Jose Mourinho | 2017/18 Assessments | Poll Added

[DeGea]

I think Jose is underrated. That might sound a bit weird, but I do think people are not giving him enough credit.

He is the ULTIMATE master of game management, all the little things that make a difference. The way he slows the game and kills the momentum when we need to. The substitutions he makes. The way he sets up for matches like today. It is just superb. Fellaini was brought on as he knows that we will need to defend corners at the end of the game, and he knows Fellaini will be fouled a lot, so we can waste more time.

Those who criticise his style of play need to remember how it feels like today; so good to win. Imagine if we had 68% possession and lost today, I guarantee you it won't feel nearly half as good. That in itself is justification for a "win at all cost" approach.

I really think he is great for us, we are making progress which is the most important thing in the modern game as the competition nowadays is so good.

And finally, "I don't really care what other people say, we won, 3 points"!

 

[Cliche Guevara]

Jose knows his methods work. The same ones he’s using here at United.

No wonder he doesn’t give a feck. Takes a bit of getting used to as he’s clearly more comfortable watching these games than most fans.

 

[Varun]

Enjoyed that interview.

Got a link?

 

[Cheesy]

Got a link?

Not on me nah, just saw it on Sky although imagine it'll be available somewhere soon.

 

[Santos J]

Got a link?

 

[Jonno]

Oh now the voting on the poll has turned.

I’ve backed Mourinho through thick and thin this last couple of seasons on here, it seems now that he’s beginning to win over some of his doubters.

 

[Member 90887]

I think Jose is underrated. That might sound a bit weird, but I do think people are not giving him enough credit.

He is the ULTIMATE master of game management, all the little things that make a difference. The way he slows the game and kills the momentum when we need to. The substitutions he makes. The way he sets up for matches like today. It is just superb. Fellaini was brought on as he knows that we will need to defend corners at the end of the game, and he knows Fellaini will be fouled a lot, so we can waste more time.

Those who criticise his style of play need to remember how it feels like today; so good to win. Imagine if we had 68% possession and lost today, I guarantee you it won't feel nearly half as good. That in itself is justification for a "win at all cost" approach.

I really think he is great for us, we are making progress which is the most important thing in the modern game as the competition nowadays is so good.

And finally, "I don't really care what other people say, we won, 3 points"!

Just remember our game against Chelsea in SB with LVG, the hazard goal. We had all the possession in the world, it looked like we outplayed them but the only winner there was Chelsea.

 

[#07]

Clearly an issue with Pogba

 

[DeGea]

Just remember our game against Chelsea in SB with LVG, the hazard goal. We had all the possession in the world, it looked like we outplayed them but the only winner there was Chelsea.

Exactly. Trust me, it feels terrible when you lose, no matter how "well" you played.

 

[Utdstar01]

Oh now the voting on the poll has turned.

I’ve backed Mourinho through thick and thin this last couple of seasons on here, it seems now that he’s beginning to win over some of his doubters.

Just noticed that good old kneejerkers.

 

[Minimalist]

Just remember our game against Chelsea in SB with LVG, the hazard goal. We had all the possession in the world, it looked like we outplayed them but the only winner there was Chelsea.

That's a fair shout to be fair. Mourinho said the same thing back then post-match.

 

[Varun]

Thanks.

 

[kidbob]

Just noticed that good old kneejerkers.

Delighted with the first half. Not so much about the second. Still stand by my doubts but the more we perform like in the first half on a consistent basis and for the majority of the game I'll be more than delighted to eat my words. Can't fault much today at all against a good Liverpool side who've been flying lately.

 

[Kraftwerker]

Win against Sevilla and his support will go through the roof.

Would be a brutal kick in the balls to exit the CL at this stage, even if our prsopects of winning it are slim.

 

[Minimalist]

One thing I do remember (before Mourinho to United was even on the cards) was when Chelsea beat Liverpool in that SlippyG game, it was a pretty similar deal performance wise from Chelsea. And I remember then thinking, "fair fcuks to Mourinho, he knows how to do it, even when it's not pretty."

If he can make us more powerful and devastating on the counter attack, I think we can lower our anxiety when we see these types of second halfs.

 

[Thisistheone]

Still the absolute boss when it comes to tactics. We destroyed Liverpool down that Trent-Lovren flank.

2nd half was heart in mouth stuff at times, sitting back just makes me nervous but we really did keep pool at arms length. Haven't seen anyone control Salah like that either.

 

[#07]

 

[Di Maria's angel]

So true.

 

[Tom Van Persie]

Well said.

 

[Jacko21]

Still the absolute boss when it comes to tactics. We destroyed Liverpool down that Trent-Lovren flank.

2nd half was heart in mouth stuff at times, sitting back just makes me nervous but we really did keep pool at arms length. Haven't seen anyone control Salah like that either.

I'm going to have to find a way to watch those sorts of games/halves and not lose my sh*t. Because under Mourinho we'll have plenty more of these and when the stakes are far, far higher. It's not a criticism per se, just so agonising to watch. Meanwhile, Mourinho's sat in the dugout writing down what everyone wants from the chippy in his notebook - cool as you like!

 

[The Man Himself]

13 points from big games this season. Defeated Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea and Spurs.

Meanwhile, Liverpool won only 2 big games from 9 and get all the credit from being great and attacking.

"Terrible in big games" indeed.

Liverpool conceded 20 goals in those 9 matches as well, with a GD of -4.

 

[VP89]

Oh now the voting on the poll has turned.

I’ve backed Mourinho through thick and thin this last couple of seasons on here, it seems now that he’s beginning to win over some of his doubters.

Wow man you're a fecking visionary. Well done bro.

 

[bosnian_red]

5 fixtures in the next month, could really change our fortunes for the better or pretty much lose all hope with United under Mourinho. Basically for me the 5 games that make or break his tenure here and if I'm Mou in or Mou out.

4 home games, 1 away game. Home to Chelsea, away to palace, home to Liverpool, home to Seville, home to Brighton in the FA cup. Its time he shows he can get us to actually play well in big games and show some direction for us instead of the shit we've seen. Theres no excuse for how poorly we've been playing and it's time for that to change if Mourinho wants a future here.

We're pretty much at the point where these next games will define the season. Losing to any of those teams would probably be disastrous for our season and the collective confidence. If we get through them winning most or all (We should aim to win all 5 considering we've dropped enough points in big games), then it'll set up the last 2 months nicely.

Won the most worrying fixtures. Would be a huge shock if we bottled it now against Sevilla and in the FA cup. Got us out of our slump and we should be in full flow now. Was a huge few games and he's done it perfectly. Credit where it's due.

 

[haram]

Facts. Even Savage has some sense of perspective.

 

[Thisistheone]

I'm going to have to find a way to watch those sorts of games/halves and not lose my sh*t. Because under Mourinho we'll have plenty more of these and when the stakes are far, far higher. It's not a criticism per se, just so agonising to watch. Meanwhile, Mourinho's sat in the dugout writing down what everyone wants from the chippy in his notebook - cool as you like!

Same here mate!

He's the master at it though. I laughed when Mata and him high fived, you could see Jose was loving it.

 

[Minimalist]

I'm going to have to find a way to watch those sorts of games/halves and not lose my sh*t. Because under Mourinho we'll have plenty more of these and when the stakes are far, far higher. It's not a criticism per se, just so agonising to watch. Meanwhile, Mourinho's sat in the dugout writing down what everyone wants from the chippy in his notebook - cool as you like!

 

[Jacko21]

Same here mate!

He's the master at it though. I laughed when Mata and him high fived, you could see Jose was loving it.

I guess there's still a part of me that doesn't completely trust these players to carry out Mourinho's instructions, hence the anxiety. But once that disappears, I'll be golden and Manchester United will be a force - because Mourinho with a team he totally trusts, is a historically winning combination. We're just not quite there yet.

 

[Walters_19_MuFc]

Today is how Jose wants to play a 4231.

When he bought Pogba, I guess he felt he could mould him into a tough, hardworking box to box player, but Pogba has, and never will be that type of player.

He has got a massive decision to make, in regards to next season.

If he wants to play a 4231 next season, then he has to think long and hard about what he's going to do with Pogba.

Guess he could do what he did with Fabregas, which was to play him deep in the games Chelsea dominated, and as a 10 in the bigger games.

Today showed how solid we can be with two defence minded midfielders, though. Moruinho has always preferred to defend with two banks of four, and today we saw that.

 

[Thisistheone]

I guess there's still a part of me that doesn't completely trust these players to carry out Mourinho's instructions, hence the anxiety. But once that disappears, I'll be golden and Manchester United will be a force - because Mourinho with a team he totally trusts, is a historically winning combination. We're just not quite there yet.

Yeah, its a slow rebuilding job but we're gonna be a force as you say, once Jose gets more of his players in.

Solid at the back like today but with a bigger threat on the counter and we'll be a nightmare for any big team.

 

[MadDogg]

Second half was troublesome given how much ground we gave up but as somebody pointed out - didn't look like Mourinho was happy with that either.

That's the big thing that a lot of people seem to miss.

I'll use the game against Liverpool at Anfield earlier this season as it's the best example. Anybody who thinks Mourinho deliberately set us out super defensively and didn't want us to attack at all has no idea what they are talking about. Yes he wants us to be extremely solid defensively, but every previous team he has had has also been brilliant at transitioning from that defence to quick devastating counter-attacks. There's not a doubt in the world it's what he wants us to be doing in those types of games, but for one reason or another he hasn't been able to quite get us doing that properly yet. The first half today against Liverpool, the second half against Chelsea...that is the classic Jose Mourinho team. That is what he wants. Not the kind of performances that we gave against Liverpool earlier in the season.

That doesn't absolve him from responsibility though. While I have no doubt about how he wants us to play, it is ultimately his responsibility to get us doing it. It's up to him to do well enough in the meantime to deserve more time to get it right. And considering our progress under him there's no doubt he does deserve that time. Both of his seasons have seen significant improvement. Hopefully as we move forward we get that balance right.

 

[GM K]

Like Frank Lampard said, if the United team is not doing well, it is likely the fault of the players. Jose Mourinho is that good.

 

[Devil may care]

I hoped he'd adapt to our traditions, but we are instead becoming a side in his image, ugly, soulless but effective in getting results.

 

[GM K]

The tactics today wasn't different or special to be honest. It's the same 4-2-3-1 we have been trying to play all season. It was the manner of execution and the attitude of the players that made a massive difference. Today, I saw a hungry, fighting Manchester United squad. The lads won so many 2nd balls that I was wondering what has happened to them. We need more of that.

 

[Rajma]

Thanks for the win Jose.

 

[Hugh Jass]

So true.

 

[haram]

I feel sorry for those who want him sacked .

I see some have changed their vote anyway.

 

[MadDogg]

I hoped he'd adapt to our traditions, but we are instead becoming a side in his image, ugly, soulless but effective in getting results.

Mourinho's teams at their best basically play the same as what we did under Fergie for his last 5-6 seasons. This idea that his teams are normally defensive giants who just grind out wins has certainly been true against other top teams, but against the rest they have regularly been great offensive value. His teams in each of the different leagues have regularly scored the most goals each season. We were looking like that earlier in the season when we had that spate of 4-0 and 4-1 wins, so hopefully that's something we'll continue to see more often going forward.

 

[Sanche7]

I hoped he'd adapt to our traditions, but we are instead becoming a side in his image, ugly, soulless but effective in getting results.

To be fair to him, he has changed, at least from what i see
He has become a classier guy, even if he gets into fights, he kind of tries to solve them
You don't see him acting out much, going crazy at the touch line or anything

I mean give the guy a chance, I used to dislike him too but I see that he's trying to change, to become a better person

With regards to how he manages the team, do not tell me you expected him to watch some tapes of how Fergie's teams used to play and be like oh yeah, this is how I'm gonna play now.
When we appointed Mou, we knew what we were getting into-Pragmatic yet effective football but with results and trophies
Yes the team is not perfect yet, but despite us being 'so shitty', we are on course to finish second in one of the most competitive seasons of the PL and any other year would be still in the title race.

Am I entirely happy with the way we play? NO
But for now I'm pleased with what Mou has done, Is doning
I look at that table and I see us 5 points above second and then I remember how we were struggling even last year.
Let Mou finish building his team, let the team fully buy into his philosophy, let's put the daggers away till that happens and for the time being enjoy the fact that we are on the way up

 

[Devil may care]

To be fair to him, he has changed, at least from what i see
He has become a classier guy, even if he gets into fights, he kind of tries to solve them
You don't see him acting out much, going crazy at the touch line or anything

I mean give the guy a chance, I used to dislike him too but I see that he's trying to change, to become a better person

With regards to how he manages the team, do not tell me you expected him to watch some tapes of how Fergie's teams used to play and be like oh yeah, this is how I'm gonna play now.
When we appointed Mou, we knew what we were getting into-Pragmatic yet effective football but with results and trophies
Yes the team is not perfect yet, but despite us being 'so shitty', we are on course to finish second in one of the most competitive seasons of the PL and any other year would be still in the title race.

Am I entirely happy with the way we play? NO
But for now I'm pleased with what Mou has done, Is doning
I look at that table and I see us 5 points above second and then I remember how we were struggling even last year.
Let Mou finish building his team, let the team fully buy into his philosophy, let's put the daggers away till that happens and for the time being enjoy the fact that we are on the way up

I was never worried about his personality or him being a classy guy, Fergie was thoroughly nasty and petty at times, you will find very few likable managers.

No, I didn't expect him to watch old tapes, I just hoped he'd try to build a United side, not a Mourinho side, but he's building a side that he wants, it might get results but football is about much more than that IMO, so I'm not really interested in seeing his finished team, I saw his finished Inter, Chelsea and Real sides and I never wanted us to be like them, it is what it is, I accept some people only care about results, we could play his way and win a PL and that would be fine for some, and that's cool, everyone has a right to their view.

 

[DOTA]

Second with eighty points in the league and either the FA Cup or reaching the Champions League semi-final would be a good season for me.

Third or fourth with no trophy and last sixteen or quarter final exit in the CL would be another bad one.

Both of those outcomes are quite possible, I think.