Tharani is a passionate Top 100 manager from India who has a big heart and a love for the game. He is currently managing Stuttgart in Division 4 and is hoping to lead them to the top one day. Tharani is known for his friendly and interactive approach to the game, and he is always willing to help other managers.
In this interview, Tharani talks to world famous fictional Portuguese sports journalist Toni Pinto about his approach to team management, his hopes and dreams for the future, and why he thinks Soccer Manager Worlds needs a major update. He also gives some valuable advice to new managers in Top 100.
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW
Tharani, a Top 100 manager with a unique approach to the game
Toni Pinto (TP): What is your name and where are you from?
Tharani: Tharanidharan (shortly Tharani) from India.
TP: Hi, thanks for taking the time to chat with me today. Let’s start with a general question: How did you start playing SM?
Tharani: It’s my pleasure to talk to one of the best journalist. From my childhood I had interest in football but I was properly introduced to football with team names, leagues, rules and all other stuff through my friend when I was in college. He was the one who introduced me to SM.
TP: What is your favourite thing about SM?
Tharani: Funny that you ask. Many of my friends laughed at me when I told them about this game. They said – “How can you call this a game. You are not doing anything except reading reading reading”. I realised maybe this is isn’t for all. What I like most is that the interaction with fellow humans rather than computer AI. Through that we get to know different ideas, strategies and more importantly we get friend(s) with similar likings.
“I DREAM OF MANAGING MANCHESTER UNITED AND MAKING THEM INVINCIBLE”
TP: What are your goals for this season In Top 100?
Tharani: I never had a big dream when I joined Top 100 but after interacting with many managers, I got inspired and currently my only dream is to manage Manchester United – the club I love – and make them invincible (or close to invincible) one day.
TP: Can you tell us a little bit about your team? What is your playing style?
Tharani: My club is Stuttgart – took over them last season after my good performances at Atheltic Bilbao. We got an automatic promotion last season and now we’re in Div 4 and had a strong start to the season. Playing style – I usually give focus more on league than cups and shields. Try to concentrate one game at a time and try to win it. Don’t look at league table very often.
TP: Who are some of your key players?
Tharani: I would say Ribeiro, Dudu, Skhiri and Isco. They form the core of the team, plays most of the games, injured rarely and had good G/A contributions.
TP: What are your strengths and weaknesses as a team?
Tharani: As long as we are staying together as a team, there’s no weakness and that is our strength. We’re in this together. We’ll steer through all good and bad times together and taste the victory. Yeah, there are some areas we need to develop but currently I’m happy with squad and I feel it is strong enough to compete in the league. With few rises in upcoming reviews would make our team better. It’s work in progress.
TP: What is your approach to team and squad management?
Tharani: Every player in this world wants to play. That’s the basic human nature. But as a head coach, it’s my responsibility to select the best XI for the day. And based on the opponents’ weakness, second string of players will get game time (sometime they will start the game, sometimes from the bench). You can’t make everyone happy but I’ll be honest with them and make them understand why they weren’t picked and it’ll help them in developing as a player in long term.
TP: How do you prepare for matches?
Tharani: As soon as one match is over, we’ll take a one day break and me along with my coaching team study the opponents, understand their strength and weakness and inject them into the players as much as possible. But you should be careful. Too much data driven tactics will disrupt the players’ focus and it’ll backfire. Only few important tips here and there, few tactical tweaks would work wonders.
TP: How do you approach transfers?
Tharani: First I’ll fix my formation. For a long time, I’ve been using 4231 – once the formation is set, we have to see how’s the first XI looks like. I’ll try to strengthen it up. I’ll start with first XI, next 8-9 players and then academy. Usually we sign players with some resale value no matter the age. If you’re buying a player you should be able to sell them for a good value if circumstances arises. You keep doing this continuously and slowly you’ll have a good team in your hand.
TP: What is your favourite formation and why?
Tharani: In old interface, I tried out many different formations and was successful but ever since the new interface came, other formation seem to not working effectively. 4231B is most preferred formation for me for last 2-3 years. It counters any formation and gives decent results in long term (as long as you have built a good team). I know people say you’re just copycat but if something is proven successful, it’s not a crime to follow the pattern. After all, everyone likes to win.
TP: How do you adapt your tactics to different opponents?
Tharani: As I already mentioned, too much changes in tactics and formations will confuse the players. We’ll try to keep it simple formations with very minor changes based on opponents.
TP: What is the most important thing to you when developing a game plan?
Tharani: Analyse my squad for injuries, suspensions, fitness and morale. Analyse my opponent’s team for same. Compare them and put out the best team possible and attack them where it hurts more. (Sorry if it sounded rude.. 😂😂)
TP: Ratings? Experience? Youth?
Tharani: I’d say mix of all. If I’ve gone for youths I wouldn’t have got promotion and maybe sacked. If I’ve gone for ratings, I would have been forced to sell my best players for short term success and would affect my team strength, quality and depth. I’d say mix of all. Like I’ve taken Weverton and Dudu for Flekken (PL player who will rise continuously). It’s a calculative risk. I get the rating which will help in 2 – 3 seasons in SM. You have to think broadly and decide what’s best for the team.
TP: What is your proudest achievement as a manager?
Tharani: Getting Stuttgart promoted to Div 4 would be the proudest moment.
TP: What is the biggest mistake you’ve made as a manager?
I don’t consider anything as a mistake. It’s all learnings and from that you move on. As long as you don’t regret it, it’s all good.
TP: What advice would you give to new managers in Top 100?
Tharani: Be interactive, be friendly. Not just SM, anything in general. Talk to other people, learn about them. Don’t give too much focus into the SM. It’s just a game. It is supposed to be fun. If you’re losing sleep over this, you’re playing it wrongly.
TP: What do you think of the current state of SM?
Tharani: Just like anyone who had played SM for a long time would say, it needs update. Many interactive games are coming up everyday but this game hasn’t been updated for years. Rumours of Google Play removing SM from their list is really pathetic.
TP: What are some things you would like to see improved?
Tharani: Almost everything – tactics (not just 4231, anything should be able to win), transfers, contracts to players, team talks, training etc.
TP: What are your hopes and dreams for the future of SM, and Top 100?
Tharani: I don’t have a big hope on SM. It’s not very far to see the owners pulling the plug and it’s very sad to see the most loved game end this way. As far as Top 100 is concerned, it’ll stay active and alive till the SM lives.
TP: Is there anything else you would like to say to your fellow managers?
Tharani: Be happy, have fun and enjoy the game.
Toni’s Thoughts
Tharani is a thoughtful and intelligent manager. He takes a holistic approach to team and squad management, and he is always looking for ways to improve his team. He is also a strong advocate for community and interaction with other managers.
- Tharani is always looking for ways to improve his team. He regularly analyses his own squad and the opposition to identify areas where he can make changes.
- Tharani is not afraid to take risks. He believes that the best way to learn is by trying new things.
- Tharani’s advice to new managers is to be patient and persistent. He believes that it takes time to build a successful team, and that there will be setbacks along the way.
Overall, Tharani is a great example of what it means to be a Top 100 manager. He is passionate about the game, he is always looking for ways to improve, and he is always willing to help others.
Tharani is a rising star in the Top 100 community, and he is sure to continue to achieve great things in the future.
Toni Pinto
Top 100 
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