The Mourinho Thread

[Rhino's Skin 972]

For the time being, Mourinho needs to guarantee we stay in Europe, whether it is Champions League or Europa until February. Then hopefully in January, we are able to spend big, we need 2-3 great players come January. Then hopefully our squad is well enough to win Europa/CL from February onwards. Hopefully we can win the FA cup as well.

we are already guaranteed football in Europe come February

[Rhino's Skin 972]

If a high profile manager such as Ancellotti comes in and the remit is to win trophies and be in CL at earliest possibility, then we will be worse off with regards to fringe players and youth coming through.

A new manager with that remit will just want to buy instant successs and although Mourinho doesnt promote many players through the ranks, it could be worse

[quickpassnmove 924]

really wish this crap manager would leave so football can be enjoyed again. I don't even really care to turn on my TV at the weekends for the PL. Liverpool are more interesting even if they don't have a superb lineup.

[Stats 7,230]

Hazard has 0 goals in 20 odd matches. He's been worse than Oscar this season. Couldn't it be the same tactics that are killing Hazard are also affecting the other players? People bring up Mata, De Bruyne but they were just as shit under Mourinho as derided players like Salah and Lukaku who are succeeding elsewhere.

Even the much praised Willian hasn't been that great this season outside set pieces. Mourinho hasn't developed a single non defender since his arrival here.

I get you love Oscar but can you just accept that we can do much better than him. What has he actually offered us this season and for majority of last season? Medicore displays. Today just took it to another level. There is a reason Oscar got subbed off at H/T. Not just because he was poor but I think Mourinho realised himslef that Oscar was not actually going to do anything in attack.

Hazard's goal return has been poor this season and he has been poor but he has been a lot better than Oscar. Hazard was our best player against Arsebal, Stoke, Norwich and changed the game second half against Newcastle. West Brom was very good too. Oscar had one good game against Swansea and put in a good defensive performance against Arsenal. That is about it.

Yeah, Moruinho does fuck up our attacking players but Oscar has not shown signs of his 'potential' for a long while now and I am sick of it.

[samzilla 517]

Sigh, I don't even know what to think anymore.

The board didn't do us any favours by essentially standing pat in the summer, however it's not a reason to be *this* bad. This is beyond the pale and I just don't know what to think anymore.

If Jose doesn't go, I hope we break the winter transfer record and get some real help in for this squad.

[0007 511]

Guys,don't panic,that's all part of Jose's plan.The thing is...he has achieved almost everything in the PL and now it's time to prove himself in an even harder and more competitive scene - the Championship.In the meantime, he is gonna bless us with the glory of being the first back-to-back CL winners.Then he retires at 54 as the gretest of all time.An amazing master-plan ,don't you think?

Nah,who am i kidding - sack him now!!!

[Pizy 19,377]

Just so unbelievably depressing thinking back on last season. It's incomprehensible how our entire team has gone to absolute shit so quickly. All that talk of building upon a team that could dominate for years and the euphoria of winning the title. Thinking about the possibility of having a superb spine that can grow together and compete for everything.

- COSTA was a revelation and we all thought that if he could stay fit he'd be even better this season. He has been terrible.

- FABREGAS led the league in assists and we all figured he'd change how we played going forward and be the perfect fit next to Matic. After his traditional second half slump I just thought "hey, after a nice holiday in the summer he'll return to his best." Nope, he looks like a 60 year old man out there now. Just embarrassingly bad. The most shocking of all our players this season.

- OSCAR was average last season and after José saying he expected Oscar to have a Hazard-esque evolution this season I was ready to see him explode. He looks like he's regressed considerably instead. He goes hiding almost every match. A #10 who isn't creative and who doesn't score either these days.

- MATIC was the best DM in England from the time he rejoined until about midsession last year. He still has a beast of a performance here and there now but he doesn't look like himself any more. Can't be too hard on him because he's left doing so much work and picking up so much slack for the terrible Fabregas.

- IVANOVIC, though divisive here last season was still the league's best RB. Over night he has aged 5 years and is terrible. Inexplicable.

- CAHILL & ZOUMA for me are both complimentary CB's who require a top class partner to help them. They're a mistake waiting to happen at all times. Cahill in particular is shocking in most things other than "hero defending" in desperate situations. When he has someone running at him he's useless. Zouma can't play the ball to save his life and just hoofs it out of play at any sign of a player coming near him.

- HAZARD & WILLIAN are the only two players I can praise this season. No, Hazard isn't playing at nearly the level he was last season but he's dangerous as hell most of the time. It often looks like he's a level or three above his teammates and you can tell it hurts him when they aren't playing at his level. Willian has finally become more dangerous and influential in the final third which we've all wanted for years and it comes when the rest of the team is shit.

Other than poor management and tactics how can all of this have happen virtually overnight? All of the same players who just dominated the PL are now near the relegation zone. It just makes no fucking sense. HOW!?

The club needs something to reinvigorate it and make the players feel like there's light at the end of the tunnel.

[Kezza 1,965]

This is the game that I've changed my stance on Jose..he's doing nothing for this club. His off field antics and poor performances are bringing this club down

[Last Sicarius 610]

Maybe he just wants to win new trophy in championship? :v

[Blue-in-me-Veins 4,067]

I guess Emery would be an interesting choice but despite the Europa League success he's enjoyed, his defensive set-up leaves a lot to be desired IMO. And that's not good enough for the highest level. I know it's only one example but I think the goal De Bruyne scored against Sevilla in the last minute in the game at the Etihad sums it up well. A positive approach by Sevilla in trying to find the winner, you could argue, but I'd say it was incredibly amateur and naive. The less said about the game at the Sanchez-Pizjuan between the two sides, the better. Of course it's hard to criticise Emery given that he coaches attacking football and is afforded a very limited budget but for me, at least, it's clear that there are better alternatives.

No doubt I see those same errors too. I came away with the same thoughts after their away match at the Etihad, but like i mentioned earlier, all managers have their faults.

Pellegrino only coaches one side of the ball, and is incredibly naive when it comes to approaching European matches.

There aren't many managers who are pragmatic across Europe, or even at the other top clubs. Carlo, Pellers, Wenger, Pep, Luis Garcia, all die with their philosophy till the bitter end, and hope their players are better than yours on that given day and que sera sera. I'm personally not a fan of that approach, but a shift in ideology is definitely needed at Chelsea. And if it means witnessing more 3-3 draws, and 3-2 losses, than we are accustomed to witnessing as Chelsea fans, so be it. Too much attacking talent, is being wasted right now. A lot of our players technical ability is regressing. We need to give the expansive approach a proper go, (AVB's try was sabotaged and doesn't really count imo). A style of football that plays to the strengths of Hazard/Cesc and our tremendous talent in the youth ranks is needed.

Hiring a Sampaoli/Simeone type is not too different from the JM school of football. Obviously they have been more successful than the latter in recent years, and have been very effective in properly implementing their style, but the pragmatism is still very much there. And tbh, we will continue to be poor defensively until we properly revamp our defense. Azpi and Zouma are the only players capable of winning 1v1 duels on a consistent basis, which is needed for all great defenses. JT/Ivan/Cahill just do not cut it. That's the way I see it.

Who would be you ideal choice to succeed JM?

[Muzchap 8,966]

Man...

That moment when you called it and hoped you'd never be proven correct.

Yes, I have slated Mourinho and logically (to me) along with others (you know who you are ) analysed and pinpointed all of the weaknesses.

But seeing it unfold is just more horrible and painful than I care to experience

I think he has to go before Xmas, give another manager a Jan window (maybe to call back some players out on loan)

We could conceivably fail to finish in the top half of the league.

Just abysmal.

[quickpassnmove 924]

No doubt I see those same errors too. I came away with the same thoughts after their away match at the Etihad, but like i mentioned earlier, all managers have their faults.

Pellegrino only coaches one side of the ball, and is incredibly naive when it comes to approaching European matches.

There aren't many managers who are pragmatic across Europe, or even at the other top clubs. Carlo, Pellers, Wenger, Pep, Luis Garcia, all die with their philosophy till the bitter end, and hope their players are better than yours on that given day and que sera sera. I'm personally not a fan of that approach, but a shift in ideology is definitely needed at Chelsea. And if it means witnessing more 3-3 draws, and 3-2 losses, than we are accustomed to witnessing as Chelsea fans, so be it. Too much attacking talent, is being wasted right now. A lot of our players technical ability is regressing. We need to give the expansive approach a proper go, (AVB's try was sabotaged and doesn't really count imo). A style of football that plays to the strengths of Hazard/Cesc and our tremendous talent in the youth ranks is needed.

Hiring a Sampaoli/Simeone type is not too different from the JM school of football. Obviously they have been more successful than the latter in recent years, and have been very effective in properly implementing their style, but the pragmatism is still very much there. And tbh, we will continue to be poor defensively until we properly revamp our defense. Azpi and Zouma are the only players capable of winning 1v1 duels on a consistent basis, which is needed for all great defenses. JT/Ivan/Cahill just do not cut it. That's the way I see it.

Who would be you ideal choice to succeed JM?

yeah: wasting attacking talent. the talent we didn't really have when Drogba was still young enough.

The lineup today with a better RB, another CB, a different CM WITH a different manager WOULD DO WELL RIGHT NOW --but, Costa is questionable until we see him under a different manager. I still think he's weak and a terrible liability for his behavior though.

dunno who the manager should be. I've been watching less and less football in the past few years. My thought is take someone the age of Bournemouth's manager (the AVB age).

[bababoom 4,478]

The same old turgid football week in week out for almost a year now.. appalling, not to mention the negative energy Jose brings and his reluctance to bring youth through. In an ideal world we all would like some stability, but Ferguson was an anomaly, it's unheard of especially in the modern era. Bayern, Real, City, Barca all manage to win stuff while frequently replacing managers. My main gripe now is that we may lose our most talented youth prospects because of Jose and his reluctance to play them even though our senior squad have been utter trash since the start of the season. Jose is a short term manager, he creates a siege mentality that only last for a season or two, doesn't rotate and plays ultra defensive football. This works for a while but the players end up getting fatigued and fed up with his small time tactics. Just for the record i was one of Jose' biggest supporters on this forum, it saddens me to say this but enough's enough.

[didierforever 7,349]

The midfield isn't up for it, neither is the defense, imo.

Since the season has started, the defense is a bit higher up the pitch, didn't work out so well.

Willian is playing great stuff, but his style of play often slows us down, Hazard is a similar case.

Pedro is a luxury player, meaning, he needs the passes, but no one is able to send him on his way.

Yes, we can't buy 3 three points only because of his achievements made in the past, that's true.

Do we really have no performance-orientated society in the squad?

Why did he drop some players in the recent months?

I can agree that we could use more players, but some competition is there.

Yes, i think you will come out swinging and point the finger at Ivanovic.

Would Zouma been the better choice? Baba wasn't match fit, at least Mourinho said that, can't find out, but i believe him.

We need to take a look at the bigger picture; some players are important, not just because the way they are currently playing, but rather they offer different things to the team. They help others out and have great character within the team.

Why do you think Van Gaal doesn't drop Rooney? Because there is more than some performances,

Neville didn't mention it in his analyses, it's always been about tactic and mistakes,

we'll see how he handles the situation in Sevilla.

Personally speaking, i would have dropped Ivanovic a bit earlier, but Mourinho knows his stuff, imo.

Everyone wants the best for the club and team, sometimes disagreements have to happen in the family.

Once again there is a rift between the fans, at least in the stadium it's not that hostile.

midfield is not upto it cos we have 2 players playing who cant pass the ball, defence has been exposed and attack is non-existent. so what exactly is jose doing? its been 3 months. 3 months of relegation form.

sorry, but these are nothing but excuses. and bad ones at that.

how can baba be match fit when we dont give him the time. also, i remember that baba played on the weekend that we lost to city. hardly an excuse.

and seriously, trying to defend one wrong with another wrong. why does not LVG drop rooney. well, because he earns 300kpw. no other reason.

does jose know his stuff? what was the master stroke behind plaing cesc, oscar and iva AGAIN. is azpi now match unfit? that he just dropped our best defender.

also, please tell me what cesc brings to the team or oscar or iva. where is the promise that if we keep losing he will play the kids. where is the promise that RLC is ready and would get starts. all bloody words with nothing to back up from jose.

i normally really like your posts, and i still respect your opinion. but from the team selection, to the tactics to everything has been absolutely shit. you need to stop defending the indefensible.

in a family, the head of the family should not show undue favouritism to some people. he should make some family members sleep out in the cold (RLC, remy, azpi) while having some of the worst behaved members take all the money and do whatever they like with it.

[Blue Armour 4,759]

Shows how not getting the right CM in the summer is costing us big time.

For a couple of matches there was a mini resurgence, with Fabregas and Matic some resemblance of form.

Then when we play teams like Tottenham and Bournemouth that press...Fabregas disappears.

Also, dropping Costa for a match to send him a message is one thing, but opting to leave the only other recognized striker in Remy on the bench for this match is another.

[Lapo Blues 21]

I lost words on Jose.

But what's the solution for now on?

Sack him? Is that a solution or just panic reaction?

[scargo 75]

Please sack.

[TorontoChelsea 4,064]

Sack him? Is that a solution or just panic reaction?

We have 15 points in 15 games. We haven't looked like a quality team in about a year. This, if anything, is overcompensation for sacking a few managers too early. RDM got fired when we were four points out of first after the winning the CL and the reason he was fired was that we didn't build a unique offensive style. Ancelotti was fired after coming in second and neither RDM or Ancelott had the same ability to choose their squads and build them in their images. How do you do that and then let Mourinho manage the team into almost the relegation zone halfway through the season?

[Fulham Broadway 17,810]

Shows how not getting the right CM in the summer is costing us big time.

For a couple of matches there was a mini resurgence, with Fabregas and Matic some resemblance of form.

Then when we play teams like Tottenham and Bournemouth that press...Fabregas disappears.

Also, dropping Costa for a match to send him a message is one thing, but opting to leave the only other recognized striker in Remy on the bench for this match is another.

Spot on BA. How we miss a Lampard, Makalele, Ballack, Essien...even Tiago. There was one break yesterday when Remy held the ball up, there were quickly six Bournemouth players in the penalty area , and a space opened up in front -100% Lampard territory.

We are paying the price for a hesitant, ponderous Summer transfer farce.

[lucio 5,418]

Spot on BA. How we miss a Lampard, Makalele, Ballack, Essien...even Tiago. There was one break yesterday when Remy held the ball up, there were quickly six Bournemouth players in the penalty area , and a space opened up in front -100% Lampard territory.

We are paying the price for a hesitant, ponderous Summer transfer farce.

the summer wasnt great, but it's effectively the same squad + a "top" player in pedro, and 2 promising youngsters. So i don't think it explains the drop from 1st to 15th.