Championship Manager Diary - July 2000
Week Starting 8th July 2000
For the first CM Diary I wanted to take on a challenge with a smaller team, as I thought it would make a much more interesting story. It would be too easy for me to manage Barca, Juve or Arsenal and to tell the truth any good cm gamer will tell you, the enjoyment of the game comes from leading a small club to success. And that's what I plan to do. So for this story I chose to start of managing Aberdeen in the Scottish league.
My first contact with the board is for them to tell me that they expect me to stay well clear of relegation. Relegation? Pah! The thought never crossed my head. My aim is to qualify for Europe (if possible), but seeming as I don�t actually know how many Scottish teams qualify for Europe, ill make my target top six. Any way enough of the pre season chit chat about board expectations and what have you, lets get down to the real reason I'm managing Aberdeen�the challenge of taking a small under funded club to success, whatever form that may come in.
I had a brief look at my squad, but I'm afraid it means nothing to me. I have heard of only a handful of the players and have very little idea who's worth keeping and who is going to get their p45's. So I'm going to give them all the benefit of the doubt at this early stage and transfer list no one.
Thursday 13th July 2000
So my first friendly match. Partick Thistle v Aberdeen.
I have very little clue who to pick for my first game in charge so ill just pick the players I think look best suited to my formation. Which Is 3-2-2-1-2 by the way. A tactic I made up myself. I'm particularly interested to check out some of my youngsters, because building a successful team with little money means having to promote from within in your search for regular first teamers. I'm going to make my first game in charge the ideal time to check out 17 year old left back Kevin McNaughton, 21 year old midfielder Darren Young, 19 year old Moroccan playmaker Rachid Belabed and 20 year old striker Derek Young.
Friendly Result
Partick 0 - 5 Aberdeen
What a result. Could that game have gone any better? McNaughton played 8, Belabed scored 1 and played an 8, Darren Young who was captain played 9 and scored, and best of all Derek Young grabbed a hat trick and to go with it the man of the match award. I'm impressed.
Friday 14th July 2000
Bad news rejected 2.5 million bid from hearts for McNaughton. Now he's pissed off because I don't want him to leave. Damn!
Monday 17th July 2000
West Brom bid 3 million for McNaughton, I want 3 million plus 1 million when the lad plays ten games for Scotland, which I'm very sure he will. Also signed 20-yr. old striker Steven McGarry from St Mirren.
Wednesday 19th July 2000
West Brom told me were to stick my offer for McNaughton.
My second match in charge. A friendly against Belgian league outfit St-Truiden.
I've kept the same side as last week. Jess returns from Bradford to a spot on the bench and is accompanied new signing McGarry.
Friendly Result
Aberdeen 0 - 1 St Truiden
Unfortunately a game all about missed chances. Should have won this but I can take some positives: another fine man of the match performance from Derek Young up front, and McGarry was unlucky not to score a couple when he came on.
Thursday 20th July 2000
Youngster Kevin McNaughton has rejected my offer of a new contract. It was the best possible contract I could have offered him, so I guess that means I'm resigned to lose him at some point but il fight to keep hold of him. He'll soon see his future should lie at Pittodrie.
Wednesday 26th July 2000
That�s something I never checked when I started managing this club. Finance! Oh dear, (-�816741). I think maybe id better sell Kevin McNaughton. My Chairman is a poor business man, so im afraid its going to be up to me to see that the money is kept to a reasonable level, he's also got 1 for patience, so I've got a job on my hands impressing this guy!
Friday 28th July 2000
This is what I've been waiting for. The draw for the first round of the UEFA cup, let's hope it�s a good one.
FC Kobenhaven v Aberdeen. Well' that could have been a lot worse, I could have been slightly easier but im quietly confident.
I've slashed Kevin McNaughton's value from 4 million to 2.5 million and I've got three clubs interested. Leicester, Tottenham�. And er, Juventus. Let's see how much cash we can squeeze out of them!
Saturday 29th July 2000
Leicester bid 3million for McNaughton, but if this guy makes it big I want more compensation than that. So I've negotiated a deal worth 3 million and a further �750,000 when he plays ten games for Scotland, all that�s left is for Leicester to accept.
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