The Mourinho Thread

[Gilvorak 3,734]

As good as the results have been we're beyond awful to watch at the moment. We're at the point of the season where style hardly matters and only points matter but I don't think I can stomach another season of some of the turgid stuff we've played next year.

People will blame it on the strikers but even the 04-07 teams were pretty ordinary to watch aside from Robben aside. I don't think anyone would describe his Inter & Real Madrid teams as entertaining either.

Mourinho is one of the best managers of all time but does he have it in him to finally build not only a dominant team but an entertaining side like all the other managerial greats have? That's the only thing anyone can really hold against him.

I long for a repeat of the 09-10 season again. Champagne football throughout. We're not far off from the squad to play that style of football either.

[YouNameIt 1,511]

As good as the results have been we're beyond awful to watch at the moment. We're at the point of the season where style hardly matters and only points matter but I don't think I can stomach another season of some of the turgid stuff we've played next year.

People will blame it on the strikers but even the 04-07 teams were pretty ordinary to watch aside from Robben aside. I don't think anyone would describe his Inter & Real Madrid teams as entertaining either.

Mourinho is one of the best managers of all time but does he have it in him to finally build not only a dominant team but an entertaining side like all the other managerial greats have? That's the only thing anyone can really hold against him.

I long for a repeat of the 09-10 season again. Champagne football throughout. We're not far off from the squad to play that style of football either.

To watch 90 minutes of entertaining football and end up with a 1-1 result

or

To watch a shitty first half followed by a slaughter of the other team in the 2nd half

Ill go with the 2nd choice here.

Football isnt just entertaining to see a player dribble. The technique of flawless defending and quick counters is also lovely to watch. Plus I dont think we're playing boring. Sure might not be Bayern-class, but I guess everyone has different opinions and taste.

[The only place to be 11,313]

I long for a repeat of the 09-10 season again. Champagne football throughout. We're not far off from the squad to play that style of football either.

Who knocked us out of the Champions League that season?

Mourinho gets results first and the rest will come in time. Honestly not sure how you can call a season when Hazard has emerged as one of the best players in the world as 'turgid'.

[Rmpr 8,977]

To watch 90 minutes of entertaining football and end up with a 1-1 result

or

To watch a shitty first half followed by a slaughter of the other team in the 2nd half

Ill go with the 2nd choice here.

I'll go with the third choice: 90 minutes of entertaining football while trashing the other team 5-0!

[duo11bluecl 207]

Kind of ironic that our back 4 costs next to nothing in context with other top teams, we are meant to be one of the team in Europe that buy most expensive players yet our back line costs:

Ivan 7m Cahill 7m Terry free Dave 10m so 25m max in total

Barca got Alves alone who is 30m, Silva alone for PSG is 40m, Madrid as well and others. Only City can rival us in this area but still Nastasic costs 16m alone himself. So it is really kind of ironic that one of the best defence in Europe costs much less than other teams, who says we can't find bargain?

[didierforever 7,349]

Kind of ironic that our back 4 costs next to nothing in context with other top teams, we are meant to be one of the team in Europe that buy most expensive players yet our back line costs:

Ivan 7m Cahill 7m Terry free Dave 10m so 25m max in total

Barca got Alves alone who is 30m, Silva alone for PSG is 40m, Madrid as well and others. Only City can rival us in this area but still Nastasic costs 16m alone himself. So it is really kind of ironic that one of the best defence in Europe costs much less than other teams, who says we can't find bargain?

Iva came for 10mil and azpi for 7mil

[dee25 1,044]

As good as the results have been we're beyond awful to watch at the moment. We're at the point of the season where style hardly matters and only points matter but I don't think I can stomach another season of some of the turgid stuff we've played next year.

People will blame it on the strikers but even the 04-07 teams were pretty ordinary to watch aside from Robben aside. I don't think anyone would describe his Inter & Real Madrid teams as entertaining either.

Mourinho is one of the best managers of all time but does he have it in him to finally build not only a dominant team but an entertaining side like all the other managerial greats have? That's the only thing anyone can really hold against him.

I long for a repeat of the 09-10 season again. Champagne football throughout. We're not far off from the squad to play that style of football either.

This. Some people don't like hearing doses of truth like that but the quality of football has been dire. I'm sorry but it has. Having said that though, given that we haven't been competitive in the league for a while now, I think it's fine that we're 'scrapping by'.

It's unrealistic to expect Mourinho to take a team that hasn't consistently been performing well & expect him to turn them into this side that can pick up results while playing entertaining football within the span of 8 months. Moving forward though, the quality of football simply has to improve. It's not just for entertainment purposes but also because we've invested a lot of money on flair players like Hazard, Oscar and Willian.

What's the point on bringing in all these skillful players only to display the football we did in the first half against Spurs?

We're not maximizing their potential.

So I think our performances this season has been fine given where we're coming from but if we continue to play like this next season, then yes that's a problem. We're in a financial position to be able to challenge for trophies while displaying quality football. Not having these excuses of " what would you rather have....champagne football or winning". Please, that's such bull.

[duo11bluecl 207]

This. Some people don't like hearing doses of truth like that but the quality of football has been dire. I'm sorry but it has. Having said that though, given that we haven't been competitive in the league for a while now, I think it's fine that we're 'scrapping by'.

It's unrealistic to expect Mourinho to take a team that hasn't consistently been performing well & expect him to turn them into this side that can pick up results while playing entertaining football within the span of 8 months. Moving forward though, the quality of football simply has to improve. It's not just for entertainment purposes but also because we've invested a lot of money on flair players like Hazard, Oscar and Willian.

What's the point on bringing in all these skillful players only to display the football we did in the first half against Spurs?

We're not maximizing their potential.

So I think our performances this season has been fine given where we're coming from but if we continue to play like this next season, then yes that's a problem. We're in a financial position to be able to challenge for trophies while displaying quality football. Not having these excuses of " what would you rather have....champagne football or winning". Please, that's such bull.

Like Liverpool and Man City atm? They are scoring for free at will, yet behind us. Even in 09-10 season, we played amazing football but barely won it by 2 points after that ref error at Old Trafford. I don't get where people get the idea from that just because you play amazing football you WILL WIN THE TITLE.

Yes there are cases like Bayern atm, last season too or Barca in 10-11. But look how long could they sustain it? Barca seems in decline atm, Bayern walks the league but that is because all the other teams are terrible or not up to it, buying direct rival's best player(Gotze) helped too. Tell me one team that have been consistently winning trophies and play attacking football in the modern era, if Barca can't do it, why can we?

Btw the closest manager in the world atm that can guarantee both good football and trophies are Pep, and he is at Bayern. He and Jose are the only 2 that can guarantee trophies along with Carlo. Notice how they are all at best clubs in the world? If you want to have a manager like Pellegrini who wants to play attacking football all the time but fk it up when it really matter against top top teams like us, Bayern or Barca then be my guess.

We don't have the luxury of attacking football and consistent trophies as Liverpool and City have shown, you just got to choose 1. Nd I don't understand the criticism of us being boring anyway, yh we are ultra conservative against top top teams but we are capable of playing brilliant flowing attacking football against City, Bayern. At home we never rest until we have scored a goal or 2. But you want us to go for 2-3 more goals I get it, different preference but at the end of the day the manager knows best.

[Sheva. 5,373]

We won't play like Bayern, but after we fix LB, CM and ST, it's inevitable we will play much better football.

[Tomo 21,685]

We have had games this season were we have played some great games with good football, Hull at home, Liverpool at home, Southampton away and the second half vs them at SB, Newcastle at home, Stoke at home, even West Ham whenwe cut through them at will but Adrian had the game off his life. Was Schurrle and Hazard's link up play vs Fulham turgid and boring?

We should be playing a bit better on a more consistent basis maybe, but we tried to change the style under RDM but had to go back to type after going on our worst run off results for over a decade. Despite this misguided fantasy we played great attacking football under Rafa, we didn't.

Jose's first task was to get more consistent results and get us playing like a team again, pretty 1-2's and fancy flicks can wait.

[ZOS 580]

I'd rather have a team that molds in to a situation. One that demolishes less potent oponents with style and gets sturdy to the Bayerns and Barca's of the world ... and Jose is capable of building such a team, I hope/believe

[Fernando 6,380]

To watch 90 minutes of entertaining football and end up with a 1-1 result

or

To watch a shitty first half followed by a slaughter of the other team in the 2nd half

Ill go with the 2nd choice here.

Football isnt just entertaining to see a player dribble. The technique of flawless defending and quick counters is also lovely to watch. Plus I dont think we're playing boring. Sure might not be Bayern-class, but I guess everyone has different opinions and taste.

As a spectator who wants entertainment from the beginning, this sucks.

As a fan I could care less as long as we win.

So the middle of the road....don't watch the first half!

[The only place to be 11,313]

It's not just for entertainment purposes but also because we've invested a lot of money on flair players like Hazard, Oscar and Willian.

What's the point on bringing in all these skillful players only to display the football we did in the first half against Spurs?

We're not maximizing their potential.

Kakuta is a flair player. MeEachran is a flair player. Ravel Morrison is a flair player.

Flair is overrated. You don't win games with flair, you win it with guts, workrate and determination. Hazard is maximising his potential by becoming an all-round player, the same as Oscar and that's what will be the foundation of big wins in the future. Pragmatism is something that people either don't understand or underrate but it's what puts points on the table usually, whereas flair is what they serve up in North London....although you have to make sure you go on a day when they're playing Sunderland or some other shit team.

It was only a year ago that we reached rock fucking bottom, appointing that fat cunt, worrying about whether or not we'd have Champions League football and talking about whether we'd rather have Moyes or Martinez in. Now we're top of the league with the best manager in the world, Eden Hazard looking like he's fulfilling that potential, a match away from the CL quarters and talking about adding to a strong team in the summer and not rebuilding from scratch.

But yeah, the first-half yesterday was pretty dull.

[Barbara 15,149]

As good as the results have been we're beyond awful to watch at the moment. We're at the point of the season where style hardly matters and only points matter but I don't think I can stomach another season of some of the turgid stuff we've played next year.

People will blame it on the strikers but even the 04-07 teams were pretty ordinary to watch aside from Robben aside. I don't think anyone would describe his Inter & Real Madrid teams as entertaining either.

Mourinho is one of the best managers of all time but does he have it in him to finally build not only a dominant team but an entertaining side like all the other managerial greats have? That's the only thing anyone can really hold against him.

I long for a repeat of the 09-10 season again. Champagne football throughout. We're not far off from the squad to play that style of football either.

sorry but I have to laugh at the face of those who say his RM wasn't entertaining to watch.

I also roll my eyes at the lack of patience showed by you and others that want a team that had no spirit, no personality, burying its legends while they were still alive and playing to be magically transformed in the span of a few months, only a season into a champagne football as you call it.

You don't need to support Bayern, RM, Barça or whoever you think plays this kind of football to be entertained. Go watch their matches and fulfill your need to watch proper football.

I'm with the others that can see the change already in a lot of aspects, and being a big Real Madrid fan and a big fan of the team he's set there, I can't wait to see him do something similar and probably even better here. Saying that team wasn't entertaining, champagne, or whatever other adjective you want to add is a joke imo.

You can also watch vids from the last two years we had a maestro leading the midfield to fill your quota of entertainment. I'm positive you'll be entertained too with Mata's first two seasons here.

This. Some people don't like hearing doses of truth like that but the quality of football has been dire. I'm sorry but it has. Having said that though, given that we haven't been competitive in the league for a while now, I think it's fine that we're 'scrapping by'.

It's unrealistic to expect Mourinho to take a team that hasn't consistently been performing well & expect him to turn them into this side that can pick up results while playing entertaining football within the span of 8 months. Moving forward though, the quality of football simply has to improve. It's not just for entertainment purposes but also because we've invested a lot of money on flair players like Hazard, Oscar and Willian.

What's the point on bringing in all these skillful players only to display the football we did in the first half against Spurs?

We're not maximizing their potential.

So I think our performances this season has been fine given where we're coming from but if we continue to play like this next season, then yes that's a problem. We're in a financial position to be able to challenge for trophies while displaying quality football. Not having these excuses of " what would you rather have....champagne football or winning". Please, that's such bull.

now this is an analysis I think is fair. Yeah, we've been playing bad in some streaks. It's appalling to play like we did in the last two first halves - especially against Fulham. I think at some point during December - when he saw we really had chances of winning this - he's changed his short term objectives. That interview after the Sunderland match was very telling. He admitted then he'd have to approach the game more defensively because the team wasn't ready to go otherwise. I think the mentality changed there. Although in his speech it's sort of implied he'd rather lose the title (as long as he assured his Top4 position which is already assured at this point, let's be real) at the expense of improving the team. But I think many of our players have a LOT to develop mentally. They may have won two consecutive continental titles, but their display in the league while doing it show how much this team lack a winning mentality. Those boys (some already men) don't have blood in their eyes for titles. They don't have the appetite, the hunger, the nearly obsessive will to just win. That has to be cultivated on them. Some of them are older and they have some tools, but I feel they lack the spirit.

Two of his legends from his first days here were sidelined, unmotivated and fading because of the disservice some of those managers who passed here did. I think there's a lot of work to do in those players' mentality, add confidence and just change how they approach things. The first thing Mourinho has to do with those guys is teaching them how to be winners, because even winning a couple of titles, they don't know anything about it, except the ones that were here before.

I think that's what separates them (and of course maturity from the boys that are still very young) from being at the level Mourinho expected them to be at the end of the season - football wise. So when he's realized his work was harder than he's expected and that maybe he'd have a very real chance of winning the title, I think he chose a more pragmatic approach and is trying to combine the mental work with the result-oriented work to at least accomplish something tangible from this season.

Now, I also have to say, as much as I loved his RM and that was entertaining as fuck, sometimes it's not possible to have it all. There's a distance between those two first halves and good football. We need to present good football - which is cutting the suckery from our presentations - we don't need to be mouth watering. I don't need my teams to be like that. I want to watch them play well, to dominate, to win comfortably against weaker sides and make the stronger sides shake on their legs with the prospect of playing us. The objective is very clear from Mourinho's words since the start of the season. Abramovich wants more. He wants not only the titles, he wants to become the Barcelona of few years ago or the current Bayern. He wants to be the best team in the world, I hope Mourinho accomplishes it, but I can live without it. I can easily live with us being the same of his RM of two seasons ago (before the dressing room destroyed his work there), but I understand those who can't live with that...

[duo11bluecl 207]

As a spectator who wants entertainment from the beginning, this sucks.

As a fan I could care less as long as we win.

So the middle of the road....don't watch the first half!

Or sometime the game will be over in the 1st 15 mins like Liverpool against Arsenal

[BloodIsBlue 291]

With Mou we're never going to have majestic games like Bayern or Barca's style. Because the meat and potatoes of our system all season has been to make the other team play like shit. We force them to pull out all the tricks in their bag too early and then they have nothing to surprise us. Mou makes great guesses at where the danger is going to come from and we set up barricades. The foundation of our standing in the league right now is built on how we've made every team (practically) play their worst game of the season. We set out to troll the other team first, I think our lack luster attacking at times is just a symptom of everyone getting used to the demanding system. I don't think we're actually as bad at creating and attacking as we think or as the stats show us. If our finishing was world class we would be much closer to City in goal difference. We don't need massive changes, next season we'll come out the gates with a rocket up our asses.

[duo11bluecl 207]

OMGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG best team in England just lost at home to a Championship, is this what you want by attacking football?

[Special Juan 27,106]

Jose Mourinhoooooooo