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Interview with Antoine_de_le_Tellec

Written by Antoine_de_le_Tellec

Beauty of the Beast were knocked out of the English Cup last week by Vince Hilaire's Afro. Before the game hattrick press interviewed their manager, and here's what he had to say.

Your team team Beauty of the Beast did a spot of giant killing last week, beating h00ligans (winner of the English cup twice in the previous 4 seasons). You managed to edge possession, which helped you swing chance distribution 10-2 in your favour. You presumably were aware that you'd have a fairly low conversion rate with your attack vs their defence, but on the whole you must be delighted with such a finely judged line-up?

Yes, I knew my conversion rate would have been low, because I'm mainly focused upon being a farm team for NTs, training midfielders or wingers, so I only use fillers in all other positions except perhaps for my forwards. When I checked my opponent, I knew it would be a really tough task. I figured my only chance would be to try to win the midfield battle and hope for some luck. As I wrote on the forum (16948568.34) during the game I never really played with the idea of MOTSing since I was (wrongly) convinced he would play CA. In the end it turned out to be a really lucky game for me and I ended up winning it, but I'm satisfied with the decisions I made.

You took charge of this 2nd team on 06/05/13, which is a bit after they were first launched. Did you try another nation first and what made you choose England?

No, I did not try any other nation. When HTs came up with the idea of foreign based second teams a couple of friends and I decided to play all in the same league, to start on an even playing field against each other. We wanted an English speaking league, so we could all join the forum and in the end we opted for England (over Canada) because matches are played at a more convenient time on Sunday.

Your manager page doesn't tells us that you are an Italian manager that supports both Borussia Dortmund (German team) and Manchester Utd (English team). Anthony Le Tallec (French) was a Liverpool player wasn't he? I'm finding all this very confusing, but perhaps you could explain how you ended up like this?

Yes, that's a question I have answered many times. My nickname has nothing to do with the football player. It is the name of my first ever role-playing character and Antoine, or Antoine de le Tellec, has become my online identity ever since then, but I'll cover this subject later.

I don't like football very much, so I'm not a die-hard supporter of those teams. I like watching Football games occasionally and I find I sympathize with those two teams, but I'm definitely not a hardcore fan.

[/b]If you have a favourite tune from 2015/16, please provide a link to vimeo/utube/soundcloud for us to listen, but an older classic tune would be fine too.[/b]

It's really hard for me to pick a tune, since I'm quite moody regarding music. In the Italian forum we have a game, a sort of musical challenge, and I just won the last edition with one of my favourite songs, so that's going to be my choice here: David Bowie
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FH_sQq89ILk)

Your primary team, I Sacri Profanatori babelflish translates as "The Sacred Defilers". You are currently in Division III, which is pretty impressive given that you still have a shade under 30k active managers. Please tell us a bit more about that team, what sacred things it has defiled, and your current strategy or long term plan with it, especially with reference to your home grown policy, and relatively few transfers (fewer than in your 2nd team despite it being about 18 months older)?

Profanatori should translate as 'profane', rather than 'sacred'. It is linked to my nickname, as the Antoine character was a vampire and he was believed to have been revived by God himself and to be a servant of God, even though vampires were considered the most unholy of creatures. That's the reason why I picked my team name.

I started out with the idea of making an home grown team and then switched to the current plan (a more classic one) when I was asked if could help our National Team by training Deodorico (317352428). I accepted and bought him, but my home grown players still form the core of my team. The team is getting older and I think next season I'm going to have to switch back to another home grown project.

Please provide a link to your favourite work of art?

(http://www.undertrenta.it/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/nike_di_samotracia-1.jpg)
I fell in love with her the first time I visited Louvre. They did a wonderful job of mise en place and the visual effect is astonishing.

Please tell us about your experience as a relatively new team manager, (joined December 2011) what lessons you have learned and what tips you would give to any new managers reading this?

Actually, this is not my first Hattrick team, I started playing in 2005 and then I came back in 2011 after a short break.

My hints are quite simple; don't rush things and don't forget this is just a game, so enjoy it. There are many ways to play this game, some are better than others, but we should never forget we are here to have fun and pass some time. It is obvious that the vast majority of us would like to win some titles, but in the end what really matters is having fun doing it.

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

I met her on a forum 8 years ago and by then I was already addicted to Hattrick. We have reached a balance and now she's not jealous of my players anymore, so... we're doing OK, right?

This week you face England's number one manager, who has also managed our National Team. Have you tried to get elected before, if so what happened, and if not, please explain how you would go about it?

No, I've never tried to get elected, but I've worked with many Italian NT and U20 managers. National teams have been my turning point in Hattrick, I never really played the game properly before I got to know about the NT. Since then everything has been different, from how I play the game to how I approach the community and the forum.

My job does not allow me to manage a national team the way I would want, so I prefer to take a step back and just help others managing it.

What was your first car (or bike) and what happened to it?

My first car was my mom's, we shared it. After I got my first job I bought a new one and I've still got it. I've had it since 2004. I'm suppose its because I'm a bit too sentimental and nostalgic...