The Mourinho Thread

[Muzchap 8,966]

I think that even Mou didn't expect that so many players will play so shit this season, after winning the league last year...

His coaching and preparation are also factors

Yes you can't just blame the manager, you can't also just blame the players - but the dynamic is no longer working between them - that is clear for all to see.

So either one or both need to change ASAP (voluntarily), or an enforced change will likely occur.

[Pizy 19,377]

Chelsea's poor defence has exposed Jose Mourinho's lack of attacking nous

Jose Mourinho scapegoating Oscar, Loic Remy and John Terry sends shockwaves through Chelsea squad

Grim reading. And all true.

[RoyalBlues 4,050]

This is successful season after effects. In my opinion it is all starting from Cech decision, etc, etc and in the end Pogba rejection. All of that were series of 'unfortunate' events.

Looking forward to January window, for a change. For sure next season we will be back.

[DYC. 7,542]

Chelsea's poor defence has exposed Jose Mourinho's lack of attacking nous

Jose Mourinho scapegoating Oscar, Loic Remy and John Terry sends shockwaves through Chelsea squad

Consider some of his other comments after the Porto game:

"The players reacted in a positive way and tried to get a result," Mourinho said. "Diego [Costa] hit the post. [branislav] Ivanovic had a chance with an open goal, one metre from goal. There was a clear penalty in the last situation. We reacted well."

That is an incredibly generous spin, especially given the fact that Porto had just shown them what attacking really should be about.

For spells of football either side of the Maicon goal, Julen Lopetegui's side were absolutely battering Chelsea, through all manner of moves. They were crossing, creating interchanges, cutting through. Whatever the approach, the consequence was Asmir Begovic and the rest of the Chelsea backline struggling to beat the ball away under the sheer force of the onslaught.

Compare that to what Chelsea were doing, and the chances that Mourinho outlined.

The first, the Costa shot that hit the bar, was an opportunistic effort from way out. The second, the Ivanovic miss, was from a set-piece. The third, right at the end, was born from desperation rather than design, and that is the key point.

None of these opportunities saw Chelsea actually open up Porto through interchanges or moves. Even their goal, through Willian, came from a freakishly good free kick, rather than free play.

This is what kills me.

[The Mak 4,459]

Chelsea's poor defence has exposed Jose Mourinho's lack of attacking nous

Jose Mourinho scapegoating Oscar, Loic Remy and John Terry sends shockwaves through Chelsea squad

If Mourinho was going to scapegoat Oscar at every opportunity I'm not sure why he wasn't sold to Juve for a pretty penny during the summer. At this rate he'll be sold next summer but for much, much less...all thanks to the man-mangement magic of José Mourinho.

[Jase 43,479]

This is what kills me.

This is equally damning as well.

A breakdown of the goals they have scored in the Premier League so far this season is telling. Of those 11, two have been crossed free kicks that wrong-footed the goalkeeper; two have been ludicrously good long shots; two have been own goals from ludicrously pronounced deflections; and one has been a header from a set-piece.

So the vast majority of their goals have not come from constructive play or attacking patterns.

[Muzchap 8,966]

This is what kills me.

Me too!

We have the attacking prowess of a blind, asthmatic snail

[Muzchap 8,966]

This is what kills me.

Me too!

We have the attacking prowess of a blind, asthmatic snail

[DYC. 7,542]

This is equally damning as well.

True. I already knew about that so I wasn't surprised when pointed out. It's really bad.

The quality of Chelsea's attacking play has always been disappointing to me but the defensive problems are something else. Failing in both sides of the game. Mourinho has a lot of work to do. Probably too much to save the season.

Me too!

We have the attacking prowess of a blind, asthmatic snail

Yup. I have to say, I think Delaney was spot on with his article.

But I still have hope.

Someone get Hazard a can of spinache.

[DYC. 7,542]

If Mourinho was going to scapegoat Oscar at every opportunity I'm not sure why he wasn't sold to Juve for a pretty penny during the summer. At this rate he'll be sold next summer but for much, much less...all thanks to the man-mangement magic of José Mourinho.

Tbf, that piece is based on pure speculation. No quotes, not even a mention of 'sources at the club'. Juve were interested, that's undeniable, but we don't know whether they made a bid.

They're bargain hunters anyway. Doubt they could/would make a good offer.

[Blue Colored Sky 1,807]

Chelsea's poor defence has exposed Jose Mourinho's lack of attacking nous

So true. I just can't comprehend how you cannot train attacking patterns. When I see Pedro who has to beat his man, one or two, to make something happens something is very wrong. Because Pedro's dribbling is not great and he lives by movement that's why he is next to useless now.

And also lack of attacking full-backs just proves the point. Every decent club and country play with two recognized full-backs who bomb forward but some genius figured out that they're all wrong and plays with RB on the left and CB on the right. You just deprive yourself of two potential contributors in attack. I even saw that in Pedro when he was waiting for Ivanovic because he is used to Dani Alves making run. Then he doesn't see him and start dribbling and loses the ball.

Also this article suggests through "sources close to the club" that our tactic last season was indeed giving ball to Hazard and see what happens.

[Gilvorak 3,734]

People are still blaming the players. We're currently battling relegation not on the fringes of Top 4.

[Styles 9,790]

Chelsea's poor defence has exposed Jose Mourinho's lack of attacking nous

Yikes.

[quickpassnmove 924]

Chelsea's poor defence has exposed Jose Mourinho's lack of attacking nous

Jose Mourinho scapegoating Oscar, Loic Remy and John Terry sends shockwaves through Chelsea squad

dribbling down blind alleys, creating nothing from open play and interplay... also, too SLOW.

When these things go away, I will enjoy Chelsea's football. However, I've been waiting for years for this to go away and for Chelsea to consistently pass quickly and readily to teammates getting quickly into open space or beyond opposition defence. So many times, it's like a dream that Chelsea will never realize, so I just watch some other clubs play for that --ie. "real football."

flowing football won't be realized under Jose. the enjoyable Chelsea that I want to see needs a fresh manager and coaching staff. now, Chelsea can't even grind out wins in their typical boring fashion.

Time to dump the manager.

[xPetrCechx 13,598]

[kellzfresh 7,229]

I dare say many TC members did see the risk in not strengthening during the summer and, I think, people here were saying Iva isn't good enough even before last season.

Exactly.

I seriously advocated for improvement on the current players we have, because last season we had hunger to win the league, we had drogba who motivated hazard and co saying it's been too long since we won a major trophy. But no one anticipated that so many of our players would individually be so poor this season. Look at how slow jt and Iva have become, look at Matic struggling to get successful tackles, look at fabregas mobility, look at hazard forgetting how to dribble, Oscar not fit, costa technically poor and all this happened at the same time.

We have practically turned to David Moyes Manchester United

[LDN Blue 7,903]

I just find it entirely pointless to sack Mourinho. For who? For someone who's likely to come in for anywhere between 6-18months, just to be shown the damn door again? I find it hilarious people talk about Ancelotti when he did the same thing here, won the double and sacked the season after. While Mourinho's got his own demons to battle this season in terms of his own tactics, this squad evidently needs another overhaul. I still believe in the guy lol, don't think there's anyone else better for us

[MrExcalibur100 7,124]

dribbling down blind alleys, creating nothing from open play and interplay... also, too SLOW.

When these things go away, I will enjoy Chelsea's football. However, I've been waiting for years for this to go away and for Chelsea to consistently pass quickly and readily to teammates getting quickly into open space or beyond opposition defence. So many times, it's like a dream that Chelsea will never realize, so I just watch some other clubs play for that --ie. "real football."

flowing football won't be realized under Jose. the enjoyable Chelsea that I want to see needs a fresh manager and coaching staff. now, Chelsea can't even grind out wins in their typical boring fashion.

Time to dump the manager.

Very good article by Miguel Delaney. Finally, a sports journalist who is able to understand our biggest problem. Straight to the crux of the matter, cutting through the rest of the half-truths and faux diagnosis out there.

[Heisenberg 1,824]

Bring in Pep Guardiola, the best manager in the world.If Roman wants José to go in furry then he needs to go for Pep, that will fix our season's problems.

[MrExcalibur100 7,124]

Really loving that article by Miguel Delaney. It mirrors a lot of what some members have posted here before concerning Mourinho's technical and tactical competence.