MrExcalibur100

A lot more is an exaggeration, it's not like comparing Oscar's ball retention skills to a Hazard or a Fabregas, which will be fair. Thing is Oscar doesn't have the same ball control as Willian, it's not so much about execution of passes but getting dispossessed of the ball. Their pass completion rate is roughly equal (Oscar 85% Willian 86%) and Oscar is creating twice as many chances avg. 2 KP per game compared with Willian's 1 KP per game. Oscar might lose the ball easier, but he's a far more efficient player. But you're right, Oscar needs to get physically tougher and improve his ball retention skills, no doubt. He can be too sloppy for my liking. Yeah, the Ol' Willian, stepover then push-ball-forward trick. It rarely works though as he hardly ever gets his cross in. I remember one working in the QPR match but that was more of an anomaly than a norm. He tried that with Luke Shaw vs Man United and Shaw anticipated it and snuffed it out easily. Van Gaal does his homework.. Infact, he was completely neutralized in that game by the 19 year old kid.

Not only you, Barbara and not only this game but every other game. But he works hard off the ball, keeps the passing game flowing and we're amazing this season so his many deficiencies aren't limiting us a great deal, unlike last season. The fact is I can count on one hand the amount of great games he's had all season. Schalke, Maribor and Aston Villa and that's it. Sunderland away was him being the best of a very bad bunch + he'd played less minutes this season than many of his colleagues and was unsurprisingly fresher for that game.

Willian's problem is not just lack of goals, but that he makes the wrong decisions too often. It will be understandable if he were 21 or 22 but he's 26 now. He's also very predictable in the final 3rd. His skill set is very basic, any decent defender who has watched tapes of him can easily mark him out of a game. Great technique, speed, long passing range and work ethic but he lacks too many vital things to be a great player. He's a useful player to have in the squad due to his work ethic, every Chelsea fan knows, appreciates and sees this, but there are players who can improve us out there in the summer; Ditto going from Ramires to Fab and Mikel to Matic.

Remy reminds me a bit of Anelka. I hope he gets to show himself more during this congested fixture period.

I'm not contesting that fact, I never even brought it up, but we're playing at home not away at their place. I prefer we dominate possession at home. That also conserves energy as opposed to chasing the ball.

That's a stretch. Sample size too small.

Fab off. No yellow card

We seriously need to keep the ball better. 38% possession. No need for that at all.

Co-commentator : Unashamedly pro-Tottenham.

Typical Willian.

Terribly biased commentary on NBC by some ex-Arsenal clowns. Is there any other channel showing the game?

Willian has to blast that.

The Drog does as the Drog does.

DROGBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Class goal by Eden, mind.

I stand by it.

Everything's just bouncing off Drogba, predictably. Attacks breaking down with him. It's actually mad Remy doesn't start this game. He's better than 36 year old Didier, ffs and will combine better with our attacking mid's.

Very poor start

Amazing Remy is being shunned so badly.

At least maybe the media will stop saying we've won the league already by November. Bunch of brainless imbeciles.

Untouchable indeed.. It's not only that but subs should have been made earlier in the West Brom game. It was won after 20 mins but no subs were made till the 80th minute mark.

Odd responding to my own comment but can't say I didn't call it.

Azpilicueta continues to convince me that he can't do a job on a consistent basis at left back. Most of the teams we play against play defensively against us, even when they play at home. He offers nothing in these games that Luis cannot! Jose's infatuation with him playing there is really bizarre. I feel bad for Filipe.

Horrific game. It reminded me of the Basel away performance last season where we lost 1-0. We looked incredibly tired which is a worry at this stage of the season. MOTM? Fuck that, we were bang awful all over the pitch. I hate to single out a player but I wonder what the point of Azpilicueta is in games like this. Contributes nothing to attack and his defensive contribution is overrated by some. Either you play him on his natural wing, (which he doesn't deserve considering Brana's form) or don't play him at all and play Luis insted. The rotation has been poor and resting of some key players not named Costa or Fabregas has not been good enough. Oscar, Hazard, Matic all deserve rests as well.

The ball was played out wide and the full back failed to make an overlap with 1 minute to go. What the fuck are you talking about?