Mourinho and Martin O'Neill
I’m bored so I’d just like to put the following out there to see if anyone agrees / disagrees:
Mourinho is rightly being heralded for his successes so far this season, but he’s not necessarily as unique as the media are making out. I think he and Martin O’Neill have similar characteristics (especially MO’N in his first season at Celtic).
Each has the total respect of his players and the players trust their coach completely.
Neither believes 4-4-2 is the be-all and end-all and each has used other shapes with quite a degree of success
Each appreciates the value of width and pace, and orthodox wide play
Each emphasises the importance of set –pieces (unlike Wenger for example. I’m an Arsenal fan and I cringe every time we get a corner, and this year I cringe every time we concede one). How many of Celtic’s goals both in SPL and CL are from set pieces? How good are Chelsea at frees and corners?
Each has a knack of grinding out undeserved 1-0 victories, especially in tough away games. Each then really puts teams away when they’re on top.
Mourinho’s first season in Premiership so far looks like MON’s first season in Scotland.
Mourinho probably played more stylish football than Celtic, especially with Porto, but though Celtic under MON can be tough and direct they can be pleasing on the eye too.
Each is educated, intelligent and articulate.
Neither is much phased by other managers or media, certainly not as much as Wenger & Ferguson.
Anyway, that’s enough. With Chelsea’s resources, could MO’N be doing the same job?