Is Jose 'special' enough for United?
Wednesday night’s El Clasico had even the biggest football fans groaning with phrases like “I’d rather watch the Royal Wedding”.
Well it was this game which ultimately ended Jose Mourinho’s chances of becoming the next manager of Manchester United, or so most sections of the media would have you believe.
First I begin with the so called “negative” tactics. For me it was clear to see that Mourinho’s first and foremost aim in the semi final first leg was to come out with a positive result, a 0-0 draw at home would have done him perfectly! Going to the Nou Camp without having given an away goal to Barcelona would have given Mourinho’s Madrid a great chance of progressing to the final if they got an away goal in the return leg at the Nou Camp. Would it be wise to go all out and match Barcelona? To offer a mass of space for them to exploit? Simple answer is no.
People would have you believe that Barcelona is the greatest footballing side ever to exist. They are good yes. But because of the way that Real Madrid had set themselves out meant that until the wrongful sending off of Pepe, Barcelona really did fail to threaten. I can only really think of Pedro’s header wide as their only really clear cut chance. What does this tell me? It tells me that until the sending off, Real Madrid cancelled Barcelona out. That is the only simple way of putting it.
For me it is not about the amount of possession that a team has, it is about what they do with it. Lionel Messi for the first 61 minutes was about as anonymous as his team was. Pique to Mascherano and back about a 100 times over (exaggeration) would not win the match for Barcelona and it seemed this was the only pass that was open for the Barcelona team to play and this stifled them.
They were far from potent in attack. His “negative” tactic worked for a good 61 minutes and it was this kind of genius that allowed his Inter Milan side of last year to progress to the Champions League final. In fact I genuinely enjoyed the way that Inter Milan played last year against Barcelona. It was similar to how Real Madrid were set up except the Inter Milan side is much more willing, hard working and potent on the counter attack. My verdict is that he was spot on with the tactics. It was only a wrongful sending off that derailed Madrid in this semi final. In fact, in addition to stifling the way that Barcelona played, Madrid’s setup also bought out the worst in them.
They stooped as low as simulation to gain unfair advantages in the form of set plays, they tried to get the opposition sent off and they hounded the referee. In fact the referee had many more followers in the shape of the Barcelona team than I have on twitter. It was Madrid making Barcelona do such things due to the way they played that made this “great footballing side” ineffectual in attack (admittedly when it was 11v11 still).
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Sorry mate, but Jose does not coach his teams to play football the way United has become famous for, namely spring the counter, and attack with verve.
I Concur.
Spot on mate..
“Mourinho will become the next Man Utd manager”
.
Says who!…..I think Sir Bobby Charlton,Sir Alex Ferguson, Gill and the Glazers are going to have a say in this decision….Dont you?
While its fun to discuss, two sides of the debate need to be aired, and aired fairly!
The No1 point is as simple as.What it the longest Mourhino stayed at any one club, how many teams has he built from scratch?.
I mean he is so flighty,I dont even imagine he takes a newspaper with him to the loo.
I third! the sentiments of Jim and Ezra.
Many people are finally being able to see the light of day with Mourhino, and a Leopard “never” its spots.
No Chance for Jose to MAN U
Think i agree with red scott, mourinho doesn’t build teams, he makes use of huge transfer budget available to him and after about two seasons, he leaves for another club. I think mourinho was at fault in the semi final, he shouldn’t have defended from the start, he could have asked his team to score a goal and defend that lead till the 2nd leg.
Thanks mate, exactly what you say! Re Chelsea as an example he took over from a team built bye Claudio Ranieri at a cost of £153.4 million, he selected the nucleus of that team!Mourhino season 05/06 spent a further £122.0 million to “adjust” it.To go on to win 2 premier league’s,2 league cups,1 FA cup, and the Community shield.To fall out with Abramovich, for his “boring” negative approach to football.
And this is what we seek at United?
That said to win a trophy every year since 2003 takes some doing, not to forget the 9 years he spent unbeaten at home games.
He may not be considered next United Manager, but his credentials are undeniable.
Hi Zayd.At no point did I imply he did not win trophies, I am well aware of his 18 cups he has attained.You will appreciate from my posts regards him, I just cant see him fitting in with the United ethos.
Are you joking? You think hoping for 0-0 at home is a good tactic for RM? Haha.
“In fact the referee had many more followers in the shape of the Barcelona team than I have on twitter.”
I wonder why 😛
I sincerly agree with you and o look forward to a day bacelona will get to the top without UEFA referee handing the strong man of the opposition a red card
Thumbs up to this. I agree, united have always changed tactics for europe, with Fergie until recently, changing form a 4-4-2 in the league to a 4-5-1 in the CL. With the work rate of Hernández an Rooney allowing for a more fluid 4-4-1-1 this is now the formation for all occasions. To go out and attack Barca would of been suicide. Had it been a team other than Barca doing all the diving they would have ended up with at least 2 players sent off and not gaining an advantage for cheating. Did an arsenal player not get a suspension for simulation in a CL game in recent years following the use of video evidence??? Will UEFA use video evidence against Barcelona??? I think not…..
I notice the use of Hernandez in a comment!If you believe you would see the likes of the wonderful Javier, Chris Smalling, Fabio or Rafael da Silva being given a chance in the Champions league games or any other “game” under the tutelage of Mourhino, show me the evidence of this?Possibly two players at Inter Milan.Full stop.
He buys the finished article, does not develop them.The Manchester United way.From youth through to the first team.
Have a nice day!
That’s true… If mourinho comes to Manchester united and he is given limited budget by the glazers, he would have to develop the younger players like fergie has done. Unfortunately, he cannot, he’s only good at buyin established players. No manager like sir alex ferguson