Interview with Thunderexpress

1) Hi dear Peter. First of all thank you very much for your courtesy. We know that you are really helpful and kind all the time. You always try to solve problems. So, what kind of person is Peter in real life?
Thank you for having me! That’s very kind words, I try to help as much as possible and if I could, I would have answered all questions from all our users. Unfortunately time is often against me. I try to be pretty much the same in real life as I am in ManagerZone. I am extremely competitive and a bit of a workoholic.

2) In real life, every person faces with difficulties. We all (and still) live in a world of hardness. What is your story, would you please tell us about your past?
I agree that we are facing difficulties in the world, especially in these times. Even though Sweden is blessed in many ways. I come from Sweden, the land of dark winters and bright summers. I started working at the age of 15 and at the same time i studied. I studied software engineering at the university and at the same time I worked as an IT tech guy. I was more or less head hunted to Power Challenge (the owner of ManagerZone) and I never hesitated when I got the question. I have always loved football, hockey and computer games. So this is really a dream job for me.

3) Let’s talk about ManagerZone- World’s Best Online Game. When and how did you join ManagerZone? Do you keen on your team “Laughing Dogs”? And I wonder why your team name is “Laughing Dogs”?

I started working for ManagerZone 5 years ago. I really love working for ManagerZone. I love the game, the Community and the future for ManagerZone. It is difficult to play ManagerZone since I know “too much” about the game so it wouldn’t be fair for everyone else if I tried my best to play. the name Laughing dogs comes from my real life dog. He was a dalmatian and he could laugh like a human, hence the name ‘Laughing dogs’. I am proud of my team of course but I don’t want the Players to be ‘too good’ if you understand what I mean. I don’t want users to think that it is any funny business going on so I try to not rise to high in the divisions.

4) Can you please tell us about ManagerZone’s unknown sides? I mean as users we just play that wonderful game and enjoy. But how do you Crew (and/or other assistants) work to keep this nice organization sustain, how many people is behind this nice organization? And what makes ManagerZone different or special?
We are a small company and a lot of our time goes to maintain the company. We treat ManagerZone as if it was real life. We (crew) take ManagerZone more serious than any other real life sport. For every season break we go through everything manually to make sure that everything looks OK for the new season, every Cup we create is created manually etc. So even though we are not a lot of people we live and breath the game! You guys are the difference between ManagerZone and other games. Our wonderful community is very special. Even though we sometimes disagrees, we get so much valuable input and suggestions from our community who helps us develop the game in a good direction.

5) Have you ever faced with harsh things in ManagerZone? Or did you experience something that you can’t forget? Maybe some good memories also.

The good memories are a lot more than bad memories. I love the passion that I see from Managers, like the ManagerZone meeting in Turkey when Managers brought their families to the meeting. That was really awesome to read about! I have also attended MZ meetings myself and it is always a real treat to meet our passionate Managers. Regardless where in the world I go, it always strikes me how much passion our community has and how much they love the game. It is fantastic to see that ManagerZone brings people together. Since I am a little bit famous in ManagerZone I sometimes become a target for frustated users. It is obviously not fun to be threatened but at the same time I know how much ManagerZone means and I understand that sometimes Managers needs someone to channel the frustration towards. That’s just something that comes with the job.

6) Related with the previous question are there any good or bad memories about our community?

Yes, as I said I really enjoy reading about ManagerZone meetings from Turkey and I hope that I can attend a meeting very soon. Turkey as a community is very passionate and I visit the Turkish forum every day and read about what you like and what you don’t like. I use google translate and usually it gives me an idea of what is the hot topics. I wish I could write more but unfortunately I can’t speak Turkish and I don’t want to disrespect the community by writing in English or Swedish too much.

7) Let me tell you something, recently we have found that there had been ManagerZone World Cup Organizations in some countries in real life (in 2004 in Sweden, in 2005 in Argentina, in 2007 in Brazil for example). Would it be possible again? We would like to host “ManagerZone” in Istanbul.

Yes, that was before my time but I have heard and read about it. It is a great idea and I would love to rewamp this idea. Istanbul would be the perfect place to host a World Cup. With one of the most passionated football fans in the world I can’t imagine anything other than a success.

8) Do you follow any Turkish soccer team in real life? I know that you are a fan of Fenerbahce -do not let them know actually I am a fan of Fenerbahce 🙂 – What do you think about this year’s transfers of Turkish teams?

yes, I follow the Turkish soccer league, but not as much as I used to. We have had a lot of good Swedish football players in Turkey but at the moment Swedish football is not very good (a part from Zlatan). van Persie to Fenerbahce was an interesting transfer but I am afraid the RVP is not the same great footballer that he ones was..

9) And do you follow any Turkish managers/teams in ManagerZone? What do you think about Turkish managers? Personally we think that ManagerZone World League was organized for us –Turkish managers 🙂

Haha yes, you are extremely succesful in ManagerZone, what is your secret? I follow the Turkish top league and the World League. You have some real legends in Turkey like legendaryboy52, unbeatenteam,raikkonen52 etc. I am very impressed by the Turkish dominance at the moment. It proves that the Turkish community is very good at adapting to the improvements to ManagerZone.

10) What is pros and cons of our managers do you think? For example I have to tell you that token price is regarded as expensive for our socciety. 1 euro is nearly 3 Turkish Liras and buying token sometimes can be expensive for all of our managers. I meyself think this is cons for our managers.

Yes, I wish that everything could be of charge in ManagerZone but I promiss you that all the money we make in ManagerZone goes right back into Managers for new servers, new features and maintaining the game.

11) What do you expect from Turkish community as Crew member of ManagerZone? What is your advice for our community and for our managers?

I expect that turkey will be an even larger ManagerZone country and we all know that it is more fun to play ManagerZone the more users we have. So I expect everyone to tell their friends to start playing this wonderful game. You will see a lot of great new features and I can only say that you have just seen the beginning of the ManagerZone era!

12) Is there anything else you want to talk about dear Peter? Do you want to add something?

I just want to thank all of you for playing and supporting the game! You are great and remember that ManagerZone is a place to get away from the hard world outside so please be nice and kind to each other.

13) Thank you very vey much dear Peter. We are really happy to see you in our community. We know that you are too busy but when you have time please visit our Forum pages and at least say “Hi”. Hope to see you again.

I am frequently visiting the Turkish forum but I promiss that I will be better at writing in the forums. Thank you very much for having me in your great magazine. And thanks to all RAs for all the efforts you are putting in to make ManagerZone a better place!

Written by Isk42 and Thunderexpress

Interview with Hogweed

1)In our society Crew members seem different from each other for example we say landlord for patrick777 and industrious for thunderexpess 🙂 how do you describe yourself? Mysterious maybe because we can’t see you so often?

I’d say I’m a controller since I help the crew with things that are related to the assistants. That’s probably why I’m not so visible in the game as Crew…

2)As far as we know you live in Italy. Would you please tell us about yourself and your past?

Yes I live in Italy near Rome. I’m cooperating with Powerchallenge company since 2008 and it has been a great opportunity for me. I started helping out as assistant and then I became Crew. Even if this is not my main job it’s something I really like to do.

3)Italy can be identified as country of football. Do you like football and what is favorite football clup? Italian teams are still very succesful but in around 2000s there was an Italian dominance with Zlatan, Adriano, Cafu, Nedved and Delpiero and lots of legends that I can’t count. I miss them so much. Do you?

Well… I’m 45 years old and I’m a supporter of AC Milan. This team was very strong in the 90s and in 2000s. My favourite players ever are Van Basten, Franco Baresi, Shevchenko and Kakà. Considering that AC Milan is currently not even able to qualify in Europa League you can bet I miss the old glorious years 🙂

4)What do you think about Turkish football and Turkish football teams. Is there any match that you can’t forget towards a Turkish team?

I remember a Turkish coach that came to AC Milan for a short while, Fatih Terim. He didn’t have much luck there but I really liked him as coach and person.If I’m not mistaken he is now training the Turkish NT.

5)Now if you let, it is ManagerZone time- World’s Best Online Game. When and how did you join ManagerZone? And what makes ManagerZone different and special do you think?

I joined MZ in 2006. What makes it special, IMO, is the way you can see players growing up day by day. It’s probably a sort of special balance of things that creates a relationship between the managers and its players 😉

6)What does your username “hogweed” mean? And I see your team name is “Coccodrilli Brilli”. Do they have special meanings for you?

Never heard of the Genesis musical band? They made a song called “The return of the giant Hogweed”. About Coccodrilli Brilli it means drunk crocodile… nothing special but in Italian looks funny.

7)I like asking that question because everyone has a story with ManagerZone: Did you experience something that you can’t forget in ManagerZone? I’m sure there are so many but the most interesting or funny ones if you mind 🙂

The most special moments are when I had the chance to meet in RL people I knew only in MZ. Last year I met Peter in RL and it was really nice. We have been to a meeting with other Italian managers and it was really fun! When you finally can see the face of the person you daily meet in MZ is fantastic.

8)How do you describe Turkish community and Turkish users? What do you offer for Turkish community as a Crew member?

Turkish community is very big in MZ. In these years I had the opportunity to know many Turkish managers and I have to say that many are brilliant guys and loyal assistants. I can say that my role is to try to assure that the Turkish assistants do their best to control the forum and the market, to keep the game translated and to entertain the community with TZ Magazine. And I think that the Turkish assistants are a good team!

9)I asked that question to dear Peter and he was positive. Let me ask to you too: recently we have found that there had been ManagerZone World Cup Organizations in some countries in real life (in 2004 in Sweden, in 2005 in Argentina, in 2007 in Brazil for example). Would it be possible again? We would like to host “ManagerZone” in Istanbul.

I’m only the controller. The decision is up to the “Landlord” 😉

10)Thank you so much dear Alessandro. We are glad to see you in our community. If you have time please visit our Forum pages and please say “Hi”. Hope to see you again 🙂

Thanks to you for the interview. A big “Ciao” from Italy!

Written by Isk42 and Hogweed

Managing expectations (and fear)

Managing Expectations and fear – by powdersnow

First match day. The excitement painted all over the faces of the thousands of fans gathered. The new signings looking nervous, especially if they were only recently promoted from the Youth ranks. Serious looking men and women in the VIP stands, relaxed on the surface but with the weight of responsibility on their shoulders – fists clenched in their pockets. The manager… it’s almost a given, that out of all the people in the stadium on the first day of the season, he’s the one that got the least amount of sleep that night. Maybe not because he’s anxious. But because he is the manager. And worrying is what managers do.

They worry so that others won’t have to. The players are told to “go out and have fun”, as if it isn’t their job to play well but something they do on their free time for a little while… aside from whatever else they have going on in their life. The truth, of course, is that they HAVE to perform. For one because it’s what they are paid to do, but more importantly, it’s WHAT they do. And to perform as a footballer on the highest level, you need to be oblivious to the fact that every move you make on the pitch (even if you’re nowhere near the ball) is being monitored and judged. The striker, who may only get one or two chances the entire game, cannot stop and think about what the consequences might be if he misses. Or the possible fame and glory of bagging say, a hat trick. The midfielder has to DARE attempting those next-to-impossible passes, knowing there’s a great chance he’ll fail and look pretty dumb in the process. The defender has to keep his cool at any cost – not easy when you have a pacey winger running in your direction at the speed of the wind.

Of the many tasks that the manager has, managing fear is one of the most important. Players in ManagerZone doesn’t have psyche’s, however. It’s one of the few things that no programming language in the world can recreate. But even though your players doesn’t have mental qualities, you yourself do. And you’re likely to become subject to them during the first few weeks of the season. A bad start is bad for more than one reason… How do you deal with it? Do you go on a wild shopping spree and deplete your budget, or do you keep your cool and risk losing ground? Do you start experimenting with new formations that you’ve never even considered using before? Do you look at your opponent and become wild with anger that you didn’t get the result you deserved? Do you lose faith in your team or do you try even harder?

With a victory, well then your season is made, isn’t it? Especially if it’s against one of your main league rivals. Take that foot of the pedal. Relax. You have it all figured out.

Of course, from the shadows your league opponents are watching you. In the higher divisions especially, any and all manager stands ready to prey on a rival the moment they relax. This is a universal truth, it happens in Managerzone as well as in real life football, and in the jungle. It’s the folly of successful people and entities everywhere, that as soon as that goal is within sight, blood starts pouring out of those muscles and into the head. It’s called “thinking”, and it’s a heartless bitch.

So take the first few matches of the season for what they are: matches, just like any others. Don’t put them on a pedestal or over-analyze them. Winning or losing doesn’t mean that much at this stage. Going the distance does.

Just go out there and have fun.