TM Ireland - Trophymanager Ireland

Next LoI newbie for Season 26 is none other than Clodagh Hibs...

How's it going there Clodagh?

It's a sweet day to finally get one of these interviews :)

This is Not Clodagh & Friends

I do indeed, and the rugby one too. I swear I'm a guy, although I know there are a few managers out there who refuse to accept it! That said, it probably made my time as an FT a little easier :)

Well you fairly took Group 3 apart this season, who was the player most integral to your success this season?

Cheers for that, it was a tougher season than the table suggests and Tipp made sure we couldn't take our foot off at any point. Honestly, this is a tougher question than I would have expected it to be. As a team we've performed very well, and I've been more than happy with the way our defence has performed and evolved, O' Farrell and Tony have really shone in key games and Brady is a rock in midfield but it's been our creativity that's been key and there O' Shaughnessy and, probably most of all, Archangel that have been outstanding.

You've a decent sized squad with plenty of saleable youths and you're rich, tell me how have you been more than balancing the books?

I overextended my resources badly and suffered accordingly during my first foray into D2, but I would like to think that that's made me better as a player. I try to pay particular attention to getting the facilities right, and not being afraid to tear something down if it needs doing. The club still operates at a fairly substantial loss so it’s something I have to keep a close eye on. As for players, I've always enjoyed the development side of things and have tended to spend big but not excessive sums on younger players and bringing them through with my own youth pulls. Hristo is probably the prime example of that. Gods know what he would have cost post-bloom, although it requires a lot of patience with late-bloomers. The net result for me has been that I'm often moved on senior players when they've been in their prime as a superior replacement has been groomed for the position, which helps get a good fee. It's tougher now with prices being what they are but I think (as well as hope and pray) there will always be a market for well-trained players of a certain potential. Fingers crossed that my fanclub stays loyal next season.

Youth Development at 7 this weather, how's that going for ya?

It's not too bad, still getting a few handy players here and there, although the difference is noticeable where middle-class players are concerned. I’m not overly fond of the positional option but I can see why it was put-in so I’ve taken to ignoring it. I hope to have it back up to Level 8 before too long, but for my approach, TG has to be the priority and I was concerned about the bottom line last season.

Have you learnt anything over the last season about the game itself?

You could say that maybe it's as much to do with the way my squad has developed, as I have better cover than I would once have done, but for me it's to focus on what your own team does best rather than worrying too much about the opposition. Obviously you want to try and find chinks in the armour but in the past I think I emphasised that too much, particularly in big games. It's a trap I almost fell into in the cup against Faterword and while we went out next round I think we played much better against LeS.

What are your thoughts on the Welsh All Blacks meteoric rise to greatness, can it be emulated, by you?

He's done a fantastic job, and I'm delighted for him. It's always great to see someone take a risk with an approach and have it work for them in such spectacular fashion. While we'll give it our all, and I would dearly love to be the new WAB (except Irish, and therefore better natch) the goal for next season is to stay up and keep building. I've waited this long, if we have to become fixtures in the top flight before winning it, the so be it ;)

Stan had an incredible season last season, but this season did not fire, do you think there's a tendency for champs to trip up after a win?

There is, but it's not their fault as I see it. First, they have the fact that just about everyone will be gunning for them the following season and understandably so, what with them being the best team in the country. Even if it's only a couple of minutes here and there from other managers, it can mean the tight results that saw you as champs going the other way and seeing you in difficulty in a league this competitive. Then there's Europe as well. A massively difficult competition that's a further strain on your squad and your time but you have to go for it. Who knows when you'll be back again if things are looking tough domestically? Oddly, if we could ever get that extra spot back I do think that would help both the champs and the league but of course that means more pressure on the teams that are competing there.

Your keepers are both very young, have they got the goods for the step up?

Wash is the one for me, he's not perfect but I think he's well equipped for the step-up. I won't be changing him anyway, I made my decision when selling my previous No.1 and I'll stick to my guns for next season. Keegan may struggle if called upon but I find it very hard to justify spending massive wages on a sub who could just as easily be carted off next game. Having Keegan and Anderson in reserve makes me feel happier.

What are your thoughts about TM 2.0, good, bad or ugly?

I've only dabbled in it so far and while it hasn't been exactly what I expected, nothing's going to please everyone either! I do approve of the change in itself, ultimately it's a positive thing to go for a proper overhaul, rather than the piecemeal approach of the past. So long as it works, I'll be happy enough even if some bits of it are annoying me already.

What are the biggest challenges facing the developers of this game?

The same ones as always, trying to keep it an engaging game that's about soccer rather than a simulation because that would be a different entity entirely. Managing the economy in a way that will allow managers to move up the ranks while still keeping the old heads engaged. Implementing new things properly and accommodating greater numbers. Do those things well and the rest is a matter of polish for my money. The forums/community as a whole could do with an extensive overhaul but I don't see it happening.

You don't seem to be around as much as you used to, but presumably you still enjoy the game, so tell me, what do you like the most about it, what does TM still have that other games lack?

You are correct, of course. I'm not around anywhere near as much as I used to be but I do enjoy the game. It's actually the only online game I play anymore. As I mentioned, the scope for long-term planning and development is something I love and probably the main thing that keeps me coming back. I'm a schemer me. The competition and camaraderie between people you've known for years is a big plus too. And as a big game, it has a life of it's own. I take pride in what I've done and want to keep doing it better, more than an adult probably should but there you go :)

Finally, whatever happened to the Awards and all that?

There was an unfortunate incident with a hard-drive and a set of results. But I handed the baton over around the same time as I stood down as FT, not sure what's happened since.

Nice one, well done again and I look forward to us finally meeting next season.  Now, off you go to Zumba, Clodagh.