retired_amyslack

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Season 01

Author’s Note
I had problems running FM2006 on my laptop after fitting a new hard drive so I kicked this off with FM2005 (5.0.5) with the English, French and Scottish leagues active. I left it running on holiday for 12 months to see what happened – the end result was that Southampton were relegated from the Premiership so I decided to go with them. I have FM2006 running now but as I was quite enjoying this game I decided to stick with it.

Marcel McPherson had not been blessed with the most orthodox of upbringings. The product of a holiday romance between a Scottish mother and a French father he had spent his formative years absorbing the culture of both countries, attending school in Bearsden but spending all of his holidays in rural France. Amongst other things this left him with a penchant for a nice glass of Beaujolais Nouveau with his deep-fried Mars Bars and a habit of punctuating his sentences with French phrases and expressions delivered in a broad Glaswegian accent. This dualism was also evident in the way he played football. Displaying levels of brutality not seen on a football pitch since Big Jim Holton patrolled the centre of the Scotland defence, Marcel was also capable of producing flashes of genius that Michel Platini would have been proud of.

An unusual combination of midfield enforcer cum playmaker, Marcel carved out a decent enough career on the pitch and had the unusual distinction of representing both Scotland and France at youth level without gaining senior honours for either country. When he hung up his boots in his final season at Southampton he secured employment in their scouting operation before going on to gain his coaching certificates. He then moved across to the coaching staff where he found himself in the right place at the right time to profit when Harry Redknapp left after their relegation to the Championship. Chairman Rupert Lowe selected Marcel as caretaker manager whilst a permanent successor was sought and that is where our story begins.

retired_swmchick2006

:thup:

retired_amyslack

July 2005

“For Christ’s sake Anders, have you goat deux pieds gauches or what? Pass and move, pass and feckin’ move – that’s all ah’m asking. And Crouchy – why are you incapable of heiding the ba’?. I dinnae care if you’ve goat bon premier contact pur un grand homme – I jist want ye to heid the ba’ intae the feckin’ sac d'oignon, goat it? Danny - marquer l'homme for gawd’s sake! Call yersel a bluidy defender – I widnae trust you tae defend me frae a wee carniche français�.

Marcel was overseeing his first training session in his new capacity as caretaker manager and as was his wont he was expressing his views and opinions in a most forceful manner. The truth was that he was only too well aware of the paucity of talent at his disposal and after a truly abysmal showing last season morale amongst the squad was at an all-time low. It was clear to the temporary boss that action was required if the club were to meet the Chairman’s objective of making an immediate return to the Premiership.

At the end of the training session Marcel convened with coaches Stuart Henderson and Christian Damiano. The Scot and the Frenchman were already close friends and colleagues and with the departure of former Assistant Manager Jim Smith at the same time as ugly ‘Arry, the two were effectively Marcel’s right hand men. The caretaker boss spent some time sharing his thoughts on the current squad with his confidants.

“Well boys, here’s whit ah think. Keepers – Antti Niemi’s a top man and we’ll need him but we hivnae goat a decent backup. Paul Smith’s merde and he knows he is, and none of the youngsters are up tae much. So first thing oan the shopping list is anither keeper. Left back – Jelle Van Damme is oor best option. Graeme Le Saux is gonnae be oot o’ contract, he’s 36 and he coasts us a bluidy fortune each week so he’s histoire. Darren Kenton and David Prutton can play there at a push but ideally we need mare options. Right back – some choices there right enough wi’ Jason Dodd, Kenton, Prutton, Paul Telfer and Chris Baird but nane o’ them really couper la moutarde so in an ideal world we need a right back as weel. In central defence we’ve goat Andreas Jakobsson, Michael Svensson, Claus Lundekvam and Andy Webster – again rien Ã* écrire Ã* la maison au sujet de. In midfield I like Nigel Quashie, Yoann Folly, Neil McCann and Fabrice Fernandes and we’ve goat Prutton, Matthew Oakley and Anders Svensson an’ all so we're OK there jist noo. Rory Delap’s oot fer 6 months wi’ une jambe cassée so forget aboot him and ah’m gonnae let Redknapp junior go when his contract’s up. Up front we’re lookin’ at Ormerod, Pahars and Phillips wi’ youngsters Leon Best and Dexter Blackstock in the wings.â€�

“What about Crouch?� queried Henderson.

“Crouch? Fecking useless morceau de corde. He looks like une giraffe dans un sac. Forget aboot Crouch. So by my reckonin’ we need tae build in defence and get a second keeper but we should be good enough tae get back tae the top flight, fingers crossed. The main thing boys is that we’ve goat tae get them playin’ as a unit – nothin’ fancy, just a basic quatre-quatre-deux. Accordin’ tae the bookies the main contenders for promotion are Ipswich, Leicester, QPR, Sunderland, West Brom, West Ham and Wolves so we’re gonnae hiv some hard matches. So let’s work hard in pre-season and try tae get aff tae a solid start.�

retired_swmchick2006

Feckin' brilliant. That's possibly the best single post I've seen on FM Stories.

retired_amyslack

Thanks attjen but I fear that the rest of my tale will never meet the expectations that your high praise has now established

“So tell me Marcel, having identified that your priority signings are a goalkeeper and a left back why exactly have you spent almost two-thirds of your transfer budget on a holding midfielder?� Southampton Chairman Rupert Lowe did not give his caretaker manager time to respond before adding “And at the same time you could perhaps enlighten me as to why you have made it general knowledge that you are willing to listen to offers for most of the players on our books? And whilst you’re at it you could also kindly explain why half of our scouting operation is in Scotland and the other half is in France?�

“Well tae be honest Mr. Lowe when ah heard that Michael Stewart was unhappy at United ah just couldnae resist. He’s gonnae be un grand joueur for us ah’m sure. Ah’ve pit the team up fer sale because you yersel’ said that we’ve goat tae get the wage bill reduced and ah’ve sent the scouts oot tae find us some cheap new players. Ah jist happen tae believe that oor best hope is tae bring in some French and Scots ‘cos in my experience they’re braw players and tend tae be underrated.�

Lowe shook his head in disbelief. “I sincerely hope that you know what you are doing Marcel. Don’t forget you are only keeping the seat warm until I can find a permanent replacement for Harry you know.�

“Aye, ah ken that weel enough Mr. Lowe but ah believe in whit ah’m dayin’ an’ ah think yel see that translated intae results oan the pitch.�

“I certainly hope so Marcel. It is a financial imperative for us to get straight back to the Premiership so you had better be right in your judgement, that’s all I can say.�

“Well as my auld French Granny always used tae say, il y a davantage que Ã* sens unique pour peler un chatâ€�

retired_yolanda

Quality Keept it up :thup:

retired_amyslack

Thanks gil

August 2005

Rupert Lowe leaned back in his leather recliner behind his spacious desk and regarded his caretaker manager briefly. “Well Marcel, it’s been quite a first month in charge� he stated.

“It surely has Mr. Chairman, very busy and rather successful, I’m sure you’d agree� a relaxed McPherson responded.

“Apart from our last game that is.�

“Aye, true enough. Three-nothing at home to West Brom wis poor. Bluidy Jason Koumas and his jammy coup du chapeau. But we goat a good point at Sunderland in the league opener and when we thumped the Hammers trois-nil at home that wis oor best display yet. We did well in the Carling Cup playin’ the second string an’ we’re just a point ootside the playoffs at the minute. We’ve had a few injuries tae deal with an’ aw.�

“I am slightly concerned with the sales that you have made.�

“Why wid that be? Ah’ve unloaded a bunch of deadwood an’ brought in almost a million quid in the process. Ormerod, Baird, Smith and Higginbotham were nae exactly world beaters.�

“It leaves us very light on experienced keepers though and you haven’t brought in many new faces yet.�

“Dinnae forget Mark Burchill – didnae cost us a penny an’ he’s a decent striker. Fair comment aboot the goalies though an’ we’ll be dayin’ somethin’ aboot that as soon as possible. Ah may jist be the caretaker Mr. Lowe but ye did agree that ah hid final say as far as transfers were concerned, as long as ah kept tae the budget.�

“Yes Marcel, I did agree to that but nonetheless I am keeping a careful eye on our financial situation.�

“So any news oan a new manager yet Mr. Chairman?�

“Not yet Marcel but believe me you’ll be the first to know when we have found a successful candidate.�

retired_amyslack

September 2005

“That was another good month Marcel – shame about the Forest game at the start of the month though.�

“It wis a fine month Mr. Chairman – we’re up tae 5th now and dayin’ weel. It wis jist bad luck at hame tae Forest. We hit la barre transversale twice, they cleared the ba’ aff la ligne de but twice an’ they hud a teenage keeper that played hors de sa peau and they won 1-0.�

“I see that Fernandes is injured again.�

“Aye, he’s oaf tae see a specialist wi’ this wan. Tae be honest in, boxin’ parlance they’d say he’s goat un menton de verre, if ye ken whit I mean. He’s nae good tae the team if he canne play ‘cause he’s dans la salle de traitement every other week.�

“I’m impressed by the way Quashie is playing at the moment.�

“Oh aye, Nigel’s in great form an’ wi’ 6 goals in 9 games he’s oor top scorer intae the bargain.�

“I was particularly pleased with the 3-0 win at home to Derby. If we can keep that kind of form up then you will make it very difficult for me to replace you.�

“That’s the plan Mr. Chairman, that’s the plan.�

retired_amyslack

October 2005

“Well done Marcel, runner-up in the Manager of the Month award. Good work but with three wins and a draw I thought you might have won it outright.�

“Thanks Mr.Lowe but tae be honest I’m mare please that we’re up tae 4th in the league.�

“Please Marcel, call me Rupert. After all it looks like you will be staying with us for a bit longer yet.�

“Aye, OK Rupert, fair enough.

“So tell me about the Fernandes situation.�

“Well the ungrateful wee bugger scores a hat trick in the Carling Cup and then tells the press that he’s leaving at the end of the season because the club is under-performing. Quel imbecile!�

“And our injury situation?�

“Well Nigel’s havin’ physio for a calf strain but he should be back in a week or two. Oor only ither problem the noo is big Crouchy. He goat a strain in trainin’ but ah cannae say that he’ll be missed the grand dégingandé boisson de l'eau.�

“Marcel, I really think that you are underestimating Peter. He’ll be a future England international mark my words.�

“Is that right? Tell ye whit Rupert, if that’s an example of your insight intae the players then you stick tae the money an’ leave the fitba’ tae me, fair enough?�

retired_amyslack

November 2005

Relations between the Southampton Chairman and his caretaker manager were growing warmer week by week as the team continued to produce some good results. The end of November saw The Saints in 4th place, just two points outside an automatic promotion place and Rupert Lowe was a very happy man.

“Marcel, come in and have a seat. Can I offer you a glass of wine? After all we have something to celebrate this month on the awards front with Leandre Griffit voted Young Player of the Month.� Putting down a glass of wine in front of Marcel he continued, “And with Pahars second in the Player of the Month and you 3rd in the Manager stakes it’s been a fine few weeks.�

“Ta Rupert� – Marcel paused to sip his wine. “Very nice, a St-Emilion if ah’m no’ mistaken?� His Chairman nodded his agreement. “Ah was particularly pleased tae see Leandre dae so well when he wis given his chance. He did well oot on loan and I wis keen tae give him a runoot.�

“Bad luck in the Carling Cup, what?�

“Och aye, we were seconds away frae full time when the Spurs equalised and we jist ran oot o’ steam dans le Prolongation - porcs chanceux. Still, we made up for it at Ipswich – have ye ever seen such a fluky goal in yer life? The keeper bootin’ it against Pahars and it loopin’ back ower his heid and intae the net. I wis still laughin’ at full time.�

“Indeed, it was rather amusing. But on a more serious note Marcel, any progress on the goalkeeping front?�

“Tae be honest wi’ ye Rupert, ah’m no seein’ anywan ah like the look o’, ye ken whit ah mean. Ah dinae want tae rush intae anythin’ that we might regret and young Andy McNeil is OK as a backup fer noo.�

“Fair enough Marcel but I sincerely hope that Antti stays fit otherwise our promotion bid could come seriously unhinged.�