Fergie has not proved he is the master of the kind of football they play in other countries, just that he can beat it.
And that doesnt prove that he's good tactically?
Fergie has not proved he is the master of the kind of football they play in other countries, just that he can beat it.
You said you had your doubts about SAF being able to master wins at italy or spain. I countered that by saying he's been successful against sides from both these countries over the years in the CL. I didnt meant to be patronizing at all, its just strange that you'd doubt whether he'd be successful at beating teams from other countries when he's been doing that in the CL.
I do get your point about the scenario being different if he managed a foreign side too but is there really a foundation your basing your comments on? The only we could judge is the CL, where he's proved himself.
Do you really believe SAF would not manage to win the Serie A with the inter squad that mourinho had? Or do you really believe SAF would somehow feck things up so much at Real that with the squad they have, they'd still somehow lose to the other teams other than barca?
And that doesnt prove that he's good tactically?
Thinking about it 'football philosophy' might be more accurate than simply 'tactics' as tactics can be applied in all manor of football whether it be Stoke's tactics or Barcelona's and acquire relative success.
I don't question his ability to beat these teams with an English team, I just don't think it's a fair assumption that Fergie would know how to coach a team with a bigger focus on the technical side in a league where that is so important, as he's never really championed that idea himself, maybe by choice, maybe by limitations - that much is debatable for sure.
Because IMO United should have almost closed that gulf and become a club that champions the technical side of football a bit more, like Arsenal, but hasn't done so with all the means to do so, that's why I don't see why Fergie could do so well in a league where it's more important. That's on the assumption that he's not doing it at United out of limitations rather than choice. Just because of his age and the football culture he is from, I think it's more out of limitations in my honest opinion.
Just before someone says that Arsenal didn't win anything - that is irrelevant, there is more to winning than just your football philosophy of course, just because Arsenal have something right doesn't mean it's all or nothing, equally so just because I don't think Fergie can do everything, he obviously has everything needed to win trophies and I don't need to echo that.
I think that's a very good point, of course that is if we're talking in the context of directly comparing Mourinho with Fergie, I think it's likely Fergie would have had success with the same squads, as you say the players are there and Fergie can get them winning, what about at a team like Porto though? A team that needs carefully assembling specifically for a technical approach both domestically and in Europe? That can't go ignored. That's not to say Fergie couldn't do it, but actually doing it shows more than being expected to be able to do it.
Well, it goes both ways.. something tells me our record against Spanish teams isn't that good? Maybe I am wrong there, but my point is there is bad where there is good... it's pretty common practice on here to back up a point with a success story in the past, but if I were to bring up Basel and how the team looked awful and dated it would be pretty selective of me don't you think?
My home town is Aberdeen, first game I watched them play in was in 1970. Ive been following Fergie since he joined Aberdeen and Ive been following Utd since 1967, that was the first time I saw them play.
Utd have always played with a sense of verve and flair, there have been brief periods when Utd hasn't, under Dave Sexton being a clear example.
I watched Aberdeen play under Fergie with a sense of style, flair and attacking commitment. Aberdeen during the period they broke up the old firm did it by being the most attacking attractive side in the league with a disciplined and mature approach to defending.
I was delighted when Utd nabbed Fergie, not because he was my home town coach but because I knew he would continue Utds swashbuckling approach to playing.
Tactically I have seen him out think Real Madrid with Aberdeen, vary things to suit all manner of situations and adapt and use many different styles and formations. I have watched him chase down leading teams in the league when 10 or more points behind and win titles.
He has used a variety of players with certain playing styles and matched the supporting team around those players. The support play and style when we had Cole and Yorke compared with when we used Ruud up front being an example, there are tons more.
Ive watched him change and adapt to the needs of the Champions League and Ive watched him a few days later change and adapt to a league match away to West Brom on a wet freezing winter night.
He gave Ronaldo the freedom to play his natural game and that freedom helped develop Ronaldo into one of the best players in the world. In giving Ronaldo that freedom he had to set up the team around him to enable that. He stated in an interview that he didn't want Ronaldo to be involved with any defensive duties. To do that the rest of the team had to be tactically aware of what they had to do when covering for Ronaldos lack of defensive duties whilst operating out of a midfield position.
I could go on for ages with examples of Fergie getting things right.
In terms of a football philosophy Fergie has always where possible tried to play attractive attacking football and allow gifted and skillful individuals to flourish.
Any idea that Fergie is tactically weak or naive is just utterly moronic.
There will be games where he gets things wrong but his long term record and history of tactical changes far outweighs the odd blip.The percentage of games where he got it tactically wrong will be tiny t when compared to what he has got right.
My home town is Aberdeen, first game I watched them play in was in 1970. Ive been following Fergie since he joined Aberdeen and Ive been following Utd since 1967, that was the first time I saw them play.
Utd have always played with a sense of verve and flair, there have been brief periods when Utd hasn't, under Dave Sexton being a clear example.
I watched Aberdeen play under Fergie with a sense of style, flair and attacking commitment. Aberdeen during the period they broke up the old firm did it by being the most attacking attractive side in the league with a disciplined and mature approach to defending.
I was delighted when Utd nabbed Fergie, not because he was my home town coach but because I knew he would continue Utds swashbuckling approach to playing.
Tactically I have seen him out think Real Madrid with Aberdeen, vary things to suit all manner of situations and adapt and use many different styles and formations. I have watched him chase down leading teams in the league when 10 or more points behind and win titles.
He has used a variety of players with certain playing styles and matched the supporting team around those players. The support play and style when we had Cole and Yorke compared with when we used Ruud up front being an example, there are tons more.
Ive watched him change and adapt to the needs of the Champions League and Ive watched him a few days later change and adapt to a league match away to West Brom on a wet freezing winter night.
He gave Ronaldo the freedom to play his natural game and that freedom helped develop Ronaldo into one of the best players in the world. In giving Ronaldo that freedom he had to set up the team around him to enable that. He stated in an interview that he didn't want Ronaldo to be involved with any defensive duties. To do that the rest of the team had to be tactically aware of what they had to do when covering for Ronaldos lack of defensive duties whilst operating out of a midfield position.
I could go on for ages with examples of Fergie getting things right.
In terms of a football philosophy Fergie has always where possible tried to play attractive attacking football and allow gifted and skillful individuals to flourish.
Any idea that Fergie is tactically weak or naive is just utterly moronic.
There will be games where he gets things wrong but his long term record and history of tactical changes far outweighs the odd blip.The percentage of games where he got it tactically wrong will be tiny t when compared to what he has got right.
The Premier League soap opera has missed Mourinho, a character part-hero, part-villain. He’s pure box office: photogenic, melodramatic, cunning and very, very funny. The Premier League’s chief executive, Richard Scudamore, is currently “going to market” for the next broadcasting rights deal. Mourinho is another ace to lay on the negotiating table, a one-man wow factor. But where will this human fireworks party be staged?
Fallas coming up in a month, and noticed this in Marca.
Looks more like Mr Bean. How big is it? Aren't they normally massive things, won't be much of a burning.
Noticed that too a couple of weeks ago. I suppose being the manager of Real does that to you, like the US presidents who go into office with their hair colour intact and come out of it grey-haired.When did he go white on top?
Surprised to see that it looks like he's going to stay. Maybe this suggests though that he's holding out for a certain job that he may or may not be interested in over the next few years?
Anyway, it's not guaranteed yet. If Barcelona make a comeback and win the league title, and Real Madrid fail to win the league title, then the board will probably punt him anyway, despite his reputation as a manager.
Or if Barca knock them out the champions league as the league is as good as over.
Mourinho's done brilliantly have gone to Spain and within one year taken his team very close to becoming champions ahead of one of the greatest teams of all time. I was beginning to doubt it in his first season there but he's responded superbly. It has taken a lot of spending but any manager would have to, to even get close to Barcelona.
I think it is more to do with Barca really not caring as much than R.Madrid improving. Like Theon has pointed out last season at the same stage Barca were ahead of them.
Every time R.Madrid seem to play Barca, even Barca don't play well I still fancy them to win or get a draw, I just don't their players want it as much whereas Mourinho and his team want it more than anything and it shows.
Probably one of the most important facets of management.
Club's with those budgets will always have brilliant players.
They key for the manager is keeping them hungry and motivated.
To be fair that has a lot to do with Barcelona's terrible league form just as much as any improvement he's brought to Madrid, 99 times out of 100 Barca wouldn't have dropped the points they have done.
To compare to last year after the 23 games Barca had 62 points, so were one ahead of Madrid are now. Like I say, I wouldnt say he deserves as much credit as you're giving him because Barca have effectively handed him the title this year, in any other season this wouldnt have happened and the league would be far closer. Also, as weve seen from the Classico's, he's still not any closer to figuring out how to beat Barca, Madrid are still by far the inferior team, regardless of what the league table shows.
I think it is more to do with Barca really not caring as much than R.Madrid improving. Like Theon has pointed out last season at the same stage Barca were ahead of them.
Every time R.Madrid seem to play Barca, even Barca don't play well I still fancy them to win or get a draw, I just don't their players want it as much whereas Mourinho and his team want it more than anything and it shows.
That's some really flawed logic. So one of the greatest teams of all time would have, in their best season to date, been a point ahead of Madrid? Yeah, that totally means Madrid haven't been great.
I don't see the point in your arguments. He's taken Real within ONE season to being TEN points ahead of one of the greatest teams of all time. That's a huge achievement IMO. And Barca most definitely do 'care'. You don't become champions and a great team by not caring about your most bitter rivals beating you to the title. Barca have been sloppy, that is true. But some of that might also be down to having competition that's become an extremely ruthless winning machine.
And no team that's 10 (or is it 13) points ahead of another is vastly superior. It doesn't work that way I'm afraid. Barca have a much higher ceiling obviously as they have shown in recent years. But if Madrid end up with La Liga and Barca with just a cup that isn't the champions league, the latter has no business being called as a vastly superior team. You actually have to achieve it on the pitch rather than hold up past achievements. That would be like us losing the league to City and claiming we're better than them due to our past record in the league.
Barca's motivation is gone, technically speaking this side should be better than last seasons but their performances suggest otherwise. Of course Barca want to win the title nobody is suggesting otherwise but they aren't putting in the effort and work rate they were in previous seasons.
Of course if R.Madrid win the league they will be the better side, will be interesting to see their points tally because from memory since Mourinho has come in there hasn't been a huge jump since he took over from the previous manager.
That's some really flawed logic. So one of the greatest teams of all time would have, in their best season to date, been a point ahead of Madrid? Yeah, that totally means Madrid haven't been great.
I don't see the point in your arguments. He's taken Real within ONE season to being TEN points ahead of one of the greatest teams of all time. That's a huge achievement IMO. And Barca most definitely do 'care'. You don't become champions and a great team by not caring about your most bitter rivals beating you to the title. Barca have been sloppy, that is true. But some of that might also be down to having competition that's become an extremely ruthless winning machine.
And no team that's 10 (or is it 13) points ahead of another is vastly superior. It doesn't work that way I'm afraid. Barca have a much higher ceiling obviously as they have shown in recent years. But if Madrid end up with La Liga and Barca with just a cup that isn't the champions league, the latter has no business being called as a vastly superior team. You actually have to achieve it on the pitch rather than hold up past achievements. That would be like us losing the league to City and claiming we're better than them due to our past record in the league.
I agree and I think Barca could do with 2 or 3 more players to freshen things up because I think the current lot have just won so much they really can't be arsed anymore.
As for Mourinho if he wins the title I guarantee he will out this summer to keep his image up, people forget how he left Chelsea and how during his time there Arsenal & Man utd were going through big changes. Likewise in Italy took over a winning side with Juve gone and AC Milan a finished side.
I do rate him and he is a fantastic manager but the way people on here go on about him is well over the top.
That's the thing, nothing has changed. They have always been a ruthless winning machine in La liga since Pellegrinni's Madrid. Madrid had their highest points total under him afterall.
Madrid were good enough to beat virtually every other team in La liga under pelegrinni. They won (31!) games, same as Barcelona that season, they essentially lost the league because they lost at home to Barcelona. The only factor that has changed this season is Barcelona's poor away form.
Subtsitute Barca's crap away form this season with the season Pellegrini was in charge and Madrid will also be about 10 points ahead.
The 10 point Gap has more to do with Barca's crap away form than any brilliance from Mourinho.The man has a 1 in 10 win record against Barcelona, no matter how you look it at, its a laughable record and he shouldn't be hailed as the best thing since sliced bread for steam rolling teams with 20 times less budget.
Barcelona's plaudits as being one of the all time greats come from the way they dominate big teams and their champions league exploits over the past 3 years, not because of league exploits that most people on here ironically call a sunny SPL (which is nonsense by the way).
I agree and I think Barca could do with 2 or 3 more players to freshen things up because I think the current lot have just won so much they really can't be arsed anymore.
As for Mourinho if he wins the title I guarantee he will out this summer to keep his image up, people forget how he left Chelsea and how during his time there Arsenal & Man utd were going through big changes. Likewise in Italy took over a winning side with Juve gone and AC Milan a finished side.
I do rate him and he is a fantastic manager but the way people on here go on about him is well over the top.
But Mourinho actually isn't proven in that regard. He is always hopping from one club to another and hasn't stayed at a club long enough to show he can keep players motivated after winning everything.
He manages them at their peaks and fecks off right after.
09/10 - 2.52ppg
11/12(so far) - 2.65ppg
2.65ppg wins them the league in 09/10 for the record. No improvement? Those are the unbelievable fine margins that wins stuff.
He also has them doing way better offensively too, almost jumping up a goal per game from 2.6 to 3.5 now while keeping the defence like for like.
Completely agree with this. Mourinho seems to have the Tevez disease. After a couple of years, he loses interest and gets itchy feet. New challenge? or getting out before it sours? No idea but that's his track record.
As much as i like Mou there is one crack on his image - he hardly ever gives youngster a chance. Can anyone name a player to whom Mou gave a chance? He always goes for proven players who cost shit loads of money.