The Mourinho Thread

[╫rue Blue 47]

Mourinho himself said his system for this squad in 4-2-3-1. 4-3-3 is never a possibility, imo, unless we want to lose a game.

Sorry for the long post and for the mistakes.

really mou said that specifically ? Maybe i miss when he said that

because i think 4231 is mou main system, but 433 is still an option

really good post anyway

[Blue Armour 4,278]

You have to look back to Mourinhos first days: in his first hi used two systems, 4-3-3 or 4-3-2-1. In both we had 3 physical players in the midfield, players that could create, but had defensive abilities as well. Makele, Lampard and Tiago was Mourinhos favourite trio. Up front he used to play two wingers (Robben, Duff or even Joe Cole) with a lone striker (Drogba or Gudjonsen), in the end of the season, tough, he was playing Joe Cole and Gudjonsen in the mid, and Didier as the CF.

In 05-06 we had the same pattern, Tiago left but Essies arrived, the we had Makele, Essien and Lampard. Still a very physical and solid midfield. There were the 4-3-3, with Robben, Duff, Wright Philips and Joe Cole as wingers, but he also used a 4-3-2-1, with Gudjonsen dropped to the mid, playing alongside Cole or Robben, and Drogba and Crespo rotating as strikers.

We had the same pattern in the mid after the WC, but now with Makelele (Mikel), Ballack and Lampard, with Essien now playing a lot of games as a RB, up front we had some confusion, and I think that Mourinho's static system was one of the reasons why Shevchenko failed at Chelsea. Mourinhos always used a static 4-3 system, and the dynamism was only changing from 4-3-3 to 4-3-2-1, and during that season he used a weird a 4-3-1-2, a system he created to accommodate both Shevchenko and Drogba, but at the end of the day we say Drogba and Kalou playing together in most part of the season.

The pattern followed the next 3 season, both Avran Grant and Ancelotti used even more static systems, Carlo tried to use some innovations, but at the end of the day Chelsea were playing in a 4-3-3 for 3 long seasons, with Makele, Lampard and Ballack, then Mikel (Essien), Ballack and Lampard as the "power trio" in the midfield, always a very physical mid. The system was so static, that even Anelka had to play as a winger, with Cole, Malouda and Kalou as the others "wingers". The problems started when we lost Ballack and bought Ramires to replace him, in 2011. Ancelotti kept the 4-3-3, but we did not have the kind of players to make the mid work in that system, you need players that can create and destroy at the same time, players like Xavi and Iniesta, or like Makele, Lampard and Ballack. Ramires was a different animal, he just dont have the same offensive abilities that Ballack had, and he lacked the presence the german had. Lampard was getting old, Essien was doomed with injuries, so Mikel was playing more games which means he was making more mistakes.

Our midfield was once a physical, strong and aggressive one, but it became slow, boring and the team's weak point. AVB's and RDM's tenure were chaotic, because both knew very little about the game, Benitez was there to fix the role, but now we have again a chance to create another team. Mourinhos is a very smart man, he knows his own architecture, we just dont have the players to play in a 4-3-3 system. Forget about those fantasy line-ups with Ramires, Oscar and De Bruyne playing in front of the defense in a 4-3-3 system. Playing in a 4-3-3 right now is the same as playing Essien, Joe Cole (Geremi) and Robben; Duff, Drogba, Kalou. Can you imagine we playing with this kind of formation against a big european side in a UCL semi-final?

With these players we need two players with a more defensive role, and thats why we will be seeing Lampard and Ramires playing most part of the season as starters. Perhaps there will be a 4-2-1-2-1, and thats almost as the same as a 4-2-3-1, but indicates that a players is playing in a number 10 position (Oscar/Mata), while you have two others playing more on the flanks. Mourinho himself said his system for this squad in 4-2-3-1. 4-3-3 is never a possibility, imo, unless we want to lose a game.

Sorry for the long post and for the mistakes.

Good post, but Mourinho said that while his team would always have a base 4-2-3-1, he also said it would transition between a 4-3-3 and 4-5-1 during the game depending on how the flow is. There are also still candidates for a conventional 4-3-3 like Lampard, Mikel, Essien, or MVG.

[Farid Ahmed 0]

This is good news for Chelsea that Mourinho returns. I Hope he wil gives us Barclays premier League 2013 and Uefa Championship ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Best of Luck for Mourninho,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

[Farid Ahmed 0]

This is good news for Chelsea that Mourinho returns. I Hope he wil gives us Barclays premier League 2013 and Uefa Championship ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Best of Luck for Mourninho,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

[NishC300 1,865]

Agree with Mourinho, nothing wrong with the game plan. It's just that some of the passing was really sloppy

[Ollie 4,400]

I've missed this. We want 0-0, we get 0-0. Easy, job done. He's so good.

[zolayes 14,489]

I've missed this. We want 0-0, we get 0-0. Easy, job done. He's so good.

we just need to educate the children ,,,

[NishC300 1,865]

we just need to educate the children ,,,

Some children are intelligent....

[zolayes 14,489]

Some children are intelligent....

of course but they still need teaching

[Fernando 6,453]

I've missed this. We want 0-0, we get 0-0. Easy, job done. He's so good.

Well we have gotten that in the past.

RDM and his bus, Benitez at that pitiful game where we drew against City 0 to 0.

Does not take a genius to park the bus in front of the goal!

[Ollie 4,400]

Well we have gotten that in the past.

RDM and his bus, Benitez at that pitiful game where we drew against City 0 to 0.

Does not take a genius to park the bus in front of the goal!

Everyone parks the bus at Old Trafford, Few teams keep em at bay.

[Jase 43,479]

Well we have gotten that in the past.

RDM and his bus, Benitez at that pitiful game where we drew against City 0 to 0.

Does not take a genius to park the bus in front of the goal!

On paper, it looks easy but in reality, it's difficult to execute the plan to perfection. For instance, just look at how many teams that have tried that against Barca and failed miserably. Only a few teams, very few teams that have managed to keep them at bay for 90 minutes and get a result.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

Well we have gotten that in the past.

RDM and his bus, Benitez at that pitiful game where we drew against City 0 to 0.

Does not take a genius to park the bus in front of the goal!

We did not park the bus and just let them have the ball in our half today. The genius of Jose's plans is that it stops the other team from even creating anything. He did it today just like he did it in the second half against Hull just like he did it countless times in his last stint here.

When you park the bus you need a lot of luck and a lot of last ditch defending because the other team will inevitably create chances. This is different, yes Benitez managed to do it in our home game against City but couldn't repeat the act at the Etihad. It's not as easy at it looks and it does take a tactical genius to pull off.

[Barbara 15,149]

Well we have gotten that in the past.

RDM and his bus, Benitez at that pitiful game where we drew against City 0 to 0.

Does not take a genius to park the bus in front of the goal!

we didn't park the bus at all today though.

We had a crazy solid defense, but we played with 4 AM most time. We tried to attack. The boys were uninspired maybe, but we didn't park the bus and that's the difference on knowing how to have a reliable defense that will allow you to play your game from relying your game by playing only your defense.

No criticism against Robbie from me, I'm just trying to praise Mourinho's work here because I think it's due

[Henrique 9,133]

We did not park the bus and just let them have the ball in our half today. The genius of Jose's plans is that it stops the other team from even creating anything. He did it today just like he did it in the second half against Hull just like he did it countless times in his last stint here.

When you park the bus you need a lot of luck and a lot of last ditch defending because the other team will inevitably create chances. This is different, yes Benitez managed to do it in our home game against City but couldn't repeat the act at the Etihad. It's not as easy at it looks and it does take a tactical genius to pull off.

Benitez defeated Manchester at Old Tradford, 1-0, and also got a 2-2 in FA Cup that could have been a 3-2 if Mata had scored in the last minute.

Football is not as complicated as it seems. Today Mourinho got his tactics wrong, as simple as that. The result was good, but the football was far from convincing.

[OneMoSalah 8,776]

I don't know, do you think Abramovich would be happy seeing over 100m worth of attacking talent in a team but playing a low defensive block, not taking any initiative and settling for 0-0? I am happy with a point but we could have had a better go at them for 3 points. They were certainly there for the taking. I suppose 1 point beats 0 points though but it could have been different if the approach was slightly different.

[Rom2013 446]

Benitez defeated Manchester at Old Tradford, 1-0, and also got a 2-2 in FA Cup that could have been a 3-2 if Mata had scored in the last minute.

Football is not as complicated as it seems. Today Mourinho got his tactics wrong, as simple as that. The result was good, but the football was far from convincing.

Benitez defeated United at Old Traford when United was already Champion.

In the last 12 seasons we won 3 games at Old Traford. In the last one they were already champions, we won other when we were Champions with Ancelotti and another one with Mourinho. So yes it's really hard to win at Old Traford in an EPL game.

[Henrique 9,133]

I don't know, do you think Abramovich would be happy seeing over 100m worth of attacking talent in a team but playing a low defensive block, not taking any initiative and settling for 0-0? I am happy with a point but we could have had a better go at them for 3 points. They were certainly there for the taking. I suppose 1 point beats 0 points though but it could have been different if the approach was slightly different.

Thats it. Whats the point of buying 10 attacking players to go to Old Tradford to get a drawn. Some people are even claiming Mourinho when to his match to get a 0-0. Thats pretty weird. Whats more strange is if Benitez was our manager today people would be saying:

-Benitez is garbage, he left Lukaku on the bench.

-This guy is crazy, he left Mata on the bench.

-Many talents and playing a defensive football.

Many things to improve, I really dont see De Bruyne as player start big matches like this, and leaving Mata the entire match on the bench was far from a wise decision. It makes me wonder about Mourinhos tactics against Liverpool in 4 UCL semi-final games, when Chelsea had the better squad but he opted for a defensive tactic. Liverpool was 5th in PL in 2005 and the team could not score a single goal. I hope Mourinho changed his approach in these kind of matches, I hope this was just an unusual game.

edit: watching his interview, it seems he thought the team would be more dangerous, but the players made a lot of mistakes, but I still dont get the fact De Bruyne played instead of Mata.