Should Mourinho bring in a new 'attacking coach'

Raees

Pythagoras in Boots
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May 16, 2009
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It has been reported by a number of sources and books alike that Mourinho isn't a great coach of attacking football and lacks the deeper understanding to coach sophisticated patterns of play going forwards and that he basically lets the attackers do what they want while he focuses on setting up the team defensively and the midfield.

I read a book about his time at Real and the players said it was incredibly basic what they were taught and that whilst he was excellent at coaching counter attacking football when it came to facing teams which park the bus.. he was clueless.

At Chelsea it seems like players like Hazard have also confirmed such statements by saying Conte is tactically a better coach in relation to offensive situations and that they are developing a better understanding of how to deal with situations in the final third than they ever did with Jose.

Is it players being bitter? Possibly but we have seen for ourselves that we have been pretty pitiful going forwards this season. Yes it has been better than under Van Gaal, yes some of our players might not be as good as our rivals but can you hand on heart say we attack with a lot of efficiency and class.. or do we look very mechanical and cumbersome.

For me Fergie was a master at knowing his limitations and sought guidance or brought in help on areas where he felt he himself was lacking in order to give his players the support they needed. At his peak he was amazing at doing that and his assistant managers and coaches were key.

Jose seems to stick to the same coaches which have been loyal to him, which is understandable but I feel to succeed at a club like United and to convert those draws into wins, we need more than just better players but expertise on how to attack as a cohesive unit and play a brand of football which can rival the best out there.

Sometimes managers have a blind spot, and it would be better for them to put the ego to the side and call in help when it's necessary. What do you guys think?

I see people calling for a Director of football all the time but right here right now wouldn't it be more effective to maybe refresh the back room staff and add a new forwards coach or something like that?
 
Who is our forwards coach these days? Do we have any specialists like that?
 
SAF is an advocate for managers NOT running training routines. He has mentioned several times that a manager must only observe and let his assistants run the show on the pitch.

I think hiring a dedicated attack coach might be for the better. Don't know who is running the routines but i don't think there is someone known for his coaching in that field.
 
I don't know if that would work or not, but we seem to have one player who can score who thrives on getting good early ball into the box and nobody who's any good at putting a cross in. When teams park the bus and we're restricted to crossing a lot, we look particularly clueless. I think we just don't have the personnel to suit the way Mourinho likes to attack. Can we honestly say any of our wingers or full-backs can cross a ball? Maybe Blind but other than that they're all shite.
 
He should bring in a new bus driver. The old one must be pretty worn down from avoiding all the players Mourinho has tried to throw under the bus.
 
We were doing very well for a while when it came to chance creation, it was the conversion that was lacking. It's going downhill now though which is very odd. Given the sea change we saw in how well we attacked, can't say he's struggled to set us up offensively.
 
He can't possibly know everything. Every manager has a weakness and Fergie was better than most at knowing his and acting accordingly with his staff. It seems pretty clear that attacking play isn't his strong suit so something needs to change.
 
Varun said:
We were doing very well for a while when it came to chance creation, it was the conversion that was lacking. It's going downhill now though which is very odd. Given the sea change we saw in how well we attacked, can't say he's struggled to set us up offensively.
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Could it be that chance creation came from natural buzz of being liberated from under Van Gaal and signing three new attackers.

Now the buzz has worn off we look very static and under coached imo. Teams have clocked on to the way we attack I.e. Using Valencia for width.
 
Definitely think it wouldn't hurt to do it. I mean the team, can't talk for Mourinho's ego.

Also some youth development dedicated coach as well because it seems all our youth stars from last season have somehow regressed.
 
We can hire an attacking coach or we can sign a Griezmann who will score 20 goals a season like Zlatan. Our forwards and midfielders are simply not shooting well enough. Either they improve sharpish or they should be replaced. We need killers upfront who thrive on having a decent amount of freedom in the attacking third.

Unfortunately Martial, Rashford, Lingard, Fellaini and Pogba haven't converted enough chances this season. Mata, Mkhitaryan and of course Zlatan have shown enough this season to warrant a definite place in the squad for next season. The rest of them are in jeopardy of losing first team starter status to incoming signings. Maybe the only one that is assured of a starting place is Pogba as he isn't currently playing with a world class defensive midfielder and deserves the chance to do so next season before we truly judge him.

Zlatan​
Rashford Griezmann Mkhitaryan

Zlatan
Martial Mkhitaryan Griezmann

Zlatan
Mkhitaryan Griezmann Mata
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I think the combinations above will score enough goals for us to not require a new attacking coach as they have sufficient attacking nous to convert chances. Rooney needs to be replaced in the squad by a world class forward whether its a number 10 or its a winger with Mkhitaryan occupying the number 10 position.
 
I think we need to, I'm not too sure but I'm pretty sure managers aren't the ones who walk players through attacking situations, that's down to the coaches. Assuming as much, this lack of attacking cohesion is down to them. Someone on here said SAF use to implement the same style, relying on the coaches, I believe Pep and Henry said something similar too. I don't know what the issue is with our finishing but something needs to change, by bringing in an attacking coach or two, it may improve things.
 
Or you could just buy some forwards who can do what forwards are meant to do.

Put Cole, Yorke, Sheringham and Solskjaer in this squad and Jose would be a genius again.
 
JustFootballFan said:
He should bring in a new bus driver. The old one must be pretty worn down from avoiding all the players Mourinho has tried to throw under the bus.
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You tried to be funny but it failed miserably.


Anyway I think not. We just need to be more clinical in front of goal. We don't have a problem in creating chances which means our attacking play is ok although it weared of a bit recently. We need a winger,a true pacy winger who can score and put a good cross. Ana Maybe a new striker depending on Zlatan situation.
 
With the player material at hand it would be difficult for any manager. No way a Lingard should start as many matches as he has for us.
 
I see that this idea has now metastasised after being fostered dutifully for so long. Repeat something enough times and it becomes true.

I was thinking, naively, that the sheer absurdity of it would make it wither away.
 
No, he should just bring in better attackers. It's not rocket science. We get into good positions, we create good chances, however our strikers are not good enough
 
Raees said:
Could it be that chance creation came from natural buzz of being liberated from under Van Gaal and signing three new attackers.

Now the buzz has worn off we look very static and under coached imo. Teams have clocked on to the way we attack I.e. Using Valencia for width.
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Could be, change in management often results in a temporary spike. I do agree we look a bit clueless of late though.
 
I don't think it's a problem with our attackers' ability, per se.

It's a mentality problem of just seeing off games. We've probably never had greater ability at the top end of the pitch,; Ibra, Rooney, Miki, Rashford, Lingard, Mata, Rashford - we've mountains of talent. It's a mentality problem that's rife through the dressing-room since Fergie left.

It won't get better until we - as fans - chill the feck out Give a manager time to build his own mentality into the dressing-room and rub away at the looming shadow that is Fergie's ridiculous success. The mindset needs to change. Players need to play - especially inside Old Trafford with the weight of the Sir Alex ferguson stand off their shoulders. I always felt it would take 4-5 years post Fergie, but we've fecked around with so many managers that it may well know bleed into 6-7 years before we are back challenging. But one thing's for certain, success will only come once we give one manager the time to own our dressing-room and shift our mentality to his mentality.
 
Phil Jones 79 said:
No, he should just bring in better attackers. It's not rocket science. We get into good positions, we create good chances, however our strikers are not good enough
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You've got to be messing? You think the answer is we need to sign MORE players. That's the problem. Since Fergie left, we've signed a mountain of attacking players, mostly world class. Mata, Falcao, Di Maria, Martial, Ibrahimovic....you can be guaranteed that the problem is NOT that we don't have the talent.

The problem is clear; these brilliant, world-class talents are trying to live up to our - the fans - expectation that we should be winning everything every year. That's not how football works. Our expectations are insane. Fergie's gone lads. Let's get back into the real world.

I think we will make it back to the top, we are the richest club in the world, we have one of the best academies in world sport and we have one of the greatest managers in the game. But we need to chill the feck out. Relax. The answer is not in the transfer market Buying and selling and dabbling is what has us inconsistent in result. It's shocking what we have done in the transfer market over the past three summers...embarassing is what I would call it. We need to chill out. I think it's mortifying for you to say our attackers haven't ben good enough. Just look at the list of attackers we've had since Fergie's left...insane!

The problem is clearly mental. We are still trying to live up to the expectations laid down by the greatest manager of all time. Expecting our success to just roll over and continue post Fergie is delusion an a massive scale. It'll come back around for us again, but you need to relax.
 
Totally agree with OP.

I have felt the same when watching our play - that Mourinho leaves the attacking phase to the freedom and creativity of our forwards, instead of instructing them how to. It works when you have the likes of Ronaldo, Ozil, Hazard in your final third, but clearly not when your forwards are less experienced or creative.

He was looking forward to Mkhi/Mata/Zlatan creating that play for us, but only one of them has met expectations.

We absolutely need an attacking coach who understands the organizational part of affairs. Someone whose job is to solely train how to organize attacking play in the final third.

Is Carlos Quieroz done with Iran yet?
 
duffer said:
He's not changing his ways now. You gotta take the rough with the smooth with our Jose.
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Jokes aside, given you're a Chelsea fan, what exactly does he change that makes his teams so much more competitive in the second season before he has a meltdown? Is the first season just him weeding out what he does and doesn't want? His teams go from decent to unbeatable in his second season, it's very odd.
 
For all Zlatan's goals, I think he's too static and doesn't offer any threat to sneak in behind and get his head or foot to a slide pass or a cross. Lukaku can hold the ball up and get across the six yard box. A faster more mobile centre forward would do. Also, Luke Shaw or another left footed attacking full back would bring more threat down both flanks.
 
You guys are hilarious. People sitting in an office - probably working in Insurance or something - trying to tell Jose Mourinho (24 major honours in 15 years as a manager) how he should be coaching his attacking players.

Honestly guys. Get back to quoting for motor insurance renewals. Embarrassing.
 
There was a moment last night where Rashford had time from the edge of the box yet with no composure he just hit it straight down the middle at the keeper.

This is very typical and with the odd exceptions too many of our players just lack composure or clinical finishing in or around the box.
 
TheBiggest said:
You guys are hilarious. People sitting in an office - probably working in Insurance or something - trying to tell Jose Mourinho (24 major honours in 15 years as a manager) how he should be coaching his attacking players.

Honestly guys. Get back to quoting for motor insurance renewals. Embarrassing.
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Well Mourinho did start his career as a translator...
 
TheBiggest said:
You guys are hilarious. People sitting in an office - probably working in Insurance or something - trying to tell Jose Mourinho (24 major honours in 15 years as a manager) how he should be coaching his attacking players.

Honestly guys. Get back to quoting for motor insurance renewals. Embarrassing.
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Isn't this what being a fan on a football forum is about?
 
Zlatan had a bad game and its a draw as usual. Either we lack attacking practice or i personally believe we lacked the personnel up front.
 
TheBiggest said:
You guys are hilarious. People sitting in an office - probably working in Insurance or something - trying to tell Jose Mourinho (24 major honours in 15 years as a manager) how he should be coaching his attacking players.

Honestly guys. Get back to quoting for motor insurance renewals. Embarrassing.
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I'm sitting on the shitter right now if you must know
 
The simple answer is a definite Yes. It's been pretty obvious over the years that this is not one of Mourinho's strengths - nothing wrong with that as no one can be good at everything. Unlike SAF however, he doesn't know, or refuses, to put his ego aside. Seems like he prefers blaming the players instead of looking honestly at whether or not his approach needs to be adjusted.

I think an astute member of the board needs to somehow make a 'suggestion' to him along these lines. SAF for me is the only one able to deal with 'egos', so if I were Ed, I'd let SAF have a word with him.

The situation also shows you how key it is to have a good DOF instead of Ed depending on the mangers to make all football related decisions.

In any case, I'd be surprised if Jose does this. Instead, he'll get rid of players - irrespective of their talent - because he cannot properly prepare them in an attacking sense. We can only hope the replacement(s) need next to no coaching in order to score goals, because Jose's personality is not conducive to admitting he's wrong.
 
Womp said:
Jokes aside, given you're a Chelsea fan, what exactly does he change that makes his teams so much more competitive in the second season before he has a meltdown? Is the first season just him weeding out what he does and doesn't want? His teams go from decent to unbeatable in his second season, it's very odd.
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I don't think he showed much of a noticible "second season" improvement whilst at Chelsea. His 2 spells at Chelsea went like this:
First spell; Took over a team that finished 2nd, won league in his first season (95 points), won league in his second season (91 points).

Second spell; Took over a team that finished 3rd, finished 3rd in his first season (83 points), won league second season (86 points).

First spell, his second season was worse, second spell he got 3 more points. There was no real dramatic difference if you compare first and second seasons.
 
duffer said:
I don't think he showed much of a noticible "second season" improvement whilst at Chelsea. His 2 spells at Chelsea went like this:
First spell; Took over a team that finished 2nd, won league in his first season (95 points), won league in his second season (91 points).

Second spell; Took over a team that finished 3rd, finished 3rd in his first season (83 points), won league second season (86 points).

First spell, his second season was worse, second spell he got 3 more points. There was no real dramatic difference if you compare first and second seasons.
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Ah ye, the positions must of thrown me off, because I remembered him going from third to first, convincingly too. Cheers anyway
 
Personally I don't think we pull defences around enough. Opposition defences find it very easy to stay in their shape against us.

I think this is partly down to personnel; Zlatan is more of a focal point as a striker rather than a player who runs in the channels.

However, you could also say this is Mourinho's style to have a focal point in attack with two wide players. I assume his Madrid side was more fluid though as he catered to Ronaldo's strengths.
 
TheBiggest said:
You guys are hilarious. People sitting in an office - probably working in Insurance or something - trying to tell Jose Mourinho (24 major honours in 15 years as a manager) how he should be coaching his attacking players.

Honestly guys. Get back to quoting for motor insurance renewals. Embarrassing.
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Pfft, it's bank holiday. Catch on.
 
The awkward looks when three new strikers come in (e.g. Griezmann) and they all start missing chances and looking clueless.

The idea that Mourinho has no role in how wank our attack is flies in the face of everything a good manager in the past has been known for. Good managers get the best out of out poor players, mediocre players and pushes good players on to look great.

Mourinho gets away with murder on this issue. fecking train them properly.
 
Womp said:
Ah ye, the positions must of thrown me off, because I remembered him going from third to first, convincingly too. Cheers anyway
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If I`m no mistaken, Chelsea under Mourinho scored 70-75 goals every season when they became champions. So was the case with Inter. "Improvement" under him is not scoring more goals for example but how successfully you control the match and being able to kill a game after scoring 1 goal. This is the main issue we are having at the moment, we are not clinical enough so his usual philosophy.
 
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