The Mourinho Thread

[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.

[ulvhedin 508]

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.

Belgium national team also has problem with attacking full-backs, and also is suffering badly when cant play counter attack. If not good counter they have to rely on Bruyne or Hazard moment of magic.

[blues.bridge 343]

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.

i don't want pep! there are at least two menager better or at least on par: klopp, schmidt, (other: tuchel, simoene, etc)

[Heisenberg 1,824]

i don't want pep! there are at least two menager better or at least on par: klopp, schmidt, (other: tuchel, simoene, etc)

Fair enough, its my personal choice, I admire Bayern's coach for his consistency, choices, personality ( way better tha mou's ) and football knowledge, plus he is a big name, what Chelsea needs.

[Iggy Doonican 4,186]

This is from Wikipedia on micro management any similarities with our manager are pure coincidence !!!!

Rather than giving general instructions on smaller tasks and then devoting time to supervising larger concerns, the micromanager monitors and assesses every step of a business process and avoids delegation of decisions.^[6] Micromanagers are usually irritated when a subordinate makes decisions without consulting them, even if the decisions are within the subordinate's level of authority.

Micromanagement also frequently involves requests for unnecessary and overly detailed reports ("reportomania"). A micromanager tends to require constant and detailed performance feedback and to focus excessively on procedural trivia (often in detail greater than they can actually process) rather than on overall performance, quality and results. This focus on "low-level" trivia often delays decisions, clouds overall goals and objectives, restricts the flow of information between employees, and guides the various aspects of a project in different and often opposed directions. Many micromanagers accept such inefficiencies as less important than their retention of control or of the appearance of control.

It is common for micromanagers, especially those who exhibit narcissistic tendencies and/or micromanage deliberately and for strategic reasons, to delegate work to subordinates and then micromanage those subordinates' performance, enabling the micromanagers in question to both take credit for positive results and shift the blame for negative results to their subordinates.^[7] These micromanagers thereby delegate accountability for failure but not the authority to take alternative actions that would have led to success or at least to the mitigation of that failure.

The most extreme cases of micromanagement constitute a management pathology closely related to, e.g., workplace bullying and narcissistic behavior. Micromanagement resembles addiction in that although most micromanagers are behaviorally dependent on control over others, both as a lifestyle and as a means of maintaining that lifestyle, many of them fail to recognize and acknowledge their dependence even when everyone around them observes it

.^[1]

Some severe cases of micromanagement arise from other underlying mental-health conditions such as obsessive–compulsive personality disorder, although not all allegations of such conditions by subordinates and other "armchair psychologists" are accurate.

Although micromanagement is often easily recognized by employees, micromanagers rarely view themselves as such. In a form of denial similar to that found in addictive behavior, micromanagers will often rebut allegations of micromanagement by offering a competing characterization of their management style as, e.g., "structured", "organized", or "perfectionistic

[Clevemayer 764]

Fair enough, its my personal choice, I admire Bayern's coach for his consistency, choices, personality ( way better tha mou's ) and football knowledge, plus he is a big name, what Chelsea needs.

I think I must temporarily stop watching chels if this prick is on the sidelines... I would prefer klopp above all...

[blues.bridge 343]

Fair enough, its my personal choice, I admire Bayern's coach for his consistency, choices, personality ( way better tha mou's ) and football knowledge, plus he is a big name, what Chelsea n

all you said is right, but in my opinion pep isn't suitable for the our bench.

[Clevemayer 764]

I would bet MUFC and Arsenal Fans are having a good laugh when watching this chelsea forum at the moment...

[Heisenberg 1,824]

I think I must temporarily stop watching chels if this prick is on the sidelines... I would prefer klopp above all...

Telling me that Pep is a prick without telling why makes your comment useless.

all you said is right, but in my opinion pep isn't suitable for the our bench.

He can of course make an AVB-esque style of coaching, or simply get hammered by the Premier League's level, but again, hiring someone is always risky, atleast we know that he preach creative attacking football, and he is extremly talented for that, respectful of fellow managers & teams, would make us a more lovable team worldwide if he implements his style, and above all, ally titles with beatiful play.He also has a lot of experience and will only get better, for sure, but he is too intelligent to choose us over City, CIty is a dream job compared to Chelsea.

[Gappy 130]

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

Agree, It's more like a joke that we want a long term manager

We can't even patient for the one who just give us a champion than half season

How can we patient enough to wait 1-2 seasons for a long term manager to establish his philosophy

All of our fan this day was expect only champion every season win every match and told that this is nows chelsea standard

Come on look at our squad depth compare too city or utd . Do we really outclass them that bad since our board fail in this summer market the gaps was really close between we and them and i can say that city squad was far better than us now , utd was invest very high amount their midfield was far better choice than us.

It's 40/40/20 fault Board/Jose/Players imo

And btw

Kloop take 2 full season before get the titles and that first 2 season he finish at sixth and fifth places

Do you really believe he'll give a chance to manage our team if he come and finish sixth at the first season? and then last season with that result is he still a long term manager?

7 years with 56.29% win ratio 2 titles 3 german community shield 1 domestic cup

Did he fit us that bad ?

Chelsea fans this era never ever need a " long term " manager

Jose philosophy just didn't entertain our fans anymore that's it, our fans need someone that provide us a titles,cups, glory with attacking football

Sound like Read madrid too me ....

For all the point is did we really patient enough and wanna risk 2-3 seasons for someone that they are " long term " manager?

I Don't believe Roman or our franchise can

[lionsden 4,689]

He has to go.

Mourinho just isn't your long-term manager, as much as I'd love him to be one. He comes in your club when it's in bad position, crates "us against them" mentality, motivates players and wins trophies by playing defensive football. Then he loses it. The players are tired after playing all the matches in the previous season, motivation drops because trophies were won, there is no rotation - the same players play every match, players that don't play feel alienated. Young players (besides few) feel like they have no future at the club. Bad results come and some players (usually leaders - Casillas, JT) express their disappointment just to receive harsh treatment and isolation from the manager. Some players that are Mourinho's favorite stand by his side and this causes even more drama in the club.

Mourinho is like a match, he lights brightly and burns quickly. We need a candle.

Excellent analogy

[DYC. 7,542]

It is common for micromanagers, especially those who exhibit narcissistic tendencies and/or micromanage deliberately and for strategic reasons, to delegate work to subordinates and then micromanage those subordinates' performance, enabling the micromanagers in question to both take credit for positive results and shift the blame for negative results to their subordinates.^[7] These micromanagers thereby delegate accountability for failure but not the authority to take alternative actions that would have led to success or at least to the mitigation of that failure.

The entire thing was hilarious but this is my favourite part.

[DYC. 7,542]

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

No way. The squad is good. Only City possess a better squad and it's not like they're miles ahead in terms of talent either. He just needs to find a way to turn things around.

Besides, any decent manager can book succes by buying a host of players every year.

[Henrique 9,133]

http://www.espnfc.com/club/chelsea/363/blog/post/2638970/jose-mourinho-attacking-weakness-has-been-exposed

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

Chelsea first team manager Jose Mourinho says two ridiculous mistakes cost them the match against former club Porto.

This time, and much like on the pitch, Jose Mourinho didn't quite go totally on the offensive.

Sure, after his Chelsea side lost 2-1 to FC Porto because of a Maicon goal from a set-piece, the Portuguese described it as "ridiculous."

"For us, it's a ridiculous mistake," Mourinho said. "We watch dozens and dozens of repetitions of Porto taking corners. I thought we were completely ready for that."

Mourinho, however, wasn't quite ready to go that bit further. He checked himself.

"I don't think my players deserve me to be critical with them, apart from the two mistakes they made. Two mistakes cost us the game."

Mourinho is fundamentally right. Two mistakes did decide the game, and they point to one of the biggest differences from last season and basically all of the manager's best teams: Chelsea can no longer defend; there is a porousness about them that you just wouldn't associate with the Portuguese.

It has drastically lowered their standard of performance this season, but it also raises another problem, and one that is arguably much more important and much more deep-rooted: Chelsea don't score enough to compensate for their poor defence, because they just don't create enough chances. It is getting pretty stark and has escaped exposure so far because of a range of other issues.

Mourinho certainly hasn't mentioned it this season, but then to do so might be to accept a few home truths about himself. He has a career-long problem with creative football. Chelsea may no longer be able to defend, but he's never really been able to attack in the way that befits his otherwise justifiable status as one of the best coaches in the game. It is perhaps his single greatest flaw as a manager, although the real concern might be that he doesn't even see it that way.

Jose Mourinho's Chelsea stumbled to another defeat, this time to his former club FC Porto.

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.

That has been consistent with this campaign and should be an increasing concern.

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. That is not a surprise if you watch the patterns of their games.

Against Porto, it often seemed as if the general idea was just to get the ball high up the pitch -- usually through Willian or Ramires just running with the it -- and hope for some individual play to come off. Costa actually tried his best to make that happen through some fine runs, and he had one of his best pure football performances in some time, but he was starved of aid and service.

The ESPN FC crew discuss Jose Mourinho's squad choices after their latest defeat against FC Porto in the UEFA Champions League.

That has also been a pattern of this season, and that is why this goes way beyond all the commotion about Eden Hazard getting dropped. Chelsea's personnel may change, but the staleness and predictability remains.

It was the same on Saturday against Newcastle United. When the Chelsea's most advanced six players had the ball, they encountered one of two problems.

The first was all of the other five were usually way too far away, with huge gaps between them, in a way that greatly contrasted with last season's tightly connected cohesion.

Cesc Fabregas at one point had the ball in the centre circle, but there wasn't a Chelsea player within 30 yards of him. That made it much easier for Newcastle to hound him down.

The second problem was that Chelsea were matching none of the opposition's movement. It was not just that they were so far away, but how stationary they were. There were a number of occasions when one Chelsea attacker had the ball but only had teammates effectively standing still watching him. With no one making a move that would actually open space or create angle, he was usually forced to try dribble forward with it, but that usually ended down a blind alley.

This may be Mourinho's big blind spot. How do you expect to open teams or create with that set-up, that lack of movement, and that evident lack of instruction about what they should be doing going forward?

It also seems to prove what many say about his coaching. Sources close to Chelsea players state that, for all the sophistication of most of his training, the drills and plans relating to attack are extremely basic. Last season, it amounted to getting the ball to Hazard and trusting the rest of the attackers to be good enough and clever enough to play off him.

It is a world away from the craft of Pep Guardiola's attacking approach, but it can still work if players are on form or if the defence is tight enough so you don't need many goals.

That is precisely why Mourinho's problem with creativity has become more pronounced than ever.

The attackers are off-form, meaning they can't compensate for the lack of collective design with their individual play, and the defence has fallen apart, meaning one or two goals are no longer enough to win games.

It will probably mean that trying to rely on the same restrained game plans is not enough to win trophies this season. He'll have to do something else.

Mourinho's best qualities of defensive resilience and psychological intensity are failing him, so his worst flaw has been laid bare.

It is time for the Chelsea manager to front up about it.

Miguel Delaney is a London-based correspondent for ESPN FC and also writes for the Irish Examiner and others. Follow him on Twitter @MiguelDelaney.