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Interview with alarics, Winner of the Jason Ivy Cup

Written by alarics

An interview with alarics manager of FC Tadworth who has won last season's edition of the Jason Ivy cup.

You joined Hattrick in February 2012. How did you hear about it?

I’d played previously and got an email about coming back and thought why not and got really hooked the second time round.

I see that Alaric was king of the Visigoths who sacked Rome in 410 a.d. Would it be right to assume that you adopted the name as former a Goth seeking to conquer the establishment here in hattrick England?

Nothing like that, it just happens to be my name and I had very little imagination when I needed a username.

After being knocked out of the main cup in Round 4, you were parachuted into the Jason Ivy Cup. At that stage did you plan to win it?

No, I was just focusing on my training plan and hoping to win. I only really began to think I had a chance when I got to the quarters. As I'd been suffering with my terrible league form, I was just hoping that I could get something from this season.

In the final you were up against DorothyHyman (569394586). What were your thoughts going into the match?

I was pretty panicked. I’d picked up a lot of injuries and was just trying to figure out what team I could put out. Then, when I saw the quality of the oppositionI thought I was really going to be up against it, but thankfully the Hattrick Gods were on my side.

You've spent the last couple of seasons in III.7 finishing 2nd and then losing your qualification game after finishing 6th. Are you disappointed, and can you see your relatively young side bouncing back and continuing to progress up the pyramid?

I was a bit gutted with my league form this season, as I'd hoped to challenge for the title, but looking back I probably overachieved the season before when I finished 2nd so it sort of balanced out. I decided to not put out my strongest side for the qualification game, as I feel to reach the next level I'll have to alter my training plan. Hopefully, I can survive in IV for a few seasons and then bounce back up to III and may be able push on beyond that.

The capacity of your stadium is 70,000 which is a good 10k-18k more than all but one of the teams in your league (IV.4). I'm sure you've thought about it, so what mistake are the rest of them making?

I think I’m the one making the mistake. I expanded as I was selling out every week while having a good season in III, but I really think it’s probably at least 10k too big for this season.

Other than your home grown trainees, all players in your squad above 50k TSI have either a Head or Quick speciality. This seems like a deliberate strategy, please could you explain the thinking behind it?

I just kept having special event goals being scored against me and so I thought I probably needed them to go my way, especially if I wanted to progress. Thankfully, it paid off in the final with a goal.

You have four useful homegrown players in your squad. Is that something that is important to you?

It wasn’t a deliberate policy, they just worked with my training plan and I didn’t want to spend any money on different trainees, although now I’ve got them I do get a bit of a buzz knowing they’ve only ever been in my team.

If your team had a song to run out to, what would it be?

Being a huge saints fan it would have to be the saints are coming. (https://vimeo.com/52910092)

What was the last book you read and would you recommend it?

It was Das Reboot by Raphael Honigstein and I would but only if you’re a big football fan. (http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51pJDhJsbwL._SX325_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg)

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

We both worked in the same office and one thing led to another, aided by alcohol, and four and a half years later we’re still together. She asks how it’s going and doesn’t seem bothered about it, but doesn’t ever seem to be particularly thrilled when I open my laptop to sort out my team.

What question should I have asked you that I haven't? (And what would your answer have been?)

Do you think you’ll still be playing in a few years and if so where do you hope you’ll be?

Definitely, and hopefully I’ll be picking up trophies or at least in the process of building a team to get some.