Guarding against complacency?

Scenario: Pick up the league title to do the double with the League Cup with 4 games to spare. Next two games are Utd away (who I beat 4-0 away in the CL quarters) and West Brom. I don't like Utd very much and would much rather see Villa take the final CL spot ahead of Utd, so rather than playing a youth team mix for the last few games, I decide to hammer home and go for a big points total. 3-0 up away at Old trafford at half time. End up drawing 3-3. Exactly the same thing happens at Brom. 3 up at half time. End up 3-3.

What's going on?! I'm playing a full strength team in both games, shooting out of the blocks and then throwing it all away in the second half. Is it to do with the other teams still having things to play for or what? Whatever it is my youth team probably wouldn't have thrown away 3-0 leads...

But your youth team wouldn't have go the 3-0 lead to begin with.

What instructions did you give at half time in these games and did you change tactics during the 2nd half?

Indeed. Although they are quite a talented bunch so one never knows.

I only said 'pleased' for the TT and sent them out with exactly the same tactics.

So you used the same attacking tactics for the second half? Not surprising then that you conceded those goals as the more the game wore on the more tired the players became leaving massive gaps around the park for the opposition to exploit.

I think that might have played a part, but after I conceded the first I went to counter 'cos I figured they were probably going gung ho to try and get something out the game and made sure I got fresh legs on the pitch.

The computer brings subs in the game and if you don't change things for that, sometimes they will punish you. Watch out for those subs/changes in formation.

I only said 'pleased' for the TT and sent them out with exactly the same tactics.

"Pleased" is also know as the kiss of death half time team talk. I never ever use it and I was under the belief that very few people ever did.

Have you looked at any of the team talk guides in the Tactics and Training forum?

I've used pleased sometimes and it works, i think it might depend on their half time morale, or motivation possibly.

I try to avoid pleased as much as possible as I've seen people label it the kiss of death before, but it seemed appropriate at the time - and I didn't have too many other options...

I think you might be right about changes in formations. Both times the teams finished with 4 strikers and my fullbacks were still on support which may have had to do with it.

Never used "pleased" at half time, even if you are.

If your team is playing how you want them to and the scoreline is good, say nothing.

"Pleased" is also know as the kiss of death half time team talk. I never ever use it and I was under the belief that very few people ever did.

Have you looked at any of the team talk guides in the Tactics and Training forum?

That's ********. I use 'Pleased' team talk extensively and it has worked me most of the time.

Never used "pleased" at half time, even if you are.

If your team is playing how you want them to and the scoreline is good, say nothing.

Thing is i've said nothing a few times and its backfired on me, depends on the game.

Yeah i agree never ever say pleased or delighted, if im winning at half time I either say nothing or dont let your performance drop/dont get careless and I seem to get good second half performances

As a basic rule saying nothing is the best guard against second half collapses.

For a more detailed approach I've found this set up extremely effective http://community.sigames.com/showthread.php?t=182360

I use "pleased" at half time all the time.

However, I wouldn't use it with players who have nothing to play for. They would probably have become complacent and lost concentration anyway, but still giving no teamtalk might have been a better option.

If you were really determined to get Villa that fourth spot, then you could have said "don't get complacent", but you'd run the risk of ****ing your players off, even if it would better ensure their concentration.