dagraham
Well-Known Member
- Sep 20, 2005
- 19,146
- 46,140
There's a few threads already about what team Jose might play, how he'll set up etc, but this is about what you want or expect from Mourinho's regime. And I don't mean general, obvious things like "win a few trophies". I'm talking more specific stuff and not necessarily only on the pitch on a match day.
Even though it might seem so, my intention is not a thread just to denigrate Poch's time here ; he's only just out the door, remains the best manager we've had for years and has done wonders for us overall. All managers have their strengths and weaknesses though and particular things us fans maybe didn't care for or wanted us to do differently.
So, in no particular order, I would like/hope to see :
1) More specific tactical plans for opposing teams. A lot has been made about Poch's lack of plan b and his tactical limitations, and whilst I think sometimes he was unfairly charged with having little or no tactics (much like Redknapp actually), it's clearly never been his strong point and there were times I was left scratching my head at what we were trying to do. Things like the utilisation of Moura for instance ( always starting against bus parkers, but rarely when we needed to counter attack).
Jose has always been the master of the tactical plan for me and I'd like to see the end of the days where we face City or Liverpool and play right into their hands.
2) In game changes and subs. Again, I'd like to see some bold changes when it's clearly not working, or even if it is working, but we want to kill the game etc. Not just obvious, like for like subs or bringing on a defensive player in the 82nd minute. It won't always work of course, but at least it would show we're thinking about things and we've seen Jose do this plenty of times.
3) Don't start games in slow motion. This is something that's crept into our game over the last couple of years and once you start slow and causal it's often hard to up the tempo. And how many times have we only started to show real intent once we've gone behind? This isn't something I think Jose has been particularly noted for implementing, but I'd like to see it nonetheless.
4) Rotation/subs. Not rotation for rotations sake and endless tinkering, but back to smart rotation of the squad to keep us sharp...….and if we are winning comfortably with 30 minutes to go, having the confidence to take Kane off rather than waiting until the 85th minute. I don't care if Kane wants to stay on, he's easily our best player and needs protecting.
5) Better decision making. This has actually been a bug bear of mine even since the Redknapp days. Of course strikers will always be greedy to an extent, but the amount of times we have a 3 on 2 situation and play the wrong pass or lazy, casual execution does my fucking head in.
6) Be smarter/more streetwise. I don't really mean the dark arts, but I hope to see the end of us holding a lead with a few minutes to go to HT and go haring up the pitch or trying to dribble out of our own third. More pragmatism please. There's a time to play and a time not to. City may get away with it, but we can't.
That's all I can think of for now, so fill your boots.
Even though it might seem so, my intention is not a thread just to denigrate Poch's time here ; he's only just out the door, remains the best manager we've had for years and has done wonders for us overall. All managers have their strengths and weaknesses though and particular things us fans maybe didn't care for or wanted us to do differently.
So, in no particular order, I would like/hope to see :
1) More specific tactical plans for opposing teams. A lot has been made about Poch's lack of plan b and his tactical limitations, and whilst I think sometimes he was unfairly charged with having little or no tactics (much like Redknapp actually), it's clearly never been his strong point and there were times I was left scratching my head at what we were trying to do. Things like the utilisation of Moura for instance ( always starting against bus parkers, but rarely when we needed to counter attack).
Jose has always been the master of the tactical plan for me and I'd like to see the end of the days where we face City or Liverpool and play right into their hands.
2) In game changes and subs. Again, I'd like to see some bold changes when it's clearly not working, or even if it is working, but we want to kill the game etc. Not just obvious, like for like subs or bringing on a defensive player in the 82nd minute. It won't always work of course, but at least it would show we're thinking about things and we've seen Jose do this plenty of times.
3) Don't start games in slow motion. This is something that's crept into our game over the last couple of years and once you start slow and causal it's often hard to up the tempo. And how many times have we only started to show real intent once we've gone behind? This isn't something I think Jose has been particularly noted for implementing, but I'd like to see it nonetheless.
4) Rotation/subs. Not rotation for rotations sake and endless tinkering, but back to smart rotation of the squad to keep us sharp...….and if we are winning comfortably with 30 minutes to go, having the confidence to take Kane off rather than waiting until the 85th minute. I don't care if Kane wants to stay on, he's easily our best player and needs protecting.
5) Better decision making. This has actually been a bug bear of mine even since the Redknapp days. Of course strikers will always be greedy to an extent, but the amount of times we have a 3 on 2 situation and play the wrong pass or lazy, casual execution does my fucking head in.
6) Be smarter/more streetwise. I don't really mean the dark arts, but I hope to see the end of us holding a lead with a few minutes to go to HT and go haring up the pitch or trying to dribble out of our own third. More pragmatism please. There's a time to play and a time not to. City may get away with it, but we can't.
That's all I can think of for now, so fill your boots.
