Livingston FC Team Guide in FM2008
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Here you can find various hints and tips when it comes to managing Livingston in Football Manager 2008. Ranging from all the basic information about the club, the history of the club, the expectations of the club in both the current season and over the coming years, an overview of the squad and players at your disposal, the best players to buy, the players you should be looking to sell, the best tactics to use, both for attack and defensive and much, much more.
Basically everything you need to know, to aid your career managing Livingston in the Scottish Premier League, in FM2008.
The Livingston FC squad is one of the poorer squads in the First Division. It is relatively small, comprising only 23 players (3 of whom are on loan), it is weak in the midfield and in need of a more solid goalkeeping option, and the squad is prone to lapses of concentration and confidence. It would be tough work to inherit the Livvy squad as is, and challenge the likes of Dunfermline and St Johnstone for the title. However, the option of loaning SPL players young and old is an attractive one that can add short term quality to your side as you look to rebuild Livingston into an SPL team.
Livingston FC
Nation: Scotland
Year Founded: 1995
Status: Professional
Chairman Status: Loves the club
Favoured Personnel: Jim Leishman, David Bingham
Fierce Rivals: None
Other Rivals: Dunfermline, Hibernian, Hearts
Finances: OK
Estimated Value: £1.8m (Loan debt: £1.5m)
Stadium: Almondvale Stadium, Livingston
Stadium Capacity: 10005 all seater with under soil heating
Pitch Dimensions: 98x69
Maximum Pitch Dimensions: 107x75
Reserve Stadium: New Douglas Park, Hamilton
Training Facilities: Average
Youth Facilities: Adequate
Continental Competition: None
Media Prediction: 6th
Squad Average Age: 24
Squad Personality: Fairly Determined
Home Shirts: Black with yellow collar and trim
Away Shirts: White with red collar and trim
Captain: James McPake
History:
Formed in 1995, Livingston FC took the league licence of the poorly supported and financially cash strapped Edinburgh side Meadowbank Thistle. Relocated to the West Lothian town of Livingston, the Lions were initially wildly successful, going from the bottom division of Scottish football in 1995 to a 3rd place top flight finish and European football in 2002, and winning the League Cup in 2004 with a 2-0 victory over Hibernian.
Success wasn't to last for Livingston however as the new club faced it's own financial difficulties and went into administration. After controversially avoiding relegation in 2005 with the help of an unregistered amateur Hassan Kachloul, bought outside the transfer window, the club sunk into the First Division in 2006 after at one stage suffering twelve losses in a row. Now seeking to regain the financial clout that once helped them climb up the divisions quickly, the challenge in FM2008 is to sort out the clubs finances as much as it is to make the Lions roar in the top flight once again.
Expectations:
The expectations on Livvy are low and attainable. The squad requires some rebuilding and astute management, and the board expect little more than a comfortable mid table finish, and progress over two years. This gives you plenty of time to work comfortably at overhauling the squad with younger players and attempting to balance the financial side of things with some good cup runs in the League, Scottish and Challenge (the cup for teams outside the top flight, which is a really good cup to aim for to get you some time and fan support) aimed for.
There is also the option of aiming a little higher to give yourself some extra transfer funds when the board offers you your transfer budget and wages structure for the season. The first division in Scotland is not overly difficult, although it does play as a somewhat chaotic league with some strange results, but aiming high with the small squad the Lions possess is likely to end in a disappointing result. The media prediction of a lower mid table finish is an accurate one.
Squad Overview:
The Livingston FC squad is one of the poorer squads in the First Division. It is relatively small, comprising only 23 players (3 of whom are on loan), it is weak in the midfield and in need of a more solid goalkeeping option, and the squad is prone to lapses of concentration and confidence. It would be tough work to inherit the Livvy squad as is, and challenge the likes of Dunfermline and St Johnstone for the title. However, the option of loaning SPL players young and old is an attractive one that can add short term quality to your side as you look to rebuild Livingston into an SPL team.
In goal, the options as presented are first team choices are the Polish goalkeeper Mariusz Liberda and Colin Stewart. This should be an area you seek to improve, as neither keeper inspires a massive amount of confidence. Liberda is the better keeper, but he is poor on crosses and makes mistakes, while Stewart is brave but technically limited. Beyond that the only other options are sixteen year old youth goalkeepers Ali Mitchell and Ross Taylor, neither of whom are ready to step up to first team level. This is one area that will require immediate improvement to help Livvy step up and challenge for the title.
In defence, Livingston are stretched for depth, but the defence can be hard working and industrious and should provide enough cover to achieve a safe mid table finish. The options are right back are Dave Mackay and the on loan from Hibernian defender Patrick Noubissie. Mackay should probably get the nod due to his strong influence and solid cover, but Noubissie isn't the worst player in the division and won't let you down. In the reserves are young players Gary Miller and Scott Mitchell, who have a decent amount of ability and potential to step up, although Miller starts on loan gaining experience at Ross County. At left back, the only player who can cover that position in the senior ranks is Craig James, who is aggressive and hungry, but it's a step down to the second choice option, youngster Davie Ferguson. As these are the only two options in the squad at left back, this really should be your number one priority position if you are seeking to buy a permanent player with your transfer budget.
Livingstons strongest asset and deepest cover is in central defence, where Mackay, Noubissie and Mitchell can all step into the role. Noubissie and fellow Hibernian loanee Dermot McCaffrey (on loan until the end of the season) can form a solid partnership at the back, but the best partnership appears to be a combination of McCaffrey and club captain James McPake. McPake doubles as a striker so he offers tactical flexibility and is a strong leader and driving force in the team. With central defence covered with far more surety than full back, there's no place in the side for 16 year old David Stewart, who despite being in the first team squad really isn't ready for the physical nature of the First Division.
In midfield, Livvy are required to improve the depth of their squad, but there is a lot to work with and a lot of creativity. On the right of midfield, Robert Snodgrass should be the player to employ. At just 19 years of age, he's already an impressive young player and can get forward to score goals. Also employable on the right are the aforementioned Noubissie and Miller, 21 year old Allan Walker who has potential and the ability to cause some problems off the bench, Graeme Dorrans (who should be used more as a striker), and young promising option Murray Davidson. On the left the options are more limited, with left back James able to push forward into midfield and Snodgrass able to switch sides, in addition to mid 20 year old attacking midfielders Jakob Hottek and Joe Hamill. Neither are particularly effective or devastating, so in a 4-4-2 line up it'd be very much a judgement call, or Snodgrass should be switched to the left to bring Davidson or Walker in on the right. At a stretch, Hottek is probably fractionally ahead as he creates a bit more with his passing.
In central midfield, the Lions can employ Noubissie, Walker, Davidson or Mitchell, but the central midfield pairing is a fairly easy choice. The star player for Livingston is the midfielder on loan from Middlesbrough (until January), Mark Kennedy. Kennedy is a creative young prospect with a lot of ability and should be played as often as possible. If Kennedy provides the spark, Mark Tinkler does a lot of leg work in a defensive midfield role, and should be employed as cover for the stretched back line in tough away games. The final option in the centre of midfield is the attacking midfielder Liam Fox, who shouldn't be employed as more than an emergency option.
Jason Kennedy can also be pushed up front as can Robert Snodgrass and James McPake (who also being a central defender is a must start due to his flexibility), but the best pairing for Livingston up front works as Graeme Dorrans and the Czech striker Tomas Pesir. Dorrans is 20 years old and hard working and improves in subsequent seasons. Pesir is a determined goal scorer who can find the net at this level, although he's a step below a younger loan option from the top flight. Lee Matthews, Lee Craig and Steven Weir round off the senior squads as the Livingston strike force. Matthews is a so-so alternative to the top two, Craig is past his best, and Weir is still young and developing, so a loan goal scorer or cheap free transfer should be sought to ensure a decent supply of goals.
Livingston do have a pretty long and reasonable youth squad to draw on, and given the lack of depth in the senior squad, it's worth investing the time to pay attention to the average ratings and results of the under 19 squad with a mind to putting the players into senior action. The two best players in the squad to begin with are the attacking winger Keighan Jacobs and the striker Johnny MacAdam, but others can pop up and press for senior selection in a weak and small first team squad.
Potential signings:
Paul Lovering (D L) - Airdrie United (Permanent, 16K)
Goran Stanic (D/WB L) - St Johnstone (Permanent, 16K)
Bryan Prunty (ST) - Airdrie United (Permanent, 26K)
Andy Dowie (D RC) - Ross County (Permanent, 30K)
Calum Reidford (G) - Rangers (Permanent, 40K)
Graeme Churchill (ST) - Falkirk (Permanent, 22K)
Steven Galloway (ST) - Queens Park (Permanent, Free)
Brian Graham (AM L/ST) - Morton (Permanent 30K)
Mickael Buscher (ST) - Gretna (Loan 6 months)
Despite the poor finances, the board does give you a reasonably healthy six figure transfer budget and with a gap in the wages structure it is possible to improve the squad rapidly. The problem positions are at left back, left sided midfield, in goal and up front in that order. Lovering and Stanic provide you with immediate experienced cover at a relatively cheap price at left back, while Graham is a strong option on the left hand side with youth on his side. Reidford is a young goalkeeper with a lot of potential, while at right back Dowie will challenge Mackay if you can get him. Up front, there's plenty of options such as Prunty, the young Galloway and Churchill, but as an on loan signing there's a lot to like about the 20 year old Buscher at first division level. Livingston don't necessarily need more loan signings so much as permanent players however, and in the January transfer window it's important to replace Kennedy as his loan spell ends.
Recommended 4-4-2 Line Up
Liberda
James
McPake
McCaffrey
Mackay
Snodgrass
Kennedy
Tinkler
Davidson
Pesir
Dorrans
Summary:
Livingston are a strong long term challenge to any FM2008 gamer. A weak squad, arguably the weakest in the division, make for probably a two season challenge to get the club into the Premier League on a competitive footing. The squad is poor across several positions and three of the 23 senior players are loan signings. The Scottish database provides with a lot of uncontracted players and transfer targets however, and a patient manager with an eye for a bargain should get Livingston out of the limited Division One in the second season with a big player turnover. However, the real challenge will be to keep the Lions in the top flight, and turn the finances around to be competitive in the SPL transfer market.
Livingston FC
Nation: Scotland
Year Founded: 1995
Status: Professional
Chairman Status: Loves the club
Favoured Personnel: Jim Leishman, David Bingham
Fierce Rivals: None
Other Rivals: Dunfermline, Hibernian, Hearts
Finances: OK
Estimated Value: £1.8m (Loan debt: £1.5m)
Stadium: Almondvale Stadium, Livingston
Stadium Capacity: 10005 all seater with under soil heating
Pitch Dimensions: 98x69
Maximum Pitch Dimensions: 107x75
Reserve Stadium: New Douglas Park, Hamilton
Training Facilities: Average
Youth Facilities: Adequate
Continental Competition: None
Media Prediction: 6th
Squad Average Age: 24
Squad Personality: Fairly Determined
Home Shirts: Black with yellow collar and trim
Away Shirts: White with red collar and trim
Captain: James McPake
History:
Formed in 1995, Livingston FC took the league licence of the poorly supported and financially cash strapped Edinburgh side Meadowbank Thistle. Relocated to the West Lothian town of Livingston, the Lions were initially wildly successful, going from the bottom division of Scottish football in 1995 to a 3rd place top flight finish and European football in 2002, and winning the League Cup in 2004 with a 2-0 victory over Hibernian.
Success wasn't to last for Livingston however as the new club faced it's own financial difficulties and went into administration. After controversially avoiding relegation in 2005 with the help of an unregistered amateur Hassan Kachloul, bought outside the transfer window, the club sunk into the First Division in 2006 after at one stage suffering twelve losses in a row. Now seeking to regain the financial clout that once helped them climb up the divisions quickly, the challenge in FM2008 is to sort out the clubs finances as much as it is to make the Lions roar in the top flight once again.
Expectations:
The expectations on Livvy are low and attainable. The squad requires some rebuilding and astute management, and the board expect little more than a comfortable mid table finish, and progress over two years. This gives you plenty of time to work comfortably at overhauling the squad with younger players and attempting to balance the financial side of things with some good cup runs in the League, Scottish and Challenge (the cup for teams outside the top flight, which is a really good cup to aim for to get you some time and fan support) aimed for.
There is also the option of aiming a little higher to give yourself some extra transfer funds when the board offers you your transfer budget and wages structure for the season. The first division in Scotland is not overly difficult, although it does play as a somewhat chaotic league with some strange results, but aiming high with the small squad the Lions possess is likely to end in a disappointing result. The media prediction of a lower mid table finish is an accurate one.
Squad Overview:
The Livingston FC squad is one of the poorer squads in the First Division. It is relatively small, comprising only 23 players (3 of whom are on loan), it is weak in the midfield and in need of a more solid goalkeeping option, and the squad is prone to lapses of concentration and confidence. It would be tough work to inherit the Livvy squad as is, and challenge the likes of Dunfermline and St Johnstone for the title. However, the option of loaning SPL players young and old is an attractive one that can add short term quality to your side as you look to rebuild Livingston into an SPL team.
In goal, the options as presented are first team choices are the Polish goalkeeper Mariusz Liberda and Colin Stewart. This should be an area you seek to improve, as neither keeper inspires a massive amount of confidence. Liberda is the better keeper, but he is poor on crosses and makes mistakes, while Stewart is brave but technically limited. Beyond that the only other options are sixteen year old youth goalkeepers Ali Mitchell and Ross Taylor, neither of whom are ready to step up to first team level. This is one area that will require immediate improvement to help Livvy step up and challenge for the title.
In defence, Livingston are stretched for depth, but the defence can be hard working and industrious and should provide enough cover to achieve a safe mid table finish. The options are right back are Dave Mackay and the on loan from Hibernian defender Patrick Noubissie. Mackay should probably get the nod due to his strong influence and solid cover, but Noubissie isn't the worst player in the division and won't let you down. In the reserves are young players Gary Miller and Scott Mitchell, who have a decent amount of ability and potential to step up, although Miller starts on loan gaining experience at Ross County. At left back, the only player who can cover that position in the senior ranks is Craig James, who is aggressive and hungry, but it's a step down to the second choice option, youngster Davie Ferguson. As these are the only two options in the squad at left back, this really should be your number one priority position if you are seeking to buy a permanent player with your transfer budget.
Livingstons strongest asset and deepest cover is in central defence, where Mackay, Noubissie and Mitchell can all step into the role. Noubissie and fellow Hibernian loanee Dermot McCaffrey (on loan until the end of the season) can form a solid partnership at the back, but the best partnership appears to be a combination of McCaffrey and club captain James McPake. McPake doubles as a striker so he offers tactical flexibility and is a strong leader and driving force in the team. With central defence covered with far more surety than full back, there's no place in the side for 16 year old David Stewart, who despite being in the first team squad really isn't ready for the physical nature of the First Division.
In midfield, Livvy are required to improve the depth of their squad, but there is a lot to work with and a lot of creativity. On the right of midfield, Robert Snodgrass should be the player to employ. At just 19 years of age, he's already an impressive young player and can get forward to score goals. Also employable on the right are the aforementioned Noubissie and Miller, 21 year old Allan Walker who has potential and the ability to cause some problems off the bench, Graeme Dorrans (who should be used more as a striker), and young promising option Murray Davidson. On the left the options are more limited, with left back James able to push forward into midfield and Snodgrass able to switch sides, in addition to mid 20 year old attacking midfielders Jakob Hottek and Joe Hamill. Neither are particularly effective or devastating, so in a 4-4-2 line up it'd be very much a judgement call, or Snodgrass should be switched to the left to bring Davidson or Walker in on the right. At a stretch, Hottek is probably fractionally ahead as he creates a bit more with his passing.
In central midfield, the Lions can employ Noubissie, Walker, Davidson or Mitchell, but the central midfield pairing is a fairly easy choice. The star player for Livingston is the midfielder on loan from Middlesbrough (until January), Mark Kennedy. Kennedy is a creative young prospect with a lot of ability and should be played as often as possible. If Kennedy provides the spark, Mark Tinkler does a lot of leg work in a defensive midfield role, and should be employed as cover for the stretched back line in tough away games. The final option in the centre of midfield is the attacking midfielder Liam Fox, who shouldn't be employed as more than an emergency option.
Jason Kennedy can also be pushed up front as can Robert Snodgrass and James McPake (who also being a central defender is a must start due to his flexibility), but the best pairing for Livingston up front works as Graeme Dorrans and the Czech striker Tomas Pesir. Dorrans is 20 years old and hard working and improves in subsequent seasons. Pesir is a determined goal scorer who can find the net at this level, although he's a step below a younger loan option from the top flight. Lee Matthews, Lee Craig and Steven Weir round off the senior squads as the Livingston strike force. Matthews is a so-so alternative to the top two, Craig is past his best, and Weir is still young and developing, so a loan goal scorer or cheap free transfer should be sought to ensure a decent supply of goals.
Livingston do have a pretty long and reasonable youth squad to draw on, and given the lack of depth in the senior squad, it's worth investing the time to pay attention to the average ratings and results of the under 19 squad with a mind to putting the players into senior action. The two best players in the squad to begin with are the attacking winger Keighan Jacobs and the striker Johnny MacAdam, but others can pop up and press for senior selection in a weak and small first team squad.
Potential signings:
Paul Lovering (D L) - Airdrie United (Permanent, 16K)
Goran Stanic (D/WB L) - St Johnstone (Permanent, 16K)
Bryan Prunty (ST) - Airdrie United (Permanent, 26K)
Andy Dowie (D RC) - Ross County (Permanent, 30K)
Calum Reidford (G) - Rangers (Permanent, 40K)
Graeme Churchill (ST) - Falkirk (Permanent, 22K)
Steven Galloway (ST) - Queens Park (Permanent, Free)
Brian Graham (AM L/ST) - Morton (Permanent 30K)
Mickael Buscher (ST) - Gretna (Loan 6 months)
Despite the poor finances, the board does give you a reasonably healthy six figure transfer budget and with a gap in the wages structure it is possible to improve the squad rapidly. The problem positions are at left back, left sided midfield, in goal and up front in that order. Lovering and Stanic provide you with immediate experienced cover at a relatively cheap price at left back, while Graham is a strong option on the left hand side with youth on his side. Reidford is a young goalkeeper with a lot of potential, while at right back Dowie will challenge Mackay if you can get him. Up front, there's plenty of options such as Prunty, the young Galloway and Churchill, but as an on loan signing there's a lot to like about the 20 year old Buscher at first division level. Livingston don't necessarily need more loan signings so much as permanent players however, and in the January transfer window it's important to replace Kennedy as his loan spell ends.
Recommended 4-4-2 Line Up
Liberda
James
McPake
McCaffrey
Mackay
Snodgrass
Kennedy
Tinkler
Davidson
Pesir
Dorrans
Summary:
Livingston are a strong long term challenge to any FM2008 gamer. A weak squad, arguably the weakest in the division, make for probably a two season challenge to get the club into the Premier League on a competitive footing. The squad is poor across several positions and three of the 23 senior players are loan signings. The Scottish database provides with a lot of uncontracted players and transfer targets however, and a patient manager with an eye for a bargain should get Livingston out of the limited Division One in the second season with a big player turnover. However, the real challenge will be to keep the Lions in the top flight, and turn the finances around to be competitive in the SPL transfer market.
