The Mourinho Thread

[Strike 7,853]

First season in England under two different but equally incompetent managers. At the right price he's a nice squad option.

don't need squad option i guess. Lamps probably staying on. MvG, other youngsters

[Henrique 9,133]

did you said this after sunday when we win over Liverpool??

Liverpool game was a completely different animal. Tired players needed rest, some players out due to injuries, 0 responsibility with the result because the PL already was 98% over for us, so those tactics in that game made sense. It does not mean its a tactic he should be adopting over and over again.

[manpe 10,861]

Truth is with this team we should have never been in the semi-finals, we should have gone out against PSG or maybe even earlier. We shouldn't be contending for the league, we should have lost against City and Liverpool and have it over much sooner. It's our manager we have to thank for taking us this far, I haven't felt more proud of the team for some time now. During the Rafa period I was completely alienated from the team, the drop from the joy of winning the Champions League with Robbie and then sinking into total apathy with Rafa was too much. Now hope and feeling of joy is back, even if we don't win anything. We've already come close to two of the biggest prizes with very limited quality.

If it wasn't for Jose, we'd have got someone else and he'd be sacked by summer, then we'd get another manager for next season and this charade would go on and on. No trying to build the team, just managers trying to hang on for their lives and patch things up for quick success, then leave a rotting team for the next one to start patching. If Jose actually gets time and peace of mind to do his thing, I'm confident we're gonna be swimming in trophies and enjoying our football.

[The Chels 2,502]

Hah lots of people here are going to be in for a shock next season when they realise that Mourinho WANTS to play Ramires; yesterday he had no choice but you can bet your bottom dollar he would have and will continue to start Ramires — there's a reason he wanted Ramires at Inter and Madrid you know.

[Fernando 6,743]

Hah lots of people here are going to be in for a shock next season when they realise that Mourinho WANTS to play Ramires; yesterday he had no choice but you can bet your bottom dollar he would have and will continue to start Ramires there's a reason he wanted Ramires at Inter and Madrid you know.

Ramires is good to have in the bench and sub him in to close the game and such.

But to be a starter of an elite team, no.

[Henrique 9,133]

Technically? Yes. They're comfortably better in that regard.

I don't think so. They have the same squad from 3 years ago when they were a Europa League side, and were no even getting in top 4 in La Liga. Mourinho is using those ultra-conservative tactics not because he has a limited squad and thats the only way those players will work as a team and reach a UCL semi-final. Mourinho is using ultra-conservative tactics because thats how he is. Its not necessarily something bad, because he is a winner after all, and he won a lot of things using those tactics. Sometimes the tactics doesn't work.

[The Chels 2,502]

But to be a starter of an elite team, no.

I think everyone agrees with that — including supporters of other teams who rarely watch us — except the one man that matters.

[Henrique 9,133]

Atleti are better man-for-man than Chelsea, except maybe defence where it's more equal. What made the difference yesterday is that they're much better collectively and comfortable in their system and roles which is why when we opened up by bringing on Eto'o they were all over us. It helps that they're been together for more than a couple of years now.

Then I think something is really wrong. We spent 100x more than Atletico, and how come they manage to build a better squad than ours? Atletico in my opinion has a good squad, but thats it. They have a limited squad, almost the same squad from 11/12 season when they were in the Europa League final.

If Atletico win La Liga and UCL this season, I don't see they winning both competitions again or even fighting for them again in the next 10 years. What those guys are doing is really amazing, but saying they have a better squad that ours just show how a lot of our players are underperforming in the currently season.

[The only place to be 11,313]

Then I think something is really wrong. We spent 100x more than Atletico, and how come they manage to build a better squad than ours?

Because since they appointed Simeone, we're had four different managers.

It's why I don't get the constant moaning about the playing style of our team. People seem to want to criticise Mourinho for being conservative and saying that's his 'nature', so what do these people want? Do they want Mourinho gone and us to bring in someone else or is it just whining for the sake of it?

[Fernando 6,743]

Then I think something is really wrong. We spent 100x more than Atletico, and how come they manage to build a better squad than ours? Atletico in my opinion has a good squad, but thats it. They have a limited squad, almost the same squad from 11/12 season when they were in the Europa League final.

If Atletico win La Liga and UCL this season, I don't see they winning both competitions again or even fighting for them again in the next 10 years. What those guys are doing is really amazing, but saying they have a better squad that ours just show how a lot of our players are underperforming in the currently season.

The entire squad of Atletico cost less then Torres himself.

So there's value out there, just that our managers, our boards and scout not as good as say Atletico or Dortmund from over the last year.

I mean, how the hell Atletico manages to get top strikers after top strikers?

[DYC. 7,542]

Then I think something is really wrong. We spent 100x more than Atletico, and how come they manage to build a better squad than ours? Atletico in my opinion has a good squad, but thats it. They have a limited squad, almost the same squad from 11/12 season when they were in the Europa League final.

If Atletico win La Liga and UCL this season, I don't see they winning both competitions again or even fighting for them again in the next 10 years. What those guys are doing is really amazing, but saying they have a better squad that ours just show how a lot of our players are underperforming in the currently season.

I completely agree with this. Roll back to the start of the season and hardly anyone would be crazy enough to say they would want to trade Chelsea's team/squad for Atletico's.

[Henrique 9,133]

Because since they appointed Simeone, we're had four different managers.

It's why I don't get the constant moaning about the playing style of our team. People seem to want to criticise Mourinho for being conservative and saying that's his 'nature', so what do these people want? Do they want Mourinho gone and us to bring in someone else or is it just whining for the sake of it?

I think the simple answer is: Mourinho should change his approach. His a man, not a animal or a machine. People change over the years, and I hope he will change in some ways after this season.

[Shane 2,275]

I think the simple answer is: Mourinho should change his approach. His a man, not a animal or a machine. People change over the years, and I hope he will change in some ways after this season.

He will with another summer under his belt. This year, he got to identify the problems with the team and make do with what he had. Know, he gets a chance to add big to it.

[iseah100 5,612]

I think the simple answer is: Mourinho should change his approach. His a man, not a animal or a machine. People change over the years, and I hope he will change in some ways after this season.

Not change his approach totally, but a few tweaks. Also, about Atletico spending less than us, is it really that important? They've spent less than City, United, Arsenal, Tottenham, Barca, Real, Bayern, Juventus, AC milan, and nearly every other top club. Dortmund is in the same boat as them. Some teams don't need to spend a lot. It happens.

About individual talent, that's a ridiculous argument. The 2013 Real Madrid had a ton of individual talent but they didn't win anything. Individual talent is irrelevant if you don't play as a team. Atletico have been playing together for a long time, and it shows. We're under our 4th manager in 4 years. Mou will get it together, he knows what needs to be done, and Roman will let him do it, unlike at Real.

[darrus 422]

We spent 100x more than Atletico, and how come they manage to build a better squad than ours?

People disregard the fact that spending a lot of money doesn't equal success. It's sort of Real Madrid or PSG logc "we buy all star players there are = we win every title", and the same teams are an example that it doesn't work.

Yes, we have a squad that costs a lot. But what system of play were they bought for? At the start of the season we had 6 AMs and Lampard\Ramires pivot because there basically was no other option. Unbalanced squad that looks good on paper and in reality is a heap of expensive mechanical parts instead of fully functional car. By themselves all players are good, but when you start trying to stuck them in a system it doesn't quite fit.

We've made steps to solve it in the winter transfer window, because after half a season current squad's limitations were already obvious. We'll solve the remaining problems in summer (the most glaring at least) and then we'll see what we get.

I'm a bit puzzled. Rodgers spent the whole season building the team, finished outside of Europe, still can't sort out defensive problems and is praised as the best young manager. Pellegrini took the most expensive squad in England with players playing together for quite some time, crashed out of CL at first knock-out round, may end up with probably one minor cup - and is hailed as amazing manager. Wenger has won his last trophy when dinosaurs were still alive and is considered one of the best there is currently. Guardiola made the strongest team of Europe into poor man's Barca and "you can't judge a coach by one (2, 3, 10) bad match".

Mourinho came to the team that was assembled by 3 managers in 2 years and for some different style of play, got to CL semis, still has outside chance at the title and he is a failure and laughing stock.

He's made mistakes, of course, but really that's an overkill.

[bushman 2,043]

So, basically Jose is the best, I read above.

[iseah100 5,612]

So, basically Jose is the best, I read above.

And he is, so there.

[bushman 2,043]

Thanks 100,

Just wanted to make sure.

[bushman 2,043]

Jose is the best tactician around the world. That I admit. His stats are a proof of it.

Can he build a team on a shoestring budget? I honestly don't know & I doubt it. Over the years, he always had plenty to spend.

Some say, he already identified Chelsea's needs. One thing I am almost certain, Roman is not going to be very happy to see him spending more money & seeing Chelsea's parking the bus.

This shit better change soon. Otherwise, if it's not, Jose may be shipped out next season. Roman has packed Mateo for this type of strategy & Robbie won the most important club trophy for Chelsea.

I hope, Jose gets his tactics sorted soon.

[Joe Cool 388]

I'm not going to be too judgmental because he's only been with the players for a year. But how can we look so sterile offensively with the wealth of flair players that we have? It's been shown time and time again, with no seeming improvement in recent weeks. Like I said though, it's too early to form conclusions, so we'll just wait and see how things go next season.