José Mourinho | 2018/19 Performances

[VP89]

Because Mourinho is very much a reactive manager and always has been. "We don't lose" is pretty much his mantra. Even at his best, when he was very successful.

It's not a negative thing in of itself. You can score tons of goals as well with that same outlook. It's just a mentality and it's well known with Mourinho.

If his outlook was just "we don't lose" then we'd have drawn way more games and finished lower down the table.

You don't finish 2nd with 81 points on the table by having a reactive approach to all league games. He obviously intended to get all 3 points from a large bulk of his games and did so successfully.

Being reactive in a handful of games I can agree with, like Huddersfield away, or Brighton last week, or Leicester at Xmas eve last season. But throughout the season? Feck no.

 

[Minimalist]

If his outlook was just "we don't lose" then we'd have drawn way more games and finished lower down the table.

You don't finish 2nd with 81 points on the table by having a reactive approach to all league games. He obviously intended to get all 3 points from a large bulk of his games and did so successfully.

Being reactive in a handful of games I can agree with, like Huddersfield away, or Brighton last week, or Leicester at Xmas eve last season. But throughout the season? Feck no.

Why would that be?

He still obviously tells his attackers to do their bit. More often than not, we're better and we win. But it's never the same style, or a pattern we can see in our play. It's functional, it's dire to watch and frankly boring. It's reactive - just play each game as it comes and make sure we don't concede.

 

[Rash Decision]

Because Mourinho is very much a reactive manager and always has been. "We don't lose" is pretty much his mantra. Even at his best, when he was very successful.

It's not a negative thing in of itself. You can score tons of goals as well with that same outlook. It's just a mentality and it's well known with Mourinho.

I think it's more of his stylistic approach to the game that's reactive. I'm sure Jose generally sets out to win matches, but he's reactive in the sense that he doesn't coach his team to impose their game on the opponents; instead, he coaches his team to react to the opponent's game so as to nullify it. As a result, when the opponent hands us the initiative we often look like we don't know what to do.

Imo the "we don't lose" mentality is more about him being overly cautious than reactive.

 

[reddevil80]

The football seems to be getting progressively worse the more we spend, shitty might have been strong but he's not really giving us any reason to continue with him is he?

That was my exact point, he has gotten so many of us fans feeling very nonplussed that it's not "hate" for mourinho, it's just an intense dislike to watching our team play so boring and miserably that we are almost numb to games now. Sitting at the leicester match with my son and he was so bored and ticked off, he wanted to leave early, me too but we stayed and were stunned to hear fans chanting "Jose Mourinho"!! It is down to him choosing to play defensively week in week out that has away fans singing louder than us! Old Trafford WAS a cauldron of noise and fear for the opposition, not anymore. In my opinion, for the fans to get back on mourinho's side ( which I think is too far gone now ), he has to bring aggressive attacking football back and quick. My son and I travel 2.5-3hrs to get to OT for matches and the last 3 seasons we have left OT feeling incredibly tired and infuriated. I want to feel like we have fought to make OT a fortress again

 

[VP89]

Why would that be?

He still obviously tells his attackers to do their bit. More often than not, we're better and we win. But it's never the same style, or a pattern we can see in our play. It's functional, it's dire to watch and frankly boring. It's reactive - just play each game as it comes and make sure we don't concede.

Because being reactive suggests you're going in to ensure the opposition doesn't score without really trying to force the issue yourself.

We can moan about the style of play all we want but Jose sets out to win games. That's not a reactive approach. I don't have the stats to hand but it would be interesting to know how many league games we won last year from scoring first. It would be a high percentage (I can only really think of City and Palace off the top of my head where we made a big comeback).

Yeah he's pragmatic and cautious in his approach. But reactive is the wrong term.

 

[AndyJ1985]

Because being reactive suggests you're going in to ensure the opposition doesn't score without really trying to force the issue yourself.

We can moan about the style of play all we want but Jose sets out to win games. That's not a reactive approach. I don't have the stats to hand but it would be interesting to know how many league games we won last year from scoring first. It would be a high percentage (I can only really think of City and Palace off the top of my head where we made a big comeback).

Yeah he's pragmatic and cautious in his approach. But reactive is the wrong term.

We barely create any chances, or attack at all. Not sure how that translates to setting out to win games. Our approach is obviously defence first

 

[roonster09]

How so?

I said arguably, as I haven't seen any interviews which said Jose was major influence. For all other players there are interviews or links at least 6 months before they were signed.

 

[VP89]

We barely create any chances, or attack at all. Not sure how that translates to setting out to win games. Our approach is obviously defence first

The first two games we have been extremely poor this season. But as already stated, there is no way any manager let alone Mourinho can walk into a Premier League season, set out to only defend and finish 2nd.

He obviously wants to win games. Argue about his dross style of play all you want, in general Mourinho sets out to win games and finish as high up the table as possible. That's undeniable.

 

[Santoryo]

I know it's two games but those games were against Brighton and Leicester. What that tells me is that even if those stats improve, it won't be by much.

And the most shocking fact is that a bottom tier team like Huddersfield after having played Chelsea and City have better stats than us after playing Leicester and fecking Brighton.

Absolutely pathetic, 2 games or not.

 

[In Rainbows]

The first two games we have been extremely poor this season. But as already stated, there is no way any manager let alone Mourinho can walk into a Premier League season, set out to only defend and finish 2nd.

He obviously wants to win games. Argue about his dross style of play all you want, in general Mourinho sets out to win games and finish as high up the table as possible. That's undeniable.

Oh come on man.

Here are some stats from the entire PL seasons last season. Out of the top 6, United were 6th in shots on target, 6th in possession, 5th in goals, 6th in key passes, and 6th in chances created.

We are pathetic going forward.

 

[AlwaysRed66]

I'll say this again for people who don't seem to understand, supporters are more than willing to give appropriate time to managers and players that show signs of what they want to see, exciting football, passion, flair, not necessarily always winning but not giving in either, none of which we are getting with Mourinho, intact you'd be hard pressed to look on the pitch and see any sort of plan a majority of the time.

That's why people are obsessed with Pep, or Klopp or Pochettino, because you are actually seeing what they are doing, the positive influence they are having on their team and the supporters and you can see what they are doing on the pitch, is it always successful, no, is Mourinho? No. 3rd season and I still can't tell what the hell we are trying to do in attacking areas of the pitch until we revert to hoof it to Fellaini, that's the only time I understand perfectly.

This is why I & others expect Mourinho to be challenging for the league & Champions League this season. If he is going to play crap football, then he needs to deliver results. This is why I don't think he is going to last long, as every game we fail to win he is going to come under pressure playing like we do, & even we win probably the same.

Everton fans only put up with Allardyce for 6 months, & he got them from the depths of the relegation zone to 8th, but still had enough of his awful football. I would hope as fans we would expect more than Everton.

 

[Coach V]

Debunking the Mourinho Transfer Myth


DDG (Romero)

Boateng(Valencia) Bailly(Maguire) Toby(Yerry Mina) Sandro(Young)

Fred (Herrera) Matic (Felliani)

Perisic

Lingard(Mata) Sanchez Willian(Rashford)


Lukaku

Transfers Out: Pogba (150 Mill), Martial (70 Mill), Smalling/Jones (20 Mill), Shaw (40 Mill), Rojo (10 Mill), Darmian (15 Mill), Jones (20 Mill) = 325 Mill
Transfers In: Boateng (30 Mill), Sandro (40 Mill), Perisic (60 Mill), Toby (60 Mill), Maguire (60 Mill), Willian (60 Mill), Mina (35 Mill) = 345 Mill


Now this would be the Mourinho Team, if everything went to plan and if "ad-man" Woodward did his job... This team is way better than the current team and would definitely go toe to toe with City and Liverpool squad. I challenge all the Mourinho naysayers to come out tell me if they don't agree with this hypothetical squad being better than the current one. People would say, Boateng, Perisic etc. didn't want to come, the truth is the United Board were not as interested in acquiring them as their manager.

If you look at the players being sold to the players getting acquired its easy to see why Mourinho looks gloomy.

Balotelli Players: Martial, Pogba
(Players lacking passion for the team and want to leave - irrespective of who manages them, these players will shine 1 in 4 games and that too only if molly-coddled)
Mid Table Players: Smalling, Jones, Rojo, Darmian
Injured/Fading Players : Valencia, Young, Shaw, Mata



1. Obsession with Young Players: No club anywhere ideally wants to promote youth. They either have world class youths they purchased (Sane, Sterling for City) or are forced to play youth because they can't afford world class players (TAA /Gomez for Liverpool). If United decides to promote youth, they will end up like Arsenal. Players are in any team for their footballing merit not age. Also United are not doing that bad with youth in their team, atleast not as dire as the press and fans are led to believe. United has decent young players like Rashford, Lingard, Fred, Bailly, Mctominay. However, its not mandatory to play youth unless it merits based on footballing performance. What's the point on holding on to useless non-motivated young players who rarely perform. Selling Pogba for a Perisic or Martial for Willian makes perfect sense if it means united will challenge the likes of Liverpool/City.

2. Transfer Value: This should not even be a concern for United. They are earning in billions. If Woodward is talking about value for money in denying Willian/Toby move, its ridiculous that most fans support him over Mourinho. The guy makes billions for the Glazers from your money, he is denying those moves to save millions for them. Why would you guys care. If fans feel this way it will end up like Kroenke under Wenger. If Mourinho feels Willian will help united do way better this season, they should get him (Aka Van Persie under Fergie).

3. Mourinho Coaching/Style of play: Both the United board and the fans knew what they were getting when they hired Mourinho. Mourinho not coaching/improving players like Klopp/Pep is another joke. Managers can improve only those players that their playing style or system allows to improve. Most managers get players they understand their system will allow to grow and then try to develop them.

Klopp would always improve pacey attacking players as his system allows them to grow.
Improved: Salah, Mane, Firmino,
Failed: Lovren, Matip, Mignolet, Moreno
Rejected: Benteke, Sakho, Allen

Pep would always improve passing/possesion players
Improved: Jesus, KDB, Silva etc.
Failed: Bravo, Stones, Laporte
Rejected: Hart, Jovetic

Mourinho would always improve defensive/ defense minded players or Target Man strikers
Improved: Matic (Terry, Azpi) , Lukaku (Drogba, Costa etc.), Felliani, Young
Failed: Martial, Pogba
Rejected: Blind, Schneiderlin,

Its easy to see players like Sane or Sterling would have improved more under Klopp than Pep. Likewise, players like Coutinho, Lallan would shine more under Pep than Klopp. It's the same for Mourinho. You can't expect Pep/Klopp to make lovren/lukaku/Benteke world class just as much as you can't expect Mourinho to make Martial/Rashford world class. Their systems just don't allow them to express as much and grow.


From where I stand it is clear that the board/fans are not pulling in the same direction as the manager. If the United Board decided to hire Mourinho, they should let him get his players and the fans should support him. Blaming the manager inanely, blind-sighted by the success of the rivals is not a healthy way to look at things.

 

[Rolaholic]

we are abysmal

No it's just an unlucky run of fixtures against heavyweights such as Brighton and Leicester

 

[Sarni]

I'll say this again for people who don't seem to understand, supporters are more than willing to give appropriate time to managers and players that show signs of what they want to see, exciting football, passion, flair, not necessarily always winning but not giving in either, none of which we are getting with Mourinho, intact you'd be hard pressed to look on the pitch and see any sort of plan a majority of the time.

That's why people are obsessed with Pep, or Klopp or Pochettino, because you are actually seeing what they are doing, the positive influence they are having on their team and the supporters and you can see what they are doing on the pitch, is it always successful, no, is Mourinho? No. 3rd season and I still can't tell what the hell we are trying to do in attacking areas of the pitch until we revert to hoof it to Fellaini, that's the only time I understand perfectly.

I think part of the reason why people are obsessed with Poch, Klopp and Pep are that they manage our league rivals and our own fans have this tendency to absolutely adore our league rivals. It started with inexplicable love for Chelsea back 5-10 years ago and continued through City and now Liverpool.

 

[Cassidy]

Debunking the Mourinho Transfer Myth


DDG (Romero)

Boateng(Valencia) Bailly(Maguire) Toby(Yerry Mina) Sandro(Young)

Fred (Herrera) Matic (Felliani)

Perisic

Lingard(Mata) Sanchez Willian(Rashford)


Lukaku

Transfers Out: Pogba (150 Mill), Martial (70 Mill), Smalling/Jones (20 Mill), Shaw (40 Mill), Rojo (10 Mill), Darmian (15 Mill), Jones (20 Mill) = 325 Mill
Transfers In: Boateng (30 Mill), Sandro (40 Mill), Perisic (60 Mill), Toby (60 Mill), Maguire (60 Mill), Willian (60 Mill), Mina (35 Mill) = 345 Mill

So Woodward should have done 8 in and 8 out this summer
Not to mention that the squad isn't even that much of an improvement. An injury prone CB in Boateng playing RB? Really? Peresic playing CM/AM? Maguire a 60m substitute (I think Leicester wanted 75m), Lingard as a starting winger?

Honestly I'm not even sure if this was a serious post or an attempt at humour

 

[In Rainbows]

I think part of the reason why people are obsessed with Poch, Klopp and Pep are that they manage our league rivals and our own fans have this tendency to absolutely adore our league rivals. It started with inexplicable love for Chelsea back 5-10 years ago and continued through City and now Liverpool.

Yeah sure. It can't be because of Mourinho's boring football that was only originally tolerated because he was supposed to bring us back to title contention.

 

[Cassidy]

Yeah sure. It can't be because of Mourinho's boring football that was only originally tolerated because he was supposed to bring us back to title contention.

Shhhhh

 

[Rash Decision]

So Woodward should have done 8 in and 8 out this summer
Not to mention that the squad isn't even that much of an improvement. An injury prone CB in Boateng playing RB? Really? Peresic playing CM/AM? Maguire a 60m substitute (I think Leicester wanted 75m), Lingard as a starting winger?

Honestly I'm not even sure if this was a serious post or an attempt at humour

A self-professed Liverpool fan posting long essays to big up the Man Utd manager and criticise the Man Utd CEO is odd to say the least.

 

[MDFC Manager]

get this charlatan out of the club

Wow This becomes even more awful when you consider that one game was at home and the other where we were chasing 2 goals for a long time

 

[ash_86]

Lol, and they've won what exactly?

Nothing. I would just say that the fortunes are turning their favor to become a top club and win something. won't you agree?

 

[WR10]

Debunking the Mourinho Transfer Myth


DDG (Romero)

Boateng(Valencia) Bailly(Maguire) Toby(Yerry Mina) Sandro(Young)

Fred (Herrera) Matic (Felliani)

Perisic

Lingard(Mata) Sanchez Willian(Rashford)


Lukaku

Transfers Out: Pogba (150 Mill), Martial (70 Mill), Smalling/Jones (20 Mill), Shaw (40 Mill), Rojo (10 Mill), Darmian (15 Mill), Jones (20 Mill) = 325 Mill
Transfers In: Boateng (30 Mill), Sandro (40 Mill), Perisic (60 Mill), Toby (60 Mill), Maguire (60 Mill), Willian (60 Mill), Mina (35 Mill) = 345 Mill


Now this would be the Mourinho Team, if everything went to plan and if "ad-man" Woodward did his job... This team is way better than the current team and would definitely go toe to toe with City and Liverpool squad. I challenge all the Mourinho naysayers to come out tell me if they don't agree with this hypothetical squad being better than the current one. People would say, Boateng, Perisic etc. didn't want to come, the truth is the United Board were not as interested in acquiring them as their manager.

If you look at the players being sold to the players getting acquired its easy to see why Mourinho looks gloomy.

Balotelli Players: Martial, Pogba
(Players lacking passion for the team and want to leave - irrespective of who manages them, these players will shine 1 in 4 games and that too only if molly-coddled)
Mid Table Players: Smalling, Jones, Rojo, Darmian
Injured/Fading Players : Valencia, Young, Shaw, Mata



1. Obsession with Young Players: No club anywhere ideally wants to promote youth. They either have world class youths they purchased (Sane, Sterling for City) or are forced to play youth because they can't afford world class players (TAA /Gomez for Liverpool). If United decides to promote youth, they will end up like Arsenal. Players are in any team for their footballing merit not age. Also United are not doing that bad with youth in their team, atleast not as dire as the press and fans are led to believe. United has decent young players like Rashford, Lingard, Fred, Bailly, Mctominay. However, its not mandatory to play youth unless it merits based on footballing performance. What's the point on holding on to useless non-motivated young players who rarely perform. Selling Pogba for a Perisic or Martial for Willian makes perfect sense if it means united will challenge the likes of Liverpool/City.

2. Transfer Value: This should not even be a concern for United. They are earning in billions. If Woodward is talking about value for money in denying Willian/Toby move, its ridiculous that most fans support him over Mourinho. The guy makes billions for the Glazers from your money, he is denying those moves to save millions for them. Why would you guys care. If fans feel this way it will end up like Kroenke under Wenger. If Mourinho feels Willian will help united do way better this season, they should get him (Aka Van Persie under Fergie).

3. Mourinho Coaching/Style of play: Both the United board and the fans knew what they were getting when they hired Mourinho. Mourinho not coaching/improving players like Klopp/Pep is another joke. Managers can improve only those players that their playing style or system allows to improve. Most managers get players they understand their system will allow to grow and then try to develop them.

Klopp would always improve pacey attacking players as his system allows them to grow.
Improved: Salah, Mane, Firmino,
Failed: Lovren, Matip, Mignolet, Moreno
Rejected: Benteke, Sakho, Allen

Pep would always improve passing/possesion players
Improved: Jesus, KDB, Silva etc.
Failed: Bravo, Stones, Laporte
Rejected: Hart, Jovetic

Mourinho would always improve defensive/ defense minded players or Target Man strikers
Improved: Matic (Terry, Azpi) , Lukaku (Drogba, Costa etc.), Felliani, Young
Failed: Martial, Pogba
Rejected: Blind, Schneiderlin,

Its easy to see players like Sane or Sterling would have improved more under Klopp than Pep. Likewise, players like Coutinho, Lallan would shine more under Pep than Klopp. It's the same for Mourinho. You can't expect Pep/Klopp to make lovren/lukaku/Benteke world class just as much as you can't expect Mourinho to make Martial/Rashford world class. Their systems just don't allow them to express as much and grow.


From where I stand it is clear that the board/fans are not pulling in the same direction as the manager. If the United Board decided to hire Mourinho, they should let him get his players and the fans should support him. Blaming the manager inanely, blind-sighted by the success of the rivals is not a healthy way to look at things.

So so much wrong with this post. Even though I agree with the general principle that Mourinho didn’t get as much backing in the market as he would have hoped. Still an absurd amount of flat out incorrect facts/statements in this post

 

[PepG]

Debunking the Mourinho Transfer Myth


DDG (Romero)

Boateng(Valencia) Bailly(Maguire) Toby(Yerry Mina) Sandro(Young)

Fred (Herrera) Matic (Felliani)

Perisic

Lingard(Mata) Sanchez Willian(Rashford)


Lukaku

Transfers Out: Pogba (150 Mill), Martial (70 Mill), Smalling/Jones (20 Mill), Shaw (40 Mill), Rojo (10 Mill), Darmian (15 Mill), Jones (20 Mill) = 325 Mill
Transfers In: Boateng (30 Mill), Sandro (40 Mill), Perisic (60 Mill), Toby (60 Mill), Maguire (60 Mill), Willian (60 Mill), Mina (35 Mill) = 345 Mill


Now this would be the Mourinho Team, if everything went to plan and if "ad-man" Woodward did his job... This team is way better than the current team and would definitely go toe to toe with City and Liverpool squad. I challenge all the Mourinho naysayers to come out tell me if they don't agree with this hypothetical squad being better than the current one. People would say, Boateng, Perisic etc. didn't want to come, the truth is the United Board were not as interested in acquiring them as their manager.

If you look at the players being sold to the players getting acquired its easy to see why Mourinho looks gloomy.

Balotelli Players: Martial, Pogba
(Players lacking passion for the team and want to leave - irrespective of who manages them, these players will shine 1 in 4 games and that too only if molly-coddled)
Mid Table Players: Smalling, Jones, Rojo, Darmian
Injured/Fading Players : Valencia, Young, Shaw, Mata



1. Obsession with Young Players: No club anywhere ideally wants to promote youth. They either have world class youths they purchased (Sane, Sterling for City) or are forced to play youth because they can't afford world class players (TAA /Gomez for Liverpool). If United decides to promote youth, they will end up like Arsenal. Players are in any team for their footballing merit not age. Also United are not doing that bad with youth in their team, atleast not as dire as the press and fans are led to believe. United has decent young players like Rashford, Lingard, Fred, Bailly, Mctominay. However, its not mandatory to play youth unless it merits based on footballing performance. What's the point on holding on to useless non-motivated young players who rarely perform. Selling Pogba for a Perisic or Martial for Willian makes perfect sense if it means united will challenge the likes of Liverpool/City.

2. Transfer Value: This should not even be a concern for United. They are earning in billions. If Woodward is talking about value for money in denying Willian/Toby move, its ridiculous that most fans support him over Mourinho. The guy makes billions for the Glazers from your money, he is denying those moves to save millions for them. Why would you guys care. If fans feel this way it will end up like Kroenke under Wenger. If Mourinho feels Willian will help united do way better this season, they should get him (Aka Van Persie under Fergie).

3. Mourinho Coaching/Style of play: Both the United board and the fans knew what they were getting when they hired Mourinho. Mourinho not coaching/improving players like Klopp/Pep is another joke. Managers can improve only those players that their playing style or system allows to improve. Most managers get players they understand their system will allow to grow and then try to develop them.

Klopp would always improve pacey attacking players as his system allows them to grow.
Improved: Salah, Mane, Firmino,
Failed: Lovren, Matip, Mignolet, Moreno
Rejected: Benteke, Sakho, Allen

Pep would always improve passing/possesion players
Improved: Jesus, KDB, Silva etc.
Failed: Bravo, Stones, Laporte
Rejected: Hart, Jovetic

Mourinho would always improve defensive/ defense minded players or Target Man strikers
Improved: Matic (Terry, Azpi) , Lukaku (Drogba, Costa etc.), Felliani, Young
Failed: Martial, Pogba
Rejected: Blind, Schneiderlin,

Its easy to see players like Sane or Sterling would have improved more under Klopp than Pep. Likewise, players like Coutinho, Lallan would shine more under Pep than Klopp. It's the same for Mourinho. You can't expect Pep/Klopp to make lovren/lukaku/Benteke world class just as much as you can't expect Mourinho to make Martial/Rashford world class. Their systems just don't allow them to express as much and grow.


From where I stand it is clear that the board/fans are not pulling in the same direction as the manager. If the United Board decided to hire Mourinho, they should let him get his players and the fans should support him. Blaming the manager inanely, blind-sighted by the success of the rivals is not a healthy way to look at things.

WTF!?

 

[MyOnlySolskjaer]

Debunking the Mourinho Transfer Myth


DDG (Romero)

Boateng(Valencia) Bailly(Maguire) Toby(Yerry Mina) Sandro(Young)

Fred (Herrera) Matic (Felliani)

Perisic

Lingard(Mata) Sanchez Willian(Rashford)


Lukaku

Transfers Out: Pogba (150 Mill), Martial (70 Mill), Smalling/Jones (20 Mill), Shaw (40 Mill), Rojo (10 Mill), Darmian (15 Mill), Jones (20 Mill) = 325 Mill
Transfers In: Boateng (30 Mill), Sandro (40 Mill), Perisic (60 Mill), Toby (60 Mill), Maguire (60 Mill), Willian (60 Mill), Mina (35 Mill) = 345 Mill


Now this would be the Mourinho Team, if everything went to plan and if "ad-man" Woodward did his job... This team is way better than the current team and would definitely go toe to toe with City and Liverpool squad. I challenge all the Mourinho naysayers to come out tell me if they don't agree with this hypothetical squad being better than the current one. People would say, Boateng, Perisic etc. didn't want to come, the truth is the United Board were not as interested in acquiring them as their manager.

If you look at the players being sold to the players getting acquired its easy to see why Mourinho looks gloomy.

Balotelli Players: Martial, Pogba
(Players lacking passion for the team and want to leave - irrespective of who manages them, these players will shine 1 in 4 games and that too only if molly-coddled)
Mid Table Players: Smalling, Jones, Rojo, Darmian
Injured/Fading Players : Valencia, Young, Shaw, Mata



1. Obsession with Young Players: No club anywhere ideally wants to promote youth. They either have world class youths they purchased (Sane, Sterling for City) or are forced to play youth because they can't afford world class players (TAA /Gomez for Liverpool). If United decides to promote youth, they will end up like Arsenal. Players are in any team for their footballing merit not age. Also United are not doing that bad with youth in their team, atleast not as dire as the press and fans are led to believe. United has decent young players like Rashford, Lingard, Fred, Bailly, Mctominay. However, its not mandatory to play youth unless it merits based on footballing performance. What's the point on holding on to useless non-motivated young players who rarely perform. Selling Pogba for a Perisic or Martial for Willian makes perfect sense if it means united will challenge the likes of Liverpool/City.

2. Transfer Value: This should not even be a concern for United. They are earning in billions. If Woodward is talking about value for money in denying Willian/Toby move, its ridiculous that most fans support him over Mourinho. The guy makes billions for the Glazers from your money, he is denying those moves to save millions for them. Why would you guys care. If fans feel this way it will end up like Kroenke under Wenger. If Mourinho feels Willian will help united do way better this season, they should get him (Aka Van Persie under Fergie).

3. Mourinho Coaching/Style of play: Both the United board and the fans knew what they were getting when they hired Mourinho. Mourinho not coaching/improving players like Klopp/Pep is another joke. Managers can improve only those players that their playing style or system allows to improve. Most managers get players they understand their system will allow to grow and then try to develop them.

Klopp would always improve pacey attacking players as his system allows them to grow.
Improved: Salah, Mane, Firmino,
Failed: Lovren, Matip, Mignolet, Moreno
Rejected: Benteke, Sakho, Allen

Pep would always improve passing/possesion players
Improved: Jesus, KDB, Silva etc.
Failed: Bravo, Stones, Laporte
Rejected: Hart, Jovetic

Mourinho would always improve defensive/ defense minded players or Target Man strikers
Improved: Matic (Terry, Azpi) , Lukaku (Drogba, Costa etc.), Felliani, Young
Failed: Martial, Pogba
Rejected: Blind, Schneiderlin,

Its easy to see players like Sane or Sterling would have improved more under Klopp than Pep. Likewise, players like Coutinho, Lallan would shine more under Pep than Klopp. It's the same for Mourinho. You can't expect Pep/Klopp to make lovren/lukaku/Benteke world class just as much as you can't expect Mourinho to make Martial/Rashford world class. Their systems just don't allow them to express as much and grow.


From where I stand it is clear that the board/fans are not pulling in the same direction as the manager. If the United Board decided to hire Mourinho, they should let him get his players and the fans should support him. Blaming the manager inanely, blind-sighted by the success of the rivals is not a healthy way to look at things.

Post of the year IMO. I'm with you brother.

 

[RedDevil@84]

Debunking the Mourinho Transfer Myth


DDG (Romero)

Boateng(Valencia) Bailly(Maguire) Toby(Yerry Mina) Sandro(Young)

Fred (Herrera) Matic (Felliani)

Perisic

Lingard(Mata) Sanchez Willian(Rashford)


Lukaku

Transfers Out: Pogba (150 Mill), Martial (70 Mill), Smalling/Jones (20 Mill), Shaw (40 Mill), Rojo (10 Mill), Darmian (15 Mill), Jones (20 Mill) = 325 Mill
Transfers In: Boateng (30 Mill), Sandro (40 Mill), Perisic (60 Mill), Toby (60 Mill), Maguire (60 Mill), Willian (60 Mill), Mina (35 Mill) = 345 Mill


Now this would be the Mourinho Team, if everything went to plan and if "ad-man" Woodward did his job... This team is way better than the current team and would definitely go toe to toe with City and Liverpool squad. I challenge all the Mourinho naysayers to come out tell me if they don't agree with this hypothetical squad being better than the current one. People would say, Boateng, Perisic etc. didn't want to come, the truth is the United Board were not as interested in acquiring them as their manager.

If you look at the players being sold to the players getting acquired its easy to see why Mourinho looks gloomy.

Balotelli Players: Martial, Pogba
(Players lacking passion for the team and want to leave - irrespective of who manages them, these players will shine 1 in 4 games and that too only if molly-coddled)
Mid Table Players: Smalling, Jones, Rojo, Darmian
Injured/Fading Players : Valencia, Young, Shaw, Mata



1. Obsession with Young Players: No club anywhere ideally wants to promote youth. They either have world class youths they purchased (Sane, Sterling for City) or are forced to play youth because they can't afford world class players (TAA /Gomez for Liverpool). If United decides to promote youth, they will end up like Arsenal. Players are in any team for their footballing merit not age. Also United are not doing that bad with youth in their team, atleast not as dire as the press and fans are led to believe. United has decent young players like Rashford, Lingard, Fred, Bailly, Mctominay. However, its not mandatory to play youth unless it merits based on footballing performance. What's the point on holding on to useless non-motivated young players who rarely perform. Selling Pogba for a Perisic or Martial for Willian makes perfect sense if it means united will challenge the likes of Liverpool/City.

2. Transfer Value: This should not even be a concern for United. They are earning in billions. If Woodward is talking about value for money in denying Willian/Toby move, its ridiculous that most fans support him over Mourinho. The guy makes billions for the Glazers from your money, he is denying those moves to save millions for them. Why would you guys care. If fans feel this way it will end up like Kroenke under Wenger. If Mourinho feels Willian will help united do way better this season, they should get him (Aka Van Persie under Fergie).

3. Mourinho Coaching/Style of play: Both the United board and the fans knew what they were getting when they hired Mourinho. Mourinho not coaching/improving players like Klopp/Pep is another joke. Managers can improve only those players that their playing style or system allows to improve. Most managers get players they understand their system will allow to grow and then try to develop them.

Klopp would always improve pacey attacking players as his system allows them to grow.
Improved: Salah, Mane, Firmino,
Failed: Lovren, Matip, Mignolet, Moreno
Rejected: Benteke, Sakho, Allen

Pep would always improve passing/possesion players
Improved: Jesus, KDB, Silva etc.
Failed: Bravo, Stones, Laporte
Rejected: Hart, Jovetic

Mourinho would always improve defensive/ defense minded players or Target Man strikers
Improved: Matic (Terry, Azpi) , Lukaku (Drogba, Costa etc.), Felliani, Young
Failed: Martial, Pogba
Rejected: Blind, Schneiderlin,

Its easy to see players like Sane or Sterling would have improved more under Klopp than Pep. Likewise, players like Coutinho, Lallan would shine more under Pep than Klopp. It's the same for Mourinho. You can't expect Pep/Klopp to make lovren/lukaku/Benteke world class just as much as you can't expect Mourinho to make Martial/Rashford world class. Their systems just don't allow them to express as much and grow.


From where I stand it is clear that the board/fans are not pulling in the same direction as the manager. If the United Board decided to hire Mourinho, they should let him get his players and the fans should support him. Blaming the manager inanely, blind-sighted by the success of the rivals is not a healthy way to look at things.

Oh Pool fan.
Well done

 

[whatwha]

And Busby. In fact if you know anything about SAF you know his early career at United was turd for the first 3 years. His career rested on an FA Cup Final which luckily we won.

We chopped and changed all through the eighties and we were turd then, won next to nothing and played second tier at one point.

Maybe I should rephrase stability to giving a decent manager some time and backing.

And anyone who thinks Jose is a shit manager not a good one obviously just has a vendetta against him. Loads of armchair fans and critics who say he’s shit despite his CV and career achievements. Shit about ‘oh we need to pass quicker and press and blandly blast blah’. Like anyone here would no where to start in charge of a football club but try to analyze team tactics etc. managing your lads under tens doesn’t count

Our managers seat will become a poisoned chalice because you can’t live up to the expectations of the fans when the board have control and lower expectations. That’s the thing at the moment. We are stuck with the dregs of 3 previous managers and the board haven’t allowed their replacement. Jose inherited a handful of players good enough to wear a Man Utd shirt and the board haven’t backed him in making wholesale changes. Yes it costs money but that’s today’s market. And we are the richest club. All this toss about not feeling the players he wanted are value for money.
Why Did they not question LVG for throwing money at Shneiderlin and Darmian and Blind and Rojo etc etc?

Jose is not an up and coming Fergie. He seems past his best to me. I don't see what giving him more time and money will accomplish.

 

[Sarni]

Yeah sure. It can't be because of Mourinho's boring football that was only originally tolerated because he was supposed to bring us back to title contention.

It brought the results it was expected to bring, we are back in top 4, we are back in the Champions League and we finally got a respectable points total last season. If you think anybody would have had us challenging for the title last season you are wrong.

Mourinho was brought to steady the ship and he’s done that. From a team that made CL once in 3 years he managed to get us there twice in a row.

I think he had a plan to take us further and maybe have us compete but it went out the window once he clashed with upper management over Summer. I don’t understand why he’s still in his position but I assume it is only because the severance is too much for us to take financially currently because I can’t think of anything else. He should be gone and he will be gone soon enough.

Also as I said, boring football is blown totally out of proportion too.

 

[Treble]

get this charlatan out of the club

Can't be true, surely?

 

[BlueHaze]

As much as many of us including myself wants Mourinho gone the root ot this mess is still due to terrible ownership combined with Woodward. He's the clown who hired Van Gaal just because he had a decent run in the WC with Holland. They then proceed to spend 60m£ on a rat faced prick who didn't even want to come here, almost everyone who had closely followed reliable journalistst knew he only wanted to use us as a stop gap to PSG. The club shipped of Zaha for a guy who didn't even want to be here and look at Zaha now, he is starting to become one of the best attacking threats in the league, he works his arse off every game for CP and we gave him away for Di Maria and Memphis, both whom shortly were sold. It doesn't really take a rocket scientist to figure out Ed is a clueless clown when it comes to footballing decisions.

After sacking Van Gaal, he then proceeds to hire Mourinho after an absolutely catastrophic season at Chelsea. We all knew the way Mourinho plays and how he has always put emphasis on having teams who work hard defensively, in other words tactics that does not fit a club like this known for winning while playing attacking football. But most of us said let's give Mourinho the benefit of the doubt, perhaps it all went to hell because the players turned against him and not because of his management? Some of us said feck it let him play his shite football, as long as we win big titles, oh how naive we were.

Now we are here, Mourinhos third season in and we are looking as clueless out there on the pitch as we did during Moyes. We also have a man in charge of footballing decisions who extended the contract with his manager in january, and then less than six months after refuse to back him in the summer window which was meant to be a vital one for us in terms of catching up with City and our other rivals. Now we are stuck with a team in complete disharmony, our most expensive signing in history wanting out, a team that is shot in confidence, a manager who couldn't give two fecks because this is all playing out exactly the way he wants because now he can point fingers at Woodward and say see, I told you all we needed more players. Supposedly banners are going to be flown during the Burnley game, we are just in a complete mess atm and I put every bit of the blame on the Glazers and their puppet Woodward. They are absolutely clueless when it comes to football the lot of them and the great Sir Alex will be the only one in history to ever win anything big under them because he was just that special.

Sadly during the current ownership and people in charge I think it would be a complete fair judgement to say we won't be challenging for any big titles anymore because they are only satisfied as long as we finish top 4. It's a clash of ambition where us as fans always expect us to challenge for the big titles while our owners only have profit and cash in their eyes. We have a chief ex who has absolutely no plan when hiring a manager, he just goes in for a certain profile and think magic will happen and we are going to have another SAF, and as long as he is in charge of these decisions it will just be an endless cycle of dissappointment, frustration and negativity.

 

[Sarni]

As much as many of us including myself wants Mourinho gone the root ot this mess is still due to terrible ownership combined with Woodward. He's the clown who hired Van Gaal just because he had a decent run in the WC with Holland. They then proceed to spend 60m£ on a rat faced prick who didn't even want to come here, almost everyone who had closely followed reliable journalistst knew he only wanted to use us as a stop gap to PSG. The club shipped of Zaha for a guy who didn't even want to be here and look at Zaha now, he is starting to become one of the best attacking threats in the league, he works his arse off every game for CP and we gave him away for Di Maria and Memphis, both whom shortly were sold. It doesn't really take a rocket scientist to figure out Ed is a clueless clown when it comes to footballing decisions.

After sacking Van Gaal, he then proceeds to hire Mourinho after an absolutely catastrophic season at Chelsea. We all knew the way Mourinho plays and how he has always put emphasis on having teams who work hard defensively, in other words tactics that does not fit a club like this known for winning while playing attacking football. But most of us said let's give Mourinho the benefit of the doubt, perhaps it all went to hell because the players turned against him and not because of his management? Some of us said feck it let him play his shite football, as long as we win big titles, oh how naive we were.

Now we are here, Mourinhos third season in and we are looking as clueless out there on the pitch as we did during Moyes. We also have a man in charge of footballing decisions who extended the contract with his manager in january, and then less than six months after refuse to back him in the summer window which was meant to be a vital one for us in terms of catching up with City and our other rivals. Now we are stuck with a team in complete disharmony, our most expensive signing in history wanting out, a team that is shot in confidence, a manager who couldn't give two fecks because this is all playing out exactly the way he wants because now he can point fingers at Woodward and say see, I told you all we needed more players. Supposedly banners are going to be flown during the Burnley game, we are just in a complete mess atm and I put every bit of the blame on the Glazers and their puppet Woodward. They are absolutely clueless when it comes to football the lot of them and the great Sir Alex will be the only one in history to ever win anything big under them because he was just that special.

Sadly during the current ownership and people in charge I think it would be a complete fair judgement to say we won't be challenging for any big titles anymore because they are only satisfied as long as we finish top 4. It's a clash of ambition where us as fans always expect us to challenge for the big titles while our owners only have profit and cash in their eyes. We have a chief ex who has absolutely no plan when hiring a manager, he just goes in for a certain profile and think magic will happen and we are going to have another SAF, and as long as he is in charge of these decisions it will just be an endless cycle of dissappointment, frustration and negativity.

Technically he had already agreed to join before the World Cup so it had no influence.

 

[Bobski]

I don't think it is asking too much of Mourinho for the team he has had 2 years with to look like an organized, cohesive unit who understand what they are trying to do. Is spending the only way he can improve a team?

Utd win most of their games on individual quality, but this long into the job and I am not sure many could give a detailed explanation of his attacking strategy. Do some coaching Jose, get the best out of what you have, and that does not mean just results but an improved style of play.

 

[MDFC Manager]

Technically he had already agreed to join before the World Cup so it had no influence.

Yes, although it did get our hopes up that he'll do well here!

Wish we had setup a DoF structure right then, though. I suspect Mourinho wasn't so keen on that idea when he was signed up.

 

[TsuWave]

Jose's made a lot of mistakes, but seriously, its' been just 2 games...sample size much?

we have been poor for the majority of his tenure here. "its been 2 games", yes, against leicester and brighton. huddersfield have played city and chelsea and spent more time in the opposition box than us. this is his 3rd year, and the team still lacks basic competence. "only 2 games" can't get him out of this.

 

[MDFC Manager]

I don't think it is asking too much of Mourinho for the team he has had 2 years with to look like an organized, cohesive unit who understand what they are trying to do. Is spending the only way he can improve a team?

Utd win most of their games on individual quality, but this long into the job and I am not sure many could give a detailed explanation of his attacking strategy. Do some coaching Jose, get the best out of what you have, and that does not mean just results but an improved style of play.

Exactly. This team is still so far away from having a Mourinho signature on it. I mean, you see it maybe 3-4 times a season but no more.

 

[MDFC Manager]

we have been poor for the majority of his tenure here. "its been 2 games", yes, against leicester and brighton. huddersfield have played city and chelsea and spent more time in the opposition box than us. this is his 3rd year, and the team still lacks basic competence. "only 2 games" can't get him out of this.

In fact, the second game should have sorted out that the stats in that sample size, given we were chasing 2 goals for the majority of that game. That game really was more bizarre than the Moyesian Fulham game.

 

[Bobski]

Exactly. This team is still so far away from having a Mourinho signature on it. I mean, you see it maybe 3-4 times a season but no more.

Find it remarkable how little the most zealous Mourinho acolytes expect from him.

 

[BlueHaze]

Technically he had already agreed to join before the World Cup so it had no influence.

Thanks for correcting me on that one. I had forgotten about that.

 

[Kerry Donaghy]

He was absolutely correct to go after experienced players because we don’t have nearly enough of them. Pogba and Lukaku, two of his most expensive signings, are young. Bailly and Lindelöf are young. The only experienced players that he got who are still here are Alexis and Matic.

What does it matter that Willian is older than Martial? I find it ironic that we want young players who will need plenty of time to get things right but when they can’t, we are supposed to start bashing the manager. It’s a vicious cycle.

Why omit Zlatan and Mkhytrian because they're not here?
In fact that only backs up my point, they're now on the scrapheap.

U bed in young players in just like most clubs do.
Nobody is suggesting putting out a team of young players in massive games but at least give them a chance in carabo cup, fa Cup or, last season, those games at the end of the year, when we had nothing to play for or pre-season friendlies.

Regarding the pre-season tour, his comments after the Liverpool game were nothing short of scandalous.

Even if what he said was true (that the younger/squad players are garbage), why would anyone say that?
In all my years watching football I don't think I've ever heard anyone put down a group of players like that.
This is of course made so much worse because of the fact that most of them were young and still learning the game.
HE SHOULD HAVE BEEN SACKED FOR THAT ALONE!!!
Never mind the thousands of other hours of nonsense he talks, which is then only made worse when he contradicts it a week/month/year later.

He's an embarrassment and the sooner he goes the better.

 

[TsuWave]

Can't be true, surely?

http://www.skysports.com/football/n...d-attacking-problems-jose-mourinho-must-solve

 

[whatwha]

more nonsense

What the hell is going on here. Liverpool fan... hmm.

 

[Kerry Donaghy]

I really don'т understand people standing for Jose. This is so wrong...
Jose had strong squads in his previous teams, winning the titles and on the next season with the same strong squad performing terrible and then get sacked.

But that's not so important. The most important thing is that United has to look like United. United has the United way and no one has the right to change it. This is team that forged its unique style of play through a lot of years full of ups and downs, tragic incidents, glorious victories. Jose has no right to change this! United players were always playing for the win, but with style entertaining the crowd. And the goal was always to destroy the opponent, not to score a goal and sit deep back till the end of the game. "Jose is a pragmatic man" is so fecking annoying. We don't need pragmatic man. We need someone who respects United way. It is the same logic in Barcelona - every manager respects the way Barcelona is playing and no body is trying to change it.

"The players are not good enough". "The squad has no quality". What? WHAT? Are you joking? Fecking blind? Sir Alex spanked the little, pinky, french butt with the young Da Silva twins on the wings! Don't tell me the squad has no quality! With this squad Sir Alex could get 110 points, drinking dark red wine in his sofa watching the games on the TV at Wilmslow.

Don't get me wrong, I don't hate Jose. I am not a negative person. But when you have a problem you have то find a solution. And Jose proved to be the wrong solution for United prolems.

Spot on.

Unfortunately, we're getting what we deserve for thinking it was going to be any different.
If the way he left Chelsea was not an indication that something had gone wrong I don't know what would be.

We sold our soul out of desperation and now we're paying the price.

BTW, I'd still be saying this even if we'd won the league last year because that style of play doesn't even deserve the title of 'football', not at one of the big clubs anyway.