Arsene?

That's helpful. Thanks.

My suggestion would be when giving team talks always set instructions from the drop down that suit your formation. for instance I usually play 451/433 with two attacking wingers. Then I'd select in the instructions pass to feet, exploit flanks, play wider then others dependant on the opposition, if weaker I'd play retain possession for example. But make sure you choose options that go with the team instructions you selected in tactics. you don't really want to set short passing to feet if you are playing a target man or retain possession if your passing is set direct etc

Also I tend to be assertive but encouraging on my overall team talk but then passionately let the players individually know I believe in them.

Another tip would be in your training go to coaches then assign coaches to only sessions they are strong at and get them to have at least three/four stars.

Most of these things are trial and error and you should find out what suits your team best.

I thought it'd be down to experience and just getting to grips with the game but I wasn't sure if I was missing something or doing something stupid.

I'll give it another go. Thanks for the advice.

Oh and try to have individual player talks often. If someone is playing well have a private chat and let him know, if vice versa do the same but don't be too harsh or you could cause morale to go down.

With team meetings I try to do them once a month and there should be a handy graphic on the side showing the effect on your players. Make a comment, ask your captain, ask the room then say whether that was the response you were looking for or not.

And match preparation is a biggy, If you intend to use certain tactics regular add them down the side in the tactics screen. This way they will work on that tactic before games. It's not a very good Idea to change to a tactic that you haven't selected in there and worked on.

You've never played a Football Manager game Melo!?

For a FM virgin I'm guessing the game probably seems like it's written in Swahili currently?

http://www.operationsports.com/strategyguides/1002/a-beginners-guide-to-football-manager-2013/

http://www.fmscout.com/c-advice.html

http://www.footballmanagerstory.com/2012/10/fm-2013-hints-and-tips-for-beginners-and-not-only/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=fm-2013-hints-and-tips-for-beginners-and-not-only

http://sortitoutsi.net/

Not sure at the exact content in some of these but you may find something useful. Sortitoutsi is very good for various downloads if you want to tinker with the appearance of the game.

Thanks guys. This helps a lot.

The only guides I could find used terms and abbreviations I didn't understand as if it were aimed at those already well versed in the game and its functions.

I'll have another go at it this weekend and see how I do.

All the best sir.

If you get into it then prepare yourself as it can quite quickly become akin to a heroin addiction but with less babies on the ceiling and diving into toilets......I hope.

Sorry Melo, I couldnt resist.

I have reverted back to playing Championship Manager 01/02 with updated data. The newer Football Managers became over-complicated involving a lot of stuff I couldnt care less about.

s Arsenal and in my very first game, I got humped 4-0 by the Arsenal reserves.

A whole new world, a dazzling place you never knew.

I'm gateshead just got promoted to league 2