Oscar

[The only place to be 11,313]

well, the coach has also to put players in positions, where they can fully express themselves. everybody on this board knows that Mata isnt half as good on the right wing as he is in the center. so putting him in the right wing, you'll never get the best result. you cant change players 100%. especially mata, who aint a 20-year old kid anymore. I mean, Oscar was awful against United, so why not giving Mata the chance? especially after being 3!!-0 up. instead he brings on Mikel and later even Matic and playing with 4 DMs on the pitch. Mou at the moment just destroys Mata, thats it. there were rumours as soon as his era started, that he didnt like Matas style etc and back then we were laughing at this rumours but now looking at the situation- they were right with this reports. We need Mata especially in February, where we have a lot of tight matches, but if Mou treats him how he does at the moment, I dont think we will get the best out of Juan.

I wonder if one day I might get to the stage where I moan about how we beat Manchester United at home.

He put Mikel on to sure things up and replace Oscar. He put Matic on to give him his debut. This idea that he treats Mata disgracefully is just so annoying. I like Juan but the amount of shit that is being spouted because of his current situation is pathetic. If we weren't winning games, I'd understand. If Oscar was under-performing on a consistent basis I might understand. If Mata fit the system without question (like Schurrle does, whose absence is a bit weird) then I'd understand.

But right now I simply don't get it.

Would love some examples on how he saved our ass in that period.

Think you need to go and watch our games from the start of the season. But he racked up more than a few MOTM trophies and scored key goals against Fulham and Hull.

[Azpinator 2,325]

Think you need to go and watch our games from the start of the season. But he racked up more than a few MOTM trophies and scored key goals against Fulham and Hull.

He wasn't consistent during that period and I edited my previous post, the Hull game was a great team display by everyone in the 1st half not just Oscar.

[Fulham Broadway 17,306]

He can be forgiven for today, seeing as hes been brilliant this season.

[Reddish-Blue 2,489]

No, don't get me wrong: the team is working fine and doing really well.

With "shame" I mean the fact we all know what Mata is capable of: magic player and real class and seeing him "wasted" like that makes me sad, for him and for the team quality; in other words, I strongly believe Chelsea would be a much stronger team with a fully integrated Mata in the playing system.

I strongly believe that Hazard, Oscar & Willian have worked well as a unit.

They all know how to track back, unlike Mata

Mata as an individual may be more talented than Oscar...but to win games on a consistent basis, your team has to perform well.

[Sheva. 5,373]

He played as he does most of the time; good defensively with his tackles and fairly anonymous in attack.

It only looks like he played worse today because Hazard and Willian didn't do much in attack also.

[Barbara 15,149]

I think he's struggled today, I feel like he still struggles to find how to balance both of his responsibilities... Mourinho has chosen what gives us more stability. Ever since he came back to the team (especially when he was in form again, as he was clearly not in form in his first two matches back from the injury) we stopped conceding, our midfield started dominating opposition's again and we decreased considerably the time we allow opposition to spend in their attacking third as well as shots on goal. Some of those things aren't as flashy as an assist (although he did have two of them - plus a goal - against Southampton just a couple of weeks ago, and somehow I still have to read he's been bad - or whatever was the word - for the past few weeks) and aren't easy to be noticed.

I have no problem saying he's had a bad match today because I think he did. Doing as much as he's done for us throughout the whole season (except the two matches after his injury) he's more than allowed to have a bad match today. His effect on the team is more tactical than practical, he's been a key player for us, giving us balance and stability. I can't complain about those.

Still he's first in the team with assists this season (5, tied with Eden and Lamps) and third in goals (behind Eden, and now Samuel)... Go figure why he's been so underwhelming for people...

[dee25 1,044]

I think he's struggled today, I feel like he still struggles to find how to balance both of his responsibilities... Mourinho has chosen what gives us more stability. Ever since he came back to the team (especially when he was in form again, as he was clearly not in form in his first two matches back from the injury) we stopped conceding, our midfield started dominating opposition's again and we decreased considerably the time we allow opposition to spend in their attacking third as well as shots on goal. Some of those things aren't as flashy as an assist (although he did have two of them - plus a goal - against Southampton just a couple of weeks ago, and somehow I still have to read he's been bad - or whatever was the word - for the past few weeks) and aren't easy to be noticed.

I have no problem saying he's had a bad match today because I think he did. Doing as much as he's done for us throughout the whole season (except the two matches after his injury) he's more than allowed to have a bad match today. His effect on the team is more tactical than practical, he's been a key player for us, giving us balance and stability. I can't complain about those.

Still he's first in the team with assists this season (5, tied with Eden and Lamps) and third in goals (behind Eden, and now Samuel)... Go figure why he's been so underwhelming for people...

There are a couple of issues I have here and I'm still trying make sense of it, so it might be a bit disjointed. I think there are both pluses & minuses to Oscar's presence in this team. He is extremely vital to our defensive stability and he's a significant factor to why we've been incredibly rock solid recently, but my worry is that Oscar's contributions to our defensive structure might be papering over the cracks. The fact that the team's defensive organization is so dependant on an attacking midfielder is really not something that I think should lauded or celebrated. To me, that doesn't signify a method that's sustainable or something that's a long term solution.

I'm actually very interested to see what the team would look like next season because right now I think Mourinho is just doing whatever he can to get this team competitive in the league again. I suspect we'll see a lot of changes next season and possibly, a change in Oscar's role.

[Vybz Kartel 1,613]

His had 2 poor games in a row, had that been Mata he would have been benched for a month

[kellzfresh 7,229]

He had a poor game, but I think it was because hull and manutd were massively pressing in the first half. They even nullified hazard and willian attacking and for the first time we depended on our striker to bail us out.

When both hull and manutd tired out in the 2nd half, he got better. They obviously couldn't continuously press like that for 90mins.

[TrippingStep 336]

I think he tries too much in attack.

Maybe it has to do with the fact that the club expects that players like him, Hazard to be decisive every game.

I would like to see him in a three man midfield, playing a bit deeper, and do late runs when we have more control of the ball.

Like he did with the olympic team.

[DDA 9,924]

There are a couple of issues I have here and I'm still trying make sense of it, so it might be a bit disjointed. I think there are both pluses & minuses to Oscar's presence in this team. He is extremely vital to our defensive stability and he's a significant factor to why we've been incredibly rock solid recently, but my worry is that Oscar's contributions to our defensive structure might be papering over the cracks. The fact that the team's defensive organization is so dependant on an attacking midfielder is really not something that I think should lauded or celebrated. To me, that doesn't signify a method that's sustainable or something that's a long term solution.

I'm actually very interested to see what the team would look like next season because right now I think Mourinho is just doing whatever he can to get this team competitive in the league again. I suspect we'll see a lot of changes next season and possibly, a change in Oscar's role.

I would have to 100% agree with this. I think Jose will want us attacking and pressing like his Madrid team did when they won La Liga. This will need a cam who is more creative than Oscar, i.e. Ozil. Maybe this wont work in the Prem but surely he doesn't think we can become the best team in the world with a cam who is used purely for his defensive qualities because in this current system Oscar doesn't offer much attacking options. Only against the smaller clubs, I feel.

[The only place to be 11,313]

The fact that the team's defensive organization is so dependant on an attacking midfielder is really not something that I think should lauded or celebrated.

Why? When Barca's game is dependent on every member of the team pressing, they are lauded and rightly so. Why on Earth should this aspect of our game not be celebrated?

To me, that doesn't signify a method that's sustainable or something that's a long term solution.

Again, why? How is it not sustainable - it's a football tactic not a fucking rainforest. In fact isn't tactical stability something we've been looking for for years? Isn't that part of Jose's remit? Why on Earth can't all our age group teams adopt similar tactics in order to ease the progression of young players into the first team?

I would have to 100% agree with this. I think Jose will want us attacking and pressing like his Madrid team did when they won La Liga. This will need a cam who is more creative than Oscar, i.e. Ozil. Maybe this wont work in the Prem but surely he doesn't think we can become the best team in the world with a cam who is used purely for his defensive qualities because in this current system Oscar doesn't offer much attacking options. Only against the smaller clubs, I feel.

Oscar isn't used purely for his defensive qualities. Don't forget that he's still a young player. He's not the finished article yet and is still growing, but he's clearly improving with time.

[Jase 43,479]

I strongly believe that Hazard, Oscar & Willian have worked well as a unit.

They all know how to track back, unlike Mata

Mata as an individual may be more talented than Oscar...but to win games on a consistent basis, your team has to perform well.

This whole thing about Mata doesn't track back or defend is seriously getting old, typical and cliche. Ever since he was dropped, if you like, at the beginning of the season and basically told he's not up to scratch defensively, Mata has worked hard every time he plays in the subsequent games. The only difference and reason why Mourinho has preferred Hazard, Oscar, Willian etc over Mata is because the latter doesn't quite have the same tenacity, aggressiveness and energy level when defending and pressing as well as that pace to counter when the ball is turned over in our advantage.

[lionsden 4,689]

His had 2 poor games in a row, had that been Mata he would have been benched for a month

But but but he tracks back and works his socks off. Isn't that the only important aspect of football. every other aspect like passing well, creating and scoring and so on is mint

[lionsden 4,689]

Here what opposition fans think of the matter. pulled straight from redcafe

Starts with the best post

ekeke said:

Its good he puts his foot in and tries to win the ball but he also needs to have an impact in the final third

Those are average numbers for a number 10 at Chelsea. An average of 36 passes isnt exactly impressive either, its not like hes the heartbeat of your team. So while he has done a very good job defensively, he's been underwhelming offensively. 36 is a couple more than Kagawa averages and he hasn't been influencial enough either and has played plenty of times on the wing. His end product has been more disappointing as well. The point is that while Mourinho obviously loves the fact he will try and pinch the ball and close people down, you're playing as a number 10 for a top club. You need to be producing more offensively than he has in the league. Interestingly, while Oscar has made double the tackles Mata has, an out of form and unconfident Mata has created almost double the chances Oscar has. At the end of the day its no surprise you're just nicking results and largely playing dour football (other than Hazard) if your number 10 is valued for his closing down and defensive work rather than his attacking. Heskey, Kuyt and Valencia are valued for theirs as well and Oscar should be aiming a lot higher than that.

Gerald g wrote:He was anonymous today. I've thought this all season but Mata should be ahead of him in my opinion

B20: I think Ekeke makes a valid point. Mourinho has sold the world a false dilemma with this Oscar vs Mata thing and Oscar being one of your better players only masks the actual fact that he is not as good as Mata has been for you the past two years.

Robbie boy: Mata is the better player, for me, and his productivity is better than Oscar's

That's the general opposition view of oscar vs mata debate. I'm just putting it here for some balance.