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Jose Mourinho

How do you feel about Mourinho appointment

  • Excited - silverware here we come baby

    Votes: 666 46.7%
  • Meh - will give him a chance and hope he is successful

    Votes: 468 32.8%
  • Horrified - praying for the day he'll fuck off

    Votes: 292 20.5%

  • Total voters
    1,426

thebenjamin

Well-Known Member
Jul 1, 2008
12,164
38,545
Why not? Many teams do.

It's quite clear from that the way Mourinho has us set up that the full backs are supposed to be key to our attacking play. Yesterday evening, they were given the ball in great positions on numerous occasions, with plenty of space and time. Not once did they deliver a cross (high or low) of any quality or accuracy. Not once did they create a chance. Wholly unacceptable from highly paid professional footballers. If they had done their job, we would have won regardless their (and others') comical defending.

But what is the point in unbalancing the entire side just to get Serge Aurier free on the right? It's not like his crossing being deplorable is news.
 

Gassin's finest

C'est diabolique
May 12, 2010
37,354
87,822
The thing with properly backing Jose is that you're going to be spending a lot of money on players who will either be in their 30s or ones with absolutely zero resale value... Koullibally is all well and good but 90 odd million is a lot.

Needs to be a balance between experience and youth in our squad.

Jose will certainly be done with us but i suspect at end of the season Levy and Jose will shake hands and off we go for someone else. Jose needs to go to PSG or somewhere like that
I don't think that's necessarily true, but I do agree that for the players he would normally expect, you are talking an unsustainable amount of dosh in today's market.

Your last paragraph is likely bob on. I give him until Christmas though.
 

BringBack_leGin

Well-Known Member
Jul 28, 2004
27,719
54,929
I’m not convinced by Mourinho. This doesn’t mean I was against his appointment- I was indifferent because he comes with both a history of winning things and also alienating players. So let’s say, I was content to see what he could do. While he’s had to deal with a raft of injuries he’s also three games into the post lockdown schedule and I wouldn’t say we’ve been impressive or fluid in those three games. In fact, I’d say we don’t look much better than we did under the last few months of Poch

I think the broader issue rests with Levy and Enic who continue to play ultra safe when we’ve been on the cusp of successes. I think the 2018 summer transfer window was, and continues to be, a monumental disaster for the squad. I blame Poch for his stubbornness and Levy for his appalling leadership in bringing about this disaster. I blame the club’s recruitment strategy for replacing sold first team players for weaker replacements. I also blame our recruitment strategy for not identifying and acquiring affordable, much needed players like Sander Berge who could easily walk into our central midfield and address some very old and obvious team deficiencies.

I think Mourinho will be another costly disaster for the club, and this is why. For three or four years, it was universally acknowledged that Poch’s supreme talent lie in his ability to get average or good players performing beyond expectation. He did it at Southampton and he did it with us. While he lacked the tactical acumen of the best coaches in the world, he created a squad full of hungry, well drilled, committed players willing to lay themselves on the line for him and the squad. When things soured, those qualities disappeared and with them the squad identity and potency. After his sacking we were left with a squad, through sales and poor recruitment as well as disillusionment with him, bereft of identity and drive. In short, apart from a couple of excellent players, the mostly average group of players were back to being average yet also affected by the sense that they were probably never going to be as good as they once were. In short, this is not a Mourinho squad. It lacks technical nous, confidence and identity. Mourinho would need to rebuild most of this squad to be successful and this is something that Enic would never buy into. Through no real fault of his own, Mourinho has inherited a wreck of a squad, and his skill set is not aligned with what this squad needs.

Essentially, if a total rebuild isn’t possible- which it won’t be- we need another Poch type manager. Someone whose strengths lies in building confidence and elevating limited players into something greater than themselves. A manager who looks to play on the front foot, who emphasises energy and movement rather than control and counterattacks.

Mourinho will be a failure here. He just isn’t the right coach for how we operate as a club. And all the time he’s here, the squad continues to decay. The only way this situation transforms into something productive and successful is if Enic lay out a massive chunk of cash in order to dismantle the squad and rebuild it. And they absolutely won’t do this. So, we need another coach who can get the best out of limited players, who may not be the greatest tactician but who can create a powerful and potent squad at least worthy of challenging for greatness. I won’t hold my breath
Everything you say makes sense, and in terms of the failings which led to this stake squad is absolutely true, but I’d suggest that going forward a rebuild Is required regardless of who is in charge. As such, any other manager is as big as risk as Mourinho, after all for every Pochettino there is an AVB, but at least with Mourinho, much as I never liked him and don’t identify with his approach to success, if he does get it right there’s a in my opinion a decent chance of success at the end of it. The other thing I’d suggest is that like Redknapp, Mourinho is an experienced and hardened leader who is likely to get more out of Levy in terms of investment than any young up-comer who loves a project, and right now we need investment, not a philosophy.
 

doctor stefan Freud

the tired tread of sad biology
Sep 2, 2013
15,170
72,169
Everything you say makes sense, and in terms of the failings which led to this stake squad is absolutely true, but I’d suggest that going forward a rebuild Is required regardless of who is in charge. As such, any other manager is as big as risk as Mourinho, after all for every Pochettino there is an AVB, but at least with Mourinho, much as I never liked him and don’t identify with his approach to success, if he does get it right there’s a in my opinion a decent chance of success at the end of it. The other thing I’d suggest is that like Redknapp, Mourinho is an experienced and hardened leader who is likely to get more out of Levy in terms of investment than any young up-comer who loves a project, and right now we need investment, not a philosophy.
I’d agree if I had confidence in the club applying logic in the way you do. A rebuild is absolutely preferable but we’ve been hearing noises that there isn’t much money available. That means a rebuild on a modest budget, which is okay if you’ve got a good scouting and recruiting structure in place but I don’t think we do. I’ve got little faith in us acting effectively, decisively or timely when it comes to recruitment. We tend to faff about for ages, miss out on targets or alienate selling clubs. My only bit of ITK ever comes from my brother in law who used to be a very high flying PR executive and one of his clients was Shakhtar Donetsk and he told me this story that Levy was trying to buy one of their players some time ago, it might even have been Willian, and he was told he’d need to double his offer before the club would even consider talking. Anyway, Levy kept coming back with derisory offers that were about half a million better than the original offer. In the end the chairman wouldn’t even take his calls. I’ve no reason to doubt my brother in law, who had a close professional relationship with the SD chairman and this story certainly tallies with others that have done the rounds for years about Levy. In short, if we’re going to be characteristically difficult at recruitment again, we need someone who can reshape the bulk of the current squad because I’m not convinced we’ll sell that many of our ‘deadwood’. Because of this, I just can’t see Mourinho being successful in this context
 

BringBack_leGin

Well-Known Member
Jul 28, 2004
27,719
54,929
I’d agree if I had confidence in the club applying logic in the way you do. A rebuild is absolutely preferable but we’ve been hearing noises that there isn’t much money available. That means a rebuild on a modest budget, which is okay if you’ve got a good scouting and recruiting structure in place but I don’t think we do. I’ve got little faith in us acting effectively, decisively or timely when it comes to recruitment. We tend to faff about for ages, miss out on targets or alienate selling clubs. My only bit of ITK ever comes from my brother in law who used to be a very high flying PR executive and one of his clients was Shakhtar Donetsk and he told me this story that Levy was trying to buy one of their players some time ago, it might even have been Willian, and he was told he’d need to double his offer before the club would even consider talking. Anyway, Levy kept coming back with derisory offers that were about half a million better than the original offer. In the end the chairman wouldn’t even take his calls. I’ve no reason to doubt my brother in law, who had a close professional relationship with the SD chairman and this story certainly tallies with others that have done the rounds for years about Levy. In short, if we’re going to be characteristically difficult at recruitment again, we need someone who can reshape the bulk of the current squad because I’m not convinced we’ll sell that many of our ‘deadwood’. Because of this, I just can’t see Mourinho being successful in this context
The answer to all you say is DOF.

I think for me there’s an acceptance that, unless we lost almost all our remaining fixtures (which won’t happen) Mourinho is at least starting next season.

I’m just hoping this summer, with many clubs in financial difficulties, combined with Levy having bet the house and kids on Mourinho, sees a return of the shrewd operator who spent 05-15 hoovering up high potential players who were clearly not going to stay where they were. I think sadly Pochettino has a lot to answer for in our divergence from this course, because under him for the first time we seemed to stop focussing on the lower league and the relegated stars.
 

doctor stefan Freud

the tired tread of sad biology
Sep 2, 2013
15,170
72,169
The answer to all you say is DOF.

I think for me there’s an acceptance that, unless we lost almost all our remaining fixtures (which won’t happen) Mourinho is at least starting next season.

I’m just hoping this summer, with many clubs in financial difficulties, combined with Levy having bet the house and kids on Mourinho, sees a return of the shrewd operator who spent 05-15 hoovering up high potential players who were clearly not going to stay where they were. I think sadly Pochettino has a lot to answer for in our divergence from this course, because under him for the first time we seemed to stop focussing on the lower league and the relegated stars.
It’s not that I expect Levy to be remotely bothered by fan disquietude, but in some ways this window is a desperate throw of the dice. We’ve become accustomed to relative success over the last five years, we have an exceptional stadium, but also one with extraordinarily high season ticket costs. If performances continue as they are, we become a much less profitable revenue stream, especially once fans are allowed back in stadiums and the booing starts.

I’d love a DoF, but I’m not sure Levy does. Either way, something has to change and we need to get ourselves back in shape. When Sheff Utd, Everton, Wolves and even Palace are your closest rivals, the plane really has crashed into the mountain. Relatively speaking, we’re much wealthier than they are, and we need to start acting like a club that has one of the most expensive and lucrative stadiums on the planet
 

jolsnogross

Well-Known Member
May 17, 2005
3,730
5,431
We need a 'philosophy' or identity now more than ever. We look completely rudderless. Prior to the shutdown, we were falling asunder. And we've just played a game of that ilk now again.

I'd be glad to see the back of Mourinho tomorrow. But since that's not on the cards, I'd like him to get a semblance of structure and a shred of consistency going so we don't embarras ourselves again.

At this point, competently executed negative tactics for 6 games would be welcome, rather than needing to look away from the shambles. And just play GLC as the number 10 and stop fucking around with that position.
 

Albertbarich

Well-Known Member
Jul 4, 2020
5,082
19,484
Hi, first post so please be gentle.

I think that the issue is 100% with Levy and Lewis. Jose whilst in my opinion the total wrong man for the job isn't at fault for that.

The club needs to decide what it wants to be. Look at us from afar. Best football stadium in the world, huge Nike kit deal, Englands superstar upfront. Also and this is silly but its true. You know the covers we currently have over the seats? They're pretty uniform throughout the league except sponsors and colours. Compare our sponsors. Its not full of unknown Asian betting companies but has the logos of Audi, Cadburys, William Hill. Big brands known over the world. Top that off with the worlds most famous football manager .

Everything to the outsider screams massive club up there with the madrids and Barcelonas of this world.

And then look at how we run our football team. As successful as levy has been off the field on it he has been a failure. We have grown yes but its been a slow painful process without trophies and seen careers killed.

He has to make a choice. If he wants the jose Mourinho superstar aura then you have to give jose mourinho what he always got when he won titles. Lots and lots of money. I agree with those who think jose is past his best but he could deliver trophies if we give him the cash. Look at united. Half a billion quid to get a second place and two secondary trophies. Don't get me wrong id take that but I think we all know and accept that jose Mourinho isn't going to get that cash here.

Whats the alternative?. Get back to what brought us to the dance. Invest in young players. Id love Levy to stay out of footballing matters in which he has zero business being involved in. We have to get in a proper director of football. Copy that dortmund model. The dof has to have a large extensive scouting team that he chooses and he also should choose the coach.

Tottenham fans are pretty patient. 19 years with one carling cup. Manager after manager screwed over in the transfer market all the while he charges the highest prices in Europe and treats the football team that were all here for as a nuisance in his brand building so I think we would accept a model based on investing in exciting youngsters and logical football decisions.

Right now though were doing nothing that makes sense. Starve our best manager for decades of backing in the transfer market. Finally invest but sack him before he gets a chance to bed them in and then hire someone who has a philosophy that doesn't match with yours or the fans whatsoever. Its baffling. Add to the awful social media presence ( boasting constantly about the stadium we can't visit a day after another loss isn't clever) and you have a club without a solid philosophy or plan.

Enic aren't selling and even if they were the money that they would ask for is so insane we would only get the ultimate in souless investment fund types so I dont see the point in screaming levy out but we can have a voice and let him know that this isn't good enough.

Finally just a reminder before anyone defends him. Only a few months ago he did an interview telling the fans to not be obsessed with transfers and spending money and not everyone can win trophies.

The highest paid chairman in the Premier league charging the highest ticket prices in the world said that. That says all you need to know about his priorities
 

Trees

Well-Known Member
Aug 31, 2012
1,534
4,203
I would never want us to lose but if the next six games are shocking then maybe it will lead to some Proper change at the club.
 

kaz Hirai

Well-Known Member
Nov 5, 2008
17,692
25,340
I would never want us to lose but if the next six games are shocking then maybe it will lead to some Proper change at the club.

No booing fans when arsenal thrash us so it won't seem so pressure cooker hot on levy massive head
 

spursfan77

Well-Known Member
Aug 13, 2005
46,680
104,956
I’m sure Poch said exactly the same thing about this group of players:

Time. Only time. One of the most difficult things in football is exactly that, to change mentalities. It's to change state of mind. It's to change the team's soul. It's one of the most difficult things in football. Sometimes you have incredible luck to have a majority of players adapted to these needs and some other times you have incredible players but the psychological profile is different or was built in a different direction. So only time can do it. You have a recent example of the new champions and you know what the process to build the team is.
 

NEVILLEB

Well-Known Member
Nov 6, 2006
6,733
6,335
Sissoko would be fine at RWB but I don’t see how he would offer anything different to Aurier. Aurier’s strengths are his athleticism, heading, tackling etc and that’s what Sissoko would bring to the role. Aurier’s mean weakness for me is his technical quality and I’m not sure Sissoko would bring that in abundance.

For me Aurier’s weakness is his decision making/defensive instincts. I think he’s technically good on the ball.

Sissoko is a conundrum because he has great pace, energy and can win the ball but that’s about it. I don’t think he’s great but Aurier makes a mistake virtually every match which is a disaster for a defender.
 

rossdapep

Well-Known Member
Aug 25, 2011
21,907
78,644
Despite the shambles the other day, I’ve seen signs since the restart of a plan being implemented. If we hadn’t been so sloppy in possession in the final third we should have been a few goals up before they scored. Unfortunately the problems JM inherited (such as mental fragility, lack of fight and unbalanced squad due to poor recruitment) take a long time to fix.

I’m not sure I like the man, although I find him very intriguing. However his credentials are unquestionable. I also believe he’s clever enough to adapt so don’t accept the argument he’s past it. I keep hearing people ask where is the evidence he can do it without a big spend, but i’d counter that with the argument, where is the evidence he can’t and what examples are there of anyone doing it without big money in modern football.

I believe he can succeed but only if given time and backed with the players he wants (even if they’re not the very best). Otherwise what was the fucking point?). I’m a huge fan of what Levy has done for this club, but if the Mourinho appointment doesn’t work, surely Levy would have to accept he needs to go too.
Yeah I tend to agree.

Klopp doesnt get this accusation levelled at him but he needed to spend heavy to turn Liverpool into title challengers, without it they were way off. He said for ages thay he wouldn't spend huge money but in the end he had to because he realised the quality he needed meant that he had to fork out.

All coaches need to spend big in today's world to really challenge and win. Pep had to double his spend to sort City out.

Jose doesn't have that luxury here, so it's going to be tough. But if he can acquire some smart signings like Bergwijn we may at least be able to challenge and get back into CL. That has to be the short term goal because we are miles off challenging for titles.
 

southlondonyiddo

My eyes have seen some of the glory..
Nov 8, 2004
12,599
15,012
Jose was brought in because Levy didn’t believe a rebuild was needed and wasn’t comfortable with the amount of money Poch said was required to freshen up this squad

Now Jose knows exactly how much this group has stagnated and Levy must be smelling the coffee too

Oh dear oh dear oh dear what a clusterfuck.

Amazing how quickly taking your eye off the ball can fuck you

Amazing training ground and shiny bowl though
 

spursfan77

Well-Known Member
Aug 13, 2005
46,680
104,956
Jose was brought in because Levy didn’t believe a rebuild was needed and wasn’t comfortable with the amount of money Poch said was required to freshen up this squad

Now Jose knows exactly how much this group has stagnated and Levy must be smelling the coffee too

Oh dear oh dear oh dear what a clusterfuck.

Amazing how quickly taking your eye off the ball can fuck you

Amazing training ground and shiny bowl though

Spot on.
 

SamR

Well-Known Member
Jan 31, 2006
1,214
2,440
Give him the summer to bring in who he can and work on the team shape.

I admire what we've done off the pitch but Levy and Co have been a shambles with transfer policy and it's led to this speedy decline.

What surprises me most is that for club hierarchy so focused on revenue generation, we've failed to capitalise on our momentum on the pitch to make us a more desirable brand around the world. Perhaps there are things we aren't privy to which restricts our transfer spending (stadium debt), but we'll probably lose £100ms in lost revenue from missing CL, Naming rights...

We'll now have to sell decent players to fund the positions we need most. We need a DoF so Levy can focus on what he does best (off the pitch) as we're in a shit storm right now on all fronts. What gives me some hope is that clubs like Dortmund can fight successfully with shrewd investment and that's something the club can replicate if we set the right strategy moving forward.

I still feel Jose has something to give to this club and we need to accept Poch's time was up (not necessarily his fault mind you). If we're sitting similar next season around mid table it will be easy to blame Jose but the office upstairs is more likely where the root problem is yet again.
 

rossdapep

Well-Known Member
Aug 25, 2011
21,907
78,644
Jose was brought in because Levy didn’t believe a rebuild was needed and wasn’t comfortable with the amount of money Poch said was required to freshen up this squad

Now Jose knows exactly how much this group has stagnated and Levy must be smelling the coffee too

Oh dear oh dear oh dear what a clusterfuck.

Amazing how quickly taking your eye off the ball can fuck you

Amazing training ground and shiny bowl though
We were told after the summer of no spend that the board were in a state of delusion.

it's pretty clear that with the team doing so well and the stadium being a huge distraction they got arrogant or careless about the playing side of things.
 

enfieldyid

Active Member
Sep 22, 2004
63
164
Jose is just a name he is no longer the manager he once was. His second stint at Chelsea actually cost them more titles than he won them look they could have had two world class players and a very good international striker but he decided these players were rubbish. Between Salah and De Brunye since returning back to the EPL how many trophies have they won. To me Mourinho lost any remaining magic he had at Real Madrid and has been a shadow since then.
 

wrd

Well-Known Member
Aug 22, 2014
13,603
58,005


This is pretty astounding considering the majority of our fanbase decided it was time for Poch to go because "he had lost the dressing room" for Jose to now question their desire.

I feel the same now as I felt under Poch which is that the players attitudes were the issue. Not to say they were bad apples but that we needed a personnel overhaul as the players no longer had the fight in them to continue the journey.

I worry for this route that Jose is going though. Feels like we're going to be heading for a toxic environment.
 
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