Posts: 1,123
Threads: 0
Joined: Jan 2017
The Soccer Thread
09-30-2018, 09:16 AM
I'm a big Mourinho fan but he really messes up on his 3rd seasons, not usually tactically but his relations with players on his team. It happened at Real Madrid, Chelsea and now at Manchester United.
It didn't happen at Porto and Inter because he didn't have 3rd seasons there. I wonder what the hell he does to players to turn against him.
Posts: 2,525
Threads: 0
Joined: Jun 2013
Reputation:
72
The Soccer Thread
09-30-2018, 10:49 AM
His biggest mistake was letting Rooney go, there are no leaders left in that locker room, just a bunch of newcomers and spoiled kids like Pogba. At Porto he had Jorge Costa and Vitor Baia, at Chelsea was Terry and Lampard, at Inter was Materazzi and Motta for example.
Seems to be a bit forgotten but his time at Real Madrid was not unsuccessful, he managed to be Champion against the most doninant team there ever was, Guardiola's Barcelona.
Posts: 5,010
Threads: 0
Joined: Jan 2013
Reputation:
80
The Soccer Thread
09-30-2018, 11:09 AM
There's an excellent (though I suspect somewhat exaggerated) book by a journalist called Diego Torres called 'The Dark Side of Jose Mourinho'. Several of the anecdotes he relays have been confirmed as true by former players at Madrid under Mourinho like Dudek. He basically squeezes all he can out of the players and creates turmoil in order to stimulate competition (and the stuff with the media isn't what he's like behind the scenes, he's much more jovial and less combative with the players day-today). It's a really interesting book, even if some of it you take with a pinch of salt.
Every normal man must be tempted, at times, to spit upon his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats. - H L Mencken
Posts: 4,268
Threads: 0
Joined: Mar 2016
Reputation:
54
The Soccer Thread
09-30-2018, 11:26 AM
Quote: (09-30-2018 09:16 AM)Rossi Wrote:
I'm a big Mourinho fan but he really messes up on his 3rd seasons, not usually tactically but his relations with players on his team. It happened at Real Madrid, Chelsea and now at Manchester United.
It didn't happen at Porto and Inter because he didn't have 3rd seasons there. I wonder what the hell he does to players to turn against him.
He's a classless egomaniac, watching the Man U disaster makes for good rubbernecking and schadenfreude.
“Nothing is more useful than to look upon the world as it really is.”
Posts: 7,843
Threads: 0
Joined: Nov 2010
Reputation:
121
The Soccer Thread
09-30-2018, 12:01 PM
Apparently, his buyout is crazy if he gets sacked.
He has some good talent on that team, I rate the young players like Rashford, Lingard and Martial.
Lukaku isn't up to par, scores against weak team.
Say what you want about Pogba, but where is Sanchez. Dude has gone AWOL since he joined.
DeGea is the best goalie in the league and world class, imagine if they didn't have him.
Posts: 4,268
Threads: 0
Joined: Mar 2016
Reputation:
54
The Soccer Thread
09-30-2018, 12:07 PM
Not sure about the MU locker room dynamics, but Pogba provided good leadership on the French squad's championship run.
“Nothing is more useful than to look upon the world as it really is.”
Posts: 594
Threads: 0
Joined: Oct 2015
Reputation:
11
The Soccer Thread
09-30-2018, 01:59 PM
^ If I was a player, I'd accept leadership from a John Terry, Frank Lampard, Paul Scholes or Iniesta. Fuck me if I ever take it from Paul Pogba. Rude, most clubs sign contracts to only pay the fired manager as long as he's unemployed e.g Chelsea for Conte who's getting free weekly paychecks but only up to his contract's expiration or he gets a job whichever is earlier. Man Utd would be total morons to have signed anything else. But I wouldn't put anything past a Premier League Club's board. Heh.
Posts: 4,180
Threads: 0
Joined: Nov 2012
Reputation:
57
The Soccer Thread
09-30-2018, 07:45 PM
Man the 2 Chelsea Liverpool games were brilliant. My team came out on the rough end of both those games (i thought we missed so many chances) but they were a good spectacle and entertaining, something I've not been able to say about games between the 2 for years. Sarri is transforming Chelsea and the way they play, they just better hope Roman stays around, keep hearing rumours about him wanting out of the club (due to visa issues).
Posts: 397
Threads: 0
Joined: Nov 2016
Reputation:
7
The Soccer Thread
10-01-2018, 01:02 AM
Zidane is a gamble also. Despite his champions league victories.
Look at the side he had adopted -
Midfield - Mordic / Kroos - Best central mid pairing in the world.
Strikers - Ronaldo / Bale - Speaks for itself
Best defenders - Varane / Ramos / Marcelo
Anything is better than Mourhino at this stage.
Posts: 4,180
Threads: 0
Joined: Nov 2012
Reputation:
57
The Soccer Thread
10-01-2018, 07:30 PM
Zidane is a gamble too he lucked out with that squad but also because he told Perez he'd only take the job if he stopped interfering in picking the team. Benitez basically got fired for picking the team Perez wanted which subsequently got battered by Barca. Perez didn't want Casemiro in the squad. Luckily Zidane got his way and got to play Kasemiro.
Posts: 4,268
Threads: 0
Joined: Mar 2016
Reputation:
54
The Soccer Thread
10-01-2018, 08:20 PM
Zidane wouldn't leave Madrid for Manchester though, he's a Mediterranean guy and his wife is Franco-Spanish.
“Nothing is more useful than to look upon the world as it really is.”
Posts: 36
Threads: 0
Joined: Oct 2018
Reputation:
1
The Soccer Thread
10-02-2018, 12:19 PM
You're exactly correct. I played the highest level of youth soccer in the states and played in college on a scholarship. Youth soccer at the highest level is extremely expensive and political. My club team consisted of rich snobby private school kids. I grew up middle class and went to public school. I was often alienated despite being a good player because I was not part of the "clique". I can't tell you how many talented kids I encountered over the years who never got the exposure or just dropped out of soccer all together due to not being able to afford the expensive costs that are associated with youth soccer. Since there is very little incentive to play in the states, most of the best athletes switch to other sports. A stark contrast from the rest of the world, in which the best athletes are playing soccer and get sponsored by the academy teams provided they have talent.
Posts: 5,010
Threads: 0
Joined: Jan 2013
Reputation:
80
The Soccer Thread
10-02-2018, 01:11 PM
Quote: (10-02-2018 11:58 AM)The Stronger Sex Wrote:
Quote: (10-01-2018 08:20 PM)911 Wrote:
Zidane wouldn't leave Madrid for Manchester though, he's a Mediterranean guy and his wife is Franco-Spanish.
The Premier League is full of Mediterranean managers. He's not going to stay in his Madrid mansion enjoying early retirement. That said, wives play a BIG role in players' and managers' decisions, and to a wife Manchester is not London.
And Mediterranean players. Pep's family are fine in Manchester, I'm sure Zidane's wife will be fine in the affluent Cheshire suburbs surrounding it (though Pep opted for a city centre penthouse).
Quote: (10-01-2018 07:30 PM)bojangles Wrote:
Zidane is a gamble too he lucked out with that squad but also because he told Perez he'd only take the job if he stopped interfering in picking the team. Benitez basically got fired for picking the team Perez wanted which subsequently got battered by Barca. Perez didn't want Casemiro in the squad. Luckily Zidane got his way and got to play Kasemiro.
Zidane could make tricky decisions too, ones other coaches couldn't, but due to his instant respect from his playing cred, Ronaldo accepted being rested etc. And Perez loved him as he was a player he signed.
He's definitely a gamble though, and United need a director of football etc to ensure continuity whoever is the head coach/manager. Like, ahem, City. It's normal on the continent, but the English game preferred the dictatorial 'manager' role. This most likely died with Fergie and Wenger's respective departures.
Every normal man must be tempted, at times, to spit upon his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats. - H L Mencken
Posts: 1,123
Threads: 0
Joined: Jan 2017
The Soccer Thread
10-02-2018, 01:58 PM
Quote: (10-02-2018 01:11 PM)Teedub Wrote:
And Mediterranean players. Pep's family are fine in Manchester, I'm sure Zidane's wife will be fine in the affluent Cheshire suburbs surrounding it (though Pep opted for a city centre penthouse).
Who said Pep's family is fine in Manchester? They're not really fine in Manchester, Pep's wife has a boutique fashion store in Barcelona and she said she goes to Barcelona up to 2 times per week.
Aguero has been living in Manchester for like 7-8 seasons now and he says he hates it. I don't need to say what Diego Costa said about living in UK, along with Soldado, Courtois, Mancini, Balotelli, Jesus Navas, David Silva etc.
Nolito even said this about living in England
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/201...s-changed/
I mean, I would hate to live in England too but if they pay me 300k per week, I would shut up and suck it up but that wouldn't mean I would be delighted to live there.
Posts: 7,843
Threads: 0
Joined: Nov 2010
Reputation:
121
The Soccer Thread
10-02-2018, 09:21 PM
Real Madrid lose to CSKA Moscow.
Rumour has it they are ready to make a $300 million bid for Neymar or Mbappe. Who would you take?
Zidane cant fix that United mess, I would be shocked if he took that position. Unless, the money is stupid which it will be.
Posts: 314
Threads: 0
Joined: Oct 2017
Reputation:
3
The Soccer Thread
10-02-2018, 09:41 PM
They need a goalscorer above all. Neymar scores a lot of goals but he's not a centre forward. Mbappe is not that yet either.
I'd go for Kane or Icardi if I were them.
Posts: 5,010
Threads: 0
Joined: Jan 2013
Reputation:
80
The Soccer Thread
10-05-2018, 03:07 AM
Quote: (10-02-2018 01:58 PM)Rossi Wrote:
Aguero has been living in Manchester for like 7-8 seasons now and he says he hates it. I don't need to say what Diego Costa said about living in UK, along with Soldado, Courtois, Mancini, Balotelli, Jesus Navas, David Silva etc.
Yawn. More anti-England drivel from the usual suspect. They don't like the weather, that's it. They all live in enormous mansions in incredibly affluent suburbs in Cheshire (or leafy West London for the others) and live in immense luxury - if they hate it, they can leave.
And, Mancini gave massive amounts of donations to his favourite church in the city centre, hardly a sign of someone who "hates" England. And Balotelli also did similar generous acts to locals.
Every normal man must be tempted, at times, to spit upon his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats. - H L Mencken