For every game won after the fourth minute of stoppage time (Fergie Time)
5 points - Beat a side managed by Gordon Strachan
5 points - Beat a side managed by Kenny Dalgleish
5 points - Beat a side managed by Arsne Wenger
5 points - Beat a side managed by Jose Mourinho
5 points - Pick up a touch line ban for criticising the referee but still win your game in the stands.
15 points - Stay in the game so long you have a son (ala Darren Ferguson)
100 points - Win the Champions League in stoppage time
100 points - Enter the Managerial hall of fame in both Scotland & England
150 points - Enter Worldwide hall of fame.
150 points - If playing as a side other than Man United, surpass United's record 20 league titles.

Good luck to all who are up for such a monster of a challenge, I highly doubt anyone will complete it but the honour of having the highest points haul by the time of FM14's release is still to be had. Good luck and remember the referee is always wrong! (unless the decisions in your favour )
#73598 Old Trafford Lounge
Deleted Account #151676
#73595 The Lower League Thread
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By gfnx25 | Permalink | On 08 May 2013 - 13:40 PM
He isn't even 40 is he? I remember when we played Exeter in the Cup this season. Tisdale used to turn up in purple cord trousers and some sort of weird looking baret. Weird guy

I'm not sure how old he is, I know he's Maltese and managed in Greece and Finland for a bit which probably explains his questionable fashion sense. \o/
#73465 Old Trafford Lounge
Deleted Account #151676
Mark Hughes, you heard it here first....
#73413 Old Trafford Lounge
Deleted Account #151676
Football's going to be strange without him, he's been manager since before I was born.
#73400 The Lower League Thread
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By gfnx25 | Permalink | On 07 May 2013 - 22:15 PM
Yep. Was more than 5 years in charge there.

Should be Nigel Clough now?

I just Googled it, yeah Nigel Clough is the longest serving Championship manager with just over four years at Derby, Paul Tisdale of Exeter is the longest serving in the Football league with nearly seven years under his belt.
The top four are all Premiership, Fergie, Wenger, Moyes and Pullis.
#73336 The Lower League Thread
Deleted Account #151676
Wasn't he the longest serving manager in the Championship?
#73327 English Premier League 2012/2013
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Poor ickle Wigan.
#73307 English Premier League 2012/2013
Deleted Account #151676
IT'S WIGAN TIME!
#73293 English Premier League 2012/2013
Deleted Account #151676
I don't really understand why we have free kicks inside the box, why not just have a penalty or just do away with the backpass rule all together?
#73289 English Premier League 2012/2013
Deleted Account #151676
Ashley Williams should have done better there.
#73239 Scottish Football Thread
Deleted Account #151676
From what I gather it will be 16 sides in the SPL with the bottom club automatically relegated and the side in 15th entering into a play-off with the 2nd, 3rd and 4th placed SPL-2 clubs and then a third tier in which the bottom side plays off with the winners of the regional leagues.
#73236 Scottish Football Thread
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The creation of SPL-2 has been approved.BBC
#73232 Fifa 14
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By One Night In Grimsby | Permalink | On 07 May 2013 - 16:38 PM
Have they added the Conference to this yet?! Fed up of hoping we get promoted.

You can download it on creation centre.
#73127 The Lower League Thread
Deleted Account #151676
I've always enjoyed visits to Yeovil, very friendly bunch of supporters who provide a great atmosphere. so I'm supporting them, I love the way a guy with a trumpet in the crowd always makes ambulance noises whenever a player goes down injured.

In other news, Wolves have sacked Dean Saunders. BBC
#72852 The Night Thread Mk. IX
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#72851 The Lower League Thread
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Gutted for Burton.
#72693 Rick's big walk
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By Vercoe | Permalink | On 05 May 2013 - 11:33 AM
Have you noticed any differences since you started training then?

Yeah, I've noticed I don't get tired easily any more, I did a 12 hour shift at work yesterday from 5.30am to 5.30pm which is behind a counter so I was standing up the entire time, and then walked the three miles or so home but still wasn't worn out really. a few months ago I would have been slouched over the counter downing can after can of red bull just to get through the shift. I suspect the improved diet is to thank for that.
#72684 Rick's big walk
Deleted Account #151676
Less than a month to go now.

Got another newspaper interview on Tuesday which will hopefully kick start fundraising again in these last few weeks, I think we have everything sorted now for the trip which is a weight off, I've even been sticking to eating healthily which really is a first.