The Mourinho Thread

[Barbara 15,149]

Calling the COC semis against Liverpool an impressive performance is a massive overstatement. They outplayed us especially in that first half, we ended the game strongly but we didn't score a single goal from open play in over 200 minutes.

Again, I'm struggling to think of a complete 90 minute performance we've had in the big games this season. Even the 3-0 against Spurs was extremely fortunate considering they thoroughly dominated us in the opening 15-20 minutes before crumbling in typical Tottenham fashion.

I haven't been following the discussion here, but wasn't the goal today from open play? What exactly are you talking about with the 200 minutes? I remember most of our goals against big team to be from open play.

[GodZola 630]

Let's just play open expansive football with 3 expeperienced players out & the rest that have played 120 minute's against our main rivals that have a quality about them which so happens to have made them champions 2 of the last 3 seasons?

Good grief it is nonsensical & mindbuumbing reading some of the shit written on here.

[strong centreback 157]

It absolutely is, since it was basically from minute 1 of the 2nd half and since we actually played our best football in the last 10 mins of the 1st half. Human physiology suggests you're more likely to be tired in the closing stages of the 1st than in the opening stages of the 2nd half. Mourinho has no excuses.

I sense some arrogance in your second sentence, which isn't surprising coming from you. Yet it is deeply misplaced and you fail to sense the irony of your post. Courtois all of a sudden hitting long balls with 100% alacrity, our defenders not even attempting to play from the back anymore, regardless of limitations. In clear contrast to the 1st half. If you think that wasn't Mourinho, then well.... wow.

What a load of bollocks that is, your body is more likely to be tired for the second half after putting in 45 minutes when you are already not 100% hence the lack of intensity in the second half all due to the 120 minutes in the liverpool game, coupled with city having a week off amplifing it even more.

Mentally they were strong, otherwise we couldnt of got a draw whilst sustaining that amount of pressure for long periods.

[Chelsea Legend 11 4,062]

Not that I can remember but allowing even one dangerous opportunity in the last few minutes (against that awful Pool side) is one too many. I agree that you can definitely control the game without possession but that tends to entail having a good defensive shape and looking like not conceding. In the last part of the game I remember us giving the ball away in dangerous positions and we were trying but failing to get out of our own half. Lucky that Liverpool were playing so badly and even then we should have conceded a penalty. If that Liverpool game is the only example of a big away game where you could argue that we had control and attacking/defensive balance (at times) then that does highlight my point.

You guys need to give more credit to the opposition. Too many times I come here and read about how shitty teams are and why we should be battering them. They have ambitions and objectives too! Its not a bunch of pylons we're up against. That is such a ridiculous statement, one chance is one too many.

[MrExcalibur100 7,124]

yes I am better than those who want everything on a plate .i was a supporter when we were crap and got hammered in the second division. Without Cesc and Diego. It was an excellent result and the END. Justified the MEANS

That's besides the point, Mr. Zolayes. First and foremost, I want what's best for my football club. If I feel the manager continues to employ the exact same tactics in the big matches, the same tactics that cost us valuable points in the league, away to United and Arsenal and cost us in the CL vs Atletico eventually, I have to question him, the same way I question players I feel aren't pulling their weight (Willian) or aren't good enough (Schurrle). Support the manager, yes, but if I feel he deserves to be criticized, then I'll do just that, despite others making excuses for him or just following him blindly. Being a Chelsea fan is first and foremost looking after the best interests of the club before any player or manager or even before Roman Abramovich, Zolayes.

[Muzchap 8,966]

Seriously? I cannot believe the bollox I'm reading on here.

We've had a tough gruelling run of games, we've been given no quarter anywhere on the pitch and off it.

And yet we still march on !

This is called a 'Winners' mentality - anything other than a LOSS is acceptable.

Our team has shipped the most goals in Jan - outside of Millwall and other relegation battlers - playing Open football is suicide. You have to have a solid foundation at the back and then attack!

Look at Liverpool last season! Just ONE defensive minded game would have seen them Champions - but because their manager is a KNOB they blew it! They know it, he knows it - that chance ain't coming around again soon! Then to top it off - we do them in the CoC...

So now we've fucked their title and the chance of Wembley.

Yes I was pissed off at our performances - but Loserpool gave everything and still weren't good enough - WHY? Because the team spirit and mental 'winners' mentality is slowly starting to kick in. Sure we have had wobbles - but last season and the season before we'd have lost against Loserpool and City.

A win against the Villa - will get everybody happy!

Please let's not be fickle. I know I have complained - but I'm done with that now - I demanded a winning mentality and I'm seeing green shoots of progress. I don't care how we win this season, but WINNING is all that counts!

Once we have won - then we can tinker with our attacking focus, but let's get across the line first and forge that winning mentality and move on to dominate. A new signing will also freshen up the place and lift the other players.

Now is time for a well earned rest, re-group and go again!

[Chelsea Legend 11 4,062]

That's not a solution because my problem is not with Chelsea. I'm merely highlighting the tactical limitations of our manager. Mourinho is one of the best managers in the world, but believe or not, he has his problems, as was evidenced in the 2nd half of this game and several other big games this season and last season. Big games that cost us titles. To question Mourinho is not to question Chelsea Football club, Zolayes. You're better than this, Zolayes.

Who would you rather have?

The second half of this game came down to the fact we had no bench! Why is that so hard for you to comprehend?!!?! So frustrating.

[MrExcalibur100 7,124]

What a load of bollocks that is, your body is more likely to be tired for the second half after putting in 45 minutes when you are already not 100% hence the lack of intensity in the second half all due to the 120 minutes in the liverpool game, coupled with city having a week off amplifing it even more.

Mentally they were strong, otherwise we couldnt of got a draw whilst sustaining that amount of pressure for long periods.

You didn't read what I typed. I said the dying minutes of the 1st half was our best period of the game and that we immediately went defensive from minute 1 of the 2nd half. Are you saying players have more energy in the dying stages of the 1st half than in the first few minutes of the second? wow.

[Muzchap 8,966]

That's besides the point, Mr. Zolayes. First and foremost, I want what's best for my football club. If I feel the manager continues to employ the exact same tactics in the big matches, the same tactics that cost us valuable points in the league, away to United and Arsenal and cost us in the CL vs Atletico eventually, I have to question him, the same way I question players I feel aren't pulling their weight (Willian) or aren't good enough (Schurrle). Support the manager, yes, but if I feel he deserves to be criticized, then I'll do just that, despite others making excuses for him or just following him blindly. Being a Chelsea fan is first and foremost looking after the best interests of the club before any player or manager or even before Roman Abramovich, Zolayes.

You can say what you want about Willian - but that lad GIVES 100% every game! He's a warrior and I respect him for it.

Yes he could score more, yes he could dribble better - but the guy runs his heart out every game for us!

As for costing us valuable points - not one big team has profited from us this season!

[Chelsea Legend 11 4,062]

You can say what you want about Willian - but that lad GIVES 100% every game! He's a warrior and I respect him for it.

Yes he could score more, yes he could dribble better - but the guy runs his heart out every game for us!

As for costing us valuable points - not one big team has profited from us this season!

That seems to be lost on the peanut gallery for some reason.

[supporter 3,088]

Many envious laugh of us

They talk about us as "the team of the bus"

But I`m sure that ALL of them would like to see their team in the

TOP OF THE LEAGUE! + 5!

Envious and Cheap philosophers ...

CHELSEA COMMANDS!

Regards to ALL Blues Supporters

[zolayes 14,489]

That's besides the point, Mr. Zolayes. First and foremost, I want what's best for my football club. If I feel the manager continues to employ the exact same tactics in the big matches, the same tactics that cost us valuable points in the league, away to United and Arsenal and cost us in the CL vs Atletico eventually, I have to question him, the same way I question players I feel aren't pulling their weight (Willian) or aren't good enough (Schurrle). Support the manager, yes, but if I feel he deserves to be criticized, then I'll do just that, despite others making excuses for him or just following him blindly. Being a Chelsea fan is first and foremost looking after the best interests of the club before any player or manager or even before Roman Abramovich, Zolayes.

We lost the title last year DESPITE Winining almost ALL the big games .. We lost. It to the black cats the barcodes and the hoops .

At the start of dec the experts said city. Would be top at end of DEcember . It is Feb and we are still on top.with. Regard to our coach I have expressed often here that I dislike him. But he is by far the best coach in the PL. . He isn't perfect but who is except Barbara ,Alex and Me?

[Chelsea Legend 11 4,062]

We lost the title last year DESPITE Winining almost ALL the big games .. We lost. It to the black cats the barcodes and the hoops .

At the start of dec the experts said city. Would be top at end of DEcember . It is Feb and we are still on top.with. Regard to our coach I have expressed often here that I dislike him. But he is by far the best coach in the PL. . He isn't perfect but who is except Barbara ,Alex and Me?

AHEM!!

[zolayes 14,489]

AHEM!!

And you

[strong centreback 157]

You didn't read what I typed. I said the dying minutes of the 1st half was our best period of the game and that we immediately went defensive from minute 1 of the 2nd half. Are you saying players have more energy in the dying stages of the 1st half than in the first few minutes of the second? wow.

do you play sports? play for 2 hours on a tuesday night then play 90 minutes saturday evening at a high level also against a team who hasnt played in a week, the mental aspect plays its part in why as you put it we were at our best in last few minutes of first half, thats called holding onto what you have got for 5 minutes till you get to regroup at half time and the rhythm is disrupted, its character and what wins you titles, when you come back out after a ten minute break when you are already knackered your legs feel like lead and your sluggish, again why near the end of the second we looked abit better again, mental strength kicks in you know you only have 5 minutes left you push yourself abit harder, you dont push yourself early on in the second half when your tired and burn out by the hour marker, you absorb the pressure and you conserve energy, its a marathon not a race.

[Barbara 15,149]

@supporter, I particularly love the bus picture you decided to post. We'll definitely be parking that bus comes May

We lost the title last year DESPITE Winining almost ALL the big games .. We lost. It to the black cats the barcodes and the hoops .

At the start of dec the experts said city. Would be top at end of DEcember . It is Feb and we are still on top.with. Regard to our coach I have expressed often here that I dislike him. But he is by far the best coach in the PL. . He isn't perfect but who is except Barbara ,Alex and Me?

oh Ron, I liked this post half way through reading it, then I caught the part in the end.

I'm not perfect, but I feel like some people here are crazy... or dumb... or very unhappy (and that's not directed at you Excalibur, I didn't read your posts on this discussion)

[MrExcalibur100 7,124]

do you play sports? play for 2 hours on a tuesday night then play 90 minutes saturday evening at a high level also against a team who hasnt played in a week, the mental aspect plays its part in why as you put it we were at our best in last few minutes of first half, thats called holding onto what you have got for 5 minutes till you get to regroup at half time and the rhythm is disrupted, its character and what wins you titles, when you come back out after a ten minute break when you are already knackered your legs feel like lead and your sluggish, again why near the end of the second we looked abit better again, mental strength kicks in you know you only have 5 minutes left you push yourself abit harder, you dont push yourself early on in the second half when your tired and burn out by the hour marker, you absorb the pressure and you conserve energy, its a marathon not a race.

Again, we simply decided not to play in the 2nd half. Not even a failed attempt at play. All of our actions when we had possession were designed not to try to score but instead to give them back the ball and hope for some optimistic counter-attack. It's not an anomaly, it's not the first time we've looked good in the 1st half of a big game and then we sit on the result in the 2nd half, so the excuse of the Pool game doesn't wash. Even against Arsenal at the Bridge in the 2nd, this season, we did the exact same thing, only that it wasn't brought up because we won 2-0.

Believe it or not, we can play better. We need to rely less on instinct and individual brilliance of certain players, because that can only take you so far.

[strong centreback 157]

Again, we simply decided not to play in the 2nd half. Not even a failed attempt at play. All of our actions when we had possession were designed not to try to score but instead to give them back the ball and hope for some optimistic counter-attack. It's not an anomaly, it's not the first time we've looked good in the 1st half of a big game and then we sit on the result in the 2nd half, so the excuse of the Pool game doesn't wash. Even against Arsenal at the Bridge in the 2nd, this season, we did the exact same thing, only that it wasn't brought up because we won 2-0.

Its tactical and their are reasons for doing so, look at what club has the best record against the top 6, ends justifies the means.

[Tomo 21,751]

It's widely reported, just the same way it's widely reported he craved the Champions League more than any other. It also matches with the profile of players we've bought ever since we won the Champions League.

Is this the old Roman judges managers on CL success myth again?

[MrExcalibur100 7,124]

Is this the old Roman judges managers on CL success myth again?

Nah, just that he wanted to win that more than any other. I remember when we won it, he wore a Champions League training jacket for a couple of games straight.