Jose Mourinho

[THOWIG]

Not at all, I think there is a lot of work to be done. However, your very last sentence is exactly why he should be given time. We have been in a decline for a long long time, so why lambast the guy who is trying to fix it?

I was referring to Mourinho's decline.

 

[THOWIG]

So we expect him to have built a style of football in 3 months were we have barely had a week off at a time with players constantly dropping out of systems due to injury.

How long do you think a new system takes to implement at the very highest level of professional sport?

This is not football manager. Anyone expecting some kind of new improved, all conquering Spurs at this point in his tenure maybe doesn't get how hard the job would be for anyone. How long did you give Poch before you started putting the boot in? A couple of months?

What he has done is made us harder to beat and more likely to win through whatever means he can. I personally don't care how we get there THIS season because quite frankly we have been playing awfully for ages now and if we can win and get through by just being a little more clever than the team's we play, then Jose is worth his weight in gold.

I gave Poch all the time in the world. Check out Leicester last season, as soon as Rodgers took over, and the case is closed on what can be achieved.

 

[dagraham]

Am I enjoying the way we’re playing at the moment? Fuck no.

Am I looking forward to the rest of the season? Again, fuck no. It’s going to seem awfully long and drawn out and I wish it was the summer already.

I would prefer us to be more on the front foot without sitting so deep against teams, but a lot of fans both here and in the stadium would be the first to rant about how shite we are if we pushed up and pressed and got stuffed most weeks.

If we’re still playing like this in a year then fair enough have a moan, but our manager’s hands are tied.

As is a common theme with us, the manager gets sold down the river by our recruitment strategy time and time again and just has to “make do”.

 

[0-Tibsy-0]

It's great that our results have mostly improved in the League under Mourinho.

But I am still surprised that they have after watching the games - we seem to surrender the ball to the opposition and only have a very half arsed pressing tactic to win it back. Not having possession is ok in theory, even if it goes against the grain of free flowing attacking football that most would prefer. However you can only surrender position and drop back if there is some cohesion and structure and more importantly a well drilled off the ball work rate.

None of which I have seen evidenced.

And that goes for the games we have been winning too. We are giving away so many opportunities that I am so surprised at our a points accumulation (though pleasantly, obviously). Man cIty should have been out of sight, Villa should have been 2/3 up before we even got in to the game.

Basically, and I think it will be unpopular, I think our points accumulation is evidence of that completely un-quantifiable theory of 'luck', and that our performances and lack of structure point to the current win rate being unsustainable.

 

[dudu]

I gave Poch all the time in the world. Check out Leicester last season, as soon as Rodgers took over, and the case is closed on what can be achieved.

So then why not give Jose time. Do you remember how we played in our first season under him?

Check out Liverpool and how long it took Klopp to get them working efficiently.

Just because one manager did well when he came in doesn't mean that is the case and we should close the book. Every team is different. How is that not obvious?

 

[Japhet]

It's great that our results have mostly improved in the League under Mourinho.

But I am still surprised that they have after watching the games - we seem to surrender the ball to the opposition and only have a very half arsed pressing tactic to win it back. Not having possession is ok in theory, even if it goes against the grain of free flowing attacking football that most would prefer. However you can only surrender position and drop back if there is some cohesion and structure and more importantly a well drilled off the ball work rate.

None of which I have seen evidenced.

And that goes for the games we have been winning too. We are giving away so many opportunities that I am so surprised at our a points accumulation (though pleasantly, obviously). Man cIty should have been out of sight, Villa should have been 2/3 up before we even got in to the game.

Basically, and I think it will be unpopular, I think our points accumulation is evidence of that completely un-quantifiable theory of 'luck', and that our performances and lack of structure point to the current win rate being unsustainable.

I'd also say that if Poch had had half the pure luck Mourinho has had, there wouldn't be a whole lot of difference in their stats. Poch going was the right decision but Jose has had more than his share of good fortune up til now.

 

[Fittster]

Why would there be any expectation of attacking football under Jose? It's not something you see on his CV.

He's here for 3 seasons to stabilize while the squad is rebuilt.

 

[Fittster]

I'd also say that if Poch had had half the pure luck Mourinho has had, there wouldn't be a whole lot of difference in their stats. Poch going was the right decision but Jose has had more than his share of good fortune up til now.

Poch used all his luck in the Champions League run.

 

[chelmyid]

We need to change it up in the summer. Nothing is going to change for us otherwise.

Any chance you could change and support someone else - utter tripe you talk

 

[Duke of Northumberland]

Question - on the TV it looked like 442 for most of the game- then the 2 subs and the commentators said it was a shift to a back 3, which seemed to make sense to help out midfield and made a difference, but post-match Mou said he hadn't changed the shape, just the players. Was it still the same or was there a change in shape?

 

[knowlespurs]

That was an exaggeration, I'll admit to that. Still, the way he set up the team that night, and how we completely got overrun by a very mediocre Man.Utd side, did not make wonders for my belief in him.

So then why not give Jose time. Do you remember how we played in our first season under him?

Check out Liverpool and how long it took Klopp to get them working efficiently.

Just because one manager did well when he came in doesn't mean that is the case and we should close the book. Every team is different. How is that not obvious?

agreed, Klopps 4th game he got beat at home to c palace, good job they didnt bin him after that

 

[dagraham]

I made reference to it and certainly havent forgotten and this is a two legged tie so we have to be pragmatic. The only difference between yesterday and the Bayern game is that they didnt take their chances - Bayern did. That was the only difference. Although we created way more against Bayern than we did yesterday. I thought we competed well in that game.

I mentioned before that whenever Poch mentioned the word competing I didnt really notice it much but it feels like we arent competing - particularly in the first half yesterday. We only compete when we are down and thats been the general theme along with a few exceptions.

This isnt just a fans thing though, a lot of the match reviews from yesterday are seeing what some of us are seeing and vice versa.

Yeah, fair points. I think Poch always talked about “bravery” etc. Which sounds inspiring, but often has merged into “naivety”.

You could say we are being far too passive and just accepting we’re second best. At times during the match I will admit it feels like a lower league team against a top side.

However, I just refuse to judge Jose so soon after coming into a complete shit show mid season, with a squad that’s been allowed to steadily decline for 2 years and is also full of crocks. And whose first transfer window saw us doing the usual Tottenham style of leaving a gaping chasm in the squad that threatens to undermine the whole damn show.

We are paying the price for putting the stadium above the team I’m afraid. If and when we start shifting our priorities back on to the football team then, and only then will I start casting a proper judgement on how we are performing.

 

[matthew.absurdum]

Also lack of a striker, Barcelona just signs Martin Braithwaite for €18m, 4.5 years contract. This is what the winter market gives you for €18m - a striker who can't even score lots of goals in the Championship (and just 1.77m high). I know it is painful to see Lucas upfront, but I hope that we can really buy a quality plan b striker with the money saved. Jose is right, we are fighting with a gun without bullet. And you can't just buy paper bullets because of this.

 

[double0]

Yeah, fair points. I think Poch always talked about “bravery” etc. Which sounds inspiring, but often has merged into “naivety”.

You could say we are being far too passive and just accepting we’re second best. At times during the match I will admit it feels like a lower league team against a top side.

However, I just refuse to judge Jose so soon after coming into a complete shit show mid season, with a squad that’s been allowed to steadily decline for 2 years and is also full of crocks. And whose first transfer window saw us doing the usual Tottenham style of leaving a gaping chasm in the squad that threatens to undermine the whole damn show.

We are paying the price for putting the stadium above the team I’m afraid. If and when we start shifting our priorities back on to the football team then, and only then will I start casting a proper judgement on how we are performing.

The same could be said of the previous manager who was working with an uninspired squad certain players not being able to go in the transfer market injuries and being let down by lack of investment.

I will give Mourinho the benefit of doubt because he has the silverware to prove his way is successful.... Boy its hard to watch though

 

[freeeki]

Do you honestly think we played well last night?

No, I think the game was relatively even, with Leipzig slightly better overall.

Can you explain how you came to the conclusion that a 1-0 win from a penalty was a Nagelsmann masterclass?

 

[dudu]

agreed, Klopps 4th game he got beat at home to c palace, good job they didnt bin him after that

Yup, he got beat by Newcastle, Watford, West Ham in those first couple of months.

In fact, in his first season, (joined early October) Klopp in the league was P30 W13 D9 L8 and they finished 8th.

Can you for a second imagine us finishing 8th - don't know how some on here would cope! Sack everyone!!!!

 

[Danny1]

I was referring to Mourinho's decline.

Yeah finishing second in the league, winning the Europa league and getting to a FA cup with a particular poor Man Utd team is really really bad........god knows what you thought of Poch!!

What decline are you talking about exactly? Sorry thowig I don’t mean to sound condescending but you are blaming a guy unfairly.

 

[THOWIG]

Yeah finishing second in the league, winning the Europa league and getting to a FA cup with a particular poor Man Utd team is really really bad........god knows what you thought of Poch!!

What decline are you talking about exactly? Sorry thowig I don’t mean to sound condescending but you are blaming a guy unfairly.

Loved Poch except for the last year, but didn't lay the entire blame at his door.

 

[THOWIG]

No, I think the game was relatively even, with Leipzig slightly better overall.

Can you explain how you came to the conclusion that a 1-0 win from a penalty was a Nagelsmann masterclass?

No claim of a masterclass. They completely out thought us, worked harder, had a clear style and system, passed better, were quicker and more adventurous. Every pundit/expert in the land sees it and most on here except for a few who clearly can't read the game.

 

[Metalhead]

Yeah, fair points. I think Poch always talked about “bravery” etc. Which sounds inspiring, but often has merged into “naivety”.

You could say we are being far too passive and just accepting we’re second best. At times during the match I will admit it feels like a lower league team against a top side.

However, I just refuse to judge Jose so soon after coming into a complete shit show mid season, with a squad that’s been allowed to steadily decline for 2 years and is also full of crocks. And whose first transfer window saw us doing the usual Tottenham style of leaving a gaping chasm in the squad that threatens to undermine the whole damn show.

We are paying the price for putting the stadium above the team I’m afraid. If and when we start shifting our priorities back on to the football team then, and only then will I start casting a proper judgement on how we are performing.

Totally agree Poch confused me a bit when talking about being brave. He held back on introducing new players into the team and let's not forget that from an in-game management perspective, it became a joke in the end that he'd not make any changes until the game was almost over.