11 Jul 2020 04:18:26
Ed doesn't the No.2 have some influence in the style played? I expected some change from his united experience (hope kills you sometimes) when Sacramento was got in. I guess it would also depend on what exactly the role is, but still.

{Ed001's Note - it really does depend on what role the man in charge has. Mourinho is head coach, he sets the style. The number 2 is just there to assist him in getting the players to play his style.}


1.) 11 Jul 2020
11 Jul 2020 04:48:01
Is the job of the No.2 only limited to implementation typically? Or also setting the style to some extent?

{Ed001's Note - it depends on the man above him. If you have an old school manager, then they usually have too many other things to do, Ferguson's team developed different styles of play at United because his number 2 changed, for example. Fergie is very much an old school manager who would be in the office far more than on the training pitch. Harry Redknapp is another example of that (unless there are TV cameras around of course!), paperwork, scouting reports, watching footage of players or opponents etc takes up a lot of time.

Jose is in between two stools really, he is a head coach but he does take on a little of the kind of work old school managers do as well. However, he is not one to give his staff much leeway with the style of play. Jose sets out a style that the team is to implement. I think his problem is that so many people turned against him in recent years, particularly when in Spain where he was hated with a fervent passion by so many in the media, that he is becoming intransigent in his desire to prove them wrong.

I believe he has become so focused on what people say about him and proving he knows better, that he has forgotten what brought him success. It was not about his style of play, it was his man-management, his flexibility as a manager to deal with players as individuals and bring them together playing for him. Players loved him and gave everything for him, that gave him an edge over many, especially when added to having better players and his 'bending' of the rules to give his team as many advantages as possible.

He is just no longer ahead of the game, it has caught him up and overtaken him. Sadly he has not adapted to the changing game and is looking like another Wenger. A great of his time, but now just another dinosaur trying to live off past glories.}


2.) 11 Jul 2020
11 Jul 2020 12:48:55
Thanks Ed. Loved that bit of insight. It’s funny how quickly the game changes. I guess that’s what the top level is where even the best can fall behind so quick.

{Ed001's Note - it doesn't help that as we get older we do tend to become more risk averse as a species. Trying new things is a risk. We tend to just grow used to doing things a certain way and, especially if it has brought us success, we stick with it. When you have had the kind of success Jose has enjoyed, it must be virtually impossible to change the way you do things. You would be afraid to lose what actually worked.}


3.) 11 Jul 2020
11 Jul 2020 17:43:31
Well said Ed 001.

{Ed001's Note - thanks mate.}