The Mourinho Thread

[Iggy Doonican 4,186]

This is ridiculous, we were winning when they had ten men AND we were clearly the better team when they still had eleven.

We were the better team perhaps but if Costa had been sent off it could have gone either way. It was a better performance when it was 11-11 but after Palace or Everton well anything would have been an improvement. Have we turned the corner i'm not convinced. Ivan and Fabregas were better yesterday but i really am not a fan of Fabregas. He reminds me of that quote about Trevor Brooking by Brian Clough '' He floats like a butterfly and stings like one as well''.

[Chelsea Legend 11 4,062]

[kellzfresh 7,229]

Special one spot on yesterday, the players have had a kick up the arris, performed. Right call to drop JT, and Terry will understand perfectly

Sentimental management can bring a good manager down...not this one though. He does what he has to do even though it clearly hurts his heart. He makes the call and isn't afraid of tough decisions.

There will be no Gerrard type players hanging round like bad sentimental smells...

This is what we wanted to see when a lot of us were complaining before, Mourinho's desire to win and dropping anyone who will prevent him from achieving it.

Maybe he didn't need to drop ivanovic and fabregas because he shouted at them to step up their performance and recently fabregas has started giving forward passes putting pedro through on goal and Ivanovic defended better.

[Barbara 15,149]

I don't see how those words have anything to do with JT. He's saying how he would have approached the game if three points weren't absolutely crucial. And we know how he tends to approach big games. With caution and defensive security. He'll gladly take a draw and he'll have his team defend for the most part if he feels the need for it, when he doesn't 'need a win'.

I don't believe in the fantasy of Mourinho wanting to change this team into an attacking machine. He said to that to please fans. That's not where his strength lies and you don't change your way of thinking after 15 years just like that. He'll always be a pragmatist. And that's fine. Roman and the board are the ones that appointed him so they can't complain or fault him. If you want a different kind of football, appoint someone else.

Mourinho mentioned JT's absence and said he has three CBs he trusts. And depending on the match and his tactics, he'll pick two. This game didn't suit JT so he didn't play. Fine explanation, and he won so he's right.

We didn't desperately need the result against Maccabi as they aren't any prowess attacking. We could win even if we played JT.

Nobody said he's changing his team into an attacking machine - although his RM side was an attacking machine, with little pragmatism to the side. I think he could be addressing some of our problems. We need a more pro-active defense, although I struggle to see it with Cahill, but anyway, those are the players we have and he knows that we can't play a high defense line with Terry as he's even slower than usual...

I'm not saying he's changing for real the approach from last season, I'm giving him the benefit of the doubt and the support I think he's earned

[Magic Lamps 11,653]

We were the better team perhaps but if Costa had been sent off it could have gone either way. It was a better performance when it was 11-11 but after Palace or Everton well anything would have been an improvement. Have we turned the corner i'm not convinced. Ivan and Fabregas were better yesterday but i really am not a fan of Fabregas. He reminds me of that quote about Trevor Brooking by Brian Clough '' He floats like a butterfly and stings like one as well''.

It is Diego fucking Costa. He doesn't get sent off. Have you ever seen him red carded? I haven't. No one in the last 3 and a half years has. Arsenal only had a few poor shots on target and only once proper chance by accident. we were in control of the game all the time, we would have been even if they had 12 players. We might not have turned the corner yet, but what is most important in football is confidence and luck and it looks like we got both back. MOurinho masterminded the rest and credit where it is due, it was a sublime tactical display. Most other teams play a low block vs arsenal and park the bus. we did the opposite and played a high line, made the midfield tight and they did not get hold of the ball at all. yes we are far from perfect, but we again showed the intensity you need at this level after it had been missing for weeks if not months. I am not a fan of Fabregas either, but as long as he does what he does best, i am satisfied. he is not a world class midfielder but can deliver world class assists.

[Unionjack 7,531]

Lets put it this way Im happier right now than I was when the season began.

Im not jumping for joy but Im not sitting in the dark with a bottle of Jim Beam listening to Leonard Cohen. My glass is neither 1/2 empty nor 1/2 full. Its just got some liquid in it.

It was a great tho to see them north Londoners crying again, You cant pay for that feeling.

I think we just might be OK.

One thing that I didn't really like was Mou saying Baba wasn't ready for the PL but OK for Europe!

[Iggy Doonican 4,186]

It is Diego fucking Costa. He doesn't get sent off. Have you ever seen him red carded? I haven't. No one in the last 3 and a half years has. Arsenal only had a few poor shots on target and only once proper chance by accident. we were in control of the game all the time, we would have been even if they had 12 players. We might not have turned the corner yet, but what is most important in football is confidence and luck and it looks like we got both back. MOurinho masterminded the rest and credit where it is due, it was a sublime tactical display. Most other teams play a low block vs arsenal and park the bus. we did the opposite and played a high line, made the midfield tight and they did not get hold of the ball at all. yes we are far from perfect, but we again showed the intensity you need at this level after it had been missing for weeks if not months. I am not a fan of Fabregas either, but as long as he does what he does best, i am satisfied. he is not a world class midfielder but can deliver world class assists.

Sorry mate but i'm not convinced. I just can't see us making a serious challenge domestically or in Europe. Something is happening internally and it's not just wild media speculation either. Chelsea have always been a leaky club where rumours are concerned and something is bubbling under the surface. Mourinho's pressers are getting more bizarre the Badmington analogy being the latest weird one. I just don't think he's totally happy and if we lose another couple of games on the spin anytime during the season then what? He looks like he's on the verge of telling the press to fuck off as it is.

As for yesterday granted we were the better team but it was a long overdue improvement on what has been an awful start to the season. But the big question is what next?. We can hardly go for the pragmatic dogged approach when we are already eight points behind City. But the chances of us playing free flowing football are non existent as well. We've got Newcastle next Saturday and we should go there and rip them to shreds high intensity football from minute one against a team bottom of the league and looking like relegation fodder. Will that happen? Will it bollocks.

[DYC. 7,542]

We didn't desperately need the result against Maccabi as they aren't any prowess attacking. We could win even if we played JT.

Nobody said he's changing his team into an attacking machine - although his RM side was an attacking machine, with little pragmatism to the side. I think he could be addressing some of our problems. We need a more pro-active defense, although I struggle to see it with Cahill, but anyway, those are the players we have and he knows that we can't play a high defense line with Terry as he's even slower than usual...

I'm not saying he's changing for real the approach from last season, I'm giving him the benefit of the doubt and the support I think he's earned

Maccabi doesn't count. Awful team. Chels should win that match with ease with any backline. It's impossible not to play attacking football with Galactico Real and it is demanded. But the football wasn't great. They were at their best when transitioning, exploiting mistakes. When they faced defensive teams and parked buses, they weren't so fantastic (obviously envious of Barca). A bit of caution in big games, sometimes a lot caution. That's not good enough for them.

Mourinho made promises of changing Chelsea's identity. Turning the team into one playing attacking football. He even said something like if I don't manage to do so you can blame me or I did not do my job. Something like that. Nice words, telling people what they want to hear.

It's not criticism. Mourinho is Mourinho. You know what you're getting.

[Barbara 15,149]

Maccabi doesn't count. Awful team. Chels should win that match with ease with any backline. It's impossible not to play attacking football with Galactico Real and it is demanded. But the football wasn't great. They were at their best when transitioning, exploiting mistakes. When they faced defensive teams and parked buses, they weren't so fantastic (obviously envious of Barca). A bit of caution in big games, sometimes a lot caution. That's not good enough for them.

Mourinho made promises of changing Chelsea's identity. Turning the team into one playing attacking football. He even said something like if I don't manage to do so you can blame me or I did not do my job. Something like that. Nice words, telling people what they want to hear.

It's not criticism. Mourinho is Mourinho. You know what you're getting.

exactly my point, he could have played JT, but he still didn't.

I see changes, a lot more chances to youngsters, even in the Premier League, I see him touching last season's untouchables, I see him changing the approach from his every day-system. It's early days and he could stop doing those things instead of carrying on. I hope it's the latter though.

[Blue_Fox_ 2,086]

If he keeps doing little changes here and there with some youth in it, it's going to benefit the club immensely.
Those people who said that our lack of transfer activity could be a blessing in disguise were right.

[iseah100 5,612]

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho: 'Arsenal should be winning the Premier League title'

http://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/chelsea-boss-jose-mourinho-arsenal-should-be-winning-the-premier-league-title-a2951696.html

He's right. With that squad and the money they have spent the last few summers.

[Special Juan 27,424]

He was in full flow again in the PC after the game.

[guddy6969 188]

http://metro.co.uk/2015/09/21/arsenal-fans-actually-decide-to-boycott-costa-coffee-after-diego-costa-was-not-sent-off-for-chelsea-5401028/

Boycott COSTA coffee... :0)

[Iggy Doonican 4,186]

http://metro.co.uk/2015/09/21/arsenal-fans-actually-decide-to-boycott-costa-coffee-after-diego-costa-was-not-sent-off-for-chelsea-5401028/

Boycott COSTA coffee... :

Just when you think a group of people can't get more banal and childish here's the proof they can. # Arsenal Fans Ruining Social Media Since 2010.

[pachman40 357]

I'm always entertained to read people's tactical analysis of our games, or their gameplans going into the next matchup. We should've pushed for a second goal, we should never sit back and keep pushing, why does Mikel even dress he shouldn't be anywhere near the squad. We should attack, we should play a high line, we should press press press, we should go to Newcastle with high intensity football and rip them to shreds.

It's as if Chelsea are the only team on the field and Jose's decisions should be made in this dream world where our tactics are not countered by opposition managers, where other teams don't have strengths that exploit our weaknesses, where our player's mentality and maturity is unquestionable.

Chelsea doesn't play games in a vacuum. There are two teams that are trying to get results. Sometimes Jose's tactics and team selection will suit the supporter's views like the CL game last week, other times we will rant and rave that the guy is an imbecile. I'm not a blind JM lover, the guy makes many questionable decisions where reasonable debate can be had over whether or not he was high at the time or just plain stupid. But I can step back and analyze what his reasoning was for that decision. For the most part, to generalize, he chooses the safe option more than I would like and sometimes it blows up in his face (playing 2 DM's against Everton). When he's wrong, he's wrong, but WHY did he choose that option? if people look beyond the black and white facts and analyze the leadup instead of blindly saying this is what we've got to do and screw off with whatever the other guys are going to do, then the decisions become tougher and it's easier to understand why some head-scratchers happen.

Again, even with all the above things being noted, sometimes he's off in his own world and its indefensible, but let's all keep a little more perspective not just when things are bad, but also when things are good.

[Adnane 1,101]

@pachman40,

[TheOneChan95 225]

exactly my point, he could have played JT, but he still didn't.

I see changes, a lot more chances to youngsters, even in the Premier League, I see him touching last season's untouchables, I see him changing the approach from his every day-system. It's early days and he could stop doing those things instead of carrying on. I hope it's the latter though.

I was honestly shocked when he put Kenedy and RLC on when we were losing against CP. If that isn't change I don't know what is. I think he is trying his best to slowly phase out our low block as well as integrate youngsters without sacrificing results.

[kellzfresh 7,229]

I was honestly shocked when he put Kenedy and RLC on when we were losing against CP. If that isn't change I don't know what is. I think he is trying his best to slowly phase out our low block as well as integrate youngsters without sacrificing results.

People were so concerned about our poor form that we didn't notice it. Hopefully we continue pressing to sustain the high line, attacking with intensity and play compact as a team (attacking together and defending together)

We need more energetic players to keep that going though, so the younger players should be getting more chances.