Motivation

[Andy S]

When a club plays the top club in the league do they need to be motivated by the manager? Every player knows how big wolves are and would like to show that they are on a par. When it comes to Bristol City the motivation may not be as high but other factors come in to play like our unbeaten run, our aim for promotion and wanting to push them backwards. When playing lower placed clubs it is more about respect and not mickey taking but playing good intelegent football. So what are we doing right or wrong which will bring success?

[RaySmith]

The team is surely motivated to try and win every game by the prize of  gaining promotion.
I think our recent run of results shows  how highly motivated the team is.

[filham]

The team look fully motivated right now , Jokanovic just has to be wary of the effect a couple of early goals resulting from silly errors could have on the team. We seem to have avoided these defensive errors recently, lets hope this continues.

[General]

When a club plays the top club in the league do they need to be motivated by the manager? Every player knows how big wolves are and would like to show that they are on a par. When it comes to Bristol City the motivation may not be as high but other factors come in to play like our unbeaten run, our aim for promotion and wanting to push them backwards. When playing lower placed clubs it is more about respect and not mickey taking but playing good intelegent football. So what are we doing right or wrong which will bring success?

It's naive to suggest even for top of the table clashes that the players shouldn't need motivation.. I think it's a different type of motivation that's required and perhaps a more subtle style of motivation but it's slavs job to understand the nuances and how to best motivate players.

Too much motivation for an already motivated player could see a wreckless red card etc.

[Woolly Mammoth]

It's all about good habits, very good habits.
The players should motivate themselves due to having the appetite, hunger and desire that got them to this level in the first place.
They should be up for every game no matter the opponent. Believe me you cannot just switch it on and off when you feel like it. That creates inconsistency which will effect the teams performances.
So a player must show commitment, workrate, desire, the will to win with fire in his belly every match, providing it's controlled and disciplined, until he can do it automatically in his sleep any time of the day. That's what winners and Champions do.
Anything less is not acceptable and a recipe for failure.

[Forever Fulham]

They got this close to automatic promotion, they can taste it.  The big league.  Dream realized.   They don't have to get up for these remaining games.  They just know.  And they had to have been self-motivated to the largest extent just to get where they're at now, right?  From here on out, it's about tactics and execution.  Picking the right lineup to best face your next opponent.  Going over the other team's proclivities and habits, playing style, with your players.  Explaining how we'll win that particular game, and how we could lose it, too.  I'll bet there isn't a player on the team that doesn't check the standings daily, doesn't picture climbing from 5th to 4th, from 4th to 3rd, and hopefully 2nd.  I'll bet they're consumed by it.  Talk about it all the time.   One more year getting left at the altar could do some real damage.  Players will get poached.  Discontent creeps in.  There are no easy games here on out, unless you're playing a team that can't get relegated or promoted.  Bottom dwellers will fight like banshees.  Top 10 teams will be up for it, too.  6th place finish is not that unreachable for many.  It should be about refining what they do well, about focus, avoiding distractions and bad lifestyle choices, and outworking your opponent on every play. 

[Andy S]

That being the case what good did Furgie throwing the cups in the dressing room do at Man U ?

[Forever Fulham]

That being the case what good did Furgie throwing the cups in the dressing room do at Man U ?

Can't compare ManU at or near the top of the Premier to Fulham fighting to get back in.  Everyone of those ManU players had FU money, had reached the Promised Land, were assured of a secure and rich life.  Motivating those who have plenty and have succeeded at that level is more about unbalancing complacency that can set in, instilling a little fear, less about motivating in the traditional sense. 

[toshes mate]

I think there is a big difference between motivation and desire although it is very easy to confuse the two.  Desire exists in us all but tends to be tempered and dominated by practicalities which teach us that things do not come easy.  For example a child is given a crayon and paper and may explore all the possibilities that appear/appeal to them including eating the crayon or the paper or both.  The actual development of desire into motivation starts with an objective and a discipline designed to attain that objective which may be short, medium or long term.  Desire tends to being rather tenuous when faced with hard work, just as motivation faces up to the need to learn how to use it well step, by step, by step.  Team sport is similarly to playing an instrument in an ensemble of musicians.  Motivation is getting to play in unison emphasising the objective of ensuring the audience see and hear the whole ensemble at their disciplined best with moments of solo brilliance that are a result of the ensemble effort.

We can all have and experience desires but motivation to be the best at performing an art or skill eludes the vast majority of us.   Football is about those best schooled to get the best possible output from their combined team performance.   Last season we were a flare side with a soft centre; this season we seem to be adding a tougher centre to our game.  City will want to beat us tonight.  We just have to want to beat them more and know that we can if we keep to our disciplined game plan.