Pre match team talk discussion thread!

[Thunder God]

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:

[Thunder God]

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.

[borivoje213]

I've used the wish the team luck one a few times. it seems to work well for away games against tough opponents.

[borivoje213]

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

[Jacer]

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.

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!

[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.

[Thunder God]

Thanks Jacer!

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.

[Thunder God]

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

[Jacer]

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.

[pemell]

Yes! Please do that!