Jose Mourinho | 2017/18 Assessments | Poll Added

[Eddy_JukeZ]

I wish we had that "I am European champion, so I think I am special one" Jose. The one whose charisma and personality was through the roof and his teams were like lions.

Instead of this dull and mopey Jose we have. The team embodies him on the pitch too in all honestly. Barely any intensity or fight throughout 90 minutes.

I don't know why that season at Madrid has damaged him so much. He should have taken a sabbatical after that.

 

[Janson]

I love Jose, but I didn't think we were great even we were scoring 4 goals. But I attributed it to the fact that we did not have any world class attackers and the likes of Martial, Rashford, Mata and Lingard were inconsistent.

But now, Mourinho has Sanchez, a player with genuine moments of world class abilities. There is no excuse for the disjointed show we saw at Newcastle, the attackers were all over the shop. Shoehorning Martial on the right was also a major blunder.

Also, we never seem to be able to recover from deficits. Forget trailing 1-0, even 2-0 shouldn't be a problem, as a team like ours should win 3-2 with some effort, but we rarely, if ever, do that. Is the problem mental or tactical? Jose hasn't addressed this at all.

And the chances. Time and again, our players miss easy one-on-one's with the keeper. I have not seen another team do this so consistently. Shouldn't there be some coaching to improve that?

Like you, I believe Jose will get it right and more trophies will follow. But we have to point out his errors as well. At the moment, our attack looks a lot like Chelsea's in the past 2 games of theirs - completely toothless bar Sanchez/Hazard who try to do something. As it stands, we may well be competing with Chelsea for 4th if this continues.

You expect us to coach them how to score 1 on 1's as well. They're pro footballers ffs, maybe Mourinho should hold their hands too.

 

[diplomat]

You expect us to coach them how to score 1 on 1's as well. They're pro footballers ffs, maybe Mourinho should hold their hands as too.

It's the manager's job to work on individual and collective weaknesses in the squad. If it's obvious that the players aren't clinical enough, maybe we need to start creating more chances, like the rest of the top teams, don't you think?

 

[BigdaftGorby]

Quick look at whoscored and we're 13th which isn't ideal, but I think it's clear that defensively we do rely on our GK a little more than other top teams. To state we're second because of De Gea is a little shortsighted and belittles the good work we've done up front. He's played his part but so have the others which is why we're still ahead of the chasing pack. It is a team game, after all.

12 Crystal Palace 11.8 17.6 14.1 11.4 1.5 6.75
13 Manchester United 11.7 14.3 11.9 11.5 2.1 7.00
14 Watford 11.4 17.4 12.5 11.8 1.8 6.70
15 Huddersfield 11.4 19.1 13.4 11.1 1.8 6.58
16 Arsenal 10.7 16.4 11.7 10.2 2.7 6.92

Interestingly, if you were to take out that fanatical game against Arsenal, we'd be on 10.8 per game and to compare those to previous seasons:

9.5 last season
10.8 in 15/16
10.1 14/15.

We're not that far from these seasons. I think it's clear that our CBs aren't as strong as you'd want them to be.

Ok granted, even if DeGea did save everything we would still have to score to win, so maybe I am doing the forwards a little disservice. But to be honest if you could analyse every game we’ve played and look at how he pulls us out of the mire, it’s quite alarming. And I’m not talking regulation saves that even Mignolet could save. The win against Arsenal best sums it up.

 

[Skills]

Squeaky bum time. Lets see what he's made of, needs a win against Chelsea

 

[RedSky]

Ok granted, even if DeGea did save everything we would still have to score to win, so maybe I am doing the forwards a little disservice. But to be honest if you could analyse every game we’ve played and look at how he pulls us out of the mire, it’s quite alarming. And I’m not talking regulation saves that even Mignolet could save. The win against Arsenal best sums it up.

I'm with you tbh. De Gea has been in god mode all season, without him we'd be seriously struggling.

 

[Di Maria's angel]

Ok granted, even if DeGea did save everything we would still have to score to win, so maybe I am doing the forwards a little disservice. But to be honest if you could analyse every game we’ve played and look at how he pulls us out of the mire, it’s quite alarming. And I’m not talking regulation saves that even Mignolet could save. The win against Arsenal best sums it up.

Honestly, it's hard to say. I don't think this season is like others where he's consistently bailed us out. Off the top of my head, the best saves he's made came against Stoke, Liverpool and Arsenal. Can you name any other games where he's bailed us out? I can't remember many others that you don't expect a goal keeper of his calibre to make. I do agree that we concede a fair few more chances, however, based on my memory, games against Tottenham (home and away) and Arsenal were just both teams taking pot shots from outside of the box.

 

[Greck]

Why people keep mentioning 2nd place?! What the feck us being 2nd has anything to do with issues people have?

Same as the old 'our attack is the 2nd best among our rivals because we have the 2nd most goals in the league' argument, despite the eye test clearly showing it was trending downwards at the time

 

[Sky1981]

Just to point something out, we are second because of De Gea, before the game at Newcastle he saved 84% of shots on goal. Is that down to Jose’s tactics?

We conced the 6th most shots on goal!!! I guess that’s a Jose tactic as well?

We have some of the best individual talent in the world, Pogba being one of them. But let’s play him really deep so as not to create anything then take him off when he can’t supply assists from behind his own half way line, you know that line we sit on when the opposition get the ball? Suppose that’s Jose’s tactics as well?

I’m not even going to bother apologising for patronising you.
It’s the least you deserve for the last few posts you have made.

So totenham are 3rd because of kane?

 

[Sky1981]

There is a flaw in the position argument. It's not permanent. Talk to me in the end of the season if we're still second I will tell you that I'm temporary satisfied.
We are, however, having this conversation now. Now, I see issues with our play and a lot of them stem from team-wide decisions. Dropped points here and there thanks to individual mistakes is one thing, lack of fluidity in the whole squad is another.

To simplify, I'm just concerned. I don't really want Mourinho gone, i don't have anything against him apart from his style. Trophies matter the most to me and last year's successes gave us something to cheer for the time being. I still fail to spot an organized team with an idea for the matches. I praised Jose when he outsmarted Chelsea with Herrera but those masterclasses have been scarce. We've had some really uninspiring performances this season and the matches against the top 6 have been worrying too.

Yes, we are second and hopefully will remain there. I just wish there was more obvious progression on the pitch and team coherence.

Why don't you complain at the end of the season then.

Give the man a fair crack of the whip, even Moyes got more faith on him than Jose. Some of you lot just can't stop complaining and complaining, even when we won 2 trophies under him last year and aren't doing too shabby result if not for city's freak run.

Some perspective, and patience, support your manager. Or have you forgotten those words by SAF on his final game?

 

[cu3]

Jose should have eased Sanchez into the team, imo. Not replace Martial, who was having a good run of games and was arguably the best player in the last few months. Trying to accommodate Sanchez, Lingard and Martial in the starting line-up also pushed Pogba to a defensive role, which is adding to our problems.

 

[NK86]

Why don't you complain at the end of the season then.

Give the man a fair crack of the whip, even Moyes got more faith on him than Jose. Some of you lot just can't stop complaining and complaining, even when we won 2 trophies under him last year and aren't doing too shabby result if not for city's freak run.

Some perspective, and patience, support your manager. Or have you forgotten those words by SAF on his final game?

It's not about the fair crack. We still don't know our best attacking formation or how to use Pogba properly after two years. These are glaring issues. Our attacking play seems to be about individuals pulling something out of thin air than any coherent patterns which is followed. Why do we still insist on playing Pogba in a 2 man midfield is beyond me and most people. If you think Jose should be given a free pass for such massive failures then you should not crib when others aren't as forgiving as you.

 

[JohnnyKills]

Why don't you complain at the end of the season then.

Give the man a fair crack of the whip, even Moyes got more faith on him than Jose. Some of you lot just can't stop complaining and complaining, even when we won 2 trophies under him last year and aren't doing too shabby result if not for city's freak run.

Some perspective, and patience, support your manager. Or have you forgotten those words by SAF on his final game?

This post reads like a 'top red' bingo card.

 

[Sky1981]

It's not about the fair crack. We still don't know our best attacking formation or how to use Pogba properly after two years. These are glaring issues. Our attacking play seems to be about individuals pulling something out of thin air than any coherent patterns which is followed. Why do we still insist on playing Pogba in a 2 man midfield is beyond me and most people. If you think Jose should be given a free pass for such massive failures then you should not crib when others aren't as forgiving as you.

The glaring issue here is that there's no good enough 3rd midfield.

Fellaini is limited, hererra is useless lately.

 

[Paul_Scholes18]

Mixed feelings over Jose still. He is not the old Jose and lacks in attacking tactics. Although I still think he can mentally get a group to work together and we have seen before how much worse it can get. I just hope he can evolve and be slighly less stubborn for changing his ways.

 

[redIndianDevil]

If Martial or Sanchez converted one of their chances yesterday, we'd be all happy with an away performance. How can we blame Mourinho when Sanchez decided to pause prior to shooting, or Martial for unusually missing a 1v1, or the two blocked shots he had? Was another frustrating day in which we didn't play well but created enough chances to win the game but we didnt take them.
The injection of Sanchez in the team needs time to gel with the existing crop and that should be Mourinho's top priority as we are going to a tough fixtures list, forget about Newcastle, any other day and we would have torn them apart but shit just hit the fan yesterday.

We can blame Mourinho for that because those three were the only clear chances we created the entire match. 3 chances in 90 minutes is absolutely pathetic.

 

[Treble]

The surprising thing is that this team isn't hard to beat. 7 losses already this season, 5 in the league alone.

 

[redIndianDevil]

Comparing our current points after 27 games to other seasons, where we would be:

2018 - 2nd, -15 points off 1st.
2017 - 2nd, -10 points off 1st.
2016 - 2nd, -1 point off 1st.
2015 - 2nd, -4 points off 1st. (with 1st having a game in hand)
2014 - 4th, -4 points off 1st.
2013 - 5th, -7 points off 1st (with a game in hand)

Only seasons that stand out are City's unbelievable season at the moment and Chelsea running away with the league when everyone was shite last season. We're not as bad as people make us out to be. Far from great, though.

Do people like you even watch the games? It's like the stats has become everything, can you really not see the poor attacking quality our team has displayed the entire season? There is no clear plan going forward, our passing and movement is absolutely slow and shite and we are so disjointed that our players look like they are playing together for the first time at the start of every match. Not to mention we play like fecking WBA or Stoke the moment a half decent team turns up. I really don't mind if we finish 2nd or 3rd or 4th if I can see an improvement in the way we play, there is clearly not. Our manager is hell bent on scapegoating players every time we play badly, first it was Martial, then Shaw, then Mkhitaryan and now it's Pogba, when's he going to take responsibility?

 

[NK86]

The glaring issue here is that there's no good enough 3rd midfield.

Fellaini is limited, hererra is useless lately.

Herrera is not useless. Yes he had some bad form lately but he was our player of the year last year. These are the kind of ridiculous arguments which get resorted to. Playing Matic into the ground half way through the season is another huge mistake by Mourinho. This concept that Herrera cannot play against the likes of Newcastle is simply bizarre.

 

[BigdaftGorby]

So totenham are 3rd because of kane?

It certainly helps, just as having De Gea helps us. Except Poch knows his set up, he knows who plays where, he knows how to organise his team. He doesn’t have failed wingers as full backs. He doesn’t have Chris Smalling!!

Dele is free to play his game but yet Jose shackles Pogba.

Spurs will be above us soon, as will the bindippers and Chelsea.

If he finishes outside the top 4 with the players he’s got them that’s down to Jose.

If he does insist on playing 4-2-3-1 he has to play the right players in the right positions. He has to play 2 holding midfielders and Pogba at 10. Unfortunately Lingard drips to the bench.

Stop rolling out the old “we are 2nd, we won 2 trophies”

 

[Sky1981]

It certainly helps, just as having De Gea helps us. Except Poch knows his set up, he knows who plays where, he knows how to organise his team. He doesn’t have failed wingers as full backs. He doesn’t have Chris Smalling!!

Dele is free to play his game but yet Jose shackles Pogba.

Spurs will be above us soon, as will the bindippers and Chelsea.

If he finishes outside the top 4 with the players he’s got them that’s down to Jose.

If he does insist on playing 4-2-3-1 he has to play the right players in the right positions. He has to play 2 holding midfielders and Pogba at 10. Unfortunately Lingard drips to the bench.

Stop rolling out the old “we are 2nd, we won 2 trophies”

Those failed wingers and smailing are signed by sir alex ferguson.

At the end of the day managers are judged by the results. If being 2nd is a ground for sacking we won't have saf. Pep will be gone last year.

 

[BigdaftGorby]

Those failed wingers and smailing are signed by sir alex ferguson.

At the end of the day managers are judged by the results. If being 2nd is a ground for sacking we won't have saf. Pep will be gone last year.

And he signed them as wingers!!! Not full backs, this is a glaring issue that still hasn’t been put right! And Smalling wouldn’t be here now if Fergie was still in charge. One thing he knew is when to get rid of a player.

And there you go again, still rolling out the “we are 2nd”

As I said, we won’t be for long.

That’s not negativity, that’s probability.
If we finish 2nd then please drag up all these posts and tell me “you told me so” I will graciously take anything you throw at me.

We can all be wrong.
Something tells me I won’t be though.
I admire your positivity, and I do see how you look at things. But we scrap for every point, even the 4 goal games where a struggle till the late stages.

I never wanted Jose, I knew the circus that came with him. I knew the functional football he would apply. I also knew his track record for winning.

I dont want him out but he deserves the same fate as the others if he doesn’t make top 4, with a vastly superior squad to Moyes or LvG.

 

[el3mel]

And he signed them as wingers!!! Not full backs, this is a glaring issue that still hasn’t been put right! And Smalling wouldn’t be here now if Fergie was still in charge. One thing he knew is when to get rid of a player.

And there you go again, still rolling out the “we are 2nd”

As I said, we won’t be for long.

That’s not negativity, that’s probability.
If we finish 2nd then please drag up all these posts and tell me “you told me so” I will graciously take anything you throw at me.

We can all be wrong.
Something tells me I won’t be though.
I admire your positivity, and I do see how you look at things. But we scrap for every point, even the 4 goal games where a struggle till the late stages.

I never wanted Jose, I knew the circus that came with him. I knew the functional football he would apply. I also knew his track record for winning.

I dont want him out but he deserves the same fate as the others if he doesn’t make top 4, with a vastly superior squad to Moyes or LvG.

Nah. Bold claim while it was clear SAF was building for Smalling, Jones and Evans to become the main figures in our defense after Rio and Vidic retire.

 

[BigdaftGorby]

Nah. Bold claim while it was clear SAF was building for Smalling, Jones and Evans to become the main figures in our defense after Rio and Vidic retire.

Smalling was potential back when SaF signed him, he hasn’t or isn’t fulfilling it. Fergie pulled no punches when he needed to get rid.

 

[kthanksbye]

We should've won the Newcastle game with the way we played, had Martial not missed 3 chances and Sanchez his one, and if we had just done the basics right by heading the free kick out of danger, and all that is not Jose's fault.

Having said that, with the players we have, we should be putting relegation cannon fodder to the sword in games like these, our attack still looks directionless, and even the chances we ended up creating were labored or from individual brilliance.

This has to change, and the blame for that goes to Jose.
Why is Martial still walking about half arsed, why can Pogba not stamp his authority on games, why are the defenders not able play a few passes between the lines?
All of this is not just down to our players being shit or having a bad day, it has got a lot to do with players being on different wavelengths and not having a direction or pattern to attack.

Our players are looking for teammates before playing a pass, at that level, you have to KNOW where your team mates are, and only need to see where the opposition players are.

We could keep adding more players to this team and we'll still need individual brilliance to win us games.

 

[el3mel]

Smalling was potential back when SaF signed him, he hasn’t or isn’t fulfilling it. Fergie pulled no punches when he needed to get rid.

You can claim and I can claim too.

If SAF had stayed Smalling and Jones would have been our main pairing with Evans as a sub. He would have put Tuanzebe and TFM as potential future CBs behind these 3. Yes I don't we would have signed a single defender under SAF after Rio and Vidic retire. We would be leaking goals but win games anyway due to our attack and character just like his last 2 years.

 

[Grande]

Agree some are going overboard, Jose needs to be backed. But criticism should be given as well since he deserves it at this point. We have suffered back to back away defeats in which we didn't even put up a fight. More worryingly, we strengthened our attack with Sanchez and yet Jose is struggling to get the best out of him. These are all concerning issues that were papered over by the excitement of a new signing and Jose's contract extension.

Some enjoy a good worry.

I remember when we bought Andy Cole in January breaking the British transfer record. After three games, some began to worry.

 

[Sky1981]

And he signed them as wingers!!! Not full backs, this is a glaring issue that still hasn’t been put right! And Smalling wouldn’t be here now if Fergie was still in charge. One thing he knew is when to get rid of a player.

And there you go again, still rolling out the “we are 2nd”

But we are fecking 2nd, it's not a hypothesis, or hopeful dream. It's a factual fact of the table.

As I said, we won’t be for long.

You're so sure on this maybe you should go on ladbrokes, sell your house and bet on us not finishing 2nd.

That’s not negativity, that’s probability.
If we finish 2nd then please drag up all these posts and tell me “you told me so” I will graciously take anything you throw at me.

That's negativity, we're on a dog fight with 3 teams up our arse, and you as fans already gave up even when we're still 2nd on points. You expect the players and the managers to have a never say die attitude, not knowing when they're beaten yet you raised your hands up and give up when we're still 2nd on points.

We can all be wrong.
Something tells me I won’t be though.
I admire your positivity, and I do see how you look at things. But we scrap for every point, even the 4 goal games where a struggle till the late stages.

It's not positivity, it's objectivity. Jose is the 2nd best manager on the planet, he's not stupid, he sees thing we don't see on the training. There are reasons why he doesn't play Pogba in a 3 men midfield, maybe herrera isn't fit, maybe fellaini isn't suited for holding MF, and 101 reasons he knows better than you and I internet posters.

I never wanted Jose, I knew the circus that came with him. I knew the functional football he would apply. I also knew his track record for winning.

This is your problem. You're part of the circus that he attracts, his detractors that can't wait to complain on every little single thing he does whenever results are bad.

I dont want him out but he deserves the same fate as the others if he doesn’t make top 4, with a vastly superior squad to Moyes or LvG.

You know what he deserves? Our support, until he has proven beyond mathematical doubt that he finishes outside top 4.

I have no problems with people not liking jose, he's not everyone's cup of tea, but it's getting tiresome reading our manager get slagged all day long.

 

[Sky1981]

It certainly helps, just as having De Gea helps us. Except Poch knows his set up, he knows who plays where, he knows how to organise his team. He doesn’t have failed wingers as full backs. He doesn’t have Chris Smalling!!

Dele is free to play his game but yet Jose shackles Pogba.

Spurs will be above us soon, as will the bindippers and Chelsea.

If he finishes outside the top 4 with the players he’s got them that’s down to Jose.

If he does insist on playing 4-2-3-1 he has to play the right players in the right positions. He has to play 2 holding midfielders and Pogba at 10. Unfortunately Lingard drips to the bench.

Stop rolling out the old “we are 2nd, we won 2 trophies”

Sure, Jose doesn't know shit, it's amazing how he won all he had won without knowing how to set up players and organise his team.

 

[BigdaftGorby]

Sure, Jose doesn't know shit, it's amazing how he won all he had won without knowing how to set up players and organise his team.

So I’ve read everything you have wrote.

Take em off mate. The rose tinted glasses don’t suit anyone these days. It smacks of desperate “look at me I’m a top red”

No matter what I say you will just shout we are 2nd.

And as for me betting my house on not finishing 2nd.
I will make a bet with you?

If we finish 2nd I will log off and deactivate my account.
But the same goes for you.
If we don’t finish 2nd you need to disappear.

Time to put up or shut up.

 

[Irish Jet]

Been an extremely frustrating few games. I think to setup like he did against Spurs and Newcastle was pretty criminal and it seemed almost like spiteful stubbornness that he would go back the the same XI that was played off the park at Wembley.

I still really like him, still trust in him but he needs to sort out these problems because he's a very combustible character - If this form continues the whole season could implode.

I don't know what is going on with Pogba but he needs to set the team up around him - He's our most important player and we have to give him every advantage on the pitch. Just asinine what he's asking of him in these away fixtures.

 

[Sky1981]

So I’ve read everything you have wrote.

Take em off mate. The rose tinted glasses don’t suit anyone these days. It smacks of desperate “look at me I’m a top red”

No matter what I say you will just shout we are 2nd.

And as for me betting my house on not finishing 2nd.
I will make a bet with you?

If we finish 2nd I will log off and deactivate my account.
But the same goes for you.
If we don’t finish 2nd you need to disappear.

Time to put up or shut up.

Some manner you have there. And feck off with your top red accuse.

 

[BigdaftGorby]

Some manner you have there. And feck off with your top red accuse.

Ok my last post of the day, 5 a day, I’ve extended the bet to you. If you’re so sure of yourself and Jose then accept the bet. I’m willing to put my account on the line. I’m so sure we won’t finish 2nd because of all the reasons I’ve given. And you keep rolling out the “we are 2nd” excuse.

And it’s not just me that thinks you smack of top red syndrome.

Don’t skirt round the issue. The bet is there.
Put up or shut up.

I obviously won’t be able to reply until tomorrow.

 

[Amir]

Do people like you even watch the games? It's like the stats has become everything, can you really not see the poor attacking quality our team has displayed the entire season? There is no clear plan going forward, our passing and movement is absolutely slow and shite and we are so disjointed that our players look like they are playing together for the first time at the start of every match. Not to mention we play like fecking WBA or Stoke the moment a half decent team turns up. I really don't mind if we finish 2nd or 3rd or 4th if I can see an improvement in the way we play, there is clearly not.

Bingo.

 

[MDFC Manager]

Do people like you even watch the games? It's like the stats has become everything, can you really not see the poor attacking quality our team has displayed the entire season? There is no clear plan going forward, our passing and movement is absolutely slow and shite and we are so disjointed that our players look like they are playing together for the first time at the start of every match. Not to mention we play like fecking WBA or Stoke the moment a half decent team turns up. I really don't mind if we finish 2nd or 3rd or 4th if I can see an improvement in the way we play, there is clearly not. Our manager is hell bent on scapegoating players every time we play badly, first it was Martial, then Shaw, then Mkhitaryan and now it's Pogba, when's he going to take responsibility?

Spot on.

 

[DdeGoat]

Do people like you even watch the games? It's like the stats has become everything, can you really not see the poor attacking quality our team has displayed the entire season? There is no clear plan going forward, our passing and movement is absolutely slow and shite and we are so disjointed that our players look like they are playing together for the first time at the start of every match. Not to mention we play like fecking WBA or Stoke the moment a half decent team turns up. I really don't mind if we finish 2nd or 3rd or 4th if I can see an improvement in the way we play, there is clearly not. Our manager is hell bent on scapegoating players every time we play badly, first it was Martial, then Shaw, then Mkhitaryan and now it's Pogba, when's he going to take responsibility?

Never!

 

[Neuron]

Posted this in the Pogba thread, but it might be more appropriate here:

Pogba just hasn't been good lately, but the buck has to come down with the manager in this case.

It's like this: if your company isn't performing well, it's your fault. A specific employee may be doing badly, and doing your best to try to improve their performance is great, and it's exactly what you should do, but ultimately we're not worried about a specific individual here. It's about the company. Sure it's made up of individuals, but you cannot expect them to perform at their best if they are not bought into the vision and the team effort of the unit. As the leader, that's your job.

Look at Elon's companies, for example. Tesla and SpaceX get enormous buzz resulting in some of the best talent available to them, and yet they famously demand 110% of all their employees in terms of work ethic, pay (although still very well) not exceptionally, and consistently achieve great results. And it's clear why that is - the employees are just bought in. They have an awkwardly charismatic leader who just seems like a great guy and leads by example. And most importantly, they're bought into the vision, what the companies are trying to do, and the way in which they go about doing that.

Now compare that with United. We have a manager who is not known for being the most genuine person around, which is fine cause it's football and no one is 100% popular in football, but that's not the most important thing. It's his vision, aim, strategy, philosophy, etc. That's the problem!

Players look across the road and see City flying this season by playing expansive, attractive and very attacking football. And that's exactly why you want to be a player. You want to be playing like that. It's just obvious.

Going back to Pogba, of course he doesn't think to himself, well De Bruyne is just better than me. None of these players think that, they're all at the top of their field capable of great football and ability. I doubt Mata thinks he's worse than his friend David Silva, or Alexis think he's worse than Aguero, Martial worse than Sane, Rashford worse than Sterling, etc.

So instead they must be thinking (and OF COURSE they are thinking this) - our neighbours and main rivals are just being set up better than us. They have a better vision of how they want to play, and even though every football philosophy has its limitations, they are executing it with complete belief and great success.

I think that is the elephant in the room when talking about any of our players' performances on a macro scale (obviously I'm not talking about a single match performance, but the bigger picture). Human psychology just plays too big a role and when, in a competitive sport, your neighbours are doing it more successfully, more consistently, and in a more aesthetically pleasing way, you are bound to wonder, well what do they have that we don't. The answer: a clear idea of how they want to play, backed by a manager and coaches who are trying to make that way of playing get results and be stylish at the same time.

...And some of you wonder why De Bruyne runs around like a maniac and Pogba limps around looking uninterested. If I worked for SpaceX I think I'd dump my girlfriend, never sleep again, and work my ass off.

Pogba will be fine. We need a better manager. Maybe not in the summer, or next summer. But hopefully sooner rather than later. I'm happy to wait and be proven wrong.

 

[Jed I. Knight]

Do people like you even watch the games? It's like the stats has become everything, can you really not see the poor attacking quality our team has displayed the entire season? There is no clear plan going forward, our passing and movement is absolutely slow and shite and we are so disjointed that our players look like they are playing together for the first time at the start of every match. Not to mention we play like fecking WBA or Stoke the moment a half decent team turns up. I really don't mind if we finish 2nd or 3rd or 4th if I can see an improvement in the way we play, there is clearly not. Our manager is hell bent on scapegoating players every time we play badly, first it was Martial, then Shaw, then Mkhitaryan and now it's Pogba, when's he going to take responsibility?

Take a bow, fantastic post!

 

[L1nk]

Do people like you even watch the games? It's like the stats has become everything, can you really not see the poor attacking quality our team has displayed the entire season? There is no clear plan going forward, our passing and movement is absolutely slow and shite and we are so disjointed that our players look like they are playing together for the first time at the start of every match. Not to mention we play like fecking WBA or Stoke the moment a half decent team turns up. I really don't mind if we finish 2nd or 3rd or 4th if I can see an improvement in the way we play, there is clearly not. Our manager is hell bent on scapegoating players every time we play badly, first it was Martial, then Shaw, then Mkhitaryan and now it's Pogba, when's he going to take responsibility?

Thank you, im copping all sorts of crap for saying this in the Mourinho replacement thread, it's great to see some people speaking some sense and actually seeing the bigger picture, because apparently I wasn't when I repeated this.

This time last season we were pretty much the same amount of points behind Chelsea as we are now with City, only the other clubs behind us have played a bit worse, sorry but we aren't second because Mourinho has worked some magic.

 

[Oneunited26]

This sums Jose Mourinho up, one step forward three steps back, or is it 10? everything he does is right apart from what it counts on the field, he gets the transfers done, attracts the players yet he cannot even put an identity together to see this team look like a competent side that would be feared, its just powderpuff, and the last three managers is rinse, repeat, recycle, there is something fundamentally wrong with this team since 2013, title winning and CL winning sides do not have this problem, we do and it keeps rearing its ugly head time and time and time again.

Its getting close to that stage with Jose Mourinho much like VG's final season at united, where his teams are just out of idea's and does not know how to, or does not want to find solutions. We playing limited players in terms of creativity in no10 positions like lingard, our no9 and no6 are worrying, no matter how much shaw has worked to get back on the field he goes back to to ashley young at LB, our persistent with 4231, desperately wanting fellaini to stay, why is that? because he does everything Jose Mourinho asks? and not better players are not happy with the methods Jose Mourinho is forcing on the team, maybe? and not actually whats best for the team, you imagine fellaini trying this with fergie?

But when was the last time we used the OT pitch? stretched sides and played those forward passes, we play side to side passes and takes us nearly an entire half to create one chance, we used to batter the door down, we hardly knock the door let alone destroy it, we decide to buy sanchez, pull our best attacking player out of his favored position, hell he's always been on a collision with martial, this is his latest stunt shove to the right. But his love for tall players always has been a worry, over actual talent at times. Look at the lack of fire in this Jose Mourinho, he's just allowed our neighbors to just run rough shot with no fight, fergie would not allow this to happen and that is the difference. Jose Mourinho calls himself a winner, all I see is a rocky in rocky 3 that gets knocked out in less than 3 rounds