retired_nsample

There has been some discussion in GQ about the role of team talks in 08 and the suggestion that they are of immense importance in getting team morale and therefore performance up. It is also suggested that the media comments will have much the same effect.

After some time on then demo, has anybody found that the effect of team talks has changed from 07 and do the comments that used to motivate players in 07 still work?

On a personal note I have found it takes 15-20 games, irespective of the results , to get team morale up to very good and as before, one bad result can have a massive effect.

Comments?

retired_mthead

I'm about 11 league games into the demo with my Man Utd side.

I believe I have noticed a difference from FM07 in that so far I have been very demanding with my team talks and that has produced very good results for me.

At the start of the season morale is poor or very poor with most of my players (10 of the starting 11 will show poor or very poor) - even so I still say that I expect a win in the pre-match comments and something to similar effect to the press when prompted the day before.

I struggled horrendously with FM07 but one general concensus of opinion was that puting so much pressure to win on players with low morale resulted in bad performances.

So far, in the 08 demo it appears to be slightly different this time around - I'd be keen to know if anyone else has found this.

Now, 11 league games in, my 1st team squad are all showing superb morale which probably coincides with your 15-20 games in total.

retired_kellyk

I have noticed small changes to the teamtalk.

Previously leading by two goals to nil, I use to keep quiet. The assumption was that they didn't need any more encouragement. Now on the other hand it appears they need to be patted on the back..for those who are superb in morale.

There are some changes to, I think there might be a tighter correlation between personality and teamtalks. There has been one player in my squad, can't remember his personality, i think it is one of those borderline professional ones. With him, shelling him when he had a 6 and superb did not seem to work.

With others who have resolute or are determined professionals it does seem to have a stronger impact. The problem for me is that I need more than a season, and I have been tracking the engine more than teamtalks. So my observations aren't as concrete as I'd like them to be.

retired_kellyk

One thing i observed and I included this in the FAQ was that teamtalks are absolutely critical for a good start.

At the start of the season, and depending on who you manage the "time to superb" is different. If you manage a top side it will take roughly 15-20 games to get it to superb and you need good results, so that means you can't be shelling them too early. A good dose here and there is fine, but not for the first few games.

Once a team starts to gel you'll get them fired up....hmm got to go see the thread in GQ. I love a good discussion.

retired_kellyk

Any chance of a link to that thread?

retired_nsample

One thing I am struggling to come to terms with is the apparent impact of the manager's comments to the press on the team's morale and perfromance. IRL, I cant really see the Man Utd players sitting in the dressing room discussing what Sir Alex said about Mourinho or Wenger as it is all mind games anyway.

I was of the opinion in 07 that the role of team talks was overstated and it appears that it may be the same or worse in 08.