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Okay, I’m generally doing well in the game but one area I’m struggling with is Pre-match team talks. Although results are going my way some of the players are unhappy with the way I conduct them. Giving team talks over to the assistant may seem like the easy answer (at least short term!) but I’m the manager and I should be talking to the players. There have been a number of threads talking about this but I thought it might be an idea to have a concise overview and a general consensus of what works well, in what circumstances and what sort of players react positively or negatively to each type.
For those who are interested I’ve put a template together below and if everyone can fill in their opinions/what works for them after a healthy number of posts I’ll pull together the general opinion of the forum and we should have a nice guide to the pre-match team talks. If I’ve missed any options that pop up from time to time please feel free to add them.
Pre-Match Team Talks
1) Tell the players they can win this game!
When best to use it?:
When best to avoid it?:
Type of players who respond well to it:
Type of players who respond poorly to it:
2) Wish the team luck for the match ahead.
When best to use it?:
When best to avoid it?:
Type of players who respond well to it:
Type of players who respond poorly to it:
3) Tell the players you expect them to win the match.
When best to use it?:
When best to avoid it?:
Type of players who respond well to it:
Type of players who respond poorly to it:
4) Tell the players to do this for the supporters!
When best to use it?:
When best to avoid it?:
Type of players who respond well to it:
Type of players who respond poorly to it:
5) Tell the players the pressure is off and that they have nothing to lose!
When best to use it?:
When best to avoid it?:
Type of players who respond well to it:
Type of players who respond poorly to it:
To get the ball rolling here is my few observations as I’ve discovered them along the way:
1) Tell the players they can win this game!
When best to use it?:Against teams when pre-match you are not the clear favourite.
When best to avoid it?: Against lesser teams
Type of players who respond well to it:
Type of players who respond poorly to it:
2) Wish the team luck for the match ahead.
When best to use it?: Can’t put anything in here because I’ve yet to select this!!
When best to avoid it?:
Type of players who respond well to it:
Type of players who respond poorly to it:
3) Tell the players you expect them to win the match.
When best to use it?: At home mostly or when you are the clear favourite/ particularly against clearly weaker teams.
When best to avoid it?: Against teams who are pre match favourites or against clearly stronger opposition.
Type of players who respond well to it:
Type of players who respond poorly to it:
4) Tell the players to do this for the supporters!
When best to use it?: Against rivals/In cup finals
When best to avoid it?: Most away games??
Type of players who respond well to it:
Type of players who respond poorly to it:
5) Tell the players the pressure is off and that they have nothing to lose!
When best to use it?: Pre-Season friendlies or group games when you have qualified. Possibly cup finals against teams far superior to you?
When best to avoid it?: All other situations.
Type of players who respond well to it: Players who handle pressure poorly.
Type of players who respond poorly to it: Professional/ambitious players.
ps, i don't think it is beneficial for use against lesser teams particulary when playing those teams at home. however ive never been stupid enough to try
For me, my team morale is always excellent and they always gives positive feedbacks. 1 thing to take note, is that u need to know which players do not like big matches, sometime before the match while others are eagerly awaiting for the match, 1 player is totally unsure whether u will win the game. It is best to leave that player for that game.
Example of players who do not like big matches: Jonathan De Guzman etc.
Quote:
Pre-Match Team Talks
1) Tell the players they can win this game!
When best to use it?: When u feel both team are of equal standard or they are abit better then your team
When best to avoid it?: When the opposite team is much better(will backfire), or they are much worse(your team will get complacent)
Type of players who respond well to it: Most players, especially those who like big matches
Type of players who respond poorly to it: Players who do not like big matches!
2) Wish the team luck for the match ahead.
When best to use it?: Never use this, never rely on luck!
When best to avoid it?: Everytime =x
Type of players who respond well to it: -
Type of players who respond poorly to it: -
3) Tell the players you expect them to win the match.
When best to use it?: When u are against a weaker team or teams almost equal to u
When best to avoid it?: When u are up against better team than yours
Type of players who respond well to it: Most players
Type of players who respond poorly to it: Players who do not like big matches
4) Tell the players to do this for the supporters!
When best to use it?: Against rivals or matches hosted on tv, away games and when the opposite team is better than u
When best to avoid it?oes not go too well against weaker team as your team might get complacent)
Type of players who respond well to it: All players
Type of players who respond poorly to it: almost none that i can think of
5) Tell the players the pressure is off and that they have nothing to lose!
When best to use it?: Big games that u have no confidence of winning and in cup finals!
When best to avoid it?: Any other matches other than the one i said
Type of players who respond well to it: Most players especially resolute players.
Type of players who respond poorly to it: Players who do not like big matches
I may have left out some bits and pieces but u guys can ask i would try to explain them further.
As for Half time team-talks, i have seen people who said to leave it at none, that is the worse u can do. Make sure u get the right team talk at full time too. Well this thread is about pre-game team talk so maybe i will stop at here. Cheers!
sorry to slightly hi-jack the thread thunder god i hope you don't mind. but i 2nd jacer on the half time point. ignoring the players at half time often results in them being confused and sometimes even angry. i can understand this, if you're a goal down at half time then as a player you'd be looking to the manager for guidance.
Interesting that you use, "Do it for the supporters!" for tv games. I hadn't considered that at all.
Borivoje213,
Makes sense regarding wishing luck. I've never used it because I always thought it showed a lack of faith in the players. If you've had results from time to time with it then at least it seems to have some use.
Originally posted by borivoje213:
sorry to slightly hi-jack the thread thunder god i hope you don't mind. but i 2nd jacer on the half time point. ignoring the players at half time often results in them being confused and sometimes even angry. i can understand this, if you're a goal down at half time then as a player you'd be looking to the manager for guidance.
Yeah, agree 100%. Saying nothing at half time is fairly pointless imo. It may work once in a blue moon but I can't imagine a manager coming into the dressing room, reading the paper and sipping a cup of tea then walking out for the second half
If u do pre-game,half-time and full-time correctly thru-out the whole season like me, with my tactic, i only lose 4 games and drawn 5 times, with leeds =P.
Well i can continue this thread for half time and full time team talk if u guys wanna know more.
Pre match team talk discussion thread! 
oes not go too well against weaker team as your team might get complacent)
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