Taylor Swift

Rob Green having a blinder.

Perhaps I was harsh on his Porto achievement. But that was the basis on which he got this job, he inherited an excellent squad which finished 2nd and reached the Champions League semi-finals and he's had a ton of money since, so that makes him difficult to judge and leads me to suggest his achievements, while good, are not the amazing feat they're made out to be. He's won two leagues and will probably lose this one. I think we can all agree that next season will reveal a lot as I don't see him getting outrageous funds this time around while those around him will enjoy bigger transfer budgets. If he wins it again you've got to hand it to him, but if he loses it then you'd have to suggest there are people who can do a better job. I actually don't hate Mourinho as much as I used to when he first came over to England. He's a good defensive tactician but I think he (and Benitez) could take a leaf out of Ferguson and Wenger's books if they want to dominate this league consistently. I just think Mourinho's a bit overrated. I doubt we'll ever know how he'd cope in England without his fortunes, so it's all conjecture. Of course, he could quit Chelsea and apply for Roeder's job Imo, he's a great manager. Wherever he goes next, he'll probably achieve success, with or without money.

FT 1-0 Chelsea Time for the Toon!

Nearly done now. Really exciting second half imo. Spurs played well. Shame they didn't send Berbatov on earlier.

He needs to win the league back to back for a few years yet. Reason being that the money he has will always be a major factor in his team's success, how you can try and ignore that I don't know. In my book Wenger and Ferguson are world class managers. I also think Benitez is a better manager than Mourinho. I'm not ignoring the fact that he's had money. I'm just concentrating on the fact that he's actually won it twice in a row already, and his achievements with Porto cannot be dismissed by people with this same claim. I like Benitez alot and think he's one of the most tactically astute managers out there, but we'll see next season when he has the money, we'll see whether he's as good as many people make him out to be. If he doesn't win the title, I'm reviving this thread come off it. There's a world of difference between having the money, and having the money to be able to buy the competition, and not give two fucks if you end up paying millions for a Duff () buy, and especially if you don't even need to sell said shit buys. £40m will be enough to strengthen a team with the likes of Carragher, Alonso, Crouch and Gerrard, don't you think?

He needs to win the league back to back for a few years yet. Reason being that the money he has will always be a major factor in his team's success, how you can try and ignore that I don't know. In my book Wenger and Ferguson are world class managers. I also think Benitez is a better manager than Mourinho. I'm not ignoring the fact that he's had money. I'm just concentrating on the fact that he's actually won it twice in a row already, and his achievements with Porto cannot be dismissed by people with this same claim. He did win the UEFA Cup title with them, and then followed that up by winning the Champions League title. There's no disputing that. I like Benitez alot and think he's one of the most tactically astute managers out there, but we'll see next season when he has the money, we'll see whether he's as good as many people make him out to be. If he doesn't win the title, I'm reviving this thread

So what, in your opinion, would he have to do to be classified as 'world class'? And who, in your opinion, is of this 'worldly' class?

Berbatov on. Read an article a few days back, an extract from it... This should be applied to Paul Robinson. Ten fucking minutes after you shoot the ball, he'd dive down to catch it. What a tit of the highest order.

you haven't participated yet give us a situation at Chelsea where he has excelled himself as a person and made a hard decision without recourse to money or reliance on his own players? Also as a bonus, a situation that has gone against Chelsea where he hasn't come out of it looking like a complete cunt It's a lose-lose situation for him, isn't it? If he spends money and wins like he's doing, people accuse of him buying the title. If he doesn't spend the money available, people will say 'what a stupid cunt, has all that money, should buy a new LB, a new RB, a new striker etc. etc.' He's spent money, he's won. Ranieri spent nearly £100m iirc, and he didn't win. Also, his past two titles have been won by absolutely dominating the league and running away with it. Chelsea have been a cut above the rest in the past couple of seasons and Mourinho deserves enormous credit for this.

Shit keeping, have to agree. Dunno why he took all of five minutes to get down for that. Btw, Drogba's been sensational in this half.

blueyes.gif Would love for the Mourinho detractors to answer these interesting questions posed by Mr Purdi.

I think it's about time one of us brought the ridiculous amount of money he's spent into the equation. And Ferguson's outwitted him. Ranieri was sacked for finishing 2nd and making the Champions League semis. He also won a cup. I wouldn't be surprised if Mourinho ends up with the same this season. It's not his fault his club has given him money to spend. This season could still turn out to be a historic season for Chelsea btw. One cup won, in with a shout for two more and the league is not over yet. And anyways, even if his record is tainted by the amount of money he's spent, you're still disregarding what he did with Porto in the two previous seasons before he joined Chelsea.

says alot. He's won a league title in his past three seasons. f****** beat that man. With the money he's had he has nowhere to hide. You're getting on like you're shocked Chelsea won the league. Wise up. Ranieri finished 2nd in his first season under Abramovich and he's considered an average manager. Mourinho spent a load of money improving that Ranieri side. The fact that you downplay his league titles and criticize him for not winning a cup competition, a kind of competition that you yourself stated he won by going on a lucky streak the first time around is absolutely astonishing. League titles are much harder to win than cup competitions. That's why you don't have no-name clubs winning the league yet clubs who go on a 'lucky streak', like Porto, can win the Champions League.

Terry and Lampard were brilliant under Ranieri as well. Cech was a Ranieri signing. Lampard obviously wasn't brilliant enough to be the FA Writer's Player of the Year, and runner-up for the European Player of the Year as well as runner-up for the World Player of the Year while Ranieri was coaching him. Tbh, there should be no doubt that Mourinho is a great manager. The fact is, it's harder to win a title than it is to win a cup; it's about consistency and he's developed a ruthless consistency at Chelsea. He's won the title twice and contrary to popular opinion, the title race for this season isn't over. And Chelsea are also still in the Champions League, btw. PS. Where did I mention Cech? Lampard was brilliant that year under Ranieri, many would have said he was the best central midfielder in the Premier League that season. Many also said Terry was the best central defender that season. I don't listen to the player awards, Cannavaro was named world player of the year a few months ago! Chelsea are about to lose the title to a team which plays better football under a better manager. Mourinho is a very good manager but he isn't a world class manager. You're talking about the year Arsenal went undefeated, am I correct? The season where Patrick Vieira and co dominated almost every game they played. Lampard wasn't the best central midfielder that season, and neither was John Terry the best central defender. Honestly, Mourinho is a great manager and his RESULTS have consistently proven this FACT.

Terry and Lampard were brilliant under Ranieri as well. Cech was a Ranieri signing. Lampard obviously wasn't brilliant enough to be the FA Writer's Player of the Year, and runner-up for the European Player of the Year as well as runner-up for the World Player of the Year while Ranieri was coaching him. Tbh, there should be no doubt that Mourinho is a great manager. The fact is, it's harder to win a title than it is to win a cup; it's about consistency and he's developed a ruthless consistency at Chelsea. He's won the title twice and contrary to popular opinion, the title race for this season isn't over. And Chelsea are also still in the Champions League, btw. Lampard is one of the most over rated players (particularly by himself) I've ever encountered. He is decent, handy but he's also shit. And a complete prick. Just because he's shit for England doesn't mean he's shit for Chelsea. Being a great manager is about designing a system that draws out the best in your players and hiding their weaknesses. By no means am I saying Lampard is a great player, but there's no doubting the fact that he excels in the system that Mourinho designed and the fact that his goals have been an instrumental part of why Chelsea are the reigning two-time Premiership champions.

Tbh, the fact that one of the people criticizing him actually stated says alot. He's won a league title in his past three seasons. Fucking beat that man.

Terry and Lampard were brilliant under Ranieri as well. Cech was a Ranieri signing. Lampard obviously wasn't brilliant enough to be the FA Writer's Player of the Year, and runner-up for the European Player of the Year as well as runner-up for the World Player of the Year while Ranieri was coaching him. Tbh, there should be no doubt that Mourinho is a great manager. The fact is, it's harder to win a title than it is to win a cup; it's about consistency and he's developed a ruthless consistency at Chelsea. He's won the title twice and contrary to popular opinion, the title race for this season isn't over. And Chelsea are also still in the Champions League, btw. PS. Where did I mention Cech?

And to add, for anyone who will argue that the Chelsea team for the past few seasons hasn't been tested (except this season), well, you can only beat what's in front of you.

I rate Cole higher than I do Robben (the lazy tit). He's much more effective and efficient now. Not a ball-hogger who can produce a moment of brilliance once every 5 or so games, but someone who can be depended on to contribute to their attacking system (a system which works very well albeit is pretty ugly).

Can't believe some are actually agreeing with Vic. An argument could be made if all he has achieved was achieved at Chelsea. It wasn't therefore this argument is shit. How did he take a team like Porto, lead them to a UEFA Cup triumph in one season then the next, lead them to the Champions League title, beating along the way clubs like Manyoo and Chelsea. Clubs like Chelsea, whom at the time was managed by a rated Claudio Ranieri, a club that had limitless money to spend, just like they do today. He's a brilliant manager. It also shows in the fact that Lampard, Cole (Joe), Terry and Drogba have developed as players.

Chelsea v Spurs starting in 40 mins. Hope it's a cracking game like the FA Cup one. Also hope Spurs get thrashed

To be fair NE5, even though one can see that Macbeth does try to put the club in a bad light in the finances page, there's no doubt that we should be worried about the turnover/wages ratio. It's just not sustainable.

He only won the title with Lazio because he spent shit loads on Crespo, Mendieta etc. Other than that triumph, his record is nothing spectacular and thus, it'd be more worth it to take a risk with someone who isn't going to demand a lot of money from the club to work. Someone young and promising. Really? Winning the UEFA-cup in 1982 with a SWEDISH team, winning the portuguese league two years in a row with Benfica and finnishing second in the UEFA-cup the year after, winning the Italian cup with Roma and Fiorentina, twice with Lazio and the Cupwinnerscup with Lazio. Decent record IMO. Don't think we can get a manager who has won more than him, tbh. The Italian Cup is the equivalent, maybe even worse than, the League Cup in England. Doesn't say much. And I already told you about Lazio and how he spent shit loads, why are you bringing it up again? He won't get to spend millions here. The only notable thing he's done is win the UEFA Cup with IFK Goteborg and getting Benfica somewhere in Europe, a brilliant achievement I'll admit. However, that's it really. You can make a case for quite a few managers based on a couple of titles here and there. And he'll command extremely high wages and money to spend, which is exactly why we'd be better off looking elsewhere.

He only won the title with Lazio because he spent shit loads on Crespo, Mendieta etc. Other than that triumph, his record is nothing spectacular and thus, it'd be more worth it to take a risk with someone who isn't going to demand a lot of money from the club to work. Someone young and promising.