The Mourinho Thread

[Fernando 6,453]

We have been consistent in terms of results. What you mean't to say (and what Jose meant) was individual players lack consistency. Players like Schurrle and Willian are not very consistent, though they are still new to the league.

That's not what you meant though, with you ridiculous example of Man City, FA cup. Maybe you don't know the meaning of the word. Man United have been inconsistent this season, not Chelsea.

And I even bother responding to you because you are always moaning and crying when things go wrong, like a gloryhunter. That's why I suggested you go support Bayern, because they have the luxury of smashing Bundesliga teams by 4,5 and 6 and they won their league by 20+ points. You would have little to moan about if you supported them.

I still say what the fuck?

I'm lost with you because consistency is consistency.

One game a lone does not make or break.

If that's the case then shit, saf is a total loser for letting his team lose by 6 goals to city.....

[The Chels 2,502]

Wow, people even having a go at Brana. I think I'll come back to this thread after our next win. Then I'm sure perspective and reason will return.

'even'? You do realise Ivanovic is and has been absolutely tosh against teams who hand us the initiative? Perhaps if he were defensively solid then his offensive impotence would be less criticised but he's not. In fact he's been a liability when the going gets tough and in terms of how often we concede from the opposition having the ball on his wing. We saw it yesterday, we saw it against West Brom (home and away), we saw it against Newcastle away, we've seen it on countless occasions and no doubt we'll continue to do so.

[Jase 43,479]

Mourinho on our strikers and other players..

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/chelsea-transfers-torres-etoo-ba-3302263

"I don't think it's the moment to speak about next season and the market, but it's clear to everybody that Chelsea next year wants to bring a striker. That is clear. It's also clear we want to improve our players."

Atletico Madrid's Diego Costa is the prime target, with the Blues reluctant to pay over the odds for Monaco's Radamel Falcao or Edinson Cavani of PSG, although Bayern Munich's Mario Mandzukic is also on the list.

Mourinho added: "What's the future for the [current Chelsea] strikers? The ones that are staying are competing with the striker we are bringing.

"And normally at the end of the season, players that are not playing a lot or players who are not happy and prefer a change, that is also part of the market.

"We want to improve the team and the players and make some surgical movements in the transfer window."

[Jase 43,479]

Mourinho vows to get rid of Chelsea players without 'personality'... warning misfiring strikers they can fight or leave

[didierforever 7,349]

Not playong = BA.

NOT happy = torres.

YESSSSS!!!! SELL THEM!!!

[Vybz Kartel 1,613]

Hope tht warning extends to untouchables like Ivanovic, Ramires and Oscar

[iseah100 5,612]

Hope tht warning extends to untouchables like Ivanovic, Ramires and Oscar

If PSG offer £42 for Oscar, I say take it. ivanovic is invaluable and should not go anywhere. Ramires isnt going anywhere eithet

[The Skipper 20,593]

The movement from the striker yesterday wasn't good enough, but that's been the case with Torres for years now? The idea that there's no pattern to our attacking play is simply wrong though.

I fully acknowledge that but it still doesn't change the fact that our biggest problem is creating quality chances against smaller teams. Yes, a competent striker would've helped us a lot but at the same time, when you select a midfield three of Luiz, Matic and Lampard and set up the team with a more conservative look you're going to struggle. A conservative look in games like these are not needed at all, you need to take the game to the opponent instead of being passive about it. I would've started Matic and Lampard in the pivot (which he has done in previous games against smaller sides, and we have performed a lot better in those games) whilst playing a proper number 10 in Willian or Oscar to give us more impetus in the final third. Lampard has never been good in a number 10 role because he naturally makes the shape of the team go into a 4-3-3.

It's not like this is a one off game either, it's happened a lot against the smaller teams this season - and one of the biggest reasons is that Mourinho is too conservative in his look and gives the opponent too much respect. His refusal to play A. Cole and Azpi as our fullbacks in order to spread the play more with overlaps in order to create more runs and spaces for our more forward players is a big reason why we struggle to create quality chances against these sides. Hopefully he has acknowledged that, and hopefully he fixes it next season by bringing in the right players, but as of right now, there are certain players and certain methods of play he's not fully utilising.

I never said we don't have a pattern to our attacking play... What I did say is that we don't have a pattern to our attacking play against teams that sit deep. We rely too much on the individual brilliance of Hazard in these games but you've got to set up your team better in these games so we can fully utilise the attacking potent of players like Oscar, Hazard, Willian (who has been under utilised going forward IMO) and Schurrle.

Like I've said all season, I admire most of the work Mourinho has done this season but my biggest (and only) gripe with him is the way he sets us up against the smaller teams, especially away from home. He has got to be more adventurous in these games.

[Reddish-Blue 2,345]

Mourinho vows to get rid of Chelsea players without 'personality'... warning misfiring strikers they can fight or leave

If the article is reliable....that is great news for Chelsea.

As long as Torres & Mikel leave and we sign a striker and a DLP...I'll be more than happy :blue scalf:

[Shane 2,275]

In fairness to Ivanovic, he has turned in some world class displays in his time and the club and is solid defensively, just awful going forward. If we had Azpi on the right, Shaw on the left and hopefully Diego Costa next season. Diego Costa is banging in some vital goals for Atletico this season, especially in the title race, exactly the sort of player that if we have, we'd be winning the league by 6 or 7 points.

[Strike 7,217]

I was specifically talking about the number of chances...The quality of our chances was poor due to bad decision making on the counter, which was what I was trying to imply in post..;

Crystal palace 1 goal from 14 attempts, and Chelsea 0 from 21 attempts

EDIT: Story of our season, against bottom half/relegation teams

yeah. fair enough. most of the 21 attempts were either long shots or chances created through setpieces. need to find a way to break down teams

[Muzchap 8,966]

I have said from the start that I don't mind if we win the title or not but if we isolate this game on it's own, some blame has to go to Mou for the way we set up our team. You have to expect this sort of performance when there is still no patterns in our attacking play against teams that sit deep against you, it's always been my only problem with Mourinho's approach especially against the smaller teams.

You can't keep relying on the individual brilliance of Hazard to bail you out in these sort of games.

I normally agree with you mate - but you are asking for the impossible here

Our team was shipping in goals faster than Spuds last few seasons. Jose has addressed this - knowing we don't have a quality strikeforce.

To return to open football - will likely see us get the pastings that Spuds have.

We can't have everything at the moment and losing by the odd goal in a game we should have won is fine by me - knowing the limitations that we have. 20+ attempts on target and NO GOAL - is that really Jose's fault? Seriously?

If we had of created 2 or 3 chances - sure I could levy some blame at the manager.

But 20+ chances is a lot not to convert even 1 of them!

We have to be realistic.

1st season back for Mourinho - we are challenging in the league and in Europe (CL not Micky mouse stuff) - if we can't be happy with that progress then it's a sad day.

We are a Ferrari body with the engine out of a 1.1 Fiat - looks good, but does fuck all when it counts. This will be rectified in the summer - of that I have absolute faith

[bushman 2,043]

There is no doubt in my mind Jose is the best tactician in the UK. When I look back at the games Chelsea had lost, it has been the defensive, bunkered, counterattacking teams who have hurt Chelsea the most. In other words Chelsea worst failures, has been against minnows. After all these years, Jose has not learned to solve these types of teams.

I bet, on Wednesday, offensive minded PSG will be surprised by Jose.

[Jase 43,479]

Pellegrini's message to Mourinho: 'Intelligent bosses don't play mind games'

[Reddish-Blue 2,345]

I normally agree with you mate - but you are asking for the impossible here

Our team was shipping in goals faster than Spuds last few seasons. Jose has addressed this - knowing we don't have a quality strikeforce.

To return to open football - will likely see us get the pastings that Spuds have.

We can't have everything at the moment and losing by the odd goal in a game we should have won is fine by me - knowing the limitations that we have. 20+ attempts on target and NO GOAL - is that really Jose's fault? Seriously?

If we had of created 2 or 3 chances - sure I could levy some blame at the manager.

But 20+ chances is a lot not to convert even 1 of them!

We have to be realistic.

1st season back for Mourinho - we are challenging in the league and in Europe (CL not Micky mouse stuff) - if we can't be happy with that progress then it's a sad day.

We are a Ferrari body with the engine out of a 1.1 Fiat - looks good, but does fuck all when it counts. This will be rectified in the summer - of that I have absolute faith

The Spuds defence is rubbish.

Just think about it, how many top clubs would want Dawson, Kaboul or Danny Rose?

They're getting pasted because their defence doesn't seem to care....you watch all the games where they've conceded 2 quick goals, suddenly their heads drop and the flood gates open!

I agree with the rest of your points....I just think Mourinho simply wouldn't let his team concede 4+ goals in so many games.

[xPetrCechx 13,563]

‘It is clear to everybody that Chelsea next year want to bring a striker,’ said Mourinho. ‘What’s the future for the others? The ones who are staying are competing with the striker we are bringing in.

SO, WHO WILL LEAVE STAMFORD BRIDGE?

Jose Mourinho warned his team to prepare for surgery in the summer after concluding that some simply do not have the personality to compete for the Barclays Premier League title. Who’s for the chop?

David Luiz
Hooked after 45 minutes in midfield on Saturday. Mourinho prefers others and knows he can bank more than £30m for the Brazilian. Barcelona and Bayern Munich are interested.

Fernando Torres
Not scored a Premier League goal since January. Chelsea would accept offers close to £20m. Inter Milan are interested, but do not value him so highly. Sky-high wages would be a problem too.

John Mikel Obi
Among those Mourinho claims will probably want to leave if they are not in the team. Inter also interested in him.

Demba Ba
Distant third among Mourinho’s three strikers this season. There won’t be a shortage of takers for a proven goalscorer.

Ashley Cole
Out injured and seems unlikely to be encouraged to stay. Mourinho has been using Cesar Azpilicueta at left back this season.

Samuel Eto’o
Eto’o fits the profile of those Mourinho accuses of not turning up for humdrum fixtures ... but can Jose afford to let ALL his strikers go?

Romelu Lukaku
Yet to be told where he stands but Mourinho is not keen on his style. Spurs head list of Premier League clubs queueing up to sign him.

[The only place to be 11,313]

I fully acknowledge that but it still doesn't change the fact that our biggest problem is creating quality chances against smaller teams. Yes, a competent striker would've helped us a lot but at the same time, when you select a midfield three of Luiz, Matic and Lampard and set up the team with a more conservative look you're going to struggle. A conservative look in games like these are not needed at all, you need to take the game to the opponent instead of being passive about it. I would've started Matic and Lampard in the pivot (which he has done in previous games against smaller sides, and we have performed a lot better in those games) whilst playing a proper number 10 in Willian or Oscar to give us more impetus in the final third. Lampard has never been good in a number 10 role because he naturally makes the shape of the team go into a 4-3-3.

Mourinho has always had an affinity for 433 against teams like Palace who play a 442 because it automatically gives us a man over in the midfield. The problem is that they put 10 men behind the ball and contracted the play so whilst you may have wanted us to have a number 10 one has to ask where the fuck did you want him to play?

If anything we lacked width in that game, but that happens when teams make the pitch small.

It's not like this is a one off game either, it's happened a lot against the smaller teams this season - and one of the biggest reasons is that Mourinho is too conservative in his look and gives the opponent too much respect. His refusal to play A. Cole and Azpi as our fullbacks in order to spread the play more with overlaps in order to create more runs and spaces for our more forward players is a big reason why we struggle to create quality chances against these sides. Hopefully he has acknowledged that, and hopefully he fixes it next season by bringing in the right players, but as of right now, there are certain players and certain methods of play he's not fully utilising.

Against West Ham who put out a similar tactic against us we created just shy of FORTY chances. But yes, the lack of Ashley Cole is the issue.

I never said we don't have a pattern to our attacking play... What I did say is that we don't have a pattern to our attacking play against teams that sit deep. We rely too much on the individual brilliance of Hazard in these games but you've got to set up your team better in these games so we can fully utilise the attacking potent of players like Oscar, Hazard, Willian (who has been under utilised going forward IMO) and Schurrle.

I think that's a complete nonsense. There's clear patterns of attacking play that simply weren't executed properly. First phase counter-attacks simply weren't executed with enough pace or precision. When they failed you saw Hazard actually come deeper and Azpi push on but the lack of movement from a number 9 (which creates space for someone like Schurrle to get in behind, see the Fulham game) simply wasn't there and ultimately Palace were extremely well drilled.

Like I've said all season, I admire most of the work Mourinho has done this season but my biggest (and only) gripe with him is the way he sets us up against the smaller teams, especially away from home. He has got to be more adventurous in these games.

Jose will always set up to not lose first which is perfectly fine but you need to be clinical when taking chances. We simply don't have a striker capable of that which is why it's remarkable we're where we are right now, but I don't think people need to randomly select attacking patterns as the issue.

[The Skipper 20,593]

I normally agree with you mate - but you are asking for the impossible here

How am I asking for the impossible? Is thinking that we should be playing more open offensive football against the likes of Crystal Palace really too much to ask?

Our team was shipping in goals faster than Spuds last few seasons. Jose has addressed this - knowing we don't have a quality strikeforce.

To return to open football - will likely see us get the pastings that Spuds have.

As I said; if you read the of my post I appreciate a lot of what Mourinho has done, i.e. making us the best team defensively in the country - but that doesn't mean he's done a perfect job... Like I said, I am not advocating that we play more expansively in all of our games, I was simply commenting on Mourinho's approach in this game, against Crystal Palace - which is what I said in the previous post before; if we isolate this game solely then Mourinho has to shoulder some of the blame as we set up too conservatively in this game, we gave CP too much respect. It's a problem we've had all season against smaller teams, it's naive for anyone to ignore that.

We can't have everything at the moment and losing by the odd goal in a game we should have won is fine by me - knowing the limitations that we have. 20+ attempts on target and NO GOAL - is that really Jose's fault? Seriously?

If we had of created 2 or 3 chances - sure I could levy some blame at the manager.

But 20+ chances is a lot not to convert even 1 of them!

How many of those shots turned out to be quality chances? Maybe Hazard's miss only? That's not good enough against a team like Crystal Palace. We need to be creating a lot more against teams like these. That's my main and only problem with Mourinho's approaches in these sort of games, the fact that we have struggled a lot this season to consistently churn out great chances against smaller teams instead of relying on a couple of individual pieces of magic... Surely you have to look at the way the team is set up if it's a recurring theme?

We have to be realistic.

1st season back for Mourinho - we are challenging in the league and in Europe (CL not Micky mouse stuff) - if we can't be happy with that progress then it's a sad day.

We are a Ferrari body with the engine out of a 1.1 Fiat - looks good, but does fuck all when it counts. This will be rectified in the summer - of that I have absolute faith

How have I not been realistic? I have said since the start of the season that I don't expect us to win the title and I have continually said that I've seen a lot of good things this year, but that doesn't mean it's been perfect - I know we're a few players away from completely eradicating the problems in these smaller games but at the same time Mourinho's approach in some of these haven't been great either... That's my main point.

I'm not doubting Mourinho's abilities or discrediting the work he has done this season at all... He's done a good job in his first season back indeed, but that doesn't mean he's been perfect... My only criticism for him this season is that we approach smaller games in the wrong manner - I've said that all season. That does not equate to me not having faith in him as a manager.