Detest Mourinho and always have, but moreso the fawning media lickspittles who hang on every one of his petulant utterances as if they were the word of God, and publicise his trivial opinions as meaningful news.
Mourinho has actually summarised present-day Mourinho himself with this response to a question about why he hasn't been able to get the best out of Pogba:
“I don’t think your question goes in the direction of what I want to answer or listen [to],”
Amazing. He's actually becoming Arsene Wenger, in that he thinks he's been in football management long enough now that he doesn't have to ever adapt again. When his team fail it's because the media or the players or the finances are against him, and he doesn't want to engage with the concept that he might not be doing his best work. If he doesn't like it, it's wrong. Him and Wenger are different in that Wenger remained married to his style and insisted that beautiful flowing football would always eventually win out, which is at least a pleasant philosophy if stupid, whereas Jose is determined that his pragmatic style of cutting off chances and being bigger and stronger, while treating players like he did ten years ago is the key, but the stubbornness is nearly identical. The reason Ferguson stayed on top until he retired was because he always adapted to new ways of playing and recognised when a certain type of player was becoming more significant in the game, or when a playing style needed updating. He also knew that he had to adapt to the culture of footballers - a lesson he learned fully after the Beckham debacle - and maintained discipline while making certain concessions where necessary
Worst ever start to a premier league season. 19 points behind Liverpool. 11 points behind 4th.
Leaving Pogba on the bench to prove a point, Martial wants away, De Gea surely can't be too fussed about staying.
He has to go. He has had the money but has wasted it. They need to change half the squad and Mourinho clearly cannot be trusted to do that. Not getting the best, or even playing one of their only world class players.
Would imagine Zidane would be interested and could be a decent appointment.
Worst ever start to a premier league season. 19 points behind Liverpool. 11 points behind 4th.
Leaving Pogba on the bench to prove a point, Martial wants away, De Gea surely can't be too fussed about staying.
He has to go. He has had the money but has wasted it. They need to change half the squad and Mourinho clearly cannot be trusted to do that. Not getting the best, or even playing one of their only world class players.
Would imagine Zidane would be interested and could be a decent appointment.
They have the players its just that he seems to demotivate players and pick fights with so many of them.
Get a more attack minded manager and they would look a different side.
Thought from the start that he wasn't the right fit for them.
Long overdue and good news for English players. He builds teams on compact defensive organisation and kicking lumps out of teams. If that doesn't work he has no answer and stifles creative players.
I read yesterday that if they sacked him before the end of the season, he'd walk away with £24m. If they waited until the end of the season, it would be £18m. Christ, I'm in the wrong business.
the team wasn't performing for him, he's not managing well, famous, infamous, unknown, he had to go .. won't be easy for Man U to find a suitable replacement, the club might well write off this season and make an appointment in the summer
I read yesterday that if they sacked him before the end of the season, he'd walk away with £24m. If they waited until the end of the season, it would be £18m. Christ, I'm in the wrong business.
But sometimes great football clubs and great managers don't mix well together. And Manchester United and Jose Mourinho don't mix well together. He will be a success elsewhere I am sure at a club where they will mix well together. So all in all, Man United have made 100% the right decision. Or maybe he will hold out for the National Portugal job.
United are definitely going through a transition period and could possibly have a stint like Liverpool have had without winning the league. That's now THREE full time managers that they have had (not including Giggsy caretaker spell) since Sir Alex retired.
I think one thing that helped Sir Alex and Man United have that great spell was 3 long mains stays for many yeras. Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and Gary Neville who were part of most great teams built by Sir Alex in the Premier League era.
What they need now is a manager who is a good man-manager who can get the best out of the players and bring in the right blend so United can be at least challenging at the top consistently because where they are this season is just not acceptable for a club that stature. All they can do this season is get them performing consitently and least get them to a Europa Slot, get them as far as possible in the Championsion League and as far in the FA Cup. Then be given a summer to reinforce that squad (after assessing in the 2nd half of the season) to challenge the likes of City and Liverpool next year.
I note Utd have said they will have a caretaker in charge until the end of the season. If they wanted Zidane then surely they'd go in for him now. Gives them a bit of time and gives them a bit more of a chance to get who they really want. No chance would Levy allow him to go mid-season.
With the obvious exception of trophies in the cabinet, the job Poch has done with Spurs in the last 4 seasons is exceptional. No surprise at all that the very biggest clubs would come sniffing after him.
Comments
“I don’t think your question goes in the direction of what I want to answer or listen [to],”
Amazing. He's actually becoming Arsene Wenger, in that he thinks he's been in football management long enough now that he doesn't have to ever adapt again. When his team fail it's because the media or the players or the finances are against him, and he doesn't want to engage with the concept that he might not be doing his best work. If he doesn't like it, it's wrong. Him and Wenger are different in that Wenger remained married to his style and insisted that beautiful flowing football would always eventually win out, which is at least a pleasant philosophy if stupid, whereas Jose is determined that his pragmatic style of cutting off chances and being bigger and stronger, while treating players like he did ten years ago is the key, but the stubbornness is nearly identical. The reason Ferguson stayed on top until he retired was because he always adapted to new ways of playing and recognised when a certain type of player was becoming more significant in the game, or when a playing style needed updating. He also knew that he had to adapt to the culture of footballers - a lesson he learned fully after the Beckham debacle - and maintained discipline while making certain concessions where necessary
Worst ever start to a premier league season. 19 points behind Liverpool. 11 points behind 4th.
Leaving Pogba on the bench to prove a point, Martial wants away, De Gea surely can't be too fussed about staying.
Would imagine Zidane would be interested and could be a decent appointment.
Get a more attack minded manager and they would look a different side.
Thought from the start that he wasn't the right fit for them.
Christ, I'm in the wrong business.
A 24m payout for failure.
Jose Mourinho, great manager!
But sometimes great football clubs and great managers don't mix well together. And Manchester United and Jose Mourinho don't mix well together. He will be a success elsewhere I am sure at a club where they will mix well together. So all in all, Man United have made 100% the right decision. Or maybe he will hold out for the National Portugal job.
United are definitely going through a transition period and could possibly have a stint like Liverpool have had without winning the league. That's now THREE full time managers that they have had (not including Giggsy caretaker spell) since Sir Alex retired.
I think one thing that helped Sir Alex and Man United have that great spell was 3 long mains stays for many yeras. Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and Gary Neville who were part of most great teams built by Sir Alex in the Premier League era.
What they need now is a manager who is a good man-manager who can get the best out of the players and bring in the right blend so United can be at least challenging at the top consistently because where they are this season is just not acceptable for a club that stature. All they can do this season is get them performing consitently and least get them to a Europa Slot, get them as far as possible in the Championsion League and as far in the FA Cup. Then be given a summer to reinforce that squad (after assessing in the 2nd half of the season) to challenge the likes of City and Liverpool next year.
I note Utd have said they will have a caretaker in charge until the end of the season. If they wanted Zidane then surely they'd go in for him now.
Gives them a bit of time and gives them a bit more of a chance to get who they really want. No chance would Levy allow him to go mid-season.
With the obvious exception of trophies in the cabinet, the job Poch has done with Spurs in the last 4 seasons is exceptional. No surprise at all that the very biggest clubs would come sniffing after him.