Oscar

[Rapkun 668]

Should have started ahead of Cesc, especially with the form he's in. José paid too much respect to Liverpool tonight. Ramires and Oscar, two work-horses with bundles of energy on the counter and equal energy in pressing high up the pitch, would have stifled so many of their attacks. Fabregas was anonymous.

That's extremely harsh. He pressed all game, dropped back to support the midfield and secure the ball when we intercept it. He had very few balls to play with and he did the best he could with minimum support. he made the pass to Eden for the pen too. I dont think Oscar could have done better today.

[BlueLion. 21,491]

That's extremely harsh. He pressed all game, dropped back to support the midfield and secure the ball when we intercept it. He had very few balls to play with and he did the best he could with minimum support. he made the pass to Eden for the pen too. I dont think Oscar could have done better today.

Fabregas pressed but nowhere near "all game". He spent most of the first half playing at walking pace. Oscar would have given us a totally different dynamic, but neither would have been helped by José's intentions of getting a draw.

[The Skipper 20,609]

Why isn't that enough for you guys?

If he proves to be an important cog and a lynch pin player for Jose isn't that great for CFC?

As I've said in a previous post if you ask Isco to win 2 tackles a game, test the keeper 3 times a game, score goals and assist goals, press the opposition when out of possession AND do it week in and week out he would likely fail miserably. And I don't know what Ross Barkley you've been watching but this year he's been nothing short of awful, you put him in this team and we'd be MUCH worse off not to mention we'd have to pay upwards of 30m... Pogba is the only guy I think who can impact our lineup positively.

We bought Oscar for something like £20M, we didn't pay over the odds for him. What he's done for the team(never mind individual contributions which have also been good) has made our team much more complete and balanced. I feel sometimes you guys look at the player's skill and not the system we play. Mata was our two time player of the year coming off a season where he had 18 goals and 25 assists in all comps, remarkable. Why was he let go? because he could cope with the demands Jose puts on the team. Oscar isn't always an offensive dynamo but he is a key cog to the overall functionality of the squad. I don't think there are many players in the world today who will get you 10-15 goals, 10-15 assists, 2-2.5 tackles, and be adaptable enough to mark out an opposing attacker. He is a brilliant player who needs to get better in some areas but he is very tough to replace.

The players I've listed could do an effective job in pressing, covering gaps and tactical discipline just like Oscar but would contribute a lot more to our team going forward.

On Barkley, of course Ross Barkley isn't going to be in top form, he just came back from a 3-4 month layoff recently. I just think he has a higher ceiling than Oscar and could potentially do Oscar's job just as well in the team but could add more going forward, hence why I listed him.

I just feel that someone like Pogba or Isco in Oscar's place for example would take this team to even another level.

No idea why Mata is being mentioned when I haven't mentioned the lad at all. His inclusion in this is irrelevant to the point I'm trying to make.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

I don't at all understand the decision to not play him today. If I had to choose only 2 matches of the 4 we had after Swansea for him to play in, I'd have gone with both of the Liverpool matches. Very weird decision not to play him especially when we were looking to hit them with quick transition on the counter.

[CFC888 219]

I don't at all understand the decision to not play him today. If I had to choose only 2 matches of the 4 we had after Swansea for him to play in, I'd have gone with both of the Liverpool matches. Very weird decision not to play him especially when we were looking to hit them with quick transition on the counter.

I agree, however as LAB says below I think Oscar's non-appearance last night was a product of him playing the full 90 at Swansea, which he hasn't done since early December against Spurs. I do think he has a major role to play in the return leg though.

Maybe it would have been better if Jose subbed him off on Saturday to be able to get some minutes today.

[Chelsea Legend 11 4,062]

The players I've listed could do an effective job in pressing, covering gaps and tactical discipline just like Oscar but would contribute a lot more to our team going forward.

On Barkley, of course Ross Barkley isn't going to be in top form, he just came back from a 3-4 month layoff recently. I just think he has a higher ceiling than Oscar and could potentially do Oscar's job just as well in the team but could add more going forward, hence why I listed him.

I just feel that someone like Pogba or Isco in Oscar's place for example would take this team to even another level.

No idea why Mata is being mentioned when I haven't mentioned the lad at all. His inclusion in this is irrelevant to the point I'm trying to make.

There is no evidence to support your claim that Barkley or Isco could be effective in a pressing team looking to get out on the counter. Its not as easy as just running at players and making a nuisance of yourself, there is the tactical acumen that comes with it like when to press and anticipating where you have to be to win the ball. I've never seen Barkley or Isco deployed in that system before and judging what I have seen of them I doubt highly they would be effective in pressing and winning the ball back.

I think you're ignoring the type of physical exhaustion that comes with playing this system. Have you ever seen Pogba, Barkley or Isco play in a high tempo pressing game? I certainly haven't and if there was one thing missing today in our play(whether tactical or in ability) it was the inability to get close to Liverpool to pressure them into making mistakes, Cesc is a fantastic player but was largely useless when we weren't in possession. Oscar is a tireless competitor who is very tough to play against because he never lets up... You can't say the same about any of the players you mentioned and I absolutely LOVE Pogba... He is a different player.

Pogba and Isco could very well take us to the next level because they are incredible when in possession... I don't think they make our current system any better though and at what price? Can we get either of them for a reasonable fee to make it worth while for the gamble? I don't think so. In terms of value and return you will be hard pressed to find a player as good as Oscar....

Mata was brought up as an example of a player who was incredible in one system and terrible in another. He is also a player I put in the same bracket as Oscar, not world class but aspects of his game are very effective and top shelf.

[Thor 2,693]

The one frustration I have with him is ball retention under pressure.

He can't seem to handle being pressured at all. He either gets pushed off the ball, falls over, or ends up getting the ball under his feet and does a bad pass. He also gets stuck having to back track at times when he tries to beat his man when pressured.

That is literally the only problem of his. Ability to deal with defensive pressure. He is great at pressuring others, but when it happens to him, he crumbles at times.

[rantdeville 195]

There is no evidence to support your claim that Barkley or Isco could be effective in a pressing team looking to get out on the counter. Its not as easy as just running at players and making a nuisance of yourself, there is the tactical acumen that comes with it like when to press and anticipating where you have to be to win the ball. I've never seen Barkley or Isco deployed in that system before and judging what I have seen of them I doubt highly they would be effective in pressing and winning the ball back.

I think you're ignoring the type of physical exhaustion that comes with playing this system. Have you ever seen Pogba, Barkley or Isco play in a high tempo pressing game? I certainly haven't and if there was one thing missing today in our play(whether tactical or in ability) it was the inability to get close to Liverpool to pressure them into making mistakes, Cesc is a fantastic player but was largely useless when we weren't in possession. Oscar is a tireless competitor who is very tough to play against because he never lets up... You can't say the same about any of the players you mentioned and I absolutely LOVE Pogba... He is a different player.

Pogba and Isco could very well take us to the next level because they are incredible when in possession... I don't think they make our current system any better though and at what price? Can we get either of them for a reasonable fee to make it worth while for the gamble? I don't think so. In terms of value and return you will be hard pressed to find a player as good as Oscar....

Mata was brought up as an example of a player who was incredible in one system and terrible in another. He is also a player I put in the same bracket as Oscar, not world class but aspects of his game are very effective and top shelf.

A very, very pragmatic and under appreciated approach to the situation. I can relate to it entirely, but I would be lying to you if I didn't say I really wanted Pogba in the team just because I think he is going to a very special player.

Mourinho has carved out a very oddly shaped hole for the number 10 in this team, and all those players, for all their virtues and wonder, would be square pegs in round holes.

I suppose there is a method to the Mourinho madness.

But FIFA with Pogba...gimme dat lol

[yuvala 2,167]

Had a really bad game IMO, hope he can jump back.

[OhForAGreavsie 6,067]

The one frustration I have with him is ball retention under pressure.

He can't seem to handle being pressured at all. He either gets pushed off the ball, falls over, or ends up getting the ball under his feet and does a bad pass. He also gets stuck having to back track at times when he tries to beat his man when pressured.

That is literally the only problem of his. Ability to deal with defensive pressure. He is great at pressuring others, but when it happens to him, he crumbles at times.

A very fair analysis I think.

Had a really bad game IMO, hope he can jump back.

Morning Yuvala,

I'm quite surprised that you say this. I may be among Oscar's biggest critics but I felt he had a decent game last night. Yes some of the weaknesses we know about, like the one Thor talked about last week, were again on show but not as noticeably as they often are. What's more, I thought that the things he is good at were on display. For example, there were some nice, first time, 'round the corner' passes which created good situations and, pleasingly, an acceptable number of his more considered passes also found their targets.

My overall opinion remains the same; we would benefit from finding an Oscar upgrade but, credit where's it's due, he did well last night.

[We Hate Scouse 10,326]

A very fair analysis I think.

Morning Yuvala,

I'm quite surprised that you say this. I may be among Oscar's biggest critics but I felt he had a decent game last night. Yes some of the weaknesses we know about, like the one Thor talked about last week, were again on show but not as noticeably as they often are. What's more, I thought that the things he is good at were well displayed last night. For example, there some nice, first time, 'round the corner' passes which created good situations and, pleasingly, an acceptable number of his more considered passes also found their targets.

My overall opinion remains the same; we would benefit from finding an Oscar upgrade but, credit where's it's due, he did well last night.

He played well in the 2nd half, he must of got a bollocking at half time. In the first half he was completely invisible, he looked lost. I can only recall 3/4 times he was even on the ball, 2 of which he lost possession due to sloppy play.

[OhForAGreavsie 6,067]

He played well in the 2nd half, he must of got a bollocking at half time. In the first half he was completely invisible, he looked lost. I can only recall 3/4 times he was even on the ball, 2 of which he lost possession due to sloppy play.

Thanks WHS,

I haven't seen it on telly yet but, given my overall view of Oscar, I always try to be aware of how he's doing. I thought he contributed some good things even before half time. I can't quote any examples but I remember feeling, early on, that he had started well. Yes, I agree that he disappeared for a time but my main impression was that his output was decent.

[!Hazard! 3,394]

He was one of the worst players on the pitch yesterday. Last January Oscar got dropped for Ramires in City game and this season more than likely the same scenario will happen. As much as I wish to see this lad grow and develop into a Chelsea legend, I just can't see that happening. The way he sometimes switches off and is not played in big games is a concern. I'm almost certain that in few years we have replaced Oscar with someone else (Pogba, Koke etc.) or with Willian playing the no 10 whilst we have a new winger (Cuadrado?).

[LAB 1,030]

Well I though he worked his socks off 2nd half. First half was nowhere.

[lionsden 4,689]

is he still on course to become "one of the best attacking midfielders in Europe in a few years" or . . . . . ..