The Mourinho Thread

[nono 791]

people who wanted a different approach would be moaning here about our shaky defense (they already were before this match) that would probably have conceded more and gave City unnecessary confidence to try to catch up. But hey, let's play more offensive football. It's the same old discussion... until you're balanced there isn't the fine line in the between. We aren't ready, we aren't sharp yet, we aren't the well oiled machine I can see us being in a couple of months. There are a lot of adjustments to do.

Mourinho did what he had to do, we didn't have a trustworthy defense coming to this match, release our attack players against one of the best defenses there and we could be frustrated by not scoring and also conceding a couple. Diego Costa struggled A LOT with both Mangala and Kompany. Yes, he's scored seven goals in four matches, but today he was up very physical defenders and he actually struggled. We don't know if Cesc and Hazard had been released of some of their defensive work how things would work ou. Our own defense looked better today, but that's because it was too protected. To find the balance between attack and defense to play against the big teams will take a longer while.

This reminds me a lot of Mourinho's second season at Real Madrid... he's made mistakes - exclusively about DD imo - and the team was quite affected by Lampard's goal. We could have gone 2-0 if Diego's shot had not hit the post... it wasn't as bad as some are making it out to be imo. So Pellegrini called us a small team as Stoke... the smalls teams led him to drop 2 and 3 points respectively and one of them is 5 points ahead of his big team. Let's give the team and Mourinho time, I'm more than satisfied with a point away at Etihad. People seem to forget that we were City's little bitch until Mourinho came back.

Of course I wanted the win and I think we should have capitalized when we were playing against 10 men, but people think we were playing Burnley or QPR down to 10 men instead of the current champions... why so quick to jump on the manager? why so quick to talk bollocks? I've read all kind of shit in this thread. Just like in the Lampard episode, I'm glad the fans that actually go to the stadiums chant Mourinho's name a few times through every match instead of the shark jumpers we have around here.

Forget the amazing transfer window, forget the more attacking minded style he's putting in place, forget being top of the table with by far the best attack, forget that we have key players still reaching fitness, forget it's been only five matches and forget the season started barely a month ago. Forget everything about common sense and let's react emotionally after a draw away at the current champions. Writing this last paragraph gives me feels about stupidity. Either I am too stupid or the people forgetting all those things are. One of us has to be.

We were completely dominated from the very first whistle. It is very hard to be happy with a point. If this is the mentality of our manager then what is the use of buying players like Fabregas, Hazard and Costa ? We had an extra man but still couldn't put two passes together. This was a shameful performance. Basically treated a City team that had just been clowned by Dortmund as if they are Barcelona. A point is a point but whatever. Shit on a stick is great if it wins titles. But last season we didn't even do that. The football stays the same this year but hopefully the trophies will come. The last time I was this frustrated by a performance is when we lost to the 10 man Barcelona.

[RoyalBlues 4,050]

Reading all the post here since City game, strangely rather than feeling annoyed, angry or anything, I just laughing instead..

[RoyalBlues 4,050]

We were completely dominated from the very first whistle. It is very hard to be happy with a point. If this is the mentality of our manager then what is the use of buying players like Fabregas, Hazard and Costa ? We had an extra man but still couldn't put two passes together. This was a shameful performance. Basically treated a City team that had just been clowned by Dortmund as if they are Barcelona. A point is a point but whatever. Shit on a stick is great if it wins titles. But last season we didn't even do that. The football stays the same this year but hopefully the trophies will come. The last time I was this frustrated by a performance is when we lost to the 10 man Barcelona.

You can't expect to play the same system for every opponents you face, don't you?

Take Everton and Burnley away as a comparison. If we park the bus every time we went away, at least, then I understand if you said that, why we buy Costa, Fabregas, etc. We didn't.

Every different match needs different strategy and different approach. Against City, I think this is the best strategy.

[didierforever 7,349]

The thing is, there's a fine line between attacking recklessly and creating 2 chances in the entire game because of being too cautious and parking the bus. Our players are good enough and creative enough to attack and get the result, but we gave City the ball from the very beginning, and you can't say it was the players' fault. It was clearly Jose's instructions to be cautious and wait for an opportunity to counter-attack. But I think we were too cautious.

I'm not saying we should become Barcelona 2.0, but Jose should make the team practice tactical short-passing to keep the possession. Defending 90 minutes is extremely exhausting, especially for midfielders who cover the most distance in the game. Because of this, towards the end of the game our players looked knackered and started making mistakes and had trouble playing even against 10 men. Despite having the advantage, our players were both mentally and physically exhausted by all the defending while City's defenders were reasonably fresh, since they had been barely troubled the entire match. IMO, that's partly why we couldn't dominate them in the last fifteen minutes.

I don't want us to become like Arsenal, but I feel we would have achieved a better result if we attacked and intimidated them from the very beginning instead of sitting deep. We have the attacking talent. We have the players. Parking the bus away against every good team can't be an answer. 1-1 against City is good enough, but we could have easily lost this game.

accepted that we should be playing a little more expansive football. but lets take somethings into consideration.

we were 5 points ahead of our only real title rivals.

if we got a draw, we would be 5 points ahead with having played at goodison and etihad.

also, we had a system to play under after the last season's brilliant performance against the same team. why would we change it? city adapted really well. the onus was on them to not make the same mistake twice like arsenal do or pool do.

they dint let us counter, they dint over commit. they were prepared to take yellows instead of having hazard and willian run a feet more with the ball than necessary. so we were set up to counter meanwhile city were set up to thwart our counters no matter what.

also, i dont think we would be this defensive away from home against all "big" teams. look at everton away. i will be suprised if we play this way against spurs and arsenal away. but this match was a 6 pointer in the title race. also, as good as our squad is, city still has a better squad. they have one of the best squads in europe without a doubt. so i dont think there should be any shame in curbing our attacking play for one game.

[didierforever 7,349]

We were completely dominated from the very first whistle. It is very hard to be happy with a point. If this is the mentality of our manager then what is the use of buying players like Fabregas, Hazard and Costa ? We had an extra man but still couldn't put two passes together. This was a shameful performance. Basically treated a City team that had just been clowned by Dortmund as if they are Barcelona. A point is a point but whatever. Shit on a stick is great if it wins titles. But last season we didn't even do that. The football stays the same this year but hopefully the trophies will come. The last time I was this frustrated by a performance is when we lost to the 10 man Barcelona.

hence proved that, football knowledge + football know how = 0.

[Cosmin 2,484]

You can't expect to play the same system for every opponents you face, don't you?

Take Everton and Burnley away as a comparison. If we park the bus every time we went away, at least, then I understand if you said that, why we buy Costa, Fabregas, etc. We didn't.

Every different match needs different strategy and different approach. Against City, I think this is the best strategy.

Just because we scored 6 against Everton, doesn't mean we controlled that game. Our possesion was 38%.

[Viper22 2,418]

Jose went into the game wanting a point. We nearly came out of it with 3 thanks to Zabaleta being a moron, but 1 point we did get. He did what was needed, and got under Pellegrino's skin into the bargain too ;P.

At the bridge we'll be far more adventurous, and even away against everyone else but possibly Arsenal we won't play like this again til the latter stages of the CL possibly.

My only 2 problems with Jose after that performance was 1) Why keep Willian on so long when he was so obviously struggling and 2) Why bring Drogba on not Remy?

[Cosmin 2,484]

Jose went into the game wanting a point. We nearly came out of it with 3 thanks to Zabaleta being a moron, but 1 point we did get. He did what was needed, and got under Pellegrino's skin into the bargain too ;P.

At the bridge we'll be far more adventurous, and even away against everyone else but possibly Arsenal we won't play like this again til the latter stages of the CL possibly.

My only 2 problems with Jose after that performance was 1) Why keep Willian on so long when he was so obviously struggling and 2) Why bring Drogba on not Remy?

Why? We have a great squad, had a very good start of the season. So why go for only ONE point? Why not try to get all the points? I just don't get it. Jose went for one point, but why should we be happy about it and say that "see, he got what he wanted!"? It's bullshit, the same bullshit from last season, when we should've trashed United on their ground, but we struggled for the same old ONE point. Why are we so afraid?

[Fernando 6,491]

Why? We have a great squad, had a very good start of the season. So why go for only ONE point? Why not try to get all the points? I just don't get it. Jose went for one point, but why should we be happy about it and say that "see, he got what he wanted!"? It's bullshit, the same bullshit from last season, when we should've trashed United on their ground, but we struggled for the same old ONE point. Why are we so afraid?

That good start of the season, quote on quote was a start with a shaky defense.

Not a good bases to use and take against your main title contenders.

Now if we was using the same strategy against hull city then there would be a great problem.

[didierforever 7,349]

Why? We have a great squad, had a very good start of the season. So why go for only ONE point? Why not try to get all the points? I just don't get it. Jose went for one point, but why should we be happy about it and say that "see, he got what he wanted!"? It's bullshit, the same bullshit from last season, when we should've trashed United on their ground, but we struggled for the same old ONE point. Why are we so afraid?

cos this is the real world. its not FIFA.

cos city are the defending champions and have a better squad. cos they are already 5 points behind with catching up to do. the onus was on them, not us.

how can some be so naive.

[Cosmin 2,484]

cos this is the real world. its not FIFA.

cos city are the defending champions and have a better squad. cos they are already 5 points behind with catching up to do. the onus was on them, not us.

how can some be so naive.

Better squad my ass. Look at their bench and at our bench, FFS. You're reducing it to this game only, but the problem is much bigger. This is what we've been doing ever since Mourinho came back. Playing like pussies. I can't remember the last big away game treated with BALLS by Chelsea.

[Sidzeret 2,257]

accepted that we should be playing a little more expansive football. but lets take somethings into consideration.

we were 5 points ahead of our only real title rivals.

if we got a draw, we would be 5 points ahead with having played at goodison and etihad.

also, we had a system to play under after the last season's brilliant performance against the same team. why would we change it? city adapted really well. the onus was on them to not make the same mistake twice like arsenal do or pool do.

they dint let us counter, they dint over commit. they were prepared to take yellows instead of having hazard and willian run a feet more with the ball than necessary. so we were set up to counter meanwhile city were set up to thwart our counters no matter what.

also, i dont think we would be this defensive away from home against all "big" teams. look at everton away. i will be suprised if we play this way against spurs and arsenal away. but this match was a 6 pointer in the title race. also, as good as our squad is, city still has a better squad. they have one of the best squads in europe without a doubt. so i dont think there should be any shame in curbing our attacking play for one game.

Nice post.

Don't know why so many people are critical of Jose's tactics for this game.

Remember we won both home and away against them last season and almost won today deploying the exact same tactics even though the execution wasn't like what Jose would of wanted it to be.

I'd be pissed if we keep on playing like yesterday against Spurs or Arsenal or even, Liverpool or United but Mourinho has every right to go with a negative approach yesterday.

[didierforever 7,349]

Better squad my ass. Look at their bench and at our bench, FFS. You're reducing it to this game only, but the problem is much bigger. This is what we've been doing ever since Mourinho came back. Playing like pussies. I can't remember the last big away game treated with BALLS by Chelsea.

u want BALLS, then go and lick arsene's or brendan's. those idiots will give u as much BALLS as u want.

here, we are not playing a university or sunday league. this is professional football. we have been doing it cos it the right thing to do. last season we have a total of 4 wins against city and pool, a win and a draw against spurs, united and arsenal, tell me which other team had that record.

what is the "problem" that u r refering to? getting points? jose has done that. but if u want idiotic,mindless football, u are welcome to choose any of arsenal, pool or even everton now.

bye-bye.

[Cosmin 2,484]

u want BALLS, then go and lick arsene's or brendan's. those idiots will give u as much BALLS as u want.

here, we are not playing a university or sunday league. this is professional football. we have been doing it cos it the right thing to do. last season we have a total of 4 wins against city and pool, a win and a draw against spurs, united and arsenal, tell me which other team had that record.

what is the "problem" that u r refering to? getting points? jose has done that. but if u want idiotic,mindless football, u are welcome to choose any of arsenal, pool or even everton now.

bye-bye.

You just can't defend your point of view without cursing and swearing the other person like a fucking cunt, can you? I'm unhappy with the way Chelsea approaches the big games, I don't want 4 points against City, I want 6. I don't want to always defend against City, I want to control the game for once and play like a big fucking club. What's wrong with that? Oh, yeah, it's against your opinion and you have to start acting like a cunt, of course.

[didierforever 7,349]

You just can't defend your point of view without cursing and swearing the other person like a fucking cunt, can you? I'm unhappy with the way Chelsea approaches the big games, I don't want 4 points against City, I want 6. I don't want to always defend against City, I want to control the game for once and play like a big fucking club. What's wrong with that? Oh, yeah, it's against your opinion and you have to start acting like a cunt, of course.

cos this is the real world. its not FIFA.

cos city are the defending champions and have a better squad. cos they are already 5 points behind with catching up to do. the onus was on them, not us.

how can some be so naive

no cursing and swearing

Better squad my ass. Look at their bench and at our bench, FFS. You're reducing it to this game only, but the problem is much bigger. This is what we've been doing ever since Mourinho came back. Playing like pussies. I can't remember the last big away game treated with BALLS by Chelsea.

hmmmmmmmm.... weird!!!! so who started the cursing and swearing???

anyways, your post is so awesome and REALISTIC and it really baffles me. so i ll just leave it there. i cant be bothered to chat with someone who wants us to go all out attack against city at etihad with a 5-point lead. i mean now i get why arsenal fans are still happy with wenger.

[laeth 527]

Why? We have a great squad, had a very good start of the season. So why go for only ONE point? Why not try to get all the points? I just don't get it. Jose went for one point, but why should we be happy about it and say that "see, he got what he wanted!"? It's bullshit, the same bullshit from last season, when we should've trashed United on their ground, but we struggled for the same old ONE point. Why are we so afraid?

Mourinho always sets up his teams not to lose away from home against the top four. Drawing away from home and winning at home against your rivals is usually enough (if you beat the lower teams), it's what Mourinho has always done and it generally works. It was a good result; I don't understand why people think we're all of a sudden significantly better than City - we're not.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

José seemed genuinely upset about Lampard in his post match interviews.

Even in his prematch conference he sounded annoyed that Frank has chose to join City. Said he thought he was going to New Yorke and would never have expected him playing for City, but it's his life.

[Cosmin 2,484]

Mourinho always sets up his teams not to lose away from home against the top four. Drawing away from home and winning at home against your rivals is usually enough (if you beat the lower teams), it's what Mourinho has always done and it generally works. It was a good result; I don't understand why people think we're all of a sudden significantly better than City - we're not.

Yes, we are. Or, at least, our form was better. Before the game against us, they only won 2 out of the first 6 official games of the season. We won 4 out of 5. They lost against Stoke, drew against Arsenal (defensively, they were very, very poor on Emirates), and were coming after a last minute loss against Bayern (not too good for their morale, is it?). Their best player, Yaya Toure, is not having the best time of his career and their attack is not even close to being as incisive as it was the last season. It was a huge chance to go 8 points clear, but we chose to not even try. And I wonder what's the excuse for what happened when we were 11 vs. 10 and one goal ahead.