Community » Hattrick Press

Interview with GabbyAshleyVilla, Winner of the Jason Ivy Cup

Written by LarryPampushky

An interview with GabbyAshleyVilla (11070116), manager of Knowle Phoenix (60637), who has just won the second edition of the Jason Ivy Cup.

1. You joined Hattrick in November 2010. How did you hear about it?
My dad was/is into it and we started talking about it on way to Villa Park.

2. After being knocked out of the English Cup in round 4 you were parachuted into the Jason Ivy Cup. At that stage did you expect to reach the final?
To be honest, I knew I had a chance. I was one of the top ranked teams and I figured some of those above me would bow out in favour of training plans. I had just come off some dodgy results in the league so I thought I'd go for it. I knew I'd be underdog by the time it got to last few rounds, mind.

3. In the final (512715937) you played Derby Demolition (953497) from III. What were your thoughts going into the match?
I had a bot match the week before so was able to PIC so I had to bank on my TS and midfield being strong enough to give me enough ball and still attack towards wing. If they had the same luxury then I'd lose but I had to hope not.

4. You have now won the Jason Ivy Cup, but do you have any ambitions to win bigger prizes?
My time is nearly done... I've always felt that when my home grown players pass their peak then that will be it for me. That makes it all the more special to have 'name in lights' but I doubt I'll be good enough to win the main cup. I'll still try to beat my best - 8th round - but my aim now is to get to II and maybe have one shot at staying up.

5. Your user name suggests that you are a Villa fan. Is that as painful as it sounds?
Oh yes! We're just rubbish. I mean... RUBBISH. Realistically, I think we'll go down. I'm sure neutrals would rather see a club of our size go down than, say, Burnley. And fair enough. In the league, you get what you deserve.

6. You run a youth academy. Do you enjoy that?
I have done, yes. In a way the YA kept me here because I ended up with a batch of players graduating at a similar time that were good enough to develop. My team is too good for any graduates to make it so I now look at it for cash. No-one special coming through right now though so I may cancel it, given that I may be in my last few seasons.

7. If your team had a song to run out to (maybe it does!), what would it be? And while we're on the subject of music, what album would you want on a desert island if you could only take one.
Run out to: The Teen Wolf theme tune! (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJ-VVOw4jm0)
Desert Island: 1975 (Deluxe edition with 39 songs on it!) (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FfBKqaVk2Co)

8. You are a member of 5 federations. Which is your favourite and why?
To be honest, I haven't really got involved as much as I thought I would. I did win a flag lottery in my first week - that was fun :-)

9. What tips would you give a newbie manager?
Play for the long-run just in case you stick with it - so be patient with your training. I used to top up one player then move to the next player... but that was wasted on players that I wasn't going to stick with. So get some youngsters in with good specs and build them up. If you want results while you do, fill your other positions with old guys. But main thing - ask for help, there are loads of people out there willing to help

10. How many hours a week do you spend on Hattrick?
It's down to about 3 or 4 a week now as my team is pretty settled... it was more on the cup run as I watched those later games live!

11. When did you last kick a football?
Erm... I think about 2 years ago!

12. What was the last book you read? Was it any good?
It was Death Cure by James Dashner. (http://books.google.co.uk/books/about/The_Death_Cure.html?id=8t5GVWLo_eEC&redir_esc=y)It was very, very, very good.

13. What's your favourite drink? And where would be the ideal place to drink it?
Champagne... at a revolving restaurant in a hotel I once stayed at in New York. (http://cache.marriott.com/propertyimages/n/nycmq/nycmq_main03_r.jpg?resize=0.5x:0.5x)

14. Please tell us how/where you met your other half (or last conquest), and how he/she feels about your hattrick addiction?
No comment! But my addiction is more manageable these days than it once was. And it's a good escape from real football, which is a plus right now.

15. There is a spider in your bath. (Don’t panic! There isn’t. This is just theoretical. Although there could be. Spiders do tend to live just below the plug hole, above the U-bend.) You do the sensible thing and flee your home, never to return. You can take one object with you. What would it be?
My phone. And maybe first call would be to my dad so he can laugh at me fleeing the house for such a lame reason!

16. What question should I have asked you that I haven't?
Who are you next going to see in concert? (it's Circa Waves) (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=srP2jLK9fn0)