I think the problem here is the expectation any of us has (I guess I already posted about it, but I could be wrong). What José expects from his #10 may be different from what other managers do, let alone fans. When he decides to make his main man in the team another AM, it's expected (from him at least) that the other two won't be as decisive as the one guy he's building his team around. I think Oscar - or at least the Oscar from the first three months - at age 22, is exactly what Mourinho expects from his #10. He knows a boy as young as him and who isn't totally adapted to the league yet, that he'll be inconsistent, but every match Oscar gives his best, so for now that's enough for Mourinho as he's been repeating like a broken record those last few weeks that he's building a team for the future - something he's said many times since he arrived here, but that has been stressed by him lately given his comments about us being candidates, but not favorites to the title (which is a perfect assessment imo - the same applies to Arsenal imo). So if his eyes are in the future and building a team that next season and the one following it, will be not only a candidate, but a favorite, it means he can overlook Oscar - as well as others' - inconsistency because he's keeping an eye in the prize here, which is long term results. If we don't win the league it won't be because Oscar (or any other AM, including Mata in the many games he's had a chance) didn't create enough chances. If we don't win it it's because we don't have a striker to capitalize the many chances we create every game (with few exceptions). So if the problem isn't Oscar - especially if Hazard makes up for his bad form now - then it means we can wait the boy mature more his game and also complete his adaptation. If you look at Oscar playing for Brazil and Oscar playing for Chelsea there's a gap between both (proof of that is that Oscar's always been better for us in Europe rather than in England, as he feels less the difference when he plays in Europe - especially against Italian and Spanish teams - rather than when he plays English teams) and that's because he isn't completely used to that and let's not forget or disregard the manager instability. He's been here for 18 months and he's already been managed by three different guys with three completely different tactics. Not only he had to adapt to the physicality, the speed, the style, the pitch's size (Brazilian's players are used to having plenty of space because most of our pitches are huge and it makes a whole difference going from big to small - not so much going from small to big), but he also had to adapt to those guys' strategies and in some cases - like with Benitez - he's had to prove his worth while doing all that. Hazard went through a similar process, except Hazard is European and has been playing European football since he was a kid. His adaptation is less overwhelming than Oscar's. European football - maybe except Portugal and Spain, and in the past Italy where the pitches are bigger and the play is less physical - is still very different from Brazil, although the most contrasting style to ours is English and then German. I agree with whoever says he's been inconsistent (I disagree with those who say he's been terrible. He had an amazing match against Soton as well as Newcastle and some matches between he was fairly good), but I don't understand why people aren't willing to give him more time and keep the comparisons. I get it, he's not good enough for you. He's been good enough for José, he's good enough for me and he's good enough for many fans that are willing to give him time. I still think this has a lot to do with Mata leaving. Mata's ghost has always been fated to leave a bunch of widows behind and it's okay to take a while to get over it, but Oscar was the same while Mata was here and still he displaced Mata from the team based on what the manager expected from them, but also on their performances (and before anyone says Oscar didn't displace Mata because they played in different positions before José, Mata was the CAM when José arrived, whoever José decided to play there instead of him displaced him either from the position or from the starting eleven). btw it makes really no sense to justify Gotze and Isco's similar stats as them being in a new team. They're both still in the league they've played since they were kids, changing teams would require a few weeks adaptation period... it's more about chemistry and getting used to the new philosophy rather going through an adaptation process. I do think it's relevant to say they've started less than Oscar did.
Exactly. Hopefully Josh can now get some regular first team football at Wigan and maybe continue there next season too if he gets his development back on track by playing there under this guy. In fact, Wigan aren't that far behind the play-off spots and could even be making their way back to the Premier League if they play well for the rest of the season, maybe then McEachran could even get some proper PL experience for the first time in his career.
Shan0425 reacted to Barbara in 🇧🇷 Oscar