The Mourinho Thread

[TheOneChan95 225]

For me it's one word...'Integration'

I can 100% see why they haven't been given the so called limelight debut in a full capacity, but in the same breath it's like nurturing a flower to grow but then allowing it to blossom in full sun light. Games like Schalke away are good examples where games are dead at one certain point and that's the point they should be shown the field and I think this is the main point. There is massive emphasis on this group and club to produce something this season and right now it's looking very good, but there is also a point where there will be games where players like Ake and Boga can be integrated onto the bench and given the chance in the last 15-20 minutes.

The frustrating thing from my point of view is seeing games dead, and then fetching on say Schurrle, when the option of young blood can then be brought on.

Ah you are right. if we win trophies it will be because of squad fillers whose contributions are negligible at best and if we fail to succeed it will be because we played one or two youth players in meaningless games and COC .

More salahs, Moses and marins please. fuck the youth and productive loaned players like Bamford and thorgan.

Sorry but I don't agree with these assessments. Squad players like Schurrle, Mikel and Ba are extremely crucial in a long season. Schurrle last season for example was a crucial part in games like PSG, Arsenal and City. Even this season he made some good contributions already against Burnley and City again(although he didn't follow his man for the equaliser but that's another debate). He is probably the first sub I would want to put on since willingness to run behind defences and eye for goal will make defenders think twice about pushing forward. While I know this forum doesn't like Mikel very much but I think having the option to put him on as a defensive sub and as cover is a good one. Ba was another one that didn't play often but he put us through to the Semi's in the CL.

Since these players don't start often, it is therefore important for them to be given more game time to keep them sharp and let them feel that they are valued. Their contributions are definitely NOT negligible.

[The Skipper 20,609]

how about the players he needs to build confidence, give motivation to play are the ones that are actually playing and who came from two negative results?

And that's impossible to do without playing one or two academy players right?

Come on, I don't get this obsession to play the youth. They'll get their chance, it's not like if they don't get it now they'll never get it. And for God's sake in which world playing ONE SINGLE GAME equals to integration? The team LOST momentum by the level of our presentations and the two consecutive bad results in the league. the players needed their confidence back... this group had serious issues last season with motivation and having a winning spirit. To say it in clear words, they bottled, they weren't focused and sharp enough.

Again I repeat, is it impossible for the team to pick up momentum if we play two academy youngsters in 2 games or so? Does that suddenly kill all of our momentum?

You know I respect you a lot, but your posts on this subject make it looks like if José doesn't give a chance for those kids now they'll never get it and our academy will be fated to die. The overreaction around this subject has been tiring... even if as someone pointed out the arguments have been civil and some very nice posts were written on the subject on both instances.

Also, Mourinho doesn't have to do whatever van Gaal does. They're different coaches, with different approaches. Van Gaal isn't the reference to anything. He's won the same others had. He isn't way ahead anyone in terms of titles or tactics and good for him if he's known as a manager that integrates young players. There are many mistakes he's been doing with this Manchester team - starting with their signings, with his stubbornness with some of his tactics. They all make mistakes, José included, but I don't get the desperation you guys have about academy. With time they kids that are good enough will receive chances and if they use them well, they'll be fully integrated.

When it comes to integrating youth, van Gaal is an excellent point of reference. He's shown countless and countless of times that you can do it and still dominate and win titles. I'm just using LvG as a pretty good example for youth integration. I'm not comparing his other facets as a manager (why that even needs to be brought up, I don't know).

I don't expect everyone (and this is a general statement, not directed at you Barb) to be as passionate or 'desperate' as you would put it to see these academy guys come through because some don't get the joy it brings to fans, how one of our own made it through the ranks and became a top quality player, someone that's Chelsea made, knows the club, knows the Bridge etc... It's very sentimental yes, but for me it's important; at the same time I'm not deluded. If the talent wasn't there I'd be fine with the non integration but it's there alright. We've got one of the best academies and best young talent in Europe, by quite some distance too. Jose himself has commented on how this batch is far more talented than those during his first spell here. I understand this stuff is not as important for everyone but each to their own right? Not everyone follows the youth team regularly, checks on how each player is progressing and actually watches youth games... That's fine.

The same way this club hasn't had manager stability in the latest years, Mourinho didn't either - by his own choice. He came here with the idea of leaving, he went to Inter with the idea of leaving. The most he stayed in a club has been three years. He isn't a manager that planned to stay somewhere for a long time, but now he's changed his speech. So the least we could do is give him time to see what he plans to do. No manager with the idea of leaving a club in a couple of years will work with the academy in long term because whether you guys agree or not, academy isn't something that can be worked under a 2-year work.

I understand that very well but that doesn't excuse the poor integration this year for me. I argued this exact point for Mourinho throughout the season last year, expecting him to pick it up this season and he barely has, even with all his raving about how if the likes of Baker, Brown, Solanke etc. don't make it he would've 'failed' and stuff like how the game against sporting was academy day... His words do not match his actions at all when it comes to the youth integration thing.

As I've said before, I've really enjoyed almost everything Jose has done this season and the only thing I have a real problem with is the lack of youth integration, but then again this subject isn't as important to some on here, and a lot of you seem to think that playing one, two or three academy talents in a handful of games so far would've derailed our season completely. As I said before though, each to their own.

[LDN Blue 7,903]

It's the same excuses coming out 'this season is crucial', every season is crucial. Where do you draw the line? Guarantee next season will also be dubbed as 'crucial' because we're going to attempt to retain trophies.

[Barbara 15,149]

And that's impossible to do without playing one or two academy players right?

Again I repeat, is it impossible for the team to pick up momentum if we play two academy youngsters in 2 games or so? Does that suddenly kill all of our momentum?

It may as well be because those players aren't used to play at this stage and one single mistake by any of them can cost us results.

Sorry if I don't share the romantic view of integrating youth some of you do where those kids are geniuses waiting to happen, real life prodigies, that don't feel pressure, lack of chemistry with the team, lack of experience, insecurities and other things that can as well affect their games. Sorry if I don't think the moment our confidence has been shaken and we struggled in the quality of the football we've been showing and had a couple of bad results was the right moment to 'integrate youth' as if integration came with a match now and another in five months.

It's not a good time to give them those chances... Mourinho said something along the lines he'd be blamed if in a few years (I guess it was 3 or 4) those kids weren't part of English NT. That's a long way to go from now. Earlier in the season Ake had more chances, I felt like he was the one player Mourinho thought would be ready to take the next step, but then he got injured.

We do have great talent in the youth which is why I think the wisest thing is to work with them step by step, without rushing. So the main team goes through a bad moment form wise and the idea of people is to throw a couple of kids there? Sorry, it feels like a surreal approach. The team needs to regain confidence and I repeat what I said last season and I continue to say again - which is one of the biggest reasons I believe why Drogba was brought to this team. Despite what José says to the media I think we have HUGE profile issues with the team now. There's Terry, Iva and now Drogs, Cesc and Diego who are absolutely winners, who go to each match as if they were going to the battle.

But Azpi, Cahill, Mikel, Oscar, Hazard, Willian, Schurrle among others, don't seem to have that feeling, of winning at any costs despite their speech. I think Mourinho is forming this on their character, but I don't know how much he'll be able to change them. It feels like they lack that fighting and winning spirit, not the will to win, there are no losers there, but they aren't players with a strong profile. They seem to lack bite. It only makes it even more difficult for Mourinho to work with the team and make it reach the places he wants. Introducing youth players now I'm sure is the least of his problems when he has a lot to work with his senior players attitude.

But sure, let's agree to disagree.

[TheOneChan95 225]

It's the same excuses coming out 'this season is crucial', every season is crucial. Where do you draw the line? Guarantee next season will also be dubbed as 'crucial' because we're going to attempt to retain trophies.

I believe this season is far more crucial than other seasons because:

We have young players that want to win and be the best players in the world. If the only major thing they have won is the Europa league, then I doubt we can hold on to them should someone like Real come.

Jose hasn't won anything for 2 years. His myth of being a great manager and the fabled second season of his would be tarnished if he doesn't win at least the PL. Roman says he is looking to the long term but how long would his patience last?

We haven't won the PL since Carlo, which was quite some time ago. Far too long for a club of our status.

[Chelsea Legend 11 4,062]

No one is asking Mourinho to field an 11 of academy youngsters, where are people getting that from? IMO it isn't the end of the world if we field an experienced 11 and integrate two or three youth players i.e. Boga, RLC and Aké, and surround them with 8/9 senior players. Surely that isn't too much to ask? Surely we should be able to beat a team like Derby with a set up like that?

But you're putting the youth players ahead of the squad players who need games as well. There is a pecking order that you seem to be ignoring... Boga, RLC and Ake are behind Ramires, Salah, Mikel, Schurrle.

[Chelsea Legend 11 4,062]

Outraged? Really? Do you think if Jose took Mikel and Schurrle to the side and said "listen lads, today I want to give Boga and RLC a chance today in our cup game, I want you two to sit out/be ready if you're needed", that they would've been outraged? Mikel has played quite a lot over the last two weeks, Schurrle has been in and out too. It's one game. Schurrle and Mikel will have plenty of more game time to get into form and get minutes. Not buying it sorry.

Cup games are squad games for teams trying to win everything. As much as I'd like to see more youth get into the team I'm not adverse to the notion that it needs to be earned not handed to them.

[Chelsea Legend 11 4,062]

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.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

It's the same excuses coming out 'this season is crucial', every season is crucial. Where do you draw the line? Guarantee next season will also be dubbed as 'crucial' because we're going to attempt to retain trophies.

Well, you don't draw the line, at least not in the foreseeable future. We are required to win trophies every year and that means having the best squad possible every year. The promising young players will continue to be loaned out until they are good enough to be part of the regular first team, except for extraordinary talent or circumstances like Ake and (I hope) Christensen.

[killer1257 3,282]

Well, you don't draw the line, at least not in the foreseeable future. We are required to win trophies every year and that means having the best squad possible every year. The promising young players will continue to be loaned out until they are good enough to be part of the regular first team, except for extraordinary talent or circumstances like Ake and (I hope) Christensen.

Yeah,but loaning out a player is not the greatest way to develop one player.

Firstly,the loaned out player has a complete new environment,which means he needs time to adapt to that new feeling.

Secondly,the club,which loaned out the player,does not have to play him.This club could have loaned him out for the "worst case scenario",which is that all other squad members are injured,so just give the loanee a chance.

Thirdly,language can also be an issue because Kalas for example can´t speak the german language,so for him it is difficult to get some minutes.It is crucial that the centre backs can understand each other during the match,so communication during the match is very important.Otherwise,they will concede stupid goals.

[Barbara 15,149]

I think I should add that I have absolutely zero problems if José gives a chance or two to youth players. I'm not against the integration, I don't think the time was the best at the Sporting match and Mourinho seems very invested in the League Cup (he knows the league title race as well as UCL will be tight and we may not end up winning either again, so he's probably thinking that it's better make sure he doesn't end trophy-less again).

I praised Aké when he was played earlier the season, I was happy to see him in the bench for league games and I'm sure he'll be given more chances and I'll support him and Mourinho 100%. I just can't crucify him for not playing any of them for a considerable stretch of time in those two matches (Sporting and Derby).

I'm positive at least Aké will play a few more league games for us (probably FA Cup too) in the following months if he's in form. I don't see the others being there yet. Although they've showed great flashes of talent, it seems like people's memory is short or selective. One name: Kakuta.

Kids at age 18 and 19 may look years light ahead of others in the youth competitions but it doesn't mean it'll carried into their senior career. Talent is important, but isn't everything. If you have a chance to train with a high profile manager as José everyday (and some of the kids were promoted to the main squad after all), you learn and grow a lot and he gets to know you. That's the way to go. I like it better than van Gaal throwing Wilson against Liverpool, because that's what he did, he threw the kid there... although Liverpool's team is a joke and Falcao couldn't play even 45 minutes... He probably didn't have many options, but a lot of things could have gone wrong - or right - they were nothing though. The kid didn't do anything wrong, or didn't contribute a lot with the match. Good passenger presentation, but I bet he and van Gaal's and United's fans were all happy.

[Strike 7,474]

Well, you don't draw the line, at least not in the foreseeable future. We are required to win trophies every year and that means having the best squad possible every year. The promising young players will continue to be loaned out until they are good enough to be part of the regular first team, except for extraordinary talent or circumstances like Ake and (I hope) Christensen.

Exactly. Every season is crucial. That's life at Chelsea but I think it's possible to do it and give the youth players a chance in the League Cup. The best teams in the last decade have done it, so let's not act as if it's not possible to do that.