Archive for the ‘Managers’ Category

When José Mourinho Is Involved In The Game, Manchester United Rarely Beat Chelsea

Posted: October 24, 2016 in Chelsea, European Football, Football, Jose Mourinho, Managers, Manchester United, Opinion, Premier League
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In the 1960’s Chelsea, for some reason, were always better away from home than they were at home. Could it have had anything to do with the crowd being so far from the pitch, seemingly a current problem for West Ham United?

The days of Peter Osgood, Charlie Cooke, Peter Bonetti, Ron and Alan Harris et al produced far superior returns on the road than any other team. In fact, if Chelsea could have corrected their home form during this period they wouldn’t have had to wait quite as long as they did to win the title. (more…)

Who Has Been A Success At Manchester United And Who Hasn’t? The Signings Of José Mourinho And Louis Van Gaal Discussed

Posted: October 7, 2016 in European Football, Football, Managers, Manchester United, Opinion, Premier League
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In the last three transfer windows Manchester United have spent in the region of £410 million. Louis van Gaal was responsible for around £260 million whilst José Mourinho has spent about £150 million. This is not accounting for the paltry £65 million spent by David Moyes in being no worse than van Gaal although, admittedly, not winning anything.

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Why Did Manchester United, Manchester City And Chelsea Really Change Managers? What Was Wrong With The Ones They Had?

Posted: September 4, 2016 in Arsenal, Chelsea, European Football, Football, Managers, Manchester City, Manchester United, Opinion, Premier League
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Manchester City finished fourth last season and won the Capital One Cup. That relative failure saw them having to play a Champion’s League qualifier against Steaua Bucharest this time out, a tie they won comfortably.

To many fans of many clubs Manchester City’s season would have been considered a resounding success but, when you have the kind of players, and therefore, the kind of financial outlay that they have, success is deemed to be finishing in the top two in the Premier League and reaching the final of the Champion’s League. (more…)

Either Manchester United Or Manchester City Will Win The Title, But Which One? Jose Mourinho Or Pep Guardiola?

Posted: August 12, 2016 in Football, Managers, Manchester City, Manchester United, Opinion, Premier League
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The squad strengths are similar. The fame and reputations of the two managers are similar. In fact, there are so many similarities between the two teams this season that it is very difficult to say that one is better than the other and even more difficult to say which one that is.

Manchester City have a world class goalkeeper prone to the occasional mistake. United also have a world class goalkeeper who makes less mistakes so United have the edge here. (more…)

After Some Good Signings Jose Mourinho Now Needs To Clear Some Of The Dead Wood From Manchester United

Posted: August 10, 2016 in European Football, Football, Managers, Manchester United, Opinion, Premier League
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Even if Jose Mourinho does not make another signing for Manchester United this transfer window, there should be no complaints about the business that has been concluded.

The arrivals of Eric Bailly, Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Zlatan Ibrahimović and Paul Pogba have completely renewed the fan’s faith in the ability of the team to go on and win something this time out.

Ed Woodward has not been vilified and so he should also see this transfer window as a success, having managed to secure the services of each of the Mourinho requirements. It may have cost a king’s ransom but what good is the money if it just sits in a bank? Ed certainly likes spending it as much as he likes making it! (more…)

Jose Mourinho Is Already A Changed Man Since Joining Manchester United

Posted: August 2, 2016 in European Football, Football, Managers, Manchester United, Opinion, Premier League
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He has already said it. If we concentrate solely on each other in this league, then somebody else will win it. It was OK in Spain as there were only usually two clubs competing for the title, so it was good to have some mind games. These are the words, more or less, of Jose Mourinho shortly after taking over at Manchester United.

Who he is trying to convince is rather a mystery. Is it the fans? I doubt it. Most fans will tell you that they love a few mind games. United supporters were always in their element when Fergie was giving it large about some manager or another.

Also, in the not too distant past, Jose himself was known for having a slight dig at opposing managers. Spats with Arsene Wenger and Rafa Benitez readily come to mind. (more…)

Jose Mourinho’s First Press Conference Tells Us Nothing We Didn’t Already Know, (But It Was Still Entertaining)

Posted: July 5, 2016 in Football, Jose Mourinho, Managers, Manchester United, Opinion, Premier League
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As expected by everybody, except Sky Sports News and the Great British press, Jose Mourinho’s first press conference failed to enlighten us on anything of which we were unaware.

Starting with a totally banal question by some clown from Sky Sports News about him being the “Special One”, then something else and what was he now, as if anyone was interested. The subsequent questions were predictable, not only to anyone with half a brain but even to Mourinho who probably could have listed them beforehand whether or not he had been primed.

New signings was a quickly covered topic. There would be a minimum of four. Three have already been made, (these include Mhkitaryan, who isn’t official yet but about whom everybody has known for at least a week). So one more will be made long before the end of August according to the boss, suggesting that Jose is not yet au fait with how Ed Woodward operates, leaving plenty of time for any other additions to be made as and when appropriate. (more…)

Jose Mourinho Or Pep Guardiola? Manchester United Or City? It’s Too Close To Call

Posted: July 3, 2016 in Football, Managers, Manchester City, Manchester United, Opinion, Premier League
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There now exists, more than ever before, a two-team competition in oneupmanship in Manchester. No sooner have Manchester City appointed Pep Guardiola then Manchester United are appointing Jose Mourinho.

City sign Ilkay Gundogan and United sign Henrikh Mhkitaryan, both from Borussia Dortmund and neither of whom will have the fans singing their names for a while, certainly not if they have to learn to spell them first!

United are reportedly looking to sign Paul Pogba so City are immediately linked with Luis Suarez.

United will break the world transfer record, but only if City don’t! (more…)

Why Should Jose Mourinho Offer Ryan Giggs A Job At Manchester United?

Posted: June 30, 2016 in Football, Managers, Manchester United, Opinion
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He may be Manchester United’s longest serving player. He may be perceived as part of the furniture. He may have scored some great goals over the years. He may also have slept with his brother’s wife and changed his name from Wilson to Giggs because he preferred his mother to his father.

Over the many years Giggs was turning out for United he achieved a great deal. He did lots of things, some positive and some negative. When all of this is taken into account, from where does he get the impression, (if indeed he has the impression), that he should be the next Manchester United manager, whether that was following Ferguson, Moyes or van Gaal?

Where is the experience at lower league level? In fact, where is the managerial experience at ANY level? (more…)

Why Manchester United Got It So Wrong Between Sir Alex Ferguson And Jose Mourinho

Posted: June 29, 2016 in Football, Managers, Manchester United, Opinion
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Who’s idea was it to employ David Moyes as a successor to Sir Alex Ferguson?

If we are to believe the press then it was Sir Alex himself. This is debatable because, although he retired at the height of his powers, it would be churlish to think that one man decides the future direction of a club the size of United. I think he may have been given the casting vote, but that is all and, in itself, shows the power he had at the time.

We are also expected to believe that Moyes was chosen over Jose Mourinho. This is pushing the realms of fantasy a little too far as well. David Moyes, with his record of winning absolutely nothing, was given the United job before the most successful manager, after Fergie, who had won titles in three different countries.

Either Ed Woodward is even more incompetent than people think he is or the stories simply aren’t true. Perish the thought that the great British press may have been telling a few porkies. (more…)

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