The Mourinho Thread

[Reddish-Blue 2,701]

i'l take anyone who can put out an acceptable line up, and have some kind of attacking strategy

Bielsa is available. He may not be great but I'd love to see his type of coaching in the EPL

[BlueLyon 9,359]

"It's hard. All last season I did phenomenal work and I brought them to a level that is more than they really are."

For this statement I have absolutely no words.

How can any manager say that is beyond me. If one has betrayed anyone its Mourinho and his little games about playing tall and experienced players and all the bullshit he said.

How about playing youth including RLC for who he said he will play, how about benching shit players and playing those who actualy perform. How about giving certain young players a chance instead of destroying their confidence. How about changing tactics that actualy work. How about stop bullshiting and complaining and instead work things out. Talk to players and not fucking around with substitutions and lineups.

Players are playing shit indeed but Mou is talking as if they are only problem. He is as much of problem as the players. Funny how when first crisis came he said that he is greatest chelsea manager ever and when second crisis came he said he is alone responsible for title last year. Everyone was important last year players and him. And same is this year.

By the look of things, we could soon lose quite a few top top players like Hazard and Matic and no one still knows what is going on. Mou says everything is ok for half year now. How the fuck is everything ok? We play like crap, players dont give two fucks in PL. Its not even the results. Its the approach.

Matic went from realy good game vs porto to realy shit one vs leicester for example. He just jogged yesterday not giving single fuck. Something is wrong, everyone can see that. Just clear that out. If players dont give fuck about PL anymore but only CL, then I dont understand why Mourinho doesnt field 11 players who actualy want to play in PL like Remy, Kenedy, RLC, Baba etc.

[manpe 10,861]

Your fascination with Metsaj's posts is becoming embarrasing. Let people have their opinions, the fact that you disagree doesn't make them false.

So I can't voice my disagreement? What is the forum for then?

[MrExcalibur100 7,124]

"It's hard. All last season I did phenomenal work and I brought them to a level that is more than they really are."

For this statement I have absolutely no words.

How can any manager say that is beyond me.

You're right to be speechless but let's not forget it's Jose Mourinho after all.

Let's all take a moment to remember just how poor the likes of Matic, Fabregas and Costa were when they initially signed for us. Just how terrible they were in their first few months at the football club and how Mourinho then transformed them to world-beaters.

It's a shame we fail to appreciate how truly amazing they've played after they got to properly work with Mourinho and absorb his tactics. Clearly, the amazing difference Mourinho made in these 3 players is there for all to see, right?

[Stats 7,230]

http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11668/10100602/jose-mourinhos-chelsea-position-unchanged-sky-sources

This is just bullshit. I think really and truly this time, it is a case of saving money for Abramovich. This is just too bad to think Mourinho can turn it around and the board knows it. Our top scorer in the league is Costa and own goals with only 3! That is unacceptable. Hazard still has no goals. If that is not a sign that the manager needs to go, then what is? I don't know how much longer I can continue to watch this farcical going on at the club and their persistence by Jose. We are 16th and hovering aboving the relegation zone. Just in what world do the board think he can turn it round? The players have lost him and he has lost the players.

Like I said before, more of a financial decision rather than a logical one.

[Rhino's Skin 972]

"It's hard. All last season I did phenomenal work and I brought them to a level that is more than they really are."

For this statement I have absolutely no words.

How can any manager say that is beyond me. .

C'mon....if you are going to use Mourinho's quotes to have a pop at him, at least have the respect and honesty to do it in full.

"Q: Is it hard for you watching some of those players, knowing they are champion players, knowing how good they can be and they're almost unrecognisable?

Mourinho: It's hard. All last season I did phenomenal work and brought them to a level that's not their level, which is more than they really are, OR this season we are doing so bad that some of the players - of course I am not saying all of them, I don't want to put them all in the same basket - but clearly for some of them, it is so difficult."

Although he or his supporters on here haven't much to defend, let's at least get quotes right before slating someone

The same goes for the 'betrayal" issue where he was even unsure if he had used the right word

"Question: Jose, some fight towards the end but overall obviously a difficult night, but what are your thoughts on it?

Mourinho: They deserved to win because they were better than us during a longer period of time. I think we were the best team for 20 to 25 minutes, maximum 30 minutes. They were the best team for one hour.

They were very consistent and focused. They didn't make any mistakes. They were aggressive with everybody playing high intensity, high tempo and with a great mentality. It was difficult for us and then we conceded two goals that are unacceptable to me because I know one of my best qualities is to read the game for my players.

It's to read the opponent and identify every detail about the opponent. These two goals, the movement of Vardy between the two central defenders, the cross with the left foot. Then Mahrez in the box one against one - I want one against two because I want the midfield player to close the best foot.

The two goals are very difficult to accept. It's a big frustration to accept because I feel like my work was betrayed, if that's the right word."

[MrExcalibur100 7,124]

http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11668/10100602/jose-mourinhos-chelsea-position-unchanged-sky-sources

This is just bullshit. I think really and truly this time, it is a case of saving money for Abramovich. This is just too bad to think Mourinho can turn it around and the board knows it. Our top scorer in the league is Costa and own goals with only 3! That is unacceptable. Hazard still has no goals. If that is not a sign that the manager needs to go, then what is? I don't know how much longer I can continue to watch this farcical going on at the club and their persistence by Jose. We are 16th and hovering aboving the relegation zone. Just in what world do the board think he can turn it round? The players have lost him and he has lost the players.

Like I said before, more of a financial decision rather than a logical one.

One of the problems at Chelsea is that the important decisions are made at the whim of one man who isn't a football person to begin with. The manager comes out publicly and says his players have betrayed him. That alone should make his position as manager untenable. The fact that he's being dragged along and carries on is outrageous.

[CurlyHairLikeLuiz 1,625]

The boss seems to be viewed here as incompetent and along for the ride rather than making conscious decisions.

If you were to listen to him in last night's post match PC and what he had to say other than using misquotes of what he said as a stick to beat him with it would be realised that the exact goals we conceded on we worked on in training; that was why he said 'betrayal' (I think he was hindered by a language barrier there) when his players had failed to listen to the instructions he had hammered in over training.

The reality is that attacking football is demanded but yet most of the players cannot string passes together; this is why Jose is not playing attacking football because we've not been good enough to do it. The most common passing combination was probably between John Terry and Zouma in the first half. He also, interestingly, said that he's picking players that we criticise because they perform so well in training. Acknowledged our goals problem, this is why he will buy in January if he possibly can.

The reality is that we simply don't have enough information to comprehensively blame one group. However as Carragher sad last night, Roman does and he'll have to make a decision on who to side with and there may well be some mass expulsions in the summer. If Roman tells Jose he has his backing and the player-manager relationship is broken then I agree with a previous poster that he will just play the youth.

Sometimes I honestly think those who do not agree with Mourinho have their rhetoric copied in, ready to post whenever we lose. Excalibur has not stopped posting since we lost. Fair enough I guess; but your view in the whole Chelsea fanbase is a minority one; if you read what's been said here you would think that the fans want to crucify him.

And yes, I blame the players almost solely for this crisis. None have been good enough other than Courtois, Begovic, Zzouma and Willian.

[Leif 6,006]

I feel sad that Jose is evidently no longer a great manager, it's like if Messi started playing like Torres. I feel more sad about this than frustrated at how we're doing in general. It's hard to feel angry towards Jose, it feels like he as a family member has passed on

[bellion 170]

This 'betrayal" malarkey is being over hyped.

So, he indicates that what had been worked on in training and preperation wasn't carried out on the pitch.......loads of managers have said similar in post match interviews. Cannot see what is wrong with saying something like that.

Loads of managers mentioned being betrayed? I doubt it

[Rhino's Skin 972]

Loads of managers mentioned being betrayed? I doubt it

Yup....if something is worked on in training and not carried out on the pitch loads of managers say SIMILAR things....if that's the right word ;-)

Read full post instead of concentrating on one word

#readhisfullquote

[Jase 43,479]

What do you want me to do? name more? Ok I feel our entire back four has been doing their best despite no protection from the midfield and two aging players. Cesc has finally been exposed because we've not been playing well offensively. Teams are braver when they attack us because we don't trouble them enough on the attacking end and the more they attack, the more likely Cesc defensive frailties are exposed. Look the players are doing the best they can. I don't expect a work horses like Willian and Oscar to become offensive juggernauts overnight and save Mourinho's bacon. We don't have a Madrid side full of stars to make him look good.

Agree to disagree then. If they had shown some form of competency in their performances, we wouldn't be in such a desperate situation. And blaming the clueless attacking tactics (I don't disagree with the criticism) only goes so far because at the end of the day, it doesn't excuse the rubbish goals we have conceded this season.

[Jase 43,479]

Costa

Think you're being kind there. Costa looks more interested in fighting with other players and winning free kicks/penalties than doing the most important job - scoring goals!

[Stats 7,230]

Roman needs to choose one of the following 2 options right now:

1) Back Mourinho, come out in the press and say that he will not be sacked regardless of where we finish and there is 0 pressure on him now. Then go to Mourinho, tell him he's getting no money in January but will get a large amount in the summer to rebuild the squad and should from this moment onwards include at the very least 4/5 youngsters in every single match (RLC, Zouma, Kenedy and Baba should be 100% starters, Aina, Traore, JCS, Musonda, Kiwomya, Colkett and Dasilva should be getting lots of game time too) for the rest of this season and get rid of the under-performing older players (most of them) either by selling them (Fabregas, Oscar, Ramires), not renewing their contracts (Terry, Ivanovic) or even releasing them if noone wants them (Mikel).

2) Sack Mourinho, literally tomorrow. Put Steve Holland in charge or something and give him exactly the same instructions I mentioned above. Then get a manager in towards the end of the season or at the end of it.

I would do option 2 in a heartbeat. But to option 1, Kiwomya is awful and only has pace. His ceiling is L1 level. Colkett is interesting but is not ready for the first team although he starred for the youth last season, he would not handle the pace of the PL. DaSilva too is fantastic but he needs more time with the youth first as he is very dimunitive and would be very difficult for him imo. JCS is another good prospect but not ready to be playing in the PL. I know Mourinho is not good with youth but tbf to him and I have give him tons of criticisms, no other manager would bring those lot through right now because they are not ready. Imagine if we did play those youngsters then they started to play awful, that would have an adverse effect on the youngsters potentially.

Is Aina potentially ready for a role right now? Maybe. Musonda, I say certainly so. RLC, yes and has played some games but for some reason been completely marginalised and Traore I don't understand why we brought him back in the first place if we were never going to play him. Should have sent him on loan to a more advanced team than Vitesse because he has the ability.

My final thing in defence with Mourinho which is rare, if we did bring in a new manager I don't think we actually will see a change in the youth. RLC might get more sub appearances but I don't think he would be actually trusted with starts unless it is against dead rubber oppositions.

[El P. 1,354]

Carragher: "Either Mourinho leaves or a lot of these players have to go"

Or why not both, at the end of the season.

Costa, Fabregas and/or Oscar, Mikel/Ramires, Falcao, Ivanović.

I'm 50 - 50 for Mourinho leaving, I see changes in squad way more important.

Because I know there were times when we weren't so much dependable on coach. Hiddink arrived, Grant arrived, we played good. Di Matteo took us to UCL glory. Those are not so special managers.

When a player is great - he is great. No matter who manager is, as long as he plays and plays in his own (or similar) position.

[Viper22 2,418]

I would do option 2 in a heartbeat. But to option 1, Kiwomya is awful and only has pace. His ceiling is L1 level. Colkett is interesting but is not ready for the first team although he starred for the youth last season, he would not handle the pace of the PL. DaSilva too is fantastic but he needs more time with the youth first as he is very dimunitive and woudl be very difficult for him imo. JCS is another good prospect but not ready to be playing in the PL. I know Mourinho is not good with youth but tbf to him and I have give him tons of criticisms, no other manager would bring those lot through right now because they are not ready. Imagine if we did play those youngsters then we started to play awful, that would have an adverse effect on the youngsters potentially.

Is Aina potentially ready for a role right now? Maybe. Musonda, I say certainly so. RLC, yes and has played some games but for some reason been completely marginalised and Traore I don't understand why we brought him back in the first place if we were never going to play him. Shoudl have sent him on loan to a more advanced team than Vitesse because he has the ability.

My final thing in defence with Mourinho which is rare, if we did bring in a new manager I don't think we actually will see a change in the youth. RLC might get more sub appearances but I don't think he would be actually trusted with starts unless it is against dead rubber oppositions.

Oh for sure I agree. Musonda, RLC, Kenedy, Traore, Zouma and Baba are our youngsters that are ready for the first team and should be starting. The others I'd like to see in and around squads rather than wasters like Mikel, Ivanovic and Falcao and getting some games off the bench in the COC or EL if we even get that for some experience in the first team to remind them how far they need to develop. I didn't mean 'lots' of game time, that was the wrong phrase to use, but I think they're all ready for at least some game time throughout a season while spending most of their time with the youth team.

Maybe Brown over Kiwomya then but I personally quite rate him, time will tell!

[Special Juan 28,869]

Whole thing needs shaking up, that's why it's best if he goes. If he remains we will see things like Ivanovic remain at RB and Azpilicueta at LB. We will see the old pals act of Ramires and Mikel flitting between the starting 11 and bench and even to a point seeing the myth that is Oscar remain here. He has a one dimensional outlook, it means youth will not be integrated, it means the rigid and lifeless 4-2-3-1 will be alive and well and others team will continue to sniff us out before a ball is kicked.

Just do the right thing and sack him.

[manpe 10,861]

Carragher: "Either Mourinho leaves or a lot of these players have to go"

Or why not both, at the end of the season.

Costa, Fabregas and/or Oscar, Mikel/Ramires, Falcao, Ivanović.

I'm 50 - 50 for Mourinho leaving, I see changes in squad way more important.

Because I know there were times when we weren't so much dependable on coach. Hiddink arrived, Grant arrived, we played good. Di Matteo took us to UCL glory. Those are not so special managers.

When a player is great - he is great. No matter who manager is, as long as he plays and plays in his own (or similar) position.

If Jose remains the big question is can we trust him with rebuilding the squad though? I mean look at us now and look at the players we have let go. Those transfer moves don't seem like of someone who knows what he's doing, but in Jose's defence a big chunk of blame can be put on the board because I'm quite sure Jose never wanted such a thin squad. I'm certain he would absolutely LOVE to have viable options to replace some of the underperformers, but our squad is very thin and lacking quality options. However, when he did have a larger squad with better options, his handling of those players was simply abysmal, so the blame is still shared here.

I still have blind hope that Mourinho can come good and become our undisputed boss who drives us forward, develops proper playing style and promotes youth, but I just can't see it happening anymore

[Samuel. 5]

At this stage I see only two options:

(1) We keep the manager and overhaul the squad.

(2) We sack the manager and forget about stability.

I would personally let Jose construct a new team, and would let him do so every three years if that be what it takes to win again. Besides JT, our squad is mentally weak and they all crumble the second something goes against us in a match.

We need to establish a clear spine which is suited to playing direct football where we've always thrived.

[El P. 1,354]

If we sack Mourinho and stick with the same squad, we are in way deeper shit then now. This can go to a lot worse than this if we pick wrong choices. If only players could be "sacked".

I just don't think that manager has that much influence on our play, on our players and club in general as most of supporters do think. For Christ's sake, our players are not children! Mou this, Mou that, yadda yadda yadda. Talking so much about him, like he is the one playing on the field. You are player, you need bit of an instructions before some game, but THAT'S IT. Other things - you do on your own! You have your position, you don't need manager to tell you ALL the things you have to do.

Maybe it's different with Mourinho, his image is way bigger than normal manager... But he is still human being. Normal, ordinary human being.

I would maybe sack him for not having long-term potential, for disaster with full-backs, for his part in this insane summer transfer window (targeting impossible players), for buying wrong type of players etc. Surely not for "Hazard's not playing good because Mou defensive" (lol), surely not for "he sold all our good players and bought shits" (lol), surely not for "all attacking players are shit because of him" (lol).

Bad performances of THIS squad, which is worldwide-recognized as top squad, are way way more on them, than on Mourinho.