Sean1967 - Comments

We've been given a decent budget to strengthen in January, having already spent £7m on a striker with 13 goals in 16 games this season. He should help with the lack of goals this season. The defence has been pretty tight but we are light up top. Ideally I want to bring in two or three more during the window.

We managed to stay undefeated which is great and progressed through to a tough Champions League Group. I think at this stage even to nick a Europa League spot would be a bonus so not going to be too disappointed by bad results. The three draws in-a-row is slightly concerning but hopefully we can put that right with a win over Aberdeen. My 532 WB is working out a treat away from home in Europe and will be key in any results in the group.

The team looks solid so far, not conceded many. The 3 goals conceded against Botev was my 2nd strings first run out so I won’t look into that too much. We have yet to concede in a competitive match. Considering I have reduced the first team to 25 players (3 injured) is pretty good with the packed fixture list.

In terms of tactics, despite being relatively direct we have dominated possession with at 57% every game. The wingers are playing how I want the being direct at goal, netting 6 between them already.

The away leg to Tel-Aviv I will roll out the 532 WB for the first time, hopefully it doesn’t backfire on me. Obviously with transfer budgets disabled it was tough to get rid of so many players but around 10 or so went out on loan, notably Derk Boerrigter.

Control - Flexible
Play Out of Defence - More Direct Passing

After the second season the won't be many transfers. There will be a mass exodus in January and at the end of the season. I'll also look to bring in players who joined IRL and possibly a couple youngsters for the u21 to fill the gaps there.

I plan to work with two squads of XI. When fit the first XI will play, the second string XI is primarily for the cups and to fill in for injured players. When a second string player is injured for a cup game an u21 player will be called up.

1st XI: Gordon, Lustig, Simunovic, Sviatchenko, Tierney, Brown, Bitton, Roberts, Rogic, McGregor, Griffiths

2nd XI: Fasan, Janko, Ambrose, Boyata, Izaguirre, Johanson, Armstrong, Forrest, Commons, Mackay-Steven, Kazim-Richards

Note line ups are for the 433 formation. O’Connell will replace Ambrose once he can be sold and loaned out in the meantime and Mulgrew will replace Boyata when fit. 

We go again.

Transfer budgets disabled. John Collins out, Paul Clement in.

Going to focus on the tactical side of the game rather than squad building as I usually do. Plan to rotate between a 433 and 532 with wingbacks. Priority will be the league in the first season as usually stale tactics lead to 8 or more losses in a season. 

Not the end of season I hoped for but we limped over the line with a domestic double and reached the last 16 of the Europa League. Big changes over the summer to get us into shape. Got a few decent singings lined up already. Stay tuned.

Our domestic form has picked up again. Despite only playing two games we picked up maximum points, with clean sheets and 6 goals. Disappointed to go out the Scottish Cup but we wrapped up the League Cup with a big win over ICT.

Gutted to go out of the Europa League as I felt we could win it. We threw away a 1-0 lead in Russia and a late goal at home to knock us out. Only league games left, hopefully we can win the last 8.

Another implosion meant we could not stretch our lead at the top of the table. At least me are now top!

Much better form through December, if we can win the game in had we FINALLY go back top.





My 2nd signing was to steady the ship at the back. He looks like the perfect partner for Sviatchenko. At £5m he was my most expensive signing, for this I expect him to boss the SPL and put a good shift in European matches.



When I seen Michu available for less than £1m I couldn't not sign him. Although Rodgers didn't manage him, he had the best season of his career at Swansea. He should do a job.



My final signing was Adam Rooney, he netted 11 in 22 for Aberdeen so if he keeps that up he'll be more than justified. I now have 3 very good strikers, all quite different.

A poor run of form in December has shown I need to massively improve the squad in January. Despite the poor start to the CL group we managed to nick a Europa League spot with an away win in Seville. Fitting.





In the last couple days of December I arranged for Gary Hooper to sign. We were severely lacking goals and for less than £3m he should be a bargain and is proven at this level. There is still a good pot there to strengthen the defence.

Things could have went better (and did first time round). We should be on our way into the Europa League and top of the table. I've no doubts about winning the league. We will run away with it in January. I'm focusing on one or two signings for January.

I just switched this on after a few days. Turns out I didn't save it and it crashed when I opened my laptop

Just lost 2-0 to Bayern.