I'd say that's extremely harsh, it's clear to me that since he got the sack at Chelsea he's longed to come back to the Premiership ever since pretty much making it known from the start that his tenure at Inter was only ever going to be short term likewise at Real (who like it that way anyway)
Even with last season in mind Chelsea haven't been the same side since he left and when he left he was still very young in managerial terms should you lay any blame at his door for his exit
What exactly did I say that was harsh? Was he building a young side that was going to dominate for years at Chelsea? Did he sign players for Inter, looking beyond the couple of years he planned to be there? Or at Real?
2 of Mourinho's greatest strengths are picking the right clubs to join and knowing the right time to leave.
I won't deny Mourinho's succes and I'm sure Chelsea and Inter fans are greatful for what he won them but Mourinho's not the right man for every club. In everything he says and does, it's clear he only cares about himself.
If I was picking a manager to build a side over a long period, I wouldn't look at him. If you had an open cheque book and wanted instant success, he's your man.
I agree that Mancini hasn't helped and that Tevez and/or Balotelli won't be there next season but they've still got the most talented squad in the league.
- Hart's an excellent keeper (only 2nd to Reina in the league imo) and Given's the best number 2 in the league too.
- Kompany's a fantastic CB, they do however need a partner for him but Toure & Lescott would make more than decent 3rd & 4th choice CB's.
- Zabaleta's 1 of the most underrated fullbacks around and dare I say it, Richards - after once being the most overrated fullbacks - has gone full circle and is vastly underrated now imo too. Boateng and Kolarov are both hugely talented and could very well be 2 of the best fullbacks in the league next season.
- De Jong has been excellent for them, as has Yaya Toure (he surprised me with how capable on the ball he is). Barry and Milner may not be all that good but they're certainly no worse than squad players at any other club.
- Silva's a fantastic player and Johnson has the potential to be a fantastic player. They are lacking strength in depth in the winger/attacking midfield area though.
- Tevez is fantastic, Balotelli's incredibly talented and while Dzeko has done **** all so far, he's clearly no mug.
There problem isn't a lack of talent in their squad. Their problem is the attitude of certain players (which is spreading through the squad) and the way in which Mancini is utilising them.
They have no shape or balance to their side, so much so that it's difficult to explain how they line-up. They don't play a natural 4-4-2, 4-3-3, 4-5-1 or 4-2-3-1. For some reason they only play with width on 1 side of the pitch; more often than not go into a game with 3 cm's (at best a Milner or Barry will play as a token gesture 'wide' player but effectively play as a CM), Johnson or Silva on 1 wing and then 2 forwards. It's a mess.
Imo, they should be lining up in a 4-2-3-1 formation with De Jong + 1 in the middle and then Tevez, Silva and Johnson playing off of Dzeko or Balotelli.
) and who's that dude at ?... hmm bugger I'm too tired / drunk to remember haha
Granted a lot came from Barca's crazy signing of Ibrahimovic but he spent huge money on Pandev (he wasn't free - reportedly got £10m+ signing on fee), Lucio, Milito, Muntari, Sneijder etc.
