The Mourinho Thread

[Special Juan 28,869]

To be fair, I dont think Mou used Luiz in the modfield because he wanted to (per se).

I think the fact he used him out of position so much shows two things. One that Cahill and JT duo were so immense that he tried to change it at least as possible and that Luiz's performances werent impressing him. Two that he simply doesnt trust any of our back up DMs and preferred a CB playing there than Mikel or whatever!

In factc, I dont recall Jose utilizing Luiz as a DM when he had the full squad at his disposal. It was more like desperate moves in order to try to win some matches than a real plan of his choice (a bit like Rafa did)...

This job has defo gone to your head

[Rmpr 8,977]

This job has defo gone to your head

Nooo, I'm losing it!

[Fernando 6,743]

Regarding Mourinho and Luiz, just find it funny that after the former said he won't play a defender in midfield, he goes and do that with Luiz. At times, it was enforced on Mourinho to do so but there were also times he made that decision despite having choices and not to mention, he also did the same with Azpi against Atletico Madrid...

I think he's having a dig at Benitez and wanted not to do anything what he did.

Yet he ended up eating his words.

As my mom always said, don't spit up because sooner or later it might land on your face!

[Jase 43,479]

To be fair, I dont think Mou used Luiz in midfield because he wanted to (per se).

I think the fact he used him out of position so much shows two things. One that Cahill and JT duo were so immense that he tried to change it at least as possible and that Luiz's performances werent impressing him. Two that he simply doesnt trust any of our back up DMs and preferred a CB playing there than Mikel or whatever!

In factc, I dont recall Jose utilizing Luiz as a DM when he had the full squad at his disposal. It was more like desperate moves in order to try to win some matches than a real plan of his choice (a bit like Rafa did)...

I do seem to remember that we had all our MFs - Matic, Ramires, Lampard and Mikel - fit and available at certain points during the second half of the season but yet, Mourinho played Luiz in the pivot as well and he's now even praising him for having the ability to play in midfield! It just kinda feels silly that he said he won't play Luiz in midfield and the next thing we know, he does just that whether intentionally or enforced.

[Kieran. 6,317]

I do seem to remember that we had all our MFs - Matic, Ramires, Lampard and Mikel - fit and available at certain points during the second half of the season but yet, Mourinho played Luiz in the pivot as well and he's now even praising him for having the ability to play in midfield! It just kinda feels silly that he said he won't play Luiz in midfield and the next thing we know, he does just that whether intentionally or enforced.

He first used him there out of necessity and was impressed, so he used him over Mikel and Lampard towards the end of the season.

[robdog 2,084]

Regarding Mourinho and Luiz, just find it funny that after the former said he won't play a defender in midfield, he goes and do that with Luiz. At times, it was enforced on Mourinho to do so but there were also times he made that decision despite having choices and not to mention, he also did the same with Azpi against Atletico Madrid...

and when he was at Madrid Pepe played in the midfield too. It's a tactical move instead of an enforced move.

[BloodIsBlue 291]

Playing Luiz in the midfield is a bit different than playing a normal defender like Pepe. Luiz is one of the defenders in the world with decent movement.

[robdog 2,084]

Playing Luiz in the midfield is a bit different than playing a normal defender like Pepe. Luiz is one of the defenders in the world with decent movement.

Didn't Jose play Lucio or Zanetti as a DM during his reign @ Inter? I thought he did.

[darrus 422]

Didn't Jose play Lucio or Zanetti as a DM during his reign @ Inter? I thought he did.

Zanetti certainly, don't remember about Lucio.

[Styles 9,790]

The truth is Jose chats shit every now and again so you can't take everything he says at face value.

[BloodIsBlue 291]

Didn't Jose play Lucio or Zanetti as a DM during his reign @ Inter? I thought he did.

Zenetti was included in the midfield many many times, I don't think Lucio was in there. He had Cambiasso and later Motta who were great in those positions. He didn't always play 3 in the midfield, a lot of times he would just gimp Pandev or Stankovic and not let them travel to high up.

[The only place to be 11,313]

Personally I've never gotten over Jose lying about his team selection prior to the Barca game in 05. What type of manager isn't honest with his team selection and tactics before a match?

This whole David Luiz thing is just another example. He should start the season by being totally upfront with the media and opposition managers about his intentions regarding team selection and tactics.

[Rom2013 446]

Personally I've never gotten over Jose lying about his team selection prior to the Barca game in 05. What type of manager isn't honest with his team selection and tactics before a match?

This whole David Luiz thing is just another example. He should start the season by being totally upfront with the media and opposition managers about his intentions regarding team selection and tactics.

THat was the funniest moment that I saw in a press conference. And I saw a lot with Mourinho.

About David Luiz he played a lot in the midfield because he was not good enough to play in CB, because Matic couldn't play Champions League, Mikel is really bad and Lampard can't play every game. We had in proper conditions and with quality 3 midfielders... Ramires, Luiz and Matic.

Also against big teams it's better to play with 2 defensive midfielders like Matic and Luiz when we are not strong yet. In the future we won't play with 2 players like that and the first choise will be always Matic.

Pepe played has a midfielder against Barcelona in 3 or 4 games in 3 years. The cup final in 2010, 1st leg in the semi final of Champions League 2010, in 2013 the last "el clasico" of Mourinho, and the forst leg of the cup in his last season. I don't remember any other.

[Madmax 9,219]

Personally I've never gotten over Jose lying about his team selection prior to the Barca game in 05. What type of manager isn't honest with his team selection and tactics before a match?

This whole David Luiz thing is just another example. He should start the season by being totally upfront with the media and opposition managers about his intentions regarding team selection and tactics.

Ah, MIND GAMES

[BloodIsBlue 291]

Personally I've never gotten over Jose lying about his team selection prior to the Barca game in 05. What type of manager isn't honest with his team selection and tactics before a match?

This whole David Luiz thing is just another example. He should start the season by being totally upfront with the media and opposition managers about his intentions regarding team selection and tactics.

I've always been a firm believer or tactical secrecy. If you have a manager who is obsessed with rotation than it won't matter as much. If you are going to field the same team every time you may as well try to send your opponents up the wrong street. The only way anyone could be mad about this is if they used his statements to base the fantasy team selection, and if that is the case LOL. The only people on the entire planet Mourinho has to be clear and honest about his tactics with are his own players.

[robdog 2,084]

Pepe played has a midfielder against Barcelona in 3 or 4 games in 3 years. The cup final in 2010, 1st leg in the semi final of Champions League 2010, in 2013 the last "el clasico" of Mourinho, and the forst leg of the cup in his last season. I don't remember any other.

so it's like I posted before, it's a tactic that Jose likes to use. We saw many teams use a CB as a DM this season. Man City & Man U did it. It's a freakin' tactic.

[Jase 43,479]

Also against big teams it's better to play with 2 defensive midfielders like Matic and Luiz when we are not strong yet. In the future we won't play with 2 players like that and the first choise will be always Matic.

TBF, Mourinho has used Luiz in midfield against the likes of Hull, Stoke, Palace and Norwich as well. So, it's not always the big games where he's only being used there.

Have no issues with Luiz being used in midfield but just the ironic situation with what he said. Then again, Mourinho probably just said what he did because he targeted Benitez back then, as Fernando alluded to previously but had other thoughts in mind.

[Rom2013 446]

TBF, Mourinho has used Luiz in midfield against the likes of Hull, Stoke, Palace and Norwich as well. So, it's not always the big games where he's only being used there.

Have no issues with Luiz being used in midfield but just the ironic situation with what he said. Then again, Mourinho probably just said what he did because he targeted Benitez back then, as Fernando alluded to previously but had other thoughts in mind.

Matic didn't play agains Hull, I'm not sure about the Stoke game but if it was the cup game he played has a CB no? At least in that game TErry didn't play.Against Norwich Luiz was not in the stariting XI if it's the 0-0 in the Bridge.

I'm not saying it's only tactical, or only because we don't have players. It's a little bit of both.

In normal conditions and with Matic fit David Luiz won't be in the starting eleven in the midfield because we play with only one pure defensive player. Naturally if Matic can't play Cahmpions and we have problems with Van Ginkel and Lampard can't play all games we need to play more often other players.

Against Man City right now the best option maybe is Luiz Matic.

[Jase 43,479]

Matic didn't play agains Hull, I'm not sure about the Stoke game but if it was the cup game he played has a CB no? At least in that game TErry didn't play.Against Norwich Luiz was not in the stariting XI if it's the 0-0 in the Bridge.

I'm not saying it's only tactical, or only because we don't have players. It's a little bit of both.

In normal conditions and with Matic fit David Luiz won't be in the starting eleven in the midfield because we play with only one pure defensive player. Naturally if Matic can't play Cahmpions and we have problems with Van Ginkel and Lampard can't play all games we need to play more often other players.

Against Man City right now the best option maybe is Luiz Matic.

Regardless, the point is he was used in midfield. The Stoke game I referred to was the league one and against Norwich, he came on at HT to replace Lampard in the pivot.

All that being said, it wasn't my point to begin with anyway.

[Shane 2,275]

TBF, Mourinho has used Luiz in midfield against the likes of Hull, Stoke, Palace and Norwich as well. So, it's not always the big games where he's only being used there.

Have no issues with Luiz being used in midfield but just the ironic situation with what he said. Then again, Mourinho probably just said what he did because he targeted Benitez back then, as Fernando alluded to previously but had other thoughts in mind.

You have to take into account the rise of Gary Cahill. I don't think any of us saw the improvement he would make this season. He's one of the top centre backs in the world at the minute in my opinion. It would be foolish to disrupt him and JT to allow Luiz, who is good defensively, but doesn't have the concentration or composure to play at CB.