I know his personality is effectively based on being brash and abrasive. And I know he is one of the most opinionated people in world football. But do you think a time will ever come when Jose Mourinho learns to keep his thoughts to himself?

His latest outburst, which looks set to land him in more hot water with the FA, is about the Premier League fixtures and the position of Arsenal vice-chairman David Dein on the FA’s board.

Mourinho is unhappy with Dein’s dual role and has suggested it might be that which is behind Chelsea’s unfortunate fixture programme which sees them playing away games in the league five times after they play Champions League matches mid-week. Arsenal, on the other hand, are at home five times.

To be fair, Mourinho’s observations are, at face value, interesting. But a closer look at the situation reveals this to be just another one of his opinionated rants. And levelling the blame at Dein is surely just a way of winding up Arsenal further.

Firstly, Dein is an elected member of the FA and, as such, has the backing of the other clubs. Secondly, and most importantly, it is not the FA which draws up the fixtures but the Premier League itself, with which Dein has no contact.

Finally, if you are to carry out the simplest bit of research – which Jose obviously didn’t – you would find out that, last season, Arsenal played away three times following Champions League matches including trips to Old Trafford and Anfield. Chelsea, on the other hand, never left London for the games following their six group matches.

The more I hear of Mourinho the more I am starting to believe each and every one of his outbursts are carefully planned and pre-thought psychological strikes.

These are not merely the rantings of a man who likes the sound of his own voice. They are all done with a purpose.

I suppose if that’s the way he motivates his players, staff and fans then we should let him get on with it, provided he is prepared to take the punishment he will undoubtedly be given.

But surely there is a more ethical way to manage and motivate...

New season

The new football season is still more than a month away but Graeme Souness has already been given his first warning by the club’s chairman.

The Newcastle boss presided over the club’s worst season in the past decade when they finished 14th last time round.

And chairman Freddie Shepherd has warned he will not tolerate anything similar again.

In Graeme’s defence he did take over the team a few matches into the season and he did have to deal with problem players like Bellamy, Robert and Dyer.

But, with the players they had and the money they spent on new ones, 14th place was still a remarkable under-achievement.

“Last season’s placing was the only failure in the last ten years since John Hall moved in. Now Graeme knows it is time to produce,” Shepherd warned ominously.

Although I think Souness does deserve another season, I still feel he will struggle. As it stands right now they only have Alan Shearer and Michael Chopra as strikers with Ameobi out injured, Bellamy gone to Blackburn and Kluivert departed for Spain.

So unless they move swiftly in the transfer market and bring in a proven striker or two, it could well be another season of hardship which, I am sure, Shepherd will not tolerate.

Surprising as it may sound, if I had to put money on which manager will get the boot first this season, I think Souness would be the one.

Jenson Button

Quote of the week goes to the in-demand but perennially underachieving Formula One driver Jenson Button.

When news broke last weekend that Ferrari could be interested in offering him silly money to drive for them next season, he was quick to way up the pros and cons.

“If Ferrari are only the sixth or seventh best next year, there is no reason to be with them. Apart from having a nice company car,” he said.

Ironic really when you consider his performances. He should be thinking more about a company pension plan.

Jerzy Dudek

Jerzy Dudek must a be an unhappy man. Watching Liverpool’s walk in the park against TNS on Wednesday the brief but telling camera shot of Dudek sitting in the stands was very revealing.

The last time he touched a ball for Liverpool was to save the penalty that won them the Champions League. Now, just a few weeks later, and with no opportunities to mess up in between, he is gradually being squeezed out of the Anfield door.

New boy Jose Reina started the match against the Welsh minnows and I don’t think he, or Dudek, has any reason to believe that that will not be the case from now until the end of the season. Barring injury of course.

For Dudek that must be a bitter pill to swallow. Sure, he has made his mistakes over the past couple of seasons. Quite a few of them, in fact.

But for the most part, he has been a fairly decent goalkeeper, certainly one whose heart was in the club.

I would expect him to move on soon, to play for a manager who does not have some bizarre and twisted view that Spanish is almost invariably better.

And one day, I will wager, those quivering legs and funny face which helped lift Europe’s greatest prize will come back to haunt Benitez.

That’s just the way it goes.

Contact James on: [email protected]