Mourinho admits to ‘wrong decisions’ on Bale and Alli as boss leaves door open for ‘good quality’ players

[Tel Boy]

I read his quotes as a criticism of the players for not being fit. Similar to how he called out Ndombele last year for not being fit.

Strange how people have different perceptions.

No doubt that both players are quality when on their game, hopefully Jose can get them firing like he has with Ndombele and Aurier - something I don’t think he gets enough praise for considering the criticism he got for his handling of Tanguay last season.

 

[E17yid]

That wasn't the point I was making, buddy. It was in answer to whether the change was for internal or external pressures, not whether the change itself was positive or negative.

My bad, I thought you were pondering on the reasons why he’s changed whether that’s from internal or external pressure or whether he’s just had a change of heart

 

[Ashley1974]

Completely agree on Pep and Zlatan but I meant at city & Liverpool I can’t think of a single important big name player who either manger has frozen out both these managers build players egos and confidence up massively they don’t criticise and beat them down. No wonder our players look sad as Jose called it, sorry but I think he’s done and his methods are outdated. (Jose)

Joe Hart is one

 

[CrazyHeart]

All soccer teams face boom bust cycles and to be honest, I'd rather have the dip take place now rather than later when it'll really count! Teams that didn't start as strongly will have to show extraordinary form and consistency throughout the season. We have a platform for success, through hard work, careful transfers and a manager that cares, demonstrated by his exemplary conduct since joining us.

 

[Stopwn]

Have we had this line up yet. If not, can we just try it for a few games at least - it can’t be any worse!

loris

Aurier alderweireld Dier. Reguillon

Holbjerg. ndombele

bale. Alli. Son

Kane

 

[Trix]

IMO, it massively matters. If a coach is willing to compromise his entire philosophy or approach to management/the game in general due to external and/or internal pressure then it’s game over. If he’s suddenly had an epiphany that he’s been wrong all this time then that is also concerning but admirable that he’s doing something to address it I guess.

He did say his time off had changed the way he was going to do things when he got appointed, it's possible this is what he meant. Would imagine it's not the easiest thing to do in practice if you are not used to compromise.

 

[Japhet]

He did say his time off had changed the way he was going to do things when he got appointed, it's possible this is what he meant. Would imagine it's not the easiest thing to do in practice if you are not used to compromise.

I think it's more likely he's been told to mend a few broken fences and get some of our top earners back onside. Levy must surely be pretty pissed seeing Dele sidelined week after week and Mourinho banging heads with him was going nowhere.

 

[SPURSLIFE]

Have we had this line up yet. If not, can we just try it for a few games at least - it can’t be any worse!

loris

Aurier alderweireld Dier. Reguillon

Holbjerg. ndombele

bale. Alli. Son

Kane

I would love to see him put that team out but I think we all know it's not going to happen.

 

[UbeAstard]

Even a time-traveling, cutting-edge coach from the year 3100 couldn't do anything about individual mistakes.

Mistakes come from pressure though and if you are constantly under pressure it will result in mistakes, the more mistakes which affects the results also affects the confidence me thinks. Our seemed philosophy where we were constantly soaking up pressure didnt help. All players make mistakes and less mistakes will be made where there is less constant pressure.

 

[CrazyHeart]

Mistakes come from pressure though and if you are constantly under pressure it will result in mistakes, the more mistakes which affects the results also affects the confidence me thinks. Our seemed philosophy where we were constanly soaking up pressure didnt help. All players make mistakes and less mistakes will be made where there is less constant pressure.

Good point. I definitely think that’s a factor, but we’ve also given up some howlers when we’ve been in control of games also - a la West Ham. Maybe it’s residual from the usual pressure absorption...

 

[Japhet]

Mistakes come from pressure though and if you are constantly under pressure it will result in mistakes, the more mistakes which affects the results also affects the confidence me thinks. Our seemed philosophy where we were constanly soaking up pressure didnt help. All players make mistakes and less mistakes will be made where there is less constant pressure.

I'd also say we don't have the players (defenders) for Mourinho's type of football but he hasn't made allowances for that. Firstly, you need a dominant keeper who bosses the penalty area and also has good distribution. That isn't Hugo. Sanchez is jittery as hell now in the deep defensive setup. We don't have a sound defensive RB and all of this ramps up the pressure on the whole back line. I don't know why Mourinho doesn't adapt to this or why he persists with a pivot midfield tbh. 3 in CM would provide not only more defensive stability, but also a load more angles and options to pass out from the back. Instead, we have a midfield that constantly gets outnumbered or passed around and can't win a 2nd ball for love nor money, and a back line that constantly resorts to banging long balls up the pitch which invariably come straight back at us.

 

[Frozen_Waffles]

Of course. I can't speak for all the players but he's had a fair discussion with Bale very recently, which they both got their concerns out in the open. From what I'm told GB came out of it far more positive than he went in.

He doesn't want to return to Madrid and now knows exactly what Jose needs/expects of him. So that's at least Dele, Serge and Bale that have seen a side to Jose nobody thought existed.

Maybe it won't work or won't last. Thing is it's a change of tact, because whatever was happening before wasn't working.

All we've heard since day one from the nay sayers, is "same old Jose" and "he'll never change". Well they are wrong it's not the same guy that never took responsibility, and that is the good news imo.

Call me cynical, but he is being pragmatic and nothing more here. With lo celso seeming to be the new lamela injury wise and Bergwijn not performing, he needs these players now.

Before he could make a point and ensure that everyone worked hard and put the graft in. He has to be flexible, if he had stayed with the hardline, he would just be cutting off his nose to spite his face.

Dele has not deserved to start for years and that is still true now, but we have such terrible central mids that we have had to put ndombele there which leaves the cam position to lo celso/lamela, both are not reliable.

With bale, it's obviously the training, stories from Harry and Defoe before were about the last time round and if he is pissing about and seemingly terrified of injury then you can understand José.

Bale I have hope for, I would just play him, no matter what. The talent is there, dele, i would be amazed if he turns it around but here's hoping.

On José, although some of the football has been turgid, decisions wise I think he has been spot on. He just has a lot of average players in that squad that need shipping asap.

 

[ComfortablyNumb]

It won’t make much difference if he doesn’t start coaching the team instead of just selecting it. Swapping Lucas for Dele won’t be positive if the rest of the team carries on playing as they would have before. They both have strengths and weaknesses. The team hasn’t appeared to play to Lucas’ strengths, or cover his weaknesses before, so I don’t see it happening with Dele.

 

[fishhhandaricecake]

He did say his time off had changed the way he was going to do things when he got appointed, it's possible this is what he meant. Would imagine it's not the easiest thing to do in practice if you are not used to compromise.

I think it says a lot about the fit of Jose's style of football which we've all mentioned plenty of times. The way Jose plays simply won't appease the majority of the fanbase which is why for him results are more important than any other Spurs manager previously given Jose's past and a large majority of the fans feelings towards him when he joined. When we were top of the league everything was rosey, as soon as we put in 3x low block insipid performances in a row and slip to 9th shit rightly in my opinion hits the fan.

But for now looking at it objectively it seems the majority of the squad are still putting in the effort for him, we are a win in our game in hand away from being back in a respectable position in the league, we have the easiest on paper draw possible in the EL so should on paper get through to last 16 and we are in final of the CC so as much as I don't like how things are, right now we are just about ok but if we go out of the EL and lose to West ham then I'd hope that Levy would really start to question his decision to bring Jose in and then be looking at alternatives if he's not already been eyeing those up already just in case, but for now it makes sense to give him until the end of the season but as ever with jose its a bumpy ride so lets see how the next few matches and weeks go, could go either way.