The Mourinho Thread

[MrBlueGuy 1,552]

That team accomplished something no other Chelsea team had been able to before. That, to me, is a great team.

Greece won Euro 2004 as well, are they a great team? I mean unless I google them now I don't think I remember A SINGLE PLAYER on that team and I am sure 90% of football supporters don't either. 2012 was a miracle, one of the greatest sporting achievement in history but it was not done by a GREAT TEAM, team of great players maybe.

Liverpool won CL in 2005 with that miracle, are they a great team? Winning one big trophy once doesn't mean it is a great team, winning things 'consistently' is what makes a great team.

[supporter 3,088]

filipe luis played 26 games last season and that was with azpi and iva being fit all season long (or hardly ever injured). 20 games for chelsea is far far far better for his development than 30 games for boro where he will definitely boss as his level already is over them.

this 2nd LB spot can be a massive step in the right direction for ake.

Hi friend!

Well that may be true, but I think Aké could play for a team in Premier League this season on loan.

It is true what you say. and maybe could be a great progress for Ake. but the big question is whether Ivanovic Azpi or are injured and we have to rely on a young player throughout the season. This year has been a miracle that both have had a physical condition like Terminator, but if they are injured ... we would have problems.

Last year (according to whoscored) Filipe Luis played 1355 minutes, and Azpi 2874. It is true what you say, for Nathan Ake would be good to have 1355 minutes with us. But the big question is whether Jose will trust him and will give Aké those 1355 minutes or Azpicueta will play every match ...

Although, as you say, maybe is better to give these 1355 for Nathan Ake than Rahman Baba sign ... It's a complicated issue.

I am in favor in what you say, but we all know Jose, and he is obsessed with using 12 or 13 players each season. If Aké stays with us and he has opportunities ... perfect. But Jose has to rotate the team to get with gasoline at the end of the season.

Regards.

[kmk108 1,186]

Greece won Euro 2004 as well, are they a great team? I mean unless I google them now I don't think I remember A SINGLE PLAYER on that team and I am sure 90% of football supporters don't either. 2012 was a miracle, one of the greatest sporting achievement in history but it was not done by a GREAT TEAM, team of great players maybe.

Liverpool won CL in 2005 with that miracle, are they a great team? Winning one big trophy once doesn't mean it is a great team, winning things 'consistently' is what makes a great team.

Comparing that team to Greece's 2004 team is not even close to being the same. That 2012 team had a handful of players that are or will be considered Chelsea legends. That, to me, equals a great team. They aren't a legendary team, or were even the best team in Europe that year, but that doesn't mean they weren't great.

We're arguing about what makes a team great, and since we don't agree on that, we won't agree on anything else. From the replies, I'm getting the sense that others are defining a great team like the Barcelona teams of a few years ago. Those, to me, are legendary teams.

[MrBlueGuy 1,552]

Comparing that team to Greece's 2004 team is not even close to being the same. That 2012 team had a handful of players that are or will be considered Chelsea legends. That, to me, equals a great team. They aren't a legendary team, or were even the best team in Europe that year, but that doesn't mean they weren't great.

We're arguing about what makes a team great, and since we don't agree on that, we won't agree on anything else. From the replies, I'm getting the sense that others are defining a great team like the Barcelona teams of a few years ago. Those, to me, are legendary teams.

I know that is what I said, our 2012 team was a team full of great players(Cech, Terry, Lampard, Drogba, Cole...etc) but they were not at the very best anymore and hence we were 'great' only thanks to the names of these legends, not in actual ability anymore. Maybe we both have a different interpretation of what a 'great' team is. For me great team is a team that dominate for at least a couple of years, for example Bayern 2012-now is a great team. Us 2004-2006, Barca 08-now and so on as you said yourself.

Also it is very foolish to use 2012 as a benchmark, it is once in a life time achievement. Do you think we will get a run again where our GK save 2 pens against 2 of the best players in the world in the semi and final? Or a game where the opposition miss at least 5 clear goal scoring chances(1st leg against Barca)?

[Tautvix 1,321]

It's clear that Mourinho would like to buy someone but our board is taking FFP very seriously... It's not so hard to see from his interviews that Jose is not too happy...

[Jase 43,479]

[didierforever 7,349]

i "blame" jose.if we wanted to make signings, we could easily make signing by selling some players like marin, moses, salah, romeu etc etc.

i simply think jose actually believes that our squad is complete and quite strong (which is kinda true but there is still a massive scope of improvements in almost all areas except GK and STs.

[Atlas Lion 1,223]

Man United 2010/2011, they won the title because of a great coach and hard work, also because every other epl team were shit as ... but they finally took a lesson in the UCL final.

Absolute bollocks. They had Rooney, Scholes, Nani, Giggs, Carrick, all players who don't use physical dominance as a main attribute when analyzing their ability as a footballer.

[RoyalBlues 4,050]

Our friend Rob said

we will sign someone

[hamad138 190]

Fking mourinho said he was convinced by de bruynes talent and wanted to keep him but for him the kid was too fast for asking for a starting spot.

WTF

[Unionjack 7,532]

I know which one I'd prefer to be.

[Heisenberg 1,824]

Absolute bollocks. They had Rooney, Scholes, Nani, Giggs, Carrick, all players who don't use physical dominance as a main attribute when analyzing their ability as a footballer.

Absolute huh ?

Only a sith deals in absolution.

[Muzchap 8,966]

Absolute huh ?

Only a sith deals in absolution.

That made me LOL

[Magic Lamps 11,692]

I honestly think he's been told that the days of big spending are over and that he's being forced to use academy players or ones like Moses who were out on loan.

We'll literally be lining up day one of the PL with the same XI in all likelihood. Would've laughed at someone who told me on the final day of last season that we'd start the next one with a weaker squad.

Yeah but why? We are filthy rich. We don't even need to spend big. There are a lot of decent players that would improve us, like Witsel, Aranguiz, Pedro out there for decent prices. Because of the EPL TV deal we won't have to worry about money in the future. Even teams like Hull, Burnley or Crystal Palace can outbid a German CL-team like Gladbach or Leverkusen with ease. We made 100m from TV money this season alone +40m yokohame + the adidas kit deal + luis sale. that should cover the wages. So we can reinvest the major part of all merchandising and ticket revenues, which should be about 200m every year withour making a loss.

There's definitely something happing behind the scenes like people here are suggesting. Mourinho seemed so confident in signing players to challenge the first Xi at the end of the season.

What can that be? it is definitely not some marquee signings. Those are cheaper earlier in the market and if we had someone in the bag it would have been already done. It is obviously not down to money, it is not that we have to pay the stadium in one year.

[Diceflix 207]

Mourinho: We have already sold Filipe Luis. We do not need a substitute. We have a squad already complete and in that role there is Cesar Azpilicueta, who is the best left-back in the Premier League

Seriously starting to piss me off. Does he not understand that squad depth/ qulity depth was our biggest issue last season. Not only has the squad been made smaller its lost quality aswell.

His statement on this are quite contradictive with who He are. Jose i know who emphasized balance of squad should haven't commented this way (although i supposed it was only another mind games).

I thought he knows well, having a second options in each position is crucial, and i don't see anyone better than Luis to cover Dave in our current squad

Now I wonder where the bucks from Luis' transfer will be used

[didierforever 7,349]

Hi friend!

Well that may be true, but I think Aké could play for a team in Premier League this season on loan.

It is true what you say. and maybe could be a great progress for Ake. but the big question is whether Ivanovic Azpi or are injured and we have to rely on a young player throughout the season. This year has been a miracle that both have had a physical condition like Terminator, but if they are injured ... we would have problems.

Last year (according to whoscored) Filipe Luis played 1355 minutes, and Azpi 2874. It is true what you say, for Nathan Ake would be good to have 1355 minutes with us. But the big question is whether Jose will trust him and will give Aké those 1355 minutes or Azpicueta will play every match ...

Although, as you say, maybe is better to give these 1355 for Nathan Ake than Rahman Baba sign ... It's a complicated issue.

I am in favor in what you say, but we all know Jose, and he is obsessed with using 12 or 13 players each season. If Aké stays with us and he has opportunities ... perfect. But Jose has to rotate the team to get with gasoline at the end of the season.

Regards.

just one question. where would the buy of baba rahman leave ake? a 21 year old LB bought for 15+mil. i think if we buy baba, we might as well sell ake cos i cant see him getting into chelsea anytime soon.

[supporter 3,088]

just one question. where would the buy of baba rahman leave ake? a 21 year old LB bought for 15+mil. i think if we buy baba, we might as well sell ake cos i cant see him getting into chelsea anytime soon.

Hi friend!

I prefer not to sell him because for me he is a special player. But if we pay 15 million to sign baba, his situation with us would be very complicated.

Another option is in the midfield. Honestly, the attitude / behavior of Ruben Loftus-Cheek yesterday was a bit incomprehensible. It is as if he would think as a big star and not as an young guy who has to conquer the world. Maybe we could try Nathan Ake as midfielder because for me Aké and RLC at the same level.

Right now I think we are going to sign Baba, but the words of Jose yesterday has me baffled. Maybe they are just mind games to avoid damaging the negotiation... But if we signed him Baba, Aké stay in a very complicated situation.

That's why I think he should go on loan to another Premier League team, where he can play 30/35 games at the starting eleven and so we can see if he deserves or does not deserve our trust. And to me he deserves our trust.

When Aké was on loan at Reading he was a great performance, even their fans were delighted with him playing in the midfield or as left-back. I think he just needs opportunities and if we signed him Baba he will have quite difficult to play with us.

With a loan at Premier League team He could return in 2016 to be an important player to complete our squad, and, perhaps, to fit into our starting eleven gradually. I think Nathan Aké is a player who is worth having around us, as Azpilicueta backup or on loan to another Premier League team.

By the way, where is Aké? Why he is not doing the preseason with us ?.

Regards.

[Fernando 6,743]

Hi friend!

I prefer not to sell him because for me he is a special player. But if we pay 15 million to sign baba, his situation with us would be very complicated.

Another option is in the midfield. Honestly, the attitude / behavior of Ruben Loftus-Cheek yesterday was a bit incomprehensible. It is as if he would think as a big star and not as an young guy who has to conquer the world. Maybe we could try Nathan Ake as midfielder because for me Aké and RLC at the same level.

Right now I think we are going to sign Baba, but the words of Jose yesterday has me baffled. Maybe they are just mind games to avoid damaging the negotiation... But if we signed him Baba, Aké stay in a very complicated situation.

That's why I think he should go on loan to another Premier League team, where he can play 30/35 games at the starting eleven and so we can see if he deserves or does not deserve our trust. And to me he deserves our trust.

When Aké was on loan at Reading he was a great performance, even their fans were delighted with him playing in the midfield or as left-back. I think he just needs opportunities and if we signed him Baba he will have quite difficult to play with us.

With a loan at Premier League team He could return in 2016 to be an important player to complete our squad, and, perhaps, to fit into our starting eleven gradually. I think Nathan Aké is a player who is worth having around us, as Azpilicueta backup or on loan to another Premier League team.

By the way, where is Aké? Why he is not doing the preseason with us ?.

Regards.

Well I believe the attitude of rlc might be because of Mourinho hyping him up before....

But it's all good, I think the kid can come thru.

[ZOS 580]

could the new stadium be behind all this? I wonder... tough times ahead?

[didierforever 7,349]

Hi friend!

I prefer not to sell him because for me he is a special player. But if we pay 15 million to sign baba, his situation with us would be very complicated.

Another option is in the midfield. Honestly, the attitude / behavior of Ruben Loftus-Cheek yesterday was a bit incomprehensible. It is as if he would think as a big star and not as an young guy who has to conquer the world. Maybe we could try Nathan Ake as midfielder because for me Aké and RLC at the same level.

Right now I think we are going to sign Baba, but the words of Jose yesterday has me baffled. Maybe they are just mind games to avoid damaging the negotiation... But if we signed him Baba, Aké stay in a very complicated situation.

That's why I think he should go on loan to another Premier League team, where he can play 30/35 games at the starting eleven and so we can see if he deserves or does not deserve our trust. And to me he deserves our trust.

When Aké was on loan at Reading he was a great performance, even their fans were delighted with him playing in the midfield or as left-back. I think he just needs opportunities and if we signed him Baba he will have quite difficult to play with us.

With a loan at Premier League team He could return in 2016 to be an important player to complete our squad, and, perhaps, to fit into our starting eleven gradually. I think Nathan Aké is a player who is worth having around us, as Azpilicueta backup or on loan to another Premier League team.

By the way, where is Aké? Why he is not doing the preseason with us ?.

Regards.

he was supposedly very close to his loan move to boro before the pre-season.

i am guessing the luis situation has put a stop to everything. luis wont be officially sold unless baba is done and ake wont be loaned unless baba is done too (just so we have a back up under the worst case scenario).

also, i remember jose saying that ake will be loaned out this season (maybe towards the end of the PL or the post season friendlies). so maybe he does not see ake as a real replacement right now, which is a shame.