Cast your minds back to August before a ball of competitive football was even kicked, before we loaned out what many people thought would be our main striker and one who could finally bag 20+ goals in a season for us and before we sold our 2 time player of the season in the winter transfer window. I think most fans believed we should win the league and mainly because of the return of the Special one which is acceptable. I mean everywhere he goes follows instant success, but this as I pointed out way back in August and then again in November is a totally different project. Jose is known for going into a club getting instant results and success and then leaving with the club in mourning left licking their wounds for months to follow.
The reason I bring that up is because the media are really starting to annoy me of late with all these digs at Jose when he says “we are not favourites for the title” stating he is playing mind games. No he is not he is telling the truth, we are still building our team and City and Arsenal have built theirs over years and Man Utd were current champions. Jose has also stated it was not our objective to win the title this season which is also something I bought up before a ball was kicked this season. This season’s objective for me was top 4 and make sure we close the 14 point gap the champions had on us last season. This season we have seen a different Jose Mourinho, a calmer Jose and the media were even calling him out on that. This is a totally different man now and one who has worked in 2 different countries since he left us, one which is more mature and one who understands he has to change his approach a little bit because this is a job he has never had to do before which is build a legacy.
Now as we move onto the squad for me January 2014 will be looked back on as a defining month in the future success this club will have. Since AVB came in and started playing 4-2-3-1 I have lost count of the amount of times I have said “we are lacking a midfielder who can actually play in the 2 in a 4-2-3-1”. And although the club went back and re-signed a player we let go for 4 million the 21 million shelled out for Nemanja Matic may be looked back on in the future as one of the best purchases the club would have ever done. 
Mata going was upsetting yes, going to Man Utd annoying yes, but there is more good than bad in this deal. Mata’s has his playing style which is excellent but he was never going to be able to do the things Jose asks of his attacking 3. Yes i know most peoples gripe with this was that he went to Man Utd but Mata himself has stated he loves this country and wanted to stay here and a top player like him will only go to a top club and 37million for a player who would never work for us in the future is an absolute no brainer. The club also did excellent business selling De Bruyne for 18 million despite signing him for 7 and hardly kicking a ball so we can’t miss something we never had surely? And on our other 2 winter window signings Mohamed Salah from what I have seen of him will be an impact player coming off the bench with his frightening pace against tired defences and Kurt Zouma will one day be thought of as one of the best centre backs in world football for sure.
One thing which Jose has done is improve every player especially the younger lads but one man seems to be his main project and that is Mr Eden Hazard. I made a bold opinion at the start of the season on Facebook which read “we have been blessed with some sensational footballers to play for this football club over many decades, but I think Hazard will go on to be on a totally different level to them all”. Nothing I have seen so far this season has made me change my mind and the man has been exceptional and will only get better. He was known as quite a lethargic trainer but Jose has worked on that and got him training as if playing a match so he trains like he plays and plays like he trains and that has helped with his consistency which is something we all wanted to see from him. The lack of striker issue is a little problem but I think Eto’o has been a decent buy, not prolific but offers the team a lot link up wise and seems to be a leader on the pitch too. This squads transition I believe will be completed in the summer when Lukaku comes back and we go out and sign another striker who I believe will be Diego Costa.
All in all I think the fact we are unbeaten against all the top sides this season including 6 points against most peoples favourites Man City, currently top of the league and still in the Champions League shows we are ahead of schedule. One thing is certain for me and that is this team will be very successful in years to come and hopefully its still Jose sailing this ship in 3 years time
UTC!
Thanks for reading
Carl Jackson
Add me on Twitter if you wish: @jacko_cfc
