Jose Mourinho - Was He Right?

[Reddy Rederson]

I find this post quite funny. As if Mourinho has control over the prices we pay. You might want to have a word with Woodward and Matt Judge, ever since they took over we have been absolute mugs in the market. You can guarantee that they would have been punts had Barca, Bayern, Juventus bought them.

Vidal for £18m
Douglas Costa for £36m
Matuidi for £20m
Rodriguez for £40m

Do you think we would ever get these prices quoted for us? No way, because we have absolute mugs handling our transfers!

Add 50m to each price point and youd have what woody and co would have paid, not counting the ridiculous add on bonuses and sell on clauses.

 

[Leif GW]

I think he despised the mentality of some of the players, and I'm inclined to believe he was right on that point. Probably why he started to play McTominay, even though he's rarely trusted the youth. He saw that he was willing to put in a proper shift unlike some others...

 

[K2K]

I am willing to bet that Mourinho will have the same problems at his next club like he did here.

Just like he did at his last two jobs.

 

[SungSam7]

He was partly right about the club's transfers.

However, he was wrong in many other ways:
1. Throwing players under the bus.
2. His Moody appearance and ego.
3. His football was atrocious most of the time.
You could go on for an hour!

I still have faith in OGS, you are sure he will give it 110% regardless. His heart and soul is dedicated to the club, you can't say the same for any of the fools that are employed at the club.

Ed Woodward must go but he won't, he makes the Glazers so much money in how he markets the club but realistically, how far can they run on fumes. Popularity and marketability go hand in hand. If you don't have success on the pitch you run out of luck.

We need to clear out a lot of crap, Lingard should not be even near a starting 11 place, would he get into Chelsea, Arsenal, Spurs, Liverpool's or City's starting 11? No he wouldn't, so why is he good enough for us?
Same can be said for Smalling, Jones and Young but here we are, when they are fit the start.
You know it's bad when Spurs flooded Twitter at the news of Jones being linked 5 months ago when he hasn't signed a new contract, they were begging for him not come near the club.
This runs a lot local lad Lingard has to stop! If we had a team full of him, we would be relegated eventually.

We need to stop paying big wages for average players. Why was jones given a 4 year contract when he's injured for roughly 2 full years out of 4? Spurs did the same with Ledley King but anytime King played you would understand why. Jones is chronic for a team of United standard.

Why do we have two over 34 year old full backs and one inexperienced FB which I am convinced is actually a winger, along with Shaw? Where is our quality in the depth?

Why has it been nearly a decade since we have sorted out the RW. Valencia was the last genuine RW we have bought in that amount of time. He's been converted and Nani has left the club. Meanwhile City have basically every position covered and each and everyone one of them including the subs would walk into our team.

We are a joke and have been since SAF, all he did was delay the inevitable by winning our final title with one of his poorest sides. An aging defence and unbalanced midfield, but this was the best possible start he could have left Woodward with, giving him and the new manager a chance to place their own blueprint with a untouched bank balance. (Since SAF didn't seem to splash the cash).

Ed needs to go, not OGS!

 

[thegregster]

I am willing to bet that Mourinho will have the same problems at his next club like he did here.

Just like he did at his last two jobs.

But he won the title at those two clubs.

Here he wasn't even close. What does that say?

 

[breakout67]

I am willing to bet that Mourinho will have the same problems at his next club like he did here.

Just like he did at his last two jobs.

Of course he will, but it's not like anyone is saying he did a good job in his final season. The whole point of Mourinho is to back him for some trophies and then bin him when he has a meltdown. We seemed to bin him before he had a meltdown, we seemed to have fast tracked his meltdown by telling him his targets weren't good enough or too old.

We improved from 69 points to 81 points, and got CL qualification two seasons in a row. Things weren't perfect but we were improving. We seemed to have got all the bad stuff of Mourinho without the good stuff like Chelsea and Madrid because we stopped 1 step short.

 

[K2K]

But he won the title at those two clubs.

Here he wasn't even close. What does that say?

That City got a 100 points in the most dominant Premier league season ever?

 

[haram]

Actually a very good post. It’s just about the direction and ethos, I’m pretty sure it’s not how most united fans wanted to play and unfortunately for José it left him in a position where he was half trying to play his way half trying to please the united faithful. Eventually he just lost it with everything and everyone but like many have alluded to it’s a structural problem. United need a rebuild and it doesn’t even have to be a lengthy one it’s just if the fans have the patience for it.

This united side are much better than the one Klopp inherited with us but ours was much more suited to his football having already played under Rodgers. We needed to tweak summer by summer till we could build a side not only in his image but one that could withstand the rigours of the league and it’s unique challenges as well as the UCL. We had patience but even then at times it wore thin for some fans, with United I feel the issue is exacerbated. Basically as much stick as we get for delusion the whole club has stuck by Klopp through thick and thin. It’ll take the same for united fans to do and that will filter through to the club and players. Nobody here is bigger than the manager.

In a nutshell it’s a collective effort to recognise what’s required and have the patience to see it through. The strategy needs to be coherent though from top to bottom.

The problem was when Jose was here, there were so many fans that were convinced these players could play better. Even the media and opposition fans were pushing this narrative. Now everyone is saying the players are not good enough. It was only Jose that could see the truth, and he was the one training these players everyday.

If you were to exchange Young and Valencia for your two fullbacks, you would be lying if you said it wouldn’t greatly affect your whole team. We had these two playing the whole of last season and still finished 2nd. When people looked at the way we attacked, all they ever did was say that certain players (like Pogba and Martial) had to play further forward.

 

[haram]

I am willing to bet that Mourinho will have the same problems at his next club like he did here.

Just like he did at his last two jobs.

How many managers last longer than 3 years at Real and Chelsea?

 

[K2K]

Of course he will, but it's not like anyone is saying he did a good job in his final season. The whole point of Mourinho is to back him for some trophies and then bin him when he has a meltdown. We seemed to bin him before he had a meltdown, we seemed to have fast tracked his meltdown by telling him his targets weren't good enough or too old.

We improved from 69 points to 81 points, and got CL qualification two seasons in a row. Things weren't perfect but we were improving. We seemed to have got all the bad stuff of Mourinho without the good stuff like Chelsea and Madrid because we stopped 1 step short.

He wasn't the right fit for us imo.

Problem is that the people doing the hiring don't seem to have a clue in what they are doing. Zero continuity in our manager appointments in playing styles.. Tactics. Player continuity...

Mou wasn't a fit but our problems do run deeper than him.

 

[K2K]

How many managers last longer than 3 years at Real and Chelsea?

I'll ask you this counter. How many in the last few years had anywhere close to the falling outs Jose had when leaving?

People really have forgotten how bad things were at Madrid. Civil War levels. They have fired many managers since. Not once since then have we seen that sort of warefare.

Even Chelsea were players are accused of falling out with managers.. Nothing like the Mou days. Even Sarri of all people managed to steady a ship that looked quickly like it was sinking fast.

Make no mistake. Our players aren't saints but Jose was a toxic element when he was here. He was a toxic element before us. Eva and the Tito incidents attest to that.

 

[Sky1981]

For me the biggest mistake is siding with the players. Jose has never been given a proper backing morally from the fans. Some of us wanted him to fail. The opinions of the fans somehow had an effect on the news outlet, since they reflect mostly what we want to read.

We want another saf, but we shun him away when he's doing exactly what saf is doing (no player is bigger than the club).

The players let moyes down, lvg down, jose down, and now it looks as if ole is the next victim. It's very hard for jose to pull a miracle when his players didnt follow his instruction.

I dont believe jose is a football purist who loves the club, nor that he's playing to get the sack. What i believe is that jose probably knows more about football than most of us here and there's a reason we play defensive, remember when lvg got a twitch after losing 4 - 2?

The fans has this notion that jose doesnt want to win, the jose deliberately shackling the player, the somehow jose is a dinosaur that doesnt know what he's doing and somehow a new moder manager can do a better job than a seasonesld veteran albeit with an attitude.

 

[breakout67]

He wasn't the right fit for us imo.

Problem is that the people doing the hiring don't seem to have a clue in what they are doing. Zero continuity in our manager appointments in playing styles.. Tactics. Player continuity...

Mou wasn't a fit but our problems do run deeper than him.

He didn't need to be a fit for us to be honest. All it needed was 1 title challenge and deep run in Europe and we could have binned him. He was not a fit for Madrid either, but he got them back on the map, they used him to stop Barcelona's league domination and go deep in Europe again, then they binned him.

 

[Liver_bird]

The problem was when Jose was here, there were so many fans that were convinced these players could play better. Even the media and opposition fans were pushing this narrative. Now everyone is saying the players are not good enough. It was only Jose that could see the truth, and he was the one training these players everyday.

If you were to exchange Young and Valencia for your two fullbacks, you would be lying if you said it wouldn’t greatly affect your whole team. We had these two playing the whole of last season and still finished 2nd. When people looked at the way we attacked, all they ever did was say that certain players (like Pogba and Martial) had to play further forward.

That’s true but under Klopp and this management structure we would never end up in that situation. We tried with Moreno and Clyne realised they weren’t good enough and waited/scouted an upgrade. Now Robertson has turned out far better and along with Trent and our switch in tactics it’s worked out wonderfully but the plan was there.

The problem for you guys is you need a top class structure and I don’t think united have that, it’s far too commercial. For us the problem earlier on under FSG is they went far too much in the direction of moneyball. Who’s making the decisions that this player and this player aren’t good enough and don’t fit in to the philosophy/ethos going forward. Jose was never going to succeed at united because he was never going to be allowed his own way completely but the reality is as much as dislike him I also equally admire his intelligence and ability as a manager. I remember making a post when Jose was appointed speculating on who would adjust Jose or the club and in the end it was one and to his own detriment.

The players aren’t all good enough certainly, but they’re going from one direction to another.

Also just to add to that your best players have to also these days be your hardest working, I don’t see that with Pogba and martial for whatever reason.

 

[Buster15]

Do you think the situation would be better if he was still managing?

After a very creditable 2nd place finish last year there was every possiblity that we could have progressed under Jose.
However, as many have said things deteriorated and became toxic.
José's frustration at the lack of backing became unbearable but also understandable.

Whatever some say he was a serial winner but the players got their way.
However, had he had the necessary backing (not just transfers) then yes I do believe that the player power would have been eradicated and we would have progressed.

 

[Buster15]

I think he despised the mentality of some of the players, and I'm inclined to believe he was right on that point. Probably why he started to play McTominay, even though he's rarely trusted the youth. He saw that he was willing to put in a proper shift unlike some others...

Good point.

 

[haram]

I think he despised the mentality of some of the players, and I'm inclined to believe he was right on that point. Probably why he started to play McTominay, even though he's rarely trusted the youth. He saw that he was willing to put in a proper shift unlike some others...

Ironically it was the fans that claim to be a fan of youth who said they didn't want Scott in the team and that he was only playing because he was tall...

 

[Random Task]

What are these abilities, he has never been in a position to actually dictate transfer policies? He has always worked with a DOF and technical directors.

Jose is the original checkbook manager. Renowned for his ability to build a title-winning squad within a short space of time, generally through his ability to identify the correct targets for his system and getting them to perform at or beyond their potential. Sure he made a few questionable sales over the years (Salah, KDB, Lukaku, etc) but he was spot on for the most part.

I wasn't aware that he had always worked with a DoF or technical director, but that doesn't diminish his accomplishments for me. I remember reading somewhere that he was against the idea of United recruiting a DoF, which surprises me considering he had worked so well with them in the past.

(sorry for the late reply)

 

[hn4manunited]

For me the biggest mistake is siding with the players. Jose has never been given a proper backing morally from the fans. Some of us wanted him to fail. The opinions of the fans somehow had an effect on the news outlet, since they reflect mostly what we want to read.

We want another saf, but we shun him away when he's doing exactly what saf is doing (no player is bigger than the club).

The players let moyes down, lvg down, jose down, and now it looks as if ole is the next victim. It's very hard for jose to pull a miracle when his players didnt follow his instruction.

I dont believe jose is a football purist who loves the club, nor that he's playing to get the sack. What i believe is that jose probably knows more about football than most of us here and there's a reason we play defensive, remember when lvg got a twitch after losing 4 - 2?

The fans has this notion that jose doesnt want to win, the jose deliberately shackling the player, the somehow jose is a dinosaur that doesnt know what he's doing and somehow a new moder manager can do a better job than a seasonesld veteran albeit with an attitude.

Well said.

 

[hn4manunited]

After a very creditable 2nd place finish last year there was every possiblity that we could have progressed under Jose.
However, as many have said things deteriorated and became toxic.
José's frustration at the lack of backing became unbearable but also understandable.

Whatever some say he was a serial winner but the players got their way.
However, had he had the necessary backing (not just transfers) then yes I do believe that the player power would have been eradicated and we would have progressed.

Good post!

 

[Moriarty]

After a very creditable 2nd place finish last year there was every possiblity that we could have progressed under Jose.
However, as many have said things deteriorated and became toxic.
José's frustration at the lack of backing became unbearable but also understandable.

Whatever some say he was a serial winner but the players got their way.
However, had he had the necessary backing (not just transfers) then yes I do believe that the player power would have been eradicated and we would have progressed.

The board backed the players and chucked Jose overboard. He didn't do himself any favours by going head-to-head with the Essex spiv though.

 

[Bruno Marques]

Jose is the original checkbook manager. Renowned for his ability to build a title-winning squad within a short space of time, generally through his ability to identify the correct targets for his system and getting them to perform at or beyond their potential. Sure he made a few questionable sales over the years (Salah, KDB, Lukaku, etc) but he was spot on for the most part.

I wasn't aware that he had always worked with a DoF or technical director, but that doesn't diminish his accomplishments for me. I remember reading somewhere that he was against the idea of United recruiting a DoF, which surprises me considering he had worked so well with them in the past.

(sorry for the late reply)

Mourinho got valdano out of real Madrid so this is one of the examples that it didn't work. I can't recall the other but some investigation could prove something.

The one trying to diminish all that mourinho did trying to say it was all dof and so isnt acting intellectually fair

 

[arthurka]

Might have been right but he handled it really poorly.. Glad he did.

 

[purgethefallen]

Right, but he's had over 20 games to put in place some kind of brand of football with a squad containing some very good players...

Yet, the football is rubbish, as it was with Mourinho.

And his subs are often very weird, and his selections are increasingly daft, and he has no pedigree of delivering decent footy in the PL...

We saw his style in the first few games he was here until injuries put the kibosh on that. Mou left the team in such a bad physical state they just weren't capable of continuing on like that.

 

[purgethefallen]

We need someone fully committed as fergie was when he took over. He overhauled the whole club from the canteen to the youth team and upwards. He invested for the future and we later reaped the rewards for many years.
Mourinho and van gal were just passing through, whats more whether they were right or wrong matters not, they were not right for this club and ive never been so bored watching the games in 40 years. It was dire.

Ole has the commitment and character, give him time.

Who else remembers the Fergie out chants and banners? Good job we didn't listen to the moaners then!!!

I certainly do. Problem now is that no manager will ever be given the same time to rebuild this club that Fergie was. You can see it already with plenty on here wanting Ole out and that's before he's even had a chance to do anything.

Ideally a manager will be given three or more years to totally rebuild United but neither the fanbase not the Glazers will be happy to wait that long and so the problems will continue and will get worse.

 

[hn4manunited]

I certainly do. Problem now is that no manager will ever be given the same time to rebuild this club that Fergie was. You can see it already with plenty on here wanting Ole out and that's before he's even had a chance to do anything.

Ideally a manager will be given three or more years to totally rebuild United but neither the fanbase not the Glazers will be happy to wait that long and so the problems will continue and will get worse.

That is why I don’t think the kind of project everyone is talking with respect to rebuilding is the answer for our modern day club. Our fans say we need to rebuild, need to give youth a chance, buy youth instead of old proven players, give the manager time to rebuild and implement their philosophies but I have yet to see many with the level of patience for it.

We need to keep winning and competing every single season while laying some puzzle pieces for longer term rebuilds. We need seasoned proven players to come in and get us to winning silverware and to keep us competitive in order to keep propping this club up. In the meantime, the longer term pieces are being laid to bear fruit down the road.

If this club wants to be relevant the next several years, we need to keep spending every season to keep refreshing the proven players to keep us competing.

I hate to say this but what Jose was doing is exactly what this club needs. Ole will not survive a few years of rebuild. Fans won’t have the patience, players won’t have the patience, Ed won’t have the patience, owners won’t have the patience, relevance won’t wait on us.

 

[Lentwood]

Of course Jose was right

A serial winner who was working with a bunch of the laziest, daftest players in the league and an incompetent accountant with a physics degree overruling his opinion of footballers

Funny because everything Jose said, Ole has said in the last two weeks

 

[hn4manunited]

Of course Jose was right

A serial winner who was working with a bunch of the laziest, daftest players in the league and an incompetent accountant with a physics degree overruling his opinion of footballers

Funny because everything Jose said, Ole has said in the last two weeks

Unfortunately, we still have a bunch of fans who hate Jose for saying those same things. They think he was a disgrace. He just said it differently with more passion and more confrontational. Most think he’s past it...he’s just exposing the truth of what this club is going through.

 

[JPRouve]

Mourinho got valdano out of real Madrid so this is one of the examples that it didn't work. I can't recall the other but some investigation could prove something.

The one trying to diminish all that mourinho did trying to say it was all dof and so isnt acting intellectually fair

Mourinho has never acted as an actual manager not even at Madrid, at Madrid he had issues with Valdano but still had Ramon Martinez, José Angel Sanchez and Zidane. At Porto he worked with Antero Henrique, at Chelsea Arnesen, Marina Granovskaia and Emenalo and at Inter with Branca. Mourinho is a great head coach but he is a continental head coach, they are not managers and it doesn't diminish his achievements, there is just no point making up abilities that he has never been in a position to showcase until he joined United.

 

[Escobar]

Mourinho itself was a huge problem and it is good that he left. However, it doesnt stop there. The structure / set up of the club as well as some of the players are a problem as well

 

[Thomas A.Anderson]

Of course he was right. His every sentence was on point, and that's really not surprising considering all his experience and accolades.

The way he wanted to solve that problem was wrong. And after the clueless board sided with players, he went into full selfdestruct mode and that was that. I don't blame him, everyone who have experienced in their line of work bullshit from colleagues and bosses who are incompetent fools has to sympathize with him.

I still think that he was our biggest chance to get rid of deadwood and return to the top. If board didn't back the most decorated manager in the last 20 years, why would they back someone else? As long the profit is pouring to the owners pockets, who the feck cares about places on the premierleague table.

 

[Kerry Donaghy]

Even if he was right, so what?

It was still Mourinhio's own fault because, two years into the job, it was essentially his squad.
You could understand him moaning on all summer like he did about how poor the squad was if it was his first season in charge, but after two full years then anyone in the squad was either his own signing, or players he had chosen to keep.
So even if the squad was poor, was that not his fault?

Solskjaer, in his defence, did the opposite and actually tried to to be positive and talk up this 'average' squad that he had inherited and it worked until David De Gea decided to show everyone how overrated he is and cost us one crucial goal after another.

 

[Buster15]

The board backed the players and chucked Jose overboard. He didn't do himself any favours by going head-to-head with the Essex spiv though.

In my view he very quickly realised what was happening and by that time probably lost all respect and confidence in the club.

In the end it could have been a relief. Jose is and always has been his own man.

 

[flappyjay]

Even if he was right, so what?

It was still Mourinhio's own fault because, two years into the job, it was essentially his squad.
You could understand him moaning on all summer like he did about how poor the squad was if it was his first season in charge, but after two full years then anyone in the squad was either his own signing, or players he had chosen to keep.
So even if the squad was poor, was that not his fault?

Solskjaer, in his defence, did the opposite and actually tried to to be positive and talk up this 'average' squad that he had inherited and it worked until David De Gea decided to show everyone how overrated he is and cost us one crucial goal after another.

No that's not our agenda right now so we choose to ignore those parts of the argument.

 

[Bestofthebest]

Even if he was right, so what?

It was still Mourinhio's own fault because, two years into the job, it was essentially his squad.
You could understand him moaning on all summer like he did about how poor the squad was if it was his first season in charge, but after two full years then anyone in the squad was either his own signing, or players he had chosen to keep.
So even if the squad was poor, was that not his fault?

Solskjaer, in his defence, did the opposite and actually tried to to be positive and talk up this 'average' squad that he had inherited and it worked until David De Gea decided to show everyone how overrated he is and cost us one crucial goal after another.

Not everything that happened was his fault, although I am still glad he has gone. Firstly, the squad was not essentially his, he had made some changes to parts of the squad albeit at great cost and got them to second place in the league having won the Europa league the season before, also with a poor squad. However, the tensions began during the summer prior to his final season when it became obvious to all and sundry that he was not being backed by the board in the transfer market. The team then had a disastrous start to the new season and he started to behave like a spoilt child and lashing out at everyone, especially the squad and the press. He was also correct in stating it would be one of his biggest achievements to get this squad into top six.

In answer to the question in bold type. The squad was not entirely his although it was poor, he wanted more players to make the squad his. However, you cannot lay the blame for that at his door because he did not get the backing from Ed/owners to buy the players he wanted during the summer, especially a centre back.

My great worry now if this will be repeated with Ole. How far will the board back him? It is obvious the need for new and better players in greater numbers than last summer is needed. Some are even arguing 10 in 10 out and I understand their views even if I also realise we will be lucky to get four in and four out. Will that be Ole's fault?

I am sorry if it sounds like I am a Mourinho supporter, I am not, but at the end of the day I do think he was being marginalised after his first two seasons. Probably the board thought he could squeeze more out of the squad. We all now know that was not going to happen.

 

[Kerry Donaghy]

Not everything that happened was his fault, although I am still glad he has gone. Firstly, the squad was not essentially his, he had made some changes to parts of the squad albeit at great cost and got them to second place in the league having won the Europa league the season before, also with a poor squad. However, the tensions began during the summer prior to his final season when it became obvious to all and sundry that he was not being backed by the board in the transfer market. The team then had a disastrous start to the new season and he started to behave like a spoilt child and lashing out at everyone, especially the squad and the press. He was also correct in stating it would be one of his biggest achievements to get this squad into top six.

In answer to the question in bold type. The squad was not entirely his although it was poor, he wanted more players to make the squad his. However, you cannot lay the blame for that at his door because he did not get the backing from Ed/owners to buy the players he wanted during the summer, especially a centre back.

My great worry now if this will be repeated with Ole. How far will the board back him? It is obvious the need for new and better players in greater numbers than last summer is needed. Some are even arguing 10 in 10 out and I understand their views even if I also realise we will be lucky to get four in and four out. Will that be Ole's fault?

I am sorry if it sounds like I am a Mourinho supporter, I am not, but at the end of the day I do think he was being marginalised after his first two seasons. Probably the board thought he could squeeze more out of the squad. We all now know that was not going to happen.

Bailey and Lindelof???

He'd already bought two centre-backs.
Fair enough they both struggled but it was relatively early so they both deserved another chance.
Plus, even if they did turn out to be bad signings, can u then blame the board for being a bit sceptical about handing Mourinhio 75m to spend on Harry Maguire?

Im not the biggest fan of our board either, believe me, but I can definitely see where they were coming from on that one.

Another option was of course to try out one of the younger players at CB but that was never ever going to happen under Mourinhio either.

 

[Sauldogba]

I'll ask you this counter. How many in the last few years had anywhere close to the falling outs Jose had when leaving?

People really have forgotten how bad things were at Madrid. Civil War levels. They have fired many managers since. Not once since then have we seen that sort of warefare.

Even Chelsea were players are accused of falling out with managers.. Nothing like the Mou days. Even Sarri of all people managed to steady a ship that looked quickly like it was sinking fast.

Make no mistake. Our players aren't saints but Jose was a toxic element when he was here. He was a toxic element before us. Eva and the Tito incidents attest to that.

Not true.
You are forgetting they got avb the sack before Jose.

 

[flappyjay]

Bailey and Lindelof???

He'd already bought two centre-backs.
Fair enough they both struggled but it was relatively early so they both deserved another chance.
Plus, even if they did turn out to be bad signings, can u then blame the board for being a bit sceptical about handing Mourinhio 75m to spend on Harry Maguire?

Im not the biggest fan of our board either, believe me, but I can definitely see where they were coming from on that one.

Another option was of course to try out one of the younger players at CB but that was never ever going to happen under Mourinhio either.

If Jose's reported targets from last summer we all true then thank heavens the board refused.

 

[JPRouve]

Jose is the original checkbook manager. Renowned for his ability to build a title-winning squad within a short space of time, generally through his ability to identify the correct targets for his system and getting them to perform at or beyond their potential. Sure he made a few questionable sales over the years (Salah, KDB, Lukaku, etc) but he was spot on for the most part.

I wasn't aware that he had always worked with a DoF or technical director, but that doesn't diminish his accomplishments for me. I remember reading somewhere that he was against the idea of United recruiting a DoF, which surprises me considering he had worked so well with them in the past.

(sorry for the late reply)

He actually isn't renowned for his ability to build a side, his first Chelsea had a back bone built under Ranieri, for Inter it was under Mancini, for Madrid it was for a large part under Pellegrini in 2009 with the additions of Kaka, Xabi Alonso, Ronaldo, Benzema who joined the likes of Marcelo, Pepe, Ramos, Casillas, Arbeloa and Higuain these players were the backbone of the team.

Mourinho's talent is that if you have a top level backbone, he will make it achieve its best by tweaking it which is a rare quality and shouldn't be dismissed but he has never built a backbone.

 

[Roboc7]

He was right when he said team needed more players to compete but the board were also right to refuse to bring in his expensive short term solutions.

It all comes back to the same issue, there is no proper structure or plan other than appoint a manager, spend some money and hope it’s all ok. Club is becoming more of a joke every season and good luck to Woodward selling it to sponsors after few more years of this.