The arrival of Mourinho at Tottenham was met by some fans with what can only be described as a campaign of blind suspicion, with sceptics picking and choosing anything they might lay their hands on from the serial winner’s decades of success that could be fashioned in order to debase him.
The front runner in this baseless abuse was undoubtedly that José would soon be at loggerheads with Daniel Levy over transfer money, After all, the Portuguese had more or less always been used to spending absolute fortunes on whomever he wanted. That would all end at Spurs.
Fast forward to the Special One’s first big window, and all the Mourinho signings were inexpensive and precisely what was required to improve the side. Daniel Levy appeared in the All Or Nothing documentary without a black eye, and José was even in great humour when being chewed out by the disgruntled Danny Rose. None of the forecasted dark skies materialised. The scuffle never happened.
Instead, the gaffer did precisely what any rational person might have expected. Football isn’t about ‘faith’ or ‘philosophy’ or any other crazy mumbo jumbo, it’s about recruiting the best people and supporting them – or as José calls it, ‘courage’.
I haven’t seen enough of Rodon to make a valued judgement. The mere fact Jose hasn’t played him has me reading between the lines that he hasn’t done enough to show he should start, unlike Reggie. He did ok today with safety in numbers to help him, but he nearly cost us and that comes from experience, which was my point. To ask a young lad with little experience of the big games is a lot to ask. I would have preferred a CB who had experience of playing against big teams where concentration and quality is needed every second of the game. I wasn’t one of the detractors on Watkins. I’d have taken him for sure, but would Levy have paid to fee?
I wasn’t expecting to sign Jota, my point was that the top teams pay more money for ready to go players. He was out of our league. Doherty for me is a right wing back, he has found playing in Jose’s formation difficult. That is worrying for a player many thought highly of.
Any improvement on a signing is welcomed, like Tanguy, but I want them to play from minute one when they have a big price tag. He hasn’t fully convinced me yet, but he is getting better. He threw some nice turns in today but his passing was poor. I would like to think that after 10 games he would be fit by now, same with Bale. He is no Raphael VDV is he? I have been disappointed by Bale and his contribution so far. Jose can’t be impressed either.
We got Hojbjerg cheap because of his contract, I’ll take that. He would have been a £30m player at least with 2 years on a contract, but he was a good signing. I would have rather had Phillips from Leeds, but he wouldn’t have left. I still would love him to play alongside Hojbjerg, that would be a great pairing.
As for the lesser cups, I just don’t want a repeat of George Graham. He won the League Cup, but it didn’t move us on as a club. Winning a trophy has to be followed by more. Fergie won the FA Cup when it still was held in high regard, before he binned it off/forced by the FA for the World Club Cup. But, a Cup is better than no Cup.
4 pts from City and Chelsea on the face of it is encouraging, definitely top 4 form. We’ll have to wait every week to see what we are capable of because this league is so open. Jose was 45m from the sack again today!
Out of our budget in the summer we had too many positions to fill to be able to throw £45m on someone like Jota,who has been a fine signing.You seem to have already made your mind up on Rodon who has excelled at every level he has played at so far.I wanted Spurs to sign Watkins from Brentford but people said the same thing as you are saying about Vinicius,not ready maybe in a couple of years time. We went down the same path as Hojbjerg bringing in Doherty PL ready now he is also being being questioned over his performances. I agree we would struggle if we had to play in the CL & PL with a full strength team twice in a week,were we are getting away with a weakened version in the EL. Our players bought into Poch’s idea of the lesser cups weren’t important,not anymore Jose has instilled the sense that winning every game is important and so it should be,Fergie,Jose and Pep if I am right started off by winning the lesser cups before winning the bigger prizes.I didn’t care if N’dombele left last summer as I was so disappointed with his general attitude and performances but I think he has turned everything round is happy at Spurs and although still has fitness doubts has won me over.
Wot a stupid khunt you are
You’ve missed the point. Replacements are by definition not going to be as good as the starters, but their quality underpins the success of the team. We only missed 4th by 7 points last season. When Kane and Son were out we needed our replacements to fill in and show some quality. They didn’t. Irrespective of whether Kane and Son are on fire who do we have to fill their boots? As a fan, and seeing what happened to Kane last season and the season before that, I want a quality replacement now. There is little point in Vinicius doing well in 2 years time is there, especially if Kane packs his bags? Similar to Ndombele, who is doing ok now (and only ok) but we needed him to step up last season. I think everyone on here stated we needed back up for CB last year too. Buying Rodon looks to be another buy for the future and suggesting Toby wouldn’t get his place back nearly made me fall off my chair. Toby is the best we have, simples.
In reference to other teams I totally agree about the Leicester’s and Everton’s of this world. The former showed a massive drop in form last season because of the same problems we have, a distinct lack of quality back up. Their fans are shouting the same things we are because with 3 of their starting back 4 missing they got made to look very average by Liverpool.
As for Liverpool, Phillips is their 5th choice CB, possibly 6th if you count Rhys Williams. That shows a certain strength in depth (hence why they win trophies), highlighted because they are having an atrocious run of injuries. They are still top with injuries already this season to Alisson, Trent, VVD, Gomez, Fabinho, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Henderson and Alcantara. Jota at £45m looks to be a bargain and he was ready to go in the EPL, not one for the future. There lies the difference, look at Hojbjerg. He fitted in straight away, that’s the model we should follow if we want to win trophies. What we have in our favour is that in the Europa Lg we have been able to play our replacements because the competition is so weak, just like the Carabao Cup. Klopp has the same mentality as Poch when it comes to the lesser cups, he doesn’t care for them.
Winning is winning, obviously ffs!
My point is, teams who have more of the ball WILL end up winning the game MOST of the time not the other way round. Jose obviously has a formula which means more often than not you let the opponent have the ball more.
So, given a choice of winning the way most top teams do, ie bossing possession, more equal possession AND winning i’d much that. Because that’s the kind of football in line with our identity as a club.
However, if we are winning i’m not going to complain about the winning aspect am I? When have I done that? Don’t talk sh*te.
Citeh, Liverpool, Bayern have been winning big playing with possession, good teams play with possession far more than without.
Yes we are winning but the approach is the exception rather than the rule, Played at a club that doesn’t usually associate itself with this kind of thing.
Low possession and winning are not mutually exclusive, if anyone is trying to spin this myth to excuse Jose’s approach to me or anyone else, they’d better find someone else thick enough to accept such nonsense.
If we win the game today like we did against City i’ll Be happy because it’s a crunch match and I accept that Jose does it that way. If we lose, I’ll be f*cking embarrassed by it…
We are playing Jose’s way well right now and I want it to continue because he’s our manager and I want us to win. But only if it continues to bring results.
There is no East Stand to which I refer anymore, it was demolished along with other aspects of our traditions. Seems that there are a number of our fans that are willing to turn their backs on these long held values for short term gain. More of that later…
Is there any truth in the rumour that if we win the title this season The East stand is to be renamed in his honour and called The “Jose Mourinho Stand”
All this is great, I haven’t said that it isn’t have I? 😂
Because that’s how Jose likes to play. Liverpool bossed possession in almost every game last season and were way better than everyone else as well as being great to watch.
Suddenly Jose’s low-block etc is the only way to win stuff? What complete and utter b*llocks…
So more possession now means you’re more likely to lose?! Ffs, heard it all now… 😂
Rodon & Vinicius have hardly played 5 mins yet in the PL and can’t be judged.Who knows if Rodon is the dogs boll##ks Toby might not get his place back. Every team in the PL has the same problems as you suggest we have at Spurs. Jesus is no Augero,Philips is no Van Dijk,who replaces Vardy .We are seeing Liverpool struggling with injuries and the replacements are not at the same level. How can we have someone to replace Kane he is at the minute irreplaceable,no top striker in Europe wants to sit on the bench if Kane starts every game.Last season we didn’t have a back up striker at all,Vinicius could go on to be a star at Spurs given the chance,he was the best we could get with the limited budget available when bringing in 7 new faces. From where we where 12 months ago struggling in the bottom half of the table to where we are now challenging at the top with only over £60m nett spend and Jose hasn’t had a full season.We may not have our strongest 11 in recent times but we do have our strongest squad in years.Spurs are favourites to win the EL, second favourites to win the Carabeo cup and third favourites to win the PL. We have no Devine right to win a cup or finish in the top four but we are on track heading in the right direction all in all.
I’m happy with where we are, I’m ‘on board’ while we are winning. Not sure what you require other than utter devotion to Jose. 🤔 😂
Not poor defending?
Reggie and Hojbjerg have done the business. The rest are a bit ‘meh’ for me. No matter how good Aurier has done this season, not one of us is entirely convinced he can be trusted. Right Back and Centre Firework is still an issue, as is Centre Half now Toby is out. Rodon and Tanganga lack the experience, Sanchez is a liability and Dier needs Toby to marshall him. Davies, Sanchez, Winks, Alli, Doherty, Vinicius, Moura, Bergwijn and Bale are Europa League standard at the moment and 4 of those came under Mourinho. It is the same old story. We don’t have true strength in depth. Who can we trust to replace Toby, Son, Hojbjerg or Kane? We have replacements who are not up to the job. That job isn’t to get top 4, it is to win trophies.
Amen to that!
No true THFC fan wants to hear ridiculous, unnecessary, unwarranted, bitching negativity when it’s clear to see the whole squad are revelling in how they’re performing, with growing confidence & a winning mentality.
Long may it continue.
What is not being taken into consideration is, when we added those players in the summer, many took it that there is a first eleven and a so called second eleven, I don’t think so.
Due to the almost inhumane amount of games this club has been forced to endure and is continuing to have to play for some time yet, the squad has never been so important as it is right now.
Yes there are favourites who will be first choice normally, but even they shall require rest , Mourinho has already shown he will favour fresher players to those who have played more recent, so I don’t see a first eleven at all.
And they scored more!
The cream of the fkin stupids he is. The sad thing is he wants to be right
Yeah it’s between Bale and Lucas, Bale should by rights be miles ahead but he’s still finding his feet. Stevie B isn’t there yet.
I havent got a online bookies account on my phone but after 30 mins i was up for putting £20 on us keeping a clean sheet.
For the first time EVER.
No 3 is the tightest for me i dont think anyone will nail down that spot .
Defo Aurier for me on current form and if Rondon turns out to be the next Rio Ferdinand then the transfer over summer will look even better.
Man City had the possession against us but we looked the team possessed to win.
1. Aurier
2. Rodon
3. Bale
But it’s close, which is brilliant.
Possession lost us the game 4-2 against Chelsea.
Top team in London and 7 points and 11 places ahead of the gooners.
Three positions up for grabs for tomorrow ? (1) RB Aurier/Doherty (2) CB Rodon/Tanganga/Sanchez. (3) RW Moura/Bale/Bergwijn. Lloris,Reguilon,Dier,Sissoko,Hojbjerg,N’dombele,Kane & Son
OMFG, give it a rest!
As it stands –
Top of PL.
2nd highest goals scored.
Conceded fewest goals.
Unbeaten in 8 PL matches.
Possession stats mean nor win you f*** all, WINNING does!
& yes, you’ve made it clear you’d “rather see a 3-3 draw than THFC winning 1-0” (pretty & reckless v by any means) – but a losers mentality is not what José or THFC are about.
The dark skies haven’t materialised yet and while things are going well I doubt they will. If Jose gets us close but not over the line then no doubt he will feel he needs more than what he’s already been given. Which is when things might get interesting.
So far so good though, apart the from 25% possession of the football…