Community » Hattrick Press

Double Trouble

Written by defunked

An interview with h00ligans' manager defunked, on the brink of winning everything, and nothing...

Your team, h00ligans knocked out Teambummer and Rockhill Rangers to reach the semi-final, and face M.K.S Odra Wodzis who have knocked out Ville Warriors and Stinging Scorpions. They've posted some pretty serious midfield stats, so you must be grateful that the game is on neutral ground?

Wodzis are one hell of a team. I’m lucky enough not to remember the last time I was this much of a second favourite. On paper they are marginally the better side, but when you factor in that they can take a more cavalier attitude to TS management then I really am up against it.

The cup has normally just been there to support my climb up the leagues – it’s only once I made the last 16, that I seriously considered going for it. I shared a league with Teambummer a few seasons back so knew what he was capable of and squeaked through that one. The Rockhill game (512369745) was a funny one – I played with a striker in goal for 60 minutes and yet ran out comfortable winners. Had they played any tactic other than CA, I would have been a goner.

If you have a favourite tune of 2014, please provide a link to vimeo/utube/soundcloud for us to listen, but an older classic tune would be just as good?

I stream a lot of music these days and tend to come across a lot of stuff I like that I wouldn’t normally listen to. This tune is a good example :
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TuKwFHuV4Dw)

It has taken you 10 years of building since taking over your team in September 2004, but you've now eclipsed your best cup run (s53 - R11), and after winning the II.3 title (for the second time) last season, you made it into the Prem, and are currently top of the table with a PICable game on the Sunday also helping you to max out TC before the semi-final. Can you pull off the double?

Anything’s possible…and I’d only need the next four games. Realistically the odds are stacked against it, but with a slice of luck here and there, and good calls in the rock – paper – scissors tactical battles, it could happen. I’m unlikely to get a better chance in fairness with the average age of my first team in the 30-32 bracket.

If a fan wanted to buy you a pint, which pub would it be easiest to find you in, and what's your poison?

I live in South East London and frequent a lot of the pubs in Blackheath (http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/af/Princess_of_Wales_Pub,_Blackheath_-_geograph.org.uk_-_359584.jpg). An ale of any description normally does the job, especially one with a daft name – like Modus Hoperandi (https://edibleink.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/ska-modus-hoperandi-ipa-1.jpg). Otherwise a nice drop of single malt – Glenmorangie etc.

You are a gold supporter, how do you rate the supporter package you have in terms of value for money?

A while back I was describing Hattrick to a friend and he asked “What are the graphics like?” :\

For me, the cost is not too bad. I don’t own a games console at the moment but the cost is roughly the same as I'd spend buying a new game once a year. I can see why some would think twice about paying 50 quid to use a browser based text game for 12 months, but I’ve been paying it for so long I can’t remember which features don't come as standard. I bet there’s loads of stuff I’d miss and really doubt I’d continue playing without it.

Please provide a link to your favourite work of art?

Picking a favourite is tough. I did buy some prints of photos taken inside waves in Hawaii when on holiday two years ago. I must like these enough to pay for them and have them hang on the wall - (http://www.clarklittlephotography.com/store/gallery/6-0-BestSellers.html)

Your manager page states that you are a Chelsea fan. What do you make of the Cuadrado signing, and this interview with him (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sFdRThvh4q8&f...share) ?)

Haha very accurate. Who would want their missus on the loose around John Terry. On Cuadrado, it’s about time we had a player with dreads again and he looked tidy in the world cup. It will be interesting to see if he challenges Willian, who’s been the unsung hero, for a starting place. Either way he will strengthen a position where we’re already dominating.

Please tell us how/where you met your other half (or last conquest), and how he/she feels about your hattrick addiction?

I met the wife almost 10 years ago in a nightclub in Brixton. It doesn’t get any more romantic than that….no really it doesn’t. She either tends to roll her eyes or find it amusing that I still play. In fact she’s probably taken pity on me thinking I’m the only hattrick-head to have ever had a girlfriend.

I do remind her from time to time that it’s been around longer than she has though…

When was the last time you kicked a ball and what happened?

I play five-a-side at least once a fortnight, got a game in last week and will be playing immediately before the cup semi. After an hour last time the score was 19-19, which owed more to dodgy goalkeeping and a lack of stamina than any real skill. I’m described as a tricky winger, but tend to be more of a Florent Malouda than an Eden Hazard.

As a manager at the top of the pyramid, there will be several of your peers who think you'd be a good shoe-in for the England NT job at election time in a few weeks. Can you give us an exclusive as to why you won't be standing, or any election promises you'll make if you do?

Exclusive = I won’t be standing this time.

If I do ever go for the top job I’d have to be sure of having the time to do a proper job of it. I’ve always said I’d consider it when the time came to rebuild. One of the downsides to my squad is that most of the first team are around the same age, so rebuilding in the prem would be a challenge. We’ll see…. (Ed. The time constraints argument is a cop out, someone twist his arm!)