Why Jose Has Got To Be Kidding Us Soon

[Dorset]

 

“At this moment, we’re in an open situation. It’s difficult to win the Premier League, but possible. But if the season goes in the direction that it becomes closed and we can’t win, I will go just with the kids. It makes no sense when you have nothing to win to play the older players. I’ll play the players we’re waiting for instead. I am ruthless. At this moment, I don’t have untouchables. I have very good players, players I like very much. To be untouchable you have to be a fantastic player, but you have to be consistent. I have players who gave us the title last season, but football is about today.

 

I look for consistency. If not, we become a Newcastle. Everyone knows when Newcastle play Chelsea they play amazingly well, but when they play other teams they don’t play so well. This happens with most of the teams whose objective is to stay between eight and 16th in the league. But when you want to be a big team and want to win you have to be consistent in your attitude. 

 

The matches we performed consistently in with a consistent attitude were the matches that we won. We don’t need to learn how to play football. Physically there’s no problem as we finished matches against Manchester City, Swansea with ten men and Newcastle with our team on top of the opponent. Tactically, it’s the same, as when we make changes they improve the team. Clearly it’s an attitude of some individuals.”

 

Jose Mourinho (28th October, 2015)

 

The moment has arrived, Shed-Enders. Not just any old ‘at this moment’, as Jose saw fit to describe it, but THE moment in time when the boss decided to make it known that he would ‘just go with the kids’ as soon as the Premiership title was out of reach. Players we’re all waiting to see more of, like RLC and Kenedy, must have hissed a ’yessss’ through gritted teeth and withdrawn a punch of delight at those words, such was the significance to them, and also to a whole host of far-flung, loaned-out youngsters. And if there are any certainties in Chelsea life at THE moment they are that we’ve never heard such a public and unequivocal commitment to change like this before, nor have we had such a categorical explanation as to why there has been no breakthrough made during Jose’s Second Coming so far.

 

Yet despite this [very] public pronouncement doubt still exists as to whether ruthlessness will actually translate into a radical overhaul, with last night’s team selection and result against Porto only serving to increase the sceptics cry for action, not words, when it comes to the full integration of the youngsters at the earliest opportunity. Never mind that the most recent defeat was in the Champions League (where our future hopes are far from dashed) and not the Premier League, it’s become abundantly clear that Jose’s first line caveat can’t be used to deflect the changes for another week, or even longer. To suggest otherwise would be to deny Baba, RLC and Kenedy their chance for the most spurious of reasons - we’re not yet in as much of a mess in the CL as we are in the PL, so why the L are we calling for immediate change?

 

Indeed, this is why Jose, having chosen his words so carefully as he always does, must now be true to them and not rescind on the promise they held for Academy players, loanees and fans alike. Having been told that condition and tactics are not the problem, but the attitude of some individuals is, all three players mentioned could be accommodated in the following starting line-up against Southampton:- (4-2-3-1) Begovic, Dave, Zouma, JT, Baba, Matic, RLC, Kenedy, Willian, Hazard, Falcao - and should alteration be made it could be Cahill/Zouma, Ramires/Matic, Cesc/Willian, Remy/Falcao, or Pedro/Hazard, leaving the kids to experience what is essentially the necessity of life for them at THE moment - game time at the highest level.

.

  

 

[Chelsbear]

He won't.

He will still keep picking Ivan, Cesc, Costa and the rest.

It's a certainty

[Socrates]

Our objective is to finish in the top four so as to get into the Champions League next year In order to compete at the highest level and to attract top quality recruits.

Whereas Jose might integrate one or two young players within an already successful and winning side, he's not going to risk a top four finish just to blood younger players in the hope they can turn a faltering season around.

That's why he mainly played the old guard last night against Porto and why he will do the same in the league.

[Tea Bar Boy]

Jose Mourinho (28th October, 2015)

Dorset ,

Your prowess as a wordsmith and excellent poster are not in question but I never knew time travel was in your capabilities too...............

[Dorset]

Dorset ,

Your prowess as a wordsmith and excellent poster are not in question but I never knew time travel was in your capabilities too...............

 

Thanks for your kind comments TBB... and now, visit over, it's back to the future for me!

[luckywerthers]

surely he has said this just to give his first teamers a kick up the backside. he has not given up on the prem yet by a long way.

[Zola]

Yeah I dont believe what he has said for second.

[Elliott]

I posted those very same comments within the 'Jose must stay / go' thread, which were clearly designed to provoke some kind of reaction from the players prior to Porto. Trouble is, it didn't work, and Jose is just as confused as everyone else. 

 

First it was a matter of player condition, then being tactically suspect, now it's a matter of motivation and seemingly leadership. Truth is, it's probably a combination of all those things, and Mourinho strikes me as a manager who is desperately trying to buy time.

[Cfcstevens]

As posted before on another thread, I do beleive we are in for a rough ride over the next 2/3 seasons. As long as we maintain top 4 we will be ok. Cech, cole, jt, lamps and drog were never gonna last forever. Without sounding like a typical scouser........we are in transition!!! Ruben etc are the future so let's embrace this moment and get behind the greatest manager we've ever had and support our team!!! Keep the faith!!!

[Droogba]

Dorset ,Your prowess as a wordsmith and excellent poster are not in question but I never knew time travel was in your capabilities too...............

I assumed he is a prophet.

[Guest]

I assumed he is a prophet.

All hail Dorset

[Wrote For Luck]

As posted before on another thread, I do beleive we are in for a rough ride over the next 2/3 seasons. As long as we maintain top 4 we will be ok. Cech, cole, jt, lamps and drog were never gonna last forever. Without sounding like a typical scouser........we are in transition!!! Ruben etc are the future so let's embrace this moment and get behind the greatest manager we've ever had and support our team!!! Keep the faith!!!

How can a team that's just won the league be in transition?. I've heard some dodgy excuses for our form but that's the worst one yet. 

Edited October 1, 2015 by Wrote For Luck

[yorkleyblue]

I assumed he is a prophet.

 

He's not a prophet, he's just a very naughty boy!

[ForeverCarefree]

I posted those very same comments within the 'Jose must stay / go' thread, which were clearly designed to provoke some kind of reaction from the players prior to Porto. Trouble is, it didn't work, and Jose is just as confused as everyone else. 

 

Basically Elliott, talk is cheap.

 

It's all well and good Jose saying "if performances don't improve I'll play the kids" but I know he won't drop the likes of Ivan and Cesc for youth, you know he won't and you can bet the players know he won't either. 

 

It's a cheap threat from Jose basically. 

[Cfcstevens]

How can a team that's just won the league be in transition?. I've heard some dodgy excuses for our form but that's the worst one yet.

I see your point but let's be honest last year we were lucky that arsenal, city and united were that bad tey lost the lge rather than us winning it. In my opinion we haven't played all the well in 2015. Last outstanding football I've seen was swans away. It's pure arrogance on our behalf that we thought we could start the season with near enough the same squad that's a year older, with the same tactics as last year and turn up and walk away with 3 points every week.

[Bobbywoodhogan]

Sorry but I can't stand comments like that, City, Arsenal, United lost the league rather than us winning it? What a load of tosh. Yes we weren't really challenged after Christmas last season but we won it because we were the best team in the league. Nobody gets a title because the other teams let them they get the title because over the course of the season they get more points than the other teams.

[Zola]

Can't buy that we are in transition, after winning the league with the same group of players. However, our squad clearly needs strengthening with tougher men with bigger balls. We have an Arsenal type steel about us these days and we are bullied a bit too easily.

We need guys like Ballack, Lampard, Gallas (before his meltdown), Essien etc.

Guys like Willian, Cahill, Dave, Fabregas, Oscar, Pedro, Remy etc are all good players, but not perhaps not as strong mentally or nasty enough for me.

[Wrote For Luck]

I see your point but let's be honest last year we were lucky that arsenal, city and united were that bad tey lost the lge rather than us winning it. In my opinion we haven't played all the well in 2015. Last outstanding football I've seen was swans away. It's pure arrogance on our behalf that we thought we could start the season with near enough the same squad that's a year older, with the same tactics as last year and turn up and walk away with 3 points every week.

So you think the team is in transition and yet you say we have the same squad as last year. You haven't really thought this through have you mate.

[Cfcstevens]

So you think the team is in transition and yet you say we have the same squad as last year. You haven't really thought this through have you mate.

I was more getting at we've lost cech, cole, lamps and drogba over recent times who were all experienced players on and off the pitch. Id even put luiz in with them for his ability to lead. Who do we have now on the pitch who wants to take control and organise?? Nobody!! Our current vice captain is having a shocking run of form and our captain can't get a game. Like in one response above.... we have no leaders anymore.

[mileoffside]

Hi, new poster here.

Jose is driving me nuts with his team selections, and dropping Terry looks like an act of someone trying to make a point.

Why the full back situation isn't being addressed is beyond me, and looks like stubbornness, a bit like a Wenger attitude..

I think we will really struggle to make top 4 this season, and Southampton is going to be tough, wouldn't be surprised if we don't win Saturday..

The Guardian reckons the players are unhappy with Mourinho's perceived scapegoating, it doesn't seem like a united and happy squad at the moment. Let's hope the guy can turn it round quickly.

[ForeverCarefree]

Hi, new poster here.

Jose is driving me nuts with his team selections, and dropping Terry looks like an act of someone trying to make a point.

Why the full back situation isn't being addressed is beyond me, and looks like stubbornness, a bit like a Wenger attitude..

I think we will really struggle to make top 4 this season, and Southampton is going to be tough, wouldn't be surprised if we don't win Saturday..

The Guardian reckons the players are unhappy with Mourinho's perceived scapegoating, it doesn't seem like a united and happy squad at the moment. Let's hope the guy can turn it round quickly.

 

Welcome to the forum. 

 

Said it elsewhere I think Jose has fallen out with JT. Makes no sense that he would go from playing every minute of every game last year, being our best defender to not playing at all. Especially as we're leaking so many goals at the moment, picking Zouma and Cahill ahead of JT isn't being vindicated. 

 

As for the fullbacks, it's clear that Jose has no faith in Baba probably because it wasn't his signing, which leads to the question if Jose doesn't have faith in the likes of Baba, Cuadrado, Salah because he's not buying, the club are... Why do we keep wasting money on those signings? The team is starting to suffer from it now. 

 

Think we'll still make top 4, there's too much talent in the squad compared to the likes of Liverpool and Spurs who would be looking to challenge but based on current form it's going to be a real slog in the league. 

[mileoffside]

Welcome to the forum. 

 

Said it elsewhere I think Jose has fallen out with JT. Makes no sense that he would go from playing every minute of every game last year, being our best defender to not playing at all. Especially as we're leaking so many goals at the moment, picking Zouma and Cahill ahead of JT isn't being vindicated. 

 

As for the fullbacks, it's clear that Jose has no faith in Baba probably because it wasn't his signing, which leads to the question if Jose doesn't have faith in the likes of Baba, Cuadrado, Salah because he's not buying, the club are... Why do we keep wasting money on those signings? The team is starting to suffer from it now. 

 

Think we'll still make top 4, there's too much talent in the squad compared to the likes of Liverpool and Spurs who would be looking to challenge but based on current form it's going to be a real slog in the league.

Hi, thanks for welcome. Jose has seemed unhappy with the transfer activity and has hinted at it previously.

But, he is paid good money to work with what we've got, its still a quality team, but the overall sluggish build up and intricate failed passing on the edge of the box is just maddening..

Its like watching "walking football" that the elderly play. Bringing Terry back would at least bring back a bit of passion and heart into the side. Be interesting to see what team he picks Saturday

[ForeverCarefree]

Hi, thanks for welcome. Jose has seemed unhappy with the transfer activity and has hinted at it previously.

But, he is paid good money to work with what we've got, its still a quality team, but the overall sluggish build up and intricate failed passing on the edge of the box is just maddening..

Its like watching "walking football" that the elderly play. Bringing Terry back would at least bring back a bit of passion and heart into the side. Be interesting to see what team he picks Saturday

 

Completely agree with the transfers. 

 

In just three seasons he's been here we've gone through so many wingers. 

 

Schurrle, Mata, De Bruyne, Salah and Cuadrado have all left whilst he's been here and four of those five were signed under his management. That's a approach to transfers in my opinion, it's too scatter gun. 

 

Throw on top that he's also bought in Willian, Pedro, Kenedy and Traore as well and that's 8 players for the same role bought in over 3 years. Doesn't sound right does it? 

 

Coming into his third season off the back of a title win you would have thought there would be an identity and clear spine to the team like there was during his first spell at the club. 

 

The first team he built you could reel off 7/8 players who were the best at what they did in the team and were strong players both in terms of ability and (excuse the Brendan Rodgers moment) character. 

 

But here we are in the third season and I think there are only maybe 4 players who you can say with certainty that should play when fit in a specific role and even one of those (Azpilicueta) isn't playing in his best position. 

 

I won't lie, I'm starting to feel very disheartened about the team right now. 

[Nibs]

So many Mourinho based threads at the moment  - not sure where to post when you have a point to make but I'll plump for this one.

 

As I've said elsewhere, I am still backing Mourinho and do have faith in him to turn things around. I don't want to see us sack or part with another coach as we'll again become the laughing stock. BUT I do have quite a few concerns and unless we see a big improvement sooner rather than later, then I can't see how he can remain.

 

When he came back he was saying all the right things. What I liked the sound of was how he wanted to build a dynasty. He had enough of moving from club to club. He was back where he was happy and where he knew he was loved and was here for the long-haul. So what has happened to all that FFS?

 

We all enjoyed last seasons success and because of that, we overlooked the selling of some fan favourites (Mata & Luiz) and the fact he didn't show much faith in the youth. But right now, last season looks more than ever, someone only looking at short-term success - The Quick Win. 

 

I've said it before and I'll say it again - the squad we have now looks unbalanced and weaker than the squad we had a season ago. I want to see Mourinho work with players and develop them and bring them through but it does seem that he makes an early judgement on players and if for whatever reason he doesn't rate them - they are not given a chance and are history. I know we got very decent money for some of the players we let go but right now I would take them back in a heartbeat

 

Mata

Schurrle

Luiz

KDB

Lukaku

 

Add to those one or two of the academy players not getting a look-in, either out on loan or stuck in the stiffs whilst we persist with the tried and tested and you really have to wonder where are we going? IS there a long-term plan? If we still had those players, I can't see how we would still be struggling as we are now. We would have OPTIONS. I know folk will say they were not Mourinho type players  - they wouldn't play to his system, but to that I would say how is that system working NOW? Sure last season - great, but right now we aren't pressing and we aren't keeping clean sheets so how would playing Mata, KDB or Schurrle hurt us? 

 

I suppose no point going over old ground, but when I see the players we let go and how we are playing currently, it pains me. I just want to see us playing football again - not the painful stuff we have had to witness since about March-time. Here's Hoping...........

Edited October 1, 2015 by Nibs

[ForeverCarefree]

I've said it before and I'll say it again - the squad we have now looks unbalanced and weaker than the squad we had a season ago. I want to see Mourinho work with players and develop them and bring them through but it does seem that he makes an early judgement on players and if for whatever reason he doesn't rate them - they are not given a chance and are history. I know we got very decent money for some of the players we let go but right now I would take them back in a heartbeat

 

 

Said it earlier in the thread but Jose has been ploughing through players since he got here, no sooner do some arrive are they shown the door. 

 

Schurrle, De Bruyne, Salah, Cuadrado, Willian, Pedro, Kenedy and Traore all bought in for the attacking midfield since he arrived. 

 

His full list of strikers, bearing in mind we only play one up top, in just three years has been Torres, Ba, Eto'o. Lukaku, Costa, Remy, Falcao. 

 

With that kind of turnover in playing staff I think you'd expect a solid spine to the team but we don't have one. 

 

Courtois, Azpi, Matic, Hazard and Costa are the only ones who I would say look set in the team and their role. Everyone else there is a question mark. 

 

After 3 years surely we should be expecting a better identity to the team, Jose built one within a pre-season last time around.