The Mourinho Thread

[laeth 527]

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.

The "excuse" is that we didn't want to concede, if we had pressed ahead and tried for a second - there was an even greater risk of conceding. Yes, Mourinho's plan of defending rather than attacking didn't work today, but on another day it would of done. It's all about risk management; Mourinho is normally the master of this.

We're never going to go gung-ho away from home against rival teams, the sooner you get over this, the better you'll feel .

[stroey 2,525]

Yes, we are. Or, at least, our form was better. Before the game against us, they only won 2 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?). 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.

I'm more than happy with how we approached this game. This season our defense was very shaky compared to last season. Matic wasn't solid at all before this game and we don't have Luiz in the pivot anymore. We simply couldn't expect to play open and outscore Mancity at Etihad like we did against Everton. One counter could've won us the game like last season.

People saying we were parking the bus after 1-0 were too emotional I think. I've rewatched the game and after the 1-0 in the 70th minute we controlled the game better for 15 minutes and almost even scored the 2-0 (header and shot Costa). The goal of Lamps was a mistake of Schurrle and Ivanovic. After the 1-1, they were mentally very strong and we were confused and emotional cause Lamps scored the equaliser. The team did well to keep the point cause City played all or nothing in the last minutes.

Be positive people, the old solid Azpi and Matic are back. We looked solid defensively for the first time this season and this was away against the last season champions. One point is good and we are still top of the league.

[Cosmin 2,484]

The "excuse" is that we didn't want to concede, if we had pressed ahead and tried for a second - there was an even greater risk of conceding. Yes, Mourinho's plan of defending rather than attacking didn't work today, but on another day it would of done. It's all about risk management; Mourinho is normally the master of this.

We're never going to gung-ho away from home against rival teams, the sooner you get over this, the better you'll feel .

And how exactly were we trying not to concede? By giving them the ball and the chance to attack us? We should've kept the ball and expect them to come at us, and then hit them again on a counter attack. That's what big teams do. We could've even lost this game 11 vs. 10 because of the stupid tactics. They were rushing while we were waiting for time to pass at 1-1. I won't get over it, because it is not a right thing and it is against my views towards football and towards how a big club should manage this kind of situations. And like it or not, I will keep criticizing Mourinho for going this way when I know that we can do better.

[The Skipper 20,593]

I could fully understand the cautious approach but with the attacking ability we have now we should never be this cautious. It hurt me to see the likes of Hazard, Costa and Fabregas just isolated...

Jose needs to find the right formula, the squad is far too complete for us to still be playing this kind of football. Showed a bit too much respect for City tbh, Pellegrini's comments were just expected for me. In a sense Manuel can goad and say we played like a Stoke yesterday because it's true.

Hopefully Jose finds the correct formula soon. It wasn't right to play the way we did yesterday.

[laeth 527]

And how exactly were we trying not to concede? By giving them the ball and the chance to attack us? We should've kept the ball and expect them to come at us, and then hit them again on a counter attack. That's what big teams do. We could've even lost this game 11 vs. 10 because of the stupid tactics. They were rushing why we were waiting for time to pass at 1-1. I won't get over it, because it is not a right thing and it is against my views towards football and towards how a big club should manage this kind of situations.

Yes, because Mourinho obviously instructed the team to give them the ball and let them attack us...

Well you're going to be disappointed with every away game we play against our rivals for the foreseeable future.

[Cosmin 2,484]

this was away against the last season champions. One point is good and we are still top of the league.

First off, the 'last season champions' thing is not an arguement. United were 'last season champions' too in 2013-2014. They finished 7th, right? Secondly, one point is good, but it's obvious that we could've done better.

[Jase 43,479]

I could fully understand the cautious approach but with the attacking ability we have now we should never be this cautious. It hurt me to see the likes of Hazard, Costa and Fabregas just isolated...

Jose needs to find the right formula, the squad is far too complete for us to still be playing this kind of football. Showed a bit too much respect for City tbh, Pellegrini's comments were just expected for me. In a sense Manuel can goad and say we played like a Stoke yesterday because it's true.

Hopefully Jose finds the correct formula soon. It wasn't right to play the way we did yesterday.

Agree but I don't think our attacks were helped yesterday by the rubbishness of Willian and Ramires on the ball. Spoiled so many of our attacks because they couldn't even keep the ball for longer than 5 seconds!

[LAB 1,030]

Well, is it only me who feels relieved to see that we are still capable of playing for the 1-0 or 1-1 when we need to? It was our trademark old school type performance a great team just has to be able to give once in a while.

[RoyalBlues 4,050]

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

Yes, they play really well that time, and dominate the ball possesions, but we're certainly not park the bus in there.

[MrExcalibur100 7,124]

Agree but I don't think our attacks were helped yesterday by the rubbishness of Willian and Ramires on the ball. Spoiled so many of our attacks because they couldn't even keep the ball for longer than 5 seconds!

That's because we never maintained any serious period of sustained possession. Just look at the areas Willian was receiving the ball in. On the break with 1 or 2 City players pressing him. Not just him but even Hazard and Costa were losing the ball. All their attacking players had so much time on the ball, 20-30 passes worth of build up while our attacking players treated the ball like a grenade. It all boils down to Mourinho and how he sets up the team to play.

[RoyalBlues 4,050]

http://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/manchester-city-1-chelsea-1-mourinhos-men-coldeyed-and-calculated-but-they-cant-prevent-citys-emotional-reaction-9747820.html

[Styles 9,790]

I could fully understand the cautious approach but with the attacking ability we have now we should never be this cautious. It hurt me to see the likes of Hazard, Costa and Fabregas just isolated...

Jose needs to find the right formula, the squad is far too complete for us to still be playing this kind of football. Showed a bit too much respect for City tbh, Pellegrini's comments were just expected for me. In a sense Manuel can goad and say we played like a Stoke yesterday because it's true.

Hopefully Jose finds the correct formula soon. It wasn't right to play the way we did yesterday.

Ramires playing as a defensive winger in the 2014-2015 season is depressing.

[Cholo 428]

Funny, how a Neville praies Mourinho and our 'fans' here criticize him. Shame on you

[LDN Blue 7,903]

Funny, how a Neville praies Mourinho and our 'fans' here criticize him. Shame on you

Criticism doesn't make you a bad 'fan'. The fact is, we see things differently because we're emotionally invested in the club.

Criticism of something you love shows you're humble enough to see flaws in it and shows a rational approach..

[iseah100 5,612]

That's because we never maintained any serious period of sustained possession. Just look at the areas Willian was receiving the ball in. On the break with 1 or 2 City players pressing him. Not just him but even Hazard and Costa were losing the ball. All their attacking players had so much time on the ball, 20-30 passes worth of build up while our attacking players treated the ball like a grenade. It all boils down to Mourinho and how he sets up the team to play.

We didn't keep possesion cause of Willian and Ramires' poor play. We were playing to counter, Schurrle or Oscar are more suited to launch counters. Willian has very poor vision.

[Sheva. 5,373]

If we play so defensively against Man utd and Arsenal etc, then I can understand the complaints - just like last season.

But Man city is different, just watch all the other top 5 teams go there and lose. We're not good enough to take the game to a team like that, especially away from home.

What we do need though is better counter attacks, there's no excuse for 0 shots in the 1st half with the pace and quality in the side.

[Cosmin 2,484]

Funny, how a Neville praies Mourinho and our 'fans' here criticize him. Shame on you

That's right, we're not real fans and that is because we dare to criticize the manager's tactics. I wonder if you realize how lame you look when you make all these asumptions about other people not being real fans just because they disagree with you or with the manager. Mourinho is not God, you know, and I personally don't give a crap about the fact that some people here seem to be ready to build him statues in front of their own home. If I think he made a mistake, I say he made a mistake. But, hell, probably I'm not a real Chelsea fan.

[iseah100 5,612]

Mourinho never makes mistakes.