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I know but he adds a different dimension. When Hazard is in one of his passive moods he is often a player who takes responsibility for the team which I appreciate. Also those goals, while they have been lucky, it is also a skill tbh to whip it in like that which means even if a palyer does not get their head on it, the delivery can actually cause a problem for the keeper.

Who do they play instead of him? They would do it in easy games in the EL like when they played Qarabag the other day but they don't have a natural CF as an alternative to do in bigger games.

He adds balance but the likes of Fabregas and Hazard performing is not down to Oscar. It is down to us not having control in the game. My point is when we are losing in situations like this and Hazard is not playing well Oscar will not step up in the same way others would and that is my biggest concern and why I prefer seeing Willian in the team. It does not help that he was not impressive. I have said and others for a long while that we probably are better of in a 4-3-3. Like I said he improved second half, in dictating play, linking play and spraying passes but when we needed a goal and others were not up to their usual standards, I don't think he steps up and that is why he came off imo. Willian is much more direct.

If you realised I was being sarcasm to laugh at that ridiculous #Oscar improves us theory. No he does not. The problem lie much deeper than Oscar playing or not. Merely my point. But I can guarantee you Oscar is dropped for Kiev. Matic, Fabregas and Ramires will be the trio in midfield and Hazard, Willian/Pedro with Costa will be the line up.

Not even a knee-jerk reaction but it is actually ridiculous the amount of people who were saying he should not be a part of this squad. He offers something different as shown today and he is a vital member of this squad. Changed the game.

You did watch the game and let me guess, Coutinho was shit right? Even though most reviews and fans have given him good ratings and compliments? Oscar was good in the second half, poor in first half. If he was that good he would have stayed on but he did not because he was not offering much offensively. That simple. We got both goals when he came off and that goes against #we don't lose when Oscar plays. I am not saying he was awful but he does not do enough offensively for a player you seem to rate above the likes of KDB. Let's see if he keeps his place against Porto. I think he might be dropped.

Still goes down as his though but generally he was one of the better players in the game. They played him as a no.8. Think I read he completed every single one of his passes and was impressive. But going to Oscar, I hope this myth that you and others put out that the team balance improves when he is in the team, is put to an end. Did you see how vulnerable we looked in the first half?

That is no improvement. That was one of our worse first halves ever. Also Everton are better than Newcastle and even Watford won at SJP. We should have won this, no questions about it. Just because we have a bad record there that does not mean a point is acceptable. We are the Champions and bar Costa and Courtois have our best team available. They had their first two LB injured. Cisse injured, Tiote injured and we only managed a point. Nah, not good enough.

A draw is as bad as a loss. It has not benefited us. Anyway, I don't criticise Mourinho on here anyway. My point was that people got too excited against two average teams. The Arsenal win was a big victory but was it down to Mourinho or the ref? Not sure. Us getting a point does not hide our flaws tbh.

I am not even saying this to be petty but you see that when Liverpool have strikers with pace and movement like Sturridge he will thrive. 2 asissts today. They keep Sturridge and Coutinho fit and they excel. But you said that after the Bordeaux game. I am going to ask you where was Oscar today when we needed him to step up? Not there and that is my concern. He does not step up often when the rest of the team are below par. Mate, like I was trying to say before, the theory that when Oscar plays we don't lose is quite poor. When the likes of Hazard and Pedro are not performing to their usual standards, he does not step up and that is my biggest concern. He was better in the second half but as a no.10 no real cutting edge when we need it. We bring on players like Willian and Ramires who can run at the oppostion, then the game changed. So he is playing today and they still both underperform? This myth that he brings balance is a load of rubbish honestly. I actually thought Oscar was much better in the second half but still not enough cutting edge. Ironic that he went off and we got both goals. Oscar performed against Maccabi but the fact that people were using that game tosay the likes of Fabregas performed because Oscar returned was ridiculous. They were an awful team and Fabregas would have performed even with Kenedy playing in the no.10 tbh. LIke I said think he improved second half but it is nonsense imo to say that we as a team improve when he returns. I saw no evidence of that today against the worse team in the league this season (along with Sunderland).

Ironically he improved in the second half after Oscar went off.

I don't normally post in here but it is funny how people criticised those for criticising Mourinho as being knee-jerk and plastic etc based on 3 wins against 2 teams who are not on our level and a game against Arsenal where we got lucky because of the man advantage but now back to square one. People have to realise criticisms coming at Mourinho is fully deserved. Another game where we have failed to kick on. Worrying.

Willian coming on. Yes!

Redknapp don't have a clue. He said it shows how much we miss Costa as we don't have a focal point. Remy is the least of our problems today and it is not like Costa has been winning his battles in the air this season anyway. Problems start from defence and midfield.

11 against 11, I have not seen Oscar provide any of this defensive solidarity for Fabregas today. The amount of times Newcastle have broken through is crazy. We look way too vulnerable. It has been the same all season apart from Arsenal. Lack of real dominance in the midfield and we are getting exploited time and time again. So frustrating. We can't beat Arsenal then have such a performance like this against the joint worse team in the league this season.

People can scapegoat Ivanovic again. That is clearly Zouma's fault. That is not even a lack of experience. You never let the ball bounce over your head in situations like that. WTF. Fabregas poor. Oscar not adding anything offensively. Pedro has not threatened their rookie CB playing at LB. It is a joke. We should be controlling possession but we are all over the place. I really think we are going to have one of the highest tallies of goals conceded this season for sure. I fear for us every time we are on the defensive trail. Just not good enough. I would take off Fabregas and bring someone more defensively and physically solid like Mikel or even Ramires for his legs and bring Willian on for Oscar.

WTF is Zouma doing? Nothing but deserved. We have been poor.

Yeah, he is a big miss but they are conceding goals for fun too all of a sudden.

They kept a clean sheet in every league game he played in. As soon as he goes out they are leaking goals for fun? Coincidence or not? I think you are underestimating the prescence he gives them.

If John Terry missed a game for us last season and we lost we would have said it was a huge loss. But he was considered to be finished by some a few seasons ago but proved people wrong and had his best season ever last season. Kompany is a top CB and has been phenomonal in every game he has played this season for City. It is a huge miss of course and that is clear to see. And he was on the bench but was confirmed that he would not be on the bench after feeling ill as well as the injury he was struggling with.

Pedro should have some success on his side. Newcastle first and second LB are both injured so they have an inexperienced 20 year old making his debut for Newcastle. Win at all costs please and hopefully a goal for Hazard.

And they destroyed us. When they won those first 4 games, they had their best team available and were playing excellent football and had not conceded a goal. Not making excuses but if Silva and Kompany were fit I don't think they would have lost to WHU and certainly don't think the scoreline would have been what it was today.

Doubt it. just the fact that he is not needed probably. If Azpi gets injured in a worse case scenario he will put Kenedy there. Moruinho would have Kenedy on the bench because he is more versatile so that is why I think Baba is not on the bench.

They were missing their best CB pairing, their best CM got injured, their best AM was injured and they have quite a few other injuries. I think we would struggle if we were in that scenario tbh. Imagine Hazard being injured, who knows what would happen. I still think with their players fit, they are currently the best team in England tbh.

Well they have not really played any testing teams bar Schalke and Bayern who battered them. Wait until they play more tougher fixtures to make that conclusion I say. Tbf to KDB when he has started City have missed other key players. Silva, Kompany and most importantly Aguero just don't look up to scratch yet.