Send your thoughts to theeditor@football365.com.
There’s a thought
If Guy S is right that Jose is a Lady Godiva tribute act, according to Wikipedia we should expect him to ride naked on a horse around Coventry
Dave, (adding to the important football debate) Winchester Spurs
The blame game
A mailbox after one of the top 6 lose is usually very intriguing. You go from valid points to wild emotional outbursts. I’m prone to them myself when watching a game. Usually I calm down and reflect honestly on my teams shortcomings.
So I read __with great amusement that some Utd fans are blaming referees and the malevolent woodwork for there falterings. And I thought Liverpool fans were supposed to be ridiculous!
Do the rest of the 19 teams in the Premier League not have to face these vindictive obstacles?
Regards,
Miguel Sanchez, LFC, Eire. (Mourinho bemoaning a lack of options is Hilarious to hear)
F*** off, United fans
Can all the disgruntled deluded Man United fans please f*ck off!
The irony of bemoaning disallowed goals, unfair refereeing decisions, near misses etc. is entirely not missed by fans of any other teams, not least Southampton.
Do you remember a certain EFL cup final? Disallowed goal, strange refereeing decisions, lots of chances missed, generally playing far better but not getting the result… which team was this?
What were United fans saying then? Quality always wins out, winning mentality is shown. Well maybe, just maybe, Koeman out thought Mourinho, and every goalie that has played well ONLY against united was just letting his quality shine through on the big occasion – sign of champions and all. Get some perspective!
Nat (Not bitter) Saints
Big club image; small club mentality
Time and time again, you see mails from those decrying bad decisions against their teams as the reason for a bad performance/league position/failing club shop.
For me, Clive, this is all pretty simple. The more your team performs badly or loses, the more these bad decisions matter- it is simply the hallmark of a losing team. Think about it, if your team wins 5-0 every week, a la Barca or Madrid, there are probably still a number of bad decisions and cross bars being hit in those games, but it doesn’t matter, because the team won 5-0.
With this in mind, it’s understandable that teams fighting relegation think the “big club bias” phenomenon inflicts them, of course they do, statistically every single miss or decision against them matters more than a team scoring goals for fun. Decisions that go for them will generally be forgotten as it has helped to gain a win or points.
What is most laughable is that it seems to be Mourinho and Mancester United fans who role out this defence most regularly at the moment, despite having near unlimited funds to create a team where; let’s face it; statistically, cross bars or bad decisions shouldn’t matter because they should be walking over most of the opposition by a large number of goals anyway.
In summary, Manchester United – big club image, small club mentality.
Mike, Chelsea Fan, London
United fans banging on about the woodwork this morning. Let’s simplify things for ya chaps…
If you hit the woodwork you have not hit the target and you will not score. If you hit the target, (and not the woodwork) you will score. It’s pretty simple stuff.
You should really look to your manager rather than moaning about ‘luck’, no wonder your players lack confidence.
Regardless of what he has won, you’re welcome to Jose. Imagine being managed by a guy like that in your job.
Nevermind though, another 300m should sort it this summer.
Paul (if my Auntie had some balls) London.
In response to the United fans pitiful bleating about the woodwork, referee and pretty much anything else for their poor performances both last night and across the season, although I am more than happy for them to delude themselves in this way I was reminded of two quotes:
“Shallow men believe in luck. Strong men believe in cause and effect.”
“We must believe in luck. For how else can we explain the success of those we don’t like?”
Matt D
London
This from Calum – “one hitting the woodwork is such a small fraction off that things entirely beyond the actual control of the player can cause it to happen, micro movements of turf, tiny deflections, change in air currents etc.” – has to be one of the best lines ever written in the mailbox.
Yes, it’s clear to me now: United’s relentless pursuit of sixth place is all down to Chaos Theory. This could only have been written by Jose Mourinho himself (or possibly Ian Malcom from Jurassic Park).
Ashley (are we already turning into the “next year will be our year” Liverpool fans?) Metcalfe
Managers and the press
Reading your piece on Jose and the Right answers but the wrong sums got me thinking, in it he commented that without the offside goal Utd would have won 2-1…but they would have would they. The result of Utd scoring that goal would have meant the rest of the game taking a different outcome and the penalty incident not taking place.
Why are managers allowed to say comment like this and the reported interviewing them not pulling them up on these things? Is it because they don’t want to upset the manager and risk them not being allowed to interview them in the future? Is it because the manager saying these things prompt more stories than actually asking the question at the time? I’m often left angered by interviews and reporters not coming back __with questions to a manager after they have said something that is not true because we have seen the evidence. Another 1 is where manager come out and say it was a definite penalty when we have seen the replays and it wasn’t, not once have I seen a reporter say “we have seen the replays and it wasn’t a peno”
Just wondered if anyone else was left annoyed by managers getting away with saying what they want without any form of being questioned about their comments
Jason Rawson
We want the Wenger in, the Wenger out, in out in out we shake him all about
Which players has Jose actually improved?
Lots of conjecture about Mourinho in the mailbox this morning and it got me thinking. Which players has he actually improved. And maybe more pertinently – which ones have regressed under his tutelage. For the latter I’d suggest Martial, Rashford, Shaw & Pogba (settling in period should be well and truly over) are having worse seasons than last year. I’d even be tempted to suggest De Gea as well. Who has got better? Maybe Fellaini. Anybody else? Therein lies the problem. He is simply not developing the players. I don’t know if it’s his coaching approach or something else however something is very wrong at Old Trafford. And full disclosure – I’m loving every minute of it!!
Banjo, Prague (MCFC)
It ain’t over
“That he could still complete that mission via alternate means should not absolve him of any blame for what is a failed Premier League campaign.”
Four points behind City with nine games to play, and five points from Liverpool and they have eight. Sure, they are favourites, but come on F365, you know it’s not over.
Zdravko
Cherry picking
Did anyone else google Bournemouth Eddie Howe breath of fresh air?
Oh you did? Thanks. I appreciate the company.
Franklin, CFC, Lagos
Other players you don’t rate
So refreshing to see insightful, interesting articles about clubs outside of the established elite. I know probably not many people read them as they don’t talk about Man United or Arsenal or Liverpool, but genuine football fans (rather than those who are only interested only in their club) will appreciate them. Well done Peter G and F365.
Also re: Stu, London and his positing on how we rate and perceive players, I agree. We do all see things differently. But we also see some things the same. It made me want to put forward my own reasons why I agree with him on Raheem Sterling.
I have nothing against the guy, and he will still have moments of exciting play which will look good on YouTube compilations, but he’s very inconsistent and erratic in his play which ultimately makes him pretty average. His defining footballing attribute is his pace. I can’t think of anything else he excels at. His technique is not good. His control is not good. His passing is not good. His decision making is not good. His finishing is not good.
It’s interesting that we have produced quite a few examples of this kind of player (very quick winger) over the years and been very excited at them as a prospect, but then they have not really kicked on in the way we have hoped. See Aaron Lennon. See Theo Walcott.
I feel if anyone can work with him to improve his game, it’s got to be Pep – and as a City fan I would love to be proved wrong. Sadly, I don’t think I will be.
Nick, Citeh fan, Epsom
Here’s to you, David Robins
Thank you to Matt Wright, Gunner in Aus for picking up on the trolls that hide under the bridge of these articles.
One boob in particular has started a petition to have people at F365 fired. He honestly thinks, and this is the funniest part, that his actions will be of interest to the UK government. I take great joy in this knob-badger’s previous petition (to have the Degsy segment cut) managing 10 signatures over a 9 month period – I think we finally have an answer to the question ‘all the lonely people, where do they all belong?’
There are articles I have no interest in on your fine site (Degsy being on of them – sorry, I just don’t like it), but then then people probably look forward to them. Variety of people and tastes keep this world ticking. The simple solution to happiness when navigating through F365 and the internet in general is to not click on the headlines and pages that don’t interest you, don’t spend your time on this earth reading something you don’t like only to then moan about it in the comments section (Thats what the Mail Online is for).
Keep doing what your doing, F365 – I just might not read all of it.
Thanks,
Jamie (the Degsy piece really is pants!), Watford