Welcome back to my DoF-style series with Celtic. Previously, I cast my eye over the current squad and pencilled in a tactical blueprint for us moving forwards. As the season begins to take shape, I have been busy in the background setting up scouting missions and even at this early stage I’m looking to next season. Will I keep the majority of the current squad or will it be a busy summer? Let’s see how we’re getting on.
Season 2022/23: August – January
Yes, the focus of this game is off-field, but I can’t not comment on how we’ve fared on the pitch so far. Our tactics are as basic as basic can be – the control possession 4-2-3-1 that I showed you last time out. I’ve ramped the matches up to key highlights and I barely watch the first half. On a matchday, my only job is to manage the condition of my players and make sure that the whole squad is getting ample minutes. I may throw a touchline shout in every now and again and if we need a goal I’ll raise the mentality. All I’m looking for is that 60-minute mark so I can swap out a few players.
We’re Celtic, so we’re doing well. There have been a few minor blips but us and Rangers are ahead of the chasing pack. We’re one point behind but with two more Glasgow derbies to play (we’ve won one each) this is going down to the wire.
The only disappointment has been a League Cup final loss on penalties to Aberdeen. Cups are a lottery and it highlights how dominant the real-life Celtic team have been lately. We just didn’t turn up and Aberdeen edged it in a tight game. Still, it hurts to see their celebrations and the board weren’t best pleased.
Meet the Scouters
The first six months of my reign are more about evolution than revolution. I haven’t come in swinging the axe and we are working with the current staff members (including coaches for now). Some scouts aren’t very good, and some are decent but overpaid, but they all have a chance to find me some gems.
I really like the new way that scouting is represented in the game. It feels more realistic and I’m using it to try and ‘cast the net’. It’s working so far, I have a populated shortlist and lots of players are looking interesting. I’m not saying that I’ve found a hidden scouting formula by any means and I will tweak my focuses going into season two – it’s a learning curve!
Revolting Players!
Overpaid prima donnas! I have a couple of players looking to disrupt the harmony of the dressing room and that just won’t do. Despite getting good minutes, James Forrest wanted to pursue other challenges. With six players capable of playing on the wings, this was an easy one to let go – club icon that he is. For a probable £2.2m he leaves for FC Midtjylland. Also, Ideguchi and Siegrist leave on loan for full wage contributions and a potential future fee. This process will have to continue before I have space in the squad to bring any new players in.
Those we kind of expected, but what I didn’t expect was the sheer amount of interest in pretty much everyone. Stephen Welsh may be the next one to leave after firm interest from Leeds. David Turnbull is wanted by the likes of Manchester United and Tottenham and stars such as Liel Abada, Kyogo Furuhashi and Matt O’Riley are gaining interest. Two of those want increased wages with Kyogo probably soon to follow. Aaron Mooy wants more money. Greg Taylor wants more money. I can’t cope.
I’m supposed to be building a sustainable club for the future with robust financial policies. Therefore I’m not saying yes to more money for the sake of it. What I needed to do was work out what I could afford and devise a wage budget.
The Wage Budget Conundrum
I’ve thought long and hard about budgets, exciting I know! With Celtic I’m blessed to be at a club that is rich even without any real TV money coming in. Our largest income is through season tickets and this alone brings in an almost guaranteed £27.2m per season. I’m using this to base my entire wage budget on. With added ticket sales, sponsorship money, prize money, commercial and matchday revenue, and European money on top… we have the capacity to become supremely wealthy. The aim has to grow to be able to afford a player trading policy that rivals Ajax or Benfica.
One of my major aims for the save is to preserve pathways to the first team. Unfortunately, we’re not blessed with a great deal of talent at the minute but that’s good because we have a bloated squad – around 7 players too many. Here’s how I intend to strip down the first team to be able to give minutes to talented youngsters – either homegrown or purchased:
I will have a maximum of 20 first-team players. Then 20 more in the B-Team and (probably, but not quite as strict) 20 in the U18s. Each game week I should be able to promote one or two B-Team players to the first team matchday squad. I’ve budgeted for each B-Team player to earn a maximum of 5,000 per week (we’re nowhere near that yet) which is roughly £5m per year. The youth team wages will be covered either in-house or through surplus B-Team allowance. This leaves just over £22m spare for the first-team squad.
As you can see, there is a clear structure in place where my better players earn more money. The good news is that at the start of the game, no player exceeds their wage vs squad status equation. The bad news is that contract renewals will, but we can get to that later on. Once we shift the surplus players we should be massively under this budget.
My first job is to see the transfer window out completely, keeping hold of my key players, then make a final push for the Scottish Cup and SPL title. This means keeping my players fit and firing and besting Rangers in the derby games.
Tune back in for the season review – FM Henke.
Football Manager Addict 