Press Conference

Once again, using Rich's previous questions.

Always interesting to hear managers thoughts, and especially good to look back on at the end of the season.

Q1. What is a 'good season' for your clubs?

Q2. What is your 'acid test' Fixture?

Q3. Most important player for the coming season?

Q4. Do you anticipate any tactical changes?

Q5. Which of your summer signings do you need to settle the quickest?

Q6. Which piece of summer business are you happiest with?

Q7. Which player do you feel you most missed out on, that another manager signed during the season break?

Q8. Which of your players will be in your starting 11 for week 1, but you hope he doesn't feature in week 22.

Q9. Given a magic wand, which of your rivals (in your division) players would you like to see in your clubs colours?

Q10. Which position in your chosen formation do you see as currently the weakest link?

Q11. Which do you see as the strongest?

Q12. Who will finish as leading scorer in your division?

Q13. Are you planning on entering European competition?

Q14. Which youngster in your academy do you have highest hopes for?

Q15. If you were a bookie, what odds would you give your own team and your rivals in your division, to win the league?

Q16. Surprise package of the season? Manager or team, feeder or parent.

Q17. Who do you think will not live up to expectations?

Q18. Champions League winner, three most likely?

Q19. Europa League winner, three most likely?

Q20. Domestic Cup winner, three most likely?

Q1. What is a 'good season' for your clubs?
Promotion. Must get promoted. Gutted to lose out in the play-offs, took a risk, and it backfired.

Q2. What is your 'acid test' Fixture?
Probably Spurs, but the division (of one!) is still looking strong with Liverpool, Reading and Spurs all likely to be in the shake-up


Q3. Most important player for the coming season?
All of them. But Samir Nasri needs to provide the bullets.


Q4. Do you anticipate any tactical changes?
Sticking with the change to 433 and will only revert to 442 if it's failing


Q5. Which of your summer signings do you need to settle the quickest?
Younis Kaboul. Have needed to sure up at the back for sometime. Kaboul from Chelsea this week, and Maicon will arrive from Betis shortly, so that should help.

Q6. Which piece of summer business are you happiest with?
to be honest. I'd have to say Ribery's arrival at Betis. At Leicester, got to be happy with Michu for £1m


Q7. Which player do you feel you most missed out on, that another manager signed during the season break?
It's not gone through yet, so can't say. But disappointed to miss out on a young England midfielder that's heading for pastures new.


Q8. Which of your players will be in your starting 11 for week 1, but you hope he doesn't feature in week 22.
Oh god... Allan Hutton, John O'Shea, Wayne Bridge, Jamie Carragher. Basically my entire back four!
At Betis, I need a CB and a GK.

Q9. Given a magic wand, which of your rivals (in your division) players would you like to see in your clubs colours?
Luka Modric

Q10. Which position in your chosen formation do you see as currently the weakest link?
CB

Q11. Which do you see as the strongest?
TM. Nasri is awesome

Q12. Who will finish as leading scorer in your division?
I hope Jelavic

Q13. Are you planning on entering European competition?
Mickey-mouse Europa league for both.

Q14. Which youngster in your academy do you have highest hopes for?
Wilfried Zaha. Apparently Dougie Freedman thinks £11m is cheap

Q15. If you were a bookie, what odds would you give your own team and your rivals in your division, to win the league?
3/1

Q16. Surprise package of the season? Manager or team, feeder or parent.
Nantes to do really well in Europe again

Q17. Who do you think will not live up to expectations?
I said Plymouth last year. I think the wheels may come off at Arsenal, although I think Aguero is a brilliant signing.

Q18. Champions League winner, three most likely?
I think it might be Iain's year.

Q19. Europa League winner, three most likely?
Nantes again beating Feyanoord in the final.

Q20. Domestic Cup winner, three most likely?

Dont care

Q1. What is a 'good season' for your clubs?

A hat-trick of League titles for Inter and anything beyond the first knock out round in Europe.

Boca - need to regain the League and another strong Libertadores challenge.

Q2. What is your 'acid test' Fixture?

Milan, Juve, Napoli are all very strong and have good depth plus the reality managers have some edge. Ancona are the ones though, the Totti/Quagliarella link up is devestating.

Q3. Most important player for the coming season?

Jovetic, my new found TM. Cavani, Higuain and Destro have the firepower I just need to make sure they get the service they need.

Q4. Do you anticipate any tactical changes?

SLO is gone. It delivered two titles but I need to get more goals.

Q5. Which of your summer signings do you need to settle the quickest?

None really. Nocerino is new but they key is integrating the players who have come up from the youths into the squad rotation - Jovetic, Destro, Verratti and Insigne.

Q6. Which piece of summer business are you happiest with?

Reducing my wage bill and I think Giovinco will give me some options. Luis Muriel looks a very good future bet too.

Q7. Which player do you feel you most missed out on, that another manager signed during the season break?

None.

Q8. Which of your players will be in your starting 11 for week 1, but you hope he doesn't feature in week 22.

Old man Pirlo? Not sure how long he can keep going although he was decent in the Euros. Hernanes is a ready made replacement so not too worried.

Q9. Given a magic wand, which of your rivals (in your division) players would you like to see in your clubs colours?
Lavezzi.
Q10. Which position in your chosen formation do you see as currently the weakest link?
RB maybe? Mostly because I'm not 100% of the cover I have there.
Q11. Which do you see as the strongest?
ST, CB or AM. Cavani, Higuain, Destro and Insigne with Damiao on loan gives good options in attack.
Q12. Who will finish as leading scorer in your division?
Knowing my luck not one of my players. Hulk, Lavezzi, Quagliarella,.....
Q13. Are you planning on entering European competition?
It's like a form of self abuse so obviously .....
Q14. Which youngster in your academy do you have highest hopes for?
Verratti or El Shaarawy at Inter. Dybala, Polo or Muriel at Boca.
Q15. If you were a bookie, what odds would you give your own team and your rivals in your division, to win the league?
2/1 (because of new tactic and formation) would have been shorter with SLO.
Q16. Surprise package of the season? Manager or team, feeder or parent.
Ancona .... are they still a surprise?
Q17. Who do you think will not live up to expectations?
Me. Pressure of expectation is mounting.
Q18. Champions League winner, three most likely?
Barcelona, Schalke, Real
Q19. Europa League winner, three most likely?
Any .... Nantes or Betis most likely.
Q20. Domestic Cup winner, three most likely?
Roma.

Q1. What is a 'good season' for your clubs?
Top 3 again, probs gonna be a slow start to season with new signings but I'm confident for YeH season.

Q2. What is your 'acid test' Fixture?
Plymouth, Birmingham.

Q3. Most important player for the coming season?
Aguero and Shay Given. Goals and hopefully conceding less.

Q4. Do you anticipate any tactical changes?
Nope, I've already swapped from fly to fas.

Q5. Which of your summer signings do you need to settle the quickest?
Aguero and Essien.

Q6. Which piece of summer business are you happiest with?
Bale? Essien? Aguero?

Q7. Which player do you feel you most missed out on, that another manager signed during the season break?
Podolski, would have liked him, but I did get Giroud

Q8. Which of your players will be in your starting 11 for week 1, but you hope he doesn't feature in week 22.
Distin and Giroud.

Q9. Given a magic wand, which of your rivals (in your division) players would you like to see in your clubs colours?
Vidic or Thomas Vermalen

Q10. Which position in your chosen formation do you see as currently the weakest link?
CB - Distin.

Q11. Which do you see as the strongest?
TM and AM.

Q12. Who will finish as leading scorer in your division?
Aguero I always seem to have the highest scoring tm. Or tevez.

Q13. Are you planning on entering European competition?
Champions

Q14. Which youngster in your academy do you have highest hopes for?
Aaron Ramsey or Kurt Zouma

Q15. If you were a bookie, what odds would you give your own team and your rivals in your division, to win the league?
I can't do oods.

Q16. Surprise package of the season? Manager or team, feeder or parent.
I think tom will do very well.

Q17. Who do you think will not live up to expectations?
Newcastle, sadly I think the tinkering will cause problems

Q18. Champions League winner, three most likely?
Iain, Plymouth, schalke.

Q19. Europa League winner, three most likely?
Nantes, Betis, feyenoord

Q20. Domestic Cup winner, three most likely?
Arsenal, Plymouth, Brum.

Once again, using Rich's previous questions.

Always interesting to hear managers thoughts, and especially good to look back on at the end of the season.

Q1. What is a 'good season' for your clubs?

Staying up, Although on paper my squad is as good as any in the division but i'll be happy with staying in thr league

Q2. What is your 'acid test' Fixture?

I would say that the games i have to win are probably, Everton,Charlton,Newcastle,Man Utd

Q3. Most important player for the coming season?

Suarez
Q4. Do you anticipate any tactical changes?
Nope

Q5. Which of your summer signings do you need to settle the quickest

Have'nt made any

Q6. Which piece of summer business are you happiest with?
None
Q7. Which player do you feel you most missed out on, that another manager signed during the season break?
None
Q8. Which of your players will be in your starting 11 for week 1, but you hope he doesn't feature in week 22.

Yuri Zhirkov

Q9. Given a magic wand, which of your rivals (in your division) players would you like to see in your clubs colours?

Petr Cech

Q10. Which position in your chosen formation do you see as currently the weakest link?

LH


Q11. Which do you see as the strongest?

ST

Q12. Who will finish as leading scorer in your division?

Suarez

Q13. Are you planning on entering European competition?

Europa League Chelsea none for Cska

Q14. Which youngster in your academy do you have highest hopes for?

Nathaniel Chalobah

Q15. If you were a bookie, what odds would you give your own team and your rivals in your division, to win the league?

6/1

Q16. Surprise package of the season? Manager or team, feeder or parent.

Me hopefully
Q17. Who do you think will not live up to expectations?

Arsenal

Q18. Champions League winner, three most likely?
Real.Schalke,Barca

Q19. Europa League winner, three most likely?

Chelsea, Nantes

Q20. Domestic Cup winner, three most likely?

Man city, Fulham, Birmingham

Q1. What is a 'good season' for your clubs?
TOP 3/4 FINISH AND A NICE CUP RUN

Q2. What is your 'acid test' Fixture?
BRUM OR ARSENAL - CAME UP WITH THEM AND ALWAYS FEEL IF I CAN COMPETE WITH THEM THEN I CANT BE TOO FAR OFF THE PACE. USUALLY ITS WIN ONE LOSE ONE AGAINST BOTH ALTHOUGH I THINK BRUM MAY HAVE DONE THE DOUBLE OVER US LAST YEAR, WHICH SHOVES IT BACK TO ME AFTER DOING IT TO THEM THE YEAR BEFORE THAT.

Q3. Most important player for the coming season?
SANDRO - NEEDS TO LEARN AND SETTLE QUICKLY, THINK HE'LL TAKE A BIT OF TIME DUE TO AGE AND PT CR (AM A BIT SCARED ABOUT THAT) - LOOKING BETTER AND BETTER IN REAL LIFE THOUGH, GLAD I LISTENED TO MY HEAD AND DIDNT GO ALL OUT FOR NIGEL 'ANGRY MAN,LIMITED FOOTBALLER' DE JONG

Q4. Do you anticipate any tactical changes?
SHOULDNT DO ALTHOUGH DEPENDS HOW THE SUMMER TRAINING WENT WITH THE SYSTEM, IF ITS LEARNED TO APPRECIATE WIDTH AGAIN THERE WILL BE NO NEED

Q5. Which of your summer signings do you need to settle the quickest?
SANDRO

Q6. Which piece of summer business are you happiest with?
ALL ,I DONT SIGN PLAYERS I DONT RATE LOL, SERIOUSLY THOUGH, THE NEW RIGHT BACK

Q7. Which player do you feel you most missed out on, that another manager signed during the season break?
WOULD HAVE BEEN RAPHAEL BUT WEVE DONE ALRIGHT IN THAT DEPARTMENT NOW.

Q8. Which of your players will be in your starting 11 for week 1, but you hope he doesn't feature in week 22.
SADLY THE HANDSOME SPANIARD CARLOS 'THE HAIR' CUELLAR'- WHAT A GUY

Q9. Given a magic wand, which of your rivals (in your division) players would you like to see in your clubs colours?
KOMPANY,TEVEZ ,AGUARO - NOT SURE WHERE ID PLAY THE LATTER TWO AS I DONT USE A TM (I MUST BE THE ONLY ONE) BUT WOULD ENJOY THE HEADACHE OF TRYING TO CROWBAR THEM IN

Q10. Which position in your chosen formation do you see as currently the weakest link?
KEEPER

Q11. Which do you see as the strongest?
ANYTHING TO DO WITH WIDTH

Q12. Who will finish as leading scorer in your division?
TEVEZ OR ROONEY

Q13. Are you planning on entering European competition?
YES

Q14. Which youngster in your academy do you have highest hopes for?
ACCADEMY??, SOD THAT ITS ALL ABOUT THE PRESENT BABY

Q15. If you were a bookie, what odds would you give your own team and your rivals in your division, to win the league?
NOT SURE

Q16. Surprise package of the season? Manager or team, feeder or parent.
CANT CALL IT , BUT THINK DUE TO THE GERNAL STABILITY FORCED UPON THEM WITH THEIR RECENT PROMOTION SURGES I THINK ONE OF THE PROMOTED BOYS WILL HAVE A REALLY GOOD CAMPAIGN - THAT AND THEY ALSO ALL HAVE EXCELLENT SIDES.

Q17. Who do you think will not live up to expectations?
MARK HAS HAD TO DO A LOT OF SHUFFLING AND I THINK THAT MIGHT HINDER HIM A BIT THIS YEAR, THAT SAID HE KNOWS WHAT HES DOING SO IM SURE THEYLL COME OUT THE OTHER END IN A STRONGER STATE.
I THINK WE MIGHT TOO, TO LIVE UP TO LAST YEARS 2ND PLACE FINISH IS A VERY TALL ORDER IN A MUCH MUCH MORE COMPETITIVE DIVISION,THERES ALSO A LITTLE BIT MORE OF A YOUNGER, LESS EXPERIANCED FEEL TO THE SIDE SO THEY JUST MAY NEED A LITTLE MORE PATIENCE FROM THE FANS. THINK IT MIGHT TAKE A BIT OF TIME FOR THEM TO BLEND / SETTLE, WILL BE BETTER FOR IT IN THE LONG RUN THOUGH I HOPE

Q18. Champions League winner, three most likely?
INTER

Q19. Europa League winner, three most likely?
ANCONA / NANTES

Q20. Domestic Cup winner, three most likely?
NO IDEA, ABSOLUTELY ANYONE COULD WIN IT....................................EVEN RICH

i do like these interview things.

maybe we should do them straight after games - see who fs and jeffs the most.

i reckon tom, he hasnt lost too many recently so a couple of defeats will get him spitting feathers .lol

ill just go in a mardi , blame paul,the system,and the big pitch and then insist on spending all my money on something to make me feel better...... and then regret it in about 3 turns time when something a lot better becomes available for half the price lol

Lol, I reckon you're right.

More importantly, any chance you can change your avatar, seeing as that trophy is currently sitting in the Nantes cabinet now!!

that trophy is the one thats in your trophy cabinet,


im just sat in there with it, just wont let go of it - literally their my hands on it in the picture.

fair point though, have been trying to look for a super mario avatar for while but theres none of him not looking like a mental case.

that trophy is the one thats in your trophy cabinet,


im just sat in there with it, just wont let go of it - literally their my hands on it in the picture.

fair point though, have been trying to look for a super mario avatar for while but theres none of him not looking like a mental case.

Sky Sports still unable to get hold of the media shy watford manager?

The Hemsoft world wants to hear from its very own Geroge Graham / Alex Mcleish.

Q1. What is a 'good season' for your clubs?

Charlton - Has to be survival
Nantes - Has to be a title challenge

Q2. What is your 'acid test' Fixture?

Charlton - None really, nothing to lose in any of them
Nantes - PSG were the main rivals, but Lille and Lyon are always difficult.

Q3. Most important player for the coming season?

Charlton - Hmmm.......
Nantes - Forlan, hopefully giving Neymar a rest from carrying the team

Q4. Do you anticipate any tactical changes?

No, at either really, but then I said the same with SLO this time last year....

Q5. Which of your summer signings do you need to settle the quickest?

Charlton - Kolarov
Nantes - Forlan

Q6. Which piece of summer business are you happiest with?

Both the ones above.

Q7. Which player do you feel you most missed out on, that another manager signed during the season break?

Probably just me, but whenever any deal goes through I feel like I missed out!! Just something about Hemsoft for me that makes you constantly do a deal.

If I had to pick it would be

Ribery, unbelievably good signing for Betis

Q8. Which of your players will be in your starting 11 for week 1, but you hope he doesn't feature in week 22.

None really, although I'm sure plenty will move on during the season

Q9. Given a magic wand, which of your rivals (in your division) players would you like to see in your clubs colours?

Probably Kompany.

Q10. Which position in your chosen formation do you see as currently the weakest link?

CB maybe.

Q11. Which do you see as the strongest?

Hmmm....


Q12. Who will finish as leading scorer in your division?

Think you could toss a coin between Rooney, Robben, Aguero and RVP

Q13. Are you planning on entering European competition?

Yep, with both

Q14. Which youngster in your academy do you have highest hopes for?

Once again, quite a few. Nastasic, Gaston Ramirez, Wisdom, Sterling, Shelvey, Robinson.

Q15. If you were a bookie, what odds would you give your own team and your rivals in your division, to win the league?

Top four favourites for me are Plymouth, Fulham, Arsenal and Birmingham. Whilst City and Newcastle always have an outside chance.


Q16. Surprise package of the season? Manager or team, feeder or parent?

Betis - Think there might be a few surprise results in Spain this year, along with possibly a cup win?

Q17. Who do you think will not live up to expectations?

Hopefully Fulham as always.

Q18. Champions League winner, three most likely?

Inter, Barca, Real

Q19. Europa League winner, three most likely?

Betis, Chelsea, Nantes

Q20. Domestic Cup winner, three most likely?

I do fancy a good cup run this year.......but probably any of the top four previously mentioned.

[quote="Tom@Charlton"]Q17. Who do you think will not live up to expectations?

Hopefully Fulham as always.

quote]

lol

Q1. What is a 'good season' for your clubs?
Watford - survival
Ancona 2nd again

Q2. What is your 'acid test' Fixture?
Watford - every games is going to be difficult
Ancona - home and away against Inter

Q3. Most important player for the coming season?
Watford - Adebayor - need him to step up and bag plenty of goals
Ancona - Totti - is he too old? can he keep performing?

Q4. Do you anticipate any tactical changes?
Watford - yes but not sure which way to go!
Ancona - probably stick with Mix

Q5. Which of your summer signings do you need to settle the quickest?
Watford - no significant signings as wasn't sure which division I would be in
Ancona - no new signings

Q6. Which piece of summer business are you happiest with?
Watford - Nathaniel Clyne - only bit of business but it meant Spector finally left

Q7. Which player do you feel you most missed out on, that another manager signed during the season break?

Watford - Would have loved to have signed Gareth Bale
Ancona - Missed out on Giovinco

Q8. Which of your players will be in your starting 11 for week 1, but you hope he doesn't feature in week 22.

Watford - Lee and McGeady
Ancona - Ederson, Toulalon & Moreno

Q9. Given a magic wand, which of your rivals (in your division) players would you like to see in your clubs colours?

Watford - Tevez as he's unplayable
Ancona - De Rossi

Q10. Which position in your chosen formation do you see as currently the weakest link?

Watford - RH
Ancona - RH

Q11. Which do you see as the strongest?

Watford - CB
Ancona - ST

Q12. Who will finish as leading scorer in your division?

Watford - Tevez
Ancona - No idea

Q13. Are you planning on entering European competition?

Watford - Chapions League
Ancona - Europa

Q14. Which youngster in your academy do you have highest hopes for?

Watford - James McCarthy & Nathan Redmond
Ancona - Nelson Oliveira

Q15. If you were a bookie, what odds would you give your own team and your rivals in your division, to win the league?

Watford - 100/1
Ancona - 25/1

Q16. Surprise package of the season? Manager or team, feeder or parent.

Charlton - couldn't stop scoring last season, if that carries into the new season, they'll be right up there

Q17. Who do you think will not live up to expectations?

Wouldn't like to say

Q18. Champions League winner, three most likely?

Inter, Schalke, Barca and Real (I know thats 4)

Q19. Europa League winner, three most likely?

Betis, Feyenoord, Nantes

Q20. Domestic Cup winner, three most likely?


Fulham, Birmingham, Arsenal

Hopefully the Banstead manager will have time to entertain the press!

Q1. What is a 'good season' for your clubs?

Barcelona - A trophy at least. Minimum of getting through groups in Europe.
Flamengo - Top 3 this season and a good cup run.

Q2. What is your 'acid test' Fixture?

Barcelona - Real Madrid
Flamengo - Gremio

Q3. Most important player for the coming season?

Barcelona - A lot to choose from but Yaya is a huge player
Flamengo - Soldado as TM

Q4. Do you anticipate any tactical changes?

Both teams staying as they were at the end of last season.

Q5. Which of your summer signings do you need to settle the quickest?

No Major Signings for either team!

Q6. Which piece of summer business are you happiest with?

As above!!

Q7. Which player do you feel you most missed out on, that another manager signed during the season break?

Some big signings going on but none that fit into my ideal team!

Sebastian Giovinco for Flamengo, came up 1m short on Robs 3m sign on fee!


Q8. Which of your players will be in your starting 11 for week 1, but you hope he doesn't feature in week 22.

Barcelona - Its a tough one but one of my CB's need to have made waycome the end of the season. Not a big issue if I've still got Albiol/Puyol partnership.

Flamengo - Maybe the GK or even Bruno Soriano if Romeu can force his way through.

Q9. Given a magic wand, which of your rivals (in your division) players would you like to see in your clubs colours?

Lionel Messi or possibly Busquets

Q10. Which position in your chosen formation do you see as currently the weakest link?

Barcelona - CB
Flamengo - GK

Q11. Which do you see as the strongest?

Barcelona - LB, when he''s not getting sent off Jordi Alba is a huge attacking threat!
Flamengo - LK, Filipe is just like Alba

My LB/LK fetish continues!

Q12. Who will finish as leading scorer in your division?

Lionel Messi

Q13. Are you planning on entering European competition?

Barcelona - Champions Cup
Flamengo - 1st time entry in Copa Libertadoras

Q14. Which youngster in your academy do you have highest hopes for?

Barcelona - Isco or Muniain or Tello
Flamengo - Victor Andrade

Q15. If you were a bookie, what odds would you give your own team and your rivals in your division, to win the league?

Barcelona 11/8, Real Evens
Flamengo 20/1

Q16. Surprise package of the season? Manager or team, feeder or parent.

I think everyones got strong teams so no surprises!

Q17. Who do you think will not live up to expectations?

Silence

Q18. Champions League winner, three most likely?

Schalke, Inter, Real (if not Barca!)

Q19. Europa League winner, three most likely?

Betis, Nantes, Feyenoord

Q20. Domestic Cup winner, three most likely?

Barcelona, Real, Betis

Is it worth trotting this one out again?

Anyone want to share their thoughts?