Jose Mourinho (Boxing day is almost upon us)
December 24, 2015 8:35 AM Subscribe
"Jose Mourinho - the manager, his methods and why it always goes wrong in the third season."
The Blizzard with a 12,000 word essay on The Special One.
Part One. Part Two.
Also a long read from a few years ago about Jose, Real Madrid, and the Spanish National team: The Assassination Of Iker Casillas By The Coward José Mourinho
David Squires weighs in.
That is your problem, 'Cesl'. You don't think.
posted by TheWhiteSkull at 8:59 AM on December 24, 2015
That is your problem, 'Cesl'. You don't think.
posted by TheWhiteSkull at 8:59 AM on December 24, 2015
That Blizzard piece (by Jonathan Wilson—credit the author!) is excellent; it's very long, and I confess I skimmed a fair amount, but I learned a lot. Thanks for the post.
posted by languagehat at 9:30 AM on December 24, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by languagehat at 9:30 AM on December 24, 2015 [1 favorite]
A collection of problems have conspired to cost Jose his job.
His father having a stroke and subsequent surgeries has taken a mental toll, and Jose lives on his mental toughness. That loss of mental strength then reflected upon the players, who at times this season have looked like they just give up after 20 minutes, content to just play the ball around the back and occasionally get dispossessed in the midfield. I'm looking at you, Cesc.
The transfer window didn't improve the team at all, during a time when every other team around them is adding talent, even the smaller teams. Diego Costa's showdown with Vardy was particularly funny to see. My only guess as to what Vardy yelled at him is, "Abramovich is going to pay more for me, mate!" Losing Petr Cech was clearly a big blow, even with as good as Courtois is.
John Terry just doesn't give a shit anymore.
Ivanovich has lost a step, and Cahill, Zouma, and Azpi are getting beat by the simplest of plays. The Mourinho style of grinding out 1-0 wins is really tough when you're conceding crap goals all the time.
Having said all that, it will be interesting to see where Jose winds up. I don't think it'll be at United, even if Van Gaal gets sacked after this coming Saturday's loss at Stoke. Maybe Sunil Gulati needs to give him a call, make Jurgen the technical director and Jose the coach. How much more American can you get than a German TD, a Portuguese coach, taking care of players who were born in Norway, Mexico, Germany, Brazil, Texas, and Hawaii?
posted by mark242 at 10:06 AM on December 24, 2015 [3 favorites]
His father having a stroke and subsequent surgeries has taken a mental toll, and Jose lives on his mental toughness. That loss of mental strength then reflected upon the players, who at times this season have looked like they just give up after 20 minutes, content to just play the ball around the back and occasionally get dispossessed in the midfield. I'm looking at you, Cesc.
The transfer window didn't improve the team at all, during a time when every other team around them is adding talent, even the smaller teams. Diego Costa's showdown with Vardy was particularly funny to see. My only guess as to what Vardy yelled at him is, "Abramovich is going to pay more for me, mate!" Losing Petr Cech was clearly a big blow, even with as good as Courtois is.
John Terry just doesn't give a shit anymore.
Ivanovich has lost a step, and Cahill, Zouma, and Azpi are getting beat by the simplest of plays. The Mourinho style of grinding out 1-0 wins is really tough when you're conceding crap goals all the time.
Having said all that, it will be interesting to see where Jose winds up. I don't think it'll be at United, even if Van Gaal gets sacked after this coming Saturday's loss at Stoke. Maybe Sunil Gulati needs to give him a call, make Jurgen the technical director and Jose the coach. How much more American can you get than a German TD, a Portuguese coach, taking care of players who were born in Norway, Mexico, Germany, Brazil, Texas, and Hawaii?
posted by mark242 at 10:06 AM on December 24, 2015 [3 favorites]
As weird as it might sound, I think Mourinho has worked better when he's a relative underdog: Porto and Inter (sure, national powerhouses, but Porto was on terrible a drought and Inter under Mancini failed in Europe) and his first stint at Chelsea. Which is why his personality seems to sour people after a couple of seasons turning the underdogs into favourites.
posted by lmfsilva at 10:15 AM on December 24, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by lmfsilva at 10:15 AM on December 24, 2015 [1 favorite]
As weird as it might sound, I think Mourinho has worked better when he's a relative underdog:
He explicitly said he wanted to set up a legacy at Chelsea with his second management stint. So despite all the riches and success during his overall career, he has now indisputably failed for the first time in his life and that is why he now looks so confused, hunted, and haggard. And if you live in London, his embodiment of soulless gleaming oligarch billionairism means that any change at the top of a football team, bank, or government is just 'meh'.
posted by colie at 10:31 AM on December 24, 2015
He explicitly said he wanted to set up a legacy at Chelsea with his second management stint. So despite all the riches and success during his overall career, he has now indisputably failed for the first time in his life and that is why he now looks so confused, hunted, and haggard. And if you live in London, his embodiment of soulless gleaming oligarch billionairism means that any change at the top of a football team, bank, or government is just 'meh'.
posted by colie at 10:31 AM on December 24, 2015
he wanted to set up a legacy at Chelsea
He had to change his ways to accomplish that. One thing that I think has been an influence on his decisions was revenge. Porto because Benfica kicked him out. Real because Barcelona snubbed him. "Setting up a legacy" seems a payback to Utd picking Moyes over him - he wanted to show them they'd wither as he became Chelsea's Sir Alex. Of course, going to Utd now to stick it to Chelsea wouldn't be surprising at all.
posted by lmfsilva at 10:52 AM on December 24, 2015
He had to change his ways to accomplish that. One thing that I think has been an influence on his decisions was revenge. Porto because Benfica kicked him out. Real because Barcelona snubbed him. "Setting up a legacy" seems a payback to Utd picking Moyes over him - he wanted to show them they'd wither as he became Chelsea's Sir Alex. Of course, going to Utd now to stick it to Chelsea wouldn't be surprising at all.
posted by lmfsilva at 10:52 AM on December 24, 2015
Whenever I am having a bad day, I just pull up the gif of Wenger shoving Mourinho. Such a tonic!
posted by Dr. Zira at 11:21 AM on December 24, 2015 [4 favorites]
posted by Dr. Zira at 11:21 AM on December 24, 2015 [4 favorites]
This NY Red Bulls season ticket holder knew something seriously wrong was afoot when i watched what was, in essence, NYRB II, the lower division/substitute team beat the defending BPL champions this summer.
The match was set up by the fact that the Red Bulls used their best players in a doomed effort against the Philly Union the day before, and apparently the MLS collective bargaining agreement (and common sense) preclude players from competing in back-to-back days.
The highlight of the unexpected spanking was when a 16 year old academy product who still wears braces scored his first-ever senior team goal against the mighty Chelsea.
Thanks for the links about a fascinating character, but im still not entirely convinced that being embarassed by a bunch of third-division yanks didn't precipitate the disaster that has been chelsea's 2015-2016 Premiership campaign.
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 11:51 AM on December 24, 2015
The match was set up by the fact that the Red Bulls used their best players in a doomed effort against the Philly Union the day before, and apparently the MLS collective bargaining agreement (and common sense) preclude players from competing in back-to-back days.
The highlight of the unexpected spanking was when a 16 year old academy product who still wears braces scored his first-ever senior team goal against the mighty Chelsea.
Thanks for the links about a fascinating character, but im still not entirely convinced that being embarassed by a bunch of third-division yanks didn't precipitate the disaster that has been chelsea's 2015-2016 Premiership campaign.
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 11:51 AM on December 24, 2015
That linked article on San Iker. Wow. Off to read the excellent Jonathan Wilson now. Thanks for the post!
posted by persona au gratin at 12:16 PM on December 24, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by persona au gratin at 12:16 PM on December 24, 2015 [1 favorite]
Off to read the excellent Jonathan Wilson now.
Wilson's great, and the linked article is well-written, but I'm starting to feel like he's just writing the same thing over and over and over again. (Spoiler: the OP includes the Helenio Herrera quote about how "[t]he third season is always fatal".)
posted by asterix at 12:20 PM on December 24, 2015
Wilson's great, and the linked article is well-written, but I'm starting to feel like he's just writing the same thing over and over and over again. (Spoiler: the OP includes the Helenio Herrera quote about how "[t]he third season is always fatal".)
posted by asterix at 12:20 PM on December 24, 2015
The extent of my football investment reaches to watching the odd PL match on NBC Sports and the odd USM/WNT match on whatever station has the rights at that particular instant. 'S'about it. I'm a definite admirer of the beautiful game but don't have a deep emotional investment in it.
Watching the Jose Mourinho WWE-grade soap opera is fabulous to me. It's just so much fun. I have sympathy for all of the players/clubs/fans/leagues who get swept up in his reality distortion field, but my lord are his antics ever entertaining.
posted by the painkiller at 1:32 PM on December 24, 2015 [1 favorite]
Watching the Jose Mourinho WWE-grade soap opera is fabulous to me. It's just so much fun. I have sympathy for all of the players/clubs/fans/leagues who get swept up in his reality distortion field, but my lord are his antics ever entertaining.
posted by the painkiller at 1:32 PM on December 24, 2015 [1 favorite]
My own personal pet theory is that Mourinho has inhabited the persona of professional arsehole for so long that he has become the persona.
He has always railed against the world, blaming all and sundry for every failure. The difference this season is that he's started blaming people who work for him instead of the league, the media etc. You can't play "us against the world" when you're throwing your own guys under the bus.
posted by Jakey at 3:01 PM on December 24, 2015
He has always railed against the world, blaming all and sundry for every failure. The difference this season is that he's started blaming people who work for him instead of the league, the media etc. You can't play "us against the world" when you're throwing your own guys under the bus.
posted by Jakey at 3:01 PM on December 24, 2015
He shows all the signs of being narcissistic.
posted by dhruva at 3:04 PM on December 24, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by dhruva at 3:04 PM on December 24, 2015 [1 favorite]
Yeah, he seems like he needs to manufacture drama in cases where none exists in order to get himself (or his team) motivated to play. Which works in the short term. But just like dating a narcissist… eventually people want to get off the rollercoaster.
It’s strange, because by several accounts he’s a master tactician and espouses a consistent footballing philosophy. If you could make a manager that just had that aspect of Mourinho, I wonder if that guy would stake out a Wenger-esque tenure at one club instead.
posted by savetheclocktower at 3:49 PM on December 24, 2015
It’s strange, because by several accounts he’s a master tactician and espouses a consistent footballing philosophy. If you could make a manager that just had that aspect of Mourinho, I wonder if that guy would stake out a Wenger-esque tenure at one club instead.
posted by savetheclocktower at 3:49 PM on December 24, 2015
Yeah, he seems like he needs to manufacture drama in cases where none exists in order to get himself (or his team) motivated to play. Which works in the short term.
Well, I mean, it's not like playing in a Mourinho team is going to be fun; his setup is always about discipline and rigidity and fear. There's no joy in his teams. And when you've got no intrinsic motivation, you've gotta look elsewhere.
posted by asterix at 4:35 PM on December 24, 2015
Well, I mean, it's not like playing in a Mourinho team is going to be fun; his setup is always about discipline and rigidity and fear. There's no joy in his teams. And when you've got no intrinsic motivation, you've gotta look elsewhere.
posted by asterix at 4:35 PM on December 24, 2015
As a Liverpool fan, with all the problems we have had lately. let me just say hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha.
posted by marienbad at 5:05 PM on December 24, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by marienbad at 5:05 PM on December 24, 2015 [2 favorites]
No, not terrible, the other thing. Hilarious.
posted by fullerine at 5:38 PM on December 24, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by fullerine at 5:38 PM on December 24, 2015 [1 favorite]
Y'know, I'd never really seen managers as likeable or cuddly but what a bunch of hypocritical arseholes in those articles. Mourinho with the eye gouge. Van Gaal: "My philosophy is always – because I believe we must entertain the public – to have attacking play." - yup, coming through loud and clear at ManU this year. Miserable lot.
posted by N-stoff at 6:09 PM on December 24, 2015
posted by N-stoff at 6:09 PM on December 24, 2015
I think ultimately it's a mistake for Chelsea to have sacked Mourinho. There is no universe they come back to win the league from here and European qualification is a large doubt but Chelsea are far too good to be relegated. Helping Mourinho through this might've been the thing that allowed him to turn the corner to empire builder. He's been petulant but he's 52 which mean way more left in the tank than your Van Gaals, and Pellegrinis. I can't believe Pep is only 44, that's a year older than Zidane. He'll manage everyone there is if he keeps burning through clubs at this clip.
I'm tired of the managerial merry-go-round. (Here's hoping Klopp stays for a decade)
posted by 27kjmm at 9:29 PM on December 24, 2015
I'm tired of the managerial merry-go-round. (Here's hoping Klopp stays for a decade)
posted by 27kjmm at 9:29 PM on December 24, 2015
I hope Klopp stays, too. Chelsea should hire Blatter. And ManU Giggs.
posted by persona au gratin at 11:22 PM on December 24, 2015
posted by persona au gratin at 11:22 PM on December 24, 2015
I hope Klopp stays, too. Chelsea should hire Blatter. And ManU Giggs.
I'm trying to work out if 'Blatter' is a typo there (for Pep?), or if this is actually a genius comment implying that Blatter and Abramovich are matched in corruption, or something :D.
Giggs I'm not sure about - given the choice of an ex-player I feel like Citizen Neville is probably more tactically astute, plus I like the shop steward thing he's got going on, like Fergie had.
posted by Pink Frost at 12:10 AM on December 25, 2015
I'm trying to work out if 'Blatter' is a typo there (for Pep?), or if this is actually a genius comment implying that Blatter and Abramovich are matched in corruption, or something :D.
Giggs I'm not sure about - given the choice of an ex-player I feel like Citizen Neville is probably more tactically astute, plus I like the shop steward thing he's got going on, like Fergie had.
posted by Pink Frost at 12:10 AM on December 25, 2015
I wonder what was Depay thinking. Then again, the answer might be "nothing", as usual.
posted by lmfsilva at 10:29 AM on December 26, 2015
posted by lmfsilva at 10:29 AM on December 26, 2015
I have been enjoying Mourinho's season so very much and it was a shame to see him go. I am simply hoping LVG is going to step in and have the longevity to make it through while maintaining my levels of happiness.
posted by biffa at 3:48 PM on December 26, 2015
posted by biffa at 3:48 PM on December 26, 2015
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posted by colie at 8:43 AM on December 24, 2015