The Mourinho Thread

[Styles 9,790]

Jose don't know how to play pressing football. While he is a master at defensive football, which is not necessary a bad thing but really not enough at a club like Chelsea. The only time his team play pressing football is when he had Ronaldo, Ozil and all those attacking players at Madrid, playing against crappy BBVA sides weekly. Or he only play attacking football against top teams when his team MUST SCORE like the 2nd leg of Semi final each year. Argue all you like but you know this is the truth, keeping the ball for the majority of the game DOES NOT EQUAL PRESSING JOSE. Maybe he believes those 2 things are the same which is why he believed our performance last night was 'amazing'.

Master mind at pressing football atm? Ancelotti, Klopp, Guardiola, Wenger, Rodger, Pellegrini, Martino(well he got Barca but still) and it is not a coincidence that all of these sides are among top 10 goal scoring teams in Europe atm. See the amazing magic of pressing?

Pressing requires the team to push up and squeeze the opposition. We don't do that. The worst thing about it is Jose demands the front players to run their ass off and when they're bypassed the opposition have acres of space because the defence is so deep. What's the point of demanding Mata runs around like a mad man if the defenders are so deep? Doesn't make any sense.

Mourinho is only good at coaching counter-attacking football and park the bus tactics. The fact that he thinks we're playing good football now says it all really. The worst thing about his comments about becoming more defensive is that he speaks as if we've fully committed to playing an offensive game when he hasn't even coached it properly and has players incompatible with such a style like Ivanovic at RB for example. He had 3 months in the summer to assess the squad, and I'm sure he knew he was coming earlier this year so was watching and keeping tabs on the team and its needs.

This guy is chatting so much crap after games it's unbelievable. I actually burst out laughing when he said we played great on Tuesday.

[Mouri_Matic 560]

Pressing requires the team to push up and squeeze the opposition. We don't do that. The worst thing about it is Jose demands the front players to run their ass off and when they're bypassed the opposition have acres of space because the defence is so deep. What's the point of demanding Mata runs around like a mad man if the defenders are so deep? Doesn't make any sense.

Mourinho is only good at coaching counter-attacking football and park the bus tactics. The fact that he thinks we're playing good football now says it all really. The worst thing about his comments about becoming more defensive is that he speaks as if we've fully committed to playing an offensive game when he hasn't even coached it properly and has players incompatible with such a style like Ivanovic at RB for example. He had 3 months in the summer to assess the squad and I'm sure he knew he was coming earlier this year so was watching and keeping tabs on the team and it's needs.

This guy is chatting so much crap after games it's unbelievable. I actually burst out laughing when he said we played great on Tuesday.

I agree for the most parts, but then again anything Mourinho-negative is considered trolling now

[Styles 9,790]

I agree for the most parts, but then again anything Mourinho-negative is considered trolling now

Fine by me.

[remains of the day 564]

Yeah, I’ve been kind of wimp when it comes to this topic, avoiding taking any real stance or being too critical of Mourinho even though there are certain issues I have with him, which to be honest I’ve had with him since his first stint here. Nonetheless I remain convinced that he’s the right only person who can manage this club for reasons I won’t go into now. I think my own concern (and maybe it isn’t really one that’s mourinho’s doing) is that last season it seemed to me that a new spine of this team was emerging - and when I say 'spine' I mean players who were consistently performing at a higher standard compared to the rest of the team & were gradually taking more responsibilities, taking more ownership and taking more of a leadership role in the team. I would say these players were Mata, Luiz, Ramires and (to a lesser extent) Hazard. These were our standout players last season and the first 3 have been key players for us in the past two seasons. Now this season, out of those players, one has been distinctly inconsistent bordering on average, the other two have been on the peripheral margins (due to lost of form or has resulted in them being out of form, depending on what side of the argument you sit on) and only one has been able to carry on last season's form into the current campaign. Now I'm not criticizing Jose for going in a different direction and for making his own changes to the team. What I am saying is that in any team sport, when you have a group of players who represent the core of the team, there's a danger in alienating them.

We've seen this when clubs get promoted to a top tier league and the players who were key to getting them in that position suddenly become ‘not good enough’ or irrelevant and more expensive players are brought in. We also saw this when AVB came in and suddenly players like Drogba, Lampard, Cole etc – players who formed the very fabric of the club’s success for many years suddenly were marginalized and were deemed “too old” to play a key role. Last season, a new spine emerged and although the success was ‘minimal’ (by this club's standards) these players showed a lot of heart, showed a lot of quality and for stretches of time showed consistently that carried the team.

I’m no expert but I often wonder if by now we would be seeing more progress in the right direction if Jose or the club had focused their summer transfer dealings on acquiring the right players who could have complemented & increased the productivity of this new spine of the team. If we had focused on signing a proper right winger who could create more space for Mata & Hazard to operate and also signed a top striker who could – I don’t know, finish the chances they create; if we had focused on securing a defender to partner with Luiz – one who had the right qualities to be able to mitigate his weakness and also one who could play a high line; if we had focused on signing a midfielder – one who would not only complement Ramires but who would also provide some stability when Luiz ventures forward – if we had done all of that, had been strategic and smart in acquiring the right pieces that would enable our standout players from last season (most of whom are entering their peak years) maybe just maybe we wouldn’t be seeing the disjointed mess of performances that has become too much a frequent occurrence.

Some people greatly exaggerate Benitez’s accomplishments at this club last season, but at the end of last season what I saw was some kind of foundation that had been laid with a group of players who were very much becoming the core of the team. Jose only had to improve on that system instead he tore up the blueprint up and started from scratch. That's fine, but by doing so we’ve now had to take two-step backwards. It took Benitez right till the end of the season before we began to see some kind of direction and cohesion. Was there really any need to start over?

[The_Flash 1,144]

Funny so many people hated Rafael he got terrible abuse every game but he carried on and did a good job in my opinion. Funny some who slagged him I've heard saying they wished he was still here :/

[The Mak 4,459]

Funny so many people hated Rafael he got terrible abuse every game but he carried on and did a good job in my opinion. Funny some who slagged him I've heard saying they wished he was still here :/

Please tell me who. Who said they want Rafa now and not José? I would pay for you to give me one (credible) name of who said that.

[manpe 10,861]

Funny so many people hated Rafael he got terrible abuse every game but he carried on and did a good job in my opinion. Funny some who slagged him I've heard saying they wished he was still here :/

Is this true? Lmao, some people have short memories.

[Barbara 15,149]

I think Benitez provided with a 'style' that got some prompt results (not even that really) and proved to struggle at occasion (Europe and big matches). It's progress from what Robbie left (tactically nothing), but I don't think it was worth continuing that. Mourinho has a much better system in place getting 'outstanding' results if we take into consideration we don't have one single player at the top of their form while as said by @remains of the day Benitez had a few (and it wasn't only those).

There's so much a system can work when we have ALL players playing average with eventual exceptions in some matches. So Hazard, Willian, JT, Oscar, Ramires had a few really good matches in the almost 30 we've played so far, whereas Benitez had at least half the team playing their best individual football at the end of last season. Still José's results overall are better (or feel better) with a team that can't play good football because individually they're all underwhelming.

That's the only comparison I can have. The system is good, the high pressing combined with attack oriented system works really well imo. It did in October. What doesn't work at all is the players turning half-heartedly for matches, or being out of form, or being too inconsistent and inconstant.

Mourinho needs to figure it out. His job as a manager includes people's skill to make those guys more consistent (and in some cases even motivated to play). That's one of his failures so far. He doesn't seem to have control over this squad... none whatsoever. In Portuguese we say a manager has the team on his hand and working for the manager. I feel only JT, Frank, Essien, Gary, Petr, Willian, Azpili, Oscar and maybe Ivanovic fit the description. The rest doesn't seem to be that much sold in Mourinho's ideas (Mourinho more than once said - and even Holland too in one of his conferences that players are now accepting his ideas. WTF? They should accept it promptly and see if it works and if doesn't then have an honest talk about the issues. Mourinho is their boss).

So seeing how we have so many players not turning up and we still have issues with our strikers, I think our results are outstanding qualifying first in UCL (even if we had a very easy group) and being two points behind the leaders on EPL. If Mourinho had the players on top of their game like Benitez had the last 3-4 months of his tenure, we'd be leading EPL by half dozen points.

[The_Flash 1,144]

Please tell me who. Who said they want Rafa now and not José? I would pay for you to give me one (credible) name of who said that.

It was just some guys who live in my street I found it highly amusing they were the same guys who were mouthing off we don't want the Liverpool manger

Is this true? Lmao, some people have short memories.

I know pretty sad

[Tomo 21,751]

Funny some who slagged him I've heard saying they wished he was still here :/

All i keep hearing now, is how we played such great football under Benitez.

Didn't hear it once when he was here, but now he's gone we were playing great football under him, funny that

[The_Flash 1,144]

All i keep hearing now, is how we played such great football under Benitez.

Didn't hear it once when he was here, but now he's gone we were playing great football under him, funny that

Exactly, lol, fickle so*s

[Sheva. 5,373]

All i keep hearing now, is how we played such great football under Benitez.

Didn't hear it once when he was here, but now he's gone we were playing great football under him, funny that

You don't know what you got, till it's gone?

[The_Flash 1,144]

Lol

[Reddish-Blue 2,510]

I think Benitez provided with a 'style' that got some prompt results (not even that really) and proved to struggle at occasion (Europe and big matches). It's progress from what Robbie left (tactically nothing), but I don't think it was worth continuing that. Mourinho has a much better system in place getting 'outstanding' results if we take into consideration we don't have one single player at the top of their form while as said by @remains of the day Benitez had a few (and it wasn't only those).

There's so much a system can work when we have ALL players playing average with eventual exceptions in some matches. So Hazard, Willian, JT, Oscar, Ramires had a few really good matches in the almost 30 we've played so far, whereas Benitez had at least half the team playing their best individual football at the end of last season. Still José's results overall are better (or feel better) with a team that can't play good football because individually they're all underwhelming.

That's the only comparison I can have. The system is good, the high pressing combined with attack oriented system works really well imo. It did in October. What doesn't work at all is the players turning half-heartedly for matches, or being out of form, or being too inconsistent and inconstant.

Mourinho needs to figure it out. His job as a manager includes people's skill to make those guys more consistent (and in some cases even motivated to play). That's one of his failures so far. He doesn't seem to have control over this squad... none whatsoever. In Portuguese we say a manager has the team on his hand and working for the manager. I feel only JT, Frank, Essien, Gary, Petr, Willian, Azpili, Oscar and maybe Ivanovic fit the description. The rest doesn't seem to be that much sold in Mourinho's ideas (Mourinho more than once said - and even Holland too in one of his conferences that players are now accepting his ideas. WTF? They should accept it promptly and see if it works and if doesn't then have an honest talk about the issues. Mourinho is their boss).

So seeing how we have so many players not turning up and we still have issues with our strikers, I think our results are outstanding qualifying first in UCL (even if we had a very easy group) and being two points behind the leaders on EPL. If Mourinho had the players on top of their game like Benitez had the last 3-4 months of his tenure, we'd be leading EPL by half dozen points.

The thing about Benitez was that he didn't have as many options as Mourinho.

Benitez had to rely on Hazard, Mata, Oscar and Moses....and in most games, the attacking midfielders played well.

The biggest problem is that, even after Benitez left, the board/manager did not address the key problem in central-midfield

Maybe if MVG wasn't injured, things would be different...but honestly, you can't expect to dominate the opposition with an ageing Lampard, Ramires, the slow Mikel and an ageing Essien.

We had the transfer window to buy a proven CM/DM...but instead we decided to buy a young CM & three attacking mids (including Atsu on loan at Vitesse)...

[Tomo 21,751]

You don't know what you got, till it's gone?

I thought Benitez did a good job under the circumstances, i said so at the time. But every time we lose a game or don't play well i see a few post's saying "well Rafa did this, Rafa did that".

It's like we didn't lose at home to QPR, or blow 2 goal leads against newly promoted teams, or come within minutes off getting dumped out of the FA Cup by a League one side.

[Sheva. 5,373]

I thought Benitez did a good job under the circumstances, i said so at the time. But every time we lose a game or don't play well i see a few post's saying "well Rafa did this, Rafa did that".

It's like we didn't lose at home to QPR, or blow 2 goal leads against newly promoted teams, or come within minutes off getting dumped out of the FA Cup by a League one side.

Our squad now is better than at this stage last season where we only had Torres as striker and Oscar was still adapting and playing average. We used to rely on Hazard and Mata for inspiration every game.

Yet we played better football - occasionally it should be said - than anything we have done this season. We put 8 past Villa and scored 3,4,5, several other games.

I was expecting an improvement this season with a better manager, and more depth, but attacking wise we have somehow regressed.

Defensively though we were doing just fine till last few weeks; now everyone panics when the opposition enter our half, and make silly mistakes.

[Tomo 21,751]

Our squad now is better than at this stage last season where we only had Torres as striker and Oscar was still adapting and playing average. We used to rely on Hazard and Mata for inspiration every game.

Yet we played better football - occasionally it should be said - than anything we have done this season. We put 8 past Villa and scored 3,4,5, several other games.

I was expecting an improvement this season with a better manager, and more depth, but attacking wise we have somehow regressed.

Defensively though we were doing just fine till last few weeks; now everyone panics when the opposition enter our half, and make silly mistakes.

TBH i believe Villa last season has been the only top, top match we have had since the double winning season, and what i mean by top, top is the kind performances we saw regularly between 04-10, we are still to this day paying the price for giving youth too big a role in the squad (which is rather ironic) in 2010.

What (for me) summed up the last few years was last season's match at Anfield, we created nothing against a team managed by Brendan Rodgers who is hardly known for his defensive solidarity in teams, while Liverpool in the 2nd half cut us open at will.

[Blue Armour 4,448]

All i keep hearing now, is how we played such great football under Benitez.

Didn't hear it once when he was here, but now he's gone we were playing great football under him, funny that

After that Sunderland result, I remembered that Carling CUP semi against Swansea last season...did we even score in any of the two legs?

[ZOS 580]

The thing about Benitez was that he didn't have as many options as Mourinho.

Benitez had to rely on Hazard, Mata, Oscar and Moses....and in most games, the attacking midfielders played well.

The biggest problem is that, even after Benitez left, the board/manager did not address the key problem in central-midfield

Maybe if MVG wasn't injured, things would be different...but honestly, you can't expect to dominate the opposition with an ageing Lampard, Ramires, the slow Mikel and an ageing Essien.

We had the transfer window to buy a proven CM/DM...but instead we decided to buy a young CM & three attacking mids (including Atsu on loan at Vitesse)...

and now they're trying to sign an other Ramirez when we're clearly in need of a Gundogan or an Alonso

[nofacej 132]

I think we should move Luiz into the midfield again in a 4-3-3. This would free up Lampard to make more forward runs and hopefully score more goals, and might even make us more defensively stable. So much of our success over the years has come on the back of Lampard's goals, and without a reliable striker the reduced number of them is felt all the more. I also wonder if Mata might not be a decent option as a false 9. He probably has the best finishing of any of our attacking mids and he offers the least defensively of any of them. It's got to be worth at least a try given our strikers aren't scoring often enough, Mata isn't being utilised much, and with just one substitution we can swap either Mata or Luiz for a Striker and end up with our currently preferred setup.

I will probably get ridiculed for this formation, but here it is anyway:

-----------Cech-----------

Ivan--Cahill--Terry--Azpi

----Ramires---Luiz-------

------Lamps/Oscar------

Moses------------Hazard

-------Mata/Torres-------

It's not a long term solution, but until we find a reliable source of goals freeing up Lampard might be our best option in the short term.