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What Mourinho was trying to do against Liverpool

mawspurs

Staff
Jun 29, 2003
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17,740
Jose Mourinho has defended criticism of his pragmatic approach in the 1-0 defeat to Liverpool, having chosen a strategy which meant Spurs only had 33.2 per cent of possession against a team they had battled in the Champions League final just a few months ago.

Source: Telegraph
 

freeeki

Arsehole.
Aug 5, 2008
11,836
69,426
No doubt in mind that the strategy was spot on.

As per usual, a shoddy official's decision in favour of Liverpool gave them a throw they shouldn't have had, which led to their goal. Without that, they wouldn't have scored, which would have come as a shock to most given how we've leaked stupid goals recently.

We had more shots and more clear-cut chances than them, and we're an out-of-form side against the best team in the world.

I have no doubt that under Poch or any other manager it would have been an absolute blood bath. Jose got it spot on.
 

McFlash

In the corner, eating crayons.
Oct 19, 2005
12,740
45,363
A good article. Nice to see that someone in the media can recognise and appreciate what Jose is doing, as opposed to gleefully trying to jump on his back.
 

teok

Well-Known Member
Aug 11, 2011
10,837
33,609
:censored:


nHb3dKP.jpg
 

Japhet

Well-Known Member
Aug 30, 2010
19,232
57,392
I thought the tactics were fine, but Eriksen in a CM2???? Seriously???
 

JonnySpurs

SC Veteran
Jun 4, 2004
5,345
12,398
No doubt in mind that the strategy was spot on.

As per usual, a shoddy official's decision in favour of Liverpool gave them a throw they shouldn't have had, which led to their goal. Without that, they wouldn't have scored, which would have come as a shock to most given how we've leaked stupid goals recently.

We had more shots and more clear-cut chances than them, and we're an out-of-form side against the best team in the world.

I have no doubt that under Poch or any other manager it would have been an absolute blood bath. Jose got it spot on.

The only thing I'd take exception to in your comment is that if Liverpool hadn't got that throw-in then they wouldn't have scored. That's a bit optimistic. We can't say how the game would've gone, however frustrating it was that they got a throw-in they shouldn't have. We still switched off a bit from that throw and need to cut out those mistakes. Once we do, we'll start keeping clean sheets and will build confidence from there.

My view is that Mourinho made the right call with his tactics. The squad is limiting his options at the moment and we therefore need to play to our strengths. I'm not expecting us to always setup like this and I think it's unfair of fans to be acting like we will in every game.

I like to think that when injured players return and new additions come in we'll be looking to adapt our tactics depending on the opposition. I didn't feel as though Poch ever did that and he made it more about us playing how we play and imposing our will on the other team when that doesn't always work. Particularly in his last year as our manager.

My expectations remain low for this season but I think next year could be a lot more positive.
 

whitelightwhiteheat

SC Supporter
Jul 21, 2006
6,517
3,195
Possession has become an irrelevance in recent times. Leicester won the league with about 40% average possession over the course of an entire PL season.

What's become key in recent times is transitions - What you do with the ball when you nick it off the opposition, and what you do positionally when the opposition nick the ball off you.
 

spursbhoy67

Well-Known Member
Dec 20, 2006
1,316
1,475
A good article. Nice to see that someone in the media can recognise and appreciate what Jose is doing, as opposed to gleefully trying to jump on his back.

The media have moved on from Jose just as they did from Wenger and Fergie. Yesterday's man. Arteta will become a media darling much like Lampard with his youthful, fresh and progressive approach to the game. Klopp is now ahead of Pep in the cliched writing department.
 
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