Style of play

Auto why did you filter me anyway? You write as if you can hold your own...

comment by Bales (U22081)
posted 4 minutes ago
comment by Diamondlights (U20501)
posted 1 hour, 31 minutes ago
Yes to a certain extent...... I suspect the 2 can be achieved with the right type of players. I know Jose has a certain stigma about the type of football he plays but that's a little unfair..... He played some good stuff at Porto, Chelsea and Madrid. At Inter he benefited from the defensive style of the Italian game.... Granted, United were a mess.

At Spurs, I fully expect him make us improve defensively in time and to be fair we are in transition as Jan & Toby have got older and our best FBs have left. The simple truth is that our CM is so weak (Winks and Sissoko) and their ability is so limited that the ball never gets to our best attacking players in dangerous positions with the opposition out of shape.

Upgrade Winks, Sissoko, Davies and Aurier and we are not a million miles away. Holberg would make a big difference and will allow his CM partner to play much in the way Dembele used to. I have high hopes for GLC/Dele in the 10 role, we have goals and pace in wide areas and Kane up top. Spurs need to play on the front foot higher up the pitch. A proper DM will allow that to happen and two players with more ability and vision that Winks & Sissoko will bring out the best in the guys ahead of them
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Agree with most of this.

There's lots of revisionism going on, as if Jose has made us play crap football all of a sudden. Fair enough if we had Walker, Rose, Dembele, Eriksen, and a fit Wanyama in there - I'd be right on board. I know it's tiring to compare him to Poch, but we didn't play a high line or press until he'd got the players he needed to make it work. We often didn't play well, especially with Eriksen out. Yes, Jose prioritises not losing games but given the makeup of the squad and the lack of confidence they had when he took over I think it's appropriate. Also, going in to big games that will stand us in good stead to actually win something.

That said, if we do get the players in to balance out the squad and add a bit of quality and we're still rubbish & don't win anything then it'll be time for him to go. Levy clearly hired him to win trophies, if that doesn't happen he'll be off and we'll go again.

All this crying about 'it's not our style..' seems like a major flaw in our mentality. I mean, fair enough if you don't care about winning but it's been demonstrated enough times that simply playing pretty football is not enough to deliver silverware. And Kane will leave if we don't win anything.
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I think the last 5 years have showed that playing progressive football offers you a better chance of winning things than the alternative.

What are you referring to Christopher? I mean, obviously in that time Mourinho has won a trophy while we haven't.

Just to add to that, Liverpool beat us the the final by scoring early and shutting up shop. Leicester won the league in that time playing on the counter..

comment by Bales (U22081)
posted 44 seconds ago
Just to add to that, Liverpool beat us the the final by scoring early and shutting up shop. Leicester won the league in that time playing on the counter..
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The Leicester thing is a total fluke and implying that liverpool won trophies because of defensive football is pretty reductive.

The idea that negative football gives you a better chance of winning is pretty outdated, the most successful manager this decade probably plays the best football going.

There is a reason why all the top clubs are going after these high presssing, high possession, high line approaches. It's not just because it's 'pretty', it's because that's what you need to do to compete with these other top sides.

I wasn't implying anything about Liverpool. I was demonstrating how being pragmatic about playing style wins you trophies.

While pressing football is no doubt the trend right now, we can't do it with this squad. Just as Poch couldn't when he took over. I'm assuming you're making reference to Guardiola, well his City team especially relies on having the right players in place.

FYI I don't think you can put a whole season down to fluke just because it doesn't suit your argument.

I think you can absolutely call that Leicester season a fluke. I think most would.

I agree that we don't have the squad to do it right now, it's why poch lost his job. I would just rather build a squad that could than commit to a short term jose ball style.

Fair. Let's see what squad he build first then, eh?

Judge Mourinho next season, not on what amounts to a handful of pre season friendlies.