Jose Mourinho | 2017/18 Assessments | Poll Added

[Minimalist]

It's impressive how easily he's managed to feck up the confidence of our team in merely a week.

He actively seeks to create issues. It's as if he isn't happy unless he's acting like a tosser in the press, falling out with a player or going out of his way to make us the most gutless team to face our rivals. Spurs have predictably scored three in 45 minutes.

We still haven't been very good this season, in spite of the celebration on here, and (as predicted) we were going to stumble this month, bringing most of you lot back down to earth.

He'll get sacked here, and I don't foresee success. I haven't been convinced last season and this week has only cemented my initial impression of his first season in charge.

Confidence is the key word. It baffled me how nobody saw how playing like we did at Liverpool wouldn't have some sort of effect on the players, especially with how everyone and their dog knew how poor Liverpool were at the back. That we barely created a chance can't have felt good for the players.

That it took until 70 minutes for United to have a shot on target against a promoted side in Huddersfield is pretty fecking worrying.

People mention injuries - that's fine but you don't need world class players to have a chance on goal. This has been a consistently thrown out flawed argument from the moment Moyes came in. That it's the players are poor and they need replaced. Yes, some players aren't good enough, some probably do need replaced. But until then, you have to do better with what you've got.

Some people genuinely believed and still believe now, that only when we add Griezmann (which isn't even guaranteed), everything will change. They are going to be sorely disappointed. The system will be the same, the managers strategy will be the same.

Mourinho is doing better this season overall and statistically, we've improved better than any side in the league bar City. But it's becoming a little obvious he's not a manager we want to hang around long-term.

 

[Kush]

Except for Bailly, Jose has had a brilliantly performing defense since he came. The problems were clearly our attack as could be seen under LvG. Jose has had 3 windows and brought in Mkhi, Pogba, Zlatan and Lukaku for a combined outlay of more than 200 million pounds. Yet he is nowhere closer to fixing our attack. So Pep has improved City massively from a similar starting point as Jose with similar funds yet Pep got the easier task? Anything to avoid looking at the actual cause of our horrendous attacking prowess it seems.

Hardly brilliantly performing when anytime we needed a result be it away to Wolfsburg to qualify to KOs or away to West Ham to make top 4 we crumbled, under van Gaal we played most negative and boring football I've ever seen and anytime we had to actually attack we looked clueless in defence. That's not the case with Mourinho, he has been able to get more out of his defenders which is the reason we are as solid as we've been.

Problems have been at the other end like you said, which is why most of his signings have been actually attackers. Ibra, Mkhi, Pogba, Matic, Lukaku were all bought to improve our misfiring attack and at the start of this season we were doing well but Pogba injury has halted our momentum. There's no one in the squad which can replicate what he offers, that's why we are struggling so much. I disagree that both started from a similar point, our problems were deeper and in number of areas compared to City. I've explained that in great detail in the above post.

On your last point, I am no where excusing Mourinho for our lack of goals/results in recent weeks. Even at the start of season when we were scoring 4 every 2nd game I was not convinced by us because there was no chemistry between the attackers. This problem has become even more apparent with Pogba out and it's up to Mourinho to find solutions.

I want our fans to be more patient with him, he has his flaws (mainly being too negative in certain games) but there are lots of things which he has done well over the past 12-14 months. Players which he has brought have improved us in areas which we were lacking in, brought in silverware which has improved the morale of our squad and fan base. Squad is getting better and football is getting better too, is it at the level where Manchester United should be? Absolutely not, but give it time and do not throw toys out of prams because our neighbors are setting the pace.

 

[breakout67]

People actually think our defence was good under LVG. Whenever it was tested it was exposed and constantly saved by Motm performances by De Gea.

Our defence under LVG was like Pep's defense at city, because we had so much possession under LVG we were very good at preventing teams from attacking our defense.

 

[Minimalist]

People actually think our defence was good under LVG. Whenever it was tested it was exposed and constantly saved by Motm performances by De Gea.

Our defence under LVG was like Pep's defense at city, because we had so much possession under LVG we were very good at preventing teams from attacking our defense.

Wow, that almost sounds like good management - at least in preventing chances on goal.

 

[breakout67]

Wow, that almost sounds like good management - at least in preventing chances on goal.

Thats just an indication of bad foresight by the club. To go from a possession based manager to a counter-possession based meant that you take 1 step forward and 2 steps back.

As an example, Blind was a good CB because of his composure on the ball and reading of the game. But in a Mourinho side he is lacking in Physicality and goalscoring threat. He does not fit the system.

IMO Pep was the better manager to succeed LVG, while Mourinho was the better manager to succeed SAF. They match each other stylistic much better that way.

 

[Minimalist]

Thats just an indication of bad foresight by the club. To go from a possession based manager to a counter-possession based meant that you take 1 step forward and 2 steps back.

IMO Pep was the better manager to succeed LVG, while Mourinho was the better manager to succeed SAF. They match each other stylistic much better that way.

Don't deny that at all.

 

[snk123]

Wow, that almost sounds like good management - at least in preventing chances on goal.

Yeah great management - keeping the ball against smaller teams and shitting your pants against teams like Arsenal ffs. I remember we had 7% possession against Chelsea in LVG's second season when Chelsea were chasing the game.

 

[prtk0811]

Looking at Liverpool today I feel what a brilliant opportunity we missed against them and put a hand break and self destruct button on our momentum by being so mediocre in attack.

I want Jose mourinho to be absolutely furious and give a hair dryer to the lads for such a dross attacking on the ball.

Must unleash the likes of martial and rashford along with lukaku upfront in a front 2 and play a wing back system.

Use ibrahimovic s dressing room influence to come out of this little blip and beat Tottenham next weekend.

We could have made a great massively boosted our squads confidence by beating Liverpool that day , and played better against Huddersfield as a result.

 

[Minimalist]

Yeah great management - keeping the ball against smaller teams and shitting your pants against teams like Arsenal ffs. I remember we had 7% possession against Chelsea in LVG's second season when Chelsea were chasing the game.

Possession itself is meaningless. That finished 1-1 didn't it? From a mistake if I remember correctly.

Meanwhile Mourinho got crushed by Conte last season. What's your point?

I'm simply saying criticising LVG for his system when it by and large worked (defensively at least) is a bit silly.

 

[NK86]

Hardly brilliantly performing when anytime we needed a result be it away to Wolfsburg to qualify to KOs or away to West Ham to make top 4 we crumbled, under van Gaal we played most negative and boring football I've ever seen and anytime we had to actually attack we looked clueless in defence. That's not the case with Mourinho, he has been able to get more out of his defenders which is the reason we are as solid as we've been.

Problems have been at the other end like you said, which is why most of his signings have been actually attackers. Ibra, Mkhi, Pogba, Matic, Lukaku were all bought to improve our misfiring attack and at the start of this season we were doing well but Pogba injury has halted our momentum. There's no one in the squad which can replicate what he offers, that's why we are struggling so much. I disagree that both started from a similar point, our problems were deeper and in number of areas compared to City. I've explained that in great detail in the above post.

On your last point, I am no where excusing Mourinho for our lack of goals/results in recent weeks. Even at the start of season when we were scoring 4 every 2nd game I was not convinced by us because there was no chemistry between the attackers. This problem has become even more apparent with Pogba out and it's up to Mourinho to find solutions.

I want our fans to be more patient with him, he has his flaws (mainly being too negative in certain games) but there are lots of things which he has done well over the past 12-14 months. Players which he has brought have improved us in areas which we were lacking in, brought in silverware which has improved the morale of our squad and fan base. Squad is getting better and football is getting better too, is it at the level where Manchester United should be? Absolutely not, but give it time and do not throw toys out of prams because our neighbors are setting the pace.

A couple of poor results under LvG doesn't mean we had poor defenders. We got taken apart by Chelsea last season as well. Does not mean our defense is shite. The vast majority of the current defense has been inherited by Mourinho and he has just added better MFs to it. As for attackers he has added 3 out of which one has been poor so far while one has just started his career here promisingly.

I am not asking him to be sacked but he has to shoulder a lot of the blame for not getting the best out of our attack and for the lack or chemistry shown in our team in the attackinf third.

 

[Raoul]

Best goal scorer? Lukaku was on the pitch mate. And I'm reasonably sure it's within the manager's job description to ensure his side isn't so thin as to be rendered completely impotent the moment they lose their best midfielder/defender. How are we supposed to contend for a title if we get rolled by the opposition every time one of our first teamers gets injured? This is down to the manager. He's had two seasons to fix this.

There’s nothing to fix.

Take Mane and Coutinho out of the LFC lineup or Kane and Ali out of Spurs and they would certainly drop points.

Lukaku obviously needs Pogba to bring these out of him. Without Pogba he is reduced to looked pretty anonymous.

You can’t take the contributions of Zlatan, Pogba, and Bailly our of the equation and not expect a bumpy ride.

 

[Escobar]

Currently just not good enough

 

[Dobbs]

There’s nothing to fix.

Take Mane and Coutinho out of the LFC lineup or Kane and Ali out of Spurs and they would certainly drop points.

Lukaku obviously needs Pogba to bring these out of him. Without Pogba he is reduced to looked pretty anonymous.

You can’t take the contributions of Zlatan, Pogba, and Bailly our of the equation and not expect a bumpy ride.

He scored 25 last season without Pogba behind him.

We've spent a huge amount of money to avoid having weaker squads like Liverpool and Spurs. A comparison with them isn't valid.

 

[Raoul]

He scored 25 last season without Pogba behind him.

We've spent a huge amount of money to avoid having weaker squads like Liverpool and Spurs. A comparison with them isn't valid.

He's on pace for a lot more than 25 this year if we keep Pogba healthy. Its obvious that Jose's counter attacking approach of wearing the opposition down to where they get desperate towards the end, then blitz them with late goals is working.

 

[Dobbs]

He's on pace for a lot more than 25 this year if we keep Pogba healthy. Its obvious that Jose's counter attacking approach of wearing the opposition down to where they get desperate towards the end, then blitz them with late goals is working.

Sure but you can't put Lukaku looking anonymous down to the absence of just one player. Especially when he's just had a very good season playing for Everton. Makes no sense.

If him being entirely dependant on Pogba was true we'd have big problems.

 

[Raoul]

Sure but you can't put Lukaku looking anonymous down to the absence of just one player. Especially when he's just had a very good season playing for Everton. Makes no sense.

If him being entirely dependant on Pogba was true we'd have big problems.

Our entire attack has looked anonymous of late and I think we can safely say its down to a lack of midfield control and creativity. If you have a massive hole in midfield everything breaks down. With Pogba back, I'm sure we will be back in business.

 

[haram]

He scored 25 last season without Pogba behind him.

We've spent a huge amount of money to avoid having weaker squads like Liverpool and Spurs. A comparison with them isn't valid.

To be fair, teams aren't likely to sit behind the ball against Everton, so there was more space to work with for Lukaku.

 

[Mickfoley]

He has always been a bad loser and he is too old to change now. When things are not going his way he always looks like he's about to lose his shit but he is pretty good at taking the attention away from the team.
I hope his contract situation is sorted soon so we can focus back on our season which is still in very good shape and we have had a good start in both the league and Champions League.
One thing I still believe he is genuinely upset about is the failure of the board to deliver him a true winger that he was after. He mentioned numerous times in the press he wants the fourth signing and after the injuries we've had he's pissed at Ed for not giving him Perisic.

 

[Dobbs]

Our entire attack has looked anonymous of late and I think we can safely say its down to a lack of midfield control and creativity. If you have a massive hole in midfield everything breaks down. With Pogba back, I'm sure we will be back in business.

If that's true, we're that dependant on one player, it's not good management is it?

 

[R'hllor]

Some teams have worse midfield pairings but still look more decent while they attack, they suck at defending and are soft as feck ( Arsenal example with Xhaka and Elneny) tho,

 

[Kag]

Confidence is the key word. It baffled me how nobody saw how playing like we did at Liverpool wouldn't have some sort of effect on the players, especially with how everyone and their dog knew how poor Liverpool were at the back. That we barely created a chance can't have felt good for the players.

That it took until 70 minutes for United to have a shot on target against a promoted side in Huddersfield is pretty fecking worrying.

People mention injuries - that's fine but you don't need world class players to have a chance on goal. This has been a consistently thrown out flawed argument from the moment Moyes came in. That it's the players are poor and they need replaced. Yes, some players aren't good enough, some probably do need replaced. But until then, you have to do better with what you've got.

Some people genuinely believed and still believe now, that only when we add Griezmann (which isn't even guaranteed), everything will change. They are going to be sorely disappointed. The system will be the same, the managers strategy will be the same.

Mourinho is doing better this season overall and statistically, we've improved better than any side in the league bar City. But it's becoming a little obvious he's not a manager we want to hang around long-term.

I completely agree. Tell the players they're not good enough and that will factor in their performances. Spurs are battering other sides with lads like Harry Winks in their team. Good little player, ay, but nothing special. But he's confident, raring to go and in a side full of other good, confident players. Even derided players like Sissoko can look the part when they're made to feel the part. We've got very good players that are struggling (see Herrera, Mata or Mkhitaryan) yet some of this lot on here would have you believe they're inherently terrible and that replacing them some wanker called Savic over in Italy, or Ross bloody Barkley, will solve our problems. After all this time you'd think people would learn, but they don't.

 

[Water Melon]

I am ready to bet that during his first three seasons with Utd Jose will not win the Premier League or the Champions league. Shame really, but I doubt I am wrong.

 

[RedDevil@84]

Our entire attack has looked anonymous of late and I think we can safely say its down to a lack of midfield control and creativity. If you have a massive hole in midfield everything breaks down. With Pogba back, I'm sure we will be back in business.

And Pogba seems to be mysteriously not in Carrington or we dont have a clue with what is going on with his injury

 

[Tom Van Persie]

And Pogba seems to be mysteriously not in Carrington or we dont have a clue with what is going on with his injury

He's rehabbing in America and I'm sure I read a few weeks ago that he's working with a running specialist because United fear that his running style is causing this hamstring injury.

 

[RedDevil@84]

He's rehabbing in America and I'm sure I read a few weeks ago that he's working with a running specialist because United fear that his running style is causing this hamstring injury.

Jose's reply in the press conference seemed a bit odd if he knew what exactly was being done

 

[AshRK]

I feel the biggest mistake Jose has made so far is not selling more players. He has been too generous towards many of our average players. I really hope he takes some stern decisions and try to shake things up.

 

[haram]

I feel the biggest mistake Jose has made so far is not selling more players. He has been too generous towards many of our average players. I really hope he takes some stern decisions and try to shake things up.

Who else should he have sold?

 

[RedDevil@84]

I feel the biggest mistake Jose has made so far is not selling more players. He has been too generous towards many of our average players. I really hope he takes some stern decisions and try to shake things up.

And bring in whom? Some big name players were either not moving or not interested in coming here. The ones we got in like Lindelof are struggling a bit and need time.
So unless you have some names that were easy to get and could instantly lift our team, there is no point in getting rid if replacements are also average

 

[breakout67]

I feel the biggest mistake Jose has made so far is not selling more players. He has been too generous towards many of our average players. I really hope he takes some stern decisions and try to shake things up.

Its not possible, we are not a selling club and don't have the funds that Man City do.

Man city go through players like nothing, if one £50m player doesnt work just buy another one. Their turnover is huge.

A good example is between Shaw and Mendy. We are dealing with constant injury and fitness issues with Shaw so we persist with makeshift LBs. Man city get rid of their old LB, buy Mendy and also buy a back up to Mendy.

 

[Pyro19]

The Huddersfield result is a one off which used to happen even when SAF was here and there are always a couple of matches throughout the season where the favourite team gets massively upset.

Our approach in the Liverpool match and Tottenham's subsequent beatdown of Tottenham (although at home) has massively hit the morale of both our supporters and our players I think.

 

[RooneyLegend]

I'm not saying don't fire him, but we will be right here again with the new guy.

Our problems run deep.

They don't, we just keep hiring the wrong guys and are now paying the price. Moyes was never a manager for this level, Van Gaal is outdated, and Jose goes totally against our clubs values.

Just a reminder that we are second in the league and have had the best start since 2010/11. There is a clear improvement in the team and we have smashed West Ham, Swansea, Everton who we drew with last season. We have also been extremely comfortable in the CL unlike previous seasons where we would struggle against average teams like CSKA away from home.

Half the meltdown is simply because Man City have been better than us. It seems people are forgetting they have one of the best managers in the world and have more spending power than us. There's no shame in being worse than them; so long as we are in touching distance with them; we still have a shout at the league.

All those clubs are in crisis mode and are faffing about in and around the relegation zone. We've played Madrid and the swatted us aside with little to no issues, we played Southampton and had to park the bus in the second half to eek out the win, we played Stoke and barely looked better than them, we played a Pool side in the midst of a defensive crisis and didn't look like bothering the scorers, we now played Huddersfield and looked flat and impotent. For all of that dross we've smashed we've looked just as clueless against sides with a bit of clout.

 

[AXVnee7]

The Huddersfield result is a one off which used to happen even when SAF was here and there are always a couple of matches throughout the season where the favourite team gets massively upset.

Our approach in the Liverpool match and Tottenham's subsequent beatdown of Tottenham (although at home) has massively hit the morale of both our supporters and our players I think.

Haha... I know what you meant of course!

But you're right and make a very good point. Our results and performances look worse when you put them in the context of how other teams are doing. I think despite the Huddersfield loss, or certainly before it that we had one of the best starts ever at Man Utd. Even though we were supposedly playing "easy" teams, we've actually ended up being toppled by one.

 

[K2K]

They don't, we just keep hiring the wrong guys and are now paying the price. Moyes was never a manager for this level, Van Gaal is outdated, and Jose goes totally against our clubs values.

All those clubs are in crisis mode and are faffing about in and around the relegation zone. We've played Madrid and the swatted us aside with little to no issues, we played Southampton and had to park the bus in the second half to eek out the win, we played Stoke and barely looked better than them, we played a Pool side in the midst of a defensive crisis and didn't look like bothering the scorers, we now played Huddersfield and looked flat and impotent. For all of that dross we've smashed we've looked just as clueless against sides with a bit of clout.

Who is the right guy?

 

[RooneyLegend]

Who is the right guy?

Right now Silva looks like the right guy.

 

[AshRK]

Who else should he have sold?

We have many average players who are just not good enough and many who now look like they are stealing wages. I understand Jose is a fan of the group of players he has now but he has to be realistic and ask himself, the players he has, are they any good to win him the title.

And bring in whom? Some big name players were either not moving or not interested in coming here. The ones we got in like Lindelof are struggling a bit and need time.
So unless you have some names that were easy to get and could instantly lift our team, there is no point in getting rid if replacements are also average

We surely could have got a better fullback than Darmian and Young, we surely could have got a better number 10 than Lingard or even Mata. I fully understand that no point replacing one average with other but we can easily improve on some of the personnel we have. I know it is not easy and this is not like playing Fifa and all but Jose must take tough calls moving forward.

Its not possible, we are not a selling club and don't have the funds that Man City do.

Man city go through players like nothing, if one £50m player doesnt work just buy another one. Their turnover is huge.

A good example is between Shaw and Mendy. We are dealing with constant injury and fitness issues with Shaw so we persist with makeshift LBs. Man city get rid of their old LB, buy Mendy and also buy a back up to Mendy.

Nothing to do with City, jose since coming has sold just 4 first team players or if you can call the likes of Memphis that. 4 is way too less considering number of average players we have. I understand the concept of squad players but to have 7 or 8 of that is not correct. We could have easily upgraded on Darmian and Young. Same with Mata/Lingard. One could argue even Jones who every united fan under the sun knows how injury prone he is.

Point is too much trust has been shown by jose by keeping some average players.

 

[breakout67]

Nothing to do with City, jose since coming has sold just 4 first team players or if you can call the likes of Memphis that. 4 is way too less considering number of average players we have. I understand the concept of squad players but to have 7 or 8 of that is not correct. We could have easily upgraded on Darmian and Young. Same with Mata/Lingard. One could argue even Jones who every united fan under the sun knows how injury prone he is.

Point is too much trust has been shown by jose by keeping some average players.

Mourinho wanted Perisic and Griezmann. These would have cost £130 million. We obviously wouldnt sell Martial or Rashford on the LW, and we gave away Rooney for free (or subsidized his wages).

Ashley Young is on massive wages meaning his transfer fee would be very low. We were apparently willing to sell Darmian for £20 million. Using Mendy as an example he would cost £52 million. So that's a net £30 million.

So lets say that with the transfer inflation we would have to spend net £30 million for the LB and RW position each. Add on the £130 million and thats an extra £190 million spending.

Jose was definitely not backed when it comes to Perisic (the club didnt want to spend £40+ million on him) and IMO he was told that he had to work with certain players if he wanted to get Griezmann.

 

[haram]

Like who though @AshRK ?

We are struggling because the Herrera - Matic midfield doesn't work and now 3 of our CBs are injured.

 

[Maradona10]

This meltdown after one defeat, do people forget under van gaal we lost 10 games and the shambles that our Champions league campaign was? Or under moyes where we lost 12? People are really fickle here. SAF drew with exeter, lost to burnley, Blackburn,Leeds(2010) etc.
Some people are bunch of whiney children here. He won two trophies with an average squad, have some patience its a three year project, Let him get his team and atleast wait for him to lose some games? before putting the knife in.He lost 5 league games in whole of last year, won two out of 4 trophies available to him, you lot are spoilt and maybe deserve these PL/less years.

 

[The Mitcher]

We may have had a similar result to tottenham had we actually scored some of our chances against Liverpool during the match. But, unlucky for us we had them being unusually cautious, raising their game against us as per usual, and an off day for our attacking players. In the end both teams in the 2nd half played for a draw. Also this is the only defeat of the season, and we're in 2nd place and this is without key players like Pogba. Calm yourselves down, ever since Sir Alex left every defeat, every run where the team might not be at its best (regardless of results) results in a meltdown constantly. Its ok to laugh at RAWK and Bluemoon for theirs, but please, take a look at yourselves and realise this place is going down that road. A meltdown every loss, draw or win that was ginded out is stupid. Grow up, and realise we aren't in a bad position at all and City can't keep up this form forever.

 

[R'hllor]

Dont think our issues are in right or wrong guy like 100%. There must be some direction, a vision when it comes to where we going, current manager, future manager, academy etc. For me it looks like we are in PL title hunt but instead of working towards it, we kinda forcing the whole thing.