Jose Mourinho | 2017/18 Assessments | Poll Added

[YouOnlyLiveTwice]

I think our problems are because of the Pogba conundrum. Mourinho obviously needed a high quality, technical midfielder to get his strategy to work. A skilled player who can shrug off a few challenges and use his quick feet to beat a few players and start the counter. He thought he was getting that with Pogba, and he spent the bulk of last season (including EL + League Cup + FA cup) to groom Pogba into that CM role, but it has backfired and it has becaome clear that Pogba is just not that kind of a player. Matic was brought in to compliment Pogba.

So, his planning has failed, and now, he is left with a weak midfield, and a transfer window where we once again failed to strengthen our midfield. He is even having to rely on McTominay, a youth player and Mourinho would never have done that if his first choices were performing well.

I think, realistically, given the state of our midfield and also our back line, getting top 4 would itself be a huge achievement. As things stand, if no one steps up, I think we won't even make top 4.

I am not a fan of Mourinho, but I think he was just unlucky and needs another transfer window to sort things out. Also, buying players has become very difficult in today's market, where you have to shell out about 30M for average talent. So, only few players can be bought and if they don't work, then we have to wait for another year.

I think you're right about Mourinho buying Pogba thinking he would fit in at a role he wasn't used to. The failure to acknowledge that Pogba isn't the right man for that is 100% on him though, it's a bit similar to LvG giving the green light for the Di Maria transfer, but then stiffling a player that needs a lot of trust and confidence to do his thing, even if he fails at a lot of what he does.

Bit tired of us buying players that doesn't really fit with the managers plans. We are wasting so much time by rebuilding constantly because the players we buy don't fit in.

 

[L1nk]

I think you're right about Mourinho buying Pogba thinking he would fit in at a role he wasn't used to. The failure to acknowledge that Pogba isn't the right man for that is 100% on him though, it's a bit similar to LvG giving the green light for the Di Maria transfer, but then stiffling a player that needs a lot of trust and confidence to do his thing, even if he fails at a lot of what he does.

Bit tired of us buying players that doesn't really fit with the managers plans. We are wasting so much time by rebuilding constantly because the players we buy don't fit in.

Or are we wasting time on more pragmatic managers that want players to do a job and don't necesarilly get the best out of the players? This creeped uo with LVG and Herrera remember, he wanted Herrera to go against his natural instincts and 'do a job' and we all know how that went

 

[YouOnlyLiveTwice]

Or are we wasting time on more pragmatic managers that want players to do a job and don't necesarilly get the best out of the players? This creeped uo with LVG and Herrera remember, he wanted Herrera to go against his natural instincts and 'do a job' and we all know how that went

Pragmatic managers can also mean that he works with what he got and would try to get the best out of the strongest players in the team, therefore building around what would be Pogba and Alexis for us.
But the way you mean it i agree. LvG and Mourinho are very stubborn managers and stiffles a lot of the flair in a team. Even if Mourinho tries to put out 5 attacking players and go for it, he doesn't seem to know how to make it work, it just isn't what he has made his reputation on.

I don't know what you're trying to say with the Herrera point though. Herrera was one of our best players when we played that 4-3-3 late in 14/15, LvG was prasing him on how he played the box-to-box role. That he didn't see him in a future role for us anyway is just because he is a bit crazy.

 

[Stubble]

How much more of this tumescent dross do we have to watch before people see the light. I can barely motivate myself to watch us play these days and am usually left angry and frustrated by the clueless, disjointed and passionless performances i have to suffer week in week out. Im hearing the same from plenty of others so its not just me. I been watching other teams just to get a dose of proper watchable football ! Yes we're second (not for long) but i want to see some clear direction, a strategy and not just more of the same from the manager who seems determined to keep banging his head against the same wall. New personnel will not solve this when we are not getting anywhere near the level of performance that should be expected from the quality of players we have. Top four could be a real fight if things don't change soon..

 

[Esquire]

I think you're right about Mourinho buying Pogba thinking he would fit in at a role he wasn't used to. The failure to acknowledge that Pogba isn't the right man for that is 100% on him though, it's a bit similar to LvG giving the green light for the Di Maria transfer, but then stiffling a player that needs a lot of trust and confidence to do his thing, even if he fails at a lot of what he does.

Bit tired of us buying players that doesn't really fit with the managers plans. We are wasting so much time by rebuilding constantly because the players we buy don't fit in.

I think everyone will admit if Pogba wants, he could be a monster CM. That’s the potential Mou sees as well and it’s the manager’s right to get Pogba to play that way. That said, I don’t think Pogba wants to. You can tell he doesn’t fancy it. That’s really it. End of.

Get the argument that no player is bigger than the club. Don’t know if it’s an apt comparison but we all know SAF indulged Ronaldo. Asked Rooney and Tevez to sacrifice and allow CR7 to float and concentrate on offense. Maybe the same argument could be made for Pogba. If we paid a sh*tlload for a guy based on his Juventus performances in a specific role, wouldn’t we be wise to avoid continuing forcing Pogba into a role which he doesn’t enjoy and has not performed in? Shouldn’t Mou at least give the 433 a try at least a couple of games with Pogba as that center piece? Lord knows the 4231 is not exactly ripping opponents up.

 

[haram]

Yeeey, you finally got it.

Finally got what?

 

[Sky1981]

I think everyone will admit if Pogba wants, he could be a monster CM. That’s the potential Mou sees as well and it’s the manager’s right to get Pogba to play that way. That said, I don’t think Pogba wants to. You can tell he doesn’t fancy it. That’s really it. End of.

Get the argument that no player is bigger than the club. Don’t know if it’s an apt comparison but we all know SAF indulged Ronaldo. Asked Rooney and Tevez to sacrifice and allow CR7 to float and concentrate on offense. Maybe the same argument could be made for Pogba. If we paid a sh*tlload for a guy based on his Juventus performances in a specific role, wouldn’t we be wise to avoid continuing forcing Pogba into a role which he doesn’t enjoy and has not performed in? Shouldn’t Mou at least give the 433 a try at least a couple of games with Pogba as that center piece? Lord knows the 4231 is not exactly ripping opponents up.

Who's the 3rd midfielder though... apart from matic i don't think we have anyone solid enough to perform on a weekly basis.

Mourinho has his 2 pieces in midfield sorted with pogba and matic but imho he is still missing that 3rd player.

Mata isn't compatible, herrera looks lost, fellaini is leaving this summer. I can understand people and pogba are frustrated, but at this point i can see why mourinho opted for pogba matic lingard midfield as he hasn't really have much choice.

I think he thought that herrera/fellaini will at least be a stop gap but alas... sanchez wasn't a priority but at 30m he's a deal too good to pass.

I don't believe he is playing in a 2 man midfield out of stuborness or stupidity but more on choosing the lesser evil, or what he thought to be the best alternative for the time being, and to be fair to him we're still lingering on 2nd which isn't bad considering everything else.

For me midfield is the most important aspect of the game, having a functional midfield would enhance our attack. Sometimes one missing puzzle is the difference between bad and greatness.

 

[BigdaftGorby]

I think everyone will admit if Pogba wants, he could be a monster CM. That’s the potential Mou sees as well and it’s the manager’s right to get Pogba to play that way. That said, I don’t think Pogba wants to. You can tell he doesn’t fancy it. That’s really it. End of.

Get the argument that no player is bigger than the club. Don’t know if it’s an apt comparison but we all know SAF indulged Ronaldo. Asked Rooney and Tevez to sacrifice and allow CR7 to float and concentrate on offense. Maybe the same argument could be made for Pogba. If we paid a sh*tlload for a guy based on his Juventus performances in a specific role, wouldn’t we be wise to avoid continuing forcing Pogba into a role which he doesn’t enjoy and has not performed in? Shouldn’t Mou at least give the 433 a try at least a couple of games with Pogba as that center piece? Lord knows the 4231 is not exactly ripping opponents up.

Why is everyone obsessed with playing an extra midfielder alongside Pogba?
If he lacks the discipline to track back and reinforce Matic but yet he has the skill and technique, in my opinion, to open up any defence, there is only 1 position for him. Jose is adamant 4-2-3-1 will work, so why not just play him at 10 (unfortunately Lingard loses out) and put Herrera/Mctom next to Matic?

At 10 he can still drop and pick up the space, he’s at the incision part of the pitch.

 

[Smores]

Why is everyone obsessed with playing an extra midfielder alongside Pogba?
If he lacks the discipline to track back and reinforce Matic but yet he has the skill and technique, in my opinion, to open up any defence, there is only 1 position for him. Jose is adamant 4-2-3-1 will work, so why not just play him at 10 (unfortunately Lingard loses out) and put Herrera/Mctom next to Matic?

At 10 he can still drop and pick up the space, he’s at the incision part of the pitch.

He doesn't score enough for a Mourinho number 10 and his movement isn't that great. We already have Sanchez to play the defence breaking pass.
The thing is Pogba clearly does have those abilities as he's shown it, what he doesn't have in any position seems to be consistency

 

[unitedforeveral]

How much more of this tumescent dross do we have to watch before people see the light. I can barely motivate myself to watch us play these days and am usually left angry and frustrated by the clueless, disjointed and passionless performances i have to suffer week in week out. Im hearing the same from plenty of others so its not just me. I been watching other teams just to get a dose of proper watchable football ! Yes we're second (not for long) but i want to see some clear direction, a strategy and not just more of the same from the manager who seems determined to keep banging his head against the same wall. New personnel will not solve this when we are not getting anywhere near the level of performance that should be expected from the quality of players we have. Top four could be a real fight if things don't change soon..

Thank You! Thank You for being one of the sane minds on this forum. I'm a huge United fan but when i say something that is true, people tend to get wild. Yes, we are 2nd but that doesn't prove the fact that we're a good team. In fact if you remember carefully, we got to the Europa Final because of the one mistake from Celta forward which could've completely changed things up side down.

We have not been good on the pitch. Our work rate is so low, we invite pressure so often, our range of passing is dull, i don't mind if you are passing sideways if you move from one side to another during attack but we go backwards and so slow, zero conviction, we have no urge to comeback when we are 0-1 down and we have no killer instincts when we are 1-0 up. We sit back and rest (if this is his strategy to keep players fresh for the whole season, well he's got a bad group of players to try this tactic with)! We need Jose to change or we change manager! cannot do a squad overhaul!

 

[Hawks2008]

I think, realistically, given the state of our midfield and also our back line, getting top 4 would itself be a huge achievement. As things stand, if no one steps up, I think we won't even make top 4.
.

That's outrageous. With the talent we've got and our high transfer outlay top 4 should be the bare minimum. Right now top 4 looks uncertain but to claim it as a big achievement is nonsense. Standards really have dropped around here...

 

[BigdaftGorby]

He doesn't score enough for a Mourinho number 10 and his movement isn't that great. We already have Sanchez to play the defence breaking pass.
The thing is Pogba clearly does have those abilities as he's shown it, what he doesn't have in any position seems to be consistency

Lingard 7 prem goals right?
Pogba 3 from a deeper position right?
And how often has Pogba played at 10?
I’m a bit confused how you’ve come about his movement not being great? Is it because Lingard runs around a lot?
For a big lad Pogbas movement and body positioning is class.
If you look back at everything that’s been posted in here, look at how people are reacting to his positioning in a 2. How dynamic and explosive he can be then apply that to real terms, he’s a 10.
Unless you’re seeing something I’m missing?

 

[shield]

I think you're right about Mourinho buying Pogba thinking he would fit in at a role he wasn't used to. The failure to acknowledge that Pogba isn't the right man for that is 100% on him though, it's a bit similar to LvG giving the green light for the Di Maria transfer, but then stiffling a player that needs a lot of trust and confidence to do his thing, even if he fails at a lot of what he does.

Bit tired of us buying players that doesn't really fit with the managers plans. We are wasting so much time by rebuilding constantly because the players we buy don't fit in.

Even I want to blame Mourinho, but the reason I cannot blame him completely, is because even I had felt that Pogba would absolutely revitalize our midfield as a CM ( I would feel a bit like a hypocrite if I tried to blame him for Pogba's performances)

I have read comment after comment, when we had sold Pogba and he was giving outstanding performances at Juventus, that "he is exactly what our midfield lacks" and "we would be a different team with him". Also, he was absolutely fantastic at Juventus, so even I find it a bit odd how he is struggling so much to perform well in this current position. He even has Matic next to him, who is a quality midfielder, so it is not like he is being asked to do things alone. While purchasing him, I had never once felt that we are buying an AM and we may need another midfielder.

Also, if Pogba clicks in the CM position, we have something great in our hands, and we could dominate things for 2 or 3 years, so I kind of sympathise with Mourinho's efforts to to make it happen, and also his plans regarding building a midfield centered around Pogba.

But, yeah, it is looking more and more clear with every loss that maybe this experiment needs to stop. Maybe Mourinho's methods are wrong, or maybe Pogba just has an attitude issue. But the only time Mourinho will be able to fix this issue properly is in the next window. So, I think I will give Mourinho the benefit of the doubt, and hope he manages to see us to a top 4 finish.

 

[Esquire]

Why is everyone obsessed with playing an extra midfielder alongside Pogba?
If he lacks the discipline to track back and reinforce Matic but yet he has the skill and technique, in my opinion, to open up any defence, there is only 1 position for him. Jose is adamant 4-2-3-1 will work, so why not just play him at 10 (unfortunately Lingard loses out) and put Herrera/Mctom next to Matic?

At 10 he can still drop and pick up the space, he’s at the incision part of the pitch.

Because he is not really a 10. Further you put him at 10 you still need to very mobile and at least one box to box mid to cover for Pogba not tracking back. So 433 seems a better system.

 

[Z1L3]

The whole question of best position or role may be a legitimate issue, but there are some things that imo are not acceptable, like lack of effort, not following manager's instructions, arguing with the manager during a game, and airing of dirty laundry in public instead of resolving it as a team behind closed doors. If Mourihno is a manager of the past, then it's because football is no longer played by men, but by spoiled overpaid children.

 

[Garethw]

And so it begins. Shite performances and falling out with star players is what usually happens before Mourinho implodes.

 

[BigdaftGorby]

Because he is not really a 10. Further you put him at 10 you still need to very mobile and at least one box to box mid to cover for Pogba not tracking back. So 433 seems a better system.

He’s not a 10 because.........?

 

[diplomat]

And so it begins. Shite performances and falling out with star players is what usually happens before Mourinho implodes.

This is the first time I really start worrying about it, purely because of the fact it has happened before and not just once. I hope everything is media sensationalism and general bullshit, although with us being just as far away from the league or CL title as we ever have in the recent years, it certainly must play on Jose's mind and also the players.

 

[Hellboy]

Even I want to blame Mourinho, but the reason I cannot blame him completely, is because even I had felt that Pogba would absolutely revitalize our midfield as a CM ( I would feel a bit like a hypocrite if I tried to blame him for Pogba's performances)

I have read comment after comment, when we had sold Pogba and he was giving outstanding performances at Juventus, that "he is exactly what our midfield lacks" and "we would be a different team with him". Also, he was absolutely fantastic at Juventus, so even I find it a bit odd how he is struggling so much to perform well in this current position. He even has Matic next to him, who is a quality midfielder, so it is not like he is being asked to do things alone. While purchasing him, I had never once felt that we are buying an AM and we may need another midfielder.

Also, if Pogba clicks in the CM position, we have something great in our hands, and we could dominate things for 2 or 3 years, so I kind of sympathise with Mourinho's efforts to to make it happen, and also his plans regarding building a midfield centered around Pogba.

But, yeah, it is looking more and more clear with every loss that maybe this experiment needs to stop. Maybe Mourinho's methods are wrong, or maybe Pogba just has an attitude issue. But the only time Mourinho will be able to fix this issue properly is in the next window. So, I think I will give Mourinho the benefit of the doubt, and hope he manages to see us to a top 4 finish.

precisely why the manager must take the blame for misusing him. Like Ibra said once it's now Jose who drives a Ferrari like a Fiat !

 

[Kaos]

While watching the Spurs game I came to a realisation.

A lot of us have a go at Pochettino for not producing any silverware and come to Mourinho's defence claiming he's at least won us a few trophies already. But thinking about it, I'd much rather we played entertaining football blowing teams away when we win, rather than being unrealistic title contenders, putting on one tumescent display after another and winning the odd shit trophy.

 

[Nuts]

I can’t believe I’ve got to watch more of this bloke’s guff for another year or two till he finally fecks off.

He seems intent on trying to recreate Allardyce’s Bolton side, with a big striker like Kevin Davies up front... It’s awful.

 

[Di Maria's angel]

While watching the Spurs game I came to a realisation.

A lot of us have a go at Pochettino for not producing any silverware and come to Mourinho's defence claiming he's at least won us a few trophies already. But thinking about it, I'd much rather we played entertaining football blowing teams away when we win, rather than being unrealistic title contenders, putting on one tumescent display after another and winning the odd shit trophy.

Since Mourinho was appointed:

Spurs have scored 195 goals in 92 games. 2.11 per game. They've won 60.8% of their games. Shit all to show.
We've scored 179 goals in 101 games. 1.77 per game. We've won 61.2% of our games. Three "shit" trophies to show.

Honestly, I'd rather be us at this moment in time.

 

[Borden]

Since Mourinho was appointed:

Spurs have scored 195 goals in 92 games. 2.11 per game. They've won 60.8% of their games. Shit all to show.
We've scored 179 goals in 101 games. 1.77 per game. We've won 61.2% of our games. Three "shit" trophies to show.

Honestly, I'd rather be us at this moment in time.

This is the kind of simplistic analysis you get from the Mourinho defenders on here. First of all it completely ignores the fact that our win percentage is highly skewered by our Europa League run, which we were forced to go all in on because we had screwed up our league season to the point that we needed to win it to get into CL. And while we were beating dross in a second rate competition Spurs were busy challenging for the title. They came up short, sure, but at least they had a go at it (for the second year running). Secondly, it ignores the gigantic difference in economic resources and investment. Thirdly, for the past 3 years Spurs have consistently looked capable of challenging the best teams in England and Europe, at times absolutely destroying them, while we've looked completely impotent and out of our depth almost every time we've faced a big team.

Spurs are a better team than us (we barely play like one at the moment), that's just undeniable for anyone who has watched both teams on a regular basis and who doesn't get hung up on misleading statistics. They may be behind us in the table for the time being, but I'd be surprised if they are come the end of the season, and I'd definitely back them to go further than us in the CL.

If our manager wasn't named Jose Mourinho, and was purely judged by the results and style of play over the past two years, there's not a soul on this forum who wouldn't be calling for his head.

 

[Di Maria's angel]

This is the kind of simplistic analysis you get from the Mourinho defenders on here. First of all it completely ignores the fact that our win percentage is highly skewered by our Europa League run, which we were forced to go all in on because we had screwed up our league season to the point that we needed to win it to get into CL. And while we were beating dross in a second rate competition Spurs were busy challenging for the title. They came up short, sure, but at least they had a go at it (for the second year running). Secondly, it ignores the gigantic difference in economic resources and investment. Thirdly, for the past 3 years Spurs have consistently looked capable of challenging the best teams in England and Europe, at times absolutely destroying them, while we've looked completely impotent and out of our depth almost every time we've faced a big team.

Spurs are a better team than us (we barely play like one at the moment), that's just undeniable for anyone who have watched both teams on a regular basis and who doesn't get hung up on misleading statistics. They may be behind us in the table for the time being, but I'd be surprised if they are come the end of the season, and I'd definitely back them to go further than us in the CL.

A couple of things:

Spurs finished 7 points behind Chelsea and were 10 behind them in GW 30, how on earth is that challenging? Chelsea strolled to the league so lets stop pretending anyone challenged.
Kane, Alli, Eriksen, Dembele, Wanyama etc. all started when they were embarrassed by Gent - so much for your "busy challenging for the title". They tried and failed.
And as for looking the "best teams in Europe" - certainly not last season. Its all good and beautiful walking over Hull City, Fulham, Millwall and others by consistently putting 5 or 6 against dross but they've been shown up at every top 6 ground.
I'll give you the money spent point even though they've spent a tonne of money since Bale left.
Spurs are more functional, cohesive and a better attacking side than us, yeah... but, but at the end of the day who fecking cares if they have nothing to show for it? Who the feck will look back at season 16/17 when they fecking challenged for the league with their lavishing football. No one. Absolutely no one gives a toss that they ran Leicester so close back in 15/16.

 

[Z1L3]

This is the kind of simplistic analysis you get from the Mourinho defenders on here. First of all it completely ignores the fact that our win percentage is highly skewered by our Europa League run, which we were forced to go all in on because we had screwed up our league season to the point that we needed to win it to get into CL. And while we were beating dross in a second rate competition Spurs were busy challenging for the title. They came up short, sure, but at least they had a go at it (for the second year running). Secondly, it ignores the gigantic difference in economic resources and investment. Thirdly, for the past 3 years Spurs have consistently looked capable of challenging the best teams in England and Europe, at times absolutely destroying them, while we've looked completely impotent and out of our depth almost every time we've faced a big team.

Spurs are a better team than us (we barely play like one at the moment), that's just undeniable for anyone who has watched both teams on a regular basis and who doesn't get hung up on misleading statistics. They may be behind us in the table for the time being, but I'd be surprised if they are come the end of the season, and I'd definitely back them to go further than us in the CL.

Well, I would argue that your analysis is also simplistic because it fails to account for countless games last season when United should have won, but didn't because of poor finishing. And all the statistics tell the story; United was among league leaders in shots, shots on target, possession, corners, clear cut chances, as well as most key defensive stats. One could make an argument that 10 more goals last season would give United 20 more points and your argument that Spurs (or any other team) were so much better in the league immediately falls apart.

 

[Kaos]

Since Mourinho was appointed:

Spurs have scored 195 goals in 92 games. 2.11 per game. They've won 60.8% of their games. Shit all to show.
We've scored 179 goals in 101 games. 1.77 per game. We've won 61.2% of our games. Three "shit" trophies to show.

Honestly, I'd rather be us at this moment in time.

I was going to respond to this ....

This is the kind of simplistic analysis you get from the Mourinho defenders on here. First of all it completely ignores the fact that our win percentage is highly skewered by our Europa League run, which we were forced to go all in on because we had screwed up our league season to the point that we needed to win it to get into CL. And while we were beating dross in a second rate competition Spurs were busy challenging for the title. They came up short, sure, but at least they had a go at it (for the second year running). Secondly, it ignores the gigantic difference in economic resources and investment. Thirdly, for the past 3 years Spurs have consistently looked capable of challenging the best teams in England and Europe, at times absolutely destroying them, while we've looked completely impotent and out of our depth almost every time we've faced a big team.

Spurs are a better team than us (we barely play like one at the moment), that's just undeniable for anyone who has watched both teams on a regular basis and who doesn't get hung up on misleading statistics. They may be behind us in the table for the time being, but I'd be surprised if they are come the end of the season, and I'd definitely back them to go further than us in the CL.

If our manager wasn't named Jose Mourinho, and was purely judged by the results and style of play over the past two years, there's not a soul on this forum who wouldn't be calling for his head.

But this has perfectly captured my sentiments.

 

[NinjaFletch]

This is the kind of simplistic analysis you get from the Mourinho defenders on here. First of all it completely ignores the fact that our win percentage is highly skewered by our Europa League run, which we were forced to go all in on because we had screwed up our league season to the point that we needed to win it to get into CL. And while we were beating dross in a second rate competition Spurs were busy challenging for the title. They came up short, sure, but at least they had a go at it (for the second year running). Secondly, it ignores the gigantic difference in economic resources and investment. Thirdly, for the past 3 years Spurs have consistently looked capable of challenging the best teams in England and Europe, at times absolutely destroying them, while we've looked completely impotent and out of our depth almost every time we've faced a big team.

Spurs are a better team than us (we barely play like one at the moment), that's just undeniable for anyone who has watched both teams on a regular basis and who doesn't get hung up on misleading statistics. They may be behind us in the table for the time being, but I'd be surprised if they are come the end of the season, and I'd definitely back them to go further than us in the CL.

If our manager wasn't named Jose Mourinho, and was purely judged by the results and style of play over the past two years, there's not a soul on this forum who wouldn't be calling for his head.

Doesn't seem much like you're defending him, but I'd definitely agree that this is simplistic analysis.

 

[Borden]

Well, I would argue that your analysis is also simplistic because it fails to account for countless games last season when United should have won, but didn't because of poor finishing. And all the statistics tell the story; United was among league leaders in shots, shots on target, possession, corners, clear cut chances, as well as most key defensive stats. One could make an argument that 10 more goals last season would give United 20 more points and your argument that Spurs (or any other team) were so much better in the league immediately falls apart.

Yep, that's true, I'd even argue that we played better football in the league for more of last season than we've done this one, we just wasted an obscene amount of chances. But that does not really reflect too well on Mourinho, does it?

And Spurs challenging for the league may have been a bit of a stretch, but they finished on 86 points (17 more than us), and that would've put them right up there in all the preceding seasons. I'd definitely say they were much better than us in the league though. 17 points isn't a fluke.

 

[Z1L3]

Not to get off topic, but since we're talking about Spurs, let's ask this question: who has better players, United or Spurs? I keep reading here how United should be doing better with all the players that we have, but I think that Spurs actually have the better players.

 

[Keeps It tidy]

Not to get off topic, but since we're talking about Spurs, let's ask this question: who has better players, United or Spurs? I keep reading here how United should be doing better with all the players that we have, but I think that Spurs actually have the better players.

I think Kane, Eriksen, the two Belgian Defenders and Ali when are exceptional players. The rest of Spurs are pretty meh. Overall I think we have a much better squad.

 

[Canagel]

Not to get off topic, but since we're talking about Spurs, let's ask this question: who has better players, United or Spurs? I keep reading here how United should be doing better with all the players that we have, but I think that Spurs actually have the better players.

United have better players in attack (apart from Lukaku - Kane is better) but Spurs have better defenders especially their full-backs. Apart from Bailly none of our backline would get into their team. Spurs are the better overall team. The word TEAM is very important here.

 

[diplomat]

Not to get off topic, but since we're talking about Spurs, let's ask this question: who has better players, United or Spurs? I keep reading here how United should be doing better with all the players that we have, but I think that Spurs actually have the better players.

So shouldn't the question be why they have a better team than us, despite Manchester United having one of the biggest budgets in the world and a lot of exciting young players, plus some proven world-class and excellent players with experience?

I think realistically, Tottenham should only be seen better in CB area, because in top form, they have quality and depth, whilst we have only Bailly who can be world class when fully fit. In midfield they definitely have more depth to provide different options, but in terms of first 11 quality we should be performing better with the likes of Pogba, Matic and Herrera.

The only area we actually perform better is GK and that's because DDG is the best in the world in that department, making it seem as if our defense is consistently good according to statistics, which is not true in reality.

 

[breakout67]

If someone offered me 10th place at the end of the season but we win the CL, I would take it every single time. Anyone that says otherwise is obviously not a match going fan and so has a warped view of the football club.

Winning a cup final is a special experience, something you hold in your memory for the rest of your life. Those experiences are what make supporting Man Utd special.

If for the rest of your life you had to choose between 'challenging' which is not actually challenging

or

Mid table but win trophies every season

The choice is obvious.

 

[L1nk]

We've spent poorly over the last few season, and personally I think Mourinho has also spent poorly, he's splashed a lot of money on players and almost none of them are performing to the required standard, i'm sorry but 90 million on Lukaku is hefty, we could of got a much cheaper alternative with just as high a ceiling as him and spent the rest of the money elsewhere, here's a list of 9 players that moved to different clubs since Mourinho has been here, altogether these combine to be below the budget of what Mourinho has spent at this club so far.

Timo Werner - £9mill - ST
Julian Draxler - went for £35mill - Winger/AM
James Rodriguez - £50/60mill - AM
Ruben Neves - £16mill - CM (Now tearing it up for Wolves, will be in Prem next season)
Eric Bailly - £30mill - CB
Paul Pogba - £89mill - CM/AM
[Irrelevant point] - £20mill - LB (Now a good LB for Chelsea)
Davinson Sanchez - To Ajax for £4mill - CB (Now tearing it up at Tottenham)
Thomas Meunier - £5mill - RB (Now a good RB for PSG who we've been linked with since)

1 forward, 2 am/wingers, 2 cm's, 2 fb's, 2 cb's

Now? Pretty much all these players are considered quality, James Rodriguez and Julian Draxler were known as such before hand, you cannot tell me that even though signings were poor with Moyes and LVG that Mourinho could not have used the money he's spent much more wisely. I could put more names on this list for sure but you cannot argue that none of those names on that list would of made us a vastly better squad.

 

[Z1L3]

I would agree that they have better defense (CBs and fullbacks), and Kane and Eriksen are better than any United players in those positions (except maybe Alexis, who joined 2 games ago). And most of their important players have been playing together for a while (see below). By contrast, half of United's team is in their 1st or 2nd season with the club.

My point is, while Jose is definitely not perfect or right in everything, his critics usually forget to mention that he inherited a mediocre squad, was plagued by injuries the entire last season, the team performed much better last season than results show, is rebuilding the team in an era of unprecedented player prices, the majority of his best players are still developing/unproven players who haven't performed consistently or won anything their entire careers, etc. If Pochettino or Klopp achieved what he did last season, the pundits would hail them as heroes.

Years at Spurs:
Lloris 6
Rose 5
Alderweireld 3
Vertonghen 6
Son 3
Kane 5
Lamela 5
Wanyama 2
Dier 4
Alli 2
Eriksen 5
Aurier 1
Davies 4

 

[Nuts]

I'll give you the money spent point even though they've spent a tonne of money since Bale left.
Spurs are more functional, cohesive and a better attacking side than us, yeah... but, but at the end of the day who fecking cares if they have nothing to show for it? Who the feck will look back at season 16/17 when they fecking challenged for the league with their lavishing football. No one. Absolutely no one gives a toss that they ran Leicester so close back in 15/16.

You don’t talk for everyone, and clearly lots of people give a toss about the quality of football their team plays.

I’d argue that if you get your team right, trophies are going to follow and I’d be surprised if Spurs don’t get something out of the Pochetino era before it’s over.

Ferguson only won the trophies he did because he got the qualities you mentioned right - team spirit and a cohesive attack etc. Since Mourinho is struggling to achieve those, I think he’ll struggle to win the big trophies, which if you’re going to judge a United manager on silverware alone are surely the ones he’d need.

 

[BluesJr]

It’s probably been said a lot already, but these final few months of the season could well define Mourinho at this club, even whether he’s still here in the summer or not.

Feels like we’re at a crossroads at the moment, we are either going to recover and finish the season with a solid top four finish with better performances or it’s going to end in disaster.

Why can’t we just be on an upward curve for a while? Frustrating.

 

[Listar]

It’s probably been said a lot already, but these final few months of the season could well define Mourinho at this club, even whether he’s still here in the summer or not.

Feels like we’re at a crossroads at the moment, we are either going to recover and finish the season with a solid top four finish with better performances or it’s going to end in disaster.

Why can’t we just be on an upward curve for a while? Frustrating.

That nothing different. Every month feels like a defining month for a united manager.

 

[Data]

Not to get off topic, but since we're talking about Spurs, let's ask this question: who has better players, United or Spurs? I keep reading here how United should be doing better with all the players that we have, but I think that Spurs actually have the better players.

I can easily see us in this situation for a while, we cant give Mou a leeway for the way we are playing at the moment. We cant justify spending that much money and not playing cohesive football. In some areas on the pitch, Spurs and some top four clubs have better players then us but we cant use that to justify his footballing style.

 

[Stacks]

I would agree that they have better defense (CBs and fullbacks), and Kane and Eriksen are better than any United players in those positions (except maybe Alexis, who joined 2 games ago). And most of their important players have been playing together for a while (see below). By contrast, half of United's team is in their 1st or 2nd season with the club.

My point is, while Jose is definitely not perfect or right in everything, his critics usually forget to mention that he inherited a mediocre squad, was plagued by injuries the entire last season, the team performed much better last season than results show, is rebuilding the team in an era of unprecedented player prices, the majority of his best players are still developing/unproven players who haven't performed consistently or won anything their entire careers, etc. If Pochettino or Klopp achieved what he did last season, the pundits would hail them as heroes.

Years at Spurs:
Lloris 6
Rose 5
Alderweireld 3
Vertonghen 6
Son 3
Kane 5
Lamela 5
Wanyama 2
Dier 4
Alli 2
Eriksen 5
Aurier 1
Davies 4

Almost as if you don't follow football. De Gea has won everything bar the CL. Pogba has won all levels of titles bar the CL. Matic has won multiple titles. Sanchez has won multiple titles and cups, Valencia won multiple titles and cups, even Lingard has won multiple cups, Martial has won all bar the EPL and CL. I don't know who is left. If they aren't performing consistently then the coach needs to do something about that. Who are these unproven players that you are referring to?