Jose Mourinho | 2017/18 Assessments | Poll Added

[Jeffthered]

Mourinho is joking if he thinks one game justifies why Lukaku always starts. Lukaku has a number of question marks about his pedigree at the highest level. His touch is poor, he isn't clinical, lacks poise and calm, and appears, frankly, a little clumsy and wild at times in my opinion. No 9 at United will highlight your real credentials. Not saying he is a poor player, just saying look at Suarez, Costa, Kane, Benzema etc.... seem to have a maturity to their game that Lukaku lacks.

Lukaku needs to introduce a bit of 'Ibra' into his game, in terms of being tidy and reliable when the ball is played into him.

Sanchez has been average at best since his arrival and he has disrupted rather than stabilise and improve a stuttering attacking unit.

Mourinho sickens me. Rashford is a super, super young talent. Maybe Mourinho should have stated how poor he is after he destroyed Liverpool in 45 mins a few weeks ago. And what happened? He was substituted and dropped for the next game.

If Rashford leaves, I'll hunt Mourinho down personally!!!

 

[IhabX7]

Say what you want about Klopp, but he has made Liverpool the neutral’s favourite team while Mourinho, as if nothing changed from his two predecessors, is turning our team into an impotent and boring group of individuals who seem like they met each other for the first time every week on matchday.

Every year the league starts all over again, and so does every tournament. feck winning right now. I want to have a reason to watch the game, a reason to look forward to matchday like in the days of Sir Alex. Right now I often find myself drifting and falling asleep during it.

The players aren’t up for it because there’s no way in hell that they are enjoying this shit. Raising their game (motivation-wise) only in big games is a proof of this.

Of course Mourinho can find players that will fight for him more than the current ones. But do we really want players to come and play to this plan? This defensive minded, afraid of possession, unadventurous, and uninspiring game plan? Better players win titles that’s a given. But why not give these better players to a manager who can entertain the supporters, and the neutrals too? The game is about entertainment, and we’re having so little of that.

 

[R o o K]

He's pathetic.

It's weird how people are accusing the players of playing for themselves instead of the team. If anyone is playing for himself, it's Mourinho.

Well, after having 3 managers, 2 of them supposedly world class managers, the football is still tumescent. Don't you think its about time that we blamed the players?

How many managers do you expect to get before we play interstellar football? Cause for sure Klopp or Pep ain't coming.

All you haters get real. You are suspiciously absent when we win, suddenly a loss, and Jose should be sacked. No way. If rumors are true, Glazers are prepared to offer him a new contract. I happy with that.

He is the only manager with the pedigree to win titles. No other. I m happy for him to sell of these poor excuses of players and bring in some top class players. Enough is enough.

 

[lococol]

Decent season overall. Not where we want to be but it is a work in progress. Tactically he is very good but there are way better player motivators than him. Klopp and Pep spring to mind. Next season is the decider. To be fair, I actually think that the players let him down a lot too.

 

[Eddy_JukeZ]

How convenient is it to lay all the blame on rashford and martial and say this answers the why Lukaku questions?

Pathetic from Jose imo

Lukaku's had plenty of shocking games himself.

He's just always picking inner fights for whatever reason. Can't be harmonious to the team.

 

[lococol]

Pathetic from Jose imo

Lukaku's had plenty of shocking games himself.

He's just always picking inner fights for whatever reason. Can't be harmonious to the team.

Is that what he said? He tries to get players playing for him by putting them down. I think more carrot would be better.

 

[Gordon S]

His man management skills are a bit akward to me. He can’t wait to absolutely shower a fairly average talent like Mctominay with love and praise. He just can’t wait to tell the world how much he values a fairly average player like Fellaini. Then he can’t wait to absolutely rip into players like Shaw, Martial and Rashford. Of course some of these young players need a kick in the backside once in while but he is really going to extremes more often than not.

Now he is telling the world he gave them 90 minutes to show they are crap and he never wants questions about these guys again? Is he about to lose his marbles?

 

[Treble]

Imo, only a fantastic signing could save next season. Someone who could make a big difference like Salah.

 

[lococol]

His man management skills are a bit akward to me. He can’t wait to absolutely shower a fairly average talent like Mctominay with love and praise. He just can’t wait to tell the world how much he values a fairly average player like Fellaini. Then he can’t wait to absolutely rip into players like Shaw, Martial and Rashford. Of course some of these young players need a kick in the backside once in while but he is really going to extremes more often than not.

Now he is telling the world he gave them 90 minutes to show they are crap and he never wants questions about these guys again? Is he about to lose his marbles?

But if he cant get the best out of them then that is on him. They are both very talented and I fear he will sell them like other players he got rid of at Chelsea that went on to shine.

 

[RedRonaldo]

It will be exact same as this season.

Which would be uninspiring for the fans but acceptable for the club.

 

[buckooo1978]

think despite all the draws last year I was very happy given that Mourinho had brought us on after Van Gaal. It was clear he was making us hard to beat and we were creating chances. Our finishing let us down in many games. The cup runs were great fun and we got lucky in the right places (linesman in LC final, John Guiditi miss) and it was great to lift trophies.

this year we needed to progress more in terms of results and in terms of our general play. Whilst we've more points and this reflective of some progress you have to offset this by pointing to the fact that this is the worst Premier League in a long time.

After Chelsea and Arsenal the quality is piss poor really - im not surprised City have racked up the points they have - in so many games City have barely looked threatened by these sides. Even Brighton last nite... they didn't beat us because of quality or having a great game... they beat us because we were absolute dogshit poor.

Our performance level and the quality of our play is extremely questionable and we've rarely played well in games for more than 45 mins.

we've spent a lot of money and mismanaged the squad - Martial and Rashford haven't had enough football and are far from match sharpness. Overall there's a sense of uneasiness with the squad and we're a De Gea transfer away from being 5th or 6th.

Personally in spite of being second this has been a poor season and it feels like an endurance test now. Just want the Cup final to hopefully give this year's story a happy ending and for us to address some issues with the squad. The fact he sounds more bothered about Fellaini leaving than Martial concerns me. Not all the players have bad attitudes do they?

next year is make or break for Jose. He needs to improve us or he is gone. I'm not too hopeful to be honest as we are consistently inconsistent. Someone like the Napoli manager would give us such a lift post-Jose.

 

[JoaquinJoaquin]

He isn't the same manager as the one at Porto or Inter. This is the broken version who hasn't evolved tactically and who seemingly has a lack of discipline and respect from his players. One of his strongest traits while at Chelsea was that his players would walk into walls for him such was the strong bond. This team aren't like that. In fact it seems to be the opposite in that when the going gets tough they cower instead. Plus some of the treatment Jose is showing towards players is bizarre like the Bailly situation, that is madness. I've never known a coach say they aren't picking a player for their club because they aren't going to the world cup. If anything you should be playing him more to compensate for that.

Safe to say, this isn't going to magically turn around next season no matter who we sign in Summer. Best thing we can hope for is to get back in the top 4 next year and then Jose says his goodbyes and walks away. So fecking depressing man, I really thought Jose was going to be the man to turn us around. Now I just don't know what to think. Got back to Van Gaal levels of depression, but this time I'm not even sure who the answer is after Jose.

 

[JohnnyKills]

Say what you want about Klopp, but he has made Liverpool the neutral’s favourite team while Mourinho, as if nothing changed from his two predecessors, is turning our team into an impotent and boring group of individuals who seem like they met each other for the first time every week on matchday.

Every year the league starts all over again, and so does every tournament. feck winning right now. I want to have a reason to watch the game, a reason to look forward to matchday like in the days of Sir Alex. Right now I often find myself drifting and falling asleep during it.

The players aren’t up for it because there’s no way in hell that they are enjoying this shit. Raising their game (motivation-wise) only in big games is a proof of this.

Of course Mourinho can find players that will fight for him more than the current ones. But do we really want players to come and play to this plan? This defensive minded, afraid of possession, unadventurous, and uninspiring game plan? Better players win titles that’s a given. But why not give these better players to a manager who can entertain the supporters, and the neutrals too? The game is about entertainment, and we’re having so little of that.

Great post

 

[Kostov]

Some of his decisions are borderline appalling and make me wonder why did you do this or that. Players should take their part of the blame, but so should the manager. Next year he will be judged with more scrutiny and so he should, this kind of performances will be unforgivable.

 

[Hawks2008]

Of course it is his job.


Lukaku has the luxury of the managers support and protection. He was able to put out appalling displays like the one against City and the non show against Liverpool (I think) but kept starting and playing through blips to eventually play himself into good form, confidence and stats.

Thing with Jose is, for me, he values discipline far too highly. It's good to have it but young players seldom do. He doesn't seem as enthusiastic about brilliant attacking skills as he does about discipline and all the stuff that come with experience. And more importantly, he seems unable to instill a high level of cohesion into our team. And that does not bode well for raw, exciting talents. All of this also explains Pogba strugglingunder Mourinho. His entire dogged hard working not-so- cohesive unit suits a Lukaku or Sanchez more.

It's just a shame really. One can't help but be envious of the coaching happening at our rivals right now. Unless your Sanchez or Lukaku I bet the players feel the same way.

Agree with bolded. Mourinho couldn't care less about skill or flair, if he had it his way he'd have 11 dogsbody players who have no special quality except for athelticism, height, and running around a lot. The fact he chased an average player like Perisic for so long is indicative of this. As for signing Pogba, at the time Jose said he signed him because we lacked a "runner" in midfield which once again shows he only saw Pogba for his athletic qualities and not because of his immense techincal gifts. We have a good group of attacking players that can really put the hurt on teams but the manager shows too much respect for most half decent opposition and stifles them because of his anti-risk approach.

People will champion his bullshit because you can only win while playing insipid and uninspired football according to some here. City just blew us away this season playing great stuff and Liverpool are one of the best attacking sides in Europe (with far less expenditure) and we are facing a scenario where one of them will be league champs and the other European champs. But hey we're progressing better than them cause we were ahead of the rest by 3-4 points all season and might get a meaningless FA Cup or something...

Manchester United is defined by winning and winning with style, but most people would sacrifice our heritage and identity for any kind of short term success to say "I told you so" because for them being right matters more than the club. He hasn't done a bad job and we've progressed this season and even if we win the FA cup it still doesn't assure me we will ever hit our old heights under him unless City fall off and we spend another half a billion. These kinds of Performances, Brighton, WBA, Sevilla, Newcastle, Huddersfield etc. are all too common and I know it's cool to throw our squad under the bus every opportunity but the buck stops with the manager and IMO he is underachieving with this group.

 

[fellaini's barber]

What's this I'm hearing about him not wanting the likes of Darmian to leave, its bad enough he's desperate to keep Fellaini but what does he hope to gain from keeping the likes of Young and Darmian? This is why it pisses me off so much when people use that 'Pep spent more money/$100 million on fullbacks/inherited a better squad' rubbish to defend him. So it will be the clubs fault that by next season, Jose's third with us, we're still fielding Fellaini in midfield and Darmian, Young and Valencia at fullback and still playing crap? His player preferences and poor management is the reason we're so far behind City, not the money they spend.

At the moment I'm worried about giving him more money honestly, seeing as the only kind of players who seem to be doing well under him are these average, physical, workhorse, zero flair types who do what he tells them. If the likes of Pogba and Martial are all going to shit under him what sort of attackers do you guys think he'll bring in that would improve us, seriously? Now we are looking forward to another season of shit football after spending yet more money and not gunning for any major trophy while his fanboys tell you we can't play good football because the poor bastard inherited a load of dross which will take 7 years to sort out and we can't expect him to do well because Pep has the likes of Sane, Sterling while Jose is forced to use crap players like Darmian, Fellaini, Valencia etc.

 

[coolredwine]

Don't you think its about time that we blamed the players?

The managers bought those players for some reason.

What goes in the training sessions these days? Have we given up on coaching altogether?

 

[Z1L3]

I genuinely find myself speechless when trying to articulate a response to the "Jose out" brigade. In an attempt to formulate an answer one must consider their arguments, and it is in that very moment when the thought process is disrupted, as if by a Zen Koan. I think reading their posts may lead me to enlightenment.

 

[Dyslexic Untied]

I for one think its good that he focuses on discipline and hard work. Playing good football and working hard throughout the pitch goes hand in hand. One of the reasons why the likes of Liverpool and Pep’s teams actually do play good attacking football is because the forward half of the team run their socks off to win the ball back in positions where the opponent team is out of balance. We, for some reason, seldom do.

On a separate but related note, I like a manager that enforces discipline. We seem to have a bit off a sulky bunch and I am bit tired of stories in the media, apparently leaked by player’s representatives, about midfielder x not being able to play in a midfield two, attacker y not wanting to play on the right etc.

I feel we since SAF have missed a bit of the basics in players; work hard, do your talking on the pitch, always loking to improve, not being satisfied with status quo etc. Perhaps just a reflection of how football has evolved.

 

[Siorac]

I for one think its good that he focuses on discipline and hard work. Playing good football and working hard throughout the pitch goes hand in hand.

It's just a shame we don't do either of those things most of the time.

 

[JustAGuest]

Say what you want about Klopp, but he has made Liverpool the neutral’s favourite team while Mourinho, as if nothing changed from his two predecessors, is turning our team into an impotent and boring group of individuals who seem like they met each other for the first time every week on matchday.

Every year the league starts all over again, and so does every tournament. feck winning right now. I want to have a reason to watch the game, a reason to look forward to matchday like in the days of Sir Alex. Right now I often find myself drifting and falling asleep during it.

The players aren’t up for it because there’s no way in hell that they are enjoying this shit. Raising their game (motivation-wise) only in big games is a proof of this.

Of course Mourinho can find players that will fight for him more than the current ones. But do we really want players to come and play to this plan? This defensive minded, afraid of possession, unadventurous, and uninspiring game plan? Better players win titles that’s a given. But why not give these better players to a manager who can entertain the supporters, and the neutrals too? The game is about entertainment, and we’re having so little of that.

Well said. At the end of the day football should be entertaining. I find it inexcusable how little Mourinho is getting out of his players in an attacking sense, considering the resources he has had at hand. It's difficult not to admire Klopp for the work he has done, even though he manages Liverpool. They play fantastic football and he really has elevated their attacking players to another level, whereas it feels like the opposite is taking place at United.

 

[JPRouve]

For Rugby followers, Mourinho reminds me Jake White, they are like twins. In the case of White, while he is a very efficient manager, the players don't like him, football peoples don't like him, when he manages your team his style becomes tiring fairly quickly and you celebrate his departure like a league title. And even though you are forced to recognize that he really helped you, Vern Cotter is far better.

 

[RD76]

Jose is right. The same players keep letting him down, time and time again. Ok, he keeps picking them but I think last night was more about him wanting to prove himself right; that certain players don't have the necessary talent or mentality to play for Manchester United.

We know who those players are and I hope that they never pull on a shirt again. They don't deserve to.

The problem is, after that complete shit show, why would anyone buy them?

 

[Red00012]

Mourinho is joking if he thinks one game justifies why Lukaku always starts. Lukaku has a number of question marks about his pedigree at the highest level. His touch is poor, he isn't clinical, lacks poise and calm, and appears, frankly, a little clumsy and wild at times in my opinion. No 9 at United will highlight your real credentials. Not saying he is a poor player, just saying look at Suarez, Costa, Kane, Benzema etc.... seem to have a maturity to their game that Lukaku lacks.

Lukaku needs to introduce a bit of 'Ibra' into his game, in terms of being tidy and reliable when the ball is played into him.

Sanchez has been average at best since his arrival and he has disrupted rather than stabilise and improve a stuttering attacking unit.

Mourinho sickens me. Rashford is a super, super young talent. Maybe Mourinho should have stated how poor he is after he destroyed Liverpool in 45 mins a few weeks ago. And what happened? He was substituted and dropped for the next game.

If Rashford leaves, I'll hunt Mourinho down personally!!!

Sane is a super super young talent . Rashford is nowhere near Sane at the moment.

 

[Member 85611]

Jose blamed the players yesterday, but there was no apparent gameplan? You could put Messi in that team and we would still have lost the game yesterday. No cohesion, no attacking patterns, no studied runs.

Against West Brom and Newcastle and Huddersfield the same sh***. Was it the fringe players fault there too? Hm oh wait, Sanchez and Lukaku played against West Brom. Weird.

 

[JPRouve]

Jose is right. The same players keep letting him down, time and time again. Ok, he keeps picking them but I think last night was more about him wanting to prove himself right; that certain players don't have the necessary talent or mentality to play for Manchester United.

We know who those players are and I hope that they never pull on a shirt again. They don't deserve to.

The problem is, after that complete shit show, why would anyone buy them?

Indeed, we know who these players are. Literally everyone except De Gea, logically people would look in the same direction but for some reason it's very hard for a lot of people.

 

[Hernandez - BFA]

Not a fan of starting Fellaini and Matic against Brighton, but the quality in our team should still have beaten Brighton.

Don't blame him for his comments on the fringe players, especially given they are directed at Martial and Rashford. They both get a chance, and they look lost out there.
One will certainly leave this Summer, be it Martial being sold or Rashford being sent on loan.

 

[Jazz]

The guy is never going to change that is clear. However, I'm more concerned with the decision makers at the club putting so much trust in him.
I just expect him to extinguish any and all creativity and replace with Fellaini like players on huge contracts and huge wages who we can't get shot of when a new manager inevitably has to take over.

He also doesn't seem to value technically adept players - only if you're tall, strong and athletic - and this is a serious and expensive error on the part of Woodward if he allows this to continue. World class teams don't use such outdated criteria, and I fear we'll be left way behind after Jose is gone.
As much as we think there's improvement now league position wise, our overall improvement is stagnating.

 

[TsuWave]

Someone should have asked him about the losses vs bottom teams where Lukaku started. He just makes it up as he goes along really. Will throw his mum under the bus to protect himself.

facts

 

[Siorac]

Jose is right. The same players keep letting him down, time and time again. Ok, he keeps picking them but I think last night was more about him wanting to prove himself right; that certain players don't have the necessary talent or mentality to play for Manchester United.

We know who those players are and I hope that they never pull on a shirt again. They don't deserve to.

The problem is, after that complete shit show, why would anyone buy them?

A manager's priority should not be to prove himself right.

If we use last night as evidence, then Pogba and Matic don't have the talent and mentality to play for Manchester United. I expect they will pull on the shirt again though.

 

[TsuWave]

wish i could vote "he's not the man for the job and we need to get rid", twice

 

[Dr. StrangeHate]

I for one think its good that he focuses on discipline and hard work. Playing good football and working hard throughout the pitch goes hand in hand. One of the reasons why the likes of Liverpool and Pep’s teams actually do play good attacking football is because the forward half of the team run their socks off to win the ball back in positions where the opponent team is out of balance. We, for some reason, seldom do.

On a separate but related note, I like a manager that enforces discipline. We seem to have a bit off a sulky bunch and I am bit tired of stories in the media, apparently leaked by player’s representatives, about midfielder x not being able to play in a midfield two, attacker y not wanting to play on the right etc.

I feel we since SAF have missed a bit of the basics in players; work hard, do your talking on the pitch, always loking to improve, not being satisfied with status quo etc. Perhaps just a reflection of how football has evolved.

Because it isn't in Jose's game plan to do that. After two years under Jose, I would say only the Chelsea game with Lingard and Rashford last year we won the ball back regularly in positions where opponent was out of balance. Because that was the gameplan that day. Can you honestly not see that Jose wants his attacking players to track back to their own half more than try to win it in opponents half. Jose's gameplan as far as I can see, includes fast narrow transitions to attack when we win the ball in our half or hoof it to the big man.

 

[Andersons Dietician]

Probably pointing out that without Lukaku he can’t lump it up top.
Neither were great and Rashford, well a night to forget but to single them out when so many were worse speaks a lot.

 

[Red Pavan]

I for one think its good that he focuses on discipline and hard work. Playing good football and working hard throughout the pitch goes hand in hand. One of the reasons why the likes of Liverpool and Pep’s teams actually do play good attacking football is because the forward half of the team run their socks off to win the ball back in positions where the opponent team is out of balance. We, for some reason, seldom do.

On a separate but related note, I like a manager that enforces discipline. We seem to have a bit off a sulky bunch and I am bit tired of stories in the media, apparently leaked by player’s representatives, about midfielder x not being able to play in a midfield two, attacker y not wanting to play on the right etc.

I feel we since SAF have missed a bit of the basics in players; work hard, do your talking on the pitch, always loking to improve, not being satisfied with status quo etc. Perhaps just a reflection of how football has evolved.

Hard work and discipline? Doesn't show on the pitch with their lacklustre pressing game and the lack of urge to move the ball forward with any intent.

 

[Witchking]

His post match interview is bad. One time after a win, he says that his team are not as bad as everyone thinks they are and then comes out yesterday saying that maybe we are not as good as we think we are. Really depressing to see him always have a justification ready as to why they lost, and it is always the players and never him, never his tactics, never his team selection.

 

[Garethw]

think despite all the draws last year I was very happy given that Mourinho had brought us on after Van Gaal. It was clear he was making us hard to beat and we were creating chances. Our finishing let us down in many games. The cup runs were great fun and we got lucky in the right places (linesman in LC final, John Guiditi miss) and it was great to lift trophies.

this year we needed to progress more in terms of results and in terms of our general play. Whilst we've more points and this reflective of some progress you have to offset this by pointing to the fact that this is the worst Premier League in a long time.

After Chelsea and Arsenal the quality is piss poor really - im not surprised City have racked up the points they have - in so many games City have barely looked threatened by these sides. Even Brighton last nite... they didn't beat us because of quality or having a great game... they beat us because we were absolute dogshit poor.

Our performance level and the quality of our play is extremely questionable and we've rarely played well in games for more than 45 mins.

we've spent a lot of money and mismanaged the squad - Martial and Rashford haven't had enough football and are far from match sharpness. Overall there's a sense of uneasiness with the squad and we're a De Gea transfer away from being 5th or 6th.

Personally in spite of being second this has been a poor season and it feels like an endurance test now. Just want the Cup final to hopefully give this year's story a happy ending and for us to address some issues with the squad. The fact he sounds more bothered about Fellaini leaving than Martial concerns me. Not all the players have bad attitudes do they?

next year is make or break for Jose. He needs to improve us or he is gone. I'm not too hopeful to be honest as we are consistently inconsistent. Someone like the Napoli manager would give us such a lift post-Jose.

Excellent post mate. Perfectly sums everything up.

 

[Oldyella]

wish i could vote "he's not the man for the job and we need to get rid", twice

Yeah, same here.

Sick of him throwing players under the bus while the team doesn't even look like it's being coached.

 

[reddaz71]

Not for the first time this season it's abundantly clear that certain players can't be bothered against teams down at the bottom of the league.

It's the immature ones like Pogba and Martial who simply have zero clue what it means to represent the red shirt of Manchester United which is a massive problem way more than the Manager!

 

[Jacob]

I've actually convinced myself that losing Martial is that bad. He sure has quality but he is too fragile mentally, doesn't get stuck in and lacks any kind of inspiration to others.

 

[Witchking]

Well, after having 3 managers, 2 of them supposedly world class managers, the football is still tumescent. Don't you think its about time that we blamed the players?

How many managers do you expect to get before we play interstellar football? Cause for sure Klopp or Pep ain't coming.

All you haters get real. You are suspiciously absent when we win, suddenly a loss, and Jose should be sacked. No way. If rumors are true, Glazers are prepared to offer him a new contract. I happy with that.

He is the only manager with the pedigree to win titles. No other. I m happy for him to sell of these poor excuses of players and bring in some top class players. Enough is enough.

That's not right. Even in the games we have won, United have had to sit back, soak up the pressure and defend for their lives and hope De Gea has another great game. Name the big wins this season where De Gea has not had to play a part in saving us the 3 points or where we have been on the offensive from the start and carried it till the end and won comfortably?

So even after the wins, there are a lot of people who are not happy with the tactics because we have flair players who are being forced to play in a certain crappy way which is the only way to play according to Jose and it is boring to watch and more often than not, we have lost games like yesterday due to that.

If you think jose is right then carry on, but do not talk about people not complaining when we win because that is not correct.