I'm more surprised at Jose. I thought he was special? He'll need to grow some balls. Can talk the **** in the press conferences but then THAT!
Mourinho has always been very pragmatic. He won't risk losing in trying to win. A point away at OT is a point gained. Utd need a midfielder who can run beyond the forwards and cause problems and hopefully one will be signed before the end of the window. Chelsea defended well, but Fellaini making a nuisance of himself when those crosses were delivered from wide areas would have stretched them. Utd took one point from Swansea (a) and Chelsea (h) last season so Moyes will be happy enough with four this time.
First match of the season doesn't mean anything as City proved, a 4-0 thumping and then a defeat to newly promoted Cardiff. Arsenal losing to Villa and then winning two comfortably so I don't think that the 4-1 against Swans means that much as you couldn't score tonight.
For all the raving about Swansea last season, the truth is they are a limited side and they didn't defend their own box and the space in front of it well v Utd. Give time and space to RvP and Rooney and they will hurt you. But tonight Chelsea didn't do that and Utd didn't have a plan B. That plan B used to be a midfielder - Scholes usually - getting into the penalty area, finding space or dragging defenders out of position and making it harder for them to defend as a unit and to their plan. Fabregas, Fellaini, Mata, an in-form Sneijder etc would make Utd a much more potent force against the top sides when they defend tightly against RvP and Rooney. Unlike Mourinho, Moyes would made use of Mata if he'd had him.
Well that's 2 hours of my life I will never get back. What a terrible game and advert for English football. I can hardly remember a chance. I partly blame united but Chelsea really did park the bus. I seem to remember Mourinho accusing us of that a few years ago. What a hypocrite. He didn't even play a striker. I should have let the misses watch her soaps instead.
A tale of two defences and protectors of defences that were on top of their game, flair players allowed little time and space. A game neither wanted to lose at an early stage. Tedious?, only the attacking side but it was a spectacle of how to defend, read the game and snuff danger. Personally I do not find such a game tedious, I draw from it things like, we wouldn't have a hope in hell of breaking either of these two! Favourite thing of the night was in true notso fashion some good ol chanting banter, Chelsea fans started with.... "we'll see you next week we'll see you next week Wayne Rooney we'll see you next week!" Wittily countered by United fans with.... "You wanted Moyes job you wanted Moyes job Jose Mourinho you wanted Moyes job!"
Typical Mourinho side against the typical Moyes side. Both wanted the other to overcommit so that they could counter.
What does Kagawa have to do to get a game though? Superb player, I hope we take him off their hands if they can't appreciate him.
Kagawa and Mata strangely omitted, when both managers bemoan the absence of the qualities they both possess, make something happen round the 18yd box...???...tbh Moyes and Mourinho deserve a for using Ashley Young and Torres respectively instead. Like I said earlier both defences had really solid games, its difficult for even top forwards when defenders just have a good game and are a second ahead of you and read everything right.
I've said all along that Moyes was over-rated for what he did at Everton. 10 years, maybe more, and not one major trophy. That's even worse than our own ENIC's record. I've always assumed Moyes was given the job rather than any of the numerous more successful managers out there, partly at least, because he would 'work well' with Fergie. Maybe completely wrong on this. But otherwise how come one of the biggest clubs in the world have ended up with a manager that's won nowt? Even 'little old Spurs' have a more successful manager than the mighty Utd these days. I think Everton were overpraised under Moyes. Time and again they would play negatively against us, using lots of fouls to contain our players, eg Neville on Bale. Though they did seem to improve last season with regard to their footballing outlook.
I think we'll see another Chelsea type situation at Utd ie coach after coach after coach. Many times Moyes started badly at Everton being right down at the bottom and it came as a surprise to me he landed the position. I expect changes at both Chelsea and Man U soon. Jose is back there yes but it'll only a take a minor blip to see Abramovich and he quareling again and it's no way Jose.
Totally agree. I'm baffled by this Mata situation. It's clear that Mourinho' arrogance is clouding his judgement. Is it the fact that AVB signed him? Does he not like the fact that previous managers helped develop him into chelsea's best player, and he had no part in that? Is it all about him having sole responsibility for chelsea's next batch of quality players, so no one else can take any credit? I cannot work out why he's not playing. The guy is class.
Mata is quality I agree. Such a shame that there is zero chance that Chelsea would sell to us. Hopefully Lamela will sign today, it will be nice to get another big signing in before the weekend.
Fair play if you like that kind of match Notso, each to their own, but I thought it was a dreadful match. So boring. I like football to be entertaining and that most definitely wasn't.
I hope Mata forces a transfer from Chavs, because he is utterly wasted with them. Buying Willian for £32m when they already have Mata is an insult to him and he should feel properly offended. Think how well he would flourish in our squad! As for Torres, I would put money on Mourhino having been told what every other puppet-manager of Chavs has been told - play him or get sacked. I've said it before and it is worth repeating that there is absolutely no way that Mad Dog will want to be shown up for the complete and utter muppet he is for having spent £50m on a donkey.
But of course Torres will score at some point and all the "pundits" will ask the question, as they do every (yawn) time, whether he has now rediscovered his form. Er... no.
