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HT England Cup Final Q&A

Written by AndersAnderinho

(569300302) Tonight is the English Cup final, featuring two former England U20 managers. Shortly before kick off ht-press caught up with AndersAnderinho manager of Poole Town FC....

[b]Last week in the semi final, you pretty much annihilated fellow Prem manager Bedworth (569205034) Chance distribution favoured you despite losing m/f, but you'd opted to switch from 2-5-3 to 3-5-2 when you were 2-0 up after 18 minutes. This helped you to prevent them from converting chances thereafter. Please tell us your thinking behind this tactical instruction before the game?[/b]

I had assumed Earl would go all out for midfield at the expense of his defence and attack, similar to the lineup versus Keynsham in the QF (569109363). I knew I couldn't win midfield, so had to maximise my chances elsewhere, whilst keeping as much % as I could. I had to play my three forwards due to their decent form. The idea behind the sub was that I could shore up defence whilst maintaining an attack that would still be enough to breach Bedworth's defences (without losing too much midfield in the process. I just didn't expect it to happen inside 18 minutes. Either that, or I'm just a bogey team for Earl.

[b]You had a pretty tough match at the last 16 stage against Red (569012855) with 5 goals scored in extra time, during which you'd ordered 3 tactical substitutions (1xIM, and 2xWTM). What was the thinking behind these subs, and do you think it helped get you into the quarters?[/b]

I liked Red's tactics and felt he was a little unlucky. He was able to respond by adding in a significant amount more midfield, something I couldn't match. The wings towards middle helped me to exploit his weaknesses though (which he recognised). The first two subs were form savers and were supposed to happen in the 90 minutes. I'd not considered that I could take the lead in ET and that that was when they would kick in. They probably weakened me to be fair. The third was just for penalties.

[b]You took charge of Poole Town 06/12/2003 s21 and first reached the Prem in s46 where you finished as runner up to Phi's Fire (955024) (for their 2nd of their legendary 5 consecutive Prem titles) before losing your playoff in s47 (364180727) Please tell us a little bit about this experience?[/b]

I had a lot of luck in season 46. My results in the second half of the season were seven wins from seven, so I finished second, despite having a weaker side than a few others in that league. My team then was based around a multi-skilled core of defence trainees, some of which had formed the backbone of the England u20. I had a great couple of seasons and can still claim that I beat Phi's over two legs on away goals over our two games in season 46. I didn't much enjoy losing the playoff though.

[b]You are a Tottenham Hotspur supporter. As we speak, Spurs need to win all three remaining games, starting tonight against Chelsea, and for Leicester to take no more than 1pt from their remaining 2 games for Spurs to become Prem champions (Ed. and its all over now). Irrespective of the outcome, this has been a phenomenal season for White Hart Lane. After the club sold Bale to Real Madrid for £86m, the club spent a lot of money buying in players that did not deliver. Did the appointment of Mauricio Pochettino make all the difference, and just what is it he's been doing that has turned things around?[/b]

I have a comment on my team page since I started HT which asks if I will win the HT Prem before Spurs win the RL Prem. I think this is as close to us winning it as we'll get, as I really can't see the 'big' sides being as poor again next season. Having said that, we do have a very good, young squad and a top quality manager who has just committed his future to the club. I remember seeing a Spurs Fans' poll asking who they wanted as next manager, and Louis Van Gaal was top before we appointed Poch. I was unsure about him when he first came in but now really like what he's doing. Harry Kane has been an absolute revelation, but a number of others have really come to life (e.g. Danny Rose). Sorting out the defence was probably the biggest thing Poch has done since he came in. Toby Alderweireld was a pretty priceless signing.

[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]

I really like Foals (saw them live a few years ago) and their latest album didn't disappoint. I'll give you 'What Went Down' for the masses:

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iuQQIawCqBA)

Chemical Brothers latest album was decent too. 'Go' is a great track to get me pumped before running, but Chemical Brothers and Beck together? Go on then.

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BC2dRkm8ATU)

[b]You get to play Si_Nichols next, who pulled off a massive coup to knock out Vince Hilaire's Afro after a 36 penalty shoot out (569205033) in which just 3 were missed. You've played each other 6 times previously, all in the league. The head to head has it as 3 wins to Si, 2 to you, and a draw, but with your two being the most recent encounters, including this away win (551645143) You know each other well, please tell us your thoughts going into the final?[/b]

Difficult one this. Si has a very good side. I like his homegrown, low-waged approach to getting to the upper leagues. It's no easy feat as you are a bit hamstrung by specs taking this approach, so he has done very well. I did make it out of II ahead of him but that doesn't mean I'll be favourite tomorrow. Form wasn't overly kind last week so I've got some decisions to make on key players but what I do know is that I need to win before it goes to penalties!

[b]Your second team like Si's is based in Scotland (28713) currently 6 points clear with 3 to play in their IV league. What are your plans for this team, and their English core (currently in the England NT squad) Carmody (391122390) Dolman (407035733) & Shirmer (394734856) ?

My second team is now purely dedicated to u20 and NT training and nothing else. The fact that I'm walking the league is more down to how poor the lower leagues in Scotland are, rather than how good my side is. I am training wing backs, probably because of the relatively few options I had as u20 manager (although we managed to get a few trained), so I decided to get some good options together for England off my own back. Carmody and Schirmer just got their first friendly appearances and Maguire (406905943) and Dolman are both in the current u20 squad. All four are long term train-til-they-die England options.

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

We met at work, in York, in 2006. We got talking on a work night out, discussing the World Cup fantasy football that our office was running. She won in the end and I finished third, which was a good icebreaker. I'm not at all bitter that she beat me, given she has no interest in football and based her picks on the Guardian's FF picks. I do probably 'own' Bastian Schweinsteiger now, as his 3rd/4th playoff goals helped her win and now we're married. As for HT, I don't really bother her with it a great deal. I'm on it far less than I used to be. Convincing her that I was off to ht-Northern boozers in our early days was always interesting though.

Please tell us the best clean joke you've read recently?

It was on 'Pointless'. How did the Cheese paint his wife? Double Gloucester.

(and I loathe cheese)

You have been elected twice (back to back) as the England U20 manager. Please could you tell us a bit about how to prepare and present yourself as a potential candidate during election week for any managers reading this who might want to have a go?

Having some involvement prior to election time should help, although interest is very low these days so I think the electorate will be open to any reasonable candidates, even in England. Personally, I want to be involved prior to running in order to give me a better idea of what options I might have and how I can help shape the options in areas we are weak. Alternatively, just get into the top division or become one of the game staff.

Having won, please could you tell us about running the national team, in terms of what made the game more fun and interesting, and also in terms of what duties and responsibilities you found most time consuming and boring?

It's actually a really different experience to club management. I got far more involved in the u20s than I do with my club side, probably because of the community expectations. Getting discussion and debate going about squad and lineups is rewarding. I really enjoyed getting opinions from the community and felt quite contented when people were showing genuine interest. The downside is because it's so long-winded, community interest really peaks and troughs - and if you are out early then there's just nothing happening on the pitch and therefore for the community until the next election. That's a big downside for me.

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

I was a late starter, not learning to drive until I was 24. I drove my ex's car (a Clio) until we split so needed to buy myself something on a budget. I ended up with a V Reg Fiesta (in 2008) (http://www.prgcarsales.co.uk/images/y739xak3.jpg) which served to transport me across the Snake Pass (http://www.dangerousroads.org/images/stories/Newroads16/snakepass3.jpg) twice a week when I was visiting my missus in Sheffield (and I was in Preston). I had a lot of love for that car until I bought something quicker and newer.

That was quite a ramble. If you read this far then well done.