Social Chatter: Support for Jose Mourinho, but Lewis Hamilton causes a storm

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho may have been sent to the stands for the second time this season, but social media was actually on his side for once.

Mourinho was given his marching orders by referee Jonathan Moss in the first-half of his side’s 1-1 draw with West Ham in the Premier League at Old Trafford on Sunday.

Typically, the demise of Mourinho would have been like a red rag to a bull and sent social media into a crazed frenzy of abuse for the United manager.

But on this occasion, there was plenty of support for Mourinho with many dismayed at his dismissal for kicking a water bottle after Moss had failed to award a free-kick to Paul Pogba.

Moss was actually correct, with no contact made on Pogba. But Mourinho’s actions didn’t warrant a dismissal, according to the reaction on Twitter.

Many used a comparison with the actions of Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp and Chelsea coach Antonio Conte this season to get their point across.

There was history between Moss and Mourinho from last season and some wondered if that clouded the referee’s judgement.

Perhaps more pressing for United is the poor run of form in the Premier League with Mourinho now behind both David Moyes and Louis Van Gaal in his points per game record from their first season in charge of United.

Gary Neville found an obvious reason for the patchy form - playing in the Europa League.

But Robbie Savage is convinced it is a lack of clinical finishing - and some sterling goalkeeping from the opposition - that is behind recent results.

While Mourinho was the centre of attention at Old Trafford, it was Lewis Hamilton who was being scrutinised after winning the Formula 1 season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Victory wasn’t enough for Hamilton to win the title as Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg finished in second place - a result good enough to give him a maiden crown.

But it was Hamilton’s decision to ignore instructions from his team, and instead continue to hold up Rosberg in the hope both Sebastian Vettel and Jos Verstappen would pass him, that caused a stir.

Was Hamilton in the wrong? Or was he right to focus on his own ambitions of winning another drivers’ title?

Gary Lineker certainly agreed…

There was certainly no congratulations from Hamilton after the race for his team-mate and that continued with his Instagram posts to fans. No mention of Rosberg whatsoever.

The frosty relationship between the pair had been clear in Rosberg’s own post in which Vettel joined him for a photograph but not Hamilton.

Sparks could fly next year - unless speculation that Hamilton is facing the sack proves true.