Oscar

[SinineUltra 1,170]

Chances created can mean passing the ball to a player who takes a shot from 50 yards.

There is NO WAY Mata or Silva have created 200+ clear goalscoring opportunities. Those numbers are grossly exaggerated and laughable if properly scrutinised.

You're right about that. Though, same applies to everyone on the list - numbers become smaller but the proportions and order stays roughly the same.

[Styles 9,790]

You're right about that. Though, same applies to everyone on the list - numbers become smaller but the proportions and order stays roughly the same.

I think the players who are first choice set-piece takers have grossly exaggerated numbers.

[dee25 1,044]

I think the players who are first choice set-piece takers have grossly exaggerated numbers.

Exaggerated how? I'm not understanding this argument at all. You're making it out to seem as if anyone can achieve such fantastic stats if they were the first choice set-piece taker but that's far from being true. This really reminds me of the rhetoric we usually get from cynics about Lampard's goalscoring ability, that his goalscoring stats are inflated because he's the first choice penalty taker. Lampard is 1st choice because he has such a knack in converting goals, whether from the spot or in open play. He has a specialty skill and that puts him in a position to achieve remarkable numbers. There's nothing grossly exaggerated about it. Same thing with Mata, whether in set pieces or in open play, Mata creates goals. That's what he does and because he's so exceptionally skilled at it, he's obviously going to be first choice in delivering set pieces.

[kellzfresh 7,229]

I think the players who are first choice set-piece takers have grossly exaggerated numbers.

Unless every header one gets is equal to chance created, then that will be the case.

But even though mata didn't take set pieces, he still gets 33 assists which is not bad.

If you check chances created from open play, mata is still among the top 5, with hazard competing with him. But good set pieces are also a good attribute of a player.

So mata is a natural chance creator either way.

[Styles 9,790]

Exaggerated how? I'm not understanding this argument at all. You're making it out to seem as if anyone can achieve such fantastic stats if they were the first choice set-piece taker but that's far from being true. This really reminds me of the rhetoric we usually get from cynics about Lampard's goalscoring ability, that his goalscoring stats are inflated because he's the first choice penalty taker. Lampard is 1st choice because he has such a knack in converting goals, whether from the spot or in open play. He has a specialty skill and that puts him in a position to achieve remarkable numbers. There's nothing grossly exaggerated about it. Same thing with Mata, whether in set pieces or in open play, Mata creates goals. That's what he does and because he's so exceptionally skilled at it, he's obviously going to be first choice in delivering set pieces.

Because Mata hasn't created 200+ CLEAR goalscoring opportunities which is what those stats imply. I'm trying to figure exactly how that number has been calculated and I can only imagine set-piece takers have an advantage.

[Sidzeret 2,257]

When I talk of no 10's (I will exclude the ozil, silva types) this is what they look like. Notice the close control, vision, defence splitting passes, imagination and just all round fantastic creativity. These are the type of quality a top club needs and worth losing a player like mata for not oscar.

The Totti video gave a shiver downn my spine. Truly awesome player.

[Land 331]

Those are some cute videos.Only problem is that we are on the road to winning the PL without one of those 10s, and I'm fine with it.

Muller was at the center of Bayern in the treble winning season.Didnt see a single person complaining about him not making defense splitting passes.Why?Because he is the perfect type of player for Jupp's system and the system was working.Oscar is our Muller.

And of course he will have games like the one vs United.Ozil is considered one the best AMs in the world and i see him having a good game like once every 3 Arsenal games.Bad games happen.

[Korea 734]

Matic is the key to unlocking Oscar.

Brazil nr 10.

[communicate 2,703]

Those are some cute videos.Only problem is that we are on the road to winning the PL without one of those 10s, and I'm fine with it.

Muller was at the center of Bayern in the treble winning season.Didnt see a single person complaining about him not making defense splitting passes.Why?Because he is the perfect type of player for Jupp's system and the system was working.Oscar is our Muller.

And of course he will have games like the one vs United.Ozil is considered one the best AMs in the world and i see him having a good game like once every 3 Arsenal games.Bad games happen.

To be fair, kroos is juup prefered no 10 before he get injured

[Land 331]

Kroos played as 10 at the start of the season because Robben kept getting injured/benched so muller played wide.

[5354 204]

he's 22!!!!! I haven't even heard much of Mata when he was 22. Of course he won't be as consistent as a 25yo guy. But that 22 yo is a key player in Brazil NT something that Mata was never capable of being in Spain, even if he's 25. Yeah, we don't have as much talent in the position as Spain has, but do you think, regardless of how bad the other options are, it's easy to step into Brazil's #10 position? You guys have no idea what Brazil NT is for Brazilians in general. The boy showed a lot of character doing it at age 21 and OWNING our midfield, even if he didn't do it offensively. He didn't need to do that when Neymar and Hulk were down on the flanks running the show (not much Hulk ofc). But he's dictated our tempo, controlled the midfield and killed oppositions. That's no easy feat.

I'll agree with anyone who says he's inconsistent ( I just liked a couple of posts saying as much), but how much do we expect from a 22yo that got transferred to European football only 18 months ago? Let's not allow our expectations to be higher than they should. He'll never be as creative as Mata, I'm positive of that, but he might end up being a better football player...

Fair enough!

Just hope he can step up and keep improving!

[Gilvorak 3,734]

Kroos played as 10 at the start of the season because Robben kept getting injured/benched so muller played wide.

Kroos played #10 the entire season until he got injured around April. Muller was mostly used as a winger, the play never went through him.

[meetdoscar 335]

Its he's call now. So oscar and possibly willian(occasionally) as our no.10. I've believed in him from the start and even more so now that mourinho does too, enough to let the great juan go. Oscar seems to be progressing or improving something about our team every 3months. Carry on son. With him as no.10 we beat mancity, liverpool, manutd and equalled bayern for 120 minutes what more can i say he offers more than creativity, he offers balance and stability.

[xPetrCechx 13,563]

His baby's name is Peter Wilson?!

[Cech's helmet 220]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iupsSS5AK2M

If anyone is wondering why Mata lost his no10 position, I think this video sums everything up.

The amount of times he wins the balls back is absolutely ridiculous. I've never seen an offensive player tackle as much as this lad does. Mourinho is always going to play the hard worker type of player than the naturally gifted.

[The Skipper 20,593]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iupsSS5AK2M

If anyone is wondering why Mata lost his no10 position, I think this video sums everything up.

The amount of times he wins the balls back is absolutely ridiculous. I've never seen an offensive player tackle as much as this lad does. Mourinho is always going to play the hard worker type of player than the naturally gifted.

Honestly, this lad brushes up his finesse in the final third (which he has shown flashes of) and he'll definitely be the most complete number 10 out there.

[5354 204]

Anyone has a Mata video? The matavideo does indeed sounds the difference between the above... Mata more offensive, decisive and clinical vs Oscar...

Lets hope time can make oscar improve!

[communicate 2,703]

Kroos played #10 the entire season until he got injured around April. Muller was mostly used as a winger, the play never went through him.

Agree, even under Juup Bayern was actually a possession based team and Kroos is just the perfect player for that style whereas muller is more of a runner