Community » Hattrick Press

Craig Wozniak Cup Winner's Interview

Written by Kempy

Summary: An interview with Kempry (11678159), manager of Nifty United (952242) who has just won this season’s edition of the Craig Wozniak Cup.

You joined Hattrick in Sepember 2011. How did you hear about it?

Nifty United are actually my second attempt at playing Hattrick, I first played a couple of years prior to 2011 with a team of the same name, I reached Div III or IV and got bored and left the team to turn bot. Then, for some reason about a year later I caught the Hattrick bug again and started up a new team.

After being knocked out of the English Cup in round 6 you were parachuted into the Craig Wozniak Cup. At that stage did you expect to reach the final?

In all of my seasons in Hattrick I had never prioritised a cup run over the league, but this time around I knew I would survive in my promoted III series, so thought I would try and earn a bit more money by staying in the cup.

As you have seen it did not quite go according to plan and I was (unfairly screwed by the ME I tell you!!!) dumped out in R6. I didn’t think I could win the Wozniak Cup as I'd noticed it contained a number of strong teams, but thought I would try to at least stay in for as long as I could. Once I started to get closer to the final I then opted for some PIC’ing in the league and resting players for cup matches, which really helped me reach the final.

In the final (541432789) you played the legendary Phi's Fire (955024), five time winner of the Premiership. What were your thoughts going into the match?

I have always followed the action in the English Premiership, as well as the Cup so I was well aware of Phi’s illustrious past. I also couldn’t fail to spot all of the trophies within their team trophy cabinet.

Leading up to the match I felt it was obvious how we would both set up our teams and I thought it would be a close game, with Phi’s just edging it. However, a week prior to the match Phi’s 1st team keeper got a +3 injury which ruled him out, and then in the league, just 2 days before the cup final, one of their best midfielders got a +2 in the 88th minute. With these players ruled out (and not adequately replaced), I knew I stood a much better chance.

You have now won the Craig Wozniak Cup, but do you have any ambitions to win bigger prizes?

Like all managers, I would like to reach the Premiership and win the cup, but that is unlikely to happen. With this team, I suppose I hope to reach division II and progress to the later rounds of the cup (I think R7 is my best from a few seasons ago), but next season my priority will be the league, so cup progression will have to wait. If I parachute into the consolation cups next year I will try to progress as far as possible, as the money does really help, but I won’t prioritise like I have done this season.

Overall it is nice to have a different trophy in the cabinet, even if it is pretty ugly.

You have a second team also based in England. Were you ever tempted to set it up in a different country?

When I started my second team, I set up in the USA and started to train U20 prospects, but soon asked myself why I was training for the US and not for England, so I closed down the team and started again.

I chose to train Keepers for the U20’s but had no luck, now I’m onto U20 wingers and I am confident that one of the prospects I have will make the team.

If your team had a song to run out to (maybe it does!), what would it be?

I watched Gladiator again the other day so the theme tune to Gladiator would be quite motivational i think.

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mm-sbOH-nEc)

You are a member of the England NT/U20 fed and own the current coach in the U20 squad. Do you enjoy the international side of the game?

I follow the International sides from afar and I’m more interested in the U20 side as that’s what I’m training players for.

I read the threads within the forum, but never contribute myself, which is something I should probably change and get more involved with as the community is pretty small. Interest might increase due to the NT’s current exploits.

What do you think of the proposed changes to the match engine, and player contribution revisions?

I think the changes to the offensive winger contributions are necessary as the majority of teams play the same way, which includes my team mostly! However if I’m honest I havnt really looked into the changes too much, I will just adapt my team over time as required.[/b]

You are a Chelsea supporter. If you were their manager, would you have signed Radamel Falcao?

In the summer I remember thinking it was a good idea due to the fact that he had played (or not may be the case) in the PL for a season on loan with Man U, so would be more used to the pace of the league and more importantly, had another year getting over his major injury. So, I guess at the time my answer would have been yes, however with hindsight it would now be a no!

When did you last kick a football?

I play for an 11 a side team on Saturdays, I last played on Saturday and won 3-0 

What was the last book you read? Was it any good?

I was thinking about lying for this question but thought it best to be honest, I went to Rome during the summer and did all of the touristy things which got me interested in ancient Rome, so I got home and read a book titled “The Rise and Fall of Rome”, which was interesting….

(http://www.bbc.co.uk/staticarchive/2a4e8e4d1bb9206daf10b94c6febd3cb71e88af8.jpg)

Please tell us about how you met your other half (or last conquest), and how they feel about your Hattrick addiction?

I met my other half through friends. She doesn’t really know much about Hattrick but sees me engrossed on my phone quite a lot of the time. I told her that I won a cup and her sarcastic reply was “I’m so proud of you”.

What question should I have asked you that I haven't?

No idea, you might ask “Why are you answering this at work instead of working?”