The Power of Kentucky Fried Chicken

League Split Update

This is just a quick update as the league now splits into 2 groups between 6th and 7th place. The top 6 play each other one more time and the bottom six do the same.

Here is how the league looks before the split:



With the league already won, its now down to working out who will take the euro spots on offer from 2nd to 4th + whoever wins the Scottish Cup (either Celtic or ourselves).

Here is our remaining fixtures in respect to the new group:



I am glad we have 3 games at home in the league as this will provide more income for gate reciepts and also it will mean we have the 12th man with the fans behind us.

Matchday 33

Home/ Away to Rangers

Formation: 4-2-2-2

Line-Up:

GK: Bell
RB: Buijs
CB: Pascali
CB: Kroca
LB: Hay
RW: Silva
CM: Stewart
CM: Harkins
LW: Aluko
ST: Gros
ST: Heffernan

Subs:
GK: Jaakola
CB: Pursehouse
FB: McKeown
CM: Kelly
RW: Dayton
LW: Kennedy
ST: Galan

Result

Lost 3-1

We never expected anything from this match, even if Rangers had won the league already they would still cause us problems. They did from the beginning of the match and went two ahead before half time. We weren't helped when we then went a man down as well minutes before the whistle. In the second half, they continued their dominance and went on to score a third goal. We did score a consolation but other than that we didn't show up. In the league the best we can hope for is to finish in 4th or hope that Celtic and Dundee loss all their remaining games and we win all of ours, which includes games against both.

Matchday 34 Championship Group

Home/Away to Hibernian

Formation: 4-2-2-2

Line-Up:

GK: Bell
RB: Buijs
CB: Pascali
CB: Kroca
LB: Hay
RW: Silva
CM: Fowler
CM: Harkins
LW: Aluko
ST: Heffernan
ST: Gros

(Own Goal from Sean O'Hanlon)

Subs:
GK: Jaakola
CB: Pursehouse
FB: McKeown
CM: Kelly
RW: Dayton
LW: Kennedy
ST: Galan

Result

Won 4-1

A game I felt we really had to win for any chance of taking 4th place. Things didn't go to plan at the start of the game as Hibernian took the lead after scoring from a free-kick. You could tell that luck wasn't going to be on our side today as we then went on to hit the bar twice and the post once with a shot also being cleared literally off the line to keep us 1 down at half time. Things turned round in the second half however, and it looked like luck was finally on our side. A cross from Silva took a big deflection into the back of the net. Minutes later Hibernian then had a goal scrapped for offside that I though was going to stand. Then on the hour mark, we took the lead! A corner in from Buijs found the head of Pascali yards from the goal, who rose above everyone to nod the ball into the back of the net. Luck continued to be on our side as we then got a penalty which, top scorer for the team, Heffernan stepped up and slid into the bottom corner for 3-1. Heffernan then added his second and our 4th minutes before the end of the game to make the score 4-1 and thats how it ended.

Personel Update

This made me proud and smile, which is a little sad but I really don't care.

Matchday 36 Championship Group

Home/Away to Celtic

Formation: 4-2-2-2

Line-Up:

GK: Bell
RB: Pursehouse
CB: Pascali
CB: Kroca
LB: McKeown
RW: Silva
CM: Fowler
CM: Kelly
LW: Aluko
ST: Heffernan
ST: Gros

Subs:
GK: Jaakola
CB: Buijs
FB: Hay
CM: Harkins
RW: Dayton
LW: Kennedy
ST: Galan

Result

Lost 4-3

Like the Rangers game I really didn't expect anything from the match but we needed a result to stay on Dundee United's heels after they beat Rangers the previous day. The start of the match was pretty even, up until Celtic got a lucky break that looked offside which they took advantage of and took the lead. The lead was then doubled after slack defending allowed the Celtic striker through to slot the ball past a stranded Cammy Bell. Things went from bad to worse as McKeown gave away a penalty which was put away and the lead extended yet again. At half time I decided to go all-out and try and get a fight back instead of damage-limitation. The change had worked. On the hour mark a cross from Aluko found Silva at the front post who scrambled the ball into the net, 3-1. The fightback was on, Silva had turned provider as his searching ball fell at the feet of Gros who rounded the keeper and slotted home for 3-2. Then Galan nearly made it 3-3 but his shot hit the post and bounced back out. That looked like all our luck flying out the window as some sloppy defending allow Stokes to slot home his second and Celtic's 4th. Gros then came close to making it 4-3 but like Galan our luck wasn't with him and his shot cannoned back out off the post. Then it happened. With 10 minutes left Silva somehow found the ball in the box and managed to somehow get it into the back of the next for 4-3. The miracle ended there however, as we were unable to find the equalising goal and the game ended 4-3.

Club Update

Finally!!!



I took advantage straight away. As Mr. Johnstone was unwilling to do anything I asked, Mr. Gilmour was much more giving.

He increased the number of coaches we were allowed to hire from 6 to 8. This allowed us to bring in a new Fitness coach to work alongside Steve Jones. The man selected for the job was Ross Hughes.

We also looked to bring in a Ball Control/Technical coach since we currently don't have one signed. The man we were able to sign for a relatively high salary, considering what the rest of the coaches are on, was Edgar Davids oh yes the very same man that played for Juventus, Barcelona, Ajax and AC Milan.

He also allowed us to host a youth player day which will hopefully allow us to find a couple of youngsters that will be stars for the future. At least, thats what I am hoping. As usual what I hope doesn't happen. None of the players that played in the trialist game were good enough or didn't impress and none were offered a contract with the club.

Matchday 37 Championship Group

Home/Away to Dundee United

Formation: 4-2-2-2

Line-Up:

GK: Bell
RB: Buijs
CB: Pascali
CB: Kroca
LB: Hay
RW: Dayton
CM: Fowler
CM: Kelly
LW: Aluko
ST: Heffernan
ST: Galan

Subs:
GK: Jaakola
CB: Pursehouse
FB: McKeown
CM: Harkins
RW: Silva
LW: Kennedy
ST: Gros

Result

Draw 3-3

This was one of the most important games of our season. If we won we'd be 1 point behind 4th spot with one game left in the season. If we lost we'd lose all hope of 4th place and £1.35mil prize money that goes with it.

Things started out good though as we took the lead early thanks to Galan who got on the end of a through ball from Dayton and slid it past the keeper. Things got even better when Kelly's shot was saved and the rebound fell to the feet of Heffernan who passed the ball into the net for 2-0. Galan then added his second goal when his control of a long ball forward from Dayton left him one-on-one with the keeper, where he blasted it past him and into the net. An own goal from the captian Manuel Pascali brought Dundee back into the game slightly but the half ended 3-1. The second half started the same way the first had ended, with Pascali putting the ball into his own net. The lead was gone minutes later as Dundee took advantage of some poor defending and pulled back their third goal. 4th place was gone. The final whistle went and the final score, 3-3, was not enough for us to make up the ground to give ourselves a chance at taking the place away from our opponents.

Transfer Update

Kilmarnock have completed the signing of Lewis Milne, from Cowdenbeath, on a free transfer after his contract with the club expired.

Matchday 38 Championship Group

Home/Away to Hearts

Formation: 4-2-2-2

Line-Up:

GK: Jaakola
RB: Pursehouse
CB: Pascali
CB: Kroca
LB: Panikvar
RW: Kennedy
CM: Stewart
CM: Harkins
LW: Silva
ST: Gros
ST: Galan

Subs:
GK: Bell
CB: Buijs
FB: Hay
CM: Kelly
RW: Dayton
LW: Aluko
ST: Heffernan

Result

Won 1-0

As this was the last game of the league season and the result didn't really matter I made a few changes to allow some of the players one last match before they left. The game was pretty even, with both teams having a share of the possession and both creating chances. Hearts had a goal chalked off for offside in the first half and it looked like the game would be heading to the final whistle 0-0. That was until Silva showed a bit of class and controlled a searching cross before dribbling past 3 defenders and hitting a shot into the far bottom corner to end the game 1-0.

Club History Update

The club has only won this competition three times, the last time??....14 years ago. The fans are definitely going to be up for this then!!




p.s I was at that game 14 years ago....I was 5 at the time, and I still remember it!!

Scottish Cup Final

Home/Away to Celtic

Formation: 4-2-2-2

Line-Up:

GK: Jaakola
RB: Buijs
CB: Pascali
CB: Kroca
LB: Hay
RW: Dayton
CM: Harkins
CM: Stewart
LW: Aluko
ST: Gros
ST: Heffernen

Subs:
GK: Bell
FB: Pursehouse
CM: Fowler
WM: Silva
ST: McKay

Result

Lost 3-2

So here it was. The final of the Scottish Cup. Whatever the outcome I was extremely proud of the players and what they had achieved.

The game started alot like the last game against them in the league. They controlled it all. So much so that on the half hour mark the finally took the lead after a badly cleared corner was sent back into the box and found its way into the net. I decided at that moment not to have the players invite attacks onto them anymore. We were going to attack. Not long after the change was made....WE EQUALISED. Another corner from Celtic was properly cleared this time and Aluko was released down the left side. His early cross looked wasted until Gros managed to get onto the end of it and basically walk the ball into the net. The half ended 1-1, we still had a chance.

It didn't last for long as not 10 minutes into the second half..Celtic were back infront thanks to what looked like an offside that was not called. It didn't matter though as minutes later they scored again, 3-1. The hour mark hit, we were still behind. Then Dayton popped up in the box from nowhere with the ball. Somehow he managed to get a shot away and it went it! 3-2. The match was on with still time for us to get the equaliser. Things weren't going well though, players were having to play out of position to cover injuries and tiredness. The final whistle went.

All our work in the last half hour was for nothing. We had lost, but as I said I was still massively proud of the team for even getting this far.

English Premier League and Champions League Update

Here's how the EPL finished...Arsenal finally end their 6 year drought by winning the biggest title in England. Meanwhile down at the other end, Newcastle, Swansea and Wigan are all relagated.



Just to note, Liverpool sacked Dalgliesh, while Martinez and Rodgers were all sacked from the bottom clubs @ the end of the season. Alan Pardew was sacked around Christmas.

During the season:

Alex McLeish joined Stoke as manager.
Zvonimir Soldo took over at Aston Villa.
Tony Pulis replaced Alan Pardew at Newcastle.
Mick McCarthy and Steve Bruce swaped places and now manage each others clubs...

In the Champions League it was an El Classico as Real Madrid and Barcelona once again battled it out to see which is the best team in Spain and in Europe.

End of Season Report

Well...what can I say. That was a much better season than I honestly expected. At the start of the season we were expected to struggle against the "bigger" teams in the league but in reality...we did pretty well I think.



The squad perfomed beyond both the media's and my own estimations in reaching 5th place and because Celtic won the Scottish Cup we secured a place in Europe!!



Finishing if 5th is very good for the club for several reasons. For one it gives us £1.28mil in prize money which is sorely needed for the club's finances which are in such bad shape. Another reason is that it equals what the team achieved last year in real life.

This season we had a good and bad run when it came to the cups. As you know we went all the way to the final in the Scottish Cup, while you might remember that we went out in the third round of the League Cup.





Throughout the season our top scorer was Paul Heffernan scoring 19 goals in all competitions.



Our best overall player was Sone Aluko, but because I bought him mid-season, I didn't think it was fair to give him my player of the season. That I would have to give to:



It's a shame that Buijs is determined to get higher wages or I would have tried my hardest to sign him to a new contract but alas he has decided to join league rivals Celtic on a free transfer.

After the successful season the board have offered me a new 2 year extension to my current contract with a wage rise of around £4,000 a month...too much for my liking as it will affect the club but nothing I can do about that. I have also had to pay over the odds to extend James Daytons contract (£6,250p/m) which would run out next season. His new contract now includes several new clauses that I wouldn't think he would need but he wouldn't accept the contract I offered without them.
In other contract news, with his contract set to expire within a week and after a very fruitful 5 months with the club I decided to officially extend Sone Aluko's contract until 2016 on £2,500 a month. James Fowler has also agreed to a new contract for 2 years on £3,000p/m while I will be waiting to see if Garry Hay announces his retirement before offering him a new back-up contract.

The pre-contract signings that are coming from Scotland have also joined the club and will begin gelling with the rest of the squad as soon as they come back from holiday. Those signings are:

Stephen Kingsley - 17 - Left Back - Current Potential = Future Potential =
Micheal Gardyne - 26 - Attacking Midfield and Left Winger - Current + Future Potential =
Andrew Murphy - 19 - Goalkeeper - Current Potential = Future Potential =

Of course some of our players also left now that the season is over and the transfer window is open:

Leon Panikvar - Leicester - £60,000
Billy Bernsston - Leicester - £60,000
Anssi Jaakola - Middlesborough - £28,500
Ryan O'Leary - Morecombe - £8,000
Daniel McKay - Newport County - Free



With the clubs finances now "secure" after a £1.71mil profit for the last month of competition the board have set me out initial budgets of £130,000 for transfers and around £115,000p/m for wages. I may look to delve into the transfer market once all signings have arrived so I have a chance to gauge what positions of the team need strengthening if any. Another thing that has come with the success from last season is a new kit contract deal worth £10,000. Not alot of money but still every little bit helps.

Transfer Update

Danny Racchi and Kyle Letheran have both joined Huddersfield Town on fee's of £40,000 and £30,000 respectively. Thankfully both these signings helped me get a signing I have been looking at for some time...Jordan Rhodes. Some of you readers may not know who he is but he is a great prospect for the future in game and real life.

Anyway, Jordan Rhodes signs for £250,000 on a 5 year deal @ £10,000 a week plus clauses. He will no doubt jump straight into the starting line-up with Heffernan pushing Gros to a back-up role for now.

Fan Awards

Fan's Player of the Year:



Fan's Team of the Year: