The Mourinho Thread

[LDN Blue 7,903]

Well we are gonna be signing 3-4 new players every year so looks like we are gonna be in for a lot of 'transition' soon. Transition imo is when you have a new manager with a new system and lot of new players who are not familiar with it so it is understandable if it takes a year or so, most of our starting 11 have been with Mou for sometime so this reason cannot be used anymore imo.

Also even if it is 'transition' it doesn't mean we can't challenge for the title because our transition squad still are 2nd best in the league, if MU who signed even more players than us can challenge then we can too. Let's say Costa does his hamstring again this year and next season we sign Cavani/Higuain/Benzema or whoever or if Oscar/Willian leaves for us to sign Koke/Pogba, are we in for another transition again then?

This is not transition, this is 'gradual improvement' or at least that is what I would have called it, which is an established team getting improvement in small numbers over time. Like I said transition sometime is valid but most of the time it is used as an excuse for an underwhelming season, usually a transition team don't manage to win the league the season before at a canter anyway.

The only reason I use the word 'transition' is because we've had this back 4 now for a good while now. Terry and Cahill particularly have been in their partnership for years and now it seems as if they're both going to be replaced simulatenously.. That I believe warrants calling it a transition because this in itself does bring a new system. Terry's lack of pace has been accomodated for years, but in Stones and Zouma we've got a backline that's comfortable on the ball and will probably play a higher line.

I never said by this we can't challenge for the title. I truly believe we're going to be in the title race until the end of the season and whether we retain the Premer League or we don't I think we can call it a transition (if Terry and Cahill are being replaced by Zouma and Stones that is.)

[Iggy Doonican 4,186]

I think today's performance has been scrutinised well on the forum so i don't have to much to add. What concerns me again is Mourinho's arrogance resurfacing again. Someone said on this forum that Mourinho's refusal to answer a question was genius or some other ridiculous superlative. He's asked a reasonable question ''Why was Cahill dropped? his answer '' I don't have to answer that''. Err yes you do mate you can be rude and brusque with journalists but you do realise that us as Chelsea fans we would like to know these answers as well. And more then anyone else the 3,000 odd fans who went to West Brom for an early kick off in the pissing down rain they should be entitled to answers to what was a basic team selection question.

[didierforever 7,349]

The performances of those two, and others besides, do seem to be problematic. The implication of many of your posts is that you don't believe Jose can't see that. I do not accept this. If you and I can see it then Jose certainly can too. Diagnosing the problem however is just stage one. Next Jose would need to believe he has better alternatives available. One thing is seeing the problem, another thing is fixing it. This is where judgement comes in.

As you've pointed out, Jose fixes problems. This is part of the reason that he has my confidence. It remains to be seen if my current opinion is right but that opinion is that Jose will be here a long time and that he will make those who are presently frustrated by his decisions very happy in the long run. Very happy indeed. He knows what we know but there is no magic wand. Some of the answers are not available today and may not be available tomorrow either. Jose will move the squad forward in time and we will be better.

nope. you have got it all wrong.

i have always implied that jose can see and jose does know what the problems are. but despite seeing and knowing he is not making the appropriate changes. hence that has made me question his priorities.

for eg - why was cesc on the pitch today but not pedro. how exactly could a slow and tired and defensively poor cesc be a better option to cover for ivanovic's defensive liablity than pedro?

like i said, makes me question his priorities.

in another post u said that there is no knowing is the alternative would be better. fair enough, but playing zouma as a RB instead of iva who is also basically a CB turned RB does not seem a bad option. also, it does not matter if the alternative is better or not. sometimes, u need to do things just for the sake of it. ivanovic should have been dropped no matter what after his disastorous 2 matches to give him a kick up his backside. instead he seems to have got reassurance that his place is confirmed no matter how shit he performs.

anyone on that has been on this forum can attest to the fact that i was a blind jose follower and before today i would have said and agreed everything that u have said. but unfortunately, jose seems to be not following the things he himself recommends. he says every player must earn his place. infact he has transferred players cos they apparently did not want to fight for their place. but on the other hand, our starting 11 does not seem to have an ounce of merit to it. our starting 11 seems to be fixed no matter what if those ABC players are available.no one is asking for a magic wand moment. i am not asking for bamford, RLC, ake to start getting first team minutes every weekend. all i am asking is that our starting 11 to not be written in stone but have some sense of merit to it.

[pHaRaOn 2,131]

I think today's performance has been scrutinised well on the forum so i don't have to much to add. What concerns me again is Mourinho's arrogance resurfacing again. Someone said on this forum that Mourinho's refusal to answer a question was genius or some other ridiculous superlative. He's asked a reasonable question ''Why was Cahill dropped? his answer '' I don't have to answer that''. Err yes you do mate you can be rude and brusque with journalists but you do realise that us as Chelsea fans we would like to know these answers as well. And more then anyone else the 3,000 odd fans who went to West Brom for an early kick off in the pissing down rain they should be entitled to answers to what was a basic team selection question.

On the other hand, I bet opposition managers also would like to know it before the game, so they can adapt their game plan.

[MrBlueGuy 1,552]

On the other hand, I bet opposition managers also would like to know it before the game, so they can adapt their game plan.

Haha ok 10 mins before kick off, lightning change in tactic, all week preparation in the bin anyway. Basically everything he does is defended to death, nothing is ever wrong, nothing at all like for example playing Ivanovic today who was at fault for the 2nd goal and nearly gave away another later when he kept backing off.

[pHaRaOn 2,131]

Haha ok 10 mins before kick off, lightning change in tactic, all week preparation in the bin anyway. Basically everything he does is defended to death, nothing is ever wrong, nothing at all like for example playing Ivanovic today who was at fault for the 2nd goal and nearly gave away another later when he kept backing off.

It was about 40 minutes before kick-off and no one talking about completly change of tactic.

[MrBlueGuy 1,552]

It was about 40 minutes before kick-off and no one talking about completly change of tactic.

OK but point still stand how can he gives a reason about Cahill being dropped will help them? 'I think he wasn't that good last week so today I am giving him a break and Kurt a chance', there you go 1 simple line which no one can question.

[zolayes 14,489]

My idea of transition would be bringing in young players to replace older ,, some would claim we are doing this but Im not convinced

[MrBlueGuy 1,552]

My idea of transition would be bringing in young players to replace older ,, some would claim we are doing this but Im not convinced

Well the young are replacing the older...

on the bench

[zolayes 14,489]

Well the young are replacing the older...

on the bench

pity they are not from our academy

[lionsden 4,689]

If he's just going to keep Pocking the same players who have been pit of form for a while and whose performance are costing us and if he's not introducing any new ideas band showing great tactical nous and flexibility over the course of a match then what the heck do we need a manager for, especially one that's earning millions. We could hire the handy man at the bridge to do the job. That's how predictable and stale Jose's team selections and tactics have become. How hard can it be to keep picking the same players and keep playing crap football. Even a well trained robot can do that.

For a manager that apparently only cares about winning, he sure values sentimentality a lot. He would rather pick his favourite players even if the chances of it backfiring is significantly higher.

[cfcs most wanted 657]

You can't follow Chelsea news. If you did you would know he hasn't trained with the squad yet.

That's probably because he is too busy bringing us transfer news.

[Tomo 21,733]

The average age of Mourinho's signings since his return has been 25.8 which includes five 22 or unders brought and put straight in the first team squad, if you count Tibos loan return its six. Could be seven soon with Stones, maybe even eight with Pogba.

The average age of Pellegrinis signings is 27.3 with only one 22 or under signed and put straight into the first team squad.

If Mourinho is a short term manager who only thinks of the here and now, what on earth does that make Greenie?

[HRiver 1,512]

I like how some people here once said City wouldn't be a real threat because they have an ageing squad.

[Polo7 3,496]

I like how some people here once said City wouldn't be a real threat because they have an ageing squad.

Short term is the correct term you are looking for. Only a threat in the short term. Lets face it once Toure retires and Aguero goes to Madrid, Man City's attacking power is pretty much gone.

[Fernando 6,491]

I like how some people here once said City wouldn't be a real threat because they have an ageing squad.

They can start well but you need to wait till December when they are crash out of the CL and falling apart.

Would not surprise me to be honest.

[iseah100 5,612]

Short term is the correct term you are looking for. Only a threat in the short term. Lets face it once Toure retires and Aguero goes to Madrid, Man City's attacking power is pretty much gone.

Aguero isn't going to Real...

[CMS 382]

I think today's performance has been scrutinised well on the forum so i don't have to much to add. What concerns me again is Mourinho's arrogance resurfacing again. Someone said on this forum that Mourinho's refusal to answer a question was genius or some other ridiculous superlative. He's asked a reasonable question ''Why was Cahill dropped? his answer '' I don't have to answer that''. Err yes you do mate you can be rude and brusque with journalists but you do realise that us as Chelsea fans we would like to know these answers as well. And more then anyone else the 3,000 odd fans who went to West Brom for an early kick off in the pissing down rain they should be entitled to answers to what was a basic team selection question.

I don't mean to sound rude or anything, but I think some of us takes ourselves too seriously. To think that a manager owes you or anyone else an explanation towards his selection(s), tips the scale. For the records, he doesn't owe you or anyone diddly squat. He's the manager, if he performs he gets the glory and credit, if he doesn't he gets fired. So unless his firing directly affects your source of income or employment, directly related to the Chelsea organization, your premises are on false grounds.