Has he lost the plot already, did his Madrid experience damage him so much! Jose Mourinho has announced that Chelsea will wait until after Monday's Premier League match with Manchester United to make a third approach for Wayne Rooney. "I don't want Chelsea to do it before we go there," said Mourinho, following Chelsea's 2-1 defeat of Aston Villa on Wednesday. "Everybody in the club, in the board, they agree with me. They share that opinion. "I think this period, by the ethical point of view, is a period where we're going to be quiet." We have a plan B and a plan C! Don't ask me names, because it's difficult to speak about players from other clubs."
The whole world and his dog know we are after Rooney already! Its hardly news. We were always going to make another bid before the window closed He meant he didnt want to reveal who our plan B options were.
And that's fine, it's always the right thing to do to look out for the current Champions and see them as rivals but honestly, your only rivals this year are City and Pellegrini will not succumb to Mourinho's mind games. What is worrying my Chelsea friends of over 40 years are the signs of negativity coming from the 1st 2 games. They have shared as I always have that Mourinho is a winner - pure and simple - no debate even required and absolutely top box office. However.... Your strength is your magnificent six, they are what Roman and I'm sure most of you have been craving for after the embbededment of signifcant trophy success over the last 15 years - So, why oh why does he not play to their strengths? Hazard is being taught to be a tracking back midfielder and yesterday for long periods of the match it was long balls to the useless lump that should never be anywhere near a Top 10 squad - in any country!! I'm now confident you wont at least ever start with a DM 2 of Essien & Mikkel which is something but you have to be honest with me here - The Special One's tactics have made both Hull and Villa look better than what they are. I know you can quote early days and you can have no more than 6 from 6 but this is the time to absolutely mess with everyone's minds - By destroying teams in the early games you set the marker down where teams come to you simply to keep it respectable - And I'm convinced you have the players to do that - It will be fascinating to see what team he puts out against United - Again not trying to be a wum (and have refained from using the word Chav in respect), - Do I think you'll win things under Mourinho and be competitive? HELL YES Do I think he's the man to make the most out of these riches and provide excitement? NOPE Still, as I wrote, fascinating
2 games in, start of the season. I knew from the start that Jose would be cautious in these first two games, especially with the United game at OT so early on. Anyone thinking he wouldnt take these games easy to leave something in the tank for OT is kidding themselves. The United game will be his chance to put down a marker, our performance in that game (note I said performance, not result) will go a long way in telling me how Jose plans to play his team this season.
Actually a very interesting post. He's still figuring it out imo and wanted to use both Hull and Villa to vary things before the big one that is United away. For instance Lukaku in pre season was insane but he has started Torres and Ba in the first two games. With Hazard he needs to track back. There were times where we were caught out on that front last season. He has the stamina, strength and pace to do so so I see it as Jose helping him develop cause remember he's still really young! He is no mug. He knows what he is doing. Against Hull we should have won by a larger amount than we did. In the first half we were unstoppable. Hull fans were in awe... Bruce admitted the same. Second half we took our foot off the gas. As with Villa... I think people are underestimating them. They beat Arsenal 3-1 in their own backyard. They have a fresh new squad raring to go. They'll be up in the top 10. So I think we've negotiated them well whilst still finding our feet. United away on Monday will be the one. Both fans buzzing from positive starts. Drinking all day in Manc first and then heading to OT... Really can't wait.
Lets judge after say 10 games. We have a new manager, new players and we've had half our first team behind on pre season due to the confederations cup (Mata, Torres, Luiz, Azpil, Mikel all arguably starters). We should have probably beat Hull by more but I think tiredness and waryness of 3 games in 8 days meant we took our foot off the gas. No point going all guns blazing in the first 2 games to then be shot for the United game. At the end of the day, 6 points from 6 so no complaints. The performances will come more readilly once everyone is back and the first 11 is more settled.
It was the same in Jose's first season back in 04/05, our first 8 games were subdued affairs, us picking up 1-0 and 2-1 wins, it was only in November when we started getting 4-0's etc: 15 August 2004 Manchester United H 1-0 41,813 Guðjohnsen Goal 14' 21 August 2004 Birmingham City A 1-0 28,559 J. Cole Goal 68' 24 August 2004 Crystal Palace A 2-0 24,953 Drogba Goal 28', Tiago Goal 72' 28 August 2004 Southampton H 2-1 40,864 Beattie Goal 34' (o.g.), Lampard Goal 40' (pen.) 11 September 2004 Aston Villa A 0-0 36,691 19 September 2004 Tottenham Hotspur H 0-0 42,246 25 September 2004 Middlesbrough A 1-0 32,341 Drogba Goal 81' 3 October 2004 Liverpool H 1-0 42,028 J. Cole Goal 64' 16 October 2004 Manchester City A 0-1 45,047 23 October 2004 Blackburn Rovers H 4-0 41,546 Guðjohnsen Goal 37', 38', 51' (pen.), Duff Goal 74' 30 October 2004 West Bromwich Albion A 4-1 27,399 Gallas Goal 45', Guðjohnsen Goal 51', Duff Goal 59', Lampard Goal 81' 6 November 2004 Everton H 1-0 41,965 Robben Goal 72' 13 November 2004 Fulham A 4-1 21,877 Lampard Goal 33', Robben Goal 59', Gallas Goal 73', Tiago Goal 81' 20 November 2004 Bolton Wanderers H 2-2 42,203 Duff Goal 1', Tiago Goal 48' 27 November 2004 Charlton Athletic A 4-0 26,355 Duff Goal 4', Terry Goal 47', 50', Guðjohnsen Goal 59' 4 December 2004 Newcastle United H 4-0 42,328 Lampard Goal 63', Drogba Goal 69', Robben Goal 89', Kežman Goal 90' (pen.) 12 December 2004 Arsenal A 2-2 38,153 Terry Goal 17', Guðjohnsen Goal 46' 18 December 2004 Norwich City H 4-0 42,071 Duff Goal 10', Lampard Goal 34', Robben Goal 44', Drogba Goal 83' 26 December 2004 Aston Villa H 1-0 41,950 Duff Goal 30'
I think Jose has always had one eye on OT monday night lets see how we go in that one early days but cant complain about 6 from 6
Come on Bodanki, it was a pathetic attempt to unsettle a player he is **** scared of. I doubt Rooney will start on Monday as he isn`t match fit yet but if he does it may just backfire, if Rooney really want`s to go to Chelsea he may just put on a display which say`s "this is how good i can be, now make a realistic bid and get me".
**** scared of?! Really?! Are you joking? There are so many better players than Rooney in Manchester Uniteds squad, let alone the whole of the PL.
Absolutely 100% agree with you. What would be your opinion if Willian's purchase was in order to provide Mata as bait for Rooney. To me, this would be sacrilige as Mata is a truely wonderful player and seems to be just as nice a man -coupled with fact that he's your player of the season 2 years running- Maybe Moyes isn't such an idiot after all and has always known he has this card. One thing is for sure -It would strengthen Man U much more than you. Big risk from Jose if this is the case. Fascinating.
This. The thought of Mata supplying assists for RVP terrifies me. Would definately strengthen Man Utd more than us. I really hope this isnt happening. I have to have faith in Jose though, I am sure he will do the right thing.
Of course I can. He would be one of the first names on my teamsheet, regardless of opposition. But I'm not going to sound Jose out for 'losing it' (as per OP) for intending to swap Mata for Rooney. His methods are rare, his thinking rarer still, and he has trophies to back all of it up. Know one thing - Jose is a better manager than any of us on this board, his tenure is barely two games old, and yet we already get people who think they know better voicing off.
Sorry, when i said 'you' I didn't mean you personally BW!! Wait and see I guess. Still think Mata and Rooney will be at their respective clubs come the close.
