The Mourinho Thread

[kellzfresh 7,229]

I found this article

Mourinho denied credit after defensive masterclass

Leaving the ground following the Chelsea victory over United it was hard not to feel anything but delight. This was a methodical performance, the team completely negated one of the league's in form sides, who a week ago put four past Manchester City. On this occasion, United looked lost on the ball, Kurt Zouma marked Marouane Fellaini out of the game from the first minute and despite having 70 percent of possession throughout the match, the team in red looked bereft of ideas.

The majority of their possession was at the feet of a defensive trio in Paddy McNair, Chris Smalling and Antonio Valencia at the half way line. There was not a single clue between them as to how they could breakdown Chelsea, now that lobbing the ball up to Fellaini was no longer an option. In the end the two centre backs decided pot shots from thirty yards out would be the best solution. It really wasn't.

With that in mind, it came as somewhat of a shock to read on my timeline that Chelsea fans should feel embarrassed by the performance or that for some reason we should not be proud of that win. It wasn't the performance of champions. These are the rambling of football's alleged purists, rooting out the evil, enemy of the game that is Jose Mourinho. In reality, the problem isn't Mourinho, it is the self-righteous, naive mind that thinks a pragmatic performance is anything but the right way to play football.

Football is, after all, the only sport that so thoroughly chastises those who excel at defending. For those who need reminding, defending is half the game. Imagine a boxer being criticised for not allowing his opponent to hit him. Floyd Mayweather, boxing's most technically proficient fighter, will hereby be known as "The Anti Boxer". Imagine thinking the Seattle Seahawks are an enemy of the NFL as opposed to the embodiment of it. Or that San Antonio's empire in the Tim Duncan era should be forgotten because they can defend their own half of the court.

It is strange that those who champion the right way of playing football fail to understand the importance of strategy. It is absurd to think that there can be no satisfaction in grinding out victories. Tell that to the 40,000 inside Stamford Bridge and every single one of them would laugh: that performance was nothing short of incredible. The scoreline was the perfect reflection of how the game panned out -- only one team ever looked like they'd find a way though. It is no surprise that even with only 30 percent possession the next best chance in the game aside from the goal fell to Chelsea and Eden Hazard when his acrobatic effort struck the post from a tight angle.

As a winner, Mourinho's methods are second to none. The idea that his approach to big games is that of a small club mentality is so unbelievably narrow minded, that it pains me to see people failing to understand the beauty of it. This is not the same style of play as an underdog, praying that through sheer force of will and desperate defending, they can keep the onslaught at bay for ninety minutes. Sure, there are the odd occasion when this will work out in their favour, when Mourinho classed West Ham's football as 19th Century, it felt like a compliment more than an insult. Yet, at the end of the day that result was as much down to good fortune and a heroic effort in goal by Adrian than anything else. West Ham's subsequent efforts at stifling the Chelsea attack with mere numbers has failed. It is why Brendan Rodgers' comment that "Defending is easy" was so way off the mark (much like the rest of the league's challenge for the title).

I for one think it is sad to see so many disregard half of the game in the way they do towards defending. Sure, free flowing, attacking football is perhaps at its best in this generation. However, a failure to admire those who stand against the tide, beating away everything thrown at them is not a sign of championing the beautiful game, it is blind ignorance.

Soaking up pressure for ninety minutes in the way that Mourinho's sides do, is not easy. It takes an unbelievable amount of discipling and skill to perform. Mourinho's so called negative tactics have yielded unparalleled positive results. Ultimately it boils down to efficiency. Mourinho believes that his side can do more with 30 percent of the ball than the opposition can do with 70%. Most of the time, he's right. Most of the time, he wins. This isn't David vs. Goliath, this is the Ali "Rope-a-Dope" played out to perfection. This is a masterclass in counter punching.

It is rather comical that Mourinho is portrayed as a pantomime villain, the Dementor of football, sucking the life force out of the game. While, his approach may not be easy on the eye for a neutral, it is not Mourinho's fault that the purist brigade are out with their pitchforks and torches after every victory he oversees, failing to appreciate the complexity of the game. Mourinho positions his players as if they were pieces on a chessboard. You have to react to the opposition, life is a series of checks and balances. In football no one understand this better than The Special One.

[zolayes 14,489]

I agree that we played well in the first part of the season, but the drop off from that football to what we have played in the last 4 or so months has been huge. We don't look like even half the team we did at the start of the season. It seems as if Jose reverts back to type at the first sign of adversity which is ultimately my issue; he did it last season and he has done it again this year.

And this is an excellent post by Clockwork:

We are never going to have the absolute perfect squad. We are always going to have injured players and / or lack a certain type of player in the squad, so to use that as an excuse as to why we cannot play well or have to play such dreadful football for such long periods of time just doesn't cut it.

we have been by far the luckiest team in the PL with regard to injuries ... IMO if Hazard had been out for 6 games or so we wouldnt be on top

[Rom2013 446]

For some people seeing CHelsea winning the League after 5 years it's going to hurt a lot... we need to understand that.

[Tomo 21,754]

we have been by far the luckiest team in the PL with regard to injuries ... IMO if Hazard had been out for 6 games or so we wouldnt be on top

There is no luck in having a top medical team.

[zolayes 14,489]

There is no luck in having a top medical team.

oh so that is all is it .. ONCE i read your posts now I just laugh at them .. OUR medical team have saved Hazard ... you should be in politics

[Tomo 21,754]

oh so that is all is it .. ONCE i read your posts now I just laugh at them .. OUR medical team have saved Hazard ... you should be in politics

So it's a lucky coincidence we have been one of the least affected teams with injuries for years?

[zolayes 14,489]

So it's a lucky coincidence we have been one of the least affected teams with injuries for years?

WE ARE LUCKY HAZARD hasnt been injured ... PUT your brain in gear and think about it.. HAVE you seen the tackles that have been made on in .. HE and US have been lucky

[Tomo 21,754]

WE ARE LUCKY HAZARD hasnt been injured ... PUT your brain in gear and think about it.. HAVE you seen the tackles that have been made on in .. HE and US have been lucky

you said and I quote "we have been the luckiest team this year with regard to injuries" to then I responded it's not luck that we have a good medical team.

I think you need to take your own advice about putting the brain into gear, but doesn't matter to me anyway, you're heading back on ignore, permanently this time.

[Tomo 21,754]

I found this article

outstanding piece

I have said it before and will say again, purists/idealists who only have one way to play are ruining the game, I would cringe if we appoint a manager who went on about possession and moral victories.

[zolayes 14,489]

you said and I quote "we have been the luckiest team this year with regard to injuries" to then I responded it's not luck that we have a good medical team.

I think you need to take your own advice about putting the brain into gear, but doesn't matter to me anyway, you're heading back on ignore, permanently this time.

DO IT and ignore the truth

[mufilika 101]

WE ARE LUCKY HAZARD hasnt been injured ... PUT your brain in gear and think about it.. HAVE you seen the tackles that have been made on in .. HE and US have been lucky

YOU ARE THE ONE NOT PUTTING YOUR BRAIN IN GEAR!

With tackles and beating Hazard gets, it's down to top medical department that he is as fit as he is.

After every game, the players are put through recovery routines and physiotherapy, by the medical team to replenish and recover their bodies.

When year after year we are the least affected by injuries, especially given the beating that some of our players like Hazard get, then it's less luck and more great techniques and approach used by our Medical team and the manager for empowering them to do their job.

AGAIN using your words, PUT YOUR BRAIN IN GEAR AND THINK ABOUT IT

[zolayes 14,489]

YOU ARE THE ONE NOT PUTTING YOUR BRAIN IN GEAR!

With tackles and beating Hazard gets, it's down to top medical department that he is as fit as he is.

After every game, the players are put through recovery routines and physiotherapy, by the medical team to replenish and recover their bodies.

When year after year we are the least affected by injuries, especially given the beating that some of our players like Hazard get, then it's less luck and more great techniques and approach used by our Medical team and the manager for empowering them to do their job.

AGAIN using your words, PUT YOUR BRAIN IN GEAR AND THINK ABOUT IT

SO the leg breaking tackles he is subjected to are negated by Evas magic touch .. You are are as deluded as TOMO.. Yes we have an excellent medical department

BUT check out the injuries suffered by Arsenal Manure and Liverpool ,, are their Medics so bad .. WE HAVE BEEN LUCKY

[darrus 422]

WE ARE LUCKY HAZARD hasnt been injured ... PUT your brain in gear and think about it.. HAVE you seen the tackles that have been made on in .. HE and US have been lucky

We have one of the best medical departments in PL.

We have one of the best fitness coaches in European football in Rui Faria.

We snatched from Madrid Carlos Lalin, one of the best specialists in recovery procedures.

It's not luck we have so little injuries compared to Arsenal or Liverpool and our players are able to recover quickly and recover better from minor injuries. It's a lot of work, starting from correct training methods and ending with recovery work with everything in-between. By your statements you're disregarding half of the work that goes behind our performance.

Read some literature on the methods our staff are using, before saying it's all luck.

[zolayes 14,489]

We have one of the best medical departments in PL.

We have one of the best fitness coaches in European football in Rui Faria.

We snatched from Madrid Carlos Lalin, one of the best specialists in recovery procedures.

It's not luck we have so little injuries compared to Arsenal or Liverpool and our players are able to recover quickly. It's a lot of work, starting from correct training methods and ending with recovery work with everything in-between. By your statements you're disregarding half of the work that goes behind our performance.

I am doing no such thing .. JUST recognising that an injury to Hazard would have FUCKED us up completely

[Iggy Doonican 4,187]

Compare yesterdays game to Liverpool away last season and there are some similarities. A point for us yesterday would have been acceptable, now last season a point for Liverpool against us would have been acceptable for them. But the one thing i feel is overlooked when Gerrard slips there is not a single Liverpool defender in sight and Ba has a free run on goal. Yesterday if Matic had slipped for example our defenders would have been on any United player instantly. Is that an example of Mourinho's nous and Rodgers inexperience possibly. So it's either play conservatively and win or play gung ho and lose.

[hjperdeath 2,226]

I am doing no such thing .. JUST recognising that an injury to Hazard would have FUCKED us up completely

You are terribly wrong because Chelsea have one of the best medical teams in world football. Paco Biosca is a legend when it comes to Sports medicine.

Arsenal's medical team is also considered the worst in EUropean football. Not sure?

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/386641-arsenals-medical-team-one-of-the-worst-in-the-league

http://www.caughtoffside.com/2015/01/30/david-ospina-called-barcelona-team-doctors-because-arsenal-medical-team-couldnt-find-injury/

Their own players go to other clubs medical teams to seek help.

[Jase 43,479]

Wow. Good to see there's an argument about something else and not Mourinho.....

[CurlyHairLikeLuiz 1,625]

Wow. Good to see there's an argument about something else and not Mourinho.....

Still moaning though

[Leif 6,006]

Arsenal are strange and Mourinho has nice stubble at times

[Amblève. 4,995]

If we'd played attacking football City style against United and lost 4-2 like they did you'd be asking for his head. I'm convinced Jose just can't win. Not showing United respect would have been a big mistake and putting Zouma on saved us the game.

Why is this talk always about extremes?

Can't we be solid defensively while being able to control the game in the opposition's half for 4-5 well played attacks/per game, too? Or is one of those things ALWAYS exclusive?

This is the main point I don't see anyone addressing properly without talking in cliches.