Barbara

why would he when some here expect, cheer, hope for him to fail? You'd think they were talking about a Liverpool or Arsenal player with their clear desire to see him flop.

THANK YOU He isn't the only one, but especially him, seems like to take a GREAT PLEASURE being proved right even if it's something that is bad for Chelsea. It seems like is more important being right than having Chelsea succeed. That's crazy. I think you forgot the most significant imo - his link up play improved considerably compared to last season. He and Hazard have a better understanding of each other when they actually play close to each other (and I realized the more tired he gets, the less he comes closer to Hazard). He even developed a good understand with Cesc. People used to complain a lot last season that without Mata in the side, Hazard didn't have someone to play 1-2's, but Oscar improved on those, clearly imo, and he seems to be learning a few things from Cesc - who has all the tools to mentor him in a way that could make him our next #8 indeed. I've been really disappointed by Oscar in many things and I was very close of agreeing with others that maybe his ceiling wasn't much higher than now, but then he keeps showing glimpses of a new level and I felt he improved creatively and his chances created, assists, and linkup play with Cesc and Hazard shows it imo. I'm happy I haven't changed my opinion about him yet and I hope that I won't need to. I can't ignore his age. Just because so many guys reached the heights of their careers at early age, it doesn't mean it became a rule. Some players still need a little time. A player aged 25 is still young and with the best years of his career ahead of him. I don't get the rush and I get even less people saying this is an excuse... How come a 23yo player is expected to be the end product or close to it? Consistency is the biggest struggle in the transition from prospect and potential to reality. This is where he's been lacking and it could go one way or the the other and I really hope it goes to the better side of it.

I'm not going to ignore because I use(d) to have a lot of pleasure learning your always levelheaded and insightful opinions, I've learned many things with your thoughtful and deep posts about players, the sport, tactics. You told someone to 'shut up' the other day because you disagreed with them (or them with you), you got more aggressive towards people's opinion, you treat some opinions with some disdain, as if you're the only one right. Sorry, Thomas, but you didn't use to make those things and I'm not sure one should be proud of them. Not to say the moaning seems contagious in this forum... You used to be very supportive of a lot of things that now you're being the opposite. It seems like you ran out of patience - either with the club, the manager or the forum itself, it's hard to tell. But that's the feeling that you lost your patience and now you're acting in a way I haven't ever seen before. Yes, it was personal, but it wasn't an attack - there are many people here I don't care at all, but you I do and maybe you don't realize those things, many times we don't realize our own changes. You used a bad day as an excuse to telling someone to shut up, but you've been more aggressive in your answers and disdaining people's opinion in a way you didn't for a while now, it wasn't a complete isolated episode, And believe me, that has nothing to do with your opinion on Oscar. Now if you and others think this is normal... well, I liked it better when you thought it wasn't, but it's your prerogative to think so. I only said it because I care and because I used to have a great time reading your analysis and opinions. If I didn't care about you and your posts, I'd ignore it. Actually you're one of the few people I look forward to reading what you have to say at all instances. We've disagreed many times before, but something isn't the same anymore, maybe it's just my perception, but well, maybe it's not.

He assists at most at every four games, in addition to the times he scores. Taking into consideration 5 out of 6 goals he scored were openers, and tackles, pressing and key passes he did, no, it's not as far apart as you believe

You fail to see it and people have to prove what you won't accept? Whatever we say you'll disagree, so I don't feel like wasting time. Btw, bad month or year? It definitely doesn't feel like only a bad day as you said the other day. Regardless of your opinion about Oscar, your posting changed a lot, and unfortunately it wasn't for the best

People around here is so pressed about Oscar that I have to laugh about it. Broken records that have to leave 5-6 posts on here on a daily basis, except when he plays well, that is. It's almost as if they hope or expect that repeating the same thing, day after day will make Oscar leave the team. If Cesc is recovered, I don't expect to see Oscar playing due to fatigue... but that's it. Now carry on, lol

As I said, I called in sick from work a few times, passed on parties and stuff, but just a few weeks ago, this guy that was just starting to see me wanted to spend the day with me - which I had no objections to, until I realized there would be a Chelsea match. He also happens to be a Chelsea fan, but to a much lesser degree and he couldn't believe I was dumping him to watch football. I actually asked him to come watch with me, but I guess he was hurt LOL. His loss

and you believe it? lol When you start believing AS is when you must admit you know nothing about Spanish media.

in dangerous areas? The player I've noticed setting up the almost inexistent Villa attacks yesterday was Hazard, who did it twice in our field and had Villa coming down on us quickly. We were lucky they suck monkey balls. Oscar was more frustrating in the attacking field, not the defending.

so he just shouldn't start any matches for us anymore, end of it. We should always start our best possible players, if he isn't one of them, I don't care about his history here. We need to continue to make history as a club and if that means benching a legend, so be it. He's had his contributions for the title if it comes, he wasn't a complete passenger, but if he can't produce the same our other strikers can, I don't know why should there be any gamble... I'm not aiming to disrespect him or diminish him, just that he can't play for us if that's what he can offer. We aren't in the position to take gambles in all honesty. We haven't been playing well, our two most important players are out of the team. The few minutes he played in the previous match were much of the same. So unless he shows he can repeat the streak he had between September and October, great, if not, he's welcome on the bench.

and you gentleman won't post a link, so I will http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2944544/Chelsea-striker-Loic-Remy-performs-bizarre-dance-celebrate-win-Aston-Villa.html Seriously, I don't know what's better in this vid, Remy insanely good moves or Zouma dying from laughing. His last laughter particularly is hilarious. Gem

I never even realized the tape on pictures or live. He can't cope with so many minutes in a row, just can't. He has low stamina and a fatigued Oscar is as useful as cold air conditioning in Siberia.

Work... even then I called in sick in a few occasions. Don't regret anything I normally make my schedule around Chelsea games. Turned down parties, barbecues parties, boyfriends, dates, everything in the book. First Chelsea, then all the rest can come. I'll definitely be using a few well spotted medical appointments to make sure I leave work early, get to the doc and watch Chelsea during the week. I also used to watch the team through streams during work, when I wasn't a teacher and my manager knew it (as well as the whole floor, as many times I didn't contain my excitement and either yelled or jumped on my seat). Anything else can wait.

If he's going to be an assistant coach, just do it at the end of the season. He loves Mourinho and vice versa and Mourinho has helped form quite many managers throughout the years. Just don't keep him as a player anymore...

which is what gains points around here, even if he produces nothing effective, as long as he's flashy fans will be happy (not directed at you specifically). I'd much rather a quiet and smart guy that makes thing happen than a flashy player that offers nothing but his flashy dribbles. Not saying that will be case with Cuadrado, just stating why I think people around here will love him for.

I love him, but he shouldn't be starting games for us anymore. Not until he starts showing he can do it. He basically killed all good attacks we had in the first - while we were still better than Villa Mourinho made a mistake and I hope he doesn't repeat it against Everton. Dire doesn't come even close to how bad he was.

we better find our best football in the next three weeks... Spurs played very well against Arsenal and we were woeful against Aston Villa... if they come to this match motivated and playing that well, we're in for a very tough match and maybe even a loss. Their pressing has been great, their AMs and strikers are working very well, Rose has been supporting their attack the way he did early in the season. Things are just clicking for them while we look clueless. I hope when Cesc is back to the side we look better and I hope we play well against them in the final and seal our first title of the season. But we must up our game because they upped theirs quite a lot imo.

I think he was quite good in the attack yesterday. If spending 26m pounds on Cuadrado is what gets Willian to play what he has the ability to play and open his eyes, well spent money. He's improving imo and his last 2-3 matches were clearly his best here attacking wise imo, regardless if there were goals and/or assists. He's showing better vision, making better passes and daring more. I'm quite happy with the change.

That doesn't apply to Oscar though. When he's playing well either this thread is very quiet or people come nitpick like they did when he picked 5 uncompleted passes in the second half (I guess against Liverpool). In general people have a hard time admitting they're wrong, so they rather just disappear from here. Even if a better guy comes along, we should keep him. We don't want to be like that in another position. We don't have any replacement at all for Cesc, Matic is pretty much hard to replace too. It's not enough to have only one amazing player. We need a replacement that can do at least part of work. Last season Mourinho rotated much more in the AMs positions. Only Hazard had a captive position in the starting XI. If a better CAM comes along, Oscar can start a few matches there (when the other guy needs a rest or is injured) and he can even take turns in wing with Willian (I refuse to include Cuadrado until he proves to me he isn't Willian 2.0 - meaning he won't add much and will take more than a season to start producing well, adapting to the physicality).

This thread is still pointless

I don't even know if he will adapt in the first place... but yeah, it makes sense if you use even a cameo to backup an opinion you already have. I also felt you were saying that based only on the cameo... I haven't been reading much of this thread (and even less the speculation thread) because I've never been excited about this arrival. I still don't see the point of it, but I'll trust José and the board evaluation... For me, this has the potential to be the first 'bad' business we've done since José is here. Despite not wanting to see Kevin departure, I feel like his problem was less tactical and technical, than it was personal, so I can't really say they made a mistake if they thought it was a personality profile issue - which imo was clearly the reason he left. Eventually a mistake will be made. It could be Cuadrado coming, Schurrle leaving, Oscar, Willian, Ramires, Mikel, Cahill, Ivanovic staying (whether in the club or the starting XI), so until the mistake comes - which imo hasn't yet (I can accept all those players being part of our squad, I have a problem with some of their captive place in the starting eleven or being the predictable and expected sub) - I'm going to reserve the final judgment of this transaction. I feel it's been a mistake, I'm not sure about it (although even if I was would still merely be an opinion).

It's simple, really, Oscar's stay is getting on people's nerves. I know the feeling all too well, it's frustrating. As I said, for once I'm happy not to be bothered by a player that is clearly staying. It could change in a season or two, but as of now, I think Oscar is clearly staying in the club, even if he's displaced from the starting eleven. Much like the Mikel situation who stayed forever and ever. Either people make peace with it, or they will get tired of bitching. I know I got tired of bitching about Mikel, Willian and Ramires. Actually Ramires may have gained my support this season. Willian still has a long way to go. But at the end of the day, my feelings about players matter all but nothing. Also, if Mikel stayed for so long is because the club likes him. He had had ups and downs in terms of starting for us. If the same happens to Oscar, will just prove even further that the club wants him to stay. If Mikel had not developed enough to stay, he would have left like many others did. In terms of personality profile, he and Oscar have a lot in common. They don't affect dressing rooms, they quietly accept what's given to them, they don't complain, they're nice people and they're very committed and obedient to what managers ask them to do without creating a fuzz about it. That's why Mikel stayed. He was useful for some situations to all those endless managers we had and was a good 'employee' let's say. Oscar may be in the same route (I'm not comparing them technically or further, just their utility and possible career within the club)

regardless. everyone with common sense wouldn't make predictions, evaluate or say anything based on a cameo on his very first ever EPL match, under negative circumstances. There's been a bit of overreaction on both sides. Either you have an opinion about a new player even before his first minute or you build one with time. Any kind of assessment, guess or whatnot within 15 minutes of play is premature and unnecessary. And no, @The Skipper's point and @Mufassir08's point couldn't be more different (as you said they were in the previous post you quoted Mufassir). One clearly said based on a cameo he'd predict a difficult time for him to adapt while the other said the opposite, saying a cameo - especially in that situation - isn't enough to make a prediction. There were people overreacting and saying Skip said he'd be a flop - which he didn't - but he did make a prediction based in those 15 minutes that makes no sense (not the prediction itself, but deciding to make a prediction at all).

I think Mourinho regressed in many things the last couple of years. Keeping and selling players hasn't been one of those. In my opinion Schurrle >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Cuadrado, maybe not technically or as a player, but in a fitting way. Still a lot of people here think otherwise, so I might just be wrong and you, as well as Mourinho, see something on Cuadrado that I haven't yet. The club doesn't normally give contract renewals in the middle of the season. Still, we gave it to Oscar. He probably got a salary raise and why would be that? While some might think that like Madrid did with Varane - was just to get a better price for him when he does indeed leave in a transfer window or two, I think the opposite (in both cases, unfortunately as I really wanted Raphael here), both clubs decided to make sure their players don't feel tempted to go elsewhere and made it harder for other clubs to come sniff their players. When Cesc and Costa are back in the side, Oscar's mediocre presentations are sort of diluted, less important and have a minor direct impact. Our defense on the other hand has been influencing directly in some draws/losses we had. I can't pinpoint how much is because of Mourinho's coward approach (or pragmatic as some would call it) once we're leading 1x0, or if the defense is just vulnerable, regardless of our behavior. If I had to bet though, I'd say a mix of both. What I mean to say is that the club and the manager either believe Oscar has a future here that Kevin, André, Mata and or others wouldn't have or they think that we could win everything we aim to with Oscar here. I know that's pretty hard to digest for some of you - who can't stand him since day one or not anymore - but that's also the reality, so deal with it. Cahill on the other hand, could be in a different situation. Despite being English, I don't feel he has much support. We went for Zouma with the clear idea of getting him in the first team, otherwise he'd be loaned like many other youngsters we signed. Whether he'd get there this season, the next or take a couple of years, would depend on his own evolution, but it was clear from the beginning that José had plans for him in the club and would try to develop him here and not elsewhere. Oscar is in the same situation, so while many will bitch about his presence, blame him for everything, call him the weak link and everything else we read on this thread, the club and the manager so far think otherwise. They're willing to wait more before having a final verdict on him (or maybe they already have a final verdict, which for your sorrow, nightmare and desperation, could be that he's here to stay). And this (patience, deeper evaluation and more information) is what separates fans from professionals anyway. Of course, everyone is entitled to their opinion. I've always thought attacking wise Kevin was much fitting to our style than Mata. I'd pick Kevin over Mata overall any day of the week, but there was something about his attitude that Mourinho didn't want to have in the club. Mourinho makes no excuses for the choices he makes, he doesn't need to lie to justify his actions, especially towards a little Belgian talent he decided to let go. If he said there wasn't enough commitment in the training sessions, and that he had attitude issues and went as far as sending him to train with the youth team, is because he really disliked something about Kevin and didn't think he'd fit. He made no excuses for letting go of the double winner of Player of the season, he just did it, which was much bigger, controversial (if you want to look it that way) than letting go of a 23-yo that wasn't nearly as buzzed by people as he's been now. He's the manager, he may and have been making mistakes imo, but not regarding signing and buying players. I can predict whatever I want about Cuadrado, there's no fact there yet and won't there any time soon as he needs to be given time. It seems like Schurrle wanted to leave, more than we wanted to let him, at least that's what I gather from his recent interviews and it seemed to have already reflected on his game, as he assisted a goal today and had one of the most beautiful shots hitting the post for that first Kevin goal... a happy player can produce much better than a sulking one. So as long as the club or Mourinho see Oscar as Chelsea material (now or in the future) we can bitch as much as we want, but he won't be going anywhere. I felt the same way you do about Ramires and Willian, but during my endless rants about both I've always admitted that I was talking to a brick wall and that I knew the club would keep both. I even predicted a contract renewal coming to Willian - for my completely desperation - but that hasn't come yet. So let's cry rivers, make players' threads even longer, but we should all beware, if those players haven't left yet, they won't be leaving any time soon. I'm positive we rejected bids for Oscar and Ramires already (can't take a guess on Willian though). Also, clubs - and agents - can let others know backstage when they want to sell a player and that's when bids come even more often. So yeah, he's not going anywhere, no matter how much people bitch about it. And it's nice for once being on the 'winning' side. I've been campaigning for a few of our players to leave at least the starting eleven, I didn't need another case.

I miss him