The Mourinho Thread

[iseah100 5,612]

Tiago and probably Khedira will come in.

Gallito Vazquez or Hector Herrera:ph34r::ph34r:

[Styles 9,790]

Our midfield options are not quite enough just yet it has to be said. It's still lacking the killer punch, that bit of extra quality. Take out Matic and Fabregas (and even Ramires) and we're left with the likes of Mikel, Romeu, Chalobah, Van Ginkel etc. It's not really enough.

We're also one injury away from Torres getting a lot of minutes again. We've had a good summer...so far. We still need another striker.

[Madmax 9,219]

The comment on the three Brazilians was right on the mark. It's not about worrying whether they're mentally shattered from the WC results, it's about challenging them to pick themselves up and use that humbling experience as a catalyst to re-focus, to dedicate themselves to rising above the disappointment.

@Jason above: I have a feeling we'll sign Tiago.

[Jase 43,479]

Tiago and probably Khedira will come in.

While signing Tiago will add further number of options in the squad, people need to acting like he's only 25 y/o and is entering his prime/peak year. He's already 33, well past his peak and yet the way people have been going on about him is like he's gonna be our saviour in that midfield and thrash every player we come up against.

[Hutcho 8,443]

Wow. Some people just expect us to buy everything.

I'm amazed by the window we have had. We can't still expect after picking up one of the best strikers last season, one of the best left backs and cesc fabregas to still keep buying.

Come on guys be greatful for what we have got. Let United and Liverpool battle it out to massively overpay for players.

Sure if we get more reinforcements cool, but we signed 3 top quality players for value in this market... Offload some players for WAYYYY more than they are worth, and have enough young players to occupy a small town.

[The Chels 2,502]

While signing Tiago will add further number of options in the squad, people need to acting like he's only 25 y/o and is entering his prime/peak year. He's already 33, well past his peak and yet the way people have been going on about him is like he's gonna be our saviour in that midfield and thrash every player we come up against.

I think the majority view is that Tiago will be a good, experienced squad player with leadership qualities. He's also been in the prem before and almost helped Atletico to a La Liga and CL double. On a free he is a great signing.

[iseah100 5,612]

While signing Tiago will add further number of options in the squad, people need to acting like he's only 25 y/o and is entering his prime/peak year. He's already 33, well past his peak and yet the way people have been going on about him is like he's gonna be our saviour in that midfield and thrash every player we come up against.

I don't think people are upping him like that. He'd be a good signing for depth and experience. Not to mention he is still playing good. He started the CL final last year. He's a good signing, but by no means a player who will make or break the season for us. Fabregas, Matic, Ramires, Van Ginkel, Tiago, Romeu. Is a good, balanced midfield.

[Jase 43,479]

I think the majority view is that Tiago will be a good, experienced squad player with leadership qualities. He's also been in the prem before and almost helped Atletico to a La Liga and CL double. On a free he is a great signing.

Free or not, he's decent signing, not great. Will add experience and numbers to the squad but not that extra bit of quality, that X-Factor. Right now, there is practically a huge gap in quality between the duo of Fabregas and Matic and the rest.

[Jase 43,479]

I don't think people are upping him like that. He'd be a good signing for depth and experience. Not to mention he is still playing good. He started the CL final last year. He's a good signing, but by no means a player who will make or break the season for us.

From what I've read (not just in TC), people have overhyped his potential return. Not saying he's not a good signing. He will be a decent one who adds depth and experience to the squad but that's all. He's not going to give us that extra quality in terms of depth.

Fabregas, Matic, Ramires, Van Ginkel, Tiago, Romeu. Is a good, balanced midfield.

It looks like a good, balanced midfield but in quality? Take out the first two (or three) players there and suddenly there is a disparity in regards to the quality provided from the players.

[The Chels 2,502]

Free or not, he's decent signing, not great. Will add experience and numbers to the squad but not that extra bit of quality, that X-Factor. Right now, there is practically a huge gap in quality between the duo of Fabregas and Matic and the rest.

I think Tiago/Mikel would be able to replace Matic to some extent. We have no-one who would realistically replace the role of Fabregas at CM assuming he plays there, which could be quite a problem with injuries/suspensions. Then again if Khedira does come in I reckon Fabregas will play AM where he is more replaceable.

[xPetrCechx 13,578]

Still we have to add 1 more CM and ST.

[iseah100 5,612]

From what I've read (not just in TC), people have overhyped his potential return. Not saying he's not a good signing. He will be a decent one who adds depth and experience to the squad but that's all. He's not going to give us that extra quality in terms of depth.

It looks like a good, balanced midfield but in quality? Take out the first two (or three) players there and suddenly there is a disparity in regards to the quality provided from the players.

Well those people will be severely disappointed. He's quality still, and we'll be strong in Midfield then we were last year.

Besides Madrid which clubs have an overload of talent in midfield? Bayern? That's it.

[Jase 43,479]

Well those people will be severely disappointed. He's quality still, and we'll be strong in Midfield then we were last year.

Stronger than last season but still not exactly without the comparison. I'm not saying that we should sign Pogba, Vidal, Khedira etc but just 1 more maybe, if not 2, that will bring quality into the squad. Tiago can do a decent job for us but not week in week out.

Besides Madrid which clubs have an overload of talent in midfield? Bayern? That's it.

That may be true but the point here isn't to overload our squad till the point like Real Madrid or Bayern Munich. It's about just making sure we have adequate quality and numbers in the squad and right now, we still are lacking that bit in midfield and even with the strikers.

[iseah100 5,612]

Stronger than last season but still not exactly without the comparison. I'm not saying that we should sign Pogba, Vidal, Khedira etc but just 1 more maybe, if not 2, that will bring quality into the squad. Tiago can do a decent job for us but not week in week out.

That may be true but the point here isn't to overload our squad till the point like Real Madrid or Bayern Munich. It's about just making sure we have adequate quality and numbers in the squad and right now, we still are lacking that bit in midfield and even with the strikers.

We could use more quality. Somebody just for extra quality should not be too pricey. Pogba would be out of the picture. Who would you recommend?

At striker we have Costa, Lukaku(hopefully), Torres(for what it's worth) and Bamford? Not terrible.

[Jase 43,479]

We could use more quality. Somebody just for extra quality should not be too pricey. Pogba would be out of the picture. Who would you recommend?

Khedira? The more realistic option at the moment..

At striker we have Costa, Lukaku(hopefully), Torres(for what it's worth) and Bamford? Not terrible.

Not terrible...on paper. Decent only in reality.

[Superblue 6,372]

Suppose there's the possibility that we move for Tiago and Drogba to beef up our options, neither will cost so the 'spending would be over'.

Having said that, you can't trust anything Jose says...

[DYC. 7,542]

Our midfield options are not quite enough just yet it has to be said. It's still lacking the killer punch, that bit of extra quality. Take out Matic and Fabregas (and even Ramires) and we're left with the likes of Mikel, Romeu, Chalobah, Van Ginkel etc. It's not really enough.

That's a strange way of looking at things. Take out Messi, Suarez and Neymar and Barca are left with Pedro, Deulofeu + youth player. Take out Iniesta, Rakitic and Busquets and they're left with Rafinha, Sergi Roberto and Song. Take out Alonso, Modric and Kroos and you get Isco (out of position), Illaramendi and Casemiro since Khedira and Di Maria are on the way out. Up front, Ronaldo/Bale/Benzema v Jese/Morata/?

City without Yaya and Fernandinho are left with Garcia, Fernando and Rodwell..

[Barbara 15,149]

Our midfield options are not quite enough just yet it has to be said. It's still lacking the killer punch, that bit of extra quality. Take out Matic and Fabregas (and even Ramires) and we're left with the likes of Mikel, Romeu, Chalobah, Van Ginkel etc. It's not really enough.

Which team in the world you take three of their midfielders (regular starters) and they'll have the same to replace?

That's the kind of thing I think it's delusional. Mikel, Romeu and van Ginkel are more than enough to cover it and God helps us if for any reason we lose our three main midfielders all at once. That's tragic and no club is ready for that.

The only thing I think we still need is a #2 striker with completely different qualities to Costa/Lukaku (supposing he stays, I don't think he will) and that's about options, not simply a guy to come for Costa every match at mark 70.

[Hutcho 8,443]

It looks like a good, balanced midfield but in quality? Take out the first two (or three) players there and suddenly there is a disparity in regards to the quality provided from the players.

Yeah there is a disparity there. Because fabregas and Matic are world class.

And world class players in general don't want to go somewhere and sit on the bench.

If we say we are playing 3 in midfield in a 4-3-3 we have the world class trio which all of us can't wait to see. Then next up we have ramires who up until recently was our best player in midfield. Granted that wasn't ever a great midfield partnership. But Matic ramires Oscar or whatever variation is still amazing when you think it was lampard (:heart:) and mikel for quite a while.

I get what you're saying...

If a defender goes down Ivan comes in and we aren't much weaker if at all.

We have 2 world class keepers (if that situation remains)

and even if hazard got injured schurrle/Willian wide is still elite.

But think we are still in great shape centrally.

Up top is another matter as we can't just have 2 strikers going into the next season, although I would keep lukaku as the no. 2.

[Hutcho 8,443]

Which team in the world you take three of their midfielders (regular starters) and they'll have the same to replace?

That's the kind of thing I think it's delusional. Mikel, Romeu and van Ginkel are more than enough to cover it and God helps us if for any reason we lose our three main midfielders all at once. That's tragic and no club is ready for that.

The only thing I think we still need is a #2 striker with completely different qualities to Costa/Lukaku (supposing he stays, I don't think he will) and that's about options, not simply a guy to come for Costa every match at mark 70.

This is a good point.

Also to add to this. MvG never got much of a chance and is kind of like a new signing in himself and it would be unwise to just bracket him in the young, needs to improve before taken seriously category.

Same to some extent with Romeu.