A lot of the debate about Mourinho (and about all of our managers - it was the major grumble on these boards in Fergie's final victorious seasons) comes down to whether we're playing entertaining football. Obviously, this is a subjective issue. But I think it's also a more nuanced question than the way it's often treated.
Often it gets broken down into rival camps who like 'direct' / counterattacking / reactive football, and those who like proactive / possession-based football. Some people claim that one brand is more 'attacking'. I think this is demonstrably untrue. LVG's possession-based game was cautious, using possession as a means to avoid being attacked as much as to attack. But of course there are also lots of examples of possession-based teams being very attack-orientated and willing to take risks to that end.
Conversely, we've seen reactive teams that really do park the bus and are willing not to try to attack in numbers, while Fergie vs Arsenal in the 'post-invinsible' years gives us a great example of reactive with serious attacking intent.
I personally don't think the aesthetic quality of football is precisely linked to whether it is proactive or reactive, possession-based or counter-attacking. It's to do with how well a team or an individual is able to penetrate, to get through the opposition's defensive layers. This comes down to two elements: skill and risk/caution. And here we can start to formulate more rounded judgements of our manager.
Mourinho will never be against the deployment of skill (by which I mean both players with the ability to penetrate and the collective ability of the team, using passing and movement to out-manoeuvre the opposition) to gain an advantage. If he can have a set of Galaticos, he'll use what they can offer to his advantage. I fully expect him to do what he can to improve the ability of our squad in terms of attacking penetration. It's clear that this is the thing that has let us down this year. We've defended solidly as a team, but we've failed to score goals. I think over the future Mourinho windows we're likely to see an increase in players who can beat a man, play a killer pass, and put away scoring opportunities.
The other element is risk vs caution. This isn't a question of formation or tactical model, but a question of mindset. How willing are we to take risks in order to penetrate? Here, there's a legitimate doubt about Mourinho's commitment to entertaining us. He'd certainly rather outscore a team thanks to having better players and devising a system that maximises his advantages than go out to take unnecessary risks. I think it's fair to say he's more cautious than some managers. But I think we should also look at this in a nuanced way. I think he's less risk-averse than LVG. He's more cautious than Fergie, but we shouldn't remember him as a pure footballing romantic.
He's probably no more cautious than many of the smaller teams that come to Old Trafford and sit back. Of course, many of us think he was too cautious in his approach to those games. I don't know whether that will change but I do think he'll take steps this summer to equip the squad with players who can make us cut through their lines.
attractive football
posted on 26/5/17
For me, with Jose, its a mental thing with the players. You get the feeling they are so concerned about their defensive responsibilities that this inhibits their attacking/creative flair.
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I think there is quite a lot to this. How often did we see one of our attacking players have to wait for some support on Wednesday night for example. And this has been going on for the last six weeks or so.
Valencia has had a leash put on him and support from the left back has been non existent.
posted on 26/5/17
comment by Greg- (U1192)
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Whats DOF
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director of football
posted on 26/5/17
It is professional football and trophies are. Not the name of the game. Crowd numbers TV money sponsorship is the name of the game. So you need success and entertainment. If a truly boring team keeps winning the league the product is finished.
posted on 26/5/17
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/c5/54/bf/c554bf6658542ed483260017e676d851.jpg
This is an attractive football
If you're into lesbians, anyway...
posted on 26/5/17
For me, it's rather straight forward
Jose's coaching won't bring good football.
But vast sums of money on high profile players will.
posted on 26/5/17
Winning games is much better than attractive football. Unfortunately, Jose hasn't really delivered either of them to the extent that United fans would hope he would with his reputation of winning games. He's one the EL, but it's not the be all and end all because it was like playing against Newport County's U18's really. Neither displayed great football either.
Jose can win you trophies, but he's getting players that are top class, but won't play under his style because they don't like it. It's negative. Regardless of the millions they spend this summer on Griezmann and other big names, I can't see United being much better next season, purely because of his style of play.
posted on 26/5/17
here we go
United fans now claiming attractive football isnt the way to go
cant make it up
posted on 26/5/17
Great article. We are too cautious imo, to the extent we get into good positions and have nobody in the box and too few options for .
You'll often see the likes of Herrera and Valencia stopping their runs to cover their position.
Too often we score and happily have 10 behind the ball and hope to get somebody through on the counter. It's dull.
posted on 26/5/17
Too often we score and happily have 10 behind the ball and hope to get somebody through on the counter. It's dull.
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This. And to back up the OP's point, this demonstrates that counterattacking football is not necessarily more entertaining than possession football!
Sometimes I actually groan when we score too early because I worry that the game is finished as a spectacle. I.e. Jose will set the team up to protect the lead rather than go out to kill the game. Even at OT against lesser opposition.
I am hoping that this is because he still does not have the team that he wants. We will find out next season...
posted on 26/5/17
comment by Devonshirespur (U6316)
posted 3 hours, 54 minutes ago
A very good piece OP. You are right its a complex balance of things.
The thing is, you have plenty of players who can beat a man and make the killer pass....Mata, Rashford, Mhiki, Martial, Lingard, Pogba (in theory), Herrera.
For me, with Jose, its a mental thing with the players. You get the feeling they are so concerned about their defensive responsibilities that this inhibits their attacking/creative flair.....should they take that risk and make that forward run, potentially leaving a hole defensively?? should they try that killer pass which might not work and lose possession? The great thing about watching Fergies teams was the amount of players they had in the box. When they needed a goal, and even when they didnt, thy were on the front foot, applying pressure and never scared to have several people in the box, taking a risk. Most of the top teams in the league are now like this.
One other thing I note about Jose is when the pressure is on he reverts to type, and his type is defensive, do not lose, hope the quality players shine through and win the game.
These cups will take some pressure off but next season he will be under a lot of pressure to do much better in the league, so i cannot see him suddenly becoming less risk adverse and throwing caution to the wind
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In some respects though how much of this is down to tactical analysis and Opta Stats being used now in the game. Players are less likely to take risks if they know the coaches are looking at completion rates etc. To a certain extent are the younger players having this attacking instinct almost coached out of their game at the top clubs, particularly in area's of the pitch where it makes a real difference?