TM Ireland - Trophymanager Ireland

He's Welsh and hes Proud and hes now in with the Big Fish! Welcome to the LOI, senor TWAB!

So Welsh, congrats on finally making it to the Promised Land! -

Why thank you very much sir :)

- to start with, can you give us your reaction to last Fridays Play off decider, against mentor & compadre, Beechill United?

What can I say? It's great to be going up but doing at the expense of Beech stopped any real celebrations. I'm still gutted in a way but always knew I would beat him with the cat in the sticks. Cheers les ;)

Beech only narrowly missed out on surviving his 1st season in the LOI, its certainly getting tougher year on year (Askeaton anyone?)...How do you think you'll do up here? & I see that you've already been busy in the Transfer Mkt - any more purchases planned?

It's a pretty daunting prospect as Beech had a great side and still finished in the bottom 6 and so did Askeaton which is even more frightening. Just the one in so far this weekend but hopefully he will have some impact on the LOI and during the next few days I will be targeting another 5 star galactico or 2 so hopefully will strengthen some more but have to sell first. Everyone that is asked always says survival but I would like to think with the cat playing well I could get a top 10 finish but then again as long as I don't end up in 2.1 again it will be a good season.

How do you think yourself and FC Cork (and div 2 in general) will fare next season ?

I think that keeper of cork's will provide a great few shocks and he has a few euro's to spend which will help so I would have to say I think he could push for a top 6 place. Clover and one nil have great sides also but I think we will all be aiming for 12th place.

Which players have stood out for you this season and the ones you hope will have an impact in season 25?

The 5 100k foreign lads that I bought its hard to pick out one as they were all brilliant and bringing in the cat helped to cut out the amount of goals going in. I just hope that they all can carry that form up there against the big boys or there will be plans to change them asap.

Who are you most looking forward to playing in the LOI?

Everyone says Les but I played him in the cup this year and only lost 1-0 away with 3 key players missing so I have already got my fix of going to galtymore. I would have to say Stan the guy has done a great job there this season winning the double so it will be interesting to say what my lads can do against the best in Ireland.

You have been accussed in the past of being a *day-trader* (amongst other things... ha ha!) Personally, I would just say you're a canny manager when it comes to buying and selling (the Welsh harry redknapp anyone?), what are your thoughts on this and on the state of the Transfer Market in general?

Even though I do a lot of trading it's the only way to survive, it's a shame that this is the case really but there are ways that I found to spot that little bargain and sell him on. If it wasn't for this I wouldn't be on my way to the LOI and if it wasn't for trading being such an integral part of the game I'm sure Munster and Eire would be a lot closer to getting to the promised land.

With regards to the transfer market its shocking how bad it is some days but I am finding some amazing bargains and I know I'm making a lot still but the prices a few seasons ago compared to now are world's apart! It must be a lot harder for new managers nowadays but hopefully when this new TM is released they will see the type of money that we did back then.

You've had some decent luck with the YA of late - who are the ones to look out for in the future?

Thankfully I got 2 great dc's coming through that I drafted in the last month but the main man for me is O'Connoll the late blooming gk. He is alredy looking very handy and he hasn't started blooming yet so I'm expecting a 200k monster there. Have a good few 18*+ foreign lads as well though but they may be sold off to fund my LOI survival attempt.

So what are a proud Welsh mans views on all things Irish - the NT, our community, da Gaffer(where has he gone lately??) Guinness, hurling and Irish women... ?

If carlsberg did community's it would have to be the Irish one haha I think the nt has been a great success this season thanks to mc and who ever gets the gig has big shoes to fill there. The gaffer always made me chuckle and even though he annoyed some people he is great for the game. Funnily enough after spending 9 years in Ireland last year was my first pint of Guiness here and now I'm addicted!

TWAB; a likeable chap from Wales with an affinity for all things - Cork?!

Ah the gaa, well I'm a rugby lad myself but for me there is only one team in Ireland and thats the Rebels and I'm sure a double is on the cards again in the near future!! C'mon the rebels!!! The problem with Irish women is there are too many of them and I would say all my old girl friends used to think that too when i was out ;)

Any thoughts/ fears on the new superslick TM version, coming in Season 26?

Just hope this influx of players they keep saying will come actually does as the economy is slowly dying. I hope they don't tinker with it too much though as I must have done something right to get to the LOI but sorting out the tactics and conditional orders will be a step forward ohh and some graphics on the match engine will be a nice addition.


...and finally, what keeps you interested most about Trophy Manager?

I always wanted to get into the big time and now I'm here so will have to say the banter on the forums and live viewer chat. There really are some top blokes here in the lower leagues, would love to name them all but it will be some long list.


Cheers Twab... Best of luck in season 25 mate!

Have to say this was just like the interview from the commitments and you know you have made it when that happens haha

Cheers bro and good luck also to everyone else in Ireland.