retired_confal2

Shame about the new ground at Forfar. Best of luck in the nailbaiting (but improbable) finish to the SPL season. Good story, as ever :thup:

shannon2007

Thanks Dave, such is the beauty of FM and the unrealism

shannon2007

With Adam's injury not being serious, it was therefore the same eleven players who took to the field for the vital match with Dundee United. This was our last home match of the season, and it was one we simply had to win. The luck of the draw meant this would be our third league match of the season against United at Tynecastle. Considering we had won our two previous league games here against them, and had lost at Tannadice, that could well be a huge factor when the trophy was handed out. Of course, we couldn't win the title today, but we could certainly lose it. If we lost this match, we would be six points adrift with three tough away matches to come, and it would be quite some feat to pull that back.

Rangers would be at Dens Park, whilst Aberdeen traveled to Celtic Park knowing that anything less than a win would be the end of their challenge. Two early Lovenkrands goals settled the Rangers nerves, and on 17 minutes Danny Invincible stunned Celtic as he sent Aberdeen into what would be a half time lead. At Tynecastle though, nerves were clear as both sides made and failed to take chances. There was a lot at stake, and showed. Thirty six minutes gone, and a through ball from Mozes sent Tozser clear and the Hungarian easily slotted home his 10th goal of the season to give us the half time lead, and to lift us to the top of the table on goal difference. There was no need for anything to change and so it was the same side who went back out after the break.

The second half was only three minutes old, when disaster struck as Lee Wilkie sent United level again. As time wore on, two late goals gave Celtic the win they needed over Aberdeen and Rangers ran out comfortable 4-2 winners at Dens Park. The drama at Tynecastle though wasn't over yet. With time running out, and a stalemate on the cards, I decided to send on Burns for Adam and Cedric for Vytautas. A draw of course wouldn't be a disaster, but we really needed to win I felt. With time running out though, the match entering the final minute of normal time, a draw looked like it was what we would have to settle for. The referee had other ideas. As United pressed forward, trying to find the goal that would certainly destroy our title dream, the referee – a Gordon McDonald – decided to help them out. As Traore jumped in the area with Stephen Dobbie, the McDonald decided to see something that no-one else had, and pointed to the spot. Up stepped former Forfar player Dobbie, blasted the ball past Morris, and everything we had worked for all season had fallen apart.

retired_trainer

Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!

I never liked Dobbie.

shannon2007

In football, and probably quite rightly, its the goals that we always remember that make the results that decide who wins the prizes. After all, without goals, there would be no winners. Yet its not always the actual goals that are scored that decide results, quite often it's that crucial save made by the keeper, impossibly diving to his right and saving the day. But all that is forgotten in the heat of victory – or defeat. As we went to Ibrox, we knew that we simply had to win. Other results would have little meaning if we came away empty handed. Of course Rangers had to win as well, and with home advantage would not be giving up anything easily. At Tannadice, something had to give, as United took on Celtic. Ideally, we would prefer a Celtic win, even though that would keep them above us – should we win of course. And in the end, a Celtic win was what we got, as the title race took another little twist, Roy Aitken's side coming off 2-1 winners. Now it was United's turn to feel the pain of a title, possibly, thrown away. Except they at least had the advantage of still being top.

We fielded once more an unchanged line up. It wasn't lack of effort, or any players fault, that we had lost to United and I felt the players who had gotten us this far deserved the chance to see the season through if possible. Half an hour into the game, Neil Mellor stunned the Ibrox crowd as he sent us ahead, a lead we took into the break. We had played well, and didn't look like losing. Football though is a funny old game, that can change in an instant, and I felt we really needed that second goal to make ourselves that bit more comfortable. Sure enough, with six minutes of the second half gone, Craig O'Reilly sent us two up, a lead we were to hold onto and with the result at Tannadice going our way, the title race was back on again.

With two matches left to play, Dundee United still of course led the SPL with 68 points. Celtic were second on 66 and we were 3rd with 65. Rangers were now effectively out of the race, sitting back on 62 points. The penultimate matches in this incredible season would see us travel to Pittodrie, whilst Celtic would be at home to Dundee, Dundee United at home to Rangers. It meant of course, that on the final week of the season, the Old Firm would clash. Yet that was irrelevant at the moment, all that matter was the here and now. I decided to change the line up a little, bringing in young Gary Sim in place if the slightly tired Charlie Adam. The match was to turn into a long slog, with neither side looking much like scoring. I felt though that we were the better side, and with news coming through from Tannadice that Rangers wer horsing United, we needed a goal. And as time wore out, one of tose heart stopping moments, as Aberdeen were through on goal, only the keeper Morris standing in their way. Yet as it seemed certain that ball was destined for the back of the net, Morris performed miraculous acrobatics, tipping the ball round the post and we could breath for a few more moments at least.

And as luck would have it in those sorts of occasions, just seconds later, with less than four minutes remaining on the clock, Neil Mellor provided the goal we needed as we finally broke down a stubborn Aberdeen defence and as Dundee United went down by 3-1, and Celtic could only manage a goalless draw, we had moved back to the top of the SPL on goal difference from the Tannadice side, with Celtic a point back. People would remember that Mellor goal as being what dragged us back into the title race, but the reality was the save from Morris was equally, if indeed not more so, important. But how many times woyld they replay that on match of the day?

We only had to go to Dens Park and win, and the title was ours. Unless United won by fourteen goals more then we did...... well you never know.

shannon2007

The interesting thing about the last day matches was that now, if things went their way, Rangers could still actually win the title. It would take a big win for them at Ibrox and big defeat for us at Dens, with of course defeat for Dundee United, but it could still happen. And the way this season had gone so far, you would be foolish to write anything off. With our 69 points, we had a goal difference of +31, Dundee United had a goal difference of +18. Celtic, a point behind, and a goal difference of +24, with Rangers on 66 points and a goal difference of +25. Nothing, but nothing, was impossible and we were taking absolutely nothing for granted.

Charlie Adam was restored to the starting line up, with Gary Sim dropping to the bench, and that was our only change from the side that had beaten Aberdeen. In 1986, Hearts had gone to Dens Park needing a draw to win the title, and on that day had gone down 2-0. Today, fate couldn't be so cruel, lightening couldn't strike twice. Or any other cliché you can think of. None of that would matter once the matches kicked off.

Four sets of supporters went to their respective matches, all hoping and dreaming that by the final whistle, their teams would be crowned as Champions of Scotland for 2012. At Pittodrie, neither side would score in the first half, leaving the visitors tense and nervously waiting for news from the other grounds, which wasn't long in coming. Fifteen minutes into the matches at Ibrox and Dens Park, the title race took another twist as the home sides both took the lead at the same moment. It was gut wrenching for us, as we desperately tried not to throw this away yet again. Dundee, even though they had nothing much to play for, were not about to lie down and it would take all our skill and belief to come throught this. As news filtered through from Ibrox that Celtic were level three minutes from half time, we just had to keep plugging away and hope that our pressure would pay off. Seconds from half time, it finally did as O'Reilly powered home the equalizer and with all three matches level at the half way point, we were just 45 minutes away from glory.

We had played well enough in the first half, and I was reluctant to change the team at this crucial point. Fifty four seconds into the second half my loyaly was repaid as this time O'Reilly was the provider, Daniel Tozser the hero as we put ourselves firmly in the driving seat. Yet the season had not come this far without so many twists and turns of fortune, and it was not about to end without at least one more. With fifty one minutes gone, right back Vytautus picked up a second yellow and we were down to 10 men. Cedric was sent on to secure the defence, with Neil Mellor having to come off. It was going to be backs to wall for the final 40 minutes or so.

With our ten men tiring at the end of hard season, so Dundee were gaining chances – too many chances and with 65 minutes gone, the inevitable happened as they pulled the match level, McGlinchey firing home after a corner. I sent on Gary Sim and John Burns for O'Reilly and Burke, the final throw of the dice on a day in which fate was enjoying herself way too much. There was little more I could do except hope and pray that we could hold out – and that other scores would stay our way, as they still were, unchanged since half time. Yet fate was not through yet with its twist and turns and cruelty, and with fourteen minutes left of the season, David Scott plunged a knife deep into the hearts of our support as he sent Dundee ahead, and the title once more out of our grasp.

With ten men, tiring and fearing the worst, with no news coming through from other grounds, which surely meant no more goals, we simply had to find one final twist. One final turn of events in our favour, and we could uncork the champagne. With time running out, John Burns, whose promise he still seems to keep on ice, finally grew up as he took the ball past the Dundee defence, and the match once more was level at 3-3. As the referee played four minutes of nail biting, heart stopping injury time, he eventually decided enough was enough and brought the 2012 season to a final and dramatic end. We had come here needing a win, and now we were left waiting to see what the dying seconds at Ibrox and Pittodrie had produced to see if we were Champions, or if indeed we were once again going to be left with nothing from a season in which we had given so much, and deserved so much more.

retired_w0lfpack1

***biting my nails***

What an incredible end to a season! Hollywood couldn't have scripted a closer finish!

shannon2007

Yeah I just love the realism of FM

shannon2007

The summer of 2012 saw the Finals of the European Championships in Serbia & Montenegro. Of course this in itself wasn't particulary remarkable, given that the Championships are held every four years. However given that Scotland, under the leadership of Graeme Souness, had qualified, there was a fair bit of interest in the country, intensified by the dramatic domestic season that had just concluded with Hibs lifting the Scottish Cup for the first time since 1902 after a 1-0 win over Raith Rovers.

From a personal point of view, it was pleasing to see my country do rather well at the Championships, even if there were no Hearts players involved. Yet although wins over Holland and Sweden and a draw with Spain were enough to see Scotland through to a Quarter Final with Russia, my excitement was at this point purely personal. I had no idea that after losing out 2-0 to Italy in the Semis - Russia having been seen off by 4-2 - Souness would decide to call it a day as Scotland boss, and when the new boss was announced, there I was sitting beside the SFA President. And not because I fancied him either.

There were of course those in the media who beleived that it would be impossible for me to juggle World Cup qualification with Scotland, along with the domestic and European season with Hearts. Nevertheless, whilst I was understandably thrilled to lead my country, I was in no way ready to give up on Hearts right now. Not when we had just gotten back into European competition. Not when we were in the Champions League. And certainly not, when we had a domestic title to defend.

The summer was both hectic and exitement, but truth is I had paid very little attention to the Scotland job, something that made me feel a little bit guilty as they were after all, paying me a deal of money. But I had other things to take care of, with new players need for the new campaign with Hearts. Scotland could wait, it wasn't as if there was that much choice over the players.

shannon2007

SPL Table 2011-2012

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">| Pos | Inf | Team | | Pld | Won | Drn | Lst | For | Ag | G.D. | Pts | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 1st | C | Hearts | | 38 | 21 | 6 | 11 | 66 | 35 | +31 | 69 | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 2nd | | Dundee Utd | | 38 | 21 | 6 | 11 | 56 | 38 | +18 | 69 | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 3rd | | Celtic | | 38 | 19 | 11 | 8 | 55 | 31 | +24 | 68 | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 4th | | Rangers | | 38 | 17 | 15 | 6 | 59 | 34 | +25 | 66 | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 5th | | Aberdeen | | 38 | 17 | 7 | 14 | 41 | 42 | -1 | 58 | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 6th | | Dundee | | 38 | 16 | 9 | 13 | 56 | 51 | +5 | 57 | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 7th | | Motherwell | | 38 | 14 | 11 | 13 | 50 | 42 | +8 | 53 | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 8th | | Hibs | | 38 | 12 | 14 | 12 | 43 | 49 | -6 | 50 | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 9th | | Gretna | | 38 | 11 | 11 | 16 | 47 | 57 | -10 | 44 | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 10th | | Falkirk | | 38 | 10 | 10 | 18 | 35 | 46 | -11 | 40 | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 11th | | Forfar | | 38 | 10 | 7 | 21 | 38 | 69 | -31 | 37 | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 12th | R | Clyde | | 38 | 5 | 3 | 30 | 21 | 73 | -52 | 18 | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| </pre>