Oscar

[Symbol123 175]

Great, great game today by the kid. Was able to snatch the ball from the opponents a few times and start off our counterattacks. He was all over the pitch tonight and his workrate is amazing, hustles back to win the ball back and then making some nice dribbles that were slightly reminiscent of Hazard's. With those 2, along with Schurrle, I feel really comfortable if we have to rely on the counterattack from now on against some of the bigger teams. And they're all just 21-22, amazing.

[Cripen 110]

He's amazing. He's made so much progress in one year. Last night he showed some very good work in defense. He is a great player but Mata also is amazing. I hope Mourinho deal with it and we will watch this both cracking players in one team.

[Styles 9,790]

This game convinced me he has to be tested as DM. He was really good defensively and also somewhat good when we got the ball and went forward but just pure offensively as #10 he was (and has been for the past games) not good at all.

Perhaps since Ramires wont be starting the first CL game we can see smth like:

Oscar - Essien

Willian - Mata - Hazard

This not a insult to you so don't take it personally, but I've seen that suggested a few times and I just think people are really desperate to shoehorn Mata into the side somehow. It's even more surprising to suggest that after Oscar just put in one of the most brilliant tactical performances you will ever see from a young attacking player. Mata couldn't have provided that sort of performance in a game like that in his wildest dreams. How can you advocate putting Oscar in DM after the game last night? It just doesn't make sense.

If/when we play Bayern, Barcelona, Madrid, Atletico, Dortmund and Utd/City (i.e. the big European/English teams) Oscar will always play CAM unless he's injured.

I doubt Mata will even play against those teams let alone displacing one of our most important players from by far his best position.

[The Skipper 20,609]

This game convinced me he has to be tested as DM. He was really good defensively and also somewhat good when we got the ball and went forward but just pure offensively as #10 he was (and has been for the past games) not good at all.

Perhaps since Ramires wont be starting the first CL game we can see smth like:

Oscar - Essien

Willian - Mata - Hazard

If anything, just the fact that Mikel has come off the bench ahead of Essien should tell you Mikel would start ahead of him.

On topic, regarding Oscar in the pivot... I'm not too sure now if it wouldn't take away from his game. Will be interesting to see how he develops this season.

[polo 18]

good performance

[Jcar92 66]

This not a insult to you so don't take it personally, but I've seen that suggested a few times and I just think people are really desperate to shoehorn Mata into the side somehow. It's even more surprising to suggest that after Oscar just put in one of the most brilliant tactical performances you will ever see from a young attacking player. Mata couldn't have provided that sort of performance in a game like that in his wildest dreams. How can you advocate putting Oscar in DM after the game last night? It just doesn't make sense.

If/when we play Bayern, Barcelona, Madrid, Atletico, Dortmund and Utd/City (i.e. the big European/English teams) Oscar will always play CAM unless he's injured.

I doubt Mata will even play against those teams let alone displacing one of our most important players from by far his best position.

Disagree, he may have a amazing work rate and be really good pressing up front... But i think its the other way around! In this game he may had helped in the pressure but i think that he struggled to lead the attack in the CAM position... His best moments were when he dropped deep to give flair to the game. In the big games we will need someone that can defend and orchestrate the game from behind... I really believe that player is Oscar and that his real position is DLP.

I also believe that he can play as CAM... But with not his true best game, this, without count that we can play with Mata(our playmaker for 2 years) there.

[YouNameIt 1,511]

This not a insult to you so don't take it personally, but I've seen that suggested a few times and I just think people are really desperate to shoehorn Mata into the side somehow. It's even more surprising to suggest that after Oscar just put in one of the most brilliant tactical performances you will ever see from a young attacking player. Mata couldn't have provided that sort of performance in a game like that in his wildest dreams. How can you advocate putting Oscar in DM after the game last night? It just doesn't make sense.

If/when we play Bayern, Barcelona, Madrid, Atletico, Dortmund and Utd/City (i.e. the big European/English teams) Oscar will always play CAM unless he's injured.

I doubt Mata will even play against those teams let alone displacing one of our most important players from by far his best position.

Why? The answer is simple. Oscar was really poor offensively. I agree, he did do a very good job; defensively. But he is far from being a natural #10 (at least in Chelsea from what Ive seen) and Mata IS that.

I think some of you guys here are forgetting what Mata has done here at Chelsea the last season. You are buying into what the media says, what others at the forum say and what you've made up in your mind.

[Atlas Lion 1,223]

His best performances have come from him playing deep. I'm convinced that is where he will blossom

[TorontoChelsea 4,064]

His best performances have come from him playing deep. I'm convinced that is where he will blossom

He'd be great deep in a 4-3-3, in a 4-2-3-1, I don't see it. He likes to press a lot defensively. Great as an attacker when you have teammates behind you if the opposing player gets by you. As a defensive midfielder, you need to play angles and cover lanes more than pressing and going for the tackle. Same goes for trying to dribble past players which Oscar likes to do. As an attacker, it's fine (sometimes). As a central midfielder, if you give up the ball, you're badly caught out on the counter and you should be looking to play the ball anyway instead of trying to dribble. He's versatile enough to play multiple positions, but I don't see him as a natural box to box midfielder who could become a great #10 if he improves his offensive game.

[Barbara 15,149]

He'd be great deep in a 4-3-3, in a 4-2-3-1, I don't see it. He likes to press a lot defensively. Great as an attacker when you have teammates behind you if the opposing player gets by you. As a defensive midfielder, you need to play angles and cover lanes more than pressing and going for the tackle. Same goes for trying to dribble past players which Oscar likes to do. As an attacker, it's fine (sometimes). As a central midfielder, if you give up the ball, you're badly caught out on the counter and you should be looking to play the ball anyway instead of trying to dribble. He's versatile enough to play multiple positions, but I don't see him as a natural box to box midfielder who could become a great #10 if he improves his offensive game.

that's what I keep repeating to myself. He's perfect for a 4-3-3, for example using yesterday's formation:

Cech

Ivan - Cahill - Luiz - Cole

Ramires - Lampard

Oscar

André - Hazard

Torres

The alternatives with our squad are amazing too with Willian/Mata for André, KDB for Oscar himself, Mikel or Essien for Lamps, Terry for Cahill, Azpili for Ivan and of course Eto'o for Torres

[Zoro 151]

As good as he was yesterday, Mata is still a better no. 10. Oscar can play deeper next to Ramires. Better option than Lampard.

[Gilvorak 3,734]

Mikel and Oscar would be my midfield pair until Van Ginkel improves his distribution anyway.

[Jcar92 66]

that's what I keep repeating to myself. He's perfect for a 4-3-3, for example using yesterday's formation:

Cech

Ivan - Cahill - Luiz - Cole

Ramires - Lampard

Oscar

André - Hazard

Torres

The alternatives with our squad are amazing too with Willian/Mata for André, KDB for Oscar himself, Mikel or Essien for Lamps, Terry for Cahill, Azpili for Ivan and of course Eto'o for Torres

I also agree that he may be better suited to the 4-3-3 for leaving space for him to create and go up front to shoot, but not as the main playmaker Cam... I think it would be ideal for him to be the second man in the midfield, to give him liberty to press foward or behind, drop deep to create and come up front whenever he want.

[The_Flash 1,144]

Should have scored

[Jase 43,479]

Oscar in the October edition's front cover for Chelsea magazine..

Also, He is the Special One! Oscar hails Mourinho's impact on Chelsea return..