I'm not sure players should really need motivating.
This isn't acting: What's my motivation?
This is football. The motivation is the wheelbarrow of money you get each week and the chance of winning some silverware.
The manager's job is to build a squad, I'm not sure why players should need any extra motivation to win games.
Players suffer dips in confidence after defeats or not playing well, some players are strong minded enough to get through it, but motivation from a manager is important.
Ferguson is a great man manager and motivator, when the chips are down he picks his team up and this is priceless.
We've had some bad defeats in recent years, I'd have expected players to have been especially up for the return matches against teams they've suffered these losses against but everytime it's like those losses never took place.
The lack of leaders and strong personnalities is compounded my Wenger's inability to motivate.
It's clear that Wenger is not a great motivator IMO. What is most indicative is the way we respond to setbacks. Over the last few seasons, we have seen this team collapse spectacularly after a damaging result in a cup or league match or a traumatic incident during a game. This happened in 07-08 (Eduardo's injury and maulings in the Carling Cup and FA Cup), in 09-10 (after the Birmingham draw) and 10-11 after the Carling Cup defeat. A proper motivator would be able to pick the squad up from these disappointments, and it's what Fergie is great at doing.
I agree with that but Fergie's always had leaders out on the pitch too. You need that during a game, the manager can't do much while they're out there and it is something we've missed. I'm seeing some hope this year that we might have that with TV5 and some others around who I think can get us going when we're not playing well.
Wenger and Fergie clearly have different styles and different players respond in different ways. I wouldn't respond to Fergie's screaming at me, other players do. But we definitely need some leaders out on the pitch too and that's where we've been lacking. In the past Wenger's had great success when he's had leaders out on the pitch too.
The ability to motivate is such a fundamental part of the managers role. Thats why fergie can win the league last year with the squad we had, and we at best managed 4th. Our squad, in terms of abillity last year was stronger than utds. Yet we came no where, because talent without the right mentality equals medicore ie us for the last 6 years. Its clear during the invincibles that we had a group of special players, and wenger gets praise for assembling that group. But with the good teams we have, Wenger cannot push them over that finishing line, whereas managers such as fergie, mourinho etc can.
i think wednesday showed this statement to be wrong. a few players came out and said that they all motivated each other at half time to come out and play. and in this team now we have actual fans of the club, i believe frimpong and jenkison are real fans, you have tv5 and rvp who are vocal and strong leaders and then you have chesney as well
I know Tony Adams can say some silly thing and he has no real managerial credentials, but come on guys, he’s worked with Wenger for a number of years. It’s a valid opinion and it’s not as if we’re the type of team to bounce back from a defeat or setbacks.
As for players needing no motivation…come on now, they’re footballers, but they’re still human. When you start questioning your own ability or grow disillusioned, you need someone to pull you out of it. It doesn’t matter who you are, how much you earn of what you do.
Wenger believes he shouldn’t have to tell players certain things because it’s football and everyone wants to be a star, but I prefer Fergie and Mourinho’s approach. Wenger has been shitted on so many times by his own players and his approach doesn’t breed loyalty or respect. How can Vieira tap up one of our own players and disrespect the club and fans like this? The same goes for Clichy and Toure.
I just think this softly soft approach is killing us.