The Mourinho Thread

[The only place to be 11,313]

So you genuinely believe our problem this season hasn't been under performing against the smaller teams?

I think we've missed a striker all season who can score goals in games like this. Until we solve that we're always going to be lacking.

That's what happens when you don't go at the opponent and allow them to settle into the game. Mourinho obviously agreed that we weren't attacking enough to begin with, which is why we made the change to a 4-2-3-1.

Or you win 4-0 like we did against Spurs.

So apparently we've been dispatching smaller teams with ease all season now?

Are you expecting us to beat small teams with ease now? There are no small teams, there are no easy games - again the David Luiz mentality rears it's head.

[Strike 7,492]

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.

It's 21 shots not 21 chances. Big difference. Maybe 2 chances created - Schurrle (counter) and Hazard's chance that's all. The team looked lost in attack - trying long balls very often

[Muzchap 8,966]

It's 21 shots not 21 chances. Big difference. Maybe 2 chances created - Schurrle (counter) and Hazard's chance that's all. The team looked lost in attack - trying long balls very often

Ok shots / chances - then it's the players fault? Why are they taking unrealistic shots? Or did Mourinho tell them to do that too?

Look - Mourinho makes mistakes, all humans do - I'm not saying he is infallible.

He's working with the players he has - and they simply aren't good enough to 'do if on a warm afternoon in crystal palace'

I don't know why that is - it pisses me off considerably, but I know it pisses Mourinho off more!

So that's why I'm expecting CL qualification, summer re-org and title champions next season.

Anybody critical of Mourinho - answer me this...

If we had Suarez up front - would Palace have beaten us?

The answer as we all know - is 'No'

There's the issue a massive lack of a striker. Occam's razor - simplest explanation is usually the correct one....

Not aimed at you Strike, and apologies to The Skipper if you felt I was being personal - I'm not, just stating my opinion I just hope, come next season I am right. Feel free to quote me if not - and I will apologise.

[Tomo 21,751]

It doesn't matter if you put your best team out, you don't win if you don't have the right tactic. No one is questioning Jose's play selection or sub, all of that are fine but rather the TACTIC THAT HE IMPLEMENTED. And for the bold bit isn't that for all the teams?

You could win the league in an ugly way, it been proven before by Jose himself. I think the reason Dave is playing LB started after that Cole party scandal in Dec, Jose doesn't have anyone else to rely on so he just started to drop Cole to make a point(which is fine for me).

Mou made the Cole-Azpi change in November vs Schalke, 10 games and nearly 2 months later Cole went to the Gooner party.

So what point was he trying to make exactly?

[robsblubot 3,595]

I completely understand what Jose has been saying about mentality and all. I do NOT understand who the fuck he is talking about though. Because I look around us, and specially ahead of us, and don't find the qualities he's speaking of.

All I see is extremely technical players in City... like Silva, Nasri. Fernandinho's first season... Demichelis (8m bargain buy)? Yaya who's actually known to lack concentration. The cool Dzeko.

Or Liverpool with diminutive players (Coutinho, Allen) who value pace and keeping the football, not to mention employing two strikers and no holding mid. Talking about no holding mid and there is Arsenal.

While I completely understand a head coach must seek balance (mental, technique, and physical), I'm getting worried... I mean Lee Cattermole and Andy Carrol would be available at the right price.

You know, perhaps our players are not good enough?! Or we don't have enough good players on the squad? Yes, I know we don't have strikers, but our defense line is comprised of 4 players who play twice a week. Any surprise 33yo Terry scored an own goal - beautifully struck btw. Or that Azpi has finally shown signs of fatigue? Not to me.

Or maybe it's all just Mourinho playing mind games not only with the supporters but his own players as well.

[Strike 7,492]

Ok shots / chances - then it's the players fault? Why are they taking unrealistic shots? Or did Mourinho tell them to do that too?

Look - Mourinho makes mistakes, all humans do - I'm not saying he is infallible.

He's working with the players he has - and they simply aren't good enough to 'do if on a warm afternoon in crystal palace'

I don't know why that is - it pisses me off considerably, but I know it pisses Mourinho off more!

So that's why I'm expecting CL qualification, summer re-org and title champions next season.

Anybody critical of Mourinho - answer me this...

If we had Suarez up front - would Palace have beaten us?

The answer as we all know - is 'No'

There's the issue a massive lack of a striker. Occam's razor - simplest explanation is usually the correct one....

Not aimed at you Strike, and apologies to The Skipper if you felt I was being personal - I'm not, just stating my opinion I just hope, come next season I am right. Feel free to quote me if not - and I will apologise.

No. I don't think Mourinho told the players to try long shots/long balls. After the Everton game, he said that the team was getting hurried into long balls and that should not happen. i think it's more to do with the team lacking ideas in attack in games like Palace away. Lot of times, the ball ends up 35 yards from goal with no movement in front of the ball. so Luiz, Matic, Ivanovic all decided to have a pop. No one got anywhere near the goal

a better striker would settle Chelsea more games but the lack of chances is created is also an issue. not down to just a change of striker

[Muzchap 8,966]

No. I don't think Mourinho told the players to try long shots/long balls. After the Everton game, he said that the team was getting hurried into long balls and that should not happen. i think it's more to do with the team lacking ideas in attack in games like Palace away. Lot of times, the ball ends up 35 yards from goal with no movement in front of the ball. so Luiz, Matic, Ivanovic all decided to have a pop. No one got anywhere near the goal

a better striker would settle Chelsea more games but the lack of chances is created is also an issue. not down to just a change of striker

Yeah but what's a Strikers main role - making runs in behind te defence, creating space - for people to move into...

We have a donkey leading our line... Hence no space, no movement and long shots...

Honestly. Striker is such an important role in the team - we so badly lack... Sure our midfielders can score - but not all of the time...

[Mohammed Seif 1,451]

Yeah but what's a Strikers main role - making runs in behind te defence, creating space - for people to move into...

We have a donkey leading our line... Hence no space, no movement and long shots...

Honestly. Striker is such an important role in the team - we so badly lack... Sure our midfielders can score - but not all of the time...

LOOOL

[The only place to be 11,313]

I completely understand what Jose has been saying about mentality and all. I do NOT understand who the fuck he is talking about though. Because I look around us, and specially ahead of us, and don't find the qualities he's speaking of.

Players in our squad lacking balls? Well it's your boy David Luiz for one. That's why we have to overplay the back four, because Luiz can't be trusted (something that everyone except his fan club now realises). He doesn't show up against the smaller teams (a term his fan club love to use).

Fortunately we're actually developing players into men who will step up for our club.

As for the big players at other clubs, look no further than Toure and Suarez. As Muzchap alluded to the lack of a proper striker kills so much of what we try to do.

[Strike 7,492]

Yeah but what's a Strikers main role - making runs in behind te defence, creating space - for people to move into...

We have a donkey leading our line... Hence no space, no movement and long shots...

Honestly. Striker is such an important role in the team - we so badly lack... Sure our midfielders can score - but not all of the time...

i don't think a striker is the answer to all the problems in attack. few players Willian, Oscar, Schurrle who are all still adapting, need to improve. Become a bit more consistent

[boshman 1,073]

When is Jose's press conference for tomorrow night's game??

[Mohammed Seif 1,451]

When is Jose's press conference for tomorrow night's game??

Someone mentioned in another thread that it will be by 5pm UK time

[robsblubot 3,595]

Players in our squad lacking balls? Well it's your boy David Luiz for one. That's why we have to overplay the back four, because Luiz can't be trusted (something that everyone except his fan club now realises). He doesn't show up against the smaller teams (a term his fan club love to use).

Fortunately we're actually developing players into men who will step up for our club.

As for the big players at other clubs, look no further than Toure and Suarez. As Muzchap alluded to the lack of a proper striker kills so much of what we try to do.

What else is to discuss about Luiz? He'll be gone in the summer to either Bayern, PSG, or Barca... hopefully not to another PL club... you and Jose don't fancy him, I and others do. Won't be wearing my boots when he does leave for around 30m though - nice amount of cash for such a terrible defender.

BTW, I think you were right when you suggested (on a diff thread) that he's been saving himself for the world cup and I also agree it's a pretty shitty thing to do. Still, merely comparing the intensity level of his game between this season and last would indeed point to that.

I specifically wrote that I do understand the point Jose made - it was quite clear. Lee Cattermole has lots of balls and he's still an awful player.

Now, the important discussion here is the one I'm trying to have: what kind of team is Jose trying to build and whether the type of player he fancies would indeed give us the edge we need. Once again, I look to City and Liverpool (and Arsenal) and the type of players they got are not the type of players Jose says he needs and doesn't have.

I question whether he's right. Because, like I said, the other top teams in England, including the ones sitting above us in the standings, also lack the qualities he and you keep getting at. Liverpool and attacking side with players of even questionable character. While City is a possession side.

[The only place to be 11,313]

Lee Cattermole has lots of balls and he's still an awful player.

No he doesn't. He's a little scrote, a lot like Joey Barton. Don't confuse rank stupidity and recklessness for 'balls'.

If you want balls then how about someone like Daniele De Rossi? A player who doesn't ever duck a fight, never gives less than his all and is a real leader of men.

Not someone who 'is saving himself for the World Cup' (as you put it) at the expense of his teammates, the supporters and his employer.

[robsblubot 3,595]

No he doesn't. He's a little scrote, a lot like Joey Barton. Don't confuse rank stupidity and recklessness for 'balls'.

If you want balls then how about someone like Daniele De Rossi? A player who doesn't ever duck a fight, never gives less than his all and is a real leader of men.

Not someone who 'is saving himself for the World Cup' (as you put it) at the expense of his teammates, the supporters and his employer.

I'm very confused, so you apparently define quality/talent solely by guts/balls/leadership. That's very odd... Kinda implies the Brazilian sides who have won the world cup 5 times were more gutsy than their opponents... than England in 2002. That England lost to Argentina in the WC back then, because Argentina players had more guts, or perhaps because Maradona was more driven, rather than the obvious answer which is that talent was the reason.

Teams have to strike a balance between guts, leadership, and talent. Some managers tend to lean one way or another. Jose goes for the mental qualities, where Guardiola for technique (passing). Regardless, saying you need a bunch of leaders to beat Crystal Palace in their domain is kinda crazy because it implies Bayern and Barcelona would lose there.

My guess is that City are going to go there keep the football for 90 minutes and beat them - no heroics needed.

[The only place to be 11,313]

I'm very confused, so you apparently define quality/talent solely by guts/balls/leadership.

No I don't.

Jose goes for the mental qualities, where Guardiola for technique (passing).

It's actually quite impressive how little you actually understand football. Guardiola's sides aren't just good at passing. That's such a ridiculously naive view that suggests you've never actually played (maybe even watched) football.

A pass is when the ball is kicked from one player to another. Now for the ball to reach that player it has to be accurate, but the player also has to be in space and working for 90 minutes to continually find space and be available for the pass is incredibly hard. It takes determination (guts/balls) to push yourself like that which is part of the reason Guardiola's sides had questions about burnout raised about them.

Allied to that his sides press insanely hard when they lose possession (that first 7 seconds after losing the ball) which only adds to their workload, so to say that he favours technique is ridiculous. His sides are some of the hardest working sides you'll find in world football which is why he places such an emphasis on training and training camps in particular.

Equally to suggest Mourinho goes simply for the mental is overly-simplistic. His tactics require a huge level of concentration and anticipation but also an incredibly high level of precision when making breaks (look at Madrid's breaks that frequently involved Ronaldo or our own breaks against Galatasaray or Arsenal - precision, pace and concentration combined).

But yes....Guardiola does like passing.

[HD3D 1,038]

Benitez recent comments on Mourinho http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2012941-rafael-benitez-slams-jose-mourinho-in-new-facts-rant-at-chelsea-boss

Mourinho talks a lot about a lot of people, but I prefer to talk about facts. At Liverpool, with a squad half of the value of Chelsea, we twice knocked his Chelsea side out of the Champions League.

Later, with the most expensive squad at Real Madrid, he did nothing in the Champions League.
Now he says if there is an offer of hundreds of millions for (Eden) Hazard and Oscar, maybe he can build a strong squad to win something.

The fat lunatic seems to have lost the last bit of sanity he had now. He doesn't seem to understand that Mourinho didn't mean it literally when he said he'd sell Oscar and Hazard for 300m lol.

He talks about "facts", well let's talk about facts:

- He knocked Chelsea out of the 2005 CL by robbing us with a goal that didn't exist. He eventually went on to win that Champions League, which means, hadn't it been for that referee mistake, the title would have likely been ours.

- The second time he eliminated Mourinho's Chelsea from the CL was on penalties. What a tactical genius you are Rafa!

- Doesn't mention a single word about how Jose repeatedly spanked him in the league, having gone on to 5 victories in a row over his Liverpool side and finishing 37 points(!) above him in the 04/05 league.

- Mocks Mourinho for "doing nothing" at the Champions League with a valuable Real Madrid squad (even though he reached the semi-finals 3 out of 3 times despite Real Madrid not being able to do so since 2003, thus showing remarkable improvement), yet doesn't mention a single word about his utter failure at 2011 Inter Milan, a team that had won the treble with Mourinho just 1 season before.

I wonder if Jose will blast him in the next press conference. He certainly has the arguments on his side.

[BloodIsBlue 291]

Benitez wins the Champion's League once, with a ghost goal none the less, and he thinks he is somebody.

[robsblubot 3,595]

No I don't.

It's actually quite impressive how little you actually understand football. Guardiola's sides aren't just good at passing. That's such a ridiculously naive view that suggests you've never actually played (maybe even watched) football.

A pass is when the ball is kicked from one player to another. Now for the ball to reach that player it has to be accurate, but the player also has to be in space and working for 90 minutes to continually find space and be available for the pass is incredibly hard. It takes determination (guts/balls) to push yourself like that which is part of the reason Guardiola's sides had questions about burnout raised about them.

Allied to that his sides press insanely hard when they lose possession (that first 7 seconds after losing the ball) which only adds to their workload, so to say that he favours technique is ridiculous. His sides are some of the hardest working sides you'll find in world football which is why he places such an emphasis on training and training camps in particular.

Equally to suggest Mourinho goes simply for the mental is overly-simplistic. His tactics require a huge level of concentration and anticipation but also an incredibly high level of precision when making breaks (look at Madrid's breaks that frequently involved Ronaldo or our own breaks against Galatasaray or Arsenal - precision, pace and concentration combined).

But yes....Guardiola does like passing.

So, we've come full circle to agree that David Luiz is a hell of a gutsy player and that's why he can pick up a pass.

I'm certainly not going to enter this childish discussion about who knows more...

There is really no point in discussing any further as we don't agree in the most fundamental things. Technique is Technique! You always go back to the mental aspects as if they were the only ones. There are and have been thousands of gutless footballers who were/are great players.

I’ve watched Brazil beat England in 2002 world cup with Ronaldinho and Kleberson in midfield, while England had Scholes and Beckham there. Battle of determination or talent?

Once again, you only see one aspect of the game, while there are 3: Mental, physical, and technique

Really, this is a very basic discussion… we can argue about which one is the most important one, but it’s silly not to acknowledge there are more than one.

Good discussion here:

http://andagain.websitetoolbox.com/post/TacticalTechnicalPhysicalMental-5832408

"Technique refers to a player's "ability to manipulate the ball". For field players, technique includes dribbling, receiving, passing, shooting, heading, and more."

I'd add the most important of all: first touch - very difficult to execute anything without having control of the football. If it takes too long for you to control the football (multiple touches) it gives your opponents time to close you down.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

It's 21 shots not 21 chances. Big difference. Maybe 2 chances created - Schurrle (counter) and Hazard's chance that's all. The team looked lost in attack - trying long balls very often

We played 41 long balls; 11 more than Crystal Palace - a team managed by Toni Pulis!!!