One of the oldest Irish teams in the game, with over 6 RL years behind the keyboard & still at the very top of the game! LeS
you have just finished your 26th season in the top flight with another tremendous win, How does this win feel?
Hey Cuana, thanks for having me.
Every title we’ve won I’ve said ‘this one is the best’, ‘this one is special’ and the truth is they all are, for different reasons. This one feels much different to the first. For a while there it was looking like we would struggle to win another. The way Cav, Stan, KK were playing starting a few seasons back certainly seemed to leave us struggling to be consistent enough to win the title. Add to that the struggle to stay competitive long term makes it difficult to ever actually ‘peak’, due to the need for the integration and purchasing of youth.
Talk us through your season, when did you realise that the title was once again within your grasp?
Middle of the season was when I felt it was on. We were playing well and Cav was not looking as invincible as he has done (or is again currently!). Although that’s a bit of a lie, every season until we’re out of it I always feel we have a squad capable of putting together the run of results required.
It’s been seven seasons since your last league win thanks to another major rebuild at the club. How do you keep coming back with such quality & strength? Are you Alex Ferg in disguise?
This is a great question and one I struggle with. Balancing the financial side of this is probably my biggest strength. Buying right, youth and senior is important. But the part of my approach that I am most happy with is not being precious about any players. If the price is right anyone can go. There’s always more players to buy.
This next comment may dismay some people, but I’d expect a lot of the top managers will agree: The game can get a bit boring the higher the level you reach. There’s less wheeling and dealing to do which is a part of the game I really enjoy. Its also much harder to make the final step up to the top, top level.
Many of us tipped yourself & Cav to fight it out for the title & so it proved but you pulled away as the season progressed & won comfortably in the end. For you who were your key players that made the difference between being a top LOI team and lording it over the league?
Silva was a great purchase for us. Super value and I am a sucker for OM wingers. Thather had a great season too – even though he was a shade old he has delivered on his promise of a title when he joined the club. Our defense was great, with Claw Hands turning into a wonderful keeper. Ugianskis is one of the best attacking MC’s (if not THE best) in the game and continues to prove it. The boys up front were also excellent – delighted for Neill to get another title before signing off.
Speaking about Joseph Neill, how does it feel when such a talismanic figure retires & how do you hope to replace him?
Ah he’ll be missed but to be honest he never really fulfilled his potential. If someone offered me a billion for him 7 seasons ago I would’ve left him leave! Still he has been a good player for us and I can’t count the amount of titles he has!
Always looking forward, are there any areas you need to strengthen?
We’ve got some good youngsters coming up. MC, DL, ML, OMC/R, GK are all in good shape. Will probably need to look at a striker at some stage and a DR. As always, if you’ve got a true 5* player and are looking for cashflow, you know where to send him. Go on, give him his shot at greatness 😉
Last year CC predicted that you (with KK, Cork & Stan) were improving all the time & would probably stop his run at a 3-in-a-row. Who do you see as your main rivals to retaining the title this season?
I actually can’t see past Cav again this season. He’s bought well and has a nicely matured squad. We’re already struggling to stay with him. Cork and KK will be there again. Give Leeverpool a few seasons and he’ll be someone to watch.
Europe: We have yet to see an Irish team get to the top in European competition and with the changes made to the league formats it seems European crowns are even further away now. What is your opinion of the changes made to the European leagues, and realistically how far do you hope to progress in the competition this season?
Well the tardiness of my reply (tardiness of my questions – Cuana) gives me some perspective for this one. Obviously we are out and Europe is over for another season. In the past I feel we would have been strong enough to at least make the last 64 and with a bit of luck the last 16. Its going to be a big problem for smaller nations. I think we ended up facing to Keeper MOM performances over the two legs. We shaded it both times in terms of chances – felt we deserved to get through but alas not to be. Its a thin line at that level.
The funnies:
Have you ever written a fan letter?
Never – closest I got was that ‘trust me on the youth development’ article I did a few seasons back (maybe you can find the link).
Actually, come to think of it I lie. When I was 12 and an everton fan (and a goalkeeper), in an effort to get some free gloves I asked goodison to send me an autographed pair of Southalls gloves. They didn’t.
Do you pick the white stringy bits off oranges before you eat them?
Nope – down the hatch.
What team do you follow in RL?
I’m guilty of the cardinal sin – switched from everton to Leeds when I was a kid and infulenced by my uncle. Still keep an eye on them but I more just a fantasy football mercenary these days. Of course I’ve always been a Celtic fan.
Which member of U2 would you most like to play golf with?
The Edge I think. Looks pretty good with his hands 😉
Thanks for taking the time to answer these LeS – best of luck for the coming season & the next 27 in the LOI!
Thanks again for having me – hopefully I’ll be back sooner than 7 seasons(or whatever its been since I won something)!
Trophymanager Ireland 