Subject: »[NT] Dumb

Hyvää päivää Finland [:

I am WilyJackal (aka dumb) from Lithuania, and I will be trying to take over NT coach chair in this election. [:

As a matter of fact I have managed Lithuanian National team for several seasons. My performance was quite good, as I took Lithuania to 1/8 finals the first time, where we unfortunately lost against Italy after penalties. Last time I took Lithuania to semi finals where we lost to Spain in the penalties once again, by the way we eliminated Finland in the 1/4finals in that season. [: I have always played decent tactics, which were not spectacular but they were never bad or even worse [:

My club achievements are quite creditable too, as I have won Lithuanian cup several seasons ago, and I am a champion of Lithuania this year.

I have chosen Finland after unsuccessful campaign in England, so I was looking for some very dangerous and powerful sokker country as Finland is.

Are you ready to learn some finnish language if we vote you to NT coach of finland? ;)

varmatsi ^_^

If you got elected, what would be your goals next season with the NT?
And if you would be our coach for two seasons, what would you expect from the WC?

What do you think are the strenghts and weaknesses of our NT? Name our two most important players for every position.

And one more, how do you see our future? Did you watch us playing in U21-WC, and what do you think are the strongest and weakest parts of our young players in the future?

1) my goal for next season would be to get familiar with the whole team, setting up my own excel based player database for me and my scouts. Qualifying to knock out stage (without any doubt) from the first place of the group as that gives better chances in the season after.

If I was elected for the knock out stage, my first aim would be a solid performance there, that means I would expect at least quarter-finals, but don't get me wrong as I am really ambitious, and 1/4finals would be quite a disappointment for me.

2) I am almost sure that your main strength lies in the midfield, as you have some really exceptional mids, that can do a great job personally even if your team struggles in a match, that means you control the ball more, and you have more opportunities to score and even if your strikers are not the best in the WC, they get enough of balls to do their job. I don't believe that your defense is weak either, so there are no major weaknesses, I could only mention that sometimes you are too predictable, and thats the only weakness I could see while I don't know exact skills of every player.

For the second part of your second question I can't really tell you the truth, as I can only guess while I don't know the exact skills. But I am sure that Hannu Ala-Aho is your key to the victories, as he is the most important and dangerous (for the opponents) MID of Finland. I could also guess that Hietakangas is the main striker of Finland as he played about every match in the WC. I don't think that your defenders differ too much, as probably most of them are close to double divine in main skills of defenders, so I can't tell you the most important ones, while I don't know their secondary skills.

3) I believe that Finland has a bright future, as you have quite a lot users, with many great managers producing competitive youths. I have to admit that I did not watch your U-21 games, but as far as I am considered, the main reason for your big loss against Estonia was that you gave away your midfield, as two MIDs can't really take over the MID even if they are quite impressive. I believe that you may have some problems with your strikers in the future, but that will not be a great problem for next 5~ years as your main mids will be still able to play, even if they are oldies, and in that time I believe that Finnish managers will produce some great attackers. I believe that big countries are getting more equal every season, and WC games are mostly decided by tactics and not by players, luck is a big part of it too. No big country has their major weaknesses, as they have plenty of players to chose from. [:

I see that you can make good tactics. The important question is; will you make good game previews? And will you analyze the game after it is over (tell us what went wrong and what were the good things about the game)? We lack those things at the moment unfortunately. So if you get elected, hopefully you will change this thing.
(edited)

I think good communication with users is part of the good NT coaches role, and as I claim to be a solid one, that means I promise you that [;

Nice answers, although I would've expected you to mention that we have maybe the best keeper in whole Sokker! ;)
I'll ask you further questions when something comes to my mind...

The bad problem is that 80% doesnt undestand you. we are so bad in english

Hahah, don´t lie tuba. I think there are not so many who don´t understand him. And If wily will be elected, i can maybe work as a translator if needed.

Btw Wily, you got my vote ;)

You got also my vote :) and I undestand english very well.

"...And If wily will be elected..."
I hope so [:
By the way, thank you for your votes [;

Any more questions? [:

I've changed my nick back to Dumb, for good old times, so don't get confused, I'm the same, and could anyone change topic name please? {:

Changed =)

Do you think we can win poland? what tactic would you use against them?

with a help of luck many teams can, England played quite a nice match against them in the final.. Last time when I was managing Lithuania, I thought that we will beat Spain and go to the finals to play with Poland, so I had some ideas, that could be useful against Poland, but those are actually quite risky, but sometimes you just have to take a risk because other way your chances are minimum. I can't actually tell you what tactics I would use, because they would know what to expect for [;