Jose Mourinho

[hellava_tough]

I really expect Jose's team to be something like this:

Lloris
RB Alderweireld Dier Davies
Højbjerg LoCelso
Moura Dele Son
Kane
​

With...
Sanchez competing with Toby.
Winks competing with Lo Celso (and Lo Celso also potential playing further forward to accommodate Winks in some games).
Bergwijn competing with Moura.
Sessegnon providing back up to all positions on the left.
Lamela (and Lo Celso) competing with Dele.

I also think we'll see the formation become a 4-4-2 with a hexagonal shape to the front 6 in front of a low block in our own half when we do not have the ball

Højbjerg--LoCelso
Moura----------------Son
Kane---Dele
​

And will continue to see a 'lopsided RB' 3-2-5 attack when we have the ball...

Lloris
Alderweireld Dier Davies
Højbjerg LoCelso
RB Moura Kane Dele Son
​

It is essential that:

1. Dele gets his mojo back after a very patchy 18 months of form.​
2. We sign cover for Kane at CF as he cannot (and should not) play every game.​
3. We sign a RB who can defend as well as attack.​

​

Interesting analysis! Thanks for posting.

I agree with most of that, although i would query the attacking formation.

Certainly on the counter attack, we've seen 4 players going forward and 6 remaining at the back. Therefore, I don't see the RB and extra CM going forward in those situations.

That said, when we have the ball and are building from the back, we may well push the RB forward.

 

[hellava_tough]

Anyone else starting to feel more and more positive about things under Jose?

The Ipswich pre-season game had tons of positives and our transfer activity so far has been very astute and the plan seems sensible and aligned for once. If we can sort the TN situation and add another 3-4 players in the right positions I think we can really start to see some improved performances and we will be well set to challenge on all fronts next season (top4 and hopefully a trophy).

Jose is also giving youth a good chance and the feel with the players and club just seems a million times more positive than it did say before the lockdown when we had all the injuries and everything was going wrong.

I'm personally starting to feel that Jose is really slowly building something and all this constant talk from the players about how everything is about winning, the fact we've brought in 2 leaders in Hart and Hoyjbjerg and also added King to the coaching team I'm starting to really love the feel and vibe about the club again.

I know the football may be pragmatic at times but I'm starting to really come around to that idea and think that Jose and his winning mentality might well have been the best possible move for us following on from Poch.

I'm actually putting this out there now that if this year Jose did win us a trophy or have a really positive season and the fans are back and club is getting revenue again and we can keep re-building the squad well then there's even a chance that Jose might stay beyond his dreadded 3rd season and do a bit of a Klopp. Jose mentioned it takes time to build things and so far he's been pretty true to his word that when we got Son Kane and Sissoko back we'd be a lot better and also once we'd given him more time to work with the players and have a pre-season which he had during lockdown and we were 4th best team post lockdown. I think Jose and his pragmatic nature is also a very good person to have to help us do this re-build, he has a far better eye for a player than Poch had.

Lets see how next season goes but many many positives at the moment.

COYS.

I'm looking forward to the tactical aspect of the game, this coming season.

We haven't had a coach for many years (even decades) who relied on tactics and game management to win games.

We've certainly had some great managers who have allowed us to play entertaining football, but tactical awareness is a different type of entertainment.

I know many on here won't accept that and would prefer a more swashbuckling approach, but I for one am relishing going into every game with a plan to outwit the opposition.

 

[wakefieldyid]

I'm looking forward to the tactical aspect of the game, this coming season.

We haven't had a coach for many years (even decades) who relied on tactics and game management to win games.

In truth, Juande Ramos was regarded as the supreme tactical innovator, but his problem was in communicating his ideas to the players on the field, who never never really seemed to understand exactly what he wanted from them. (It's probably why their performances perked up so quickly when Hangdog Harry arrived with his more home-spun managerial approach.)

Clearly, Mourinho's communications skills are on a completely different level to those of Ramos.

 

[fishhhandaricecake]

I really expect Jose's team to be something like this:

Lloris
RB Alderweireld Dier Davies
Højbjerg LoCelso
Moura Dele Son
Kane
​

With...
Sanchez competing with Toby.
Winks competing with Lo Celso (and Lo Celso also potential playing further forward to accommodate Winks in some games).
Bergwijn competing with Moura.
Sessegnon providing back up to all positions on the left.
Lamela (and Lo Celso) competing with Dele.

I also think we'll see the formation become a 4-4-2 with a hexagonal shape to the front 6 in front of a low block in our own half when we do not have the ball

Højbjerg--LoCelso
Moura----------------Son
Kane---Dele
​

And will continue to see a 'lopsided RB' 3-2-5 attack when we have the ball...

Lloris
Alderweireld Dier Davies
Højbjerg LoCelso
RB Moura Kane Dele Son
​

It is essential that:

1. Dele gets his mojo back after a very patchy 18 months of form.​
2. We sign cover for Kane at CF as he cannot (and should not) play every game.​
3. We sign a RB who can defend as well as attack.​

​

I think this is 100% spot on, great post.

 

[Timberwolf]

Jose has his mojo back
Jose Mourinho is a man invigorated, according to Tottenham insiders. The Spurs boss is said to have even taken chairman Daniel Levy aback with his enthusiasm.
'He was on good form last season but he's come back on another level,' said one source. 'He is throwing himself into training sessions and those who have known him for a while say it is like seeing the Jose from the Porto days back again.'

is this "independent" backing up the ITK's or rehashed by journos from the ITK?

Hopefully this is true.

We're probably the first club he's managed since Porto that doesn't have huge egos and ridiculous expectations. Him and Levy seem to have a good relationship and the players, with one notable exception, all seem to have his back.

 

[SpartanSpur]

Jose has his mojo back
Jose Mourinho is a man invigorated, according to Tottenham insiders. The Spurs boss is said to have even taken chairman Daniel Levy aback with his enthusiasm.
'He was on good form last season but he's come back on another level,' said one source. 'He is throwing himself into training sessions and those who have known him for a while say it is like seeing the Jose from the Porto days back again.'

is this "independent" backing up the ITK's or rehashed by journos from the ITK?

I hope this is true. I think he is relishing the role and I think he's encouraged with the response he's got from our players post lockdown.

I actually think we're in good shape and could surprise people next season. Players look to be physically and mentally refreshed (probably the best in 2 years) and look to be buying in to Jose's methods. With the talent we have and the manager's experience this could be a potent combo. Key is getting Jose what he needs in the transfer window.

 

[Montalbano]

Mourinho learning Korean as Spurs boss hopes to communicate with Son Heung-min

JOSE MOURINHO says he is now learning an incredible SEVENTH language — Korean. The Tottenham boss is already fluent in Portuguese, Spanish, Catalan, English, French and Italian. And he is attemptin…

www.thesun.co.uk

Jose Mourinho — class act.

 

[taidgh]

Mourinho learning Korean as Spurs boss hopes to communicate with Son Heung-min

JOSE MOURINHO says he is now learning an incredible SEVENTH language — Korean. The Tottenham boss is already fluent in Portuguese, Spanish, Catalan, English, French and Italian. And he is attemptin…

www.thesun.co.uk

Jose Mourinho — class act.

Not doubting that Jose is learning Korean, but the language is very different than the ones he already speaks - all Romance languages. After living in Korea for 11 years and many years of study, my Korean is only fairly decent, and unless Jose is a linguistic genius, I wouldn't expect too much. In any case, Son speaks great English - highly doubt he needs someone to speak to him in Korean. That said, maybe even the effort to learn Korean might mean a lot to Sonny.

TLDR: More sensationalist shite from the Sun

 

[RichieS]

Not doubting that Jose is learning Korean, but the language is very different than the ones he already speaks - all Romance languages. After living in Korea for 11 years and many years of study, my Korean is only fairly decent, and unless Jose is a linguistic genius, I wouldn't expect too much. In any case, Son speaks great English - highly doubt he needs someone to speak to him in Korean. That said, maybe even the effort to learn Korean might mean a lot to Sonny.

TLDR: More sensationalist shite from the Sun

He certainly is a linguist though, and these high-performing management types are always looking for new ways to push/challenge themselves as well. He's probably just interested.

 

[Dougal]

Mourinho learning Korean as Spurs boss hopes to communicate with Son Heung-min

JOSE MOURINHO says he is now learning an incredible SEVENTH language — Korean. The Tottenham boss is already fluent in Portuguese, Spanish, Catalan, English, French and Italian. And he is attemptin…

www.thesun.co.uk

Jose Mourinho — class act.

Please, during lockdown I’m doing 9 languages. It ain’t all that...

 

[carmeldevil]

Not doubting that Jose is learning Korean, but the language is very different than the ones he already speaks - all Romance languages. After living in Korea for 11 years and many years of study, my Korean is only fairly decent, and unless Jose is a linguistic genius, I wouldn't expect too much. In any case, Son speaks great English - highly doubt he needs someone to speak to him in Korean. That said, maybe even the effort to learn Korean might mean a lot to Sonny.

TLDR: More sensationalist shite from the Sun

maybe he just wants to watch these wonderful Korean tv shows on Netflix

 

[teedee]

Mahrez? Mane? At the time they weren’t even higuain you’d have thought would’ve been fairly gettable, hummels went to Dortmund not that long after

edit: Mané may have been at Liverpool by then I can’t remember but he wanted Kante before Chelsea got him for a club that considers themselves the biggest in the world some of them seem reasonable targets

Mané joined Liverpool just after LVG left Utd.

 

[WiganSpur]

Hopefully this is true.

We're probably the first club he's managed since Porto that doesn't have huge egos and ridiculous expectations. Him and Levy seem to have a good relationship and the players, with one notable exception, all seem to have his back.

I think it helps that pretty much everyone will listen to him because we've won the square root of fuck all and choked in every big game we've played over the last few years. What right have any of the players got to question his methods? As good a coach as Nagelsmann is, this would have been the problem with someone like him.

I think there's a clear and obvious goal too at Spurs - just make us win. At United I always felt it was a bit cloudier because they'd been used to winning regularly already. He made a mistake going there.

 

[Timberwolf]

I think it helps that pretty much everyone will listen to him because we've won the square root of fuck all and choked in every big game we've played over the last few years. What right have any of the players got to question his methods? As good a coach as Nagelsmann is, this would have been the problem with someone like him.

I think there's a clear and obvious goal too at Spurs - just make us win. At United I always felt it was a bit cloudier because they'd been used to winning regularly already. He made a mistake going there.

Interesting point. What Nagelsmann is currently doing at Leipzig is very reminiscent of early/mid Poch at Spurs. He's making a talented young group of players over-perform and play exciting, attacking football, but is also unable to win the big games when it really matters, both in the league and the cups. That's not really a slight on him or Poch as, regardless of their lack of trophies, both are clearly fantastic managers, but rather highlights the importance of having that ineffable quality that makes a manager a 'winner' and the ability to his team over the line.

Maybe Poch and Nagelsmann will gain that with time, but it's something Jose has always had from the very beginning.

 

[hellava_tough]

Interesting point. What Nagelsmann is currently doing at Leipzig is very reminiscent of early/mid Poch at Spurs. He's making a talented young group of players over-perform and play exciting, attacking football, but is also unable to win the big games when it really matters, both in the league and the cups. That's not really a slight on him or Poch as, regardless of their lack of trophies, both are clearly fantastic managers, but rather highlights the importance of having that ineffable quality that makes a manager a 'winner' and the ability to his team over the line.

Maybe Poch and Nagelsmann will gain that with time, but it's something Jose has always had from the very beginning.

It's a ruthlessness with the players you have; doesn't matter how talented or vital they appear to be for the squad, if they don't have the very toughest of mental fortitude then they're out.

It's also realising that every little thing that every coach and player does, on and off the pitch, goes into the final result on Satuday. Winning coaches obsess over this stuff and is why they end up falling out with players and Chairmen, but ultimately are successful on the pitch.

It's why stuff like Poch running his mouth days before the CL final, talking about leaving, never sat right with me. Did that give the squad the extra 1% they needed to win the game, or did it take away from preparations? I'm guessing the latter.

 

[fishhhandaricecake]

The momentum is slowly building with Jose! The AON documentary will be good for him and Levy and all positive news at the moment like that he’s learning Korean, if that’s true that’s some gesture to son and/or KMJ is incoming.

But mainly the transfer window so far is looking finally so sensible and like we have a realistic plan.

Compared to Poch who seemingly was saying De Jong or nothing, Jose is spreading the funds around sensibly to improve in key areas, the sum of the parts and the whole are greater than any one individual.

It’s like they’re both picking their fantasy football team with that £100m budget and Jose knows he has Kane and Son as his big hitter expensive players and he needs to balance out the rest of the team whereas Poch wanted a few more hit hitters and the budget just wouldn’t stretch to it.

If we can get MD over the line soon that’s amazing having him and PEH ready for the start of the season, then we just need to get the striker over the line and happy days.

COYS

 

[fishhhandaricecake]

Mabye it’s taken a manager of Jose’s level for Levy to finally try and be decisive with the ins and outs especially if as reported and as self proclaimed by Jose he gives DL a weekly dossier on the teams strengths and weaknesses then Jose seems to have laid out a very clear pragmatic and realistic plan as to what is needed to improve the team and this is also why I thought these two would get on well as that will suit levy who is the cautious type, he’ll have more confidence when the requests are coming from a manager who’s been there and won it all.
https://inews.co.uk/sport/football/...matt-doherty-jose-mourinho-daniel-levy-611682

Tottenham’s business so far in this window suggests that Levy has made concessions to Mourinho, not in the form of blowing the club’s budget on big signings, but by acting swiftly and decisively to land his manager’s targets in key areas of the pitch. In doing so, Levy has broken the habit of a lifetime.

 

[Timberwolf]

Mabye it’s taken a manager of Jose’s level for Levy to finally try and be decisive with the ins and outs especially if as reported and as self proclaimed by Jose he gives DL a weekly dossier on the teams strengths and weaknesses then Jose seems to have laid out a very clear pragmatic and realistic plan as to what is needed to improve the team and this is also why I thought these two would get on well as that will suit levy who is the cautious type, he’ll have more confidence when the requests are coming from a manager who’s been there and won it all.
https://inews.co.uk/sport/football/...matt-doherty-jose-mourinho-daniel-levy-611682

Tottenham’s business so far in this window suggests that Levy has made concessions to Mourinho, not in the form of blowing the club’s budget on big signings, but by acting swiftly and decisively to land his manager’s targets in key areas of the pitch. In doing so, Levy has broken the habit of a lifetime.

It's worth noting the signings we've made have all been cheap and/or free. Usually Levy waits until the last minute in order to save a few million quid, but when you can get Hojbjerg for £15M and (fingers crossed) Doherty for £12=16 they're already such good value that there isn't much point in waiting.

Either that or Jose has really emphasised how important it is to get players in early and, for once, Levy has listened.

 

[fishhhandaricecake]

I think it helps that pretty much everyone will listen to him because we've won the square root of fuck all and choked in every big game we've played over the last few years. What right have any of the players got to question his methods? As good a coach as Nagelsmann is, this would have been the problem with someone like him.

I think there's a clear and obvious goal too at Spurs - just make us win. At United I always felt it was a bit cloudier because they'd been used to winning regularly already. He made a mistake going there.

Great post, you’ve hit the nail on the head here!

 

[fishhhandaricecake]

It's a ruthlessness with the players you have; doesn't matter how talented or vital they appear to be for the squad, if they don't have the very toughest of mental fortitude then they're out.

It's also realising that every little thing that every coach and player does, on and off the pitch, goes into the final result on Satuday. Winning coaches obsess over this stuff and is why they end up falling out with players and Chairmen, but ultimately are successful on the pitch.

It's why stuff like Poch running his mouth days before the CL final, talking about leaving, never sat right with me. Did that give the squad the extra 1% they needed to win the game, or did it take away from preparations? I'm guessing the latter.

Such good points. Look I loved Poch and what he did for us that will never change but you’re spot on that some of his behaviours didn’t seem 100% like they would have a positive effect on the squad.

I feel like one of the reasons we also got so close but didn’t cross the line was how emotional poch was and the players took that on rather than being ruthless which is what you need to win and get over the line.

I feel like slowly our fans are starting to realise that Jose could well be the best possible person to follow on from the good work Poch did to try and really Instill this winning mentality in the group and also build a group with more leaders and strong characters to get us over the line to win something and I think and hope our fans will also sacrifice the style of play a bit for a more pragmatic style which hopefully has more of a chance of leading to us finally actually winning something again.

Like you said it’s all about that 1% and fine margins at the top level and everything you do as a manager has an effect on the end result. With Jose it’s all about winning and th might sound simple and obvious but if that is always the message and focus eventually it becomes second nature for the players to just focus and hone in on winning in whatever way possible. It’s another reason why Levy Ultimately got rid of Redknapp because as well as he did for us with his arm round the shoulder management he was never the guy to take us to the next level as quite frankly compared to a Jose he was a very lazy manger and keeping things simple and arm around the shoulder can only get you so far.

Let’s trust in Jose. It certainly looks like he and levy are doing a very strong re-building job this summer tw.

COYS