Team Talk Guidelines

Pre-Match Overall Team Talk

For the fans

Let’s give the fans something to cheer today

Use if match odds are close for games against club rivals (as seen in your the General section of your club's Information tab), title, promotion or relegation rivals (when they are established a few months in to the season) and important cup games. It can also be used if you find your team reacts badly to other overall team talks or if you are unsure of the talk to give. It is more effective when your team is playing at home but can be used for away matches as well.

You can win today/Impress me

If we play our game, we’ll win. You’re all very capable of that

Come on lads, show me what you can do!

Use if match odds are close and the game is not against a rival or an important cup game. It can also be used if the match odds clearly favour your team but morale is poor. Never use if your team is reported in Assistant’s Feedback as overconfident or complacent.

Wish luck

Good luck lads!

Good luck lads, go out there and pull off an upset

Use if match odds are clearly against your team. Never use if your team is reported in Assistant’s Feedback as overconfident or complacent.

I expect a win

I’m expecting you to win today boys

Always use if your team or specific players in the team are reported in Assistant’s Feedback as overconfident or complacent. It should also be used if your team is clearly favoured by the match odds and players’ morale is generally good or higher.

No pressure

Go and have some fun today

Enjoy the match today

We’re huge underdogs, so there’s no pressure on you to succeed. Go out there and show everyone what you’ve got

Use if match odds are very heavily against your team, for example when you are facing a team from a higher league in a cup competition. It can also be used if your team is on a winless streak, morale is generally poor, and other team talks are not motivating the side.

None

I don’t think anything needs to be said right now, you all know what to do out there

Avoids giving a specific team talk. Inadvisable to use as one of the other options is usually applicable and players may react badly to no overall talk.

Pre-Match Individual Team Talks

Pick up where you left off

I want to see more of the same from you today

Use if available (the player achieved a rating of 7.5 or more in the previous match) unless you note that the player reacts badly to this individual team talk, is reported as complacent, or reacts particularly well to either you have faith or expect a performance.

Expect better

I want to see a better performance from you today

Use if available (the player achieved a rating of 5.5 or below in the previous match) and morale is okay or better, except when the player is reported as feeling nervous.

You have faith

I think there’s a lot more to come from you and I completely believe you’ve got what it takes

I have faith in you, get out there and make a difference

Use if a player has poor morale, or a striker is reported as being on a goal drought, unless you note that the player reacts badly to this individual team talk. It can also be used regardless of morale if you note that the player often reacts well to you have faith as a pre-match individual team talk (that is, as opposed to a half-time individual team talk).

Expect a performance

Show me what you’ve got today, I want to see a good display

I want to see a good performance from you today

I want you to give me a solid defensive effort out there (defenders)

I want you to get us control of the midfield out there (midfielders)

I want you to go out there and grab us some goals (strikers)

Always use if the player is specifically referred to by name as complacent or overconfident in Assistant’s Feedback, unless you note that the player reacts badly to this individual team talk. It can also be used regardless of complacency if you note that the player often reacts well to it.

No pressure

Pressure’s off today, I want you to go out there and play your natural game

There is no pressure on you today

Use if a player is reported as nervous or feeling pressure in Assistant’s Feedback or if a young player is making his competitive debut for the team.

None

I have nothing specific to mention right now, you know what to do out there

Avoids giving a specific individual team talk. It can be useful if you wish to exclude a player from a positional team talk but do not have an alternative talk appropriate for them. It can also be used with a calm tone to relax a player who has reacted nervously to the overall team talk, without actually telling them that there is no pressure.

Half-Time Overall Team Talk

Unhappy

I am not very happy with your performance out there

I am not very happy with your performance out there. You were awful out there

Use with an aggressive tone when losing by two or more goals if match odds are clearly in your favour.

I want to see more from you/Where is the passion?

I expect to see a much better showing in the second half

Where is the passion lads? Do you not even want to win this match?

Use when drawing after giving I expect a win as a pre-match team talk, when losing by one goal if match odds are close or clearly in your favour, when losing by two or more goals when match odds are close, or when losing by two or more goals after giving wish luck as a pre-match team talk.

Unlucky

Unlucky boys, things just haven’t gone right for us so far

Can be used instead of I want to see more from you and unhappy if morale is poor and the team is on a winless streak, or if player ratings are generally higher than the scoreline suggests.

Encourage

You’re performing well out there, keep it up and the result will come

Use when leading by one goal if morale is poor or the match odds are close or against your team, and if no complacency has been reported in Assistant’s Feedback pre-match.

You can win this

Keep going out there and you can still win this one

We can still come out of this match with a win today

Use when drawing after giving you can win this or wish luck as a pre-match team talk, or when losing by one goal after giving wish luck as a pre-match team talk.

For the fans

Let’s give the fans something to cheer today

Use when drawing after giving for the fans as a pre-match team talk.

Pleased

I’m pleased with how things are going, keep it up

Use when winning if no complacency has been reported in Assistant’s Feedback pre-match, unless holding only a narrow lead when morale is good and your team is clearly favoured by the match odds, in which case use don't get complacent. Also use when winning or drawing after giving no pressure as a pre-match team talk. If any complacency has been reported then ensure the lead is comfortable enough before using this talk. In addition, it can be used in your first few games in charge of a new team when holding a narrow lead, even if morale is good and your team is the clear favourite.

Don’t get complacent/Room for improvement

Don’t get complacent, things can turn around very quickly in football, keep focused

We’ve got to guard against complacency now. Don’t think the job is done

You have played well so far but there is still room for improvement

Use when winning narrowly if morale is good or better and your team is clearly favoured by the match odds, or if complacency has been reported in Assistant’s Feedback pre-match either for the whole team or for individuals. If you consider the lead to be comfortable then pleased should be used instead.

No pressure

There’s no pressure on you to get a result today, go and play with confidence and have some fun, and see what happens

The way the game is set you can go back out there for the second half and play without pressure

There’s nothing to lose today, so go out there and give it your best shot

Use when losing after giving no pressure as a pre-match team talk.

None

I don’t think anything needs to be said right now, you all know what to do out there

Avoids giving a specific team talk. Inadvisable to use as one of the other options is usually applicable and players may react badly to no overall talk.

Half-Time Individual Team Talks

Unhappy

I am not happy with your performance today

Use for poor performers with okay morale or better. However, do not use for players that have been given no pressure as a pre-match team talk, young players, new signings playing in their first few games or players returning from long-term injuries. It would be advisable to substitute such under-performing players if possible. If you have never noted that a particular player is motivated by this talk at half-time then you can still give the team talk but should consider substituting him instead. Do not use if you have noted that the player reacts badly to it at half-time, but again consider substituting him. You should also seriously consider substituting very bad performers (rated below 6.0) or poor performers with low morale.

Prove a point!

Go out there and show everyone what you’re capable of

I want you to prove to everybody that you have got what it takes to play for this club

Use instead of unhappy when available for key players who are underperforming, unless you have never noted that the player reacts well to it or you have noted that they react badly.

Unlucky

You have been unlucky so far, good effort

Use for poor performers who were given no pressure as a pre-match team talk or are young players, new players playing in their first few games or players returning from long-term injuries.

You have faith

You weren’t bad but I believe you can still improve. I have faith in you.

There’s a lot more to come from you and I believe you’ve got what it takes

Use for players who have a played well (rated above 7.4) or have scored. However, it will be less effective on new players during their first few matches in the team.

You can make the difference!

You have the ability to make a real difference for us today, get out there and do it!

I’m looking to you to make the difference for us, I know you’re capable

Use instead of you have faith when available for key players.

Delighted

I’m very happy with your performance today

I was impressed by your solid defending (defenders)

I was impressed with how you controlled midfield (midfielders)

I was impressed with your efforts up front (strikers)

Use for players who performed okay or well and were given no pressure as a pre-match team talk or are young players, new players playing in their first few games or players returning from long-term injuries. You should generally avoid using it on your best performing players so as to guard against complacency.

No pressure

There is no pressure on you today

Pressure’s off today, I want you to go out there and play your natural game

Use for players who have a rating of below 6.8 and were given no pressure as a pre-match team talk or are young players, new players playing in their first few games or players returning from long-term injuries. You should consider substituting such players if possible.

Calm Down

I need you to calm down

You need to calm down

Use for players whose body language shows that they are wound-up or stressed.

None

I have nothing specific to mention right now, you know what to do out there

Avoids giving a specific individual team talk. It can be useful if you wish to exclude a player from a positional team talk but do not have an alternative talk appropriate for them. It can also be used with a calm tone to relax a player who has reacted nervously to the overall team talk, without actually telling them that there is no pressure.

Substitute Team Talks

You have faith

I think there’s a lot more to come from you and I completely believe you’ve got what it takes

Use as your regular individual team talk for all substitutes unless any of the other options are appropriate.

You can make the difference!

I’m looking for you to make the difference for us, I know you’re capable

Use instead of you have faith when available for key players.

Pick up where you left off

I want to see more of the same from you today

Use if available and you have noted that the player reacts well to this individual team talk.

Expect better

I want to see a better performance from you today

Use if available and morale is okay or better, except when the player is reported as nervous in Assistant's Feedback pre-match.

Expect a performance

Show me what you’ve got today, I want to see a good display

Always use if the player is specifically referred to by name as complacent or overconfident in Assistant’s Feedback pre-match, unless you note that the player reacts badly to this individual team talk. It can also be used regardless of complacency if you note that the player often reacts well to it.

No pressure

Pressure’s off tonight, I want you to go out there and play your natural game

Use if a player is reported as nervous or feeling pressure in Assistant’s Feedback pre-match or if a young player is making his competitive debut for the team.

None

I’ve got nothing specific to say right now, you know what to do out there

Avoids giving a specific individual team talk.

Post-Match Overall Team Talk

Not good enough

That wasn’t good enough I’m afraid, there’s no excuses for not winning that sort of match

You weren’t good enough today, that was the sort of match we should be winning

Use if your team has lost or drawn when match odds were in your favour. If player ratings are generally below 6.0 then ensure you use an aggressive tone.

Unhappy

I am not happy with your performance out there

Use if your team has lost or drawn when the match odds were close, or if match odds were against you but the general performance was below expectations. If player ratings are generally below 6.0 then ensure you use an aggressive tone.

Lucky

We got away with that today, you were poor out there. We need to be much better than that when we come up against better sides

Use if your team has narrowly won the match but not played well when the match odds were clearly or heavily in your favour, unless the team is in poor form or players have poor morale.

Unlucky

Unlucky boys, it just wasn’t our day

Use if your team has lost and you gave no pressure as a pre-match or half-time team talk, or if your team has lost or drawn but player ratings are generally above 7.0.

Pleased

I’m happy with what I saw out there, there were some positives for sure

Putting the result aside, that was a pleasing performance

A very nice victory, well done

A good win boys, well done

I can’t fault you for effort, nobody expected us to win but you gave it everything

Use if your team has won. It can also be used if your team has achieved a draw or a one-goal defeat against much stronger opposition, particularly if morale is low. If your team has won when the odds were clearly against you then make sure to use with a passionate tone.

What a comeback!

What a comeback that was. A superb effort, I’m proud and so should all of you be

Use if your team has won the game after being behind at half time when match odds were close or against you.

Why can’t we play like this more often?

That was a very good performance, which makes me ask why we can’t play like that more often

An alternative to using pleased after a good performance if you manage a top team who have been playing below expectations. However, use with caution as it may have a negative effect on players.

Warn against complacency

It’s important to now switch our focus to the next match, and not become complacent

Can be used when on a good run of results to help prevent complacency in the next match. However, it would be advisable to use pleased instead to keep morale high and then use expect a performance on complacent players in the next match, as well as I expect a win as an overall team talk if appropriate.

None

I’ve got nothing specific to say right now

Avoids giving a specific team talk. Inadvisable to use as one of the other options is usually applicable and players may react badly to no overall talk.

Post-Match Individual Team Talks

Unhappy

I’m not pleased with what I saw from you today

I’m disappointed by your defensive efforts (defenders)

I’m disappointed with your efforts to control the midfield (midfielders)

I’m disappointed with the quality of finishing (strikers)

Use for players who have ratings below 6.8, except where you have given no pressure as an individual pre-match or half-time team talk to the player, or the player is a young player, a new player playing in his first few games or is returning from a long-term injury. Use with an aggressive tone for players who have ratings below 6.0.

Unacceptable second half performance

I’m disappointed in your second half performance

The drop in your second half performance was unacceptable

Use instead of unhappy if the player performed better in first half.

Unlucky today

I appreciate your efforts, you were just unlucky today

You were unlucky today, but it was a good effort

Use instead of unhappy for players who were given no pressure as a pre-match team talk or are young players, new players playing in their first few games or players returning from long-term injuries.

Did well

You impressed me out there

You did well out there

The second half was much better, well done

Use for players who played well but were not one of the very top performers.

Delighted

I’m pleased with how you did today

I’m pleased with your performance today

I’m very happy with your performance today

Your performance today was very good

I was impressed by your solid defending (defenders)

I was impressed with how you controlled the midfield (midfielders)

I was impressed with your efforts up front (strikers)

Use for a few of the team’s top performers, that is players with ratings greater than the team’s average, if your team has won.

Great second half

That was the sort of reaction I was after, you were great in the second half

Use instead of delighted if the player did not have a very good first half performance.

Changed the game

You were a decisive factor in an amazing turnaround for us tonight, well done

Use instead of delighted if the player was a key performer in a comeback.

None

I’ve got nothing specific to say right now

Avoids giving a specific individual team talk. It can be useful if you wish to exclude a player from a positional team talk but do not have an alternative talk appropriate for them.