The Mourinho Thread

[lionsden 4,689]

One thing that I don't understand from Mourinho criticism is the "there's no movements upfront, don't we make attackings movements in training blablabla". Arrigo Sachi, Carlo Ancelotti, Pep Guardiola have said multiple of times that their jobs is to find a way to bring the ball to the attacking players and then their creativity have to do the rest. What do you want José to do ?

There is no ultimate solution to beat a parked bus, a manager isn't a magician.

Answer this with absolute honesty. Do we look like a well drilled offensive unit to you?

And to answer your question yes there's a solution for parked defences and that solution starts with a clear philosophy which is rigorously practised and perfected over time and even in its peak, a team is bound to come unstuck occasionally against parked defences but those occurrences are few and far between which is the reason the top teams generally beat and break down parked defences more times than they fail. we on the otherhand struggle more times, atleast from a performance pov, under similar circumstances which isn't unique to us as every other top teams in Europe cope quite fine with it.

An observer looking from the outside only needs to watch just a couple of our matches against parked defences to recognise the distinct lack of tactical offensive patterns such as off the ball movements, combination plays, link up and hold up plays, fullbacks overlapping to create added width, incisive passing and so on. This isn't some random series of events, it starts from a manager having an appreciation for the creative side of football and implementing the philosophy through rigorous work on the training ground.

It may not be an "ultimate solution" (Nothing is perfect) but it's a darn good one that has proven to be effective and yielded success over the years.

And the most frustrating thing is that everyone knows what these teams are going to do and how they will set up against us 99% of the time yet we still can't figure out a way to overcome it.

[Namika 922]

Answer this with absolute honesty. Do we look like a well drilled offensive unit to you?

And to answer your question yes there's a solution for parked defences and that solution starts with a clear philosophy which is rigorously practised and perfected over time and even in its peak, a team is bound to come unstuck occasionally against parked defences but those occurrences are few and far between which is the reason the top teams generally beat and break down parked defences more times than they fail. we on the otherhand struggle more times, atleast from a performance pov, under similar circumstances which isn't unique to us as every other top teams in Europe cope quite fine with it.

An observer looking from the outside only needs to watch just a couple of our matches against parked defences to recognise the distinct lack of tactical offensive patterns such as off the ball movements, combination plays, link up and hold up plays, fullbacks overlapping to create added width, incisive passing and so on. This isn't some random series of events, it starts from a manager having an appreciation for the creative side of football and implementing the philosophy through rigorous work on the training ground.

It may not be an "ultimate solution" (Nothing is perfect) but it's a darn good one that has proven to be effective and yielded success over the years.

I think we do when we play with a number of player who understand each other and play regularly together. For example, in the month of January/February last year, we won practically every game (11W,2D) and Eden/Oscar/Willian got a good run of games together and we seemed like a team who could beat anybody.

"the distinct lack of tactical offensive patterns such as off the ball movements, combination plays, link up and hold up plays, fullbacks overlapping to create added width, incisive passing and so on" "it starts from a manager having an appreciation for the creative side of football and implementing the philosophy through rigorous work on the training ground. "

http://garycurneen.com/archives/1514 Read that if you think that we don't train offensive patterns.

More than that, why his Real was so easy against parked bus and why ten years ago when he was here we beat everyone who was in front of us ?

[Fernando 6,491]

I disagree re HG, I think a HG core off about six players is important in football but that's for another argument.

About the youth tho, you couldnt be more spot on, people don't seem to get how complicated youth development actually is, every single time we don't throw a youth product in we are apparently what's wrong with football and ruin there careers, even some of our own lot jump on the bandwagon ffs.

I mean if RLC was the best midfield option we have, mentally, technically and tactically he would play, it's that simple.

They think that because Barcelona and United had a golden generation everyone should have it.

But hey if it was that easy then why United has not had another one since class of 92?

Why they must spend a lot of money now?

Same goes for Barcelona, why they have to spend a lot of money on Suarez?

Those are very unique cases where you get like 3 or 4 amazing players coming all at once.

Cause realistically a youth coming from the club falls more in the ratio of 10 to 1.

Is that low and rare to have a product from your youth come and be into the first 11.

*This is mainly for a top club though. For a smaller club like Everton, Southampton, A. Villa and such is different.

[Jase 43,479]

Jose Mourinho fears World Cup stars will not be fit for start of Premier League season

Jose Mourinho yet to decide whether Thibaut Courtois or Petr Cech will start Chelsea's league opener against Burnley

Arsene Wenger complains Frank Lampard loan deal could be a way around FFP for Manchester City but Jose Mourinho says he has 'no problem at all' with the move

[Namika 922]

Courtois will play against Burnley, for sure.

[kellzfresh 7,229]

One thing that I don't understand from Mourinho criticism is the "there's no movements upfront, don't we make attackings movements in training blablabla". Arrigo Sachi, Carlo Ancelotti, Pep Guardiola have said multiple of times that their jobs is to find a way to bring the ball to the attacking players and then their creativity have to do the rest. What do you want José to do ?

There is no ultimate solution to beat a parked bus, a manager isn't a magician.

Today's match was a pre-season training. They were getting fit, while Mourinho was tweaking new formations. It's not that Mourinho can't train the players in attacking movement, it's that he isn't pressing on that training enough.

But we lost to the small teams last season bcos when they give us the ball, we pass awfully (hazard dribbles alone without any help for a one-two from teammates, ramires with a poor pass, luiz with a hopefull long pass/shot, ivanovic free to cross to no one all the time and slow movement throughout) we should take the teamplay moves as more of a priority in training this season. 90mins without any one-twos or practiced triangle possession movement is not acceptable this season. We can't only practice moves on the counter and ignore moves in possession play. Annoying to see us play like we are a group of players forced to play together.

I don't even care how we beat the big teams, it's just not good if the smaller teams starto becoming confident, knowing if they park the bus, they don't lose.

[BlueLyon 9,359]

Mourinho picked Costa, Torres and Drogba to be his main strikers. He brought Drogba when he could go for younger and better striker.

If we fail to achieve title, only Mou should be blamed, not strikers. Costa will do his best Im sure, but other two wont.

He can always bring another striker and bench Torres. City, United both have 4 strikers, we could have them too.

[The Skipper 20,593]

Mourinho picked Costa, Torres and Drogba to be his main strikers. He brought Drogba when he could go for younger and better striker.

If we fail to achieve title, only Mou should be blamed, not strikers. Costa will do his best Im sure, but other two wont.

He can always bring another striker and bench Torres. City, United both have 4 strikers, we could have them too.

City and United play with two strikers ffs.

[The Chels 2,502]

One thing that I don't understand from Mourinho criticism is the "there's no movements upfront, don't we make attackings movements in training blablabla". Arrigo Sachi, Carlo Ancelotti, Pep Guardiola have said multiple of times that their jobs is to find a way to bring the ball to the attacking players and then their creativity have to do the rest. What do you want José to do ?

Look at the first goal United scored against Real Madrid. Would they have done that under Moyes? No way. The manager does make a difference by practising these attacking movements in training. This is Jose's weakness.

[RoyalBlues 4,050]

Arsene Wenger complains Frank Lampard loan deal could be a way around FFP for Manchester City but Jose Mourinho says he has 'no problem at all' with the move

Lol, how come someone asked Wenger about Lampard, or he has an initiative to comment about Lampard. Really unnecessary.

[The Chels 2,502]

Lol, how come someone asked Wenger about Lampard, or he has an initiative to comment about Lampard. Really unnecessary.

Someone asked him, probably hoping he'd mock Chelsea/Mourinho.

[RoyalBlues 4,050]

Mourinho picked Costa, Torres and Drogba to be his main strikers. He brought Drogba when he could go for younger and better striker.

If we fail to achieve title, only Mou should be blamed, not strikers. Costa will do his best Im sure, but other two wont.

He can always bring another striker and bench Torres. City, United both have 4 strikers, we could have them too.

Poor Drogba, he judged to be flopped even before 100% fit in preseason.

[LDN Blue 7,903]

Someone asked him, probably hoping he'd mock Chelsea/Mourinho.

He's definitely got a point about City there though, they're finding too many potential loopholes with FFP. The sponsorship deals, the buying of clubs..

[Barbara 15,149]

Poor Drogba, he judged to be flopped even before 100% fit in preseason.

my assessment on him is entirely based on his season for Galatasaray. I've watched them in UCL prior to playing us. Eto'o was considerably better.

[BlueLyon 9,359]

Poor Drogba, he judged to be flopped even before 100% fit in preseason.

I love drogba but what do you expect from 36 yo? Dont live in imaginary world man...

[BlueLyon 9,359]

City and United play with two strikers ffs.

Do you realy count Torres and Drogba strikers anyway?

[1chelsea 864]

Jose with the mic testing testing testing the mic 123 Jose is testing. Pre season is a testing period Jose said we got a good squad which almost all will agree on apart from the striker position that is been run by legend who has pass it and Torres who do not alway get it right which need to be addressed, but on the other hand Jose got good tools to work with and his having a try out if I use the the joker worlds right there only one spot for the first XI so it testing testing testing no hard feelings

[RoyalBlues 4,050]

I love drogba but what do you expect from 36 yo? Dont live in imaginary world man...

Jose decided to sign Drogba for some reason. If he is not good enough to be our 2nd or 3rd striker in big games, I believe Jose will never ever consider to bring Drogba back as a player. Jose believe he is still have something to deliver and I trust his decision, because this is just like when he bring Eto'o last season.

my assessment on him is entirely based on his season for Galatasaray. I've watched them in UCL prior to playing us. Eto'o was considerably better.

With all due respect, Galatasaray is s***. It is unfair to compare Drogba there with Eto'o here.