retired_Getn_Fit

Introduction

Team talks in FM07 are vital, they can win and lose games no matter how good or bad your players and tactics are. Having played the game for awhile I have noticed some things, and seem to have an idea of how it works. There is nothing to back up my findings but results and experience, but experience is valuable.

Understanding

Teams take time to gel and a team that has little understanding of his role, his teamates and his manager is doomed to failure. Teamtalks will have little or no effect on this team, and the team will respond badly or be unresponsive to anything you say.

Morale

Very important when choosing your teamtalks. Telling your team that you expect a win when morale is very poor will have no effect vice versa. Players need to be goaded gently from low morale to superb morale step by step.
Match Prediction

This has the most bearing on teamtalks. You may have what you think of an unbeatable team but if the game says that the opposition is favourites to win, then this is probably what your players think too. Title odds also work in the same way. For low or mediocre team (no matter what superstars you have poached) try/always wish them luck at the start.
Wishing them luck is THE teamtalk for the average game.

You can win this!

This isnt a bridge between wishing luck I expect a win. This match talk is for when your players are playing a slightly better team, a team they might think they CANT win. For Example if your Utd playing Arsenal Away from home. It gives the players motivation and the belief they can win. Note that the use of this and the next teamtalk lowers the options for the half time teamtalk.

I expect you to win!

This is for the major clubs like Chelsea, Inter, Barcalona. Start the season off slowly with wishing luck. Once you have a run of victories under your belt and are sitting comfortable at the top of the league, use this teamtalk to grind out win after win against medium to lower placed teams. As they are predicted high flyers more is expected of these teams and they will have the professionalism and determination to steam roll the opposition.

Relax/Enjoy the Match

This Teamtalk can be used to devastating effect. It will remove any pressures on the players and get them to perfom solely on thier ability under calm conditions. Good Times to use this teamtalk are against good to inferior teams in the cup, night time TV matches or for a match that you are probably going to win, but would like to relax the players from the usual tension when going for the title. It is also usefull when in a slump and the players need a win to restore faith.

For The Fans!

This teamtalk is best when used rarely. Use it in derbys and cup finals or when playing the rivals in a run in for the final.

Half Time Team Talks

These teamtalks are best used in conjunction with your original prematch ones. Telling the team to relax at the start then ripping into them at half time will confuse and annoy your players. Be shrewd when analysing your 1st half performance and choose your 2nd half team talk correctly.

Encourage!

This is the average team talk will have a slight effect on your team. It is best when used with the wish luck starter, and when 1-0 up and you think your players might have more goals in them. Can also be used effectivly when 1-0 down judging on the situuation

We can win this!

Best used when losing by a small margin or drawing (correct spelling?). Can lead to overconfidence in the players but can also give the team that extra confidence and motivation needed to get that one goal they need.

Dissapointing

This one will give your team the kick up they need when playing badly, losing 2-0 or losing 1-0 and it should be more. Best used as a rare bomb to swing games at half time, this team talk will often get your players speaking in the media, praising your words at half time.

Angry

I rarely If ever use this one. Losing 3-0 at half-time, then getting angry at your players will just deepen the wound and lower morale even more. Use very rarely when your players need snapping out of the doldrums, thinking they can win every game without any effort. Perhaps when losing 1-0 against the bottom of the league team. It takes a strong team to be able to take it on the chin.

Rare Teamtalks

Talks like, one more goal, unlucky not to be winning etc are all very good team talks. Use them often, especially in cup games. The only one I avoid from using is "avoid complacency" when won 3-0. Let the players enjoy thier win as by next saturday it will all be forgotten.

End of Game Talks

End of game team results are highly dependent on your players match ratings and result.

0-5: Dissapointing, they player might have had a bad day. If hes regularly getting this score, the dont get angry, get rid.

6-8: Depending on the result this can range from overall team talks to dissapointing to pleased. Single out players depending on thier score.

8-10: If your player gets an 8, but is the only player on the team to get such a high rating say pleased. If your team has all got 8s and won 4-0 perhaps say fantastic. Any player who gets 9-10 should always get fantastic, sensational. Not giving a player praise will make him slightly concerned and also when in a bad patch with your team, they will look back to the days they played amazingly without any credit.

I know you chaps probably know all this all ready but with these tips might give new players a good basis to start from.

On the subject of media comments before the match. These effect each player individually depending on his personality. Some may turn eager, some apprehensive. I always make no comment.

retired_nsample

A lot of good points there- good work. It is amazing though ( and part of the challenge ) that different people can take different conclusions from using the same team talks as has been highlighted on here since the game was released. Perhaps the beauty of the game is that what works for one will not work for another. Off to try some of these now.

mdagostino

Great post, MattUK! :thup: All of this is making very much sense and is along the lines I tend to speak to my team before, during and after the match. Very good sum-up anyway, bookmarked!

MrMatt07

oh dear, i leave the team talks to the assistant manager and he always says this. not that he is poor at doing it, attributes wise, though.

retired_Getn_Fit

Every assistant manager I have had says well done when I lose and angry if they win 3-0!

Half Time - Dont let your perfomance drop

I find its best to use this when 2-0 up at half time and used in conjuction with the You can win Prematch talk. The players take thier foot off the gas a little but concede only one goal at most.

Full Time - I want you to perform like this every match

Havent found a good use for this one yet - Use it just to break up the monotony of well done every match.

retired_nashfine

I tend to find if you lose a few games and then win one.

Using I want you to perform like this every match, seems to work alright.

Apart from that never had any use for it

retired_aepressler

I do find this disharmonious. What i mean is most of my players were either confused or angered by this.

retired_shygurljulie2004

Great post matt its usefull to know all this but i think ther is a forum were people have discussed this and found it 1 of the least intresting feautures in the game but i think this is simply because they aint had the explanation on how to use this i mean if i was losing 1-0 or 2-0 againts a team i think we are capable of wining the i would get angry with the players its just the inacative that everyone has but like everyone else i leave this job to the ass man never had any complaints in 4 seasons lol

retired_josephine

Nice post.

My biggest gripe is the winning 2-0 options. I feel that none of the potential talks fit the mood properly. Invariably if I'm pleased I draw, if I avoid complacency I draw or lose, but if I say nothing I win, but alienate the team. Ugh. I actually find myself hoping to only have a 1 goal lead to avoid this problem.

The encourage talk when having a 1 goal difference either way works the best for me so far.

And in the beginning I find myself only saying good luck. My team doesn't handle pressure well it seems even when HUGE favs.

retired_elpata

I use to have the same problem, now I just leave teamtalks to the Assistant and never touch them. Even if my Assistant isn't that good he always seems to say the right things my results prove this.