The Mourinho Thread

[Fernando 6,585]

Have they worked this season ? While we are top of the league it's kinda worrying how many times this season we've struggled keeping a 1 goal lead. Looking back the main problem seems to be that when we go up a goal we stop playing and just sit deep.

We invite pressure and simply can't handle it.

Reason for this, imo, is that our defence can't be solid on it's own and needs help from our entire team to be solid defensively. Problem is that our opponent usually responds in kind by pushing more players higher up the pitch, basically negating our extra defensive support by offering extra offensive support to their own attackers.

Normally that would lead to dangerous counters but our counter attacks this season have been non existant, apart from a few occasions.

Personally i feel this is because our wingers are too deep when defending. When we recover the ball we only have one real outlet to pass to, Costa and he isn't great at holding onto the ball.

This leaves our wingers getting the ball deep in their own half, trying to manoever their way past their marker while trying to outrun the players getting back into their defensive position.

Usually the opposition delays our wingers long enough for other players to return and if they do happen to get past them then they just foul our wingers.

Also because they foul us so deep in our own half they usually end up getting away with it without a booking because the counter simply didn't develop enough.

In my head i kinda came up with a lineup that could make us stronger defensively while adding a new dimension to our counters.

To be clear not saying that this is what we absolutely should do just trying to offer an example to what i mean with changing our approach.

A 4-4-2 or 4-4-1-1 depending how you look at it.

Costa

Hazard

Willian Matic Fabregas Ramires/Cuadrado

Azpi/Luis Terry Zouma/Cahill Ivanovic/Azpi

Courtois

Basically a rip off of Atletico's system (although the roles for the front 2 would be a bit different).

Defensively, 2 lines of 4 that stay compact and suffocate anything that comes in the zone we're trying to defend.

Hazard would have to press the deepest midfield player so that he doesn't get too much time to pick his passes.( he could at times switch with Costa to relief the burden a bit)

Hazard wouldn't have to track that midfielder all the way back though, when the deepest midfielder joins the attack and moves into the area our first line is defending Hazard should just stay high and remain as an outlet.

If all three of the opponents midfielders are in the area we're defending then that would mean one of the opponents fullbacks would have to move back and tuck inside to defend on Hazard.

Otherwise they'd effectively be playing 2 on 2 with only their CB's left to defend against Hazard and Costa. I can't see many teams playing 2 on 2 against Hazard and Costa not unless they're absolutely desperate to score.

In attack.

Hazard woud be our short range outlet. He'd be a good resting point for our team as he's the second best player in our team (behind Drogba) at playing with his back towards goal and holding up the ball.

His ability to beat players also adds more of a fear factor and would make teams even more afraid of playing man to man.

Costa would be our long range outlet. With Hazard being there to take care of the hold up play it would free Costa up a bit and would allow him to focus more on doing what he's good at, his off the ball movement.

Dragging his marker wide or running in behind defenders.

Willian and Ramirer/Cuadrado would be the runners and support the counter while Matic and Fabregas would hold their position and not join the counter.

Sorry for the long post.

Do you think buying a new cb might help as well?

Don't have to speak about cahill no more, but zouma is very promising.

But because Terry is old I think another cb might be useful.

Other then that your spot on, it's just amazing the amount of times we conceded after being one goal up.

We try to park the bus and sit back but that's killing us in many games.

[RoyalBlues 4,050]

If we win PL. This is not a bad season after all. CL our first priority next season.

[Barbara 15,149]

Premier League is my #1 priority every single season.

That's where you play derbies, where you have history with rivals, where you poke fun of your friends because they support different teams in the same league. Of course the continental championship is huge, but nothing gives me more pleasure than watch my team 38 matches a season, playing basically week in week out, not to say the format. I'm not a big fan of knock-outs. I think it's such an outdated system that while thrilling many times crown the lucky team, the worse team or can be decided by one single referee mistake. In a sport where there's little technology, the less KO competitions the better for me. We just can't trust those guys in black...

So I'm a league kind of person, the feelings I get from it - even all way down from Brazil - are much deeper and fulfilling than being Europe Champions. Of course winning the Champions League gives me great pleasure, but nothing like the league system, facing your rivals twice a year (and there are a few them), having the derbies and all the history between two teams. Priceless. So I'll be the happiest if we win the league and that has nothing to do with us getting KO'ed in CL, is just my preference.

[supporter 3,088]

Hello everyone.

I've been busy these days and so wanted to say what I think about our current situation.

For me Jose is doing a good job with us. I think many times we did not measure well what Jose has done here.

Not only it comes to titles, where Jose is the best coach in our history. Jose has changed many things.

1. Policy signings.

I have read several messages from friends in this forum talking about the erroneous signings policy conducted by Jose with us in this second stage. I would remind the signings of Jose in the first stage: Cech, Drogba, Essien, Carvalho ... All those signings were the basis of our champion team in Champions 2012. Jose did a good job with the signings that allowed us to have a player base that belonged many years with us having a spectacular performance.

In this second stage with Jose we have signed big players (In my opinion): Courtois, Zouma, Matic, Fabregas or Diego Costa.

Watching these players we can believe that we are building a new backbone for next years as Jose made in its first stage with us.

Then there are players who can raise doubts its management. I think they are mainly De Bruyne and Salah. But they did not have a solid level here in the few opportunities they had with us. De Bruyne was a very soft and Salah player did not demonstrate the level he is showing at Fiorentina.

I think Salah can back this summer because he is having a great level with Fiorentina and, who knows, this loan can definitely take off his career with us. But if we sell this summer we will receive a lot of money.

Maybe De Bruyne can return In a transfer, but I think it will be complicated.

In addition to the spine before mendionaba, we are clocking good intermediate players (who also make the titles are won). Filipe Luis, Willian or Remy.

Cuadrado is a incognita. I think Jose -normalmente- players need time to adapt to your playing style. I think we will see next season the best level of Cuadrado. Hardly this season.

Obviously everything can be improved, but I think our transfer policy is having a pretty good level

2. The management / approaches of Jose in big matches.

Chesea can afford to be without winning any trophy two seasons ?. Obviously NO.

For us be two seasons without winning any trophy would have been a complete failure and had fired our anxiety to an unbearable level.

When we arrived we had Jose won the Europa League, Champions we had entered in the last game and we had been eliminated in the Champions League in the group stage.

Jose started from zero, having to rebuild and modernize our team, and I think that step is doing. But at a time like this we we can not take risks. Arsenal, Liverpool or Manchester City may be at risk because they lose and is not a drama. Instead each our defeat seems the end of the world for us.

And to be honest, we do not need to win (all matches) to Manchester City, United, Arsenal or Liverpool to win Premier League. We're going to win (hopefully) this Premier League having drawn with them.

But if this year we won Premier League this anxiety about not winning trophies and will be forgotten. Once cut the anxiety everything will be different. It is a very similar situation to which Jose lived in Real Madrid. He faced the Barcelona Guardiola, and the distance between Barcelona and Real Madrid was huge. So at the beginning Jose wont matches against Barcelona very defensive / conservative, and gradually was getting dominate Barcelona putting on their level.

Therefore Jose now makes conservative approaches. First retrieve the path of victories in the trophies. Then will come the risky approaches in big matches. I trust in Jose.

3. The elimination in Champions League.

I have to be honest. For me the approach of Jose was not an embarrassment. I think PSG eliminated us by two corners. But in general terms I think we raised a very smart tie without taking unnecessary risks. Us were about 6 minutes of qualifying for the next round.

Obviously we could play better, obviously we could attack but obviously we could better control the tie. YES. It is also clear that it would have been a suicide approach if we had forgotten that
-for the double value of the goals outside- they could kill the tie at any time if we were doing a conservative approach to take the lowest number of risks.

For me some comments about Jose are unjust. For example, John Terry is wrong on the goal of Thiago Silva when he defends Cahill by mistake instead of defending Thiago Silva. But neither I nor anyone going to say anything bad about John Terry. Obviously a mistake can not make us forget everything that has made John Terry this season for us.

You may like more or less their approaches, but in general terms he's doing a great job with us. I can only have good words for Jose.

4. Should Jose continue to lead our project?.

YES !. Without a doubt. I believe that in today's football is impossible to find a coach who identifies with so much passion with a team like Jose identifies with us. Jose does not just work for us, Jose feels BLUE.

I do not think Pellegrino could do that here. Before Pep Guardiola can be our coach I prefer Ovrebo amounts to the same garbage.

I do not think there is a better coach in the world to train us. I think one elimination in Champions can not do that we do not see everything you are building. Jose is trying to do in Chelsea the same revolution that Alex Ferguson did at Manchester United. But to make a new big project we need calm and go step by step.

If we change coach that just mean that follow the same path Manchester City or Real Madrid. Each 2/3 years, a new coach and a new change of direction. So it would be impossible consolidate a project.

Our future must be built around Jose.

Sorry for this long text, but I think it is an important moment for us. Sorry if you upset someone.

Together we are more stronger

BLUES ALL TOGETHER

Regards to ALL.

[AndersonBLUE 819]

have your say at the end of the season ya?

[Fernando 6,585]

Hello everyone.

I've been busy these days and so wanted to say what I think about our current situation.

For me Jose is doing a good job with us. I think many times we did not measure well what Jose has done here.

Not only it comes to titles, where Jose is the best coach in our history. Jose has changed many things.

1. Policy signings.

I have read several messages from friends in this forum talking about the erroneous signings policy conducted by Jose with us in this second stage. I would remind the signings of Jose in the first stage: Cech, Drogba, Essien, Carvalho ... All those signings were the basis of our champion team in Champions 2012. Jose did a good job with the signings that allowed us to have a player base that belonged many years with us having a spectacular performance.

In this second stage with Jose we have signed big players (In my opinion): Courtois, Zouma, Matic, Fabregas or Diego Costa.

Watching these players we can believe that we are building a new backbone for next years as Jose made in its first stage with us.

Then there are players who can raise doubts its management. I think they are mainly De Bruyne and Salah. But they did not have a solid level here in the few opportunities they had with us. De Bruyne was a very soft and Salah player did not demonstrate the level he is showing at Fiorentina.

I think Salah can back this summer because he is having a great level with Fiorentina and, who knows, this loan can definitely take off his career with us. But if we sell this summer we will receive a lot of money.

Maybe De Bruyne can return In a transfer, but I think it will be complicated.

In addition to the spine before mendionaba, we are clocking good intermediate players (who also make the titles are won). Filipe Luis, Willian or Remy.

Cuadrado is a incognita. I think Jose -normalmente- players need time to adapt to your playing style. I think we will see next season the best level of Cuadrado. Hardly this season.

Obviously everything can be improved, but I think our transfer policy is having a pretty good level

2. The management / approaches of Jose in big matches.

Chesea can afford to be without winning any trophy two seasons ?. Obviously NO.

For us be two seasons without winning any trophy would have been a complete failure and had fired our anxiety to an unbearable level.

When we arrived we had Jose won the Europa League, Champions we had entered in the last game and we had been eliminated in the Champions League in the group stage.

Jose started from zero, having to rebuild and modernize our team, and I think that step is doing. But at a time like this we we can not take risks. Arsenal, Liverpool or Manchester City may be at risk because they lose and is not a drama. Instead each our defeat seems the end of the world for us.

And to be honest, we do not need to win (all matches) to Manchester City, United, Arsenal or Liverpool to win Premier League. We're going to win (hopefully) this Premier League having drawn with them.

But if this year we won Premier League this anxiety about not winning trophies and will be forgotten. Once cut the anxiety everything will be different. It is a very similar situation to which Jose lived in Real Madrid. He faced the Barcelona Guardiola, and the distance between Barcelona and Real Madrid was huge. So at the beginning Jose wont matches against Barcelona very defensive / conservative, and gradually was getting dominate Barcelona putting on their level.

Therefore Jose now makes conservative approaches. First retrieve the path of victories in the trophies. Then will come the risky approaches in big matches. I trust in Jose.

3. The elimination in Champions League.

I have to be honest. For me the approach of Jose was not an embarrassment. I think PSG eliminated us by two corners. But in general terms I think we raised a very smart tie without taking unnecessary risks. Us were about 6 minutes of qualifying for the next round.

Obviously we could play better, obviously we could attack but obviously we could better control the tie. YES. It is also clear that it would have been a suicide approach if we had forgotten that

-for the double value of the goals outside- they could kill the tie at any time if we were doing a conservative approach to take the lowest number of risks.

For me some comments about Jose are unjust. For example, John Terry is wrong on the goal of Thiago Silva when he defends Cahill by mistake instead of defending Thiago Silva. But neither I nor anyone going to say anything bad about John Terry. Obviously a mistake can not make us forget everything that has made John Terry this season for us.

You may like more or less their approaches, but in general terms he's doing a great job with us. I can only have good words for Jose.

4. Should Jose continue to lead our project?.

YES !. Without a doubt. I believe that in today's football is impossible to find a coach who identifies with so much passion with a team like Jose identifies with us. Jose does not just work for us, Jose feels BLUE.

I do not think Pellegrino could do that here. Before Pep Guardiola can be our coach I prefer Ovrebo amounts to the same garbage.

I do not think there is a better coach in the world to train us. I think one elimination in Champions can not do that we do not see everything you are building. Jose is trying to do in Chelsea the same revolution that Alex Ferguson did at Manchester United. But to make a new big project we need calm and go step by step.

If we change coach that just mean that follow the same path Manchester City or Real Madrid. Each 2/3 years, a new coach and a new change of direction. So it would be impossible consolidate a project.

Our future must be built around Jose.

Sorry for this long text, but I think it is an important moment for us. Sorry if you upset someone.

Together we are more stronger

BLUES ALL TOGETHER

Regards to ALL.

I agree every point except third.

Why because even before you mention the two goals I was already pissed in the second half when it was 0 to 0.

So it was not the goals that came out of corners, but how we approach the game with one more man.

You can see my post even before we got eliminated, I was saying that this a total shame and we deserve to lose for this.

When David Luiz scored I was just saying, "this is what you get for being so stupid and sitting back against 10 men"

Then extra time we scored and it was the same, we sit back and after the Tiago goal I was not even mad.

I wasn't even mad! I was just dumbfounded how our team can continue to do the same thing all season? Score one goal and just relax and decide to sit back....

Seriously you must have seen this before? Its not just this game.

But okay whatever, it was this season because there's still a new team that needs to get winning mentality...

Yet I will tell you if next season we are still doing the same shenanigans of scoring one goal and then just going into shell mode, I'm going to be kicking my TV!

[CurlyHairLikeLuiz 1,625]

I'd like to see RLC play, could give us some much needed energy in midfield. Ruben is a Yaya like player, and could help penetrate the mid. Plus he's a box to box, and he's also definitely good enough.

Cech

Azpi Zouma Terry Luis

Matic RLC Cesc

Juan/Remy Costa Hazard

Cahill has had a good few games, he could also play instead of Zouma but I can see Soton causing him problems. More productive front 3 of either Remy or Cuadrado Costa and Hazard. If Costa struggles I think he needs resting allowing Remy to come in. Iva is a liability in defence. People have been silenced before because he can score, but disposing of him allows the winger to actually be a winger.

[supporter 3,088]

I agree every point except third.

Why because even before you mention the two goals I was already pissed in the second half when it was 0 to 0.

So it was not the goals that came out of corners, but how we approach the game with one more man.

You can see my post even before we got eliminated, I was saying that this a total shame and we deserve to lose for this.

When David Luiz scored I was just saying, "this is what you get for being so stupid and sitting back against 10 men"

Then extra time we scored and it was the same, we sit back and after the Tiago goal I was not even mad.

I wasn't even mad! I was just dumbfounded how our team can continue to do the same thing all season? Score one goal and just relax and decide to sit back....

Seriously you must have seen this before? Its not just this game.

But okay whatever, it was this season because there's still a new team that needs to get winning mentality...

Yet I will tell you if next season we are still doing the same shenanigans of scoring one goal and then just going into shell mode, I'm going to be kicking my TV!

Hi friend!

Yes. It is true that we try to score a goal and then we stand very defensively. That's a problem, a serious problem. I trust that will gradually changing this.

But as I said in my previous comment, we are evolving and changing small things. For example, last year we had this chiefly problem we face small and unimportant matches teams. Last year we won almost all the major matches in Premier League but lost many points against small teams. Last year tearing his matches with a very low rate and we always would arrive late in the match with much anxiety. So we left many points against small teams last year.

I think this year we have evolved and now against small teams try to close before the games. Jose has only used Mikel in November and December. Last year Mikel played every game when we were doing a goal. Although Mikel is now injured, when I was good this season Jose has not used him like he did last year.

That's the evolution of which I speak. To build a great team we need patience. Obviously serious concern that in the third season of Jose here asking us we followed the big games like we did this year. But I trust that next year, after two seasons working together, the team can raise the big matches differently.

I think we now have three games in the remainder of the season-against Arsenal, Manchester United and Liverpool-where we can take one more step. I hope that day Jose poses a party with a speed more, taking more responsibility in the domain of the pace of the match.

It is a very interesting debate. I think we all, more or less, expect / want more control / initiative of us in matches, especially in big matches.

But I think our evolution is still the next.

2013-2014. Conservative approaches in every matches when we were doing a goal, losing points with small teams. 0 trophies.

2014-2015. The same error but only against the big teams, resulting in winning the League Cup and Premier League-maybe. 2 trophies.

2015-2016. Maybe one more step assuming more risk against the big teams. Premier League is not as La Liga where you have to make 90/100 points to win the trophy. Without any anxiety to win trophies (only ambition / desire) we can raise matches at risk assuming that more or less 70/80 points are enough to win Premier League.

We must find a balance between the need of conservative approaches and the need to take risks.

I trust that the next season without anxiety about the lack of trophies, Jose will raised matches with more risks.

Regards.

Regards to ALL.

[supporter 3,088]

I'd like to see RLC play, could give us some much needed energy in midfield. Ruben is a Yaya like player, and could help penetrate the mid. Plus he's a box to box, and he's also definitely good enough.

Cech

Azpi Zouma Terry Luis

Matic RLC Cesc

Juan/Remy Costa Hazard

Cahill has had a good few games, he could also play instead of Zouma but I can see Soton causing him problems. More productive front 3 of either Remy or Cuadrado Costa and Hazard. If Costa struggles I think he needs resting allowing Remy to come in. Iva is a liability in defence. People have been silenced before because he can score, but disposing of him allows the winger to actually be a winger.

Hi Friend!

I agree with you with RLC. For me now we have a golden opportunity with Ruben Loftus-Cheek. It's his time.

This week Jose has commented that RLC could played a lot more to us if not because we have very demanding for the competitions were playing this season.

But now that we have won the League Cup and - sadly - we are no longer in FA cup and Champions League. We have a very favorable situation in Premier League. I believe that, at least in matches at the Bridge, RLC should play in our starting eleven and to accumulate experience in our first team. Maybe a season RLC can be in a situation resembled to Zouma.

To me Zouma has to be indisputable. He has already shown to have a very high level and he is prepared to be important to us in our eleven usually start.

If we give Zouma minutes to RLC and maybe for next season we can have two new players for our undisputed starting eleven, and perhaps for the next decade.

RLC and Zouma are a safe bet. Especially Zouma.

Regards.

Regards to ALL.

[didierforever 7,349]

Nice, 1 loss in 10-15 matches and it is a big deal for Atletico...haha

Yh can't help it if most of your best players like Reus are out for 3 months...Now their best players are back they are on top form again. Oh and want to see what he can do with team of creative players? See Dortmund CL 12-13...

and another 0-0 away draw in a game that ATM hardly had any chances.

should we call ATM right now and get simeone the great ? (i respect simeone for what he did with ATM but expecting him to replace jose.. )

[Fernando 6,585]

Supporter your the best!

I do think at times your over passionate with Mourinho, but still good nonetheless.

And also very respectful in all your post!

Regards. ?

[Supermonkey92 1,428]

fickle football fans are.....fickle

we are on course to win the league, haven't done that for half a decade.

city losing 1-0, could be 5 points clear with 2 games in hand. just winning the game tomorrow would have us 8 points clear with ten games to go, city would have one less.

jose seems hurt by the defeat, the team have been reported to have aired their frustration. at the same time, no moaning at players, no discouragement. the manager's reaction has been spot on to get the players fired up for the next game, as opposed to under more pressure.

Now, we wait and see if the changes in the team's attitude and necessary additions and departures are made in the summer, we could be big contenders in Europe next year.

[supporter 3,088]

Supporter your the best!

I do think at times your over passionate with Mourinho, but still good nonetheless.

And also very respectful in all your post!

Regards.

Hi friend!

Thank you very much.

Yes, sometimes I'm very passionate about Jose hahaha!. Jose is a great passion for me.

A great pleasure keep talking with you. Thank You.

Regards.

[didierforever 7,349]

i hope the people who wanted us to replace jose with simeone and pele are back to the right minds after tonight. i know people were hurt after the PSG performance but asking for jose to be sacked was the lowest of lows.

despite some of his flaws, he is still the best manager in the world. and that is a FACT!

[Chelsea Legend 11 4,062]

We win tomorrow and the title is ours.