Jose Mourinho

If you're into the tactical side of the game or have ever studied analysis. You'll notice that the following aspects are big with coaches - use of the half space, overloading, underlapping, third man usage and more.

We don't seem to do any of these, and haven't since Jose came to the club.

Whilst he focused on defensive shape and looking to exploit space the opposition left for Harry and Son to capitalise on, it wasn't glaringly obvious. But since he started trying to make us more attack orientated it's become clear it's not evident.

The reason why these aspects are important is because you need to be able to mix it up with the opposition and certainly against teams who start to press you back.

He fooled me as he simply hasn't evolved.

rossdapep said:

If you're into the tactical side of the game or have ever studied analysis. You'll notice that the following aspects are big with coaches - use of the half space, overloading, underlapping, third man usage and more.

We don't seem to do any of these, and haven't since Jose came to the club.

Whilst he focused on defensive shape and looking to exploit space the opposition left for Harry and Son to capitalise on, it wasn't glaringly obvious. But since he started trying to make us more attack orientated it's become clear it's not evident.

The reason why these aspects are important is because you need to be able to mix it up with the opposition and certainly against teams who start to press you back.

He fooled me as he simply hasn't evolved.

Click to expand...

So true as this is why our play looks so messy and ponderous and risk averse, because it lacks all of these elements, it’s outdated.

fortworthspur said:

had nothing to do with Sissoko. I know folks like to blame him for everything but he was far from our worst player today. Tanguy and Reggie shared that honor, with Sonny close behind.

Click to expand...

Aside from him just strolling back for the first goal showing no urgency to close down Sigurdsson

Davo99 said:

Yes. He was sacked in 14th place. Pochettino had better squads than Mourinho by far. This is just fanboy nonsense

Click to expand...

Fanboy nonsense... Better squads.. It amazes me how people can see the same thing and come to such drastically different view points.. What I see is a spurs team that play shit week in week out. Compared to a team which was a joy to watch.. I guess you are one of those it's all about trophies.. Cause what I see is a team of wonderful players, playing shit football week in week out. A team which is worse than post redknapp days..

I’ve largely been defending Mourinho, but the last few games have been so perplexing.

I’m just not sure how we play. It’s all just random with the odd moment of brilliance from Kane to scrape us through or keep it respectable

Tonight was a weird game. I feel like I’m just watching the games out of morbid curiosity. I don’t believe we can actually beat anybody right now.

The starting 11 was weird, the subs were weird, not bringing on Bale is baffling (especially since he had 9 goal involvements in 6 games and was then completely hung out to dry), the formation was weird and seemed unfamiliar, Sissoko still playing for the club is weird,Jose looked like he literally couldn’t be arsed, the players huffed and puffed but generally looked tired. The play was languid, it was scrappy all over, passes were being mis-hit all over the place, we were going down like fairies, there was little tempo, we barely put together any good moves all game, the players look totally lost and unfamiliar with how each other plays etc.

The whole thing is just so strange.

I have gotten to the point now where I think it would be best for Mourinho to leave. But I also feel sorry for him. I bet he’s been sold an absolute lemon by the board.

I can’t help but feel that our players are better than they are showing. We’ve seen them play devastating football this season, but it’s nowhere to be seen now.

I’m of the opinion of whatever happens happens and it is what it is. Apathy through and through.

Whatever is going wrong and whatever the cause it’s just soulless. Absolutely devoid of anything noteworthy.

What makes it worse is that I feel like we are in the twilight stages of what used to be one of the best squads we’ve ever had. One of the best strikers in world football. Wasted.

It just seems like we’re kind of staring into an abyss with the very real prospect of being “back in our place” and back to the familiar scrabbling around for Europa League places if we’re lucky.

It’s been a good few years, but I think it’s come to an end. No manager is turning this shit around without some serious overhaul and actual proper transfers.

I wouldn’t be surprised at all if it takes us a couple of seasons to get anywhere close to being competitive again like we were with peak Poch.

So many shortsighted small decisions throughout have gotten us to this place of abject mediocrity (if that). Save a few quid here, skimp on this player there. Seems like the net result of all of those miserly and I’ll thought out decisions that possibly seemed slightly inconsequential at the time are now coming back to bite the club in a massive way.

Least we won’t do a Leeds, I guess. Maybe we will. We’re always being told we’re on the breadline. Maybe we are.

Still, when we inevitably sell Kane, at least that might bring in a few quid. We can buy The Osmonds with the proceeds...

Hoddle&Waddle said:

It's because they are so unfit.

Click to expand...

totally agree with this. the fact we have played 15-17 more games than most of our ops this season after a very short break between seasons, plus had 3 international weeks this season they look totally burnt out. they also look mentally fucked, knowing that there are only 2-3 players in the whole squad who don't get called out if they perform badly or make errors.

this season cannot be over quick enough for me, and it's such a shame (even though painful for many) that there are no crowds this season (not including the 2k for 1 league match). if we had been able to have a full house week in week out I reckon he would have been sacked by now if we had performed the way we have.

Well, anyone wanna speak up for him. After 18 months is there a single thing that he has improved?

Davo99 said:

Yes. He was sacked in 14th place. Pochettino had better squads than Mourinho by far. This is just fanboy nonsense

Click to expand...

For context.....

When he was sacked we were 3 points off 5th place

We are currently 4 points off 5th place and the 5th place team have a game in hand over us.

Lighty64 said:

totally agree with this. the fact we have played 15-17 more games than most of our ops this season after a very short break between seasons, plus had 3 international weeks this season they look totally burnt out. they also look mentally fucked, knowing that there are only 2-3 players in the whole squad who don't get called out if they perform badly or make errors.

this season cannot be over quick enough for me, and it's such a shame (even though painful for many) that there are no crowds this season (not including the 2k for 1 league match). if we had been able to have a full house week in week out I reckon he would have been sacked by now if we had performed the way we have.

Click to expand...

Then add the fact players are playing with the weight of fear and you get these really slack performances.

Jose hasn't managed the squad well at all. That time he criticised the entire team vs Antwerp saying he knows who he can and can't rely on was so unnecessary, seen as that same team had beaten LASK comfortably the week before. He basically pulled the rug from under any progress they'd made before then and some had to fight even harder to get a look in when they should have been getting minutes to build form and fitness.

If Vinicius and Bale had been given mkre minutes we wouldn't be over reliant on Kane. If Bergwijn had been given more of a run of games he'd have got that goal and boosted his confidence.

Tonights team sheet was basically Jose saying that he didn't trust any of his attacking options other than possibly Lucas.

But hes being doing that pretty much since the Liverpool defeat.

Drink!Drink! said:

Well, anyone wanna speak up for him. After 18 months is there a single thing that he has improved?

Click to expand...

He's united the fan base..... Against him.... But still

Drink!Drink! said:

Well, anyone wanna speak up for him. After 18 months is there a single thing that he has improved?

Click to expand...

Volume of calls to the Samaritans

Black said:

View attachment 85429

It me or is this a sly dig?

Click to expand...

Wearegoingtowintheleague said:

For context.....

When he was sacked we were 3 points off 5th place

We are currently 4 points off 5th place and the 5th place team have a game in hand over us.

Click to expand...

For further context, we were 11 points off of 4th (which actually means something) after 12 games. We are now 5 points of 4th after 32.

You purposely mentioned 5th as there was an 8 point gap between 4th and 5th at that moment in time. That’s twisting things to suit your agenda, not being fair and rational.

Davo99 said:

For further context, we were 11 points off of 4th (which actually means something) after 12 games. We are now 5 points of 4th after 32.

You purposely mentioned 5th as there was an 8 point gap between 4th and 5th at that moment in time. That’s twisting things to suit your agenda, not being fair and rational.

Click to expand...

I was just putting your 14th place comment into some context as you used it to make things seem much worse than they were at the time.

I don't have an agenda to twist, just pointing out you were being somewhat disingenuous.

Drink!Drink! said:

Well, anyone wanna speak up for him. After 18 months is there a single thing that he has improved?

Click to expand...

I believe he built the roads

Wearegoingtowintheleague said:

I was just putting your 14th place comment into some context as you used it to make things seem much worse than they were at the time.

I don't have an agenda to twist, just pointing out you were being somewhat disingenuous.

Click to expand...

Me????

You mentioned 5th as a parameter as if it means something, purely because of the 8 point gap between 4th and 5th. 5th place wasn’t relevant at all.

All I said was he was sacked in 14th place. That’s a fact. He wasn’t competing with City, far from it.

You were being disingenuous, not me. Why didn’t you use 4th as the parameter?

razzmaster said:

Genuine question now. As a Spurs fan do you hope for more than Sissoko offered tonight or is 50 odd touches from a central midfielder enough for you? Personally I think that is about what I would expect from Sissoko but a GLC or TN would have contributed more. It would also mean that Bale, Lamela or Moura could have started.

Click to expand...

I think there are better midfielders for sure. I dont think that has much to do with personal ambition. My personal ambition applies to things I can work for myself in my life.

Drink!Drink! said:

Well, anyone wanna speak up for him. After 18 months is there a single thing that he has improved?

Click to expand...

Our ability to be more 'Spursy'?

Giving Ledley his first foray into coaching?

Dele's tash?

The general mood on SC?

(Bee tee dubs; Is that Woody Allen in your avatar? What movie was that? I can't recall, yet it's familiar.)

SargeantMeatCurtains said:

Yep. Against a team missing their focal point in attack. It's cowardly. I might accept it if he starts Ndombele instead of Sissoko with Kane playing just behind Son and Bale. I can't stand managers with a 'must not lose' mentality. Southgate is the same.

Click to expand...

That, sir, is the hallmark of Mourinho's time with us. His fear of losing has over-ridden everything else. It is why he doesn't take advantage of the attacking talent he has at his disposal. It is why the players are scared to make mistakes. It is why we are unable to build on - or even retain - a lead.

It is why, against an Everton team with an abysmal home record, which hadn't won any of its last five and without its main goalscoring threat, Mourinho picked the team that he did. A team without any idea of how to attack, and a team that contained only three players who you might describe as attackers. He is afraid, and his teams and tactics are cowardly.

That is the main reason why he should go immediately. There are, of course, others, but that is the main one. It is the antithesis of 'to dare is to do', it is the antithesis of Tottenham, and it is why, until he goes, I shall continue to end my posts thus:

Audere est facere.

spud said:

until he goes, I shall continue to end my posts thus:

Audere est facere.

Click to expand...

Damn. That'll show him.