Community » Hattrick Press

Giant Killing

Written by Mexster

This week's interview is with Mexter, who has seen off some notoriously tough opposition in the last two rounds to emerge as the lowest ranked manager left in the cup.

Your team, Bungalow FC pulled off an unlikely CA cupset, knocking out Premiership legends Stinging Scorpions in the last round (R7) (526387486) having scalped Eternal Red in R6 (526256326). You now face the reigning Cup and Prem double champions h00ligans in R8, as the lowest ranked team left in the cup. You are developing something of a reputation as a giant killer, and this is your best ever cup run, eclipsing last season's when you were knocked out in R7. You must be loving it?

It’s funny how things turn out. In previous seasons I’ve tried to balance playing competitively in the league and cup and ended up doing nothing special in either. This time around I thought I would forget about the cup and try to secure the title. Shows I don’t know what I am doing perhaps? I’ve already surpassed my expectations, but anything could happen on Tuesday night - (526515341) if anyone wants to cheer me on.

You took charge of your team on 1st March 2012, and have obviously been patiently building to the point where you are today. You have built a home grown midfield and (360008793) Callum Reid played for the U20s and on track to become an NT star for England (4-5 seasons time). What made you decide to take this training route, and what is giving you confidence that training an NT player for England is going to help you get to the top division over a similar timescale?

I had some very good players coming through the youth system and I managed to offload lesser players at the right time. Anders encouraged me to train Reid for the U20s and I’ve developed several other home grown players around him. They’re triple skilled in playmaking, winger and passing and they’ve recently had a few levels of defending too. I’ll shortly be returning to playmaking for the duration of their careers. The national team will be a bonus and if Reid is good enough I will happily sacrifice club ambitions for some interest in the national team.

I'm not sure what you mean when you say you will sacrifice club ambitions, your opponent on Tuesday is the reigning Cup and Prem champion and one of his IMs is currently in the England NT?

With regards to hooligans, I can only say that I really look up to managers like defunked. I would very much like Reid to be the star of my team as well as getting up to those dizzy heights in terms of league position. I understand a large stamina share will be to the detriment to my other players' training speed, but then they will all be of a similar age. Staying in the cup for as long as possible, and getting back to back promotions is my short term plan. Higher league position should keep me in he cup for longer, helping to increase XP, which would helps my team and the NT.

If you have a favourite tune of 2015 so far, please provide a link to vimeo/utube/soundcloud for us to enjoy, or if you'd prefer an older track?

There’s nothing of note recently, but I like a little bit of everything, here’s a taster of some:
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lTx3G6h2xyA)

If a fan wanted to buy you a pint, which pub or bar would it be easiest to find you in, and what's your poison?

I have two daughters and any spare time I do get I tends to spent with them. On the occasion I get a pass out from the general I can be seen in here:

(http://www.spencerarms.co.uk/) (http://www.cawthornevillage.com/images/cawthorn06.jpg)

Living in Yorkshire a standard pint is a lot cheaper than a lot of you will be paying. I like the local Black sheep bitter (http://www.drinkbritain.com/sites/default/files/Black_Sheep_Pints-Hands.jpg )but if I am making a day of it (and it is in stock) I have Tiger beer (http://theinspirationroom.com/daily/commercials/2009/10/tiger-beer-zip-couple.jpg). If I am eating out with the Mrs, then I’ll drink wine – something like a Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc (http://www.naturalsouth.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/Feature-image-4-800x600.jpg).

You are a platinum supporter with your second team based here in England as well (61985) . What do you make of the new supporter prices and what will the impact be for your second team?

I think like many people, I’d be willing to pay if I saw some meaningful development in the game. It’s been non-existent. As such, I’m letting my platinum lapse and sadly my second team will be no more from mid-June.

Have you any tips for newer managers who might be reading this, wanting to emulate your success?

I think for any teams in the bottom leagues trying to progress, there's a couple of things I'd recommend. First of all build your midfield rating to ensure that you can beat most of the rest of your league on a PIC, this includes adding some PM to your forwards and defenders too. Then, especially if you are thinking about a cup run - you need good TS management. This means hiring or converting to a solid leadership coach if possible and then carefully pick your battles in the league. My default lineup is a PIC.

To be a tough opponent, you really need to try and be flexible with various formations played and player orders. It helps to be a bit unpredictable, even if an opponent expects you will play with one big wing. For example, if you have 3 easy league and cup games, play the same side with the one big wing and then switch it to the other wing for the important game. If you know you can get a impressive CA, save it, or even play a weakened version of it to mask what you are really capable of.

Probably the most important advice though is to read the forums and to follow experienced managers. I don't want to embarrass anyone, give them egos, or annoy other managers so I will not be mentioning names, you need to decide for yourself who are the best managers to follow.

Your manager page states that you are a Middlesbrough fan. With 1 match left to play in the Championship, you sit 3rd behind Watford and Bournemouth, and you'll be in the playoffs. Are you going to Wembley, to see the Smoggies, and who are your top 3 players of the season, and why?

Wembley – I don’t have fond memories I’m afraid. In the ’97 FA Cup final Di Mateo scored within 42 seconds making the 12 year old version of me cry - imagine how I felt at that moment, when my face paint hadn’t even had time to dry.

We deserve to fare better at “New Wembley” this time around. Hats off to Watford & Bournemouth who are already promoted, but if the football gods are just then we should be joining them come May 24th. I will be going if we get there.

Player wise, I would have liked to see Tomlin starting more often, which might well happen if Bamford moves on. Surprisingly, I have been favouring our defensive players this season, Clayton goes about his business quietly, Dimi our keeper has also impressed (although what was he thinking last week vs Fulham?), but most of all I have liked Gibson, the chairman’s nephew. I think he’ll play for England in a few seasons (http://i1.gazettelive.co.uk/incoming/article8157505.ece/ALTERNATES/s510b/JS51449608.jpg)

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 Newcastle University in 2nd year way back in 2003. We had mutual friends and hit it off from the first time we got introduced. Fast forward 12 years, we’re married with two gorgeous girls and are happy. She has had to learn to live with my Hattrick addiction as I played it for a spell at Uni.

Have you ever been to a hattrick social event, if so please tell us about it, if not will you please arrange one?

I’ve never been but would venture out for a Northern one. It would be good to put a few names to faces. I’d arrange one in Leeds if I thought some people would turn up.

I have partnership exams at the start of June and then the rest of the month for holiday. Some time in July or August would be good. I'd prefer to arrange something July and give people a month to have it in their diary. August would be good.

When was the last time you kicked a ball, and what happened?

The last time I kicked a ball was about 4 years ago - half a second after that a rather fat guy ploughed into me and snapped my metatarsal. I have not played since and as a result I've not been able to watch football replays of horrible tackles/players twisting their knee.