The Mourinho Thread

[Cosmin 2,484]

You can't go into every game demanding a win, that's spoiled in the extreme. It was the hardest game of the year for us, away to the champions. We lost there and won there last year once each. We have to afford them some respect. If we'd attacked them believing we could win we may well have won. But more likely we'd have been beaten, maybe badly, and then the whole complexion of the league would change, they'd only be 3 points back and we wouldn't be in as strong a position as we are now. We didn't HAVE to win the game, we just had to not lose the game to keep as ahead of them as we are. We obviously wanted all 3 points or we wouldn't have attacked to score the goal we did and come within a metric Lampard of winning the damn game. But demanding that we go in with the same attitude away to city as we did at home to Swansea (especially when we're leaking goals) is just plain stupid.

Seems like you'd only be happy if we kept our 100% record the whole damn season and maybe for the next 10-15 years. A point at the Etihad is a decent result, and means we're still well on top in the title race at such an early stage.

I never said that not winning the game is the problem, so I don't understand your post. I also never said that we should go in with the same attitude as we did against Swansea. If anyone told me a few days ago that we'd draw 1-1 on Etihad, I would've been happy with it. What bothers me, and I was pretty specific about it, is the manner in which we approach this kind of games. I think it's safe to say that we are one of the best 7 clubs in Europe right now, the other 6 being Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern, Atletico, Borussia and PSG/City. We've won two European trophies in the last 3 seasons and played a UCL semifinal last year. We signed three of the best players in Europe: Fabregas, Costa, Filipe Luis and brought back Courtois, arguably one of the best 3 goalkeepers in the world at the moment. The point is that we are a strong club, we're not Tottenham, with all due respect. Almost everyone says that we are the #1 favourites to win the league title this year. And yet, we still play with fear against our main rivals. Why can't we show a little swagger, a little winning attitude? I'm not saying that we should go all over City or Arsenal or Liverpool away, but parking the bus is way too embarassing at this level. When you have Fabregas, Hazard, Willian, Schurrle, Oscar, Costa it's just dreadful to park the bus over and over again.

And some of you are talking about our defence like it's at a Conference level. And like it's God fault that we didn't buy a CB during the summer. Losing 5-1 on Anfield happens when you're shit, not when you play attacking, positive football. Stop confusing things.

P.S: Remember when Mourinho promised us that he will change the way the team plays? Remember when he said that this season we are one of the big horses? Well, it's not a miracle that we look better against small teams. It's actually normal. But when you claim that you are a big horse, I expect you to prove it against another big fucking horse, not against Swansea City. And, at the end of the day, it seems to me that we are still acting like a little horse.

[MrBlueGuy 1,552]

I never said that not winning the game is the problem, so I don't understand your post. I also never said that we should go in with the same attitude as we did against Swansea. If anyone told me a few days ago that we'd draw 1-1 on Etihad, I would've been happy with it. What bothers me, and I was pretty specific about it, is the manner in which we approach this kind of games. I think it's safe to say that we are one of the best 7 clubs in Europe right now, the other 6 being Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern, Atletico, Borussia and PSG/City. We've won two European trophies in the last 3 seasons and played a UCL semifinal last year. We signed three of the best players in Europe: Fabregas, Costa, Filipe Luis and brought back Courtois, arguably one of the best 3 goalkeepers in the world at the moment. The point is that we are a strong club, we're not Tottenham, with all due respect. Almost everyone says that we are the #1 favourites to win the league title this year. And yet, we still play with fear against our main rivals. Why can't we show a little swagger, a little winning attitude? I'm not saying that we should go all over City or Arsenal or Liverpool away, but parking the bus is way too embarassing at this level. When you have Fabregas, Hazard, Willian, Schurrle, Oscar, Costa it's just dreadful to park the bus over and over again.

And some of you are talking about our defence like it's at a Conference level. And like it's God fault that we didn't buy a CB during the summer. Losing 5-1 on Anfield happens when you're shit, not when you play attacking, positive football. Stop confusing things.

Completely agree, been repeated many many times over and over again. IT IS NOT THE RESULT BUT THE MANNER OF IT. Also LOL did anyone seriously complain that we couldn't do it because our CB were bad? WTF does people want, Varane+ Benatia in defence? Cahill and Terry are the best CB pair in England atm.

[Tomo 21,754]

It really grates my geers that some people here went AWOL when we were winning and playing great stuff, two draws in a week one away to the champions ffs and they are all over the forum like a rash.

As for some of the comments here since the match yesterday, sweet jesus, I don't like going down the agenda line but sometimes you have to wonder.......

[Tomo 21,754]

'Philosophy' as you put it perfectly then, he will always stick by his philosophy and sometime that is not good enough for the fans. You don't need to be tiki-taka to play domination football. Yesterday he clearly didn't though which is an issue for many people here. Of course we can, I think what most people wanted is for the players to adapt to a more dominant controlling game against City as we clearly got the players to do so.

Controlling or dominant game like the reverse fixture last season? Liverpool and Arsenal at home? Everton away were we were dominant and desperately unlucky to lose?

[Chelsea Legend 11 4,062]

'Philosophy' as you put it perfectly then, he will always stick by his philosophy and sometime that is not good enough for the fans. You don't need to be tiki-taka to play domination football. Yesterday he clearly didn't though which is an issue for many people here. Of course we can, I think what most people wanted is for the players to adapt to a more dominant controlling game against City as we clearly got the players to do so.

I bet if you polled people and asked them if they'd rather the club try to play like Barcelona or Arsenal or even City at the risk of losing more and in turn not winning trophies, the majority would opt for the winning formula.

I'll tell you what's better than sexy football, its sexy trophies! If we can continue playing the way we are now, we will win the real trophies not the fake ones like Arsenal and Barca (last year) won. Football is changing and if you think plowing forward and trying to smash a top 10 team in the world is the best situation for the team then I don't know what to say to you. I have no problem with how we're playing, trophies are sexy to me...

[Cosmin 2,484]

It really grates my geers that some people here went AWOL when we were winning and playing great stuff, two draws in a week and they are all over the forum like a rash.

As for some of the comments here since the match yesterday, sweet jesus, I don't like going down the agenda line but sometimes you have to wonder.......

Sorry, mate, but, first off, I am one of those who criticized the way we're defending and playing, in general, exactly during the game against Swansea City. So no, it's not an overreaction. Secondly, this was the first big game of the season, the first chance to prove the 'big horse' status that Mourinho claimed. As seen, he blew it. It was the same old us, just like the last season. We did the same thing on Etihad as we did the last time, when we didn't have the likes of Fabregas and Costa. Of course now it's the time to get upset, because now was the time to see the change and we didn't see it.

[Tomo 21,754]

Football is changing and if you think plowing forward and trying to smash a top 10 team in the world is the best situation for the team then I don't know what to say to you....

There's a club not far north from us in Islington that have a manager who does just that, some people here are probably better off checking them out going by some comments here.

[MrBlueGuy 1,552]

Controlling or dominant game like the reverse fixture last season? Liverpool and Arsenal at home? Everton away were we were dominant and desperately unlucky to lose?

You put it yourself...unlucky to lose. Arsenal at home against 10 men for like 60 mins, Liverpool after a great 1st half in the 2nd half we were on the defensive again. I want us for once play a dominant from start to finish aka Bayern 4-0 Barca style game. Is that not possible?

[Cosmin 2,484]

I bet if you polled people and asked them if they'd rather the club try to play like Barcelona or Arsenal or even City at the risk of losing more and in turn not winning trophies, the majority would opt for the winning formula.

I'll tell you what's better than sexy football, its sexy trophies! If we can continue playing the way we are now, we will win the real trophies not the fake ones like Arsenal and Barca (last year) won. Football is changing and if you think plowing forward and trying to smash a top 10 team in the world is the best situation for the team then I don't know what to say to you. I have no problem with how we're playing, trophies are sexy to me...

Barcelona became the most succesful European club in the last 5 years by playing 'sexy football'. Let me tell you about throphies: they've won like 17 trophies during this time. Sexy football never means no trophies and parking the bus never means tons of trophies. So what's your point?

[Tomo 21,754]

Sorry, mate, but, first off, I am one of those who criticized the way we're defending and playing, in general, exactly during the game against Swansea City. So no, it's not an overreaction. Secondly, this was the first big game of the season, the first chance to prove the 'big horse' status that Mourinho claimed. As seen, he blew it. It was the same old us, just like the last season. We did the same thing on Etihad as we did the last time, when we didn't have the likes of Fabregas and Costa. Of course now it's the time to get upset, because now was the time to see the change and we didn't see it.

But like I have said so many times Fergie has used the same approach in big games so many times yet that's allowed, Mou does it and hes some better Allardyce.

Infact yesterday makes me feel better about the season, because we have showed we can attack and play goid stuff when need be, but also defend aswell.

[Chelsea Legend 11 4,062]

There's a club not far north from us in Islington that have a manager who does just that, some people here are probably better off checking them out going by some comments here.

So true... And I'm not even sure what he's talking about? Jose changes his tactics all the time, its Wenger that never changes to his own detriment.

Also, why have you chosen which club you follow? Clearly footballing philosophy, culture and spirit have something to do with it? This is Chelsea's philosophy we keep it tight at the back when on the road against top clubs and play more expansive against smaller clubs... Why is that so terrible?

[MrBlueGuy 1,552]

OK for the sake of argument lets compare defensive and attacking football of recent CL winners:

2006-Barcelona good football

2007-Milan defensive football with good attacking players

2008-MU good football

2009-Barcelona good

2010-Defensive

2011-Good

2012-Defensive

2013-good

2014-good

As you can see in most cases the winners are always playing good football, occasionally great defensive football give you a win every 3-4 years but in general it is always good that dominate.

[Chelsea Legend 11 4,062]

Barcelona became the most succesful European club in the last 5 years by playing 'sexy football'. Let me tell you about throphies: they've won like 17 trophies during this time. Sexy football never means no trophies and parking the bus never means tons of trophies. So what's your point?

And they also play in a two team league and have the third best player ever to play the game scoring goals for them.

Football is changing we may never see a team like 2011 Barca ever again.

[Tomo 21,754]

You put it yourself...unlucky to lose. Arsenal at home against 10 men for like 60 mins, Liverpool after a great 1st half in the 2nd half we were on the defensive again. I want us for once play a dominant from start to finish aka Bayern 4-0 Barca style game. Is that not possible?

Funny you mention that as Barca dominated possession and a Bayern team in the peak off there powers punished them on the break, was similar to how we played at Ethiad last season just Bayern were more clinical.

Carlo "always plays sexy football" Ancelotti parked the jumbo jet at home to Bayern last season, Fergie done it so many times in big games away from home, if you don't believe me watch that title decider vs City in 2012, they done nothing in forward play, it happens.

[Chelsea Legend 11 4,062]

OK for the sake of argument lets compare defensive and attacking football of recent CL winners:

2006-Barcelona good football

2007-Milan defensive football with good attacking players

2008-MU good football

2009-Barcelona good

2010-Defensive

2011-Good

2012-Defensive

2013-good

2014-good

As you can see in most cases the winners are always playing good football, occasionally great defensive football give you a win every 3-4 years but in general it is always good that dominate.

Pretty sure Bayern played on the counter in the big games. They were much more balanced then.

Real Madrid won the cup in the dying seconds of the game, they were literally seconds away from going out... fine margins.

[Cosmin 2,484]

But like I have said so many times Fergie has used the same approach in big games so many times yet that's allowed, Mou does it and hes some better Allardyce.

Infact yesterday makes me feel better about the season, because we have showed we can attack and play goid stuff when need be, but also defend aswell.

I can't really remember United parking the bus against anyone, to be fair. And still, I really don't think that Fergie ever spent as much money as we did in the last few years. I don't think that Fergie ever got himself three of the best players in Europe during the same transfer window.

About the 'we can attack and play good stuff" part, please, let me know where did you see any of that yesterday.

[Tomo 21,754]

OK for the sake of argument lets compare defensive and attacking football of recent CL winners:

2006-Barcelona good football

2007-Milan defensive football with good attacking players

2008-MU good football

2009-Barcelona good

2010-Defensive

2011-Good

2012-Defensive

2013-good

2014-good

As you can see in most cases the winners are always playing good football, occasionally great defensive football give you a win every 3-4 years but in general it is always good that dominate.

Did you see Uniteds semi at the Nou Camp? that's one if Fergies parked buses games that conveniently gets ignored.

[Chelsea Legend 11 4,062]

About the 'we can attack and play good stuff" part, please, let me know where did you see any of that yesterday.

Ummm.. the goal?

You guys have absolutely no respect for the Premier League champions. They have a fantastic team and are extremely tough to beat at Etihad.

[Cosmin 2,484]

And they also play in a two team league and have the third best player ever to play the game scoring goals for them.

Football is changing we may never see a team like 2011 Barca ever again.

Ok. Let's rule out the La Liga trophies. Which leaves them with 13 others.

Pretty sure Bayern played on the counter in the big games. They were much more balanced then.

Real Madrid won the cup in the dying seconds of the game, they were literally seconds away from going out... fine margins.

Like we didn't equalise in the 89th minute, or something, and won it on penalties.

People said that football is changing ever since Greece won the European in 2004. Football has already changed.

[Tomo 21,754]

I can't really remember United parking the bus against anyone, to be fair. And still, I really don't think that Fergie ever spent as much money as we did in the last few years. I don't think that Fergie ever got himself three of the best players in Europe during the same transfer window.

About the 'we can attack and play good stuff" part, please, let me know where did you see any of that yesterday.

Off the top if my head

Man.City away 10-11 and 11-12.

Barca away 2008.

Liverpool away 11-12 and 05-06

Chelsea away 08-09

I could think of a lot more if I think hard enough. What I find funny is the United game last season they were cautious as much as us, left attacking options on the bench yet we were "parking the bus".

Re the last part did you see our first 4 games?