Stanski's Meerkats

We interview arguably the best hattrick manager in Oceania, a manager has held both the Oceanian Cup and the Pacific Premier Cup. He has coached both the national team and the U21 team, whilst coaching his own Meerkats Athletic, one of the teams contesting for the Pacific Premier, and chasing it for the third time. He took his team to the Hattrick Masters, and lost in a very close final, ending in a 2-1 score. We also have some other top-notch managers, including the current Oceania national team coach, bails, as well as leeny63, -Picard-, KozziAU, and RevTonka about how they think Stanski has gone, and where they think he is going in the world of Hattrick. Join me, Shiel, as we talk to some of the best Oceania managers, as well as the man this is all about, Stanski.

G'day, and welcome to what was a very interesting interview between myself and the manager of the most successful team Oceania has seen, Stanski. First off, thanks to the access to your team Stanski.

Do you remember a particular time when you thought that Meerkats Athletic could be make it to the top?

You always hope about reaching the top, I think it dawned on me during my time in Division 2 that I had mostly what I needed to go all the way.

For those who don’t know, Stanski coached both the Oceania Senior and U21 teams. Do you think your time with the national and U21 team teach you anything that helped you with your own team?

I think the U21 run made me consider CA as more of an attacking option, and really pay attention to specs as a way on increasing odds on tight matches. Also the tactics in TS control really developed.

By the time I was NT manager, I think I had developed most of my current knowledge, having said that I have learnt some tricks recently by watching others go about their business. Can always learn more about reading opposition and optimizing lineups.

Do you remember a season when you thought that you would struggle to get out of?

Almost every season in the PP! Once I won my 1st PP, I obviously had a huge target on my back. Very tough to hold out multiple MOTS from the other teams, but thats what makes it fun.

Do you think there was a season where everything just went right?

I think HT is more often about things not going wrong in a sense. Bad luck is a part of the game, and it will come whether you like it or not. Season 64 was a prime example, I didnt have any bad luck and came away with trophies.

Contrast that to the first season I won the PP where i got knocked out of cup in round 6 with a 99% chance of winning. Bad luck happens!

Having said that, that was the season where I won the PP undefeated. Swings and roundabouts I guess.

What was your first thought when you saw the final score line when you played in your first win in the Oceania Cup?

That cup final of season 62 was one of the epic cup finals of recent memory.

I was competing for the title in the league and needed TS for that and was playing an all time great in the Waverly Hawks who couldn’t win PP, so were always going to MOTS

Another match where I played my odds as best as possible and won the cup using an attacking CA.

Obviously was chuffed to tick off that achievement. Even sweeter to have now made it 3 in a row!

Have you ever had a big rivalry with another manager?

Andy from the Waverly Hawks would easily be my most respected rival

Its easy to train and buy a squad, but to have tactical diversity, and get reads on opposition regularly correct he would have to easily alone at the top of the group of managers I’ve played against. He was amazing at the dark arts of the TL.

I must say I have many more friendships than rivalries.

What things do you believe you did to help make the national and U21 teams better?
I've supported the U21/NT program for a long time and have promoted Slack and helped guide managers in the Slack environment.

Also managing the NT when playing in the PP I think promotes the fact that more top level managers should be able to get involved and share their skills.

Where do you think Meerkats Athletic future lies?

It's hard work to stay at the top. I don’t have much more to achieve and would love to sit back and train players for the NT.

Would you potentially serve time as a coach for another nation?

It hadn’t crossed my mind, I like Oceania too much!

Was there a particular reason why you didn’t run for coach again of Oceania?

I'm a fan of sharing the job around. Bails was ready to go, and had proven he was more than capable as my AC.

I want as much experience to be around as possible and he 100% deserved his shot.

Do you believe you can take either Meerkats Athletic or Oceania to a title in either the Masters or the World Cup?

Masters needs planning, luck and usually a very small nation. Meerkats chance was just this season.

World Cup, you never know... We have the training program, we can only hope!

Will we see you again at the forefront of Oceania national team?

Maybe, but the circumstances would need to be right. Happy to support for now.
You had a great run in the Masters, what did you make of the result, and what do you think of your chances getting there next season?
My Masters run was amazing.
I have been in Masters for 5 seasons in a row now, and this was actually my weakest team in that time.

I didn't have amazing form, but it wasn't terrible and kept me in the hunt for all the matches.

I had a bit of luck with the draw in the sense I only played really big teams at the end.

Based on statistics, my final 3 matches were 3 of the hardest in masters history, but being the underdog helped.

The big teams often don't have tactical flexibility (they don't need to!!) and therefore are often easier to set up against and CA.

I did have a bit of luck - winning a 30% match but just couldn't seal the deal for Oceania.

Respins had me winning 30% of the time in the final, so I think I set up ok in reality. Conceding 2 fairly rare winger to head events is just the way it goes sometimes!

Still what a run, I'd love to see someone from Oceania go one step further, but it is bloody challenging given the competitiveness of Oceania and you can't just focus on Masters.

It really just tops off whatever legacy I've managed to create!

That's the answers we got from Stanski himself. Now we will be looking at what others have to say about him. Managers we got opinions from in this first part, include leeny63, as well as the current Oceania national team coach, bails, who worked with him a lot during his time as NT Coach.

First up we have leeny63. Thanks again for giving your side on the interview.

What do you think Stanski’s greatest strength has been to help make him great?

I don’t think it is 1 strength, it’s a combo of a few.

A long term training plan which included home grown players and PATIENCE, not only with the training plain but with search and purchase of the rest of his team.

An ability acquire knowledge of the game especially on the use and importance of a good CA and
tactics to defend LS as well as the use of specs.

Did you ever work with him when he was coach of the national and U21 Oceania teams?

Yes. Especially in his first stint as U21 coach, and also his reign in NT.

If so, what was it like working with him?

Enlightening and enjoyable, you could never ask the wrong question, and he always took on advice.

What do you think Meerkats Athletic can achieve over the next few seasons?

To be honest his squad is ageing and I wouldn’t expect too much after this season.

That said, there isn’t a lot he hasn’t already done.

Do you think that Stanski can lead a team to a Masters or World Cup win with either his team or a national team?

Miracles have been known to happen, and he almost got there this season in the Masters.

What was your first encounter with Stanski, and what was your impression of his Hattrick skills and knowledge?

Although we knew each other from the forums, it was a hattrick meet before an Australia game where we really got to chatting a few of us Vic boys had made the trip to Sydney and organised a meet before the game. Rev will vouch for that one!

Is there a particular bit of advice that you would like to give Stanski, to help him through this part in his career?

Yes there, Stanski keep doing the opposite of what I suggest!

Do you think he is capable of staying at the top?

He has proven already that he is more then capable, its more about what he wants to do with the game, is it more NT or train some U21s, it might be time to be looking for some new goals.

Do you remember a season where Meerkats just really got going?

That’s season 57 for me. He had just promoted from Division IV in 56.

Went on to win division III that season at his 1st attempt, I personally had to kick his butt in a qually! (he didn’t lie down thinking it was too early for Division II, not at all).

Promoted the next and 2 seasons later promotes to PP and Wins PP in Meerkats 1st season.

One hell of a run ha.

Thanks again leeny63.

Now we speak to the current Oceania national coach, who has worked with Stanski, as member of his team, and as the NT coach above him. Thanks bails for giving me this access.

What do you think Stanski’s greatest strength has been to help make him great?

Stanski's greatest strength is his understanding of the match engine and what makes a great player/lineup. He understands that a great team needs depth and flexibility and that is what has lead to his amazing success over the last several seasons.

Did you ever work with him when he was coach of the national and U21 Oceania teams?

I was a scout for both the U21s and NT during Stanski's U21 and NT tenures. During both campaigns I was part of the team of managers who would scout opponents and discuss best tactics for each match.
If so, what was it like working with him?
Stanski and I have a great working relationship and it is a testament to him, that even being the manager of a successful PP team that he was always open to others opinions if you could give solid reasoning for the approach.

What do you think Meerkats Athletic can achieve over the next few seasons?

Fortunately for the rest of us in order to be successful you need to have an "all-in" approach to develop a champion team. Some will develop an amazing club team and never make it to the top, so to be a multiple cup and league champion with the same side is incredible.

Do you think that Stanski can lead a team to a Masters or World Cup win with either his team or a national team?

I think the Masters dream might be over for Meerkats (although Stanski loves to prove me wrong) he was incredibly unfortunate with the lose he had in the final. I also think his NT management days might be over too, it is tremendously time consuming to look after all facets of a National Team and just having him around as an advisor to a National Team adds value to any sides chances.

What was your first encounter with Stanski, and what was your impression of his Hattrick skills and knowledge?

Stanski has always been a forum lurker and so I knew of him long before the Oceania Slack channel was created. When he became U21 manager it became clear very early he was someone to learn from and understand why he made certain decisions to increase our teams success.

Is there a particular bit of advice that you would like to give Stanski, to help him through this part in his career?

My biggest advice to anyone is to play the game the way you like to enjoy it. Playing Hattrick at the top level can be stressful and time consuming but extremely rewarding. Enjoy and be proud of all your success!

Do you think he is capable of staying at the top?

Season 64 was incredible, for a manager to win the Oceania Cup, Pacific Premier, OCP and Talbourne all in one season shows how multi faceted he is. Having a team to win against the strongest opposition but also understanding other managers and what it takes for them to win and also having the ability to train the best YA players in the nation at the same time.

Well that’s the first part of Stanski’s Meerkats. We heard from Stanski, leeny63 and bails, but next time we will be talking to KozziAU, -Picard- and RevTonka in the second half of Stanski’s Meerkats.
Thanks to everyone who has contributed to the first part of Stanski’s Meerkat’s.

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