Jose Mourinho | 2017/18 Assessments | Poll Added

[Santoryo]

I was expecting this approach before he arrived and I'm still left disappointed.
People can bash the players all they want but Mourinho is a coward in big games. We all knew this.
If I'm a player, I would be flabbergasted at my manager telling me to approach a game in this manner, against a team every man and his dog knows we're better than and has one win in seven.
Why the feck should we be playing reactive football against this Liverpool side?
I didn't watch the game, glad I didn't.
The reports from the match have left me fuming.

The worst part about this is that as a player these are the games the whole world is watching and players are mostly judged in these occasions.

You perform in these type high profile games and you soar into the sky but unfortunately for our lads our manager isn't interested in playing football in these sort of games thus our players don't have a chance to perform in these events.

As a supporter you're looking at these high profile games to see how good your team can compete against the other best as well as looking at bragging right. But unfortunately once again due to our manager cowardly tactics we're left listening to rival fans and media alike how anti football and negative we are, digging a reputation similar to the likes of Stoke.

Instead of enjoying these games, we spend the vast majority of the time pulling our hair out, mad at how cowardly and negative we approach games while our rivals enjoy watching their teams knock the ball around all day with our players chasing around looking championship level.

 

[Escobar]

I said we tried to counter attack. I dint say we scucceded or was close enough to succeeding. To counter attack you need better passing and movement which our players dint have.

You should surely not expect us dominate the ball in 4v2 situation in the middle so we are bound to absorb the pressure more an more unless you had another midfeilder on the bench like a carrick who could pick out the right pass to launch a successfull counter in a front 3 or wingers good enough to create. That bolded part though is annoying.

That's exactly the point. We didnt even bother and that's what I criticize

 

[prtk0811]

That's exactly the point. We didnt even bother and that's what I criticize

We are an unbalanced team, And that limits our options and a manager who automatically goes reactive and does not care about the ball posession when the opponents take too much of the ball So he stops picking players like mata who could work in our posession advantage and 9 out of 10 times punting it long is just plain annoying.

 

[James Peril]

It's harsh to call Lukaku's chance a sitter, and then say Can's chance was a difficult volley attempt. If Can's was difficult, Lukaku's was too since he was forced to take the shot early under pressure from incoming Liverpool players.

Anyhow my original point was that all the "if we scored this or they scored that" is irrelevant. All that matters is what happened. I would say Liverpool were brilliant, but only in periods and not consistently. I would say that we were fairly average to poor across the 90 mins bar a moment of great play for the Lukaku chance.

Lukaku was a pure shot from inside the box, the chances a great striker should score from. Can was a lofted pass from behind and over the defenders, which would always be difficult to control, especially for a midfielder. Had Van Persie gotten that chance it would have been a sitter too, but not when Can gets it. There is no excuse for Lukaku here, as a left-footed player he clearly should have wacked it in the left corner instead of going across the goal, as pointed out by the pundits after the match.

 

[prtk0811]

That's exactly the point. We didnt even bother and that's what I criticize

That's mourinho's Philosophical limitations. He wont care about ball Posession.

 

[Smores]

Been a while since the anti mourinho crowd have had an opportunity to moan. Get it out lads.

A draw away to our biggest rival, the horror

 

[Hellboy]

Been a while since the anti mourinho crowd have had an opportunity to moan. Get it out lads.

A draw away to our biggest rival, the horror

We're Man United not a relegation candidate, Mourinho's approach was cowardly on saturday, it's not as Liverpool are Barcelona.

 

[AXVnee7]

Lukaku was a pure shot from inside the box, the chances a great striker should score from. Can was a lofted pass from behind and over the defenders, which would always be difficult to control, especially for a midfielder. Had Van Persie gotten that chance it would have been a sitter too, but not when Can gets it. There is no excuse for Lukaku here, as a left-footed player he clearly should have wacked it in the left corner instead of going across the goal, as pointed out by the pundits after the match.

I think you're being a bit too harsh on Lukaku. He was forced to rush his shot by the Liverpool defenders diminishing the space around him.

 

[prtk0811]

I think you're being a bit too harsh on Lukaku. He was forced to rush his shot by the Liverpool defenders diminishing the space around him.

There is room for improvement in him which is his finishing skills. He has been hitting straight at the keeper since preseason. He hit at the keeper at stoke on one one but was lucky with the rebound.

 

[BluesJr]

The worst part about this is that as a player these are the games the whole world is watching and players are mostly judged in these occasions.

You perform in these type high profile games and you soar into the sky but unfortunately for our lads our manager isn't interested in playing football in these sort of games thus our players don't have a chance to perform in these events.

As a supporter you're looking at these high profile games to see how good your team can compete against the other best as well as looking at bragging right. But unfortunately once again due to our manager cowardly tactics we're left listening to rival fans and media alike how anti football and negative we are, digging a reputation similar to the likes of Stoke.

Instead of enjoying these games, we spend the vast majority of the time pulling our hair out, mad at how cowardly and negative we approach games while our rivals enjoy watching their teams knock the ball around all day with our players chasing around looking championship level.

This is what a lot of people aren’t grasping. While our main rivals are playing great football no matter the opponent, we’re dicking around praying for points at precious Anfield. It’s highly embarrassing for us as a club and it’s doing us absolutely no favours in trying to attract players in the future or even gain new support. Perception is a large part of Football now whether you like it or not and City are winning that battle in a big way.

 

[Ban]

This is what a lot of people aren’t grasping. While our main rivals are playing great football no matter the opponent, we’re dicking around praying for points at precious Anfield. It’s highly embarrassing for us as a club and it’s doing us absolutely no favours in trying to attract players in the future or even gain new support. Perception is a large part of Football now whether you like it or not and City are winning that battle in a big way.

City are miles ahead of us, amIrite?

 

[Sammyjunn]

Been a while since the anti mourinho crowd have had an opportunity to moan. Get it out lads.

A draw away to our biggest rival, the horror

It is so funny when you add zero context to a post, nobody is fussed about the draw, but about another cowardly performance.

 

[BluesJr]

City are miles ahead of us, amIrite?

You’re deluded if you don’t think that the football they play is miles beyond anything we or Jose is capable of. I’m not even a huge Pep fan he has flaws like any other manager but at least he plays his game and isn’t so scared of what other teams might be able to do.

 

[Sammyjunn]

This is what a lot of people aren’t grasping. While our main rivals are playing great football no matter the opponent, we’re dicking around praying for points at precious Anfield. It’s highly embarrassing for us as a club and it’s doing us absolutely no favours in trying to attract players in the future or even gain new support. Perception is a large part of Football now whether you like it or not and City are winning that battle in a big way.

It is true this sadly, in Holland United and Mourinho are now known as the anti-football club, defensive with very little attacking flair which is not really the case. Only in big matches sadly.

 

[Ban]

You’re deluded if you don’t think that the football they play is miles beyond anything we or Jose is capable of. I’m not even a huge Pep fan he has flaws like any other manager but at least he plays his game and isn’t so scared of what other teams might be able to do.

As I said they're everything we should aspire to be.

 

[AXVnee7]

There is room for improvement in him which is his finishing skills. He has been hitting straight at the keeper since preseason. He hit at the keeper at stoke on one one but was lucky with the rebound.

Oh absolutely. I think his misses against Everton and Crystal Palace were worse.

But anyway I don't want to derail the Mourinho thread into a Lukaku thread. Again I reiterate that 'if Lukaku had scored' is irrelevant now unless you're analysing his conversion rate, but we were talking about his chance in the context of the game. By employing our approach, we restrict chances heavily and Lukaku was left isolated for pretty much the entire game. The once chance we did fashion, he would've needed to take but not unfortunately Lukaku is not quite that clinical.

 

[Ban]

It is true this sadly, in Holland United and Mourinho are now known as the anti-football club, defensive with very little attacking flair which is not really the case. Only in big matches sadly.

Is that from this or last year?

 

[BluesJr]

As I said they're everything we should aspire to be.

They are getting it right on the pitch, something we just aren’t doing and haven’t done since SAF retired. Even before he retired I’d argue.

 

[Ban]

They are getting it right on the pitch, something we just aren’t doing and haven’t done since SAF retired. Even before he retired I’d argue.

They're building something special out there. Not to mention their youth facilities. We have been left in the shadow. Just remember how far from us they had been last year. This year it's going to be even worse.

 

[Devil may care]

It is. We are good enough to be giving the opposition something to worry about in any game we play.

I will never accept tactics like I saw yesterday.

Not even attempting to win a game is fecking pathetic.

He's so worried about the strengths of the other team in big games that he'd rather nullify theirs even at the expense of our own strengths, it's like he views a win in these matches as a bonus, the gameplan is just to not lose.

 

[BluesJr]

They're building something special out there. Not to mention their youth facilities. We have been left in the shadow. Just remember how far from us they had been last year. This year it's going to be even worse.

If you can’t see what is right in front of you that’s up to you. Sometimes it’s ok to admit all is not perfect.

 

[Sammyjunn]

Is that from this or last year?

Mainly last year but this weekend too it was predicted United would defend, and not try to play. Because Mourinho is a negative coach and plays reaction football (in top matches).

 

[Ban]

If you can’t see what is right in front of you that’s up to you. Sometimes it’s ok to admit all is not perfect.

Then we agree. Sad times.

 

[notcool]

Anfield was one game. I expect us to be more equal against Chelsea and Spurs and, hopefully, to rip Arsenal to shreds. Man City might be Anfield times two though.

 

[OldTrevil]

I was frustrated by that performance way more than expected. It felt like a loss the way I didn't feel like watching any other match the rest of the weekend. In the grand scheme of things though I can't argue with a point at Anfield no matter how much I love beating the scouse. We go on to win and dominate most of our games going forward, with better performances against some big boys, and I easily won't mind about that performance.

 

[pocco]

Anfield was one game. I expect us to be more equal against Chelsea and Spurs and, hopefully, to rip Arsenal to shreds. Man City might be Anfield times two though.

Liverpool are the worst of the big teams. The only team i can see us beating is Arsenal ( unless we set up like Saturday) and they're perfectly capable of beating us. Even Spurs seem to have our number these days.

 

[Adam-Utd]

Liverpool are the worst of the big teams. The only team i can see us beating is Arsenal ( unless we set up like Saturday) and they're perfectly capable of beating us. Even Spurs seem to have our number these days.

Liverpool actually have the best record amongst the top 6 mini league of recent times, so that's not actually true.

Liverpools game actually suits open end to end countering matches, which is why Jose chose to shut the game down.

The fact is though our counter attacking element was awful. Our defence moved the ball too slowly and not forwards, Darmian ended up passing backwards or hoofing it to nobody. Our only pass out was to De Gea and no Fellaini to latch onto, we must be better in this aspect.

 

[notcool]

Liverpool are the worst of the big teams. The only team i can see us beating is Arsenal ( unless we set up like Saturday) and they're perfectly capable of beating us. Even Spurs seem to have our number these days.

We beat both Spurs and Chelsea last season and Arsenal are Arsenal (don't try to deny it). Liverpool are the ones I 'fear' the most out of that group.

 

[pocco]

We beat both Spurs and Chelsea last season and Arsenal are Arsenal (don't try to deny it). Liverpool are the ones I 'fear' the most out of that group.

We fear losing to Liverpool because we hate them, but I'd say the others have a better chance of beating us bar perhaps Arsenal. Even them, on their day, can embarrass us.

 

[Pogue Mahone]

We fear losing to Liverpool because we hate them, but I'd say the others have a better chance of beating us bar perhaps Arsenal. Even them, on their day, can embarrass us.

And we can embarrass everyone else. Just like we put a bum note in Chelsea's procession last season. It's very close between the big teams. At the end of the day our Anfield result is better than par so, if anything, it's set us up nicely in the "Big 6 League Table". Bizarre that so many people are taking the exact opposite opinion.

 

[notcool]

We fear losing to Liverpool because we hate them, but I'd say the others have a better chance of beating us bar perhaps Arsenal. Even them, on their day, can embarrass us.

Not really. Notice how I didn't mention Man City. Liverpool are powerful fierce when they get it right. The other teams are more steady.

But even if we are overly cautious with Liverpool because we hate them and really don't want to lose, I'm okay with that. Others might see it as missing a chance to get one over on them because of their poor form but I don't.

 

[AshRK]

I do not think he should go for a 4-2-3-1 formation when playing against a top team away. Thats why I was more disappointed with him, when the line up came out I thought he is going for a 3-4-3 , which would have been sensible and allowed more freedom for our attackers but by playing 4-2-3-1 which eventually becomes 6-3-1 becomes useless.

 

[AshRK]

It is true this sadly, in Holland United and Mourinho are now known as the anti-football club, defensive with very little attacking flair which is not really the case. Only in big matches sadly.

Because in holland they think football should be played only in one way and anything other than that becomes anti. I was not a fan of Jose's tactics but there is nothing right or wrong in football with regard to tactics. It was not like our players tied liverpool's players feat or were fouling and pushing them. There was nothing anti about that.

 

[Smores]

It is so funny when you add zero context to a post, nobody is fussed about the draw, but about another cowardly performance.

Then if they're happy with the result perhaps they should calm down a little. We have not played like that every week its one result (admittedly a good one) but its not about the result is it, its about people who already hold an opinion taking their chance to moan about Jose.

I seriously question how long some on here have supported us. We've hardly ever played the magical football some here have as their expectation, this place had more moaning during Fergies final years than it does now.

At least wait until we play like that at home ffs. At Anfield any such criticism is pathetic.

 

[Womp]

It is true this sadly, in Holland United and Mourinho are now known as the anti-football club, defensive with very little attacking flair which is not really the case. Only in big matches sadly.

Maybe Holland should take some tips. Them thinking they're such 'purist' tacticians is probably why their football is such a fecking shambles

 

[Sammyjunn]

Maybe Holland should take some tips. Them thinking they're such 'purist' tacticians is probably why their football is such a fecking shambles

They have a barren period but that also has a lot to do with the size of the country, talent pool is little at the moment. But for decades Holland has been bringing up way better players and coaches than English football for example.

 

[Sammyjunn]

Because in holland they think football should be played only in one way and anything other than that becomes anti. I was not a fan of Jose's tactics but there is nothing right or wrong in football with regard to tactics. It was not like our players tied liverpool's players feat or were fouling and pushing them. There was nothing anti about that.

The sad thing is it isnt only Holland, it was said for example that Mbappe didnt even consider United because of the way we play football.

 

[Sammyjunn]

Then if they're happy with the result perhaps they should calm down a little. We have not played like that every week its one result (admittedly a good one) but its not about the result is it, its about people who already hold an opinion taking their chance to moan about Jose.

I seriously question how long some on here have supported us. We've hardly ever played the magical football some here have as their expectation, this place had more moaning during Fergies final years than it does now.

At least wait until we play like that at home ffs. At Anfield any such criticism is pathetic.

We play worse football than under Fergie imo, I'd take Fergie's football in the last season over how we are playing, even if it was heavily reliant on van Persie, and Carrick.

 

[AshRK]

The sad thing is it isnt only Holland, it was said for example that Mbappe didnt even consider United because of the way we play football.

Again its all choices and perception of individuals. Mbappe not wanting to play for us is his choice, its not end of the world or neither does it mean our football is anti. Also, wasn't it long ago pep was playing Sane as LWB, imagine if that was jose we will never see the end of it being highlighted.

Like I said I did not like our tactics the other day but that does not mean we play like that every day. If a player does not want to join us, so be it. Mbappe or anyone is not above our club.

 

[notcool]

I do not think he should go for a 4-2-3-1 formation when playing against a top team away. Thats why I was more disappointed with him, when the line up came out I thought he is going for a 3-4-3 , which would have been sensible and allowed more freedom for our attackers but by playing 4-2-3-1 which eventually becomes 6-3-1 becomes useless.

A lot of people thought we might go 3-4-3 (or 3-5-2) but I don't know why. Was it because of the CSKA game?