Jose Mourinho

[archiewasking]

Spot on, ndombele goes down anytime anyone breathes on him. Did we not realise this when he was as Lyon as if so then we shouldn’t have signed him as he won’t be suited to the prem at all.

Very worrying how frail and lacking in desire he is. I really hope he's not £60m worth of talent wasted. Much as I love the guy's vision and class on the ball.

 

[fishhhandaricecake]

So far I am disappointed in only two aspects of Mourinho's reign: what he does and what he says.

He sets the team up to defend, and to defend passively. Consequently the opposition - any opposition - has more of the ball and we are almost continually under pressure with the players chasing shadows. When we do get the ball there is no coherent plan on how to progress it up the field, and there is certainly no discernable attacking plan. We just seem to rely on our very talented front players to conjure something up. There is no pattern to our play when we have the ball. I have no idea what we are supposed to be trying to do and I get the feeling that the players don't either.

If we're going to defend in a low block, fine. But if you do that you have to have a plan for what happens when you get the ball. Hitting it long for Moura and Bergwijn to chase won't cut it in this league against good defenders. Even if they get the ball, what are they supposed to do with it? Hold it up when they're outnumbered and wait for the rest of the team to catch up? They might occasionally get a run on goal, but basing our attacking plan solely on that is going to get us absolutely nowhere.

What he says is, if anything, even worse. After the last few games we have heard the same excuse: we have no strikers, we have to play the same players all the time, and they are tired. 'What do you expect?' is what he is saying. 'I'm not a miracle worker, I can't do anything with no strikers and a squad of exhausted players'. It's bollocks.

Since last week, let's have a look at who is injured:
Defenders: none
Midfielders: Sissoko
Forwards: Kane and Son

So four players are out. True, some others have recently returned from injury, but do we only have a squad of 15? There are numerous options all over the pitch; the only thing we don't have is a first choice centre-forward.

If the players are tired, it's because they spend the bulk of the match chasing shadows. If we don't press as a team the opposition will simply pass it around us. This is what happens in every game. If we pressed coherently the players would be less tired because they would use their energy in short bursts and they would win the ball back. It's a truism that you feel more tired when you're running around to no purpose. If we had the ball more - if we weren't coached to be so passive - tiredness wouldn't be so much of an issue. If, indeed, it is an issue at all.

As to the lack of forwards, we have enough talented attacking players to be able to create and finish chances. But if we rarely have the ball and there is no plan for how we should attack then we won't create those chances. And we're not.

I am sick and tired of Mourinho trotting out the same excuses after every shit performance. He is supposed to be a great coach. He has enough good players to be able to put a team on the field with a plan that will enable us to compete and to win.

He is failing miserably.

All very true. I’ve played to an ok level and you’re right that pressing high, chasing the ball and recycling it with lots of possession is far less tiring than just chasing shadows in a low block.

 

[fishhhandaricecake]

I’m genuinely baffled reading all the comments dissecting our play under Jose

We were delivering relegation form under Poch for 12 months

this is a busted squad!

Results have been ok, it’s the lack of a plan and the even more turgid football than the end of porch’s reign that is the issue.

 

[fishhhandaricecake]

The person you quoted is using a team that have now been drilled under the same guidance of the same manager for how many seasons? How long has it taken them to get to where they are now winning both well and ugly to run a league - this is about as close to run away as anyone has seen in this era bar the year City hit 100 points - not sure I could worry that Jose isn't getting a song from a new signing and a player that blows hot and cold without either of his two talismen.

This is all rather 20/20 considering where we find ourselves and where Liverpool find themselves. Don't all managers require their own 'type' of players to makes their systems work?

Yea fair points mate but I’m a bit concerned if we go down this Jose style of football route and build a squad to suit it that it’s so far away from the football the fans want and that most successful young modern coaches are producing that when Jose does leave we’ll then have an even bigger re-build job on our hands, Mabye I’m worrying too much but it stems from seeing the same squad and manager cycles repeating themselves at spurs for 30 years.

 

[spursfan77]

Hold onto your horses

 

[Deleted member 27995]

Yea fair points mate but I’m a bit concerned if we go down this Jose style of football route and build a squad to suit it that it’s so far away from the football the fans want and that most successful young modern coaches are producing that when Jose does leave we’ll then have an even bigger re-build job on our hands, Mabye I’m worrying too much but it stems from seeing the same squad and manager cycles repeating themselves at spurs for 30 years.

Surely as a manager he deserves that. Always thought that while sometimes his football is a bit 'clinical' in approach, if he can get the players understanding that transition from defending to attacking the football is merciless if they take their chances.

I've watched plenty of free flowing football over the years, wonderful individual moments of skill from gifted footballers, sadly we haven't a pot to piss in because of it.

Willing to see if he is backed. The worry should be just that, backing.

Summer can't come soon enough. Fans have no patience ... Shame they did for the last manager.

 

[Deleted member 29446]

So far I am disappointed in only two aspects of Mourinho's reign: what he does and what he says.

He sets the team up to defend, and to defend passively. Consequently the opposition - any opposition - has more of the ball and we are almost continually under pressure with the players chasing shadows. When we do get the ball there is no coherent plan on how to progress it up the field, and there is certainly no discernable attacking plan. We just seem to rely on our very talented front players to conjure something up. There is no pattern to our play when we have the ball. I have no idea what we are supposed to be trying to do and I get the feeling that the players don't either.

If we're going to defend in a low block, fine. But if you do that you have to have a plan for what happens when you get the ball. Hitting it long for Moura and Bergwijn to chase won't cut it in this league against good defenders. Even if they get the ball, what are they supposed to do with it? Hold it up when they're outnumbered and wait for the rest of the team to catch up? They might occasionally get a run on goal, but basing our attacking plan solely on that is going to get us absolutely nowhere.

What he says is, if anything, even worse. After the last few games we have heard the same excuse: we have no strikers, we have to play the same players all the time, and they are tired. 'What do you expect?' is what he is saying. 'I'm not a miracle worker, I can't do anything with no strikers and a squad of exhausted players'. It's bollocks.

Since last week, let's have a look at who is injured:
Defenders: none
Midfielders: Sissoko
Forwards: Kane and Son

So four players are out. True, some others have recently returned from injury, but do we only have a squad of 15? There are numerous options all over the pitch; the only thing we don't have is a first choice centre-forward.

If the players are tired, it's because they spend the bulk of the match chasing shadows. If we don't press as a team the opposition will simply pass it around us. This is what happens in every game. If we pressed coherently the players would be less tired because they would use their energy in short bursts and they would win the ball back. It's a truism that you feel more tired when you're running around to no purpose. If we had the ball more - if we weren't coached to be so passive - tiredness wouldn't be so much of an issue. If, indeed, it is an issue at all.

As to the lack of forwards, we have enough talented attacking players to be able to create and finish chances. But if we rarely have the ball and there is no plan for how we should attack then we won't create those chances. And we're not.

I am sick and tired of Mourinho trotting out the same excuses after every shit performance. He is supposed to be a great coach. He has enough good players to be able to put a team on the field with a plan that will enable us to compete and to win.

He is failing miserably.

Excellent post.

 

[fishhhandaricecake]

Surely as a manager he deserves that. Always thought that while sometimes his football is a bit 'clinical' in approach, if he can get the players understanding that transition from defending to attacking the football is merciless if they take their chances.

I've watched plenty of free flowing football over the years, wonderful individual moments of skill from gifted footballers, sadly we haven't a pot to piss in because of it.

Willing to see if he is backed. The worry should be just that, backing.

Summer can't come soon enough. Fans have no patience ... Shame they did for the last manager.

Yea all good points pal and I suppose this is why Jose was saying about fast forwarding to July 1st as the remainder of the season won’t be a true reflection on what he thinks he can achieve with this team.

You‘re 100% right that Son & Kane are a huge huge miss is simple as that, without them we lose 50% of our goal threat and the fact we don’t have the right players to step in with those 2 out is down to previous squad management not Jose. To add to that we are in three competitions and half our midfielders aren’t actually fit (Dier, Lamela and Ndombele) do our midfielders and attacking players are either non existent or very very light which means they’ll be run into the ground so based on all of that it’s a horribly tricky situation from now until the end of the season.

like you say backing will be key this summer to what happens next.

I will admit I’m not the most patient of fans but that’s mainly due to shelling out £’s000 and tons fo time following the club at matches in UK and all over Europe over the last 30 years and on one hand I just want us to win something which is why I was and kind of still am pro Jose but im also sceptical based on how we’ve been awfully lucky and dominated in so many games since he’s taken over that I find it hard to believe playing this way will be successful in this age of football and if so then personally I’m slowly losing interest following the team as the football is just so so hard to watch, so it’s a balance for me between sacrificing a bit of style for some tin pots but not so much that I just don’t want to watch my club play anymore.

out of interest how long have you followed spurs, I get the impression you‘re a slightly older fan so many have seen some good times in the 70/80’s before the struggle since the 90’s onwards?

 

[bubble07]

Why does every game feel like a giant killing and if we win it's a massive achievement??

 

[Jay.]

What kind of reception did Mourinho get today?

 

[Deleted member 27995]

Yea all good points pal and I suppose this is why Jose was saying about fast forwarding to July 1st as the remainder of the season won’t be a true reflection on what he thinks he can achieve with this team.

You‘re 100% right that Son & Kane are a huge huge miss is simple as that, without them we lose 50% of our goal threat and the fact we don’t have the right players to step in with those 2 out is down to previous squad management not Jose. To add to that we are in three competitions and half our midfielders aren’t actually fit (Dier, Lamela and Ndombele) do our midfielders and attacking players are either non existent or very very light which means they’ll be run into the ground so based on all of that it’s a horribly tricky situation from now until the end of the season.

like you say backing will be key this summer to what happens next.

I will admit I’m not the most patient of fans but that’s mainly due to shelling out £’s000 and tons fo time following the club at matches in UK and all over Europe over the last 30 years and on one hand I just want us to win something which is why I was and kind of still am pro Jose but im also sceptical based on how we’ve been awfully lucky and dominated in so many games since he’s taken over that I find it hard to believe playing this way will be successful in this age of football and if so then personally I’m slowly losing interest following the team as the football is just so so hard to watch, so it’s a balance for me between sacrificing a bit of style for some tin pots but not so much that I just don’t want to watch my club play anymore.

out of interest how long have you followed spurs, I get the impression you‘re a slightly older fan so many have seen some good times in the 70/80’s before the struggle since the 90’s onwards?

I'm old with a young face.

I feel for the folks who have followed and forked over good cash over the years. Also appreciate those who prefer the ideal of winning with the flair and panache rather than grind it out. It's a clash of ideals isn't it?

I think I'm happy to wait it out until the summer, and prepared that some of the results on the run in are going to irk many a fan.

We say it every year, don't we, how big a summer it is ahead. It'll be the epitaph for us all!

 

[double0]

I watched it
I wasnt impressed
Like maureen said we improved after the sub.
Where's the argument ?
Players get subbed it happens its football why throw a hissy fit

Seriously...can't you see that was a throw away line from Mourinho. He made a double sub but most importantly changed the system.

My bad... it's how you see the game... so fair enough

 

[double0]

I'm old with a young face.

I feel for the folks who have followed and forked over good cash over the years. Also appreciate those who prefer the ideal of winning with the flair and panache rather than grind it out. It's a clash of ideals isn't it?

I think I'm happy to wait it out until the summer, and prepared that some of the results on the run in are going to irk many a fan.

We say it every year, don't we, how big a summer it is ahead. It'll be the epitaph for us all!

I was happy to wait on Poch but thats a completely different subject.

Lets hope the football improves (if Mourinho's doing well Tottenham are doing well and thats what we all want) if that means passive football let the players do their jobs properly and be clinical with their chances.

 

[Deleted member 27995]

I was happy to wait the Poch but thats a completely different subject.

Lets hope the football improves (if Mourinho's doing well Tottenham are doing well and that what we all won't) if that means passive football let the players do their jobs properly and be clinical with their chances.

I feel that we're probably due some more frustration and for some it'll be the straw that breaks the camels back, if we can tough it out til the summer then who knows.

 

[double0]

Yeah, seeing a lot of 'he has to play this way' as if that's the tools available to him but I'm not buying that.

Take the raw ingredients available currently:

Skip the centre backs for now, we'll come back to that at the end, beyond that we have basically Dier (really struggling) and Davies as steady, defensive minded players. Wanyama I discount, as he is nowhere to be seen. Aurier loves to bomb forward and is positionally suspect.

As for the rest, in midfield you have Skipp and Winks who are your tidy pass and move players. Defensive duties not their strong points but their qualities in this aspect is they're quite tenacious and can press aggressively and win the ball back. Ndombele and Lo Celso are obviously ball players, Lo Celso is a tenacious presser rather than holder and Ndombele's defensive ability we see isn't great. Gedson we don't know so much about but we're led to believe he's a more technical attack minded player in the midfield also.

Then you have Alli whose best work is done when we're up the pitch and he can float around the penalty area popping up impacting play. Lamela wants to play pass and move to feet. Bergwijn and Moura also like the ball to feet rather than running in behind. We also have Sessegnon who on the left is a more attack minded player.

For the majority of this group, especially in midfield, their qualities would suggest going with proactive tactics and wanting to play on the front foot and getting the ball down and playing and then with fluidity of movement of players/ball you can possibly mitigate the missing striker. Just generally trying to have a go and impose ourselves on proceedings via footballing/attacking superiority. And maybe you could do this if someone had the bollocks to pension off Jan and Toby and for instance put Sanchez and Tanganga, who can at least move and recover if the ball goes in behind them, at the back and allow us to push up the pitch.

Passive, low block, keep it tight football just doesn't look on paper what you'd do with this group. Even get Kane, Son, Sissoko back and I don't think that really changes. You can of course argue that considering the vast majority of the squad came in under another manager this isn't much of a surprise, but even the transfers so far I dont think take the team in a different direction and in any case is it likely we see a total overhaul of the team?

What happen to Jose assistant? wasn't he suppose to be this progressive coach

 

[King of Otters]

So far I am disappointed in only two aspects of Mourinho's reign: what he does and what he says.

He sets the team up to defend, and to defend passively. Consequently the opposition - any opposition - has more of the ball and we are almost continually under pressure with the players chasing shadows. When we do get the ball there is no coherent plan on how to progress it up the field, and there is certainly no discernable attacking plan. We just seem to rely on our very talented front players to conjure something up. There is no pattern to our play when we have the ball. I have no idea what we are supposed to be trying to do and I get the feeling that the players don't either.

If we're going to defend in a low block, fine. But if you do that you have to have a plan for what happens when you get the ball. Hitting it long for Moura and Bergwijn to chase won't cut it in this league against good defenders. Even if they get the ball, what are they supposed to do with it? Hold it up when they're outnumbered and wait for the rest of the team to catch up? They might occasionally get a run on goal, but basing our attacking plan solely on that is going to get us absolutely nowhere.

What he says is, if anything, even worse. After the last few games we have heard the same excuse: we have no strikers, we have to play the same players all the time, and they are tired. 'What do you expect?' is what he is saying. 'I'm not a miracle worker, I can't do anything with no strikers and a squad of exhausted players'. It's bollocks.

Since last week, let's have a look at who is injured:
Defenders: none
Midfielders: Sissoko
Forwards: Kane and Son

So four players are out. True, some others have recently returned from injury, but do we only have a squad of 15? There are numerous options all over the pitch; the only thing we don't have is a first choice centre-forward.

If the players are tired, it's because they spend the bulk of the match chasing shadows. If we don't press as a team the opposition will simply pass it around us. This is what happens in every game. If we pressed coherently the players would be less tired because they would use their energy in short bursts and they would win the ball back. It's a truism that you feel more tired when you're running around to no purpose. If we had the ball more - if we weren't coached to be so passive - tiredness wouldn't be so much of an issue. If, indeed, it is an issue at all.

As to the lack of forwards, we have enough talented attacking players to be able to create and finish chances. But if we rarely have the ball and there is no plan for how we should attack then we won't create those chances. And we're not.

I am sick and tired of Mourinho trotting out the same excuses after every shit performance. He is supposed to be a great coach. He has enough good players to be able to put a team on the field with a plan that will enable us to compete and to win.

He is failing miserably.

Fucking winner.

 

[fishhhandaricecake]

I'm old with a young face.

I feel for the folks who have followed and forked over good cash over the years. Also appreciate those who prefer the ideal of winning with the flair and panache rather than grind it out. It's a clash of ideals isn't it?

I think I'm happy to wait it out until the summer, and prepared that some of the results on the run in are going to irk many a fan.

We say it every year, don't we, how big a summer it is ahead. It'll be the epitaph for us all!

For me it was after the CL final last year that I felt like this. Me and my old man spent £’000s to get over there and get tickets, we had to get 3 flights on way out, 2 long train journeys and 2 flights back, I never thought we’d get to a CL final so I will savour it and it was incredible but then with Poch leaving and all the squad issues it feels like that was the peak of supporting spurs and yet as usual we blew our opportunity, I think in a similar way Poch felt the same after the 5 years of such hard work. For me it now seems like the house is crumbling down in a mess, we won’t get near winning the league anytime soon and very unlikely to get that far in the CL again, right now we look a mid table side not a CL finalist side and so that leaves the FA and league cups which these days aren’t easy to win by any means so the way I see it is winning a Trophy will be incredibly difficult so in which case I’d like to enjoy the football as aside from the 2 league cup finals the best times Ive had watching spurs were when on a few occasions we played some scintillating football under Harry redknapp and under Poch but playing like we do under Jose I thought I’d be more ok with it but to be honest it’s just a bore to watch so now I’m stuck with a team that will struggle to win things and is boring to watch and after 30 years of the same rinse and repeat it’s getting quite draining especially when we were so close to the top under poch which was a magical few years.

just my onions.
so I’ll still hold faith and back Jose to come good next season but we have to get him new players in summer and I personally do hope his style of play improves at least a little as Im not enjoying this regardless of weather we have Kane and son or not Jose’s style is either a defensive low block or a mid block but low possession and counter attack Both of which are mostly painful to endure.

COYS

 

[fortworthspur]

Results have been ok, it’s the lack of a plan and the even more turgid football than the end of porch’s reign that is the issue.

oh there's a plan. people just dont like it. Id get used to it, because its what we've got till August at least. I agree its not pleasing on the eye, but if we can grind out enough 1-0 victories to qualify for CL again Jose will have succeeded.

 

[dontcallme]

We had a few seasons of under-investment and gone from having the youngest squad in the league to having numerous ageing players.

Turning this squad around this season was never going to fully happen and without Kane and Son it becomes extremely tough.

This is a frustrating period but I don't think putting the blame on Jose and making out he is a has-been who needs to leave is a correct analysis or solution.

I wanted Jose in before Poch left and I stand by that. Part of the reason is I believe he's an intelligent manager who will identify our issues quickly and get short-term results. He has taken us from 14th to 5th.

But he needs the summer to bring in additional players and get the team playing cohesively. He needs to be realistic with targets and aim for players who are available and will come to us.

I usually like to give managers some time but with Jose I expect quicker results. Next season will be the time I start to properly critique our play. At the moment he is just doing the best with what is at his disposal and I don't believe many, if any, other managers would have done better.

 

[dontcallme]

What happen to Jose assistant? wasn't he suppose to be this progressive coach

Do you think a "progressive coach" could turn this club around within 5 months?