shannon2007

It was cold in the office, and Bob Scratchit pulled his scarf tighter round his neck. It was hard to believe it was June, and outside the sun was shining brightly in the Dundee sky. Which was the only bright thing about the City. Scratchit did what he did best - Scratched his beard, and thought about Tiny Tim, who was so devastated when his father took the Dundee job. But at least, Bob comforted his son, it isn't Rangers.

Which was true.

Bob looked forlornly through the tattered newspaper, a copy from last year of course, and thought how nice it would be if only he could sign some players, if only he had money like other managers did. But he didn't. The Chairman didn't like money. Well, that wasn't quite true. The Chairman did like money, and that was the problem. He liked it too much to actually spend any. Chelsea had gotten Abramovic and Hearts had gotten Roman, but Dundee had been saddled with Scrooge.

Literally.

Just at that moment, the door opened and in walked the Chairman himself, growling as usual.

'Where did you get that paper from?' He snapped angrily, 'I don't pay you to sit and read the paper, why aren't you out signing players, training players, selling players. Making me money!'

Bob hastily put down the paper. 'Yes sir Mr Scrooge, I'm right on it. Only... only....'

'Well man spit it out, what is it you're trying to say?'

'Well I was wondering like, erm, what exactly is our transfer budget this year?'

Ebenezer Scrooge looked as if he was about to explode 'Trangfer budget? Budget? Money?!! You don't need money to be a football manager. Don't you dare ever ask me again, or it will be the road for you, and what then for Tiny Tim?'

Yes, Bob thought to himself, what then for poor Tiny Tim.

shannon2007

I've taken the liberty of editing the db to add an Ebenezer Scrooge as Chairman of Dundee, with what I think are the appropriate stats for such a man. FM07, only the Scottish league is running, with a couple on 'view only' for no particular reason.

Hopefully this will be over and done with by Christmas.

BarryLFC

Nice start.

shannon2007

Marley was dead.

Thats how this tripe should have started. But then, PM7 was no Charles Dickens. Thankfully.

Marley was dead, but Scrooge didn't let it bother him too much. Marley may have been a friend, a fellow board member at Dens Park, but Marley drank too much. He also enjoyed life too much - it wasn't right. Life is not supposed to be enjoyed, it's supposed to be endured. There is nothing to enjoy about the dire, dreary life we are forced to live by a God, if he exists, that is supposed to care about us. Scrooge was no longer sure he even believed in God but he was damn sure God had stopped believing in him.

Marley, the fool that he was, had believed in spending money to bring success. Yet where had that got them? Stuck in the First Division with little chance of escape. Whilst clubs like Gretna raced past them, but they too would find out that all these things must end and then, where would they be? Scrooge would not have that. He would not have his own hard earned cahs squandered, wasted away on prima donna's who didn't deserve a penny of it. And he certainly did not believe in paying the ridiculous asking prices of fees. Indeed, in doing so Scrooge believed he was taking a stand - against slavery. Players were not meat to be bought and sold - and certainly not bought, not with his money at least.

And Bob Scratchit could like it lump. Scratchit with his simple Celtic loving offspring, his simple stupid wife, and grotesquely cute children - the weak and painfully annoying Tiny Tim, upon whom Scratchit seemed to pour so much love it made Scrooge sick to his stomach. Scrooge had no time for love, to quote Tina Turner, whats love got to do with anything anyway? Scratchit was a fool, and Scrooge knew it was his duty to make sure the man had as little time for his family as possible. He was saving the mans soul, and he knew it.

People said Scrooge was mean, but he was simply efficient. He was not cold, he was not heartless - he was just realistic. Amd Marley, the dreamer that he was, the dreamer that he had been, Marley was dead and Scrooge was still alive. That spoke volumes. And so what if three ghosts would visit in the night? Scrooge did not believe in Ghosts, the spirits be damned he would not be bullied by them, he would not be here for them.

And what of Tiny Tim? If he died, he died. It was nature's way of getting rid of the weak. Scrooge had no need to feel bad about that. No need at all.

retired_NickiCFT

Great start!Really looking forward to this as I'm a Dundee fan and have already played as them myself on my first FM2007 game. If you make the right signings 1st season should be easy enough but survival in the SPL is really difficult!

I await your updates with baited breath!

retired_thpgal

Better brush your teeth then

Nice start PM :thup:

shannon2007

Right as I hadn't actually written about any games, I can continue this. Slight difference in db set up as I have Australia, England, France, Italy, Portugal and Spain at mainly the top 2 levels as well as all of Scotland a retain all nations for all Oceania teams for another story I intend to do shortly.

That is all. Welcome back PM7 messages are now obligatory. Thanks.

BarryLFC

welcome back PM7. u r da greatest.

shannon2007

'Now remember' Bob looked sadly round the dressing room as the team prepared to take the field in the seasons first warm up game, against arch rivals Dundee United, 'Its not the result that counts. Its keeping your strips clean. Mr Scrooge will only provide one set of strips per season, and we have to make sure they get washed as little as possible because they do tend to fray at the seams after too many washes, so take it easy out there.'

Bob Scratchit was seriously begining to wish he had never taken this lousy job, but he could ill afford to pack it in. He needed the money for Tiny Tim, poor Tim, who would die soon if he did not get the operation. But what did old man Scrooge care with his paltry excuse for a salary. Bob was engulfed with rage, but for the sake of the team, he had to calm himself. After all, his son Tiny Tim might well be dying, but football came first.

Scrooge made it certain to the players that he expected them to whup United's arses. 'I hate these bastards' he whined in that high pitched squeal of his, 'Ever since that Jim McLean arsehole shagged my wife and gave her the clap.'

It was a well known fact that Scrooge's wife had died from a sexually transmitted disease, mainly due to the fact that the old bugger had been too mean to get her to the hospital.

I'm far too bust for such trivialities' he claimed.

The players didn't give two hoots about Scrooge's vendetta against United, they just wanted to win for their pitiful bonus that would help them buy a few extra logs for the fire this christmas. As preseason games go, this was a boring farce and for forty five minutes both sets of players slugged it out like two boxers who had been out of training for five years. Scratchit was not amused, and meekly asked the players to try a wee bit harder in the second half.

Teenage midfielder Kevin McDonald duly obliged with goals on 59 and 78 minutes and just for good measure Gavin Swankie added a third in injury time. It was a decent enough win, although United had been reduced to ten men with twenty minutes left, but all in all Bob was happy enough.

'I'm happy enough' He told the players. For which they were very grateful.

shannon2007

Ebenezer Scrooge did not believe in Ghosts. Sure, there were many people who swore blind to having seen one of the dear departed, who contacted mediums to facilitate communion with those who had passed on to the other side. Scrooge was not one of them, and poured hideous scorn on anyone in his presence who dared to suggest such things were true. Which begged the question. If Scrooge did not believe in Ghosts, and Marley was dead - and Scrooge was quite sure of this, for it was he fater all who had found his business partner slumped over his desk, quite clearly without sign of life - then who was this who was sitting quite studiously in Scrooges chair. In Scrooge's favourite chair would you believe!

'Ah Scrooge' the vision of Marley addressed him as if it had suddenly awoken from a trance, 'It's so good to see you old friend'

Scrooge felt more than a little fear, but there was no such thing as Ghosts and this was merely a figment of his imagination, perhaps some form of guilt over having swindled Marley's family out of most of his cash. But that was just silly - Scrooge had no conscience. He decided it was best just to ignore the apparition, and it would go away. A good nights sleep was what he needed and he headed to the bathroom to prepare himself for bed.

On returning to the living area, still seated in his favourite chair, he spied the vision of Marley. He had, so far, no vanished.

'I won't be vanishing' Marley looked up at him as if reading his mind. 'I have a message for you and I cannot leave until I deliver that message.

'Begone foul vision' Scrooge now felt more than a little fear, but exuding confidence to whatever it was in his room would surely win the day and the vision would fade. 'Begone, whoever you are I have no need of you'

'But Ebenezer, my dearest friend, you very much are in need of me. I have come to tell you to change your ways. Unleash the chains around your spirit before you are carted away to the depth of hell and damnation'

'Oh fiddlesticks' Scrooge exclaimed, 'There is no such thing as hell, damnation, or ghosts. You sir are merely a figment of my imagination'

Marley looked almost offended, 'I assure you, I am no figment. This is not a dream, this is reality Scrooge and for your sake you best listen to me, and listen well.'

'Oh very well, get on with whatever it is you came to say, and then begone from my presence!'

'Look at my chains' Marley said, 'and note that in death yours will be bigger, larger, one hundred times heavier for you have been one hundred times more evil than me.'

Scrooge grunted, but did not interupt his vision.

'You must change your ways Ebenezer my old friend, or else you will end up in hell and Dundee will end up in the Third Division, which is even worse. And to help you make up your mind, before this season is over, three Spirits will pay you a visit. Take heed of them Scrooge, for they hold your fate in their hands. And please, give my family that money back, they need it. Oh and Scrooge have a heart, and help Tiny Tim. Farewell!'

And with that the vision vanished, in an instant.

Scrooge was enraged. Why the hell did everyone keep going on about Tiny bloody Tim!