TM Ireland - Trophymanager Ireland

In a week that saw the controversial banning of Dublin FC, as luck would have it, we'd sent some questions to Game Teamster Broughton Citizens.  He is at the forefront of the anti-cheating task force.  Firstly thanks for taking the time to answer a few questions. If you don’t mind, I’d like to focus a little on the whole cheating aspect, before moving on to how you have experienced TM. 

• About how many managers are banned each season for cheating, is this increasing or decreasing? Is TM winning the war against cheating?

I feel that TM is winning the war but unfortunately cheating will never be eradicated from the game as it is human nature to try to gain the upper hand no matter the methods. Back in season 3 and 4 there was a lot of cheating going on and mostly unpunished but the MT’s made it a priority to fight against cheating, then the GT’s were born and more time and effort made towards the Anti-Cheating System and finding and punishing cheats. The Dev’s are even now trying to improve the ACS with additional tools and features so that we can continue the fight.
There is no league table or quota for GT’s to reach but the ACS does keep a record of every team banned and the reasons for the ban. I would prefer not to pass on any of the information though to be sure that I am not going against the MT’s wishes.

• What is the most common form of cheating?

I think that the most common is creating two (or more) teams with the sole purpose of buying the players of the main team so as to gain extra cash and therefore an unfair advantage.

• How confident are you that TM’s anti-cheating systems are picking up the majority of cases?

The ACS is a great system and is under constant development/improvement with the Dev’s listening to what the GT’s need and implementing the features. The ACS is a great weapon in the war against cheating but it is the community and the teamsters who TM needs in the fight. We need to continue to report dodgy teams and transfers, the community needs to be aware to the possibility of cheating and as the rules state “Trophy Manager is a free game. The only thing we ask of our players is that they abide by the TM rules below. If you encounter someone who is breaking the rules, please send an in-game private message (PM) to a Game Teamster (GT)”.

• Can you remind us again, what can get a manager banned for cheating?

Here are a few reasons that teams are banned but this is by no means complete:
1. Multiple teams.
2. URL manipulation.
3. Exploiting bugs.
4. Trading players for non-market prices with friends/family.
5. Flaming.
6. Spamming.
7. Abusing other users.
8. Foul and abusive language / attitude.
9. Racism, sexism, and many other ism’s.
10. Acting against common football logic.
11. Giving your team away to another user.

Don't mess with the ACS...

• What is flaming?

Flaming is the hostile and insulting interaction between Internet users.

• You’re an English original, in the game and the Premier League since season 3. You’ve never finished out of the top 9, but no titles, yet – looking good this season?

I am having a good season but I am not 100% confident in coming away with anything such is the nature of TM and football in general. I just cross my fingers and hope for the best every time I start the LiveMatch Viewer. 

• How have you performed in Europe?

This season has gone OK so far and I am proud of the team in getting to the ‘Round of 16’ previously the lads have performed but we just need that bit of luck (or quality) to push on and challenge.
Previous exploits in Europe have been:
UETA Champions Cup History
Season 7: Playoffs - Round of 32
Season 9: Playoffs - Round of 64

UETA Cup History
Season 5: Playoffs - Round of 32
Season 8: Playoffs - Round of 32

• You can be quite rightly classed as one of the superclubs with over 29,000 fans – what is your take on newer clubs’ disaffection with the fans system – does the fan system need to be reformed?

The fan system has been in place since season 3 when I started, I am at the upper limit of Div 1.1 and even if I won the next 5 league titles, cups and Euro cups I would still not get much higher than 30,000. This is not ‘fair’ to successful clubs but is essential to keep the gap from increasing too much between teams/divisions.

• You have some serious youths there, how long have you been at level 10 and how do you respond to the many ‘disatisfied with youth development’ threads?

The YA &TG do work, the problem is that you need to invest a lot of time and money into them. I have 10 players in and around my 1st team squad who started life off on my own academy, add to this the 3 players who I signed who started at other teams academies and you can see that it does work, but it takes time, money and patience.

• Do you find TM special or do you enjoy the success of your team – what keeps you interested in the game?

I enjoy the game itself, but my favourite part of the game is training youths. There is nothing better than being able to field a team full of players that started off life in the YA. There is also a decent community in England and the banter that can be had in the LiveMatch Viewer and with other teams in the league is always good. I have played most other online football sims and TM is in my honest opinion the best I have played and it also has the potential to be even better.

• What team anywhere in the world would it give you the most satisfaction to beat?

Seattle Blues (although the original team no longer exists) as they were the only reason for my team not having at least one championship so far. Of the teams that still play the game, any of the big teams would be nice to beat but I feel no rivalry at the moment in TM, I need a nemesis.

• Are you, have you been an NT and how is that going?

I was given the honour of being coach of Georgia in Season 7. We qualified for the EURO Championships and the World Cup until I handed the reigns over to a Georgian user. He showed little interest in the team after taking over and I received lots of mail from the Georgian community asking that I take control again. The NC at the time was not active so I took over once again and am now working my way through some friendlies in preparation for the NT elections

• Would you like the England job one day?

I am unsure if I would run for the England job, it is not something I feel I could do justice. Scouting in Georgia is easy as they have a small league structure, but England is the largest nation in TM so it is a lot more work and therefore time needed. I am not sure that I have that time and effort needed to do the nation justice.

• What are five kernels of wisdom that all new managers should know?

1. Listen to experience users, they know the game better than you and just might help.
2. Be patient, success is not going to happen overnight, be patient and you will see the fruit of your labour eventually.
3. Read the rules, the user guide, the TM Faq and get involved in the forum, this will help you to gain the help of more experience users.
4. Ask questions, talk to other users and again be active on the forum.
5. Go Pro, the game is better with pro and you are supporting the continued development and success of a game that is (IMO) the best game on the net.

Thanks very much for your time and good luck with the remainder of the season and with Georgia.