TM Ireland - Trophymanager Ireland

Real Everton’s been making waves across the water in certainly the biggest TM leagues in the world, if not the toughest. Coming up from Division 9 to 4 in 6 seasons, while winning the TM top 500 along the way. Given the difficulties 9^th and 10^th division sides face – beginning with less than 3,000 fans, less than 40,000 TotalASI – perhaps this success story might have some wisdom to impart to all newer managers, and indeed some of the established teams as well.

Thanks for taking the time to answer a few questions. Your performance in the English leagues has gained you notoriety across the Irish Sea and one thing that seems beyond question is your success on the transfer market. I don't think I have ever seen such a long transfer history. Let's run through a few numbers:

• Players bought: 303 for a total of $3.3 billion and 980,000 ASI
• Player sold: 241 for a total of $3.9 billion and 832,000 ASI

• Truly staggering figures for a team that has only been in the game 7 seasons - how have you managed to sell less total ASI for $600 million more?

Without revealing too much I’ve focused on certain positions, ages and not got into bidding wars (this applies to players with financial ends).

I’ve used various strategies (if one doesn’t work so well, then another strategy might cover the others weakness) simultaneously while using the TG as a pivotal tool. In fact the TG has been the backbone aside from choosing the right players who have good potential training qualities (luck + calculated gamble). 

• In your experience are there good times of the day, week, or season to buy or sell players?

Most definitely there are good times of the season to buy and sell. Though as for better times in the day, I’m not sure it is like it used to be. A few seasons ago mornings were the best and sometimes after the haunting hour. In saying that I’ve bought a lot of players in the early evening or even 10pm who were sandwiched between a bidding war and no one was interested. 
Maybe for big budget buys, 100m+, Thursday’s financial update is a good day to throw cash around. 

• How much time do you devote to the transfer market?

Currently very little, I’m changing my ways. Firstly because I want to spend time learning about football management, secondly I’m convinced the YD road will pay off, you just need to throw a bank at it before returns will come in the distant future.

Back onto you question, I used to spend copious amounts of time, I was obsessed with hunting good numbers (player skills, their distribution etc) and making a lot of money, it gave me more satisfaction than winning. So I could have spent 4hrs a day, maybe more. Now 20-30mins. 

• Do you buy young and how do you find those cheap players who will ultimately be worth more?

I like to buy young and cheap! They may have bloomed but still train well enough so that with the combination of TG and coaches I will make money. I follow strict limits set on individual player targets and don’t get into bidding wars.
I’m not a person that buys the 20 rated youth for 500k. That’s not my specialty. 

• Do you have good scouts and how many times would you scout a potential purchase?

I have good scouts, though I’m not a head hunter. I scout my youth and on occasion I have tried to find good youths from other clubs before or during bloom time. I’ve not made money from that it’s not my talent or expertise.

• Was there one trade in particular that got you started?

No, not a trade but a club called Real Everton with a financial side that might compliment a football squad. Two separate entities that rely on each other.

• Have you used the NT sale extensively?

You mean to make money? Then no I have not used it extensively. If you mean to use the NT sales as a way to save great players and buy them for a good price then I have participated in that to a great degree.

• Have you ever 'got it wrong' and bought a dud…?

Yeah I’ve bought a few duds, last season I bought a few NT players that just didn’t compliment the players I had. Then I bought a few youth players who cost a lot of money only to find they were not late bloomers but in their late bloom! Bugger.

• …. Or sold at a loss…?

Yep last season saw me sell more players at a loss than I’ve ever sold before. The market is continually changing so you need to be sensitive to it. Still last season saw me buy more players not intended for investment and resale, so this is maybe a better explanation for it.

• Is inflation in the game a help or a hindrance?

Inflation has been a great help as my team was created at the time before inflation really took off. However inflation today would complicate things more if I wasn’t weaning Real Everton off trading. Inflation on today’s scale probably would make it near impossible for a club to make similar gains as easily compared to 7 seasons ago when I started.

Really answering your question, help or hindrance? It’s a help if you’re not talking finances, it’s helping to put the focus where it should be I think it is positive, the raise in the NT sales prices, the squad player cap etc. You need to make money but let’s face it the game is called Trophy manager not Saudi Group and football! 

• How would you respond to claims that you are merely a day trader?

I would simply say yes IF that question was presented to me 4-5 seasons ago. Now it is a different story as the goal of the club was to follow the YD system since day one but now, or for the last 2 seasons I have sold fewer players and continued to slow trading gradually while speeding up the YD program. Trading has been a means to an end…..well also an enjoyable element that still offers 
plenty of rewards aside from financial.


• You have developed your facilities to quite high levels for the 4th division – would this have been possible without your trading successes?

No. You need healthy turnover, cash flow, dynamic finances to do this and trading being that in the form of buying and selling or via the YD program, if your lucky enough. 

• Are you getting a good return from your youth development?

Not really, I currently have a YD level of 9, recently upgraded. There is not a single 3000+asi player on my squad from the YD I’m lucky to get a pull above 10. I have the impression there is a lot of luck involved.

If you were to have asked me if I’m getting a good return on my TG I would say my club would be nothing without it and that my TG has been vital in keeping my finances afloat and vital in improving the players.

• You came 4th last season – was this a slip up?

Not really a slip up, there is one philosophy Real Everton stays true to and that is this “what is best for the clubs future”. Promotion has never been the objective numero ono, its always been the second. I sold the great team who finished #1 in the top 500, leaving a skeleton crew to work with last season. I stayed with a formation that was defensively weak to find prospective FC’s and test the DC’s I wanted to understand their requirements a little deeper. Push the limits and test combinations. I made the largest financial turnover last season of 1.3bn because I sold a good team for very little time invested. I used the extra time gained to learn football management to a great degree, analyzing tactics and strategies and follow youth players and their training.

Should we have been promoted? Most definitely but between my obsession to sell a good product a season long bad run of injuries and pursuing a formation that was inadequate in order to test my players. So its not surprising we didn’t. 

Season 9 I did something even more radical and finished lower mid table and missed out on automatic promotion!

• You're unbeaten so far this season – is there another trophy on its way…?

Time will tell as there are 2 other unbeaten teams!

• What motivated you to go Diamond and would you recommend this?

Nicknames. Honestly I love nicknames and with Diamond it’s limitless.
Not sure if I would recommend it, depends on the individual. Pro however is what I’d recommend if you don’t have a nickname fetish.

Cheers mate and good luck