The Mourinho Thread

[The only place to be 11,313]

Do people think Mancini will get sacked then?

I thought City were all about stability and we were the ones who sacked managers. Now they're going to sack a guy after he won them the league just last season?

As for Moyes, I've said before that he could be great but I have no idea what type of football he'd be serving up if he came. He's always fit his teams around the players he's had available to him (like moving Fellaini forward or focusing the play down the left to take advantage of Baines and Pienaar) whereas at Chelsea he'd have the resources to play the type of football he'd want. I just don't really know what that would be so it's hard to suggest him.

[BlueSunshine 672]

Um, what? Madrid were battering them at several points and were unlucky not to score 4 or 5 due to great goal keeping.

I don't know what the hell has happened to Benzema but he was playing like Torres last night. That didnt exactly help Jose's cause.

De Gea had a solid game but he made only 2 good saves, all the other shots that he saved went straight to him. Benzema didn't play well because manure didn't let him to, they marked him very well (the same goes for Higuain when he replaced him) .

I don't think that means he was tactically out-thought though.

Real played exactly how rednose wanted them to play. Look at manure's starting lineup, they didn't use any wingers which is not very common for them. Ferguson decided to close down the middle and he used 3 centrebacks, with Jones manmarking Ronaldo and doing a tremendous job. Yes Real had a few good chances to score more goals but so did manure and overall i found them more composed on the ball, very calm defending and when they attacked you had a feeling that they were more dangerous comparing to when Real was attacking. Real should have attacked more through the wings (especially their left wing) and it's really baffling why they didn't. The couple of times they did use the flanks they scored a goal and created their two most dangerous chances.

[The only place to be 11,313]

De Gea had a solid game but he made only 2 good saves, all the other shots that he saved went straight to him. Benzema didn't play well because manure didn't let him to, they marked him very well (the same goes for Higuain when he replaced him) .

Real played exactly how rednose wanted them to play. Look at manure's starting lineup, they didn't use any wingers which is not very common for them. Ferguson decided to close down the middle and he used 3 centrebacks, with Jones manmarking Ronaldo and doing a tremendous job. Yes Real had a few good chances to score more goals but so did manure and overall i found them more composed on the ball, very calm defending and when they attacked you had a feeling that they were more dangerous comparing to when Real was attacking. Real should have attacked more through the wings (especially their left wing) and it's really baffling why they didn't. The couple of times they did use the flanks they scored a goal and created their two most dangerous chances.

I don't think playing defensive football is necessarily 'tactically outthinking' them. What we saw was two teams playing exactly how everyone expected, and United executing their gameplan slightly better than Madrid.

[NishC300 1,865]

What's the talk of Mourinho out-done tactically? Madrid were in total control and were unlucky not to score 4-5 goals. Fabio Coentrao in particular had two chances, both of which were wonderfully saved by De Gea. Also Ronaldo wasn't far away from his second only to miss the target from close range with his head. United go lucky and were only dangerous during couple of occasions (Van Persie's miss for example)

Also they can't play as defensive and as deep when they're at Old Trafford, because it might and most certainly will backfire. It's beyond me how Jones didn't even get booked, was allright but very raw with his challanges. Same could be said about Varane who took down Evra, easily could have been a straight red (last man), credit to the referee though, kept it under control as much as needed. It's men's game, there should be some kind of physical battle allowed.

Yea they were unlucky and Mourinho had full control of what he was doing tactically speaking.

Yea about the ref FFS! The Manure scumbags are pretty much bombarding Troll Football with pics of Felix Brych in an RM jersey. He helped them a lot!

[NishC300 1,865]

I have also been wondering whether the pitch at Old Trafford will
help Madrid as it is more wide due to which Madrid will have more space
for their attacks? Also Mourinho has had some gr8 moments at Old
Trafford remember these!

[Santiago. 1,500]

Madrid had absolutely no width which really hurt them during the match.

[bushman 2,043]

Look at it from a practical point of view. If Jose & his Real were to lose, he might as well stay behind & sees Roman.

After all, most likely he will get fired, then.

[LDN Blue 7,903]

Ah, Mesut Ozil was such a steal for Madrid, under £10m. What a player he's become!

[Santiago. 1,500]

Ah, Mesut Ozil was such a steal for Madrid, under £10m. What a player he's become!

He doesn't like to shoot the ball which hurt them yesterday.

[Magic Lamps 11,692]

Ah, Mesut Ozil was such a steal for Madrid, under £10m. What a player he's become!

he has always been quality and a perfect example that magicians do not need to be midgets who get bullied all the time and hence are useless as soon as their opponents are stronger and faster than them.

[Strike 7,527]

Something feels different about this year's Jose rumours. The usual whispers are getting louder each day and more importantly, after 5 years, we have run out of quality manager options to replace him.

[NishC300 1,865]

Yeah Marcelo - that's the dude I was thinking of - he's always been good when I've seen him play - great shot too...

Not sure on RM defence - it is a bit shaky... I think it's a different mentality there though - he has to play attacking, as thats what the fans expect...

Yea but I never understand this with 'attacking' teams. The whole idea of attacking football is that u commit more men forward. I never understand how the attacking mentality results in teams doing basic errors such as defending set pieces.

[NishC300 1,865]

Something feels different about this year's Jose rumours. The usual whispers are getting louder each day and more importantly, after 5 years, we have run out of quality manager options to replace him.

I think it's also because this season we're more deseprate for Jose then we ever have since he's left!

I guess the reason why we're always linked to Jose and not other Chelsea managers is because he himself's a true blue and we still love him more than any other manager

[Muzchap 8,966]

Yea but I never understand this with 'attacking' teams. The whole idea of attacking football is that u commit more men forward. I never understand how the attacking mentality results in teams doing basic errors such as defending set pieces.

Yeah when you put it like that - does seem weird!

Maybe they just think we will score more than you?

Think RM has major EGO issues - maybe the players aren't doing what's asked of them. One thing I will give Eden Hazard big credit for this year is his change in attitude towards defending - some of the RM players don't have that work ethic.

Also to be fair to Wellbeck, he's a tall strong lad and won the header well. Great finish - but can't help seeing him as Utds version of our Carlton Cole. One thing the lad does though and deserves respect, he runs his heart out for 90 minutes. You can't underestimate that - always gives the midfield an option!

[Styles 9,790]

What's the talk of Mourinho out-done tactically? Madrid were in total control and were unlucky not to score 4-5 goals. Fabio Coentrao in particular had two chances, both of which were wonderfully saved by De Gea. Also Ronaldo wasn't far away from his second only to miss the target from close range with his head. United go lucky and were only dangerous during couple of occasions (Van Persie's miss for example)

Also they can't play as defensive and as deep when they're at Old Trafford, because it might and most certainly will backfire. It's beyond me how Jones didn't even get booked, was allright but very raw with his challanges. Same could be said about Varane who took down Evra, easily could have been a straight red (last man), credit to the referee though, kept it under control as much as needed. It's men's game, there should be some kind of physical battle allowed.

This idea that Mourinho is some tactical genius is laughable. Mourinho is more of a motivator than he is tactician.

[The only place to be 11,313]

This idea that Mourinho is some tactical genius is laughable. Mourinho is more of a motivator than he is tactician.

I'm not saying he's a genius or not, but how many teams struggled to cope with that 433 in his first couple of seasons at the Bridge? In fact how many clubs are now using that formation or variations on it?

I'm not going to say he invented it but that tactic was one of the things that won us the titles. Plus there was that beautiful moment before the Barca 2nd leg when he announced the teams in the press conference. That's a tactic of sorts and one could argue it was pretty effective in getting in the Barca players heads.

[Styles 9,790]

I'm not saying he's a genius or not, but how many teams struggled to cope with that 433 in his first couple of seasons at the Bridge? In fact how many clubs are now using that formation or variations on it?

I'm not going to say he invented it but that tactic was one of the things that won us the titles. Plus there was that beautiful moment before the Barca 2nd leg when he announced the teams in the press conference. That's a tactic of sorts and one could argue it was pretty effective in getting in the Barca players heads.

The Premier League was a 4-4-2 league devoid of any real tactics. Any deviation from that would look out of the ordinary. His tactics weren't brilliant in Italy and they aren't in Spain. He wins because he manages good clubs with excellent players and is able to motivate them to perform to their maximum. He's a great manager but not the tactician that people build him up to be.

[NishC300 1,865]

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/news/premier-league-paper-round-chelsea-say-way-jose-051655404.html;_ylt=AtJN5VDtWBSbbZNIYwML.f9YkcAF;_ylu=X3oDMTN0aTByMmdhBG1pdANGZWF0dXJlZCBNZWdhdHJvbiBGUARwa2cDZjBiY2E5NDQtYWUwZi0zNDJjLWI1NmEtOTAyYzRiNjg1MDdkBHBvcwMzBHNlYwNtZWdhdHJvbgR2ZXIDZmJlMTdlMjAtNzgxZC0xMWUyLWJiOWItODA0NzNlMzA4NGI2;_ylg=X3oDMTFpYnVpbmRoBGludGwDZ2IEbGFuZwNlbi1nYgRwc3RhaWQDBHBzdGNhdANob21lBHB0A3NlY3Rpb25z;_ylv=3

These papers just keep changing their stories, don't believe anything until it's official!

[NishC300 1,865]

Yeah when you put it like that - does seem weird!

Maybe they just think we will score more than you?

Think RM has major EGO issues - maybe the players aren't doing what's asked of them. One thing I will give Eden Hazard big credit for this year is his change in attitude towards defending - some of the RM players don't have that work ethic.

Also to be fair to Wellbeck, he's a tall strong lad and won the header well. Great finish - but can't help seeing him as Utds version of our Carlton Cole. One thing the lad does though and deserves respect, he runs his heart out for 90 minutes. You can't underestimate that - always gives the midfield an option!

but he's got a dark side too................

not worth being in a spoiler because it's so damn obvious but it's DIVING

[MetsajCFC 1,255]

The Premier League was a 4-4-2 league devoid of any real tactics. Any deviation from that would look out of the ordinary. His tactics weren't brilliant in Italy and they aren't in Spain. He wins because he manages good clubs with excellent players and is able to motivate them to perform to their maximum. He's a great manager but not the tactician that people build him up to be.

Porto (2002–2004)

• Primeira Liga (2): 2002–03, 2003–04
• Taça de Portugal (1): 2002–03
• Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira (1): 2003
• UEFA Champions League (1): 2003–04
• UEFA Cup (1): 2002–03

Chelsea (2004–2007)

• Premier League (2): 2004–05, 2005–06
• FA Cup (1): 2006–07
• Football League Cup (2): 2004–05, 2006–07
• FA Community Shield (1): 2005

Internazionale (2008–2010)

• Serie A (2): 2008–09, 2009–10
• Coppa Italia (1): 2009–10
• Supercoppa Italiana (1): 2008
• UEFA Champions League (1): 2009–10

Real Madrid (2010–present)

• La Liga (1): 2011–12
• Copa del Rey (1): 2010–11
• Supercopa de España (1): 2012

You don't win all that just because you give good half time speeches. He is a titan of a manager. One of the best if not the best out there.