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.
