The Mourinho Thread

[bababoom 4,478]

At home against the 'big' sides i have no doubt we'll be more attacking, away a bit more cautious but i expect our counter attacks to improve.

[Fernando 6,591]

My biggest moan is that if we're going to play a counter-attacking style then at least go out and press the opposition and force them into mistakes. We let Man City amble into the final third and were still doing it even after they were down to 10 men. And in order to counter from that position the players would need to run the ENTIRE length of the field.

Why do we defend so fucking deep? Most of the top teams are proactive when they don't have possession; their players press and push up to squeeze the opposition; we drop back into a wall and let the opponents pass the ball around our defensive third and wait for them to make a mistake or force a bad pass/shot.

But now we know how we're going to play in the big games and it ain't gonna be pretty. Oh well.

I think playing like we did today is alright for me, especially in pl because we get at least a point and that's very valuable.

However in cl format such things are the reason why he tends to get stuck in semis too much. He becomes too cautios and one goal from the opposing team can turn the tide very fast because of away goal rules.

[Styles 9,790]

And this is a totally legitimate concern. We have spent big on top attacking talent and the board and jose have been pushing the idea that we are trying to implement an attacking philosophy. It's a big waste of our players attacking talent to turn into a rugby team in virtually every big game.

We didn't capitalise on the numerical advantage at all. Any other big team worth their salt would have had City pinned back in their own half and controlled the game after zabaletta was sent off, rather anyone who started watching the match after the fact wouldn't have guessed that we had a one man advantage over them. They actually looked the more likely team to win the match after the equalizer too as our players became really nervous and on the ropes.

That was pretty embarrassing to be honest.

At least we never lost.

[nono 791]

I am still disappointed but things could have been worse. For all our good start if City had won they'd only be two points behind us. It was just a very tactical performance from Mourinho who played for a draw.

[Styles 9,790]

I think playing like we did today is alright for me, especially in pl because we get at least a point and that's very valuable.

However in cl format such things are the reason why he tends to get stuck in semis too much. He becomes too cautios and one goal from the opposing team can turn the tide very fast because of away goal rules.

Yep, it's why he struggled so much against Benitez who was one of the few managers to play him at his own game; the games were reduced to nothing with both teams afraid to commit more than 2 players to attack. I still have nightmares about our peformance away to Atletico last season.

[BlueLyon 9,359]

Are people idiotson here. I mean seriously what the fuck is wrong?

We have played at etihad and goodison and are 5 points clear off the only title rival.

Still people are cribbing. We were getting hanmered put there with a man advantage. Jose chose right to simply play out last minutes. Every time city had the ball it seemed they would score. They had the momentum and the crowd. The lamps goal gave them extra impetus.

The DD inclusion was a little weird. I would have chosen remy (if he was on the bench) but costa needed to get off. A red card would have been devastating and he was walking a thin line

I think everyone here would take that one point away vs city, but sometimes, things roll different and today we had perfect chance to win comfortably. Red card, we were in the lead etc. It was up to Mou what to do and he made two mistakes. Keep defending despite having more men and putting Drogba. But it happens. It was a gamble like many times before in big games for us last year. We lead and hope to not concede. If we win, its a great tactical display, if we dont (like today), we can only blame Mou for not trying to end the game. IMO Mourinho tactics in big games are kinda lottery. They attack and if things go somehow for us, we score that one goal from only attack. Then we defend and if we concede, we fall apart. Dont think we could do much after conceding, I mean, it would be foolish to go all attack for that one more goal, but after Schurrle scored, we should be all over them. If we conceded we at least had more time. But Mou though they wont score if we defend and he was wrong. Sometimes things go in your favour, sometimes against, but rarely I have feeling that we actualy control things in big games. Its more like lets try and see if things will work for us.

When you have to step on the ball, you step on the ball. It seems our boys dont have that composure and tempo yet. But all in all, one point is great, considering they were all over us until that red card, however we should kill the game off but WE allowed city to get back in the game in the end and that aint right spirit.

[didierforever 7,349]

I think everyone here would take that one point away vs city, but sometimes, things roll different and today we had perfect chance to win comfortably. Red card, we were in the lead etc. It was up to Mou what to do and he made two mistakes. Keep defending despite having more men and putting Drogba. But it happens. It was a gamble like many times before in big games for us last year. We lead and hope to not concede. If we win, its a great tactical display, if we dont (like today), we can only blame Mou for not trying to end the game. IMO Mourinho tactics in big games are kinda lottery. They attack and if things go somehow for us, we score that one goal from only attack. Then we defend and if we concede, we fall apart. Dont think we could do much after conceding, I mean, it would be foolish to go all attack for that one more goal, but after Schurrle scored, we should be all over them. If we conceded we at least had more time. But Mou though they wont score if we defend and he was wrong. Sometimes things go in your favour, sometimes against, but rarely I have feeling that we actualy control things in big games. Its more like lets try and see if things will work for us.

When you have to step on the ball, you step on the ball. It seems our boys dont have that composure and tempo yet. But all in all, one point is great, considering they were all over us until that red card, however we should kill the game off but WE allowed city to get back in the game in the end and that aint right spirit.

red card, we were in the lead and we were getting outplayed. cesc and hazard getting caught on the ball and leaving us prone to counters.

we dint choose to defend, we were FORCED to defend. their is a massive difference here. it was not jose's tactics to make us defend so deep with 11 to 10. city simply were that good in the last 10 minutes. and there is no shame in admitting that. and that is where i feel you are wrong. we were trying to dominate, but it simply was not happening.

[BlueLyon 9,359]

red card, we were in the lead and we were getting outplayed. cesc and hazard getting caught on the ball and leaving us prone to counters.

we dint choose to defend, we were FORCED to defend. their is a massive difference here. it was not jose's tactics to make us defend so deep with 11 to 10. city simply were that good in the last 10 minutes. and there is no shame in admitting that. and that is where i feel you are wrong. we were trying to dominate, but it simply was not happening.

Then its bit of problem in mentality. Stoke did it, I would expect us to do same if we are apparently best team in league. I dont think City was bad, far from that. After they scored (Lamps), we were forced to defend yes, but when we scored, we kept attacking for few more minutes (then Costa hit post) and after that, we pulled back. We dont have Ramires and Mikel in pivot anymore, we have Matic and Cesc and if they cant keep the ball for few minutes to slow tempo down and put city on sleep mode, I dunno.

And you say we didnt choose to defend? Comeon, from start, Mou wanted a draw. it was clear as day. The red card changed things a bit, we took mantle, we scored, but then pulled back again, trying to keep the lead, like in many away games in past. We make 17 shots average this year and yet, couldnt put one in whole first half. And if city is all that better with player less that forces us into defending, then sorry but we will have lot of trouble then.

Anyway what Im trying to say, it was our fault (Mourinhos and team's) that we didnt win, not city being all that better.

[Styles 9,790]

red card, we were in the lead and we were getting outplayed. cesc and hazard getting caught on the ball and leaving us prone to counters.

we dint choose to defend, we were FORCED to defend. their is a massive difference here. it was not jose's tactics to make us defend so deep with 11 to 10. city simply were that good in the last 10 minutes. and there is no shame in admitting that. and that is where i feel you are wrong. we were trying to dominate, but it simply was not happening.

Disagree. How can a team with 10 men force their will on you? We accepted their dominance like we did for most of the game and let them dominate the ball in our half. They were more likely to win the game in the end than we were, let that sink in for a moment.

[Laylabelle 9,539]

Thats what was frustating.They had 10 men yet looked far from it and quite surprised we ended with a draw to be honest,Just seemed to cautious towards the end and making silly mistakes cause of it.

[Chelsea? 892]

Are people idiotson here. I mean seriously what the fuck is wrong?

We have played at etihad and goodison and are 5 points clear off the only title rival.

Still people are cribbing. We were getting hanmered put there with a man advantage. Jose chose right to simply play out last minutes. Every time city had the ball it seemed they would score. They had the momentum and the crowd. The lamps goal gave them extra impetus.

The DD inclusion was a little weird. I would have chosen remy (if he was on the bench) but costa needed to get off. A red card would have been devastating and he was walking a thin line

People are disapointed by the performance and are criticizing Jose for it. Similar to praising him when we win. No one has asked for him to be sacked or anything drastic. What the hell else do you want? you want ppl to praise him after a disappointing performance?

[Belgiannutt 3,201]

red card, we were in the lead and we were getting outplayed. cesc and hazard getting caught on the ball and leaving us prone to counters.

we dint choose to defend, we were FORCED to defend. their is a massive difference here. it was not jose's tactics to make us defend so deep with 11 to 10. city simply were that good in the last 10 minutes. and there is no shame in admitting that. and that is where i feel you are wrong. we were trying to dominate, but it simply was not happening.

No offense but that's a load of crap. First thing you need to do when you wanna dominate the other team : You press them. We just sat back and let them have the ball.

Also Hazard and Fabregas were caught on the ball because they were receiving the ball in their own half, with their face towards goal, with a city defender breathing down their neck. The simple fact was there was nowhere to go with the ball once they got it.

[MrBlueGuy 1,552]

People are disapointed by the performance and are criticizing Jose for it. Similar to praising him when we win. No one has asked for him to be sacked or anything drastic. What the hell else do you want? you want ppl to praise him after a disappointing performance?

Yep that is the problem on here, some of the top players/manager in the team cannot be criticized at all. If anything slightly a bit negative is posted you are automatically a troll/Pep fan/glory hunter/idiot or whatever nonsense insult they can come up with.

It is always either you support him as a God and be a proper fan or you don't and be a troll. It is pathetic really.

[Henrique 9,133]

I can't understand why people are surprised about tactics today. This is who Mourinho is, we all know. The same tactics that made the team beat City at Etihad months ago, are the tactics that made the team concede the equalize today. I also don't understand people trying to prove Mourinho is not pragmatic, but a manager who take risks, its like trying to prove 7 and 7 is 15.

We are still 5 points ahead of City and 4 ahead of Arsenal. Lets judge Mourinho's tactics today at the end of the season.

[MrBlueGuy 1,552]

I can't understand why people are surprised about tactics today. This is who Mourinho is, we all know. The same tactics that made the team beat City at Etihad months ago, are the tactics that made the team concede the equalize today. I also don't understand people trying to prove Mourinho is not pragmatic, but a manager who take risks, its like trying to prove 7 and 7 is 15.

We are still 5 points ahead of City and 4 ahead of Arsenal. Lets judge Mourinho's tactics today at the end of the season.

Doubt anyone is surprised as I pointed out after that Schalke game a few pages back he would do this. What most people including me are disappointed with is how predictable it is though. I don't think performance is anywhere near the one against them last Feb, in that match he hit the posts like 3 times and should have win 3/4-0 bar a bit of unlucky. Today we played for a point from the get go, if Zab didn't get sent off I doubt Jose would have told the team to be more adventurous as evident by the fact that even against 10 men we still used the same tactic, not a single alteration.

However one thing we can say though is this game should finally dispell that notion that Jose can get us to play 'sexy' football aka Dortmund style. He never could and never will, it is impossible to change after spending your whole career perfecting this tactic. That game in Feb against City was really the best we could ever hope for against a big team away from home, it was close to perfection. We will never do a Bayern away last season at City and dominate from start to finish, not with Jose as manager and it is about many accept that I guess.

I believe no one is disappointed with the point, but the way it was collected imo. On paper if you didn't watch the match and just read on newspaper, this would be a good result in a tough away game. But if you watched the match then you start to realize we really threw away the game with our unnecessary tactic. Anyway, time to move on now I think and look forward to thrashing Villa next week.

[kellzfresh 7,229]

It is natural really, the way forums work. Also because posting something controversial is more engaging for most people than just simple praises. For example lets say someone post ''Mourinho is a world class manager, he will lead us to great glory!''. What do you expect people to say? Erm ''OK you are right, I agree!!!!''

However if we discuss general issues such as for example his negative tactics today, people can come in and argue about it, thereby creating a debate. But it seems it is either for or against. You either support him or you are a Pep supporter. There is no middle line. Same with people saying we should either do all out attack Arsenal and lose 6-0 or ultra bus parking and draw 0-0. There is no middle ground such as good defending and occasionally going forward like last season.

Mourinho is never going to risk losing to a rival away from home to appease everyone, once we begin to accept this, things will become easier to understand.

It's a point, yes but I don't see anybody bemoaning the fact we got a point at the Etihad, just the way we played and the incredibly negative tactics we deployed. I think that's perfectly normal.

We were poor after we scored and that was largely due to costa being subbed out for Drogba, our attack completely went out. If we went more attacking, mancity would have punished us more than schalke did, except that they have even more clinical strikers.

I would get as angry as you guys if we show no attack at HOME not away to the Champions.

[Blue Armour 4,459]

Some people need to calm down..

Draw away from home against a tile rival, and playing defensive football? Good, because that has been the objective always, and that's what happened last season.

I don't care about playing against ten men...Playing against ten men in their own stadium is always a challenge.

The people who started watching football yesterday can go on bleating about how City "dominated" the game...but the only thing I will take away from it is that Lamps scored against us. But from looking at his face, he was probably just as upset as I was about it..

[LegenTerry 273]

Result was good but performance,with the fact that we have +1 player was crap.Very simple.

[didierforever 7,349]

Disagree. How can a team with 10 men force their will on you? We accepted their dominance like we did for most of the game and let them dominate the ball in our half. They were more likely to win the game in the end than we were, let that sink in for a moment.

if you see the match, you will know how a team can do that. they were that good.

and like you said, they were more probable to win, why? cos they were creating that much problem. maybe it was cos of no willian/oscar in the middle to lend our mid that solidity cos i dont remeber cesc anywhere except for losing balls in the last 10-15 minutes. mikel was static. iva was horrible. schurrle was getting skinned by milner. DD was well... to put it lightly, preoccupied.

they were bossing us plus we had a lead to protect. so saying that we willingly conceded possession and that city's dominance had no role to play is wrong. city should get their due.

[didierforever 7,349]

No offense but that's a load of crap. First thing you need to do when you wanna dominate the other team : You press them. We just sat back and let them have the ball.

Also Hazard and Fabregas were caught on the ball because they were receiving the ball in their own half, with their face towards goal, with a city defender breathing down their neck. The simple fact was there was nowhere to go with the ball once they got it.

so u r telling me that city were a man down, yet were able to man mark hazard and cesc and create as much problem as they did to us in the last 15 minutes??? well their os your answer. they were THAT dominant then.