Manchester United

Mourinho doesn't necessarily play defensive football. He is very cautious in big games but his sides are often capable of relentless direct attacks. His Real side broke the la liga scoring record, and the first half of last season Chelsea were anything but defensive.

He doesn't play tiki taka but that doesn't mean his sides are boring to watch.

He's a defensive specialist though, of that there is no doubt. By all accounts he is a very good planner, an excellent analyst of the opposition, and a great motivator of his players (aside from last season with Chelsea it seems). 

However I don't believe he has much ability at getting a team to gel and play good attacking football. When his teams are scoring goals, it's usually down to him getting the best out of technically brilliant (and expensive) individuals, rather than any team dynamic he might have trained into them. 

He's pretty amazing to be fair. 66% win rate as a manager and it's built on an organised defence, pulling apart an oppositions game plan and then making sure he has quality attackers to finish the limited chances his team creates. 

Yep that's pretty much what I said...

Just not the amazing bit because I hate him with a passion ;)

I think his record speaks for itself.

 Porto             2002/03       73 goals. 2nd most goals in the league

Porto              2003/04       63 goals  Most in the league

Chelsea         2004/05       72 goals  2nd most in the league

Chelsea         2005/06       72 goals  Most in the league

Chelsea        2006/07       64goals  2nd most in the league

Inter               2008/09       70 goals Most in the league

Inter               2009/10       75 goals Most in the league

Real Madrid  2010/11        102 goals Most in the league

Real Madrid   2011/12       121 goals Most in the league and a La Liga record

Real Madrid   2012/13       102 goals 2nd most in the league

Chelsea         2013/14       71 goals  3rd most in the league. First time he is not in top 2

Chelsea         2014/15       73 goals  2nd most in the league.

I think that Real Madrid La Liga record is pretty telling. The fact that no other side has ever done better than that, when you look at some of the players they had (The galacticos, Barca's MSN frontline for instance), is especially impressive. Look at the other managers who have managed Barcaa and RM too.

He's a horrible person and his teams can shut up shop in the most cynical way imaginable but that isn't their usual approach. I think it just gets more attention because it is how he plays in big games, and because people want to bag him for being an awful person. 

2015/16?

You are pretty bright.     Those mentioned are full seasons.

This is exactly what I'm getting at - it's individuals and his ability to motivate them.

I don't see his teams playing great attacking team football, at all - I just see world class players delivering world class performances, thanks to Mourinho's ability at motivating them to perform to the best of their ability.

Working with an attacking unit to develop them into a possession-based, cohesive, attacking force is not his thing, and never will be. He will get goals and lots of them, but not by doing that - just by motivating players who already have all the individual skill, so that they deliver. 

This isn't me bagging him at all either, I'm just trying to get across what I think his style is. As others said, he's not tika-taka, he's not about any kind of philosophy or identity, he's just about preparing extremely well, keeping clean sheets, and motivating world class attackers so that they score a lot of goals. 

I guess a good illustration of it was his comments this past season after they lost to Leicester. 

He didn't say we should've scored more goals, or our attacking play was a bit slow, or anything like that. He just said that they knew Mahrez had a good left foot and would cut inside, but they didn't defend it well, and that's why they lost. 

That really sums up his thinking of the game. Defence first, attack second. 

Scoring a bunch of goals with Benzema, Ronaldo, Isco, Bale, Di Maria, et al is not evidence that you are an attacking Manager. 

Again, this isn't a criticism, it's just discussion about his style. I don't think he gets an unfair rap over this either, I feel it's pretty obvious to all that he's predominantly a defensive Manager, despite the goal-scoring records. 

Attack wins games. Defense wins leagues. - maybe thats why he has won so much. 

And Leggys table above shows he still scores more goals than most teams in the league so i think that formula seems to work. 

I guess I think that the argument that he isn't an attacking manager is just an example of the no true Scotsman fallacy -  there's a perception he is a boring defensive manager and any evidence to the contrary just makes people shift it to "he's not a proper attacking manager". 

This isn't addressed at you personally, Paul, just a general observation. I enjoy having the debate though

But Leggy at those clubs, he had players that played for each other for the most part. United has become from being like that with Fergusson into a fractionalized team - Some of which I blame Giggs for. If the special one could reign in their egos, he might achieve something but I can see an ego war taking place in the near future. 

I agree, especially about Giggs.

Good points ConanTroutman

Hadn't thought about it that way so much

Hummels rejected Manchester United due to lack of Champions League

Looks like Mkhitarayan is done. United put this up on their website only to quickly take it down:

Seen that kind of carry on before. Doesn't always mean they have signed. Just ask Cheslea.

True, remember United announced a deal was agreed for Ramsey on their website before he signed for us. It's a good sign that it's probably close though.

I just a rumour from a Liverpool ITK who's generally pretty successful (about 70% strike rate I'd guess). 

He also has contacts at other clubs and seems to think that Pogba to United is a done deal. I promise this is not a troll and is from a source that has been reliable in the past. 

Wouldn't be surprised. The idea that players are not available and that you can't sign stars without Champions League is a bit of a myth IMO. With very few exceptions like say Messi, basically everyone is available and if you pay the clubs and players what they want they come.

I have the same feeling. Hope I am wrong as although a good player I don't think he is worth the money.

Zlatan, Mikharatayn, Pogba.

Be quite the window for Jose. 

Needs defenders too?

Luke Shaw is almost like a new signing for them now he's back into full training from that awful injury but they do look very light on the ground in defence, especially if Jose plays his game of "attack when at home, defend when away". 

Ahh yes that guy, forgot bout him

With the three new signings Bailly, Ibrahimovic and Mkhitaryan,   it goes to show that finishing in the top four means nothing.

If you have the money, are successful and have a manager with a winning mentality then top players will want to come.

There will be more players to arrive.

Pogba's agent is also Zlatan and Mikey T's agent - he's told Pogba to work with Jose for 3 years at United - be good for his development

"pulling power" lol

"money" takes less time to type, FYI ;)

I suppose if Utd were competing with another club for Pogba, they could offer more as part of the transfer fee they could recoup as training compensation.

lol

;)

The amount that goes on behind a transfer, I do wonder why we discuss it sometimes (myself included). some clubs simply won't trade with others, there's more than just a fee involved, payment plans differ and player priorities change from year to year (playing in Champs League vs more frequent first time football if chasing a Euro/World Cup spot). It's all a pissing contest and as long as teams don;t go into administration over their transfers, we should just enjoy the circus.