The Mourinho Thread

[iseah100 5,612]

What were people saying about his tactics? [emoji12]

[Jase 43,479]

Okayyyyy sheesh, no need to yell[emoji55] [emoji14] .

Can't be helped when someone doesn't think.

[MrBlueGuy 1,552]

How? It reflects our playing style and why we lead the league in goals scored.

Depends on what is called a chance tbf and that is very objective. For example a Hazard shot that is saved by GK quite comfortably might count as a chance when in reality it is not really.

[TheOneChan95 225]

They have key players missing. Like always, Hummels, Reus, Gundogan, are all out. But Jose is clearly the best active manager in the world.

I actually think that playing such a high tempo game like Dortmund's will negatively affect your players physically in a long season. I'm not sure whether it is solely on their style or a poor medical team or just rubbish luck tbh, but their injury list always seems to be stocked.

Anyways I agree with how the team was initially set up, it's just that it was disappointing to not fully press our advantage against 10 men and subbing an old Drogs in. Also completely changing our approach is easier said than done. We've been very offensive for every game bar City so far, so you can see we are trying to implement it. I think our slow CBs are also holding back the change. If we had more Azpi type defenders who are comfortable stepping up, it would be easier to play more offensively.

And does anyone else think he might put out a much stronger team than expected against Bolton? He seems to treat it very seriously.

[iseah100 5,612]

Can't be helped when someone doesn't think.

[Barbara 15,149]

Every time I see the chances created stats I look to my signature and smirk. Biggest lie out there in terms of stats, but I do think 64 is fair. we scored 17 goals, which is 1/4 of those chances created, I do believe we had at least another 4 shots on goal or blocked or dangerous every match we played - with the exception maybe of City, where I remember only Costa's woodwork.

[BlueLyon 9,359]

The only stat that realy matters is number of points in table. And thats that.

[Thor 2,832]

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.

Real last year on their way to the CL final had 28% possession at home against Bayern Munich, and won 1-0. They had 31% in the away draw against them, and won 4-0. So they were defensive when they needed to be.

I was one that criticized the performance, but only after they went down to 10 men. Although, those saying that prior to the sending off that it was like last seasons draw against Man City are wrong too. We needed more going forward even with 11 vs 11. We only had 5 or 6 shots all game. Last year in both games we were in double digits, and I believe in one game, it was even 18 shots on goal.

[Thor 2,832]

Every time I see the chances created stats I look to my signature and smirk. Biggest lie out there in terms of stats, but I do think 64 is fair. we scored 17 goals, which is 1/4 of those chances created, I do believe we had at least another 4 shots on goal or blocked or dangerous every match we played - with the exception maybe of City, where I remember only Costa's woodwork.

I though Costa's header that went right to Joe Hart off the Schurrle free kick was actually our best chance to score another. He really should have done better with it. Wide open, great speed on the ball from the free kick, and a little further then 6 yards out. Really should have put it away.

For all the talk of Costa getting handled in that game by the backs of City, dude could have had a hattrick. He had the post, the miss off the Ivanovic header and the one I just described. All essentially gimme goals that he just didn't have the luck to score on the day.

[RoyalBlues 4,050]

What were people saying about his tactics? [emoji12]

But but but, we have buy Fabregas and Costa, we shouldn't park the bus

F*** all of that, the points we got is all matters in the end.

[ZOS 580]

How is it possible people could get this all wrong? It is very clear, to be frank. Man. City clearly out muscled us in the midfield and their own half (Fernandinho, Yaya, Kompany, Mangala, Milner, Zabaleta ... hello ) and the referee allowed their reckless tackles and tactical fouls. We hand no choice what's so ever but to drop deep. Besides, as Jose put it, they were getting emotional and with the crowd behind them they had momentum. I'm just glad no one was injured.

[kellzfresh 7,229]

How is it possible people could get this all wrong? It is very clear, to be frank. Man. City clearly out muscled us in the midfield and their own half (Fernandinho, Yaya, Kompany, Mangala, Milner, Zabaleta ... hello ) and the referee allowed their reckless tackles and tactical fouls. We hand no choice what's so ever but to drop deep. Besides, as Jose put it, they were getting emotional and with the crowd behind them they had momentum. I'm just glad no one was injured.

Their defenders are so fast, they easily caught up with hazard and Willian everytime, even on one on one situations with them. they also fouled us constantly like you said but that's football.

[Barbara 15,149]

We still have five points ahead of them, Pellegrino is already pilling up the excuses for not being able to retain the title. They have to play in our turf. I think all in all, this early in the season, we're doing well.

[Viper22 2,418]

We still have five points ahead of them, Pellegrino is already pilling up the excuses for not being able to retain the title. They have to play in our turf. I think all in all, this early in the season, we're doing well.

This kind of logic has no place here! People are too busy attacking Lampard and Mou for logic.

[Viper22 2,418]

What were people saying about his tactics? [emoji12]

Key thing about that for me is the goals scored and conceded. We've averaged nearly 2 goals a game and concede under 1/2 a goal a game. So average over 2 results is 2-0 and 2-1. In what way is that negative?

As a side note, LOVE how United aren't regarded as good enough to make the list of beatings any more xD

[Bir_CFC 3,455]

Key thing about that for me is the goals scored and conceded. We've averaged nearly 2 goals a game and concede under 1/2 a goal a game. So average over 2 results is 2-0 and 2-1. In what way is that negative?

As a side note, LOVE how United aren't regarded as good enough to make the list of beatings any more xD

That's a bit misleading considering 6 of those were against Arsenal.

[didierforever 7,349]

We still have five points ahead of them, Pellegrino is already pilling up the excuses for not being able to retain the title. They have to play in our turf. I think all in all, this early in the season, we're doing well.

so? whats your point?

we were 5 points ahead of them so who cares??. we should have attacked them!!! and even if we were 2-0 up by HT against the champions at their own turf, (with a 5 point lead going into the game), we should stil have attacked them irrespective of everything. if nothing had worked, we should have got pitchforks and knives and then ATTACKED them. i mean we should just ATTACK!!!

[iseah100 5,612]

so? whats your point?

we were 5 points ahead of them so who cares??. we should have attacked them!!! and even if we were 2-0 up by HT against the champions at their own turf, (with a 5 point lead going into the game), we should stil have attacked them irrespective of everything. if nothing had worked, we should have got pitchforks and knives and then ATTACKED them. i mean we should just ATTACK!!!

So...would you have preferred we attack, or nah?

[didierforever 7,349]

So...would you have preferred we attack, or nah?

ATTACKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK!!!!!!!

next game i would love it if we ATTACK with the 300 "ahoo ahoo ahoo"!!!!!!!

[termninja 5,290]

How is it possible people could get this all wrong? It is very clear, to be frank. Man. City clearly out muscled us in the midfield and their own half (Fernandinho, Yaya, Kompany, Mangala, Milner, Zabaleta ... hello ) and the referee allowed their reckless tackles and tactical fouls. We hand no choice what's so ever but to drop deep. Besides, as Jose put it, they were getting emotional and with the crowd behind them they had momentum. I'm just glad no one was injured.

I agree. It was a bloody slaughterhouse on our players! Couldn't believe some tackles ref didn't give as fouls...