The Mourinho Thread

[The Skipper 20,593]

Yes. Zouma's integration has been handled brilliantly. But note he's the 3rd choice CB. In the same way, i think it's possible to have a couple of other players, like Boga for example in Salah's place.

Zouma isn't really a youngster either IMO. He's a £12m squad player in my eyes. He has to play. He's a huge investment.

[The Skipper 20,593]

That is true but Chelsea is a lot better team than any of the sides you mentioned. And Arsenal made 10 changes for their League cup match against Southampton. Not asking for that. That is stupidity

Those citing Arsenal as an example are clearly not reading the discussion well. No one is asking for a plethora of youth players to start, just 2 of our best and surround them with experience? That isn't much to ask for at all.

[didierforever 7,349]

That is true but Chelsea is a lot better team than any of the sides you mentioned. And Arsenal made 10 changes for their League cup match against Southampton. Not asking for that. That is stupidity

but we have made a lot of changes too. only difference is that we have a massive squad and a squad that is injury free.

we have 4 CM/DMs in cesc, matic, mikel, rambo

we have 5 AMs, 3 strikers, so when people say that youth players must be played instead of these guys, then it does not make sense. why bother with such a massive squad if we are going to put in youth.

also, ake has got a couple of oppurtunities and i am sure he would have started derby too had he been fit, which shows that if jose deems that the youth player is better than the ones we have, he will get an oppurtunity. but asking boga to start when schurrle and salah are in the squad for this specific purpose of playing cup games, is not fair to those players.

[didierforever 7,349]

Those citing Arsenal as an example are clearly not reading the discussion well. No one is asking for a plethora of youth players to start, just 2 of our best and surround them with experience? That isn't much to ask for at all.

we have not?

bolton - ake, zouma

shrewsbury - ake, zouma, chirstensen

derby - zouma.

jose has done EXACTLY that thing.

[The Skipper 20,593]

Well said Barbara, its like people think we're smashing teams 6-0 on the regular, we are winning games that are relatively close. Cup ties are like champions league finals against lesser sides, I would rather we win them then experiment with youth players.

The first objective for this particular squad is to win things, we have a fantastic chance to do that in the COC Jose isn't going to jeopardize that by underestimating the opponent and playing kids over squad players... Its just naive and doesn't fit the investment the club have made to get us to this point.

Yes, because playing a very strong side and having two extremely talented academy players alongside them is jeopardising our season and underestimating the opponent massively... When will people get over the fact that this isn't the case at all?

[The Skipper 20,593]

we have not?

bolton - ake, zouma

shrewsbury - ake, zouma, chirstensen

derby - zouma.

jose has done EXACTLY that thing.

Ake and Zouma aren't academy players atm. They're both members of the first team squad. I'm talking about the likes of RLC, Boga, Christensen, Solanke etc.

If that's the best example you can come up with then you're not getting my point at all.

[Chelsea Legend 11 4,062]

Yes, because playing a very strong side and having two extremely talented academy players alongside them is jeopardising our season and underestimating the opponent massively... When will people get over the fact that this isn't the case at all?

are we smashing teams with our 1st team? stop living in a dream world brother, we aren't winning comfortably enough to suggest playing our youth over our squad players. If that were the case we would be playing the youth side more.

[The Skipper 20,593]

are we smashing teams with our 1st team? stop living in a dream world brother, we aren't winning comfortably enough to suggest playing our youth over our squad players. If that were the case we would be playing the youth side more.

We don't need to be smashing teams or winning comfortably to introduce these youngsters who are extremely talented in two or three games IMO but each to their own.

[robsblubot 3,553]

Barbara, my point doesn't extend to just recent games where we haven't been on fire. It's in regards to pretty much what we've been doing the whole season. I have no idea where you're getting this notion that because we're not on fire, we should throw in the kids. I'm not saying that at all. That would be stupid.

What I am saying is in competitions like the COC, or like that dead rubber game against Sporting that meant nothing at all, we should be looking to integrate our young talents more than we have - so they can start buying into the team and Mourinho's philosophy, ethics and culture - so that they show everyone in the academy that there is a pathway from the academy to the first team. Like I said before, a lot of people don't have a problem with this facet of Mourinho's management, and Jose himself doesn't seem to put it as one of his priorities either - and that's my only real problem with him and others. I'm not questioning other facets of his management. You don't need to bring that to the table. I'm not attacking Mourinho as a manager.

Agreed. I, for one, never associated Jose Mourinho with developing players - quite on the contrary.

The big question, for me, would be whether developing youngsters is part of his requirements as a manager - did Abramovich actually tell him to work on that as well?

The starting line up against Derby was nothing short of ridiculous... Not even fringe players managed to get a start...

[Chelsea Legend 11 4,062]

We don't need to be smashing teams or winning comfortably to introduce these youngsters who are extremely talented in two or three games IMO but each to their own.

There is a risk involved and this isn't the season for it. You were suggesting we could still do just as well with young, inexperienced players so long as they are insulated with a strong team, well with our strongest XI we are exactly smashing these lesser teams so to suggest that the addition of inexperienced youth wouldn't be a risk is a bit of an oversight on your part.

[didierforever 7,349]

Ake and Zouma aren't academy players atm. They're both members of the first team squad. I'm talking about the likes of RLC, Boga, Christensen, Solanke etc.

If that's the best example you can come up with then you're not getting my point at all.

then tell me whats the point of having a SQUAD??? i think i asked you this question before?

ake and zouma ARE young players who need to be developed and integrated into the squad. just cos they are first teamers, it does not mean they should not be counted as those. also, will you give the same argument for boga and baker, since they too are first teamers.

also, let me get this straight, you want ake, zouma as well as RLC, boga, solanke to start? well thats nothing like arsenal, is it? you yourself have said surrounding 1-2 young players in the team with other 9 experienced players and that is what jose has done.

[The Skipper 20,593]

then tell me whats the point of having a SQUAD??? i think i asked you this question before?

ake and zouma ARE young players who need to be developed and integrated into the squad. just cos they are first teamers, it does not mean they should not be counted as those. also, will you give the same argument for boga and baker, since they too are first teamers.

also, let me get this straight, you want ake, zouma as well as RLC, boga, solanke to start? well thats nothing like arsenal, is it? you yourself have said surrounding 1-2 young players in the team with other 9 experienced players and that is what jose has done.

You're not following the discussion well at all are you? If you were you would've seen a sample side I gave earlier in the thread... It included just Boga and RLC. The rest were senior players (including Zouma)...

[The Skipper 20,593]

There is a risk involved and this isn't the season for it. You were suggesting we could still do just as well with young, inexperienced players so long as they are insulated with a strong team, well with our strongest XI we are exactly smashing these lesser teams so to suggest that the addition of inexperienced youth wouldn't be a risk is a bit of an oversight on your part.

I never said it wouldn't be a risk, in fact I actually mentioned at the start that it is a risk, but then again that's what comes with the package. The best thing you can do is try to reduce that risk by surrounding these players with as much experience as you can - and the XI I put up earlier reflected that perfectly.

[Chelsea Legend 11 4,062]

I never said it wouldn't be a risk, in fact I actually mentioned at the start that it is a risk, but then again that's what comes with the package. The best thing you can do is try to reduce that risk by surrounding these players with as much experience as you can - and the XI I put up earlier reflected that perfectly.

I don't think this is the season to risk things, we have a solid squad and in time(after we win a few trophies that reflect the investment made) we can start looking to bringing in academy kids. Its a slow process for a team looking to win major honours.

[didierforever 7,349]

You're not following the discussion well at all are you? If you were you would've seen a sample side I gave earlier in the thread... It included just Boga and RLC. The rest were senior players (including Zouma)...

i have and AGAIN, i want to ask a simple question. why have a squad then? what use are schurrle and salah? what use is mikel and rambo? the derby match was a one off. if we had a match on saturday instead of monday night, i am sure jose would have changed the whole side and played the squad players.

like he did

against bolton

• Cech Filipe Luis Cahill Azpilicueta Zouma Mike Oscar Schürrle Salah Aké Remy
• against shrewsbury
• Cech Christensen Zouma Cahill Filipe Luis Mikel Aké Salah Oscar Schürrle Drogba

Cech

Azpi - Zouma - JT - Luis

Matic - RLC

Fabregas

Boga - Drogba - Hazard

also i dont see much difference in your team and the ones jose put forth. RLC has been replaced by ake who is definitely way forward in his development and should be the one playing for the first team. but putting boga ahead while having schurrle and salah on the bench, and this competition being there main oppurtunity to show their worth to jose, is unfair to them

[the wes 7,212]

Mourinho revealed to talkSPORT that he’s happy with the state of what he calls a very good squad.

“We have a short squad but we’ve got good players, some younger, some older, but the squad is very, very good,” he said.

[BleedsBlue 1,549]

The reason why other top clubs have got a few of their academy players in the first team is mainly because injury situations or club objectives have forced the club to DEPEND on their youngsters.

Its like the situation when Remy and Costa were injured and we were able to give Solanke a debut. Fortunately this season we've had the luxury of having a very complete squad. Versatility and experience has made it possible for us to cope with injuries and suspensions.

Unless we have a major injury crisis,I highly doubt that our youngsters will get a squad role this season.

[LAB 1,030]

i have and AGAIN, i want to ask a simple question. why have a squad then? what use are schurrle and salah? what use is mikel and rambo? the derby match was a one off. if we had a match on saturday instead of monday night, i am sure jose would have changed the whole side and played the squad players.

like he did

against bolton

• Cech Filipe Luis Cahill Azpilicueta Zouma Mike Oscar Schürrle Salah Aké Remy
• against shrewsbury
• Cech Christensen Zouma Cahill Filipe Luis Mikel Aké Salah Oscar Schürrle Drogba

Cech

Azpi - Zouma - JT - Luis

Matic - RLC

Fabregas

Boga - Drogba - Hazard

also i dont see much difference in your team and the ones jose put forth. RLC has been replaced by ake who is definitely way forward in his development and should be the one playing for the first team. but putting boga ahead while having schurrle and salah on the bench, and this competition being there main oppurtunity to show their worth to jose, is unfair to them

Tbf, i think that this proposed starting XI could have easily made it vs Derby. No risk whatsoever to play RLC in place of Mikel and Boga in place of Schurrle imo. Once you get that out of the question, it's a matter of what are players like Schurrle, Mikel, Salah (the list goes on) to us as you say. Squad players are there to provide alternatives. Days will eventually come in important competitions (PL, CL), when starters will be injured or suspended or out of form or not in the manager's tactical plans. Jose won't play the likes of Boga and RLC in those situations of course. I hope you get my point. Matches like Sporting (we were top of the group no matter the result ffs) or Derby are ideal for youth integration. No one said anything about PL or CL fixures where things are really very very serious and important.