23 May 2016 10:08:16
I simply do not understand the three main criticisms that are put at Mourinho's door:
1) He never stays for more than 3 years.
2) He plays boring football.
3) He doesn't play youth.
Firstly, he may not stay at a club for more than 3-4 years, but what manager actually does nowadays? That criticism could be leveraged at Pep, Ancelotti etc. All of the top managers seem to be quite mobile and don't tend to stay for too long. In getting his dream job though I think, all being well, he will lengthen his stay here beyond five years - but that's just my opinion.
Secondly, he does not play boring football. At times he is pragmatic, but sometimes you need to be. We would often see Sir Alex set up the side, especially in Europe, to play counter attacking football with just three forwards on the pitch whose job was to collect the ball and run as fast as they could. This is often an approach Mourinho takes in the big games, and it works, he rarely loses which is key in winning titles. His Real Madrid side also outscored Barcelona in two of the three seasons and played some pretty decent stuff with Chelsea, allowing Hazard to drop defensive duties and push the full back into his own half and gave Fabregas more freedom from midfield. I don't think we will be bored with what he brings.
Lastly, he plays the kids when they are good enough. He brought in the likes of Varane, Jese, Morata and Adan at Madrid and has given chances to Loftus-Cheek and Zouma in particular at Chelsea. Being young does not give you a right to play, you have to earn it and the likes of Rashford and Fosu-Mensah will earn that right.
I am sure a number of players have concerns, but to be honest that is because they aren't good enough in one way or another. Fellaini, Valencia, Mata and Rojo in particular will be concerned. Januzaj too. But that is the way the cookie crumbles, someone has to come in and get rid of those not good enough and replace them with better.
It's going to be a long summer in the rumour mill, but hopefully one that pays off.
23 May 2016 10:25:11
I remember being very entertained (and slightly jealous) watching Chelsea score goals for fun during his first spell in charge. But you missed out number 4. He is/ has been a complete (pick your favourite pejorative word) personality wise. I'm open to it being a success but worried about my ability to actually like the man.
23 May 2016 10:25:59
Agreed fresh.
Lets look at the incoming managers to the league who you would not dispute are in the top echelons.
Pep - How long was he again at Barcelona and Bayern? My point exactly.
Conte - 2011- 2014 at Juve
Very rarely in the current climate of modern football with all the factors do you get the likes of Blanc, Koeman, Ancelloti, Enrique at a club for more than 4 seasons. Rafa at Pool and Simeone are exception to the rule.
My hope is Jose will find his niche here and builds team after team. It would be a bonus if we get him for 5-7 seasons before the Portugal national comes calling.
23 May 2016 10:28:14
Spot on Fresh. I completely agree with everything you say on your post.
23 May 2016 10:32:59
Robson - My thoughts exactly.
And I think he is very likeable. He is coarse, but witty and not down right rude like LVG. He wants to win and gets annoyed when he doesn't, nothing wrong with that. He is very charismatic too.
23 May 2016 10:34:12
I think Joses " boring football" is labelled because you would find in most big defining games, he sets up his team to be tight, tactically organized and defensively organized and relying on quick passing and transition of play interspred with counter attacks. Rarely do you associate a Jose team with being careless, reckless in defensive set up and mentally weak in run ins. Is the most unique proponent of attacking football? No, but his 03-05 and the 2015 Chelsea were far from being boring as was his
Madrid team. He closes shop early and is tight in big teams but his team are definitely not boring.
23 May 2016 10:42:51
If you are good enough you will get your chance. Jose is not famed for promoting
academy players but in his first stint at Chelsea that wasnt his mandate. He trusted young players though not all from their clubs academies like Santon, Robben, Duff, jese, Varane albeit these players have had breakthrough seasons respectively . Point is if you are good enough you will get a chance. I do hope Jose continues to develop Rashford, Lingard, Mensah.
23 May 2016 10:44:11
We missed our chance with Jose in 2013.
Can we commit the same mistake twice?
I shudder to think.
23 May 2016 10:49:47
Of those 3 my only concern is that he won't play youth, he didn't at Chelsea.
My biggest concern is his general behaviour and whether he has got over his meltdown.
23 May 2016 11:11:52
He's not in the job to be liked. Ferguson was a tyrant in the dressing room. As fans did we care?
23 May 2016 11:17:53
Can't be the only one that believes even if he is untrusting of youth and occasionally deploys negative tactics, Jose would adhere to the principles and traditions of Manchester United. Maybe the reason he wants the United job is to prove he can do it for the long run, he can develop top talent and he can play the football we saw in the 90s. The reason we were unbreakable with SAF was because the man was a Coach, Manager and Director all in one. Maybe Jose wants to do the same.
23 May 2016 11:26:18
Yes loving all these he doesn't stay longer than 3 years anywhere accusations - let's hang on and see where Pep, Koeman, Conte, zidane, Ancelotti are in 3 years. even flavour of the month Pochettino seems a good manager but will a finish out the top 4 see him gone next year?
what if RM come calling for him, and how long was he at Southampton? If JM went to PSG then that was Blanc out in 3 years - that's the game these days unfortunately.
23 May 2016 11:27:12
In 2004, Jose won the league with Chelsea with the youngest ever squad age in PL history. So I'm not sure where the rubbish written that he doesn't promote youth comes from?
Chelsea also hold the highest point haul in any one season and also the highest goals in one season. That doesn't sound like boring football to me.
23 May 2016 11:32:10
I don't understand this worry about Mourinho only staying 3-4 years. let's look at this in a different way, if we don't go for Mourinho and get somebody else who completely fails then we are back to square one. looking for a new manager.
I am not saying Mourinho will walk in to United and solve everything, it could take a season or so but he's the best candidate for the job by a mile, nobody else comes close.
All this worry about the young talent not getting a chance, Mourinho isn't stupid he knows a good player when he sees one and Rashford, Bothwick Jackson, Forsu Mensah will all be included in the 1st team picture and will all get game time, some more than others. Rashford is exceptional, some of his turns, movement and flicks on Saturday were fantastic and he will only get better especially under Mourinho.
23 May 2016 11:45:39
is zouma not youth AJH is varane not considered young, as fresh said he plays them if he thinks they are good enough not because they are entitled to somehow be given a chance.