Buffs FC (Scottish Team) - server 112

[Buffs Mad]

Buffs travelled to Vietnam for a top table clash with Simdeponline FC. Buffs were 3 pts ahead and held a vastly superior goal difference but were coming off a sequence of 3 wins, a draw and 2 losses.

The opposition were expected to step out in 4-3-3 and Buffs Mad had been coaching his charges to operate a 4-1-3(N)-2. Buffs Mad was looking for a good start so he had rejected his normal approach of instructing his side to take it relatively easy to see how things developed and urged them to attack from the off.

Buffs FC started briskly, immediately on the offensive, and McGrain found acres of space down the right to cross for Nicol to half volley home. With 3 mins on the clock it was a dream start. Buffs were then awarded a FK in 8 mins after a crude tackle but McStay's cross came to naught. But a yellow for the defender applied a little more pressure on the home side. McStay in the Centre of the Buffs engine room had been tasked with supporting the strikers at every opportunity, but was making mistakes - the gains he made through tackling and interceptions were being lost by mistakes and being caught in possession - and one of those mistakes led to a desperate tackle from Nicol being penalised and a yellow flashed - although the FK was squandered. Buffs Mad signalled McStay to hold the line and concentrate on his defensive duties. Souness on the left was asked to provide the attacking support. The home side were creating chances but the Buffs defence was rock solid with Nicol and Hansen in particular clearing all crosses and corners with ease and covering each other with those last defender tackles. McLeish was seeing action down the left but McGrain had now been starved of possession as the half came to a close.

In the second half, the game was getting stuck in the midfield, only Souness was having any joy but he was wasteful in the final third. With Buffs defence continuing to work hard Buffs Mad signalled Nicol (who had picked up a yellow) to come off. Gemmell came onto the left and McLeish across. On 50 mins Souness found his touch and fed Jordan on the edge of the box. Ofc, Jordan went for goal but his deflected shot fell to Dalglish and King Kenny made in 2.

The home side were now resorting to long range shots. Buffs defence today were admirable, while conceding corners they were poised and precise with their clearing headers. The only further significant opportunity came after Jordan had been rested and the Lawman came on. His balance and swagger saw him ghost passed the defenders with his first passage of play and go one on one with the keeper. As he bore down on the goalie he produced a snap shot which was saved. We've no idea how the GK saved it, how he had managed to contort his body or where the strength in the fingertip came from but save it he did. The final whistle quickly followed.

A fine 2-0 away win for the Buffs against their nearest challengers. However, yet again another side emerged from the pack but 4 pts behind now.

[Buffs Mad]

League: Buffs FC come from behind at home to beat 3rd placed side Ahtariyo 2-1. The vistors took the lead from a long range strike in 36 mins, Hansen equalised in 60 mins and McFadden came off the bench to hit the winner in 70 mins.

Buffs move 6pts clear at the top as 2nd and 4th draw.

Ahtariyo started the match in a ND but changed to 4-2N-1-3 when 1-0 up (presumably he smelled a big win), Buffs started in 4-5-1V but changed to 4-1-3-1-1 through the middle after 52 mins following the Ahtariyo change.

Both Managers watched, and the runner up to Buffs last season joined the Ahtariyo Directors in the stand.

Champions League: Buffs FC lose 2-1 away in the first leg.

The opposition took the field in a 3N-3W(DMs)-2N-2. Buffs went on in a 4-3N-2W-1 - in hindsight a ND might have been more suitable but Buffs Mad missed the match.

After the match Buffs Mad said "They won today but now we're angry - and we're dangerous when we're angry."

League: Buffs travelled all the way to the other end of Fitba Street to take on ex-franchise side Celtic Rangers. A 3-0 win took the Buffs 8 points clear at the top. The strikers were on top today with Joe Jordan netting a first-half brace and the Lawman took all 3 points into custody *groan* with a second half strike.

Celtic Rangers came out in the 3-5-2 to they were left in and Buffs started with 3-4-1-2 before closing out in a 3-1-Hex.

Buffs Mad appeared embarrassed and declined all interviews after key DC Alan Hansen was stretchered off on the stroke of half-time and confirmed out for at least 4 days. And this just before the CL SF return leg with Buffs trailing 2-1 from the away leg.

[Buffs Mad]

Buffs Mad got the medics on Hansen for the crunch CL semi return.

Prior to that there was a routine League match to get through and with the opposition opting for 3N-1-4-1-1 Buffs Mad elected to go 3W-1-4-2 through the middle and rest some players.

3 regulars of the normal 4 man defence were all benched - leaving DR NcGrain to be joined by DL Gemmell and Gough in a wide back line; reserve GK Andy Goram got his first start for a season and a half. In the midfield regulars Paul McStay and James McFadden were rested and in came Billy Bremner and Jim Baxter. Joe Jordan was also relieved of lone striker duties with the old double act of Denis Law and Kenny Dalglish taking centre stage.

And take centre stage they did. In a whirlwind first half Buffs grabbed 6 goals - Dalglish got the ball rolling with a first minute solo strike and then gave 3 assists for strike partner Denis Law to complete his hat-trick on the 32 minute mark. Law then selfishly finished his own good work on 39 minutes for his 4th, leaving Dalglish screaming for the pass. The half ended when Murdoch headed home a Baxter cross.

At half-time Henderson was rested as Jinky came on. On 56, Law (no doubt after a half-time talking to), squared for Dalglish to net his second of the day. Dalglish was the provider again in 76 minutes with Baxter rifling in from the diagonal through pass.

8-0 it finished to leave Buffs FC 8 pts clear with 3 games left. Buffs FC have now scored 170 goals this season in all competitions with 105 of those in the league. The League Goal Difference is now +93 so Buffs Mad has asked his team for a last push to try to secure a +ve 3 digit difference.

Next up for the Buffs is the home leg of the CL semi-final after a 2-1 away defeat. The opposition are expected to field a strong defence (3N-3W(DMs)-2N-2) and look to hit on the break, forcing corners as in the first leg. After limited success from the wide men in the first leg Buffs Mad is going to give Dalglish and Law another opportunity and try to punch through the middle with a 4W-3N-1-2 with McFadden working off the 2 strikers.....unless that changes as the match approaches. Regretably not everyone will be in peak condition but they won't be far off.

EDIT: Buffs Mad decides to be brave and fields 3-4-1-2. Win or bust.

[Buffs Mad]

Champions League: With Buffs FC 2-1 down from the first leg it was win or bust. At the last minute Buffs Mad grew a pair and went 3-4-1-2 against the 3N-3W(DMs)-2N-2. He also stuck with the front pairing that came out of cold storage and did so well in the league earlier.

Law scored first on 14 minutes and Dalglish got his goal on 24 mins. James McFadden missed a penalty in 31 minutes. Buffs held back after halftime but the scares were infrequent and Buffs continued to threaten - the main opposition DC performed admirably. 2-0 it finished so Buffs progress 3-2 on aggregate.

With Buffs now in Season 4 the Buffs are now looking forward to their 3rd CL Final and the possibility of becoming Champions for the 3rd consecutive season.

Pics from the match:

[Buffs Mad]

League: Its official. Buffs FC reserves win 3-0 away from home to stay 8 pts ahead and secure the league title. Dalglish and Law continued their good double act with 2 for Law and 1 for Dalglish.

*Nasty bit comes out now* Buffs Mad said afterwards "Its a shame that today's victory denies the opposition any chance of CL football next season considering he has been a regular supporter at the Buffs matches ----- for the opposition. *muahahahaha*"

Buffs Mad is going to find it hard to split that pair for the CL Final.

Champions League Final: Buffs win the trophy for 3rd consecutive season, aet, in round 7 of penalties 6-5.

Buffs seem to dominate the chances but the statisticians disageed with lots of 'unspoken' Shots and Corners for the opposition. McStay opened scoring from a FK on 15 mins; McLeish rifled in the square ball after good work from Dalglish on 62 mins; opposition scored in 78 and 87 mins from a FK and header from corner respectively. Lots of chances in ET but still 2-2. Buffs penalty in 2nd round was saved but opponent ballooned over too, all scored until round 7, Playmaker Souness scored for Buffs and McGregor then saved opponent strike.



League: Buffs FC struggle to a 3-0 win against a bottom feeder.

Central Midfielder Paul McStay was stuck on 29 goals and missed 3 FKs so he got pushed up to AMC and finally got his 30th this season - if that hadn't worked he'd have been Striker tomorrow. Striker Denis Law also scored 1 but missed 8 sitters and still got a 9 rating. V strange tonight.

[Buffs Mad]

League: Buffs FC Assistant Manager, Otto Teem, is an inspirational genius. With Buffs Mad absent, Otto Teem took control and Buffs FC won their final league game away with a goal by Bobby Murdoch on 90 mins.



Which is just enough to give the Buffs the +ve 3 digit goal difference they craved this season.

[Buffs Mad]

*Insert History here*

[Buffs Mad]

Cup: Buffs start Season 5 with an unchanged side. In the Cup Preliminaries they are drawn against a same quality level 7 Portuguese side and win 4-0 on their travels.

Scorers: Billy McNeill (12), Kenny Dalglish (19, 88) and Paul McStay 956).
Graeme Souness was stretchered off with a Groin Strain (2 days).

Transfers: Buffs Mad said "I'd be better off getting my beauty sleep - cos God do I need it - no 18 yo for transfer, which seems par for the course in these parts.

[Buffs Mad]

​I'll log my injuries here until I decide how I'm gonna do them.

Matches

Day	Match	Player	Injury	Length	Healed
1	Cup P1	Graeme Souness (MC)	Groin Strain	2	No
1	Friendly	Paul McStay (MC)	Hamstring Strain (G1)	3	Yes, 2 days
2	Training	Kenny Dalglish (ST)	Calf Strain	2	No
3	CL G	Graeme Souness (MC)	Ankle Strain	3	No
3	CL G	Bobby Murdoch (MC)	Knee Cartilage Tear	5	Yes, 4 days
4	Cup Q1	Billy McNeill (DMC	Knee Cartilage Tear	6	No, sans reds
6	Cup Q2	Paul McStay (MC)	Calf Strain	4	No, reddy bye byes
9	CL G	Dave Mackay (DMC)	Ankle Strain	2	Yes, 1 day
9	Training	Bobby Murdoch (MC)	Hamstring Strain G1	2	Nope
10	League	Ally McCoist (ST)	Something strained	3	Healed, need for Cup
10	Cup PO	Ally McCoist (ST)(again)	Hamstring Strain G1	3	meh, dunno - 2 days
11	Training	Alan Hutton (DR)	Knee Cartilage Tear	5	Yes, 2 days.
13	CL G	Dave Mackay (DMC)	Groin Strain	4	Yes, 3 days.
14	League	Dave Mackay (DMC) (again)	Hamstring Strain G1 - the bastards	4	aye right
15	CL KO	Ally McCoist (ST) *wails*	Arrow to the knee	4	Healed all - watch this space for next one.
15	CL KO	Dave Mackay (DMC)	Thigh Strain	3	He can rot.
18	Training	Bobby Murdoch (MC)	Knee Cartilage Tear	6	No
18	Training	Academy Player	Hamstring Strain	5	Sold - never even checked his name
24	League	Paul McStay (MC)	Broken Foot	8	2 more kits needed to heal -> Healed

[Cody Allan Taylor]

​I'll log my injuries here until I decide how I'm gonna do them. I'll keep match and training injuries separate.

Matches

Day	Match	Player	Injury	Length
1	Cup P1	Graeme Souness (MC)	Groin Strain	2
1	Friendly	Paul McStay (MC)	Hamstring Strain (G1)	3

Not Paul McStay!!!

Congrats to Buffs on a dual trophy season!