Jose Mourinho

[Gb160]

Because being regularly in the top four back then with some possession and control was better than being in the top eight right now

Short memory mate.
Top fourteen when he got the tin tack....remember?

 

[shelfboy68]

Predictable got us into the top 4 for the last 4 seasons. Turgid and risk adverse may get us into the top 8 if we're lucky. I know what iI prefer

That's your choice of course, but he hasn't had a full season to be judged on as he came in during November with covid striking from march.
Initially we picked up as teams often do we clawed our way back into fifth , only for silly mistakes and injuries piling up which hindered progress.

 

[Gb160]

Predictable got us into the top 4 for the last 4 seasons. Turgid and risk adverse may get us into the top 8 if we're lucky. I know what iI prefer

Not bad when our last manager left us in 14th place when he was sacked.

 

[Archibald&Crooks]

I think the phrases 'be careful what you wish for' and 'the grass isn't always greener on the other side' that so so often get trotted out when discussing ODL and new owners really ought to be getting more mileage in here right now

So.......If you don't like Mourinho, that's cool, he's not everybody's cup of tea but if we get rid, the best we can expect is a more 'entertaining' way of playing for a while and that's about it. As soon as we start to struggle there will be calls for the next guys head and we'll regress even more.

I can't see a change of manager suddenly turning the whole thing around, for me it goes far deeper than that. A lot deeper, if you want change, that's fine but want the right sort of change as well.

And if we do change managers, some of you will be happy. For about a month. Then it'll all kick off again because until there's either A: New owners or B: Toulouse Lautrec suddenly has an epiphany and decides we should spend gazillions going for titles, this is, or at least was, as good as it gets. All in me 'umble onion, of course

Always leave them with a song:

Getting crazy on the waltzers but it's the life that I choose
Sing about the six blade sing about the switchback and a torture tattoo
And I been riding on a ghost train where the cars they scream and slam
And I don't know where I'll be tonight but I'd always tell you where I am

 

[spursfan77]

I'd say it was equally foolish to expect us to keep a clean sheet.

We need to score two goals minimum to win a game.

 

[Metalhead]

No. I never meant it that way. I simply mean that every game he wins postpone him eventually leaving. I'm hoping that hes gone by christmas at the very latest.

I’d rather be winning and then there’s no issue!

 

[BringBack_leGin]

I think the phrases 'be careful what you wish for' and 'the grass isn't always greener on the other side' that so so often get trotted out when discussing ODL and new owners really ought to be getting more mileage in here right now

So.......If you don't like Mourinho, that's cool, he's not everybody's cup of tea but if we get rid, the best we can expect is a more 'entertaining' way of playing for a while and that's about it. As soon as we start to struggle there will be calls for the next guys head and we'll regress even more.

I can't see a change of manager suddenly turning the whole thing around, for me it goes far deeper than that. A lot deeper, if you want change, that's fine but want the right sort of change as well.

And if we do change managers, some of you will be happy. For about a month. Then it'll all kick off again because until there's either A: New owners or B: Toulouse Lautrec suddenly has an epiphany and decides we should spend gazillions going for titles, this is, or at least was, as good as it gets. All in me 'umble onion, of course

Always leave them with a song:

Getting crazy on the waltzers but it's the life that I choose
Sing about the six blade sing about the switchback and a torture tattoo
And I been riding on a ghost train where the cars they scream and slam
And I don't know where I'll be tonight but I'd always tell you where I am

You are a cruel and smelly man.

 

[Bobby TwoShots]

He played very good tactic against team who can't play against that kind of football.

They seemed to play ok against it on Friday!

 

[Shadydan]

 

[wrd]

I’m willing to cut Mourinho a bit of slack because 1st half we at least played in a defined way and had we replicated that 2nd half, or at least made the most of a couple of other positive first half situations, we’d have won. The dip was clearly due to fatigue rather than tactical frailty, particularly with Kane and Son who were both at half mast from the start and shot by the end. The error, then, was in selection. He should’ve started just one of those two, and down the middle in Kane’s role whichever one it was, and then swapped the two of them round second half, with Sessegnon in the wide left role that Son occupied. We essentially played 442 with Kane as the 9, Son on the LW and Lamela as a second striker. Had it been Sessegnon from the start with either Kane or Son as the 9, we’d have preserved our press and ability to counter far deeper into the game, as well as have the benefit of either Kane or Son running at tired Utd legs late on. I’m turn, the subs become far simpler too. Lo Celso still for Lamela, Gedson for either of Bergwijn or Sessegnon, and one of Kane or Son for the other, and because we stay in control tactically we can even afford to swap Winks or Sissoko our for Ndombele.

Tactically the set up was fine, but given the obvious fatigue issues in starting all four injury returnees, who all play in the front 6, Mourinho handcuffed himself from being able to persevere with the tactic that was working, a knackered team ended up defending too deep, and a silly penalty, just or not, was the end result.

I’d be happy to continue with the same system, especially with Dele and Lucas returning, but I really think it should be Kane and Son sharing the minutes for the time being, at least for this next match, and for the sake of a bit more fluidity on the ball Lo Celso should probably be on the pitch too. With the 5 sub rule, we could easily start the game with:

Sissoko Ndombele
Bergwijn _____________ Sessegnon
Lo Celso Kane
​

and finish the game with:

Sissoko Winks
Lucas ___________________ Dele
Lamela Son​

or something to this effect.

I think this is bang on and it's exactly the same as what happened in the Champions League final and I think that's why there's some frustration heading Kanes way but personally I think it's the managers responsibility, if your top stars can't handle a full 90 minutes then you need to sacrifice one to the bench so you can balance it over the 90 minutes.

 

[DiVaio]

They seemed to play ok against it on Friday!

They are losing points when they have more possesion than opponent and have to control the game. And it worked.

 

[wrd]

I think this part is for the most part working well other than Aurier sometimes overplaying defensively, I think Sissoko and Winks significantly improved defensively vs United compared to previous but Winks still fell asleep for the Pogba penalty situation. The problem for me is within the front 4 as we're relying on individual moments of brilliance. I appreciate what Lamela brings with his tenacity and ability on the ball but he can't be the person solely responsible for making things happen.

 

[Ionman34]

Quite the contrary. We tried to play front foot, aggressive footy and finished 3rd, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and CL runner up. Liverpool and City don't bore the pants off teams waiting for a mistake, and they seem to contend.

The idea that there must be a choice between success and good attacking footy is a very odd argument that is regularly touted on here. The evidence is firmly against it. It just isn't either/or. Once in a blue moon there's Greece winning the Euros. But that was more the exception that proved the rule.

Liverpool have taken 5 years under Klopp to be contenders/winners.
Pep inherited a squad that was already winning titles and had a ropey 1st season, even with the massive financial backing.

Why?

Because it takes time to implement your philosophy, get the players playing the way you want, bring in the players to plug the gaps you see that stop you from getting to the top.

And yet many of you expect Mourinho to do this in half a season when he inherited a squad low on energy and confidence, that has had the majority of its key players sidelined for months with injury!

Absolutely ridiculous! So many of you need to give yourselves a swift uppercut and a kick in the balls. Though judging from the childish petulance I'd hazard a guess that a few of you are still waiting for them to drop!

 

[Bobby TwoShots]

They are losing points when they have more possesion than opponent and have to control the game. And it worked.

Fair enough, glad you’re happy with a point at home to them

 

[DiVaio]

Fair enough, glad you’re happy with a point at home to them

Where did I say that?

 

[Bobby TwoShots]

Liverpool have taken 5 years under Klopp to be contenders/winners.
Pep inherited a squad that was already winning titles and had a ropey 1st season, even with the massive financial backing.

Why?

Because it takes time to implement your philosophy, get the players playing the way you want, bring in the players to plug the gaps you see that stop you from getting to the top.

And yet many of you expect Mourinho to do this in half a season when he inherited a squad low on energy and confidence, that has had the majority of its key players sidelined for months with injury!

Absolutely ridiculous! So many of you need to give yourselves a swift uppercut and a kick in the balls. Though judging from the childish petulance I'd hazard a guess that a few of you are still waiting for them to drop!

It’s fair to argue he needs time. But the comparisons with Liverpool and City don’t work. Even when they weren’t successful, they didn’t play the boring football Mourinho offers up. When did it become necessary to play shit football to be successful?

 

[Bobby TwoShots]

Where did I say that?

You said “it worked”

 

[DiVaio]

You said “it worked”

Because it's true? They dropped points, we still have chance for CL. They wouldn't create more chances than us without our help from penalty and Davinson missed header.

 

[Japhet]

It’s fair to argue he needs time. But the comparisons with Liverpool and City don’t work. Even when they weren’t successful, they didn’t play the boring football Mourinho offers up. When did it become necessary to play shit football to be successful?

Was it when we signed Mourinho up by any chance?

 

[kendoddsdadsdogsdead]

This!

Any successful team starts with a solid defensive unit and builds from there. It is evident that this is where Mourinho has started his process, make us hard to beat first, drill the team into working together as a cohesive defensive unit, then build on from there.

The lack of understanding on here of this basic tenet is incredible. You can't fix everything all at once, you just end up with a hot mess, which was what he inherited in the first place.

It's a process that will take time, and it's evident that few on here are prepared to give him that because of who he is.

I love a great defencing unit, pace, aggression, reading the game, being good on the ball, fantastic. Everyone sitting deep and conceding possession isn’t isn’t really building from the the back. That’s giving the defence a easy ride protecting them so much and getting them to only defender a limited area. Teach them how to defend 20 yards up the pitch or look to bring better in. You can defend or learn how to defend as a team Higher up the pitch. Dropping into your own penalty box and just booting the ball clear is not a good building block in my humble opinion.