retired_kriss89

This is as much a query as a statement as I'm not 100% sure as to the relationships between comments you make to the media before a game, and what you tell your players on match day.

As I understand it, when giving pre-match media comments you're essentially setting a level of expectation for your squad, and suggesting what sort of result you're looking for. Now as I understand it, what you say to your players on match day links to this and if you then say something totally different like "I expect a win" when you've already said you just want a good performance your players will get confused and your team-talk will be effective.

That is my first assumption, which may not be correct as it is only an assumption, but if this is the case I don't think there should be that sort of link. For instance, if you have an easy game coming up, you're still likely to tell the media that there are no easy games because you dont want to look stupid if things go wrong and you dont want to fire up the opposition by slagging them off. However, on match day obviously you're still clear favourites and you should be able to demand a win without it having a negative effect on your team. I often find that if I demand a win against a weak opponent my team just falls apart and starts getting carved up even though we vastly outclass the opposition.

I hope this makes sense to people, I'd appreciate any comments even if it is telling me I'm talking nonsense and I've totally misunderstood team and media interaction!

boostboy97

Its all pointless just like it was in 07.

retired_rcv103

I have not noticed anything i say to the media pre-match having any effect on the players. Maybe it only influences the board and supporters if you call a game completely wrong, not sure though.

What is the general mental attitude of your team professional, determined or something else? Mentioning this might help try come up with a solution.

My team is in the most part highly determined which is maybe why nothing i say pre-match seems to effect them too negatively.

retired_kriss89

I should also have added that when talking to the press, you might take the pressure off your players by saying you're not expecting to win all the time, thus protecting them from a media barrage if they lose. Using the media should be all about deflecting attention away from your players, and should only really have a negative effect on high profile players who believe all the hype they get in the media!

When you talk to your players on a match day it is entirely kept inside the dressing room, consider Alex Ferguson, he defends his players from the media every time, tries not to be over confident and claim the title is won early, but he's still prepared to hammer his team internally and I imagine he is much more demanding around performances too.

retired_kkmax96

I agree, to an extent. I think it is pretty hard to gauge what effect your team talk / press release will have on the team. However, I have had a number of occasions where I have said something and felt that it directly had an effect. For instance, at half time after a goalless but chance filled half, if I say they need one more goal, more often than not they get it. is that because of what I said or because it was due anyway? I don't really know. The most obvious occasion is when you roast a team for their poor performance and they come out and play like they were possessed afterwards. It actually credits you for that.

I generally use the "you can win this game" before a match as it sits nicely on the fence. Expected them to win can pile the pressure on. the one that seems to have no effect is "do it for the fans". They never do, the self serving sods!