The Mourinho Thread

[CMS 382]

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

Lol. City plays on emotions, especially when it comes to Chelsea. Well they are not going to play Chelsea 38 times. That squad cannot sustain the rigors of the season.

[Iggy Doonican 4,186]

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.

It's not about taking myself seriously at all mate. I and other fans would like to know one simple question why was Cahill dropped nothing more nothing less. Doesn't owe me or anyone diddly squat?.Not personally no but he's the manager of the team that i've supported through thick and very fucking thin and i'll be supporting them long after he's gone. I met Bobby Campbell (i doubt you would have heard of him mate) a couple of months ago down the Fulham Road and he stopped and talked for a couple of minutes.You see that's what supporting a CLUB is all about it's not an organization mate it's a football club who's roots are in the local community even if those roots are being cut.

I don't recall mentioning Mourinho getting fired but what utter bollocks your saying basically unless it affects me personally i'm not entitled to voice my opinion? False grounds Jesus doesn't directly affect my source of income or employment well that's nothing but a straw man argument.

[Kieran. 6,317]

Aguero isn't going to Real...

Don't see why he wouldn't in the next few years. It's his dream to play there.

[didierforever 7,349]

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.

they have have bought 50mil sterling and looking to buy a 56mil kdb and bought 31 mil otamendi.

their model might be short term but i think they are willing to give double the investment of any other tea,.

[kellzfresh 7,229]

http://www.whoscored.com/Articles/3zcytsnyb0wrvueyhdgacg/Show/Team-Focus-Chelsea-Must-Go-Back-to-Basics-to-Rediscover-Defensive-Assurance

Team Focus: Chelsea Must Go Back to Basics to Rediscover Defensive Assurance

Amid all of the controversies that Jose Mourinho has already initiated this season, and all of the targets that the Chelsea manager has taken aim at, theres one conspicuous issue that has escaped attention.

That is probably because it is one that matters most to him - the defence.

Sure, the Portuguese named some of his backline as underperforming in his last Friday press conference, but only as part of a longer list that he specifically relayed to indicate he was unhappy with the team's performance as a whole.

The comments commanded a lot of attention, but also ensured that Mourinho hasnt had to pay too much attention to that porous backline - at least in public. The reality is that it seems an issue that has gone beyond John Terrys drop in form.

One stat says more than anything. In the three games of this campaign so far, Chelsea have conceded seven goals. That is 47% of all the goals they conceded in the entirety of Mourinhos very first campaign at Stamford Bridge, shipping just 15 in 2004/05.

That title-winning season naturally represented a virtually unrepeatable ideal, but the point is that it also represented an ideal in how Mourinho builds his team - from the back up. He favours defensive assurance above anything else, because it gives guarantees about the least his team can do. If they have that assurance, they will always be in a game, always be competitive.

So far this season, that assurance has evaporated. So its no coincidence that saw one of his teams thrashed by a fellow top-four outfit for basically the first time since he played Pep Guardiola's Barcelona.

Were a long way from the calls of boring, boring Chelsea at the Emirates towards the end of last season. By contrast, their games so far have actually been extremely exciting, precisely because that assurance has given way to so many moments of utter panic. Thats what has been most conspicuous of all. It hasnt just been the amount of goals that Chelsea have conceded. It has been how vulnerable theyve looked to conceding so many more, how often theyve been pushed right to the edge.

In the opening 2-2 draw with Swansea City, Branislav Ivanovic was so regularly ripped apart by Jefferson Montero, and it led to so many hacked clearances and rash challenges in the manner of a mid-table side.

In the emphatic 3-0 defeat to Manchester City, Sergio Aguero simply cut through the defence as if they were some relegation-threatened outfit.

Most recently, in the 3-2 win over West Brom, Chelsea were desperately hanging on in a way they didnt see too often last season. Mourinhos defiant and determined fist pump at the final whistle said so much.

The stats say even more. If the defensive side of Chelseas game has sometimes looked like that of a lower-table side, thats because it [open itals] has [close] been like one.

Mourinhos side have conceded 24 shots on target - the most in the division and one ahead of a hapless Sunderland. That reflects how theyve been so loose and open in general play, but its not just in general play that theyve struggled.

Chelsea have also conceded the most shots from corners in the Premier League, on nine. Given how managers like Mourinho attempt to ensure set-pieces are impeccable as the most basic building blocks of that assurance, theres no clearer sign of how fragile the structure of the team is right now.

The wonder is whether this is just a temporary issue that will level out, or is there something deeper, whether the need for players like John Stones and Ezequiel Garay is more than just about reinforcement?

Ivanovic has shown signs of waning, and Monteros runs meant that he has been dribbled past an average of 2.7 times a game so far - up from 0.4 last season. Terry has meanwhile won just one aerial duel per game, down from 2.6 last season.

Both are closer to the end of their career than the start, but that is not the case with the usually exceptional Nemanja Matic. The unconvincing way he failed to get his body across for James Morrisons first goal at the Hawthorns was just a continuation of how the defensive midfielder is now only making 2.3 tackles per game rather than 3.6.

Given these isolated drops in what would usually be the key abilities of all these players, it is possible that this may just be the fitness issue that Mourinho referred to. Once theyve all adjusted to the altered pre-season, we may well see a return to the old resilience. It may well just be early-season rustiness.

The new signings may also help that process, given that fewer defenders will be physically overstretched.

Mourinho, however, may have to look at the make-up of his side too. With Matic off his best, it is only deepening what had been an existing issue: the midfield is too porous when the centre only features the Serbian and Cesc Fabregas. Chelsea get overrun against attacking sides.

It is little wonder that they are then targeting Paul Pogba. Even if that purchase remains unrealistic, that type of all-action midfielder is exactly what Chelsea need to cover the gaps in such games.

Its just that, right now, there are more gaps arising all over the place in all games.

Mourinho needs to regenerate that assurance.

[kellzfresh 7,229]

The stats are finally reflecting what we see on the pitch. We must drop ivanovic to release the stress on our defense. Bolassie and zaha will prove this again this weekend

[iseah100 5,612]

Don't see why he wouldn't in the next few years. It's his dream to play there.

When? When he's 30? He's 27 and injury prone, he won't go there imo.

[Clockwork 1,794]

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?

Mate the difference is before mou arrived we were building around young players. City is a win now mode, it makes sense to bring in established and older players because their core players like Toure, Silva, Kompany, and Kun window of opportunity is closing. It would be foolish on their part to build a squad for the future when they should focus on winning now.

[xPetrCechx 13,565]

Ex-Inter President Moratti asked if Mourinho or legendary Herrera - the greatest coach Inter had ever had: "Mourinho" #CFC (football-italia)

[Kezza 1,965]

[Blue_Fox_ 2,086]

Ex-Inter President Moratti asked if Mourinho or legendary Herrera - the greatest coach Inter had ever had: "Mourinho" #CFC (football-italia)

His two year spell at Inter was something special, especially his second season! That season Inter was a fantastic team to watch.

[Muzchap 8,966]

Wow

I must say I'm super impressed.

Jose has been slammed for a shit start to the season, his handling of Eva-Gate and now he really is a genius....

He created a few fake twitter accounts, proclaimed the arrival of Pogba and Stones or PogSto as Hollywood would label it and not a single negative post on here

Now, you can argue against his decisions (I often do) - but this is a Masterclass from Jose.

I'm glad I'm old enough and cynical enough to identify this as a possibility - far fetched, but ultimately within the bounds of affordability and logical reasoning

If I was in the PR business - this would be my recommended strategy

Bravo!

[Madmax 9,219]

Wow

I must say I'm super impressed.

Jose has been slammed for a shit start to the season, his handling of Eva-Gate and now he really is a genius....

He created a few fake twitter accounts, proclaimed the arrival of Pogba and Stones or PogSto as Hollywood would label it and not a single negative post on here

Now, you can argue against his decisions (I often do) - but this is a Masterclass from Jose.

I'm glad I'm old enough and cynical enough to identify this as a possibility - far fetched, but ultimately within the bounds of affordability and logical reasoning

If I was in the PR business - this would be my recommended strategy

Bravo!

Jose created Di Marzio? Did he also print out Stones' transfer request and sign it for him?

[BlueLion. 21,491]

http://www.whoscored.com/Articles/3zcytsnyb0wrvueyhdgacg/Show/Team-Focus-Chelsea-Must-Go-Back-to-Basics-to-Rediscover-Defensive-Assurance

24 shots on target conceded, yet we've "only" shipped seven goals, and one of those was a penalty. Shows how outstandingly good Begovic and Thibaut are.

[iseah100 5,612]

24 shots on target conceded, yet we've "only" shipped seven goals, and two of those have been penalties. Shows how outstandingly good Begovic and Thibaut are.

Didn't only one penalty get converted?

[supporter 3,088]

Best photoshop ever!

[Jase 43,479]

Best photoshop ever!

Why is there a Pikachu in the image?

[Styles 9,790]

24 shots on target in 3 games. Have we even managed that ourselves?