The Mourinho Thread

[Shane 2,275]

Everyone gets all that and nobody's asking him to start Baker or Boga in place of Willian; nobody's asking for Christensen and Ake to start against Man City. What is puzzling is when he doesn't play anyone from Brown, Baker, Boga or Solanke 48 hours after OT at Shrewsbury, when he sings paeans about RLC only to give him 8 minutes in a dead rubber. That's not down to managerial stability, that's down to managerial will.

Because if we fielded a team with Baker, Boga and Solanke in it, along with Christensen, Ake, Salah and Zouma in it we'd probably lose and I imagine Jose really wants to win the Capital One Cup this season. I would have started Solanke over Drogba but Drogba needed match fitness which is paying dividends now.

RLC probably should have got more game time yes, But Jose wanted to make sure the game was won. We owed it to Schalke to play our best and put out a good side. Nearly every team who had qualified put out more or less there strongest teams.

If we want to give our academy players more time then they need to be in the squad instead of the likes of Salah, Mikel, Ramires because when we have a chance to weaken the team these players will be given the minutes first because of their fees and wages.

And it is down to managerial stability. If Jose had been here 4 or 5 years we would have seen more academy players. The young players will learn what Jose expects him to do in his position and will be ready once called up. They will know their jobs inside out and will have seen the senior squad winning on the pitch with the same work ethic and style of play.

Would people really rather us become an Arsenal? Give everyone a run out in the Capital One Cup but win fuck all every year?

[iseah100 5,612]

You think the poor journalists want to spend the next 2 hours listening to lectures about lemons, egg, chicken, yolk and little horses?.

Melons....

[CHOULO19 24,332]

He actually name dropped Boga in the discussion lmao. If he wasn't a football manager, he would have made a good politician because he does talk an awful lot of bollocks.

Honestly, I just read it now and actually burst out laughing.

Actually, he did not. He said Oscar and it somehow ended up being misquoted as Boga.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

The randomness of it just screams PR stunt like you said. Boga just rolled off his tongue out of Nowhere. The interviewer must have been thinking where did that come from Jose.

[LDN Blue 7,903]

Because if we fielded a team with Baker, Boga and Solanke in it, along with Christensen, Ake, Salah and Zouma in it we'd probably lose and I imagine Jose really wants to win the Capital One Cup this season. I would have started Solanke over Drogba but Drogba needed match fitness which is paying dividends now.

RLC probably should have got more game time yes, But Jose wanted to make sure the game was won.

But he didn't say Baker, Boga and Solanke.. He said 'or'. Let's not make excuses for the sake of it, one of those guys could have featured. It's Shrewsbury ffs. If Van Gaal has enough faith to use Wilson v Liverpool surely its not that hard to use one of those 3 v Shrewsbury?!

And I'm sorry but the Sporting (I assume you meant) thing is a cop out. That game was won as soon as it was 2-0. In a dead rubber, even 2-1 is safe. Roberto Martinez played a very youthful side in his last EL game and they lost, but he said it was invaluable for those kids to learn from that.

Is it really so bad if we lose a dead rubber for the sake of making these academy boys into men? Can't cotton wool them forever, remember a certain Alan Hansen saying 'You can't win it with kids' about a certain class of '99?

[lionsden 4,689]

Actually, he did not. He said Oscar and it somehow ended up being misquoted as Boga.

Link ?

[CHOULO19 24,332]

But he didn't say Baker, Boga and Solanke.. He said 'or'. Let's not make excuses for the sake of it, one of those guys could have featured. It's Shrewsbury ffs. If Van Gaal has enough faith to use Wilson v Liverpool surely its not that hard to use one of those 3 v Shrewsbury?!

We had Ake, Christensen and Zouma start against Shrewsbury not to mention a few fringe players that desperately needed match fitness, and considering that we barely won that match 2-1 I'd say that Jose got the balance exactly right.

And for the record, it's Strawberry*!

[CHOULO19 24,332]

Link ?

http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/chelsea-boss-reveals-frank-lampard-8287448?utm_source=Get+West+London&utm_medium=twitter

[RoyalBlues 4,050]

How come Jose always get what he is wishing for?

[Fernando 6,743]

Well I really think next season is when mourinho should play one or two younger players.

As most people alluded to, this season is a bit tough and it's all about winning the league.

After we win that and have the champions mentality then mourinho might try more with younger players.

So we shall see.

[Madmax 9,219]

Because if we fielded a team with Baker, Boga and Solanke in it, along with Christensen, Ake, Salah and Zouma in it we'd probably lose and I imagine Jose really wants to win the Capital One Cup this season. I would have started Solanke over Drogba but Drogba needed match fitness which is paying dividends now.

Except I never said he should've started them all, Iike LDN pointed out. One would've sufficed, which you agree with.

RLC probably should have got more game time yes, But Jose wanted to make sure the game was won. We owed it to Schalke to play our best and put out a good side. Nearly every team who had qualified put out more or less there strongest teams.

I'm not bothered about other teams and what they do; I don't know how that's relevant. The game was won long before RLC came on. Is bringing him on earlier somehow equivalent to not putting out a good side?

If we want to give our academy players more time then they need to be in the squad instead of the likes of Salah, Mikel, Ramires because when we have a chance to weaken the team these players will be given the minutes first because of their fees and wages.

I agree completely and have been saying so for a while.

And it is down to managerial stability. If Jose had been here 4 or 5 years we would have seen more academy players. The young players will learn what Jose expects him to do in his position and will be ready once called up. They will know their jobs inside out and will have seen the senior squad winning on the pitch with the same work ethic and style of play.

But it's got to START sometime. Integration happens step by step .. 15 mins here, an occasional start in the cup there etc. Are you honestly confident we'll suddenly start say 2016-17 with 3 academy produced players as genuine squad members when they haven't tasted any serious action with the team earlier? Giving them meaningful time leads to what you talk about - developing a winning attitude, fostering team ethic etc. Watching the senior team from the sidelines does not. Chalobah was pointed out by Mourinho as being ready for the team at the beginning of last season yet where is he now? If the player is ready, you give him chances. You don't let that readiness suffer through the innumerable unknowns that can ruin their progress. What happens if Mourinho is sacked by that time? What happens if these poor, meaningless loans suck out all the motivation from these players and we end up losing them? Will we blame the players for it? Actually, we will because Mourinho can do no wrong. Read some of the posts in the Bertrand thread.

Would people really rather us become an Arsenal? Give everyone a run out in the Capital One Cup but win fuck all every year?

No let's play the established players and still win fuck all like in 2013-14.

[LDN Blue 7,903]

We had Ake, Christensen and Zouma start against Shrewsbury not to mention a few fringe players that desperately needed match fitness, and considering that we barely won that match 2-1 I'd say that Jose got the balance exactly right.

And for the record, it's Strawberry*!

That's a true point, I guess it's not for us to pick and choose which youth players are playing. In fact, Aké getting more time is encouraging because he's played more under Mourinho than most of our youth team players.

I think Derby is going to be quite important, for us on here, to see whether Mourinho is going to come good or not. He's given Christensen and Ake their runs out, so let's see if Boga, Brown, Loftus-Cheek or Solanke get into this one!

[iseah100 5,612]

How come Jose always get what he is wishing for?

Cause he's the Special One.

[Styles 9,790]

Actually, he did not. He said Oscar and it somehow ended up being misquoted as Boga.

Are you sure? Why would the reporters add Boga out of nowhere? I'm sure most of them had never heard of him.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

Are you sure? Why would the reporters add Boga out of nowhere? I'm sure most of them had never heard of him.

Yes. It was just one source that put Boga instead of Oscar and has since changed it. Check Dan Levene's TL from yesterday for further proof.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

That's a true point, I guess it's not for us to pick and choose which youth players are playing. In fact, Aké getting more time is encouraging because he's played more under Mourinho than most of our youth team players.

I think Derby is going to be quite important, for us on here, to see whether Mourinho is going to come good or not. He's given Christensen and Ake their runs out, so let's see if Boga, Brown, Loftus-Cheek or Solanke get into this one!

Derby is no Strawberry, though. There is no difference between Derby and Hull or Burnley. Jose has already said that Zouma will start. I would have guessed that had Ake been available he would have started as well but since he is not I expect no other youngster to start.

I expect a full strength team apart from Zouma except maybe Remy (depending on Costa's fitness) and Schurrle. Hopefully if we get a healthy lead we'll have a couple of youngsters on the bench to bring on.

[Sheva. 5,373]

Derby is no Strawberry, though. There is no difference between Derby and Hull or Burnley. Jose has already said that Zouma will start. I would have guessed that had Ake been available he would have started as well but since he is not I expect no other youngster to start.

I expect a full strength team apart from Zouma except maybe Remy (depending on Costa's fitness) and Schurrle. Hopefully if we get a healthy lead we'll have a couple of youngsters on the bench to bring on.

Why would it be full strength team though?

This is the league cup, not FA cup. This is also December where we have far bigger games coming up, this is a great chance to rest some people imo.

Apart from defence where we don't have a plethora of options, I only expect Willian and one of Matic/Cesc to start if Rammy can't play.

[RoyalBlues 4,050]

Last season, when he asked whose opponent he wanted to meet, Jose replied Galatasaray, and boom we draw against them. This season too when he said PSG. Whether Jose or UEFA who make me scary more.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

Why would it be full strength team though?

This is the league cup, not FA cup. This is also December where we have far bigger games coming up, this is a great chance to rest some people imo.

Apart from defence where we don't have a plethora of options, I only expect Willian and one of Matic/Cesc to start if Rammy can't play.

Because it's the quarter final of the capital one cup when several of the big teams have already gone out so it's a great chance to win a trophy if we proceed. We also have 6 days till the next match on next Monday and Jose has given the whole team 2 days off after the match so recovery should not be an issue especially if you consider than a lot of the usual starters have recently been given a rest either against Sporting or through suspension in the league. So, yes, I expect an almost full strength XI.

[Sheva. 5,373]

Because it's the quarter final of the capital one cup when several of the big teams have already gone out so it's a great chance to win a trophy if we proceed. We also have 6 days till the next match on next Monday and Jose has given the whole team 2 days off after the match so recovery should not be an issue especially if you consider than a lot of the usual starters have recently been given a rest either against Sporting or through suspension in the league. So, yes, I expect an almost full strength XI.

It wouldn't hurt to have more rest considering we have a spell coming up when we play on the 26th, 28th and again on the 1st.

You can't tell me the (unnecessary) minutes played here, won't end up having an impact then.

I would like to win this cup if possible, but we need to use our squad depth at this moment. If our bench players can't beat Derby, then I wonder how we're going to get through December playing the same 11 every game.