The Mourinho Thread: Should he stay or go? | Sacked

[Patrick08]

I am neither in Mourinho out camp and neither will defend his use with the ball and attacking structure and poor pressing play which struggles to win the possession back for long periods, but i can surely say i am in" Mourinho improve"camp.

We have seen glimpses of how we can play when we play along the ground and when we play a lot quicker tempo with the focus on penetrating and getting in behind, it just that it doesn't seem to happen for long periods of the game with the same intensity, and probably one reason for that is our defense which Mourinho does not trust to play open football and yet come out with a clean sheet with the set of defenders as they are not elite players like his previous clubs had, when it comes to one on one against top players.

Mourinho has the personality to push the board for better players all the time which other managers might not have ( though they can get the best out of our current lot), and i believe we still need to keep improving in key areas and defense is one of that area along with wide positions.

I am still confident if Mourinho gets his team we will see a lot more confident and ruthless Mourinho team, while he has proved he is adaptable with the systems and style when needed but still leaves lot be desired in terms of attacking play and though i will still prefer to wait and see what Mekenna and Carrick combination can bring influence to that side of our game which we have seen positive signs off against tottenham only if our strikers took their chances the game could have been a lot different.

Despite playing poor football we still beat all 19 teams in the league last year including the champions on their own patch, and our struggles against lower tier teams is a proof that the players loose concentration and motivation in games we should be winning which mourinho has the ability to plug. I still feel we need to back Mourinho in January and take the opportunity provided by contractual situations at other clubs namely Tottenham get some crucial transfers done while create a environment in the stadium where Mourinho and his boys feel positive to go out there and be the team we can be.

 

[HailtotheKing]

How is it impossible to answer if its common knowledge that Pep is an offensive genius while Mourinho struggles and often holds players back?
We already had Martial and Rashford even before Mourinho arrived.
Regardless of who Guardiola would have signed, anyone that thinks Rashford and Martial would have fallen as hard under Guardiola is flat out dishonest.

Here's the thing. Pep took over Man City and did shit all in his first season, despite taking over a much better squad than ours, one that had recently won the league. Why is that I wonder? Could it be because they had a shit defence for his tactics?

He then spent 200 million on them and replaced the goalkeeper twice. After that, they took off.So what does that tell you? It tells you that you need a great defence to be able to play great football. So the question is, how would Mourinho perform if he had that defence he desperately desires?

Secondly, it's all very well talking about Martial and Rashford. It's possible Pep could transform them. But remember Peps teams are all about high pressuring the ball and movement. If Martial didn't do that within a few weeks he'd be frozen out. As for Rashford, Pep is used to the finest strikers in the world. It's easy to fit in upcoming youthful players when the rest of your team functions perfectly. Based on our squad not fitting that description, how long do u think he'd give Rashford before he switched him for a proven model - probably one of the best in the world.

Because that's what Pep is used to - the best in the world. He's never had it any other way. His spending is astronomical. And that's ignoring the fact he didn't have to buy half of his players at Barca. Can you imagine how much Messi, Iniesta, Xavi et al would go for on the open market? The guy is a genius who was born with a golden spoon in his mouth. And to think people think Jose is spoiled and a checkbook manager. Pep is the very definition of a checkbook manager.

Again at Bayern, he bought for Bayern rates. Otherwise his spending would be off the charts.
He's undoubtedly very good but this persistent wank fest that's going on is seriously doing my head in.

Based purely on the current players he'd have at his disposal, I'm not sure Pep would be doing any better than Jose tbh. In fact, I think he'd be doing worse. He'd have already thrown his toys out the pram and quit for not getting everything he wanted. Because Pep is a spoiled brat. The second things don't go his way he becomes an absolute asshole. Just check some of the interviews he's given.

Jose meanwhile has made a name for himself by taking squads that weren't doing very well and turning them around. Everyone lauds Zidane for delivering after Benitez. Well, Jose did exactly the same with Madrid. He also became the only one to actually beat Saint Pep. And yet people call him a dinosaur.

As I've said before. Give him what he wants and then if he doesn't deliver, we can beat him with a big stick. Until that point, it would probably be better if you beat yourself with it.

 

[Janson]

You dont want me to answer that cuz its not gonna be what you want to hear...
But Pep wouldnt run Rashford and Martial into the ground and hinder their progress.
Wouldnt have Pogba underperforming. Alexis and Lukaku, too.

Mourinho had talented players before and he made them look useless. KDB and Salah come to mind obviously.

Dont...dont compare Mourinho to Guardiola.

 

[Rusholme Ruffian]

But ..but .. Mourinho would have kept Nolito, nevermind that Pep was actually the one who brought him to City from the start.

 

[Rusholme Ruffian]

Here's the thing. Pep took over Man City and did shit all in his first season, despite taking over a much better squad than ours, one that had recently won the league. Why is that I wonder? Could it be because they had a shit defence for his tactics?

He then spent 200 million on them and replaced the goalkeeper twice. After that, they took off.So what does that tell you? It tells you that you need a great defence to be able to play great football. So the question is, how would Mourinho perform if he had that defence he desperately desires?

Secondly, it's all very well talking about Martial and Rashford. It's possible Pep could transform them. But remember Peps teams are all about high pressuring the ball and movement. If Martial didn't do that within a few weeks he'd be frozen out. As for Rashford, Pep is used to the finest strikers in the world. It's easy to fit in upcoming youthful players when the rest of your team functions perfectly. Based on our squad not fitting that description, how long do u think he'd give Rashford before he switched him for a proven model - probably one of the best in the world.

Because that's what Pep is used to - the best in the world. He's never had it any other way. His spending is astronomical. And that's ignoring the fact he didn't have to buy half of his players at Barca. Can you imagine how much Messi, Iniesta, Xavi et al would go for on the open market? The guy is a genius who was born with a golden spoon in his mouth. And to think people think Jose is spoiled and a checkbook manager. Pep is the very definition of a checkbook manager.

Again at Bayern, he bought for Bayern rates. Otherwise his spending would be off the charts.
He's undoubtedly very good but this persistent wank fest that's going on is seriously doing my head in.

Based purely on the current players he'd have at his disposal, I'm not sure Pep would be doing any better than Jose tbh. In fact, I think he'd be doing worse. He'd have already thrown his toys out the pram and quit for not getting everything he wanted. Because Pep is a spoiled brat. The second things don't go his way he becomes an absolute asshole. Just check some of the interviews he's given.

Jose meanwhile has made a name for himself by taking squads that weren't doing very well and turning them around. Everyone lauds Zidane for delivering after Benitez. Well, Jose did exactly the same with Madrid. He also became the only one to actually beat Saint Pep. And yet people call him a dinosaur.

As I've said before. Give him what he wants and then if he doesn't deliver, we can beat him with a big stick. Until that point, it would probably be better if you beat yourself with it.

Hear hear!

 

[Mainoldo]

Yeah Mourinho would have kept Fernando and Toure the same way he kept Schweinsteiger and Schneiderlin. This guy is unbelievable.

He kept Fellaini and brought Matic. It’s clear this City squad would have not looked the same. Maybe they would have had Pogba.

 

[Mainoldo]

Nowadays everyone likes to pretend that Pep's first season never happened.

If it showed us anything it is that his style of football comes down crumbling as a deck of cards if he does not have absolute class in each position. He spent 200 mill on a new ball-playing defence and suddenly all is good. (Off topic, I dont think he can ever again win the CL with his style unless he gets another Barcelona 09-11-quality squad go work with)

Given that the dquad he inherited at City was better overall and better suited to playing technical football than the one he would have gotten at United, one has to wonder how he would do with a worse squad and less money to spend.

I’m sure he could have signed 7 players capable of winning the league at United. For one he wouldn’t need to replace the goalie.

 

[Irish Jet]

I’m sure he could have signed 7 players capable of winning the league at United. For one he wouldn’t need to replace the goalie.

De Gea's distribution is probably the worst in the league. Wouldn't shock me if he did.

 

[Rusholme Ruffian]

I’m sure he could have signed 7 players capable of winning the league at United. For one he wouldn’t need to replace the goalie.

So you think he would have won the league by now? After taking over the squad that Mourinho did, and spending £150 million less than the City manager (who incidentally took over a squad that had been hand-built over a number of years in preparation for his eventual arrival).

 

[Hound Dog]

I’m sure he could have signed 7 players capable of winning the league at United. For one he wouldn’t need to replace the goalie.

This is while making the optimistic assumption that all of his transfers would have been successes, it does not work that way.

Most of the players that are regulars for City were there before he took over.

 

[Mainoldo]

So you think he would have won the league by now? After taking over the squad that Mourinho did, and spending £150 million less than the City manager (who incidentally took over a squad that had been hand-built over a number of years in preparation for his eventual arrival).

The backroom was prepared for his arrival not the player. If that was the case he wouldn’t have needed to spend the millions to get it right. Just more myths to make us feel better about our mess. He changed the whole backline. I don’t see how that is perfect preparation.

 

[Mainoldo]

This is while making the optimistic assumption that all of his transfers would have been successes, it does not work that way.

Most of the players that are regulars for City were there before he took over.

So why we always jumping on about he spent his way to the league then? I’m pretty sure he could have got the majority of our players playing better than they currently do. Not all the transfers need to work but we hardly had crap players anyway.

 

[sosolid4u09]

De Gea's distribution is probably the worst in the league. Wouldn't shock me if he did.

i'm sorry?

 

[Mainoldo]

De Gea's distribution is probably the worst in the league. Wouldn't shock me if he did.

It was okay under LVG! The Spanish don’t have a problem with it either. You’ll have to explain.

 

[Irish Jet]

It was okay under LVG!

It wasn't really. It's even worse for Spain.

It's a weakness that never gets the scrutiny he deserves. He kicks about 4 balls over the full backs head a game.

 

[Rusholme Ruffian]

The backroom was prepared for his arrival not the player. If that was the case he wouldn’t have needed to spend the millions to get it right. Just more myths to make us feel better about our mess. He changed the whole backline. I don’t see how that is perfect preparation.

No, years before Pep came City, as a club, had made a decision to play a possession based tika-taka style from the bottom up - from its kids teams right up to the first team. That was regardless of who was managing them. They brought the Barca guys in to help them implement this, and the long term aim was always to bring Pep in. Therefore any players they signed were with this playing style in mind. Mourinho, on the other hand, took over a club in turmoil. LVG's signings were all over the shop, and the players had had 2 years of playing a sterile possession based football that was always the complete opposite of Mourinho's counter-attacking style. So Pep took over a club that was perfectly primed for him and completely stable. Mourinho took over a club that was in the shit and with a play style that was the opposite of his own.

 

[Rusholme Ruffian]

No, years before Pep came City, as a club, had made a decision to play a possession based tika-taka style from the bottom up - from its kids teams right up to the first team. That was regardless of who was managing them. They brought the Barca guys in to help them implement this, and the long term aim was always to bring Pep in. Therefore any players they signed were with this playing style in mind. Mourinho, on the other hand, took over a club in turmoil. LVG's signings were all over the shop, and the players had had 2 years of playing a sterile possession based football that was always the complete opposite of Mourinho's counter-attacking style. So Pep took over a club that was perfectly primed for him and completely stable. Mourinho took over a club that was in the shit and with a play style that was the opposite of his own.

And this is all evidence of a club being run with a strong plan, and, ultimately, with the only driver being the desire to be the best - whatever the cost.

It's a shame that our owners don't share that same kind of vision - considering that we make the most money of any club in the world.

 

[ZAGREB RED]

De Gea's distribution is probably the worst in the league. Wouldn't shock me if he did.

Not the best but not the worst either. He has had a bit of a slightly rocky spell recently by his standards - more with Spain - but he is still the best keeper in the EPL by a bit.

 

[finneh]

The truth is almost certainly somewhere in the middle. If Mourinho were in Pep's situation he'd have had a similarly poor defence, a much better midfield and attack, but a worse goalkeeper. In my view he'd have won more trophies, but with less style and domination.

It's almost certain that he'd have won trophies in his first season as he did at United with a poorer squad. This is because he'd have played more defensively in order to protect their poorer defence. Therefore a League Cup and FA Cup (there's no chance Jose loses to Arsenal in the semi's) would be most likely in my view.

After that it's down to interpretation. Handing him £450m over two years I think we'd see a real Mourinho team built, I could see something like: Courtois, Walker, Alderweireld, Kompany, Mendy, Fernandinho, Pogba, Silva, De Bruyne, Perisic, Aguero. With the likes of Matic, Sterling, Bailly, Mkhitaryan and probably Giroud to come on when plan B is required.

My view is that with Mourinho's tactics that team wins the PL and gets far in every other cup competition. No way does it get to 100 points or score 106 goals, but no way is it getting torn apart by Liverpool in the CL.

All theory of course but I think City win more trophies under Mourinho, but have a less exciting, less record breaking and more experienced squad.

 

[Mainoldo]

No, years before Pep came City, as a club, had made a decision to play a possession based tika-taka style from the bottom up - from its kids teams right up to the first team. That was regardless of who was managing them. They brought the Barca guys in to help them implement this, and the long term aim was always to bring Pep in. Therefore any players they signed were with this playing style in mind. Mourinho, on the other hand, took over a club in turmoil. LVG's signings were all over the shop, and the players had had 2 years of playing a sterile possession based football that was always the complete opposite of Mourinho's counter-attacking style. So Pep took over a club that was perfectly primed for him and completely stable. Mourinho took over a club that was in the shit and with a play style that was the opposite of his own.

What nosense. This only becomes effective when Pep starts to promote youth and he hasn’t done that yet. They signed players for there manager at the time. Yes DeBruyne might have signed with City instead of Bayern because his agent was told Pep will go to City the year after but your chatting rubbish if you think they bright Dzeko, Jovetic, Ferdando etc to play bloody tika taka. This is all ball up crap and at the end of the day if we had signed Mourinho when we should have back in 2012. We would have probably had 23 EPL’s by now. This has nothing to do with the squad Pep inherited, he’s just a better manager for right now.

 

[Mainoldo]

The truth is almost certainly somewhere in the middle. If Mourinho were in Pep's situation he'd have had a similarly poor defence, a much better midfield and attack, but a worse goalkeeper. In my view he'd have won more trophies, but with less style and domination.

It's almost certain that he'd have won trophies in his first season as he did at United with a poorer squad. This is because he'd have played more defensively in order to protect their poorer defence. Therefore a League Cup and FA Cup (there's no chance Jose loses to Arsenal in the semi's) would be most likely in my view.

After that it's down to interpretation. Handing him £450m over two years I think we'd see a real Mourinho team built, I could see something like: Courtois, Walker, Alderweireld, Kompany, Mendy, Fernandinho, Pogba, Silva, De Bruyne, Perisic, Aguero. With the likes of Matic, Sterling, Bailly, Mkhitaryan and probably Giroud to come on when plan B is required.

My view is that with Mourinho's tactics that team wins the PL and gets far in every other cup competition. No way does it get to 100 points or score 106 goals, but no way is it getting torn apart by Liverpool in the CL.

All theory of course but I think City win more trophies under Mourinho, but have a less exciting, less record breaking and more experienced squad.

Probably agree with this as i could see him building that team.

 

[Aloysius's Back 3]

The truth is almost certainly somewhere in the middle. If Mourinho were in Pep's situation he'd have had a similarly poor defence, a much better midfield and attack, but a worse goalkeeper. In my view he'd have won more trophies, but with less style and domination.

It's almost certain that he'd have won trophies in his first season as he did at United with a poorer squad. This is because he'd have played more defensively in order to protect their poorer defence. Therefore a League Cup and FA Cup (there's no chance Jose loses to Arsenal in the semi's) would be most likely in my view.

After that it's down to interpretation. Handing him £450m over two years I think we'd see a real Mourinho team built, I could see something like: Courtois, Walker, Alderweireld, Kompany, Mendy, Fernandinho, Pogba, Silva, De Bruyne, Perisic, Aguero. With the likes of Matic, Sterling, Bailly, Mkhitaryan and probably Giroud to come on when plan B is required.

My view is that with Mourinho's tactics that team wins the PL and gets far in every other cup competition. No way does it get to 100 points or score 106 goals, but no way is it getting torn apart by Liverpool in the CL.

All theory of course but I think City win more trophies under Mourinho, but have a less exciting, less record breaking and more experienced squad.

Silva and de bryune would not be in the same starting XI - that's something Pep adapted & can do it due to them holding 60% possession or even more. Aguer0 isn't a target man so would struggle as Jose has always used a target man - He had options if I remember of dzek0, Bony as back ups alongside DM's like Fernando.

He would have won a title though; not doubting that - just the players he would use would not be as technically spread out through the squad as Pep utilized.

 

[Rusholme Ruffian]

What nosense. This only becomes effective when Pep starts to promote youth and he hasn’t done that yet. They signed players for there manager at the time. Yes DeBruyne might have signed with City instead of Bayern because his agent was told Pep will go to City the year after but your chatting rubbish if you think they bright Dzeko, Jovetic, Ferdando etc to play bloody tika taka. This is all ball up crap and at the end of the day if we had signed Mourinho when we should have back in 2012. We would have probably had 23 EPL’s by now. This has nothing to do with the squad Pep inherited, he’s just a better manager for right now.

it's not fecking nonsense! Here's an article from the BBC outlining it even back in 2014: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/26182706

And another article confirming it - this one from Marca a couple of years ago: http://www.marca.com/en/football/barcelona/2016/10/19/5805051522601de03c8b45b6.html

The entire infrastructure of the club was built with the endgame of Guardiola taking over in mind. The Marca article suggests that had the Bayern job not come up then Pep would have come to City even sooner.

Just cos you pull the odd player name out of the bag that isn't a typical Pep player doesn't prove anything, he signed Zlatan whilst at Barca didn't he?

 

[finneh]

Silva and de bryune would not be in the same starting XI - that's something Pep adapted & can do it due to them holding 60% possession or even more. Aguer0 isn't a target man so would struggle as Jose has always used a target man - He had options if I remember of dzek0, Bony as back ups alongside DM's like Fernando.

He would have won a title though; not doubting that - just the players he would use would not be as technically spread out through the squad as Pep utilized.

Silva would be an inside left forward and KdB would be his number 10. He's played this style multiple times throughout his career when he's had the personnel and given their talent would have certainly played it again.

In this theoretical example he'd have a 4-2-3-1 with Pogba-Fernandinho, then Silva-KdB-Perisic and Aguero up top.

There's no way any manager drops Aguero... No matter what your preferred style if Aguero is in your squad he plays every game. This is illustrated by the fact that Aguero isn't the kind of CF that Pep would prefer, however he's too good to drop.

Mourinho would have a Dzeko/Giroud style backup though that would get plenty of game time.

To compare it to his later Chelsea team for example...

KdB = Oscar
Silva = Hazard
Perisic = Willian
Pogba = Fabregas
Fernandinho = Matic
Aguero = Costa

It's the Chelsea team he won the league with but an upgrade to almost every position (he'd also bring Matic to City who'd play the role of Ramires/Mikel)

 

[Aloysius's Back 3]

Silva would be an inside left forward and KdB would be his number 10. He's played this style multiple times throughout his career when he's had the personnel and given their talent would have certainly played it again.

In this theoretical example he'd have a 4-2-3-1 with Pogba-Fernandinho, then Silva-KdB-Perisic and Aguero up top.

There's no way any manager drops Aguero... No matter what your preferred style if Aguero is in your squad he plays every game. This is illustrated by the fact that Aguero isn't the kind of CF that Pep would prefer, however he's too good to drop.

Mourinho would have a Dzeko/Giroud style backup though that would get plenty of game time.

To compare it to his later Chelsea team for example...

KdB = Oscar
Silva = Hazard
Perisic = Willian
Pogba = Fabregas
Fernandinho = Matic
Aguero = Costa

It's the Chelsea team he won the league with but an upgrade to almost every position (he'd also bring Matic to City who'd play the role of Ramires/Mikel)

Well Jose preferred Higuain over Benzema - so I still think he wouldn't have utilised aguero fully. Also adding to that - the last player aguero needs is perisic. Perisic is made for crosses in to a target man that keeps width. Aguero has always been better on the floor and assists on the floor from behind him.

Next - De bryune would not play what Oscar did. Oscar, Lampard played as AM behind the target man as a finisher of moves almost as an added CF in Central areas much like how Lingard plays behind Lukaku. I doubt de bryune would want to play under Jose again anyway.

Pogba would not move to City over United if he has the option because he gets to be the main man diva here at united & would still be the case if Pep wanted him. Jose would have continued to utilise Yaya toure & Fernando.

Silva as a left winger cutting in would be good - but he is better now with his slight drop in pace & playing in Central areas.

I also doubt that both mendy & walker would play in the same team. One defender would stay back be it the experienced ones like Zabaleta.

Just my opinion - I know you won't agree.

 

[Mainoldo]

it's not fecking nonsense! Here's an article from the BBC outlining it even back in 2014: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/26182706

And another article confirming it - this one from Marca a couple of years ago: http://www.marca.com/en/football/barcelona/2016/10/19/5805051522601de03c8b45b6.html

The entire infrastructure of the club was built with the endgame of Guardiola taking over in mind. The Marca article suggests that had the Bayern job not come up then Pep would have come to City even sooner.

Just cos you pull the odd player name out of the bag that isn't a typical Pep player doesn't prove anything, he signed Zlatan whilst at Barca didn't he?

I did not deny your claim I just said they didn’t buy players for his take over. Which is plain to see. It’s not the odd player it was ever player. They had flipping Yaya Toure for god sake. Him and Pep don’t get on. If he took over before Bayern he would have had him in his peak. So was that signing with Pep in mind. No.

 

[Mainoldo]

Silva would be an inside left forward and KdB would be his number 10. He's played this style multiple times throughout his career when he's had the personnel and given their talent would have certainly played it again.

In this theoretical example he'd have a 4-2-3-1 with Pogba-Fernandinho, then Silva-KdB-Perisic and Aguero up top.

There's no way any manager drops Aguero... No matter what your preferred style if Aguero is in your squad he plays every game. This is illustrated by the fact that Aguero isn't the kind of CF that Pep would prefer, however he's too good to drop.

Mourinho would have a Dzeko/Giroud style backup though that would get plenty of game time.

To compare it to his later Chelsea team for example...

KdB = Oscar
Silva = Hazard
Perisic = Willian
Pogba = Fabregas
Fernandinho = Matic
Aguero = Costa

It's the Chelsea team he won the league with but an upgrade to almost every position (he'd also bring Matic to City who'd play the role of Ramires/Mikel)

Even with those names I would not be jealous in the slightest. Silva would have got critised for not working hard enough and replaced with Sterling whilst De Bruyne and Pogba would like like well how Pogba looks now. Whilst at United Martial and Rashford with a couple of Pep signings would be looking the business.

 

[finneh]

Well Jose preferred Higuain over Benzema - so I still think he wouldn't have utilised aguero fully. Also adding to that - the last player aguero needs is perisic. Perisic is made for crosses in to a target man that keeps width. Aguero has always been better on the floor and assists on the floor from behind him.

I think Aguero's form under every manager he's ever had illustrates that it's impossible not to "utilise him fully". It's like saying Mourinho wouldn't utilise Ronaldo fully... Which of course could also be stated if not convincingly proven to the contrary. In terms of Perisic... Mendy's crossing ability has him as the highest assist holder in the league for City under a manager who dissuades his players from crossing. Under Mourinho I've no doubt Perisic would be getting assists every other week.

Next - De bryune would not play what Oscar did. Oscar, Lampard played as AM behind the target man as a finisher of moves almost as an added CF in Central areas much like how Lingard plays behind Lukaku. I doubt de bryune would want to play under Jose again anyway.

Oscar a finisher? KdB has a better scoring rate than Oscar ever has. The focus of both was and would be creative involvement and diligent pressing.

Pogba would not move to City over United if he has the option because he gets to be the main man diva here at united & would still be the case if Pep wanted him. Jose would have continued to utilise Yaya toure & Fernando.

Pogba would move anywhere with the largest pay cheque for him and his agent. City would provide that if he was Mourinho's main choice.

Considering Mourinho's treatment of Rooney I've no idea why you believe he'd put his trust in a washed up has been. Mourinho is ruthless when a player is past it and Yaya was certainly that. Why you think he'd utilise Fernando is bizarre... Given his sporadic use of Herrera who is better than Fernando in every way.

Silva as a left winger cutting in would be good - but he is better now with his slight drop in pace & playing in Central areas.

I think Silva was better under Mancini in truth. However there's arguments for either I feel and he'd be phenomenal in either role.

I also doubt that both mendy & walker would play in the same team. One defender would stay back be it the experienced ones like Zabaleta.

Just my opinion - I know you won't agree.

In terms of Mendy/Walker I think they're just the quality full backs that were available at a time when City needed both. I can't see a manager not going for both if given the resources and no options in the current squad. At Chelsea he used Johnson/Cole so it certainly isn't against his style.

Overall I think people believe Mourinho is far more idealogical than he actually is. Managers like Pep and Klopp absolutely need 11 of their own players to produce the admittedly spectacular (when it works) style that they instill. A couple of players who can't perform this style break the whole system down (see Pep's failure year 1 and Klopp's lacl of trophies thus far).

Mourinho is different in that he employs the tactics that would win the highest % of points/games with the squad he has at his disposal. That's why he's been successful eveywhere he's been. He's exceptionally similar to Fergie on this regard. He has his ideal team which I think is a cross between Chelsea '04, Inter and Madrid 11/12. The strength and power of Chelsea with the attackong prowess Madrid, along with the freedom of Inter. However he knows that he wouldn't be able to build that in a few years or without Pep's massive budget from a great starting point.

Therefore he economises... He'd like to play Matic-Pogba as a midfield two knowing that his central defenders can cope. However he hasn't got the defence so sacrifices playing for example Sanchez centrally and Martial/Rashford to the left... With Sanchez left and Fred or Fellaini solidifying the midfield.

He hasn't got Maicon on the right wing (or Willian ahead) so realises our lop sided threat isn't going to result in us scoring 85+ goals a season however we play, making tight wins infinitely more important (as rolling the dice for a third often will cost us two points).

I can see why some posters prefer Klopp/Pep... Because we have the finances to built a perfect team in their style. The problem is we don't have the resources to splurge as City did to do it quickly (creating their current team from our 2016 squad would cost United £700m); or the patience to give Klopp 6-7 years to come good (he'd have been sacked at United due to a lack of physical success).

My final comment would be this: if the board isn't willing or able to build Jose the team he wants... A manager who's key strength is his versatility with whatever the team he has... Why do we think they'd be willing or able to give Klopp or Pep the several hundred million they'd need to transform our squad?

If it took Pep another £500m to get a team with a squad worth maybe £500m already in Fernandinho, Kompany, Aguero, Silva, Sterling, KdB & Otamendi to play his game... What do you think he'd do at United? Literally who would he keep from the squad Jose inherited? The same question toKlopp

 

[finneh]

Even with those names I would not be jealous in the slightest. Silva would have got critised for not working hard enough and replaced with Sterling whilst De Bruyne and Pogba would like like well how Pogba looks now. Whilst at United Martial and Rashford with a couple of Pep signings would be looking the business.

You obviously never watched his Madrid team (among others).

 

[Darlington Padgett]

PSG will probably leave next year and they'll go for Mourinho.

 

[Rusholme Ruffian]

I did not deny your claim I just said they didn’t buy players for his take over. Which is plain to see. It’s not the odd player it was ever player. They had flipping Yaya Toure for god sake. Him and Pep don’t get on. If he took over before Bayern he would have had him in his peak. So was that signing with Pep in mind. No.

What are you on about? Toure joined City in 2010 - the Barca guys didn't join the club until 2012! I'm saying that once the Barca guys were brought in to restructure the club they introduced a style of play throughout the club, from the youngest kids right through to the first team. This is not my imagination, it's well known. Are you saying that the club introduced this possession based style of play and then deliberately signed players that couldn't play it? I'm not trying to say that players were signed on Pep's say-so (although it's conceivable that some of the more recent ones were), I'm saying that the club had adopted Pep's methods and philosophy years before he joined. The opposite was true of Mourinho. Does it really hurt so much to concede that Pep has had it easier than Mourinho in some respects?

 

[Mainoldo]

You obviously never watched his Madrid team (among others).

The same team that we aloud to have the ball and they struggled until we went down to 10 men?

Do you watch his Madrid team?

 

[Mainoldo]

What are you on about? Toure joined City in 2010 - the Barca guys didn't join the club until 2012! I'm saying that once the Barca guys were brought in to restructure the club they introduced a style of play throughout the club, from the youngest kids right through to the first team. This is not my imagination, it's well known. Are you saying that the club introduced this possession based style of play and then deliberately signed players that couldn't play it? I'm not trying to say that players were signed on Pep's say-so (although it's conceivable that some of the more recent ones were), I'm saying that the club had adopted Pep's methods and philosophy years before he joined. The opposite was true of Mourinho. Does it really hurt so much to concede that Pep has had it easier than Mourinho in some respects?

It’s your imagination! What style of play? The teams played exactly how their current managers set them up to play did they not?

They signed players that could play it? Like who? I gave you examples of players that only could play football but also wouldn’t look a place out of a Mourinho style system. Are you telling me Ferandinho, Fernando, Sagna etc where signed because they fit Pep’s philosophy?

What you are doing is confusing building a structure with building a first team. They built a structure for Pep so when he got here they would understand what he needed to succeed. They did not build a first team to challenge for league titles on his philosophy when he wasn’t even the bloody manager. Makes no sense. Chelsea of a set up which can work for most managers if they chose to use it the problem is like United and there last opportunity they pick managers for the right now. I just don’t understand your arguement, it’s not true.

 

[Hound Dog]

Amazed at the number of people who think that all of Mourinho's sides are clueless in attack and that he is a dinosaur.

Tell me, do you guys think he won eight major titles by grinding out goalless draws? Are you aware that high pressing has been around for a while and was not invented in 2012?

Also, are you aware of the risks of high pressing?

 

[finneh]

The same team that we aloud to have the ball and they struggled until we went down to 10 men?

Do you watch his Madrid team?

Come on you're better than using 60 minutes as a measure of a 3 year tenure... Records in La Liga:

Mou's Madrid 10/11 - 102 goals scored
Pep's Barce 10/11 - 95 goals scored

Mou's Madrid 11/12 - 121 goals scored
Pep's Barce 11/12 - 114 goals scored

Goals scored by Madrid under Mou - 326
Goals scored by Barcelona under Pep - 324

Not only did Mourinho outscore the best team to ever exist, he also scored more than any other team in La Liga history (or I believe more than any top flight team ever)

They far from struggled offensively... They were the best at it... Ever.

 

[LeftyBlaster]

The Mourinho out poll basically approximates that 50% of redcafe is deluded.

Yeah.... or could be, just maybe, they actually see signs of progress and are realistic enough to recognise that there’s nobody out there we could get that is better than Jose.

 

[MV12]

Come on you're better than using 60 minutes as a measure of a 3 year tenure... Records in La Liga:

Mou's Madrid 10/11 - 102 goals scored
Pep's Barce 10/11 - 95 goals scored

Mou's Madrid 11/12 - 121 goals scored
Pep's Barce 11/12 - 114 goals scored

Goals scored by Madrid under Mou - 326
Goals scored by Barcelona under Pep - 324

Not only did Mourinho outscore the best team to ever exist, he also scored more than any other team in La Liga history (or I believe more than any top flight team ever)

They far from struggled offensively... They were the best at it... Ever.

Ummm but yeah... but well, I mean Umm but Pep..... Peps goals were much more beautifuller.. licklicksloberslober.

 

[vidic blood & sand]

Come on guys. I'm not a huge Mourinho fan. Never wanted him to begin with, and still think he's wrong for us, but we need to be supportive till the end of the season.

 

[Irish Jet]

PSG will probably leave next year and they'll go for Mourinho.

About time they just moved to Qatar.

 

[Kapardin]

Amazed at the number of people who think that all of Mourinho's sides are clueless in attack and that he is a dinosaur.

Tell me, do you guys think he won eight major titles by grinding out goalless draws? Are you aware that high pressing has been around for a while and was not invented in 2012?

Also, are you aware of the risks of high pressing?

Nobody said that, people just said that his current United attack is clueless. Which is perfectly true, let us see if he improves on that.

As for the risks of high pressing, etc...well, every system has its' risks. Letting the opponent have the ball also comes with risk. Let us choose the system that is the most entertaining and least risky, and if that is more of a Utopian idea, go for a balance atleast. What we play at times hardly qualifies as football.