Oscar

[Barbara 15,149]

I didn't see his goal here

that's finishing class

i like oscar..but i would start mata over oscar anyday..

I'd start Mata any day over Oscar as well if it was all about Mata getting us goals... the thing is we don't have the strongest pivot around and all our AM except Oscar barely defend if they defend at all. So it's a big exposure for dangerous teams... especially fast ones.

It's not only about adding goals and assists... if we go back to last year when we conceded because our defence wasn't properly covered and protected (although the defence itself was fragile many times) no matter how better Mata is compared to Oscar, we'll continue to concede goals because our midfield is sort of too light.

This is a team and as such we should look for balance. Also I don't think Oscar and Mata are fighting for the same position. Oscar will start under Mourinho, the discussion was just if he should be played in the center or in the wing. I think once Mata is fit is de Bruyne who is leaving, not Oscar.

[Rmpr 8,977]

i like oscar..but i would start mata over oscar anyday..

I wouldnt, I love the balance he brings to our attacking trio...

[Waterfall 893]

http://espnfc.com/blog/_/name/tacticsandanalysis/id/1713?cc=5901

Read this and appreciate the value he brings to this team

[Barbara 15,149]

http://espnfc.com/blog/_/name/tacticsandanalysis/id/1713?cc=5901

Read this and appreciate the value he brings to this team

"Oscar might be Europe's most selfless, responsible playmaker."

couldn't agree more.

And he used the same graphic I've used in a an article a couple of months ago

[yuvala 2,167]

I'm really torn up inside on whether Mata or Oscar should be our #10.

But just happy to see Mou realizing that Oscar is not for the wing (Rafa and RDM ).

[FabHazard 655]

hazard oscar mata..is the best we can put in terms of balance...mourinho told that he likes wrong footed wingers...mata will replace debruyne on RW..but it doesnt matter all players interexchange their positions

[kellzfresh 7,229]

Once mata and ba came off he drifted properly into the center close to ramires and played excellently. More like how he played vs hull.

[kellzfresh 7,229]

Once mata and ba came off he drifted properly into the center close to ramires and played excellently. More like how he played vs hull.

[meetdoscar 335]

I like how he started retaining possession after we went 2-1 up. That's intelligence, making time run out and breaking up the tempo of the game. By the way that pass to hazard took out three villa defenders I want to see more of that, not only from him but also hazard, mata, kdb and lamps. Who are all capable.

[Jase 43,479]

I like how he started retaining possession after we went 2-1 up. That's intelligence, making time run out and breaking up the tempo of the game. By the way that pass to hazard took out three villa defenders I want to see more of that, not only from him but also hazard, mata, kdb and lamps. Who are all capable.

Think that's because Mourinho shifted him deeper into midfield with Lampard and Ramires to keep possession. You could see him receiving the ball from the CBs and then passing it around.

[zolayes 14,489]

I'm really torn up inside on whether Mata or Oscar should be our #10.

But just happy to see Mou realizing that Oscar is not for the wing (Rafa and RDM ).

Im starting to believe #10 must be Oscar ...with Mata resting him at times

[meetdoscar 335]

Think that's because Mourinho shifted him deeper into midfield with Lampard and Ramires to keep possession. You could see him receiving the ball from the CBs and then passing it around.

Nope. He does that on his own even when he plays for brazil especially in confed. Cup final against spain when brazil were 3-0 up he just sat deep and distributed the ball to run out time its part of his game.

[Styles 9,790]

Im starting to believe #10 must be Oscar ...with Mata resting him at times

Against the good teams in the league and the big Champions League games I'm sure Oscar will be playing through the middle. What that means for Mata I don't know. The good teams are ruthless and will exploit any weaknesses, so Mata's inability to defend/pressure the ball is something that will almost certainly cost him a place in the big games.

[Jase 43,479]

Nope. He does that on his own even when he plays for brazil especially in confed. Cup final against spain when brazil were 3-0 up he just sat deep and distributed the ball to run out time its part of his game.

You just don't go suddenly decide to drop back and play the ball out of the back and go against what your manager wants of you. Either Oscar has been told that by Mourinho during the game when we went 2-1 up or has been briefed about that role beforehand.

[Peace. 4,352]

I want Oscar to be the player to be given the keys of our midfield (could it be as a n°10 or a central midfielder), and the game against Hull showed why. To my eyes, out of Mata, Hazard and him, he is the only one to act/play like a midfielder. Against all the quality clubs, winning the midfield battle will be important. That's why he should be the player to sit on top of two other central midfielders more defensive minded (Ramires-van Gikel for example).

First off, he drops deep — on offensive phases he will drop deep in order to collect the ball and to conduct the play (to build the play, in other words) ; on defensive phases he will also track-back to help the other midfielders with the defensive work. If last year our pivot was defensively exposed and was a weak point in the building of the game, that's because the player in front of the pivot — Mata for most of the time, and a few time Hazard — didn't do that job.

Secondly, Oscar is head and shoulder better than any of our other advanced midfielders when it comes to defensive works. He is very good at harassing and pressuring opponents, and for an attacking-minded player, he has great technique for intercept the ball and do tackles. His defensive abilities plus the fact he drops deep / track back will considerably strengthen defensively-wise our midfield — and eventually to our whole defensive unity —, something he cannot offer when playing on the wing.

Finally, into my eyes, he is the more suited to be the playmaker, because he has the better understanding of the game. His movements and positional sense show this ; he knows when to leave spaces for other players (like he did for Brazil and Neymar), he knows when he gots to be involved in the play or when he has to fade away to not hinder others, etc... And he has also a better understanding of the tempo (i.e. he knows when to free the ball quickly, or at the contrary when he has to keep hold upon the ball). And, once again, the fact he drops deep is a strength, because as we dont have any deep-lying playmaker (or anyone able to decently build the game), it will help to ease the transition between the defenders and the attackers.

Therefore playing the Brazilian there will grandly strenghten defensively our midfield — the back-line will have more cover and thus will be better, which as I said will strenghten the whole defensive unity of the team. Moreover, when on the ball, our midfield will be quicker execution-wise, sharper and more incisive in the tempo, more clever in the distribution of the ball. We have al lot to gain by doing this, at it seems that Mourinho knows this as well, which is a good thing !