The Mourinho Thread

[Blue-in-me-Veins 4,067]

Not saying that it is but what if the job those managers did was simply never as bad as we are currently seeing under Mourinho in 15/16? Is that possible?

You know what, that may be the case. But even under Carlo, which was our worst period before this nightmare, we played some horrendous football, but still found ourselves travelling to OT with a chance to steal the title. Personally, i chalk that up to the spine of that team grinding out results even in the face of a poor managerial actions. Carlo just sent out the same XI week after week, month after month, no adjustments, but the players still maintained that standard (in the grand scheme of position on table).

[nullabletype 987]

Yeah but he's been saying he will play the kids for a long time and nothing.

About rlc and nothing.

He just a liar and until he proves it with actions I can't hope for anything good with this guy.

The thing is, I get why he doesn't. As Lampard said tonight, trying to blood your youth in a situation like this is far from ideal and perhaps not really the environment for these lads to be given their first proper taste of Premier League football. So I get that Mourinho might be hesitant to play them. But whilst I understand that, I also think that there isn't a great deal to lose given our current predicament given that we look likely to get rolled over every game. If he truly thinks his squad can't hack it, then I say just give the kids a go regardless of whether it's ideal or not. Could it really be that much worse?

[Pseudo 92]

I agree with what you've said in totality..

However, when a team of the stature of Chelsea goes through horrible stretches of form, these said players that cost us tens of millions of pounds and are on high wages, you can't just sit back and chalk up all of this season's trouble to tactics. Like yes, JM should be fired, not even trying to exonerate him. But there's a standard that has to be expected. How do tactics explain Costa/Fabregas/Hazard all showing up over-weight at the beginning of the season? Our previous teams, even when they went through tough periods always knew how grind out results in spite of the many managers that we've fired under the Roman era. Heck, at one point, the main leaders of the team purposefully got a manager fired and delivered a UCL trophy on the back of it.

Even as Rafa Benitez struggles mightily at Real Madrid, do you not expect them to still finish Top 3? Those players are good enough (and in our case, "should" be) good enough to still win games "on their own" so to speak. We've seen it happen in the past at Chelsea, unfortunately, this group of players can't overcome such impediments.

Overall, JM's failure as a manager has made this situation exponentially worse than it should have been under a competent manager. Even if we were going to struggle this season under. Struggling should have comprised of being 8/9th at worst, not being in a relegation battle, imo.

Why are you comparing us to Madrid? We don't have those type of players capable of making atrocious managers look good. That's something you will have to live with.

Why do people bring up the UCL win like we pulled a Greece 04 and played magnificent defensive football? We won because of Cech, luck and Drogba. That back four was breached multiple times in three games of football and it should have been a blow out. We were comprehensively outplayed from start to finish in.all those games.

We were very lucky. that's all.

[zolayes 14,489]

it used to be said that jose blamed officials ,, bad decisions bad luck .. to deflect blame from and protect the players .. NOW he is blaming the players ...... to deflect criticism from

who ,,,,?????

[Blue-in-me-Veins 4,067]

Why are you comparing us to Madrid? We don't have those type of players capable of making atrocious managers look good. That's something you will have to live with.

Why do people bring up the UCL win like we pulled a Greece 04 and played magnificent defensive football? We won because of Cech, luck and Drogba. That back four was breached multiple times in three games of football and it should have been a blow out. We were comprehensively outplayed from start to finish in.all those games.

We were very lucky. that's all.

Agree to disagree on this one then pal..

Off to continue running through the 6 with my woes..

[Pseudo 92]

Why is this an excuse for the players but not Mourinho, who indeed, has never been in this position before?

We're in this position because of him. Don't act like these are circumstances beyond his control.

He had a world class Madrid side playing utter garbage in his last season and managed to lose the league to a Barcelona side with no manager and an aging midfield.

[nullabletype 987]

it used to be said that jose blamed officials ,, bad decisions bad luck .. to deflect blame from and protect the players .. NOW he is blaming the players ...... to deflect criticism from

who ,,,,?????

I'll bite...

Himself, and why not if he feels that his playing staff aren't pulling they're weight? I mean, they clearly aren't. Maybe he feels it has gone beyond the point of defending the indefensible?

Of course, you and many others will feel that José is the one who cannot be defended and myself and many others will disagree. Forums, eh?

I just see it like this, he is this clubs most successful manager. He has led an incredibly successful career up to this point. He delivered a further two trophies last season. Maybe he's lost it in a few months. Maybe he lost it a long time ago and this squad really are excellent and it's only now that Mourinho has lost them that they have dipped. I just feel that it's more likely that last season the squad were raised to Mourinho's level and that this season, they are in fact, closer to their true selves.

Just as a note, this isn't a new theory off the back of tonight's comments, Martin Samuel wrote a piece about it a number of weeks ago. I thought it was very good.

[Fernando 6,585]

The thing is, I get why he doesn't. As Lampard said tonight, trying to blood your youth in a situation like this is far from ideal and perhaps not really the environment for these lads to be given their first proper taste of Premier League football. So I get that Mourinho might be hesitant to play them. But whilst I understand that, I also think that there isn't a great deal to lose given our current predicament given that we look likely to get rolled over every game. If he truly thinks his squad can't hack it, then I say just give the kids a go regardless of whether it's ideal or not. Could it really be that much worse?

Well it's never the time with our club.

When Mourinho first came out was because it was his first season.

Then second season because we had to win.

Now third season because of the situation we are in.

There's always an excuse each season and I'm sick of it.

[Pseudo 92]

Says a lot when you could only name 3 players. Wouldn't even put Matic in that bracket because taking aside the "he's gotta do the job of two players" notion, his performances have been nowhere near the standard he set in the last 1 1/2 years.

That is true but the thing is, we're talking about experienced players here, players who have won things. The least you'll expect them to show, especially at the current moment, is competency but they aren't showing that.

I'll just quote what I said to Henrique...

What do you want me to do? name more? Ok I feel our entire back four has been doing their best despite no protection from the midfield and two aging players.

Cesc has finally been exposed because we've not been playing well offensively. Teams are braver when they attack us because we don't trouble them enough on the attacking end and the more they attack, the more likely Cesc defensive frailties are exposed.

Look the players are doing the best they can. I don't expect a work horses like Willian and Oscar to become offensive juggernauts overnight and save Mourinho's bacon. We don't have a Madrid side full of stars to make him look good.

[nullabletype 987]

Well it's never the time with our club.

When Mourinho first came out was because it was his first season.

Then second season because we had to win.

Now third season because of the situation we are in.

There's always an excuse each season and I'm sick of it.

In fairness though, those are three pretty good reasons.

That said, I still at this point he might as well try it despite everyting. Maybe the site of some young guys putting our experienced pros to shame might be the boot in the bollocks they really need.

I doubt it will happen though.

[robsblubot 3,595]

I'll bite...

Himself, and why not if he feels that his playing staff aren't pulling they're weight? I mean, they clearly aren't. Maybe he feels it has gone beyond the point of defending the indefensible?

Of course, you and many others will feel that José is the one who cannot be defended and myself and many others will disagree. Forums, eh?

I just see it like this, he is this clubs most successful manager. He has led an incredibly successful career up to this point. He delivered a further two trophies last season. Maybe he's lost it in a few months. Maybe he lost it a long time ago and this squad really are excellent and it's only now that Mourinho has lost them that they have dipped. I just feel that it's more likely that last season the squad were raised to Mourinho's level and that this season, they are in fact, closer to their true selves.

Just as a note, this isn't a new theory off the back of tonight's comments, Martin Samuel wrote a piece about it a number of weeks ago. I thought it was very good.

As a manager he holds responsibility in building this inadequate squad. The options or lack thereof is also his fault.

I agree that he's not the sole responsible, but he's the manager.

[Rhino's Skin 972]

well at least it was fun when we went 3 at the back and seemed to have 4 or 5 upfront.

Remember the first stint when Mourinho wasnt afraid of doing crazy stuff like that to change the game......Seems very wary of doing it nowadays. I have only seen it a few times is last couple of years, the most effective time being Norwich away in his first season back when it was 1-1 and we went on to win 3-1.

Perhaps he should just show a bit more courage and trust the players earlier in the game

[bellion 170]

Because I know what proms about? Look man, all I am saying is that we could use a little bit more positivity around here since the club is in a real mess and we are all down in the dumps. I don't agree with Barbara that the moaners need to be banned (if she did say it, I don't know) either. Expressing unpopular views is a-okay, but it does get a bit tiring after repetitive comments. I want to complain as well but I rather just step off the screen and get on with life. Anyway it doesn't matter, not trying to get into an arguments or offend people. What I know is that we are in a terrible position and the club needs to start taking action.

Peace.

I would like to know what your suggestions are with regards to taking action.

[bellion 170]

I just read a post on shed end forum from a guy who typed "for the record, I'll gladly go down with Jose at the helm" . I kid you not. If this isn't RAWK like/a cult of Jose, I don't know what is!

Shed End is filled with Mourinho fanboys. I chuckle at his biggest fan who repeatedly crows "We are improving" even after losing to the likes of Bournemouth and sitting one point above the relegation zone.

[Parky 739]

Same shit football, different day. I still think Jose will be in charge until the end of the season where we would narrowly avoid relegation. We will have a new manager next season.

Can't see us winning the UCL on current form and morale. Can we beat teams still left like Bayern, Barca and Madrid? Yea pigs might fly too..

[Irakozium257 350]

Even Carragher has given up on him...

[xPetrCechx 13,573]

No Breaking News?..

[bluephoenix 1,131]

This is just not happening I was the idiot that told I want him to stick on till end of season but I simply don't see any kind of improvement result wise of the way we play.

Same dumbness over and over. If this goes on we will be the next liverpool. Wont be able to attract any kind of talent because we effing wont be in champions league.

[stroey 2,525]

I like you Stroey mate, but just wanted to point out this is the exact reason why I totally disagreed with you when you said judge him after the Porto game. Because I knew even if we did win that game (which we did) it would prove to be another false dawn and once again it has shown. We don't build on wins. Time after time this season. Just not good enough. How can we go from having a good performance against Porto to what we produced today. That first half and the Newcastle one was as bad of a first half I have ever seen.

We are now 16th and I will seriously have concerns about what is in the club's best interests if Mourinho continues to be manager after this. Monk of Swansea who are doing better than us and have much lower expectations sacked their manager because they need better results yet us, a team who have much higher expectations are still clinging on to our manager.

There is literally no excuse for Mourinho to stay now. He just can't. This is just beyond ludicrousy if I hear another vote of confidence call from the board.

I almost always wait for a while to calm down before I react on here after we lost.

I agree that first half was really bad, but we also need to give credits to the best performing side in the league, they were full of intensity, they had more balls, they had more confidence and wanted it more.

Could you tell me how on earth it's possible that the players gave so much passion and desire to win against Porto and then 5 days later, to be completely passionless? Nobody was taking responsibility on the pitch, they all look scared to do something.

We can blame it on tactics and work methods from the manager, but Jose has not changed his tactics and methods that won us the league with 13 points and league cup last year, it's the same manager and the same working methods. Has the league opponent ALL changed so much? I also don't think so. Or are the players just not up for it anymore after winning it?

I read that only 3 players after the game went to salute the away fans. (Courtois, Azi, Iva)

If you don't play well, you have to finish the chances you have, but I saw 4-5 chances but we scored 0 from them. Diego should've scored that, Ivanovic was making a world class clearance for Leicester, Remy had to shoot instead of controlling the ball, Pedro should've done better because he had time and space, Hazard should shoot with his weaker left foot instead of switching it. These guys are just not mentally alright.

On your statement: No excuse for Jose to stay

There can be no excuse to sitting at 16th with 15 points after 16 games but we are still qualified for the last 16 in the UCL. If there is 1 manager in our history that deserves a complete off season, it's Jose. He's proven to be one the best for a decade (his CV speaks for it self), his last league win was not in the last decade - it was last season and we're still the champions. If Klopp deserved time after all he has done to finish the season, Jose deserves it too.

One swallow does not make a summer - One bad season won't suddenly change Jose into a bad manager. This is a manager that won 2 Champions leagues and 8 league titles in 12 years we're talking about.

This is a decision for Roman, if he sees the long term future with Jose - he should stick with him and back him completely, if he changed his mind he should sack him immediately, simple.

[stroey 2,525]

He is attacking Hazard and Costa now. What a fraud. I never wanted him back, made no sense. Thanks Maureen, no CL next year. Roman fire that fraud ASAP.

@The Skipper and @Spike

Hi, please take a look at this member, it's probably ''couris'' that has been banned. reason = new member, and using fraud + ''maureen''.