Oscar

[LAM09 7,043]

I don't know what Oscar will turn up from game to game. He needs to be much more consistent, and turn up more often than not.

[The Skipper 20,609]

Mourinho clearly sent a message about him in that audio post match interview in the match's thread.

He doesn't seem to have the right mind to approach games and take responsibility.

I still like him as a player, but he needs to take the same large steps Hazard has been given in his development. Oscar seems to take one forward, two back.

He has to take even bigger steps than Eden because Eden is a lot more talented than Oscar. Eden has to take big steps because he has the ambition of winning the Ballon D'or and he's getting there. Oscar on the other hand seems to be shying away and doesn't seem to be willing to step up to take the responsibility of becoming a great player. He'll never win the Ballon D'or because he doesn't really have any outstanding qualities but he should be aiming to become a top player but he doesn't seem to have that fire in him, it looks like he's tired of playing football already.

IMO I think Oscar is pretty much finished developing as a player as I can't see anything where he can develop on massively. This is the season where he's meant to be kicking on but honestly over his time here I can't see any significant improvements he's made. Hazard on the other hand you can see has clearly been working hard to realise his dream. Oscar doesnt seem to have a true dream. Really starting to give up on this kid.

[Barbara 15,149]

He has to take even bigger steps than Eden because Eden is a lot more talented than Oscar. Eden has to take big steps because he has the ambition of winning the Ballon D'or and he's getting there. Oscar on the other hand seems to be shying away and doesn't seem to be willing to step up to take the responsibility of becoming a great player. He'll never win the Ballon D'or because he doesn't really have any outstanding qualities but he should be aiming to become a top player but he doesn't seem to have that fire in him, it looks like he's tired of playing football already.

IMO I think Oscar is pretty much finished developing as a player as I can't see anything where he can develop on massively. This is the season where he's meant to be kicking on but honestly over his time here I can't see any significant improvements he's made. Hazard on the other hand you can see has clearly been working hard to realise his dream. Oscar doesnt seem to have a true dream. Really starting to give up on this kid.

I'm not as defeated as you about him. I still have hopes, but they keep decreasing as time passes.

We only see flashes with Oscar, it's time he develops that consistency that has been missing from him to become the player he has the potential to be.

As for taking bigger steps, I don't see it that way. Each player has a ceiling, qualities and limitations. Implying he has to take bigger steps may give the impression that if he works hard he can be as good - even if differently - which I think is impossible. Oscar could be a top player, but nowhere near Eden. They're two worlds apart - and therefore the steps each of them take should be separate things altogether.

I do agree though that he seems not to want more from his career. He seems accommodated.

[iseah100 5,612]

He has to take even bigger steps than Eden because Eden is a lot more talented than Oscar. Eden has to take big steps because he has the ambition of winning the Ballon D'or and he's getting there. Oscar on the other hand seems to be shying away and doesn't seem to be willing to step up to take the responsibility of becoming a great player. He'll never win the Ballon D'or because he doesn't really have any outstanding qualities but he should be aiming to become a top player but he doesn't seem to have that fire in him, it looks like he's tired of playing football already.

IMO I think Oscar is pretty much finished developing as a player as I can't see anything where he can develop on massively. This is the season where he's meant to be kicking on but honestly over his time here I can't see any significant improvements he's made. Hazard on the other hand you can see has clearly been working hard to realise his dream. Oscar doesnt seem to have a true dream. Really starting to give up on this kid.

That is totally unfair. He's talented and it isn't a question of him improving or anything, he just needs to be more consistent. He hasn't been awful this season, I think he's done well. He isn't as talented as Eden or as good a playmaker as Cesc or as good defensively as Willian, but he does a lot of things well. If he can just show up more often he would be a solid long term player for us.

[OhForAGreavsie 6,059]

Oscar's problem is that his talent ceiling is too low. A ten for a club with our ambition should be an outstanding play maker with great tactical awareness and work rate as necessary bolt-ons. He generally has the bolt-ons but there's nothing he can do about the low ceiling.

[Barbara 15,149]

That is totally unfair. He's talented and it isn't a question of him improving or anything, he just needs to be more consistent. He hasn't been awful this season, I think he's done well. He isn't as talented as Eden or as good a playmaker as Cesc or as good defensively as Willian, but he does a lot of things well. If he can just show up more often he would be a solid long term player for us.

He's better defensively than Willian imo, Willian has a physique advantage though - in pace, stamina and strength.

I also don't think he's had a bad season. The crosses for Diego and Hazard goals were amazing, the quick link up to Cesc's goal, the link up with Cesc and Hazard has been good on occasions too. And that's the problem and we both agree: he's good on occasion. He has to start being good week in and out.

[SouthKorea 38]

For some reason, I see chelsea or jose is trying to make him like Frank Lampard.

A goal scorer and free kick specialist, however, he can press like a maddog...

[iseah100 5,612]

He's better defensively than Willian imo, Willian has a physique advantage though - in pace, stamina and strength.

I also don't think he's had a bad season. The crosses for Diego and Hazard goals were amazing, the quick link up to Cesc's goal, the link up with Cesc and Hazard has been good on occasions too. And that's the problem and we both agree: he's good on occasion. He has to start being good week in and out.

Absolutely. The part of Skips post I mostly disagreed with was where he said he's giving up on him. He has only been absent for a handful of games, but he has flashes of brilliance. he is capable of that, but he's young and I have no doubt he'll be able to put it all together and do that consistently.

[Barbara 15,149]

Absolutely. The part of Skips post I mostly disagreed with was where he said he's giving up on him. He has only been absent for a handful of games, but he has flashes of brilliance. he is capable of that, but he's young and I have no doubt he'll be able to put it all together and do that consistently.

I hope he does it because I tend to agree with Thomas that he seems conformed with what he's achieved so far. He's quite the simple, humble guy, sometimes it looks like he's happy with what happened so far and don't put that much effort on improving.

The only thing keeping him from getting better is he really wanting it with all his being. Mourinho hinted mind/will issues and I think it was directed at Oscar, as I think André is very ambitious, even if very less talented than Oscar.

I don't think Oscar's ceiling is as low as you, @OhForAGreavsie, I think he has a good ceiling, André on the other hand I think has a low ceiling, but he can be very dangerous when on form.

Thing is all our AMs with the exception of Eden (and Cesc when he plays as #10) are lacking now in the attack now, which sucks.

[SouthKorea 38]

I hope he does it because I tend to agree with Thomas that he seems conformed with what he's achieved so far. He's quite the simple, humble guy, sometimes it looks like he's happy with what happened so far and don't put that much effort on improving.

The only thing keeping him from getting better is he really wanting it with all his being. Mourinho hinted mind/will issues and I think it was directed at Oscar, as I think André is very ambitious, even if very less talented than Oscar.

I don't think Oscar's ceiling is as low as you, @OhForAGreavsie, I think he has a good ceiling, André on the other hand I think has a low ceiling, but he can be very dangerous when on form.

Thing is all our AMs with the exception of Eden (and Cesc when he plays as #10) are lacking now in the attack now, which sucks.

Oscar ceiling would be a lot higher, if he would take a summer off and hit the weights...

[OhForAGreavsie 6,059]

I hope he does it because I tend to agree with Thomas that he seems conformed with what he's achieved so far. He's quite the simple, humble guy, sometimes it looks like he's happy with what happened so far and don't put that much effort on improving.

The only thing keeping him from getting better is he really wanting it with all his being. Mourinho hinted mind/will issues and I think it was directed at Oscar, as I think André is very ambitious, even if very less talented than Oscar.

I don't think Oscar's ceiling is as low as you, @OhForAGreavsie, I think he has a good ceiling, André on the other hand I think has a low ceiling, but he can be very dangerous when on form.

Thing is all our AMs with the exception of Eden (and Cesc when he plays as #10) are lacking now in the attack now, which sucks.

I wouldn't say now @Barbara. In my opinion it's been clear since before Christmas 2013 that we need two AM upgrades. We can go around in circles but the bottom line is we will never be the team we want to be with any of Oscar/Schurrle/Willian as first choice players.

[OhForAGreavsie 6,059]

He just needs to be more consistent.

It's time he develops that consistency that has been missing.

Please don't all shout at once, but...

The notion of consistency is, in my opinion, much misunderstood. None of us, footballers and non-footballers alike, is consistent. We all have performance ups and downs from day to day, and from week to week. Talent is the regulator. People with enough ability for the work they do, can be effective even when they are below their best but others, like Oscar, need to be at, or very near, their top level to make a good contribution. The trouble is all players are somewhere below their best most of the time. That's a problem if you happen to be one of those who can really only contribute when at your best because it means you are not going to achieve whole lot much of the time.

When a player is said to be inconsistent as frequently as Oscar is, that's really just code for not good enough at this level.

Of course Oscar not being good enough is not our big problem. Our big problem is that he's still the best option we have for his position. That's the issue we need to address.

[The Skipper 20,609]

That is totally unfair. He's talented and it isn't a question of him improving or anything, he just needs to be more consistent. He hasn't been awful this season, I think he's done well. He isn't as talented as Eden or as good a playmaker as Cesc or as good defensively as Willian, but he does a lot of things well. If he can just show up more often he would be a solid long term player for us.

The problem is, Oscar should be more than just a 'solid long term player'. He should be our future with Eden. I've not given up on him because I don't believe he's going to be a solid player, I'm giving up on him because I don't think he has the potential to become one of the best players in the world anymore.

Sure, he's going to be a good player but nothing more. We should be aiming higher tbh.

[Barbara 15,149]

Please don't all shout at once, but...

The notion of consistency is, in my opinion, much misunderstood. None of us, footballers and non-footballers alike, is consistent. We all have performance ups and downs from day to day, and from week to week. Talent is the regulator. People with enough ability for the work they do, can be effective even when they are below their best but others, like Oscar, need to be at, or very near, their top level to make a good contribution. The trouble is all players are somewhere below their best most of the time. That's a problem if you happen to be one of those who can really only contribute when at your best because it means you are not going to achieve whole lot much of the time.

When a player is said to be inconsistent as frequently as Oscar is, that's really just code for not good enough at this level.

Of course Oscar not being good enough is not our big problem. Our big problem is that he's still the best option we have for his position. That's the issue we need to address.

completely disagree with your notion of consistency and that Oscar isn't talented. To each their own.

Players at age 23 - regardless of their talent - aren't the most consistent lads around with few exceptions.

I think that's too harsh. Way too harsh.

[iseah100 5,612]

completely disagree with your notion of consistency and that Oscar isn't talented. To each their own.

Players at age 23 - regardless of their talent - aren't the most consistent lads around with few exceptions.

I think that's too harsh. Way too harsh.

This. Most players don't hit their primes till mid to late twenties. With the exception of the very best, that's usually when it is. He has time.