Cescy

I don't think it was ever going to work out. He's talented, but too limited to ever be a regular starter here.

Don't think either could easily replace Oscar's goal threat, involvement in building attacks and final ball. They would maybe offer something different, but we would be losing some things in return. In games Oscar hasn't played our offensive transition and fluidity in attack haven't been as good, and Costa especially has seemed more isolated. We can win some games without him, as we have without Hazard, Costa and Fabregas in the past.

Thanks for this. Hazard's stat is even higher than I excepted. Should it not be 2 for Oscar though? @0.53 of your video, he plays a through ball to Ivanovic who gives the assist to Costa.

@chelseafc: .@oscar8 completed 68 passes against Swansea, more than any other player... According to FourFourTwo, the biggest pass combination of the game was Oscar-Hazard. --- I feel like the line is being drawn pretty arbitrarily, regarding this whole 'sloppiness' issue.

I think 5 out of Oscar's 6 goals in the league have been the opening goals of the game. His assists are usually early in the game too. He's more decisive this season. --- Ah yes contribution in the prestigious Club World Cup, Europa and against 3rd division Spanish sides. Even looking at your list Oscar fairs well against some of the best players in the world... Comparison of Oscar, Isco, James, KDB, Gotze, Koke and Muller in their leagues. Quick let's make a £80m bid for James or Muller for their additional 0.04 or 0.03 respective contributions . If we can't get them, let's replace Oscar with Koke or Isco because... new toys. Forget how they fit our system, with our other players, if they are even an upgrade or opportunity cost. Yeah let's be fair to Isco, but not our own player who drops deep regularly and defends way more than most of the people on that list... It doesn't matter how much he improves with a few of you on this forum, the goal posts will just keep moving.

Our defense let us down today. Oscar's performance wasn't even that bad, but I understand the decision to bring Ramires on, though I don't think he made much of a difference.

Mourinho: 'and I replaced Schurrle with Willian at half-time because Southampton had a low block and Schurrle is more dangerous getting behind people. With such a low block, we needed more a creative guy like Willian than a runner like Schurrle.’ http://www.chelseafc.com/news/latest-news/2014/12/final-whistle-verdict--doubly-punished.html?

Often? I can only think of his ankle issue before the Everton game. Started at Anfield and Old Trafford.

Maybe some of the criticisms of Willian's performances are unfair, but why not respond to those criticisms directly and have a constructive discussion, instead of trashing one of our other players?

Much better football today than the last few weeks. We dominated them for most of the game, we were solid defensively and the fluidity in our attack was brilliant. This is the kind of football I want us to play away and against bigger sides.

The biggest difference is that Oscar has improved and Willian hasn't.

He played on the right wing against City and Liverpool. I don't think Jose trusts him in the midfield 3 anymore.

He's a useful player, but mainly in games where we're going for a low block and counterattacking style.

Connecting no.4 interviewed in latest Chelsea magazine Fabregas’s partnership with Nemanja Matic has been a focal point of our strong start to the season, and is one of the key reasons for our rise to the top of the table, yet there are, he says, similar understandings throughout the team. ‘I think it has come naturally,’ the Spain international tells Chelsea in the main interview feature. ‘We all see football the same way as each other, but we don’t play the same way. ‘For example Eden sees football the same way as Oscar, as Willian, as Andre, as me, but we don’t play the same way. Eden is a dribbler – he sees the pass, he sees our intentions. Me, I’m not the quickest, but I like to pass the ball around and they move very well for me to pass them the ball. ‘Oscar is very intelligent in the way he plays the No. 10 role, how he moves, and he also likes to play one-twos, to come short, then go long, because he has good vision. Andre goes behind defenders very, very well and Willian is quick on his feet and technically very good. We all like the same style, but we have different qualities, and I think that’s why we all connect as well as we do. ‘For me and Nemanja, it is basically the same job,’ he continues. ‘The only difference is that, in certain moments of the game, I go a little further forward than him and he covers when I do. ‘I think the coach likes for both midfielders to give stability to the team and that we are always there to give a solution to the players when they have the ball. It’s an important position because you always need to be aware of what is happening around you both in terms of defending and attacking. Right now we are feeling solid in this aspect of the game.’ http://www.chelseafc.com/news/latest-news/2014/12/connecting-no-4-interviewed-in-latest-chelsea-magazine-.html

I thought we had a slow-ish start, but looked pretty comfortable after that. I was most impressed with Fabregas today. Good movement, good defensively and great passing.

We have other #10s. They just aren't better than Oscar in that position for us. That includes Willian, which is why he plays on the wing. The gap between them isn't small or nothing. Willian's stints at #10 this season should make that even more obvious. Willian does have problems and this thread is dedicated to him, so naturally people will both praise and criticize him here. I don't think anyone thinks Oscar is perfect or without his own problems, but to me and probably many others he is a level above Willian. You should try letting your grudge over last season go.

Pat Nevin on Hazard & Oscar duo vs Tottenham: https://archive.org/details/AnalyseThatPatOscarHazardVTottenhamPrem14-15

Oscar has contributed 3 goals and 4 assists in his last 10 premier league games. Numbers aren't everything and don't tell the whole story, but those are nice numbers and reflect some of the good progress he is making. Oscar has as much competition for his position as Willian does. The #10 is Willian's better position and this season he played there against Man City and during the 1st half against Maribor (a).

Assisted David's goal from a corner. It's too bad he committed a silly foul and conceded a penalty. Had a decent game otherwise.

Nice one-twos between Neymar and Oscar leading up to Willian goal: http://fat.gfycat.com/ThankfulAptKingbird.webm

Mourinho: ‘Oscar was our best player. When the team recovered the ball he was always sharp and fast, I think he was fantastic. He played last Sunday, on Tuesday and today. Some other guys didn’t play in midweek so I would expect them to be fresher and sharper than him.' ‘He’s playing very well, pre-season was difficult for him after the World Cup but he’s giving balance to the team, lots of creativity and the goal is only possible in a very talented boy.’ http://www.chelseafc.com/news/latest-news/2014/11/final-whistle-verdict--good-periods.html

Doesn't seem like it. Mourinho: ‘The message I want is the message Didier, Filipe, Oscar and Cahill gave: doing something that they shouldn’t be allowed to do, but they did, which is play two football matches in 48 hours. They were fantastic.' http://www.chelseafc.com/news/latest-news/2014/10/final-whistle-verdict--leading-by-example.html

Mourinho said he was disappointed by certain performers and knew his team to face Queens Park Rangers at the weekend, adding: ‘If players that played 90 minutes two days ago were fantastic, I expect people who are not playing a lot to raise the level to create me problems. ‘I love problems of choices, and it is easy to choose my team for Saturday.’ Asked specifically if Salah and Schurrle had disappointed him, Mourinho replied: ‘Yes.’ Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2811737/Jose-Mourinho-hails-Chelsea-s-fringe-stars-narrow-2-1-win.html#ixzz3HUOlnBGA