Chemistry, captain and Hall of Fame in Master Liga: understanding, leadership and club idols

Every fan knows the feeling: a side that has played together for years seems to find each other blindly, the right captain lifts the squad late in the game, and the player who made history at the club gets a standing ovation, while selling him becomes a talking point for weeks. Master Liga now has all three: chemistry, captain and Hall of Fame.

This post explains how each one works, how to use it to your advantage and how other manager games handle the same ideas.

Chemistry: how well the players understand each other

Every pair of players in your squad has a chemistry from 0 to 100: how well the two understand each other. During the match, the chemistry of the players on the pitch changes:

• the strength of each sector (defence, midfield and attack);
• the striker's finishing, based on his chemistry with his teammates;
• the goalkeeper's saves, based on his chemistry with the defence.

A close-knit sector performs better. A sector full of pairs that never played together performs worse. Substitutions count: whoever comes on brings his chemistry with those on the pitch.

How chemistry goes up and down

1. Playing together builds it. After each match, the pairs that were on the pitch together gain chemistry: more the longer they played together and the closer they play. Two centre-backs bond faster than a centre-back and a striker.
2. Close pairs grow slowly. The start is quick; getting near the top takes time.
3. Not playing together cools it. With each team match, the pairs that didn't play together lose part of their chemistry, and the closer ones lose more.
4. Signings start from zero. A newcomer has no chemistry with anyone, and whoever leaves takes his with him.

The heat map

On the formation pitch, a heat map shows where the team clicks: blotches over each starter and between neighbouring pairs, from blue (cold) to red (hot). Above the pitch, a meter shows the overall chemistry and each sector's, with the effect it will have in the match. The meter updates as soon as you change a starter, so you can try lineups before the game.

Chemistry doesn't replace rotation

Always playing the same 11 builds chemistry, but wears the players out. The fatigue carried from one match to the next weighs much more than chemistry helps, and it raises the injury risk. The way to go is a fixed core in each sector with sensible rotation.

Captain: you choose who wears the armband

Before the match, pick the captain in the selector below the formation pitch, or tap the "C" of a starter in the squad or the lineup. Without a pick, the captain is the starter with the highest leadership.

What the captain does

The captain's leadership becomes physical strength: it boosts the physical, speed and stamina skills of every player of the team on the pitch. Part of the second strongest leader's leadership also counts. With more stamina, the team also tires more slowly.

• Pressure: the effect grows when the team is behind and in the final stretch.
• Fatigue: a high-leadership captain also eases the weight of fatigue on the team.
• Careful: a low-leadership captain becomes a penalty, even if he's your best player. The armband belongs to the leader, not necessarily to the star.

If the captain leaves the pitch

If he's substituted, injured or sent off, the armband goes right away to the highest leadership player on the pitch. During the match you can also change the captain by tapping the "C" of any player on the pitch, in the substitutions area. That change only lasts for that match.

Hall of Fame: the club's idols and legends

Each player earns points for the club. Each game is worth more the better his rating, and goals, assists, clean sheets (for goalkeepers and defenders) and titles where he was part of the campaign also count.

• Idol: with a minimum of games and enough points.
• Legend: with more points and a high average rating.
• Greatest legend: the legend with the most points in the current squad.

The status is never lost, not even if the player leaves the club. The exact criteria are shown in the Hall of Fame itself, under "How to become an idol or a legend".

The Hall of Fame sits on a card at the top of the club screen and opens in a window with each player's numbers for the club and a button to share on social media. Idols and legends also get a badge in the corner of their card, in the squad, the formation and the lineup.

The fans feel it

• A legend on the pitch at home: the fans cheer.
• Selling or releasing an idol or a legend: the fans are upset, whatever the fee. The sale dialog warns you first.
• Fielding a player in a "Bad run": a player with low ratings in recent games gets this badge, and fielding him makes the fans doubtful. Idols and legends are forgiven more.
• Redemption: if the player in a bad run answers with a great performance, the fans cheer up again.

The fans' mood affects attendance, the fair ticket price and kit sales. The post on how to make money in Master Liga shows how.

How other managers handle chemistry, captains and idols

Football Manager

In Football Manager, squad chemistry shows on the Dynamics screen. The official manual describes Match Cohesion as how the relationships among the players affect the team's performance on the pitch. Player guides say it grows with time playing together and training, and drops when the club signs many players at once. On the tactics screen, partnerships between players show as green lines. There is no heat map of chemistry.

The manager picks a captain and a vice-captain. The captain is the leader on the pitch and links the manager with the squad; leadership and determination are the key attributes for the role, and taking the armband away can hurt morale.

Each club has lists of favoured personnel, icons and legends on its profile, and since FM23 Supporter Confidence comments on transfers, the squad and individual performances.

Hattrick

In Hattrick, team chemistry is Team Spirit: it depends on the coach's leadership, the attitude chosen for each match, transfers and the psychologist, and high spirit boosts the midfield. There is also team experience, which reduces confusion on the pitch.

The captain is chosen for each match and must be a starter: his experience and leadership add a bonus to the team's experience, helping to prevent confusion and nervousness.

The club has a Hall of Fame for its players. The game also rewards loyalty: a player who spent his whole career at the club gets the mother club bonus, and loyalty grows with seasons at the club and resets when the player is sold.

Summary

For a fuller comparison, see the free online football manager games.

Frequently asked questions

How do I raise my team's chemistry?

Keep a fixed core in each sector playing together, especially in defence and midfield. Each game together raises the pair's chemistry, and not playing together makes it drop little by little.

Does chemistry make up for not rotating?

No. The fatigue carried by players who play every match weighs much more than chemistry helps, and it raises the injury risk. Keep a core, but rotate.

Who should be the captain?

The player with the highest leadership, not necessarily the best one. The captain's leadership boosts the whole team's physical strength, and a low-leadership captain becomes a penalty.

What happens if the captain is substituted?

The armband goes right away to the highest leadership player on the pitch. You can also pick another captain during the match.

Can a player stop being a legend?

No. Once a player becomes an idol or a legend, he keeps the status, even if he leaves the club.

Why were the fans upset when I sold a player?

Because he was an idol or a legend of the club. Selling or releasing one of them upsets the fans, whatever the fee.

Summary: key takeaways

1. Chemistry is per pair and changes the sectors' strength, finishing and the goalkeeper's saves.
2. Playing together builds it; not playing together cools it; signings start from zero.
3. The heat map and the meter show where the team clicks before the match.
4. Make your highest-leadership player captain: his leadership becomes physical strength for the whole team.
5. Idols and legends enter the Hall of Fame for good, and the fans react to them.
6. Fielding a player in a "Bad run" makes the fans doubtful; a great performance wins them back.

The full rules are in How to play. Don't have a club yet? Create yours for free and start writing its history.