Jose Mourinho

[spursfan77]

Not pretty at the moment, but I remembered we were 14th just five weeks ago with danger of crashing out of the CL.

Why is it so hard to get behind this coach. Is not even two months in, guys..

And the football hasn’t been that bad either. I’ve been at every home game since he’s been appointed and the matches are a fuckload more enjoyable being at, than they were in the preceding months under Poch. Then I was going games expecting a struggle, since Mourinho I go expecting to see goals and win, which has until the other day happened. Maybe it’s different for people watching it from their sofas but at games it’s actually pretty good fun because we now score goals and win rather than passing the ball about between the centre back and midfield getting nowhere because the attackers are standing still not bothering to move.

 

[dudu]

Our problems aren't over night fixes. It takes time to break the pattern of the previous regime (which was at the club for a long time) without a preseason or at least more than a month or so.

In the meantime we may just have to fumble our way through some games. I want to the football to be better and I REALLY want to be able to compete on the pitch against the other top 6 sides. But right now, if we can beat away the other 15 teams by just being better than them then so be it.

 

[Doctor Dinkey]

Is it me, or are there different posters around after a defeat than a win? Very negative round here again.

Negative with good reason. I think if we'd put up a good fight and lost to a better side, everyone would have been far more forgiving. But the performance was so catastrophically wretched, with no positives whatsoever, that there's bound to be this reaction. I was fucking furious when I left the ground on Sunday and I still feel cross typing this now!

 

[ajspurs]

I think it's hard to judge until he gets the centre of midfield sorted. The good thing is that he has us playing effectively against the 'lesser' teams so hopefully picking up three points where we definitely should be will be a trend.

My only concern is just how urgently he sees the centre of midfield a requirement for upgrading. I'm hoping all this 'We don't need anyone in January' talk is to just keep the current players happy because it's the difference between this team reaching it's potential or not and as a result potentially the difference between CL football or not.

 

[Japhet]

I think it's hard to judge until he gets the centre of midfield sorted. The good thing is that he has us playing effectively against the 'lesser' teams so hopefully picking up three points where we definitely should be will be a trend.

My only concern is just how urgently he sees the centre of midfield a requirement for upgrading. I'm hoping all this 'We don't need anyone in January' talk is to just keep the current players happy because it's the difference between this team reaching it's potential or not and as a result potentially the difference between CL football or not.

We only really bossed it v Burnley (and Olympiakos after Dier got hooked). We've been a dsitant 2nd in every other game, particularly in midfield and yet JM persists with the same setup and players. In those matches I'd say that when Eriksen, Ndombele, GLC, Skipp etc. came on we immediately improved on every occasion and got some control of midfield. I think a lot of the results have flattered us greatly.

 

[Cheltenham Spur]

There are some obvious reasons why he's appearing to toe the party line in saying we don't need signings in January.

As others have said if we make it known we're in the market with money to spend prices will go up. But also, if he implies that there are players who aren't going to be in his plans that will make it harder to get the squad on board.

It will also imply that Poch left him with an unbalanced squad that's not fit for purpose. While that may be true he will know that anything he says that could be taken as a dig at Poch will make it more difficult to win over the fans. He's many things but I don't believe he's stupid and he'll know that he needs to tread carefully in the first few months.

Remember as well that despite all his experience in the game he finds himself in a new situation here. He's taken over a struggling side mid season which is a new thing for him, so he'll be forced to work differently to begin with.

In short, as many have said, he needs time. Time to get his ideas across, time to get his squad where he wants it and perhaps most importantly time to in still the correct mentality into the team.

Because let's face it, whatever you think of his tactics on Sunday, the players performing dreadfully in a big game isn't a new issue.

 

[ajspurs]

We only really bossed it v Burnley (and Olympiakos after Dier got hooked). We've been a dsitant 2nd in midfield in every other game, particularly in midfield and yet JM persists with the same setup and players. In those matches I'd say that when Eriksen, Ndombele, GLC, Skipp etc. came on we immediately improved on every occasion and got some control of midfield. I think a lot of the results have flattered us greatly.

I think we played well against Bournemouth too and even though it ended up close, they only got a look in due to a freekick. In saying that though I do remember thinking afterwards that if Bournemouth were any good in the final third they could have punished us that day, in all fairness. I think West Ham was similar also, think we ended up very much controlling the game and should have been more than 3-0 up before they got the first back but lapses in concentration cost us. Hasn't been breathtaking but under Poch those are all games we easily could have lost. So pretty or not I think it's an improvement at least.

I get what you're saying though and do somewhat agree. If we had any sort of decent midfield we wouldn't have seen any sort of trouble in either of those matches. It's definitely not the way forward, the way we're playing now that is. There's no point in having all this talent on the pitch when we can't bridge any of it together due to have a non-existent midfield. Needs fixing urgently.

 

[Primativ]

I think we are definitely paying for the lack of investment in the squad over the last few years. Obviously we badly needed CM's last season, we waited a year to sign Ndombele, but what the club should have realised is it always takes new signings a year to settle, anything more is an unexpected bonus.

So essentially that means we were at risk of playing two full seasons with our "settled" CM consisting only of Dier (battled poor form/not good enough/injured) Winks (not good enough), Sissoko (not good enough) Wanyama (broken).

The club have been totally negligent. Am I saying this is all Levy's fault? No. It was mentioned by ITKs on here that Poch was turning his nose up at players. As ever who do we blame? Fuck knows. But this has been an utter mess.

The club can hardly say they are surprised that Ndombele and GLC have hardly played so far. You always expect foreign players to take at least a year to settle. Did the club or Poch really think going into ANOTHER season with Sissoko, Winks, Dier and Wanyama was a sufficient CM?

I know people will be eager to lay into Jose but two things are clear....

1. Poch had lost the players. So he had to go regardless.
2. Our squad has been totally neglected/mismanaged.....

I think signing a CM in January is obviously needed but it's still too little too late. If we sign a 20 year old from France, are we really expecting that to help us finish top 4?

I have to say I believe Poch has to take a large share of responsibility for this reason, he clearly would have said to Levy, Winks is my number 1 choice in CM alongside Ndombele. Poch I believe has turned down signing other CMs because he believes they weren't better than Winks. It's now left us short.

There is no doubt Poch had Winks as his no 1. He always played when fit. I think that meant Poch didn't feel the need to sign another DM. Now we are in this situation where we are left really short. JM has come in, clearly thinks Winks isn't good enough, at least it looks that way so far. Let's give JM time to rectify this, he will need a couple of transfer windows.

 

[buckley]

Because I had been so down in the last months of Poch reign I was fooled after a few games under Mourhino that the quick fix was on .
But on reflection the Chelsea game just highlights the problems that Jose faces and having said that I believe when I listen to the new manager I hear intelligence and straight talking and this is a man who will sort our problems out.
As for saying "no transfers this month" who in their right mind would highlight the fact you have money to spend only the likes of clubs that seem to have untold money available and this list of uber rich clubs is growing every year namely Man City /Man Unt / Chelsea / add to that it now seems that there is vast amounts of money at Wolves / Everton /Liverpool .
You must be clever in the market place ref buying players and shouting that you are going to spend is not clever unless you have so much money you don't give a s....t

 

[slartibartfast]

We're in a bad way no doubt about it.
Goalkeeper, defence and midfield are in poor shape. Apart from up top the spine of the team is broken.
Second choice keeper, nothing we could do about that though but its still a problem.
Now Toby has signed thats added a bit of stability but Verts not signed, letting Trippier go without replacing him, Davies being injured and Rose being past it has left our defence up shit creek.
Then the midfield. No dm for over a year. Thats mismanagement. Add to that the Eriksen saga. We spend 60m on a player that spends more time sitting on the bench than playing. Wtf is that about? And GLC cant get a look in either.
Thing with JM he likes big lumps and always has. For that reason alone Dier and Sissoko will always get in ahead of Ndombele, Winks and Glc. He also prefers experience so Eriksen still gets on instead of those 3.
I didnt like him publicly saying Son was crying blah blah blah. Thats the JM of old rearing his head.
Those that thought he's changed his ways, he hasnt. Its easy to be smiles and jovial when you're winning. When it doesnt work and we lose I fully expect him to revert to type and throw players under the bus.
I just hope we can last long enough to win something before it turns sour.

 

[AnotherSpursFan]

Those who doesnt want to be here should be frozen out of the squad already.

Continually selecting them for matchday is sending the wrong message to the squad.

If this charade continues, we will see a revival of mediocre midtable Tottenham.

 

[DJS]

Yeah I really hope Mourinho is secretly plotting to get in a new right back and at least one engine room midfielder.

Probably a left back as well.

 

[DJS]

I think we are definitely paying for the lack of investment in the squad over the last few years. Obviously we badly needed CM's last season, we waited a year to sign Ndombele, but what the club should have realised is it always takes new signings a year to settle, anything more is an unexpected bonus.

So essentially that means we were at risk of playing two full seasons with our "settled" CM consisting only of Dier (battled poor form/not good enough/injured) Winks (not good enough), Sissoko (not good enough) Wanyama (broken).

The club have been totally negligent. Am I saying this is all Levy's fault? No. It was mentioned by ITKs on here that Poch was turning his nose up at players. As ever who do we blame? Fuck knows. But this has been an utter mess.

The club can hardly say they are surprised that Ndombele and GLC have hardly played so far. You always expect foreign players to take at least a year to settle. Did the club or Poch really think going into ANOTHER season with Sissoko, Winks, Dier and Wanyama was a sufficient CM?

I know people will be eager to lay into Jose but two things are clear....

1. Poch had lost the players. So he had to go regardless.
2. Our squad has been totally neglected/mismanaged.....

I think signing a CM in January is obviously needed but it's still too little too late. If we sign a 20 year old from France, are we really expecting that to help us finish top 4?

I have to say I believe Poch has to take a large share of responsibility for this reason, he clearly would have said to Levy, Winks is my number 1 choice in CM alongside Ndombele. Poch I believe has turned down signing other CMs because he believes they weren't better than Winks. It's now left us short.

There is no doubt Poch had Winks as his no 1. He always played when fit. I think that meant Poch didn't feel the need to sign another DM. Now we are in this situation where we are left really short. JM has come in, clearly thinks Winks isn't good enough, at least it looks that way so far. Let's give JM time to rectify this, he will need a couple of transfer windows.

Do you toss and turn in your sleep moaning Winks' name?

Winks... it's all... his fault... Winks... Wiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiinks...

 

[longtimespur]

Think it must just be my age (or senility maybe).
I can't get to matches and so only watch on the box and read/watch reports and see the opinions on here so ……….
What is so bad that can't be fixed, given time?
Or maybe THAT IS the problem nowadays people in general don't have time for things to happen.
Always seems to be instant gratification no matter any circumstances.
I'm so glad I'm not young anymore

 

[Metalhead]

Those who doesnt want to be here should be frozen out of the squad already.

Continually selecting them for matchday is sending the wrong message to the squad.

If this charade continues, we will see a revival of mediocre midtable Tottenham.

The main problem is a lack of quality options in the squad. Most of us don't understand why he's not choosing Lo Celso but apart from that, the team needs a fair bit of maintenance and so perhaps he doesn't feel like he's got no choice but to pick the players that he's playing. Who knows for sure but this 'project' is going to take some time.

 

[Ronwol196061]

I think if Mourinho plays Ndombele in a more central CM spot the flow would change drastically from this week and we would have some control and penetration. Just that alone will change the dynamic completely then add some midfield strength behind him and maybe add Sessegnon if he is fit we should have a good flow. Ndombele would be one week healthier and while he helped stabilize us in the second half,he can control our game from the off in the next one.
Too much doom and gloom here

 

[Zoltar60]

3 big games, 3 terrible performances. Got lucky vs Wolves.

 

[spids]

3 big games, 3 terrible performances. Got lucky vs Wolves.

I think we need to get used to his style. I really don't think we got lucky against Wolves - we created better chances than them and defended very well. Whilst we got totally outplayed by Chelsea, Jose will point to the fact that both the goals we conceded were due to individual mistakes. The corner Aurier conceded was shocking in itself, but he then fell asleep and let Willian take a short corner AND get into the box before he could close him down, yes it was a great finish but he was gifted the chance. The second goal was just a total joke and I have no idea what went through Gazzaniga's mind when he opted not to just catch the ball using his hands and karate kicked Alonso in the head instead. Real Madrid and Inter did not play great football in the big games under Jose, they just defended exceptionally well, did not make mistakes, and were very clinical when they got a chance. Against lesser teams they blitzed them and racked up massive goal difference. That is what we will have under him at Spurs. Replace Aurier with a consistent RB, sign an athletic and aggressive LB, and buy a proper tactical DCM. Integrate Ndombele and get Son, Kane, Moura and Dele scoring (which he already has) and we're a Jose Mourinho team.

 

[GarlicBread]

Negative with good reason. I think if we'd put up a good fight and lost to a better side, everyone would have been far more forgiving. But the performance was so catastrophically wretched, with no positives whatsoever, that there's bound to be this reaction. I was fucking furious when I left the ground on Sunday and I still feel cross typing this now!

Don’t get me wrong, sunday was a shambles, and I was as angry as anyone else. I mean some truly stupid moments from our players. But I just find it baffling to be sitting here after a few weeks, and barely any training time at all, to say that this manager, who has won it all in the game, isn’t good enough for us, and will probably be gone soon.
It’s ridiculous, just as it is that we have to read how ‘Dier is the answer’ before he starts a game and we get the predictable ‘Dier is dire’ puns come out. It’s exhausting at times.

 

[Japhet]

I know it's early days but this new brand of football JM has been developing during his sabbatical, well, it seems remarkably similar to the brand of football that got him booted out of Old Trafford. I've pretty much lost hope of seeing GLC, Sessegnon, Skipp etc get any game time even though the players they could replace look ready for the knackers yard. I'll know from the team sheet v Brighton if I actually want to watch any of it, which is a bit sad really.