The Mourinho Thread

[The only place to be 11,313]

People do know what they want; they're not asking to thrust Bamford, Chalobah or <take your pick here> into the spine of the team, what they're asking for is a talented, homegrown player that they can identify with to at least be a part of the squad.

Pretty much. Once you've got that spine established then you can trust youngsters and the older players will carry them.

Keeping Ake around is fantastic because he's a wonderful young player, he's versatile and he's consistently improved in his time here which is exactly what you want from youngsters. Christensen needs to be kept around because he's just not ready to go out on-loan yet. He's a lovely player on the ball, he's got decent physical attributes but defensively there are still massive things to work on and I think Mourinho, JT and Cahill are great people to learn from.

I just think it's a shame that Chalobah went from having a great season in the Championship to being messed around by the club last year and now we're looking for another loan for him whilst Mikel continues to earn £75k p/w despite being, well... him.

[Madmax 9,219]

To be fair, neither Kane or Blackman look like their good enough for Chelsea's first team

Paulo Ferreira was a dependable squad player and i'm glad Chelsea kept him around till last season.

Blackman doesn't look like he's good enough but Hilario and Turnbull were? I don't understand why we kept Hilario around last season instead of Jamal. He can't be that bad?!

Paulo made a grand total of 16 appearances in his last two seasons at the club, only half of those in the league. What exactly did he bring to the table that Kane couldn't? He didn't need to have a roster spot to be a good influence around the dressing room.

And to reiterate, I'm not talking about prominent roles, just to 'fill in' for a handful of games a season when they're required to come in and do a job. It's a question of will at the end of the day.

[hjperdeath 2,226]

Blackman doesn't look like he's good enough but Hilario and Turnbull were? I don't understand why we kept Hilario around last season instead of Jamal. He can't be that bad?!

Paulo made a grand total of 16 appearances in his last two seasons at the club, only half of those in the league. What exactly did he bring to the table that Kane couldn't? He didn't need to have a roster spot to be a good influence around the dressing room.

And to reiterate, I'm not talking about prominent roles, just to 'fill in' for a handful of games a season when they're required to come in and do a job. It's a question of will at the end of the day.

I think what he's trying to say is that Paulo and the two goalkeepers are infact better players who would effortlessly fit into the life of first teamer than the other young players who would need the club to have more stability to see themselves as last case choice.

Not to mention that Paulo as an individual is a really good professional and a fantastic role model to have in the dressing room.

but I get where you're coming from, especially that neither Paulo or the goalkeepers had a huge involvement with the first team (though Paulo did have that decent game against a tough Benfica side) . It's the confidence that the manager has on players like Kane and Jamal that we've missed for a long time.

[Madmax 9,219]

I think what he's trying to say is that Paulo and the two goalkeepers are infact better players who would effortlessly fit into the life of first teamer than the other young players who would need the club to have more stability to see themselves as last case choice.

I agree stability is imperative for this reality to change and I said so above; I've been saying it since a while now. It's nice to see Mourinho saying the things he's been saying over the last couple of days but forgive me for being a little circumspect till the words get translated into action for nobody knows what'll happen at the end of the season.

[drog.ba 239]

I hope some of this group make it through to being regular first team players, but I'm not convinced despite Mourinho's comments, we aren't very good at developing young players; It's hard to know whether they would benefit more from staying here, or a championship or foreign loan. We do seem to be producing far better youth players then we have been in the past, but the level of the first team is so high, even so there's no reason Ake for example shouldn't be second choice left back next season, slowly integrating into the team.

Also hope Mourinho stays for the long term, as unrealistic as it may be, I'd choose to sacrifice some success if we could get more homegrown and English players in the team; and if Mourinho was here for ten years we're bound to win mutliple titles and most likely the CL at least once and be as successful as we would be changing managers several times.

[Mr_President 404]

Loving the comments from Mourinho recently. No matter what anyone says, he has been consistent in his interviews since day 1 when he returned to Chelsea; he knew that last season would be more of a transitional season where we would not be winning anything (but still managed to put up a credible fight in the PL and CL). It was always about the second season and he hasn't shied away from his initial comments that we are going to "attack" the title now.

At the end of this (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/managers/jose-mourinho/10996098/Jose-Mourinho-desperate-to-sell-Fernando-Torres-as-Chelseas-squad-exceeds-foreign-player-quota.html) article, he talks even more about the future and guys like Solanke, Brown, Boga and Baker and how they are the future of Chelsea, and how it would be his failure if they don't become national team members in the next few years. I love how he puts that pressure and expectation on himself. It must also be fantastic for the youth team members to hear that the first team manager, Jose Mourinho no less, is tracking their progress and has genuine plans in place for their (steady) introduction to the squad. The message has always been the same: we needed stability and longevity which Mourinho will provide in abundance (so long as Roman's trigger finger doesn't get itchy!).

It's also exciting to see him already starting to take snipes at opposing teams (comments about Luke Shaw) which has already caused quite a stir. He seems massively up for the challenge and he now has the squad to truly compete.

So excited not only for this season but long into the future.

[killer1257 3,282]

Mourinho is just a master of mind games by giving us hope that our youngstars will have a future at Chelsea.

Boga,Baker,Musonda and Solanke will make other clubs happy,not Chelsea

[Daniel1980 1,425]

First of all, we need to keep one manager.

Ancelloti liked mcaecran and he got sacked, that was the end for the lad.

AVB liked sturridge after he never got a chance.

RDM liked Bertrand but now he's gone.

Benitez liked Ake and now he rarely plays.

When Jose gets his liked player we can't afford to sack him or the cycle continues.

This. It's imperative that we have continuity.

[Jase 43,479]

he's been saying that for one year... it's not something new he just added to his speech.

I think he was honest last year and continues to be. We were in transition, he was getting to know the squad and see what they're made of (mentally speaking). Targeting titles would have been premature or wishful thinking, but even then he was speaking about how this current season we would step up.

Now he knows those players and he's added the key ones he believes he needed. Chelsea is a top team in England, what else is he supposed to say and do now?

He could still fail - after all we aren't the only top team in the country - but his speech last season concerning that season and this one has been coherent and reasonable imo.

I see nothing that surprises me.

I know he has said that for a year and I'm not even disputing what he has said. All I said was I've been taken aback by all these continuous positive messages. He hasn't just said it 2-3 times, which would be nothing big, but like more than 10(?) times already. We all know Mourinho is conservative/pragmatic by nature and usually leaves room to turn a subject to suit the situation based on how he wants it. But with these positive messages, he has practically put his back against the wall and almost left no room for excuses. It's almost like we're seeing a different Mourinho. Again, I'm not saying that's wrong or anything but just surprising (heck, he even said he should be blamed if we don't produce English players in the next few years!).

[Barbara 15,149]

(...) (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/managers/jose-mourinho/10996098/Jose-Mourinho-desperate-to-sell-Fernando-Torres-as-Chelseas-squad-exceeds-foreign-player-quota.html) .

There are 20 actually, not only 18.

Cech, Thibaut, Mark - 3 GK

Iva, Azpili, Luis - 3 DF

Matic, Ramires, Mikel, van Ginkel, Romeu - 5 MD

Hazard, Oscar, Willian, Schurrle, Salah, Marin - 6 AM

Costa, Torres, Drogba - 3 ST

I thought Romeu was younger, but he's about to turn 23, so he counts among the senior foreigns. We need to get rid of three among those players or register them in only one competition between UCL and EPL (like we did with Essien last season).

The HG would be JT, Cahill, Cesc and Lukaku among the seniors (although Lukaku still counts as U-21) and the kids would be Zouma, Aké, Christensen and probably Baker.

Moses and Bertrand are as good as gone, just like Torres and Mikel imo. They're deadwood that only add to our wage bill, but while I can see us easily getting rid of the former two, I have no idea who'd be interested in the latter... Mikel is a very decent player, but he's completely unmarketable... and nobody wants Torres...

[Reddish-Blue 2,503]

There are 20 actually, not only 18.

Cech, Thibaut, Mark - 3 GK

Iva, Azpili, Luis - 3 DF

Matic, Ramires, Mikel, van Ginkel, Romeu - 5 MD

Hazard, Oscar, Willian, Schurrle, Salah, Marin - 6 AM

Costa, Torres, Drogba - 3 ST

I thought Romeu was younger, but he's about to turn 23, so he counts among the senior foreigns. We need to get rid of three among those players or register them in only one competition between UCL and EPL (like we did with Essien last season).

The HG would be JT, Cahill, Cesc and Lukaku among the seniors (although Lukaku still counts as U-21) and the kids would be Zouma, Aké, Christensen and probably Baker.

Moses and Bertrand are as good as gone, just like Torres and Mikel imo. They're deadwood that only add to our wage bill, but while I can see us easily getting rid of the former two, I have no idea who'd be interested in the latter... Mikel is a very decent player, but he's completely unmarketable... and nobody wants Torres...

There has to be some way we can make a deal with Atletico for Torres...

[Muzchap 8,966]

There has to be some way we can make a deal with Atletico for Torres...

We live in hope!

[MrExcalibur100 7,124]

[ChelseaFC12 134]

You know what I still fail to understand why did we renewed Shawarzer's contract when we wanted Courtois to come back and Cech has also confirmed he's staying.

And since we are already short on HG quouta having 3 keepers who are good enough to start for any top side doesn't make sense at all!

[The only place to be 11,313]

Mourinho is a brave man. The sale of Lukaku is easily the most bizarre decision Mourinho has made.

£28 million for a striker he doesn't perhaps rate, who walked away from a chance to win the number 9 shirt at Chelsea to a guaranteed start at Everton, having already signed a new number one striker.

I'm perplexed at anyone's ability to be surprised, confused or flummoxed by this move.

[Styles 9,790]

You know what I still fail to understand why did we renewed Shawarzer's contract when we wanted Courtois to come back and Cech has also confirmed he's staying.

And since we are already short on HG quouta having 3 keepers who are good enough to start for any top side doesn't make sense at all!

I would be amazed if both Cech and Courtois are still Chelsea players in September.

[ChelseaFC12 134]

I would be amazed if both Cech and Courtois are still Chelsea players in September.

Yeah one has to leave definitely...

I'm saying with hard heart but it should be Cech I know how great he has been for us. But Courtois is the future and he's already one of the top 3 keepers in the world. And we might still be able to get a decent fee for Cech he's still relatively young for a goalkeeper.

[Madmax 9,219]

Holding my peace till September 1; if we haven't signed a Lukaku replacement by then I would be upset.

[edetarod 2,155]

pressure on him is huge to win something now, after making some questionable calls

wouldn't want to be him right now

[LAM09 7,050]

Genius!