The Mourinho Thread

[The only place to be 11,313]

It's not just for entertainment purposes but also because we've invested a lot of money on flair players like Hazard, Oscar and Willian.

What's the point on bringing in all these skillful players only to display the football we did in the first half against Spurs?

We're not maximizing their potential.

Kakuta is a flair player. MeEachran is a flair player. Ravel Morrison is a flair player.

Flair is overrated. You don't win games with flair, you win it with guts, workrate and determination. Hazard is maximising his potential by becoming an all-round player, the same as Oscar and that's what will be the foundation of big wins in the future. Pragmatism is something that people either don't understand or underrate but it's what puts points on the table usually, whereas flair is what they serve up in North London....although you have to make sure you go on a day when they're playing Sunderland or some other shit team.

It was only a year ago that we reached rock fucking bottom, appointing that fat cunt, worrying about whether or not we'd have Champions League football and talking about whether we'd rather have Moyes or Martinez in. Now we're top of the league with the best manager in the world, Eden Hazard looking like he's fulfilling that potential, a match away from the CL quarters and talking about adding to a strong team in the summer and not rebuilding from scratch.

But yeah, the first-half yesterday was pretty dull.

[Barbara 15,149]

As good as the results have been we're beyond awful to watch at the moment. We're at the point of the season where style hardly matters and only points matter but I don't think I can stomach another season of some of the turgid stuff we've played next year.

People will blame it on the strikers but even the 04-07 teams were pretty ordinary to watch aside from Robben aside. I don't think anyone would describe his Inter & Real Madrid teams as entertaining either.

Mourinho is one of the best managers of all time but does he have it in him to finally build not only a dominant team but an entertaining side like all the other managerial greats have? That's the only thing anyone can really hold against him.

I long for a repeat of the 09-10 season again. Champagne football throughout. We're not far off from the squad to play that style of football either.

sorry but I have to laugh at the face of those who say his RM wasn't entertaining to watch.

I also roll my eyes at the lack of patience showed by you and others that want a team that had no spirit, no personality, burying its legends while they were still alive and playing to be magically transformed in the span of a few months, only a season into a champagne football as you call it.

You don't need to support Bayern, RM, Barça or whoever you think plays this kind of football to be entertained. Go watch their matches and fulfill your need to watch proper football.

I'm with the others that can see the change already in a lot of aspects, and being a big Real Madrid fan and a big fan of the team he's set there, I can't wait to see him do something similar and probably even better here. Saying that team wasn't entertaining, champagne, or whatever other adjective you want to add is a joke imo.

You can also watch vids from the last two years we had a maestro leading the midfield to fill your quota of entertainment. I'm positive you'll be entertained too with Mata's first two seasons here.

This. Some people don't like hearing doses of truth like that but the quality of football has been dire. I'm sorry but it has. Having said that though, given that we haven't been competitive in the league for a while now, I think it's fine that we're 'scrapping by'.

It's unrealistic to expect Mourinho to take a team that hasn't consistently been performing well & expect him to turn them into this side that can pick up results while playing entertaining football within the span of 8 months. Moving forward though, the quality of football simply has to improve. It's not just for entertainment purposes but also because we've invested a lot of money on flair players like Hazard, Oscar and Willian.

What's the point on bringing in all these skillful players only to display the football we did in the first half against Spurs?

We're not maximizing their potential.

So I think our performances this season has been fine given where we're coming from but if we continue to play like this next season, then yes that's a problem. We're in a financial position to be able to challenge for trophies while displaying quality football. Not having these excuses of " what would you rather have....champagne football or winning". Please, that's such bull.

now this is an analysis I think is fair. Yeah, we've been playing bad in some streaks. It's appalling to play like we did in the last two first halves - especially against Fulham. I think at some point during December - when he saw we really had chances of winning this - he's changed his short term objectives. That interview after the Sunderland match was very telling. He admitted then he'd have to approach the game more defensively because the team wasn't ready to go otherwise. I think the mentality changed there. Although in his speech it's sort of implied he'd rather lose the title (as long as he assured his Top4 position which is already assured at this point, let's be real) at the expense of improving the team. But I think many of our players have a LOT to develop mentally. They may have won two consecutive continental titles, but their display in the league while doing it show how much this team lack a winning mentality. Those boys (some already men) don't have blood in their eyes for titles. They don't have the appetite, the hunger, the nearly obsessive will to just win. That has to be cultivated on them. Some of them are older and they have some tools, but I feel they lack the spirit.

Two of his legends from his first days here were sidelined, unmotivated and fading because of the disservice some of those managers who passed here did. I think there's a lot of work to do in those players' mentality, add confidence and just change how they approach things. The first thing Mourinho has to do with those guys is teaching them how to be winners, because even winning a couple of titles, they don't know anything about it, except the ones that were here before.

I think that's what separates them (and of course maturity from the boys that are still very young) from being at the level Mourinho expected them to be at the end of the season - football wise. So when he's realized his work was harder than he's expected and that maybe he'd have a very real chance of winning the title, I think he chose a more pragmatic approach and is trying to combine the mental work with the result-oriented work to at least accomplish something tangible from this season.

Now, I also have to say, as much as I loved his RM and that was entertaining as fuck, sometimes it's not possible to have it all. There's a distance between those two first halves and good football. We need to present good football - which is cutting the suckery from our presentations - we don't need to be mouth watering. I don't need my teams to be like that. I want to watch them play well, to dominate, to win comfortably against weaker sides and make the stronger sides shake on their legs with the prospect of playing us. The objective is very clear from Mourinho's words since the start of the season. Abramovich wants more. He wants not only the titles, he wants to become the Barcelona of few years ago or the current Bayern. He wants to be the best team in the world, I hope Mourinho accomplishes it, but I can live without it. I can easily live with us being the same of his RM of two seasons ago (before the dressing room destroyed his work there), but I understand those who can't live with that...

[duo11bluecl 207]

As a spectator who wants entertainment from the beginning, this sucks.

As a fan I could care less as long as we win.

So the middle of the road....don't watch the first half!

Or sometime the game will be over in the 1st 15 mins like Liverpool against Arsenal

[BloodIsBlue 291]

With Mou we're never going to have majestic games like Bayern or Barca's style. Because the meat and potatoes of our system all season has been to make the other team play like shit. We force them to pull out all the tricks in their bag too early and then they have nothing to surprise us. Mou makes great guesses at where the danger is going to come from and we set up barricades. The foundation of our standing in the league right now is built on how we've made every team (practically) play their worst game of the season. We set out to troll the other team first, I think our lack luster attacking at times is just a symptom of everyone getting used to the demanding system. I don't think we're actually as bad at creating and attacking as we think or as the stats show us. If our finishing was world class we would be much closer to City in goal difference. We don't need massive changes, next season we'll come out the gates with a rocket up our asses.

[duo11bluecl 207]

OMGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG best team in England just lost at home to a Championship, is this what you want by attacking football?

[Special Juan 28,141]

Jose Mourinhoooooooo

[kellzfresh 7,229]

I'd rather have a team that molds in to a situation. One that demolishes less potent oponents with style and gets sturdy to the Bayerns and Barca's of the world ... and Jose is capable of building such a team, I hope/believe

Mourinho built the league winning madrid with the best goal record in spain league ever(better than anything barcelona has done and in any europe league with 121goals)

He is capable, but if he goes attacking, we need finishers to put these balls at the back of the net because we will sacrifice the defensive solidity in exchange for entertainment.

That's why he said we are 3 signings from being competing on all fronts next season. We have to wait for our benzema/cavani/costa/balloteli/mandzukic that can both add creativity, assists and finish, our modric/gundogan that can keep better possession for us, spray long passes like former mourinho teams(alonso, thiagomotta) and have energy at the same time, and our left back to produce balance in the team and help hazard.

If we are not entertaining after 2 months into next season, then I won't be happy.

We won't play like Bayern, but after we fix LB, CM and ST, it's inevitable we will play much better football.

We are also forgotten that we had mentality of people okay with 3rd for the past 3 seasons while watching the manchester clubs bully us. Mourinho had a more difficult job changing our mentality to win every single week and stay in a title race, instead of falling out by january. Changing the mentality is the first step, then the rest will follow.

[Fernando 6,585]

You know one thing that just hit me?

It seems like Mourinho motivates teams and coaches to prove him wrong.

I remember when Mourinho was bashing Barcelona cause they had not won many CL trophies while he won one with Porto. Then Barcelona becomes one of the best teams bashing every team in europe.

Now he went on saying that Wenger is a specialist in failure, and Wenger has the clear chances of winning a trophy soon......

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

Remember at the start off the season there were post's about how Mou would favour all his old boys?

Well so far he sold Essien after barely playing him, dropped Cole and put a makeshift RB in his place and since Matic has signed Lamps has seen his fair share off benchtime also. He might even swap Cech for Courtois in the summer. Next season it's quite possible that JT will be the only player from the first coming playing regularly.

Mourinho doesn't do sentiments, Carvalho found that out at Real, Essien and Cole have this season and Cech could be next.

And it's only JM who could have pulled this off with little- to no media backlash.

That whole AVB circus :confused: . Damn what a nightmare that was when he was in charge.

[DoubleO 192]

You know one thing that just hit me?

It seems like Mourinho motivates teams and coaches to prove him wrong.

I remember when Mourinho was bashing Barcelona cause they had not won many CL trophies while he won one with Porto. Then Barcelona becomes one of the best teams bashing every team in europe.

Now he went on saying that Wenger is a specialist in failure, and Wenger has the clear chances of winning a trophy soon......

This theory deserves a Nobel!

[Barbara 15,149]

We all know Goal.com shouldn't ever be used as a reliable source, but well, let's do it for fun anyway.

They're saying Mourinho is going to sign a new CB, LB and ST as his main targets during the next window.

I really wish he didn't love Ramires that much and actually replaced the CB for a top #8, but as I also said a few times, it's not going to happen. Ramires is going to stay at Chelsea forever under Mourinho.

Anyway, this is aligned with what we've been talking and I do hope Shaw comes and a great striker. Now who could the CB be? I'm still not sure Varane's release clause is so low, but if that's the case, then I'd say bring him. I can't think of a better prospect unless it's someone more experienced... but we only need experience if Luiz leaves

http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2896/premier-league/2014/03/10/4674683/revealed-mourinho-finalising-chelsea-summer-overhaul-plans

[Ze Mario 638]

why some ppl like to complicated things? football is simple. score more than goal conceded. even jose tried to complicate at the beginning of this season. fortunately he back to his sense and the result is we back on top with least conceded team.

other teams always make it complicated with their motto bla bla, philosophy bla bla, the best defense is offense... the simple thing to do, and mou said its easier, sort the defense right is first thing first, then follow that up with improvement in attacking area.

pragmatic? all pragmatic ways are the simplest way

[ZOS 580]

We all know Goal.com shouldn't ever be used as a reliable source, but well, let's do it for fun anyway.

They're saying Mourinho is going to sign a new CB, LB and ST as his main targets during the next window.

I really wish he didn't love Ramires that much and actually replaced the CB for a top #8, but as I also said a few times, it's not going to happen. Ramires is going to stay at Chelsea forever under Mourinho.

Anyway, this is aligned with what we've been talking and I do hope Shaw comes and a great striker. Now who could the CB be? I'm still not sure Varane's release clause is so low, but if that's the case, then I'd say bring him. I can't think of a better prospect unless it's someone more experienced... but we only need experience if Luiz leaves

http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2896/premier-league/2014/03/10/4674683/revealed-mourinho-finalising-chelsea-summer-overhaul-plans

I hope it's not true that he isn't looking for a DLP, everybody knows we're in a dire need of that

PS: Goal.com are getting more reliable the last couple of years, but the 'Guarin to Chelsea' news was a major blow to their reputation, they stuck to it the whole January ... hope this on is also inaccurate

[duo11bluecl 207]

The chance of signing of Varane is -100%. We go in and bid, they are gonna bump his wages up to 100k or more. More like selling Luiz and bringing Zouma in, maybe Mangala too if Porto accept an offer from City that we can match(anything more than 20m for him is overpriced for me). LB is Shaw obviously, kind of destined to happen as he admits to being a Chelsea fan, Cole is leaving too= perfect timing. ST is not even needed to discuss about.

[duo11bluecl 207]

Assume(believe) we get through to QF of CL, who would you like us to get?

Barcelona

PSG

Bayern

Atletico

Real Madrid

MU(I think they will beat Olympiakos)

Dortmund

If Olympiakos manage to get through obviously them...otherwise I would have to say PSG or Dortmund. Atletico might seem the weakest they have actually been one of the best team in Europe this season. Their defence is just as good as us, I don't think that would suit our counter attacking game at all. Obviously Barca, Bayern and Real are just too strong while PSG got the best ST and CB in the world but still beatable. I think Jose would most likely choose Dortmund again if he has to and would want to or MU because now they are shit under Moyes.

[Barbara 15,149]

I think we can beat anyone at UCL right now except Real Madrid. Bayern would be difficult but I believe we can do it. I hardly see us beating RM right now but I believe Bayern can beat them. I guess Bayern is a bad match up for them and they're a bad match up for us because of the teams' styles.

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy Note 4G using Tapatalk

[LAB 1,030]

PL is far more important imo this season. So i hope we get Bayern who is supposed to be the strongest (not imo though but it's about the public opinion). If we get through them it's fantastic news and who knows, maybe it builds our confidence and we get the chance to do something great! If not, it's fantastic news also, because we can concentrate only in PL. Win-win situation.

[Tomo 21,751]

Assume(believe) we get through to QF of CL, who would you like us to get?

Barcelona

PSG

Bayern

Atletico

Real Madrid

MU(I think they will beat Olympiakos)

Dortmund

If Olympiakos manage to get through obviously them...otherwise I would have to say PSG or Dortmund. Atletico might seem the weakest they have actually been one of the best team in Europe this season. Their defence is just as good as us, I don't think that would suit our counter attacking game at all. Obviously Barca, Bayern and Real are just too strong while PSG got the best ST and CB in the world but still beatable. I think Jose would most likely choose Dortmund again if he has to and would want to or MU because now they are shit under Moyes.

We haven't got past Gala yet, but IF WE DO, then we are strong enough to beat anyone in a 1 off tie.

We have already given Bayern a run for their money this season and if Arsenal can match them in their own stadium im sure we could. Barca have been poor for their standards this season and with our defence and counter attack i would actually have us as favourite's if we faced them.

Real are the team i would most like to avoid, but Carlo had the stronger team last time he faced Jose and we know how that ended.

In other words, bring whoever on, im cautiously optimistic about our chances, if we had Matic available i would seriously fancy our chances.

[Tomo 21,751]

Last two world cup years Eto'o has got the winner at Stamford Bridge in the round off 16 and his team went on to win league and CL.

If he scores the winner vs Gala something is happening.

[duo11bluecl 207]

PL is far more important imo this season. So i hope we get Bayern who is supposed to be the strongest (not imo though but it's about the public opinion). If we get through them it's fantastic news and who knows, maybe it builds our confidence and we get the chance to do something great! If not, it's fantastic news also, because we can concentrate only in PL. Win-win situation.

Actually that is a good point, I am sure Jose won't mind that. The thing is since when did we gave up on 1 big trophy, Remember 07-07, 07-08 and others when we challenged for both, that is a small team mentality imo.

We haven't got past Gala yet, but IF WE DO, then we are strong enough to beat anyone in a 1 off tie.

We have already given Bayern a run for their money this season and if Arsenal can match them in their own stadium im sure we could. Barca have been poor for their standards this season and with our defence and counter attack i would actually have us as favourite's if we faced them.

Real are the team i would most like to avoid, but Carlo had the stronger team last time he faced Jose and we know how that ended.

In other words, bring whoever on, im cautiously optimistic about our chances, if we had Matic available i would seriously fancy our chances.

Agreed but it is not 1 off though, but 2. The thing is again they were 2-0 up, if it had been 1-0 to Arsenal they would have gone full ultra attack. Madrid imo is the scariest, best attack and defence in Europe atm, they look stronger than Bayern of last season imo where there is no all these messing passing about but just full on attack until 2,3-0 up then sit back.

Carlo had the stronger team you sure? in the season that Inter won the competition... Yep I agree too can't wait