Oscar

[Rmpr 8,977]

Ppl here have to put thing into perspective: Chelsea did not sign Oscar expecting him to dominate the league at 21 in his first season in another country.

He's doing fine--let him play.

I think he is doing OK, but ppl must give him time.

Like you said, let him play!

[Sir Mikel OBE 4,920]

hahah Ronaldinho is a joke at 34 yo... heck I reckon he was never as good as ppl believed he was, but for Brazil he has always flopped big time. The fact that ppl expect him to deliver now at 34 playing in brazil, a weaker league, is just crazy.

Just remember Oscar was just as dominant at 20 in brazil as Ronaldinho is now. Actually Oscar did very well in Libertadores too.

If Ronaldinho raises a red flag it is for Brazil, not Oscar.

Ppl here have to put things into perspective: Chelsea did not sign Oscar expecting him to dominate the league at 21 in his first season in another country.

He's doing fine--let him play!

I'd hardly call Ronaldinho a flop for Brazil. He wasnt the same as he was for club, but that isnt the same as a flop.

Also it is insanity to say Ronaldinho wasnt as good as people thought. He was, and still is, the real deal when he isnt partying.

The simple fact is felipao hasnt called him up to be played out of position, and if keeps his head on straight(and Kaka stays on the fringe) he will be the central man, and Oscar isnt good enough on the wings to play there for them.

Oscar was/is Mano's man, and the new call ups(and line-up) will prove that next month.

[Rmpr 8,977]

I'd hardly call Ronaldinho a flop for Brazil. He wasnt the same as he was for club, but that isnt the same as a flop.

Also it is insanity to say Ronaldinho wasnt as good as people thought. He was, and still is, the real deal when he isnt partying.

Ronaldinho is one of the biggest flops Brazil ever had, what are you talking about?

He had just finished to win the UCL with Barcelona and then had a shocker at Germany 2006!!!!

The simple fact is felipao hasnt called him up to be played out of position, and if keeps his head on straight(and Kaka stays on the fringe) he will be the central man, and Oscar isnt good enough on the wings to play there for them.

Oscar was/is Mano's man, and the new call ups(and line-up) will prove that next month.

You could very well be right, but this is only you guessing. No one (not even Scolari) knows how we will play.

He wont want to lose in his first match, even being against England in Wembley. He will go for a "safe" lineup, so it wont probbly be what he ultimately has in mind for Brazil.

[Sir Mikel OBE 4,920]

Ronaldinho is one of the biggest flops Brazil ever had, what are you talking about?

He just finished to win the UCL with Barcelona and had a shocker at Germany 2006!!!!

You could very well be right, but this is only you guessing. No one (not even Scolari) knows how we will play.

He wont want to lose in his first match, even being against England in Wembley. He will go for a "safe" lineup, so it wont probbly be what he ultimately has in mind for Brazil.

I think 2006 was more fatigue than anything else. The amount of football he played caught up to him, and it showed. I will agree it was a terrible tournament though.

The idea that Ronaldinho would be a part of even a safe lineup has to bode well for his chances as long as he keeps his nose clean. I do think Hernanes will get a midfield spot due to his utility. Who gets the playmaking role will be a toss, but I feel it is simply Ronaldinho's to lose if Kaka is out the picture.

[Rmpr 8,977]

I think 2006 was more fatigue than anything else. The amount of football he played caught up to him, and it showed. I will agree it was a terrible tournament though.

I agree, but you would only understand if you were Brazilian. We have an insane feeling towards the WC, we want to win it everytime and for most of the public not getting into the semi-finals is a failure. Take Dunga as an example, he had 4 amazing years (won everything) and because of one shit half against Netherlands, everyone makes him a villain.

In 2006 we had a even bigger expectation. We had an amazing team on paper and we were playing a very sexy football. But if you do prepare well, you will lose. We were doing so great that players thought the cup was already ours. Mainly because of this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jkrBXU0P1U8

The idea that Ronaldinho would be a part of even a safe lineup has to bode well for his chances as long as he keeps his nose clean. I do think Hernanes will get a midfield spot due to his utility. Who gets the playmaking role will be a toss, but I feel it is simply Ronaldinho's to lose if Kaka is out the picture.

Hernanes has more fame in Europe than in Brazil (dont ask me why). Since we dont have Thiago Silva, this is my prediction:

Julio Cesar

Dani Alves - Dante - David Luiz - Marcelo

Paulinho - Ramires

Oscar - Ronaldinho

Luis Fabiano - Neymar

For 2014:

Julio Cesar

Dani Alves - Thiago Silva - Dante - Marcelo

David Luiz - Paulinho

Lucas - Oscar - Neymar

Fred

I seriously think Oscar has a safe place in Brazil starting lineup. You have no idea what it means to have a magical performance (like Juve) against Argentina twice.

[Dion 2,476]

I agree, but you would only understand if you were Brazilian. We have an insane feeling towards the WC, we want to win it everytime and for most of the public not getting into the semi-finals is a failure. Take Dunga as an example, he had 4 amazing years (won everything) and because of one shit half against Netherlands, everyone makes him a villain.

In 2006 we had a even bigger expectation. We had an amazing team on paper and we were playing a very sexy football. But if you do prepare well, you will lose. We were doing so great that players thought the cup was already ours. Mainly because of this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jkrBXU0P1U8

Hernanes has more fame in Europe than in Brazil (dont ask me why). Since we dont have Thiago Silva, this is my prediction:

Julio Cesar

Dani Alves - Dante - David Luiz - Marcelo

Paulinho - Ramires

Oscar - Ronaldinho

Luis Fabiano - Neymar

For 2014:

Julio Cesar

Dani Alves - Thiago Silva - Dante - Marcelo

David Luiz - Paulinho

Lucas - Oscar - Neymar

Fred

I seriously think Oscar has a safe place in Brazil starting lineup. You have no idea what it means to have a magical performance (like Juve) against Argentina twice.

But Dunga's main problem was the press. He turned media against him and it gave him a bad name with general public, especially after we lost to Netherlands. Honestly, I think he did an amazing job.

About Hernanes, I think he's very well known in Brazil, if I'm not mistaken he was something like the best midfielder in brazilian league for two years in a row. But you know, ppl forget quickly how good players are, so he's a bit underestimated nowadays.

[Marvin123 484]

In th Olympics where he was amazing, he did play in a 4:3:3 didn't he with hulk Neymar and daimaio up top, he was amazing therr kinda like watching frank in the 4;3;3 Mourinho days

[Sheva. 5,373]

Did alright today, he will be very important for us now with Eden out, hopefully he can perform well.

[Yeboii 1,844]

Scored a nice goal

[5354 204]

he and marin gotta grab their chances while hazard is out for a break

[Mufassir08 2,400]

Should have scored the 3rd one that would have put the game to the bed.

[Jase 43,479]

He never scores 1 v 1 chances/tap-ins but only 30-35 yard goals, the opposite of Hernandez.

Had he converted the chances he got, we would have won 3/4-0.

[xPetrCechx 13,563]

He never scores 1 v 1 chances/tap-ins but only 30-35 yard goals, the opposite of Hernandez.

Had he converted the chances he got, we would have won 3/4-0.

Late Bid for Chico, anyone?

haha...

[Jase 43,479]

As admirable it was that Oscar did not go down when a Newcastle tried to tackle him in the box today, a part of me is fuming that he didn't do so. Could have won us penalty(ies) to help us win the game.

[The Mak 4,459]

In terms of what the team actually needed, does anyone else feel that buying Oscar was a mistake?

I love him, he has great potential and all, but spending £25m on an unfinished product when there are other glaring gaps in the squad? We could've bought 2 very good or 1 world class DM for that price (Cabaye, Capoué, Beñat etc.). I just feel buying him was a bit of an overkill in the CAM department. We look much more dynamic with Moses alongside Mata and Hazard/Oscar.

Or maybe it's just because of this stupid 4-2-3-1 we're so persistent with. We don't have the players for it; no DMs, only one actual striker (Ba), but we go with the invisible spanish ghost up front. Ramires' ability is shackled as a DM, along with Frank's. Luiz is a defender and I've always said there are players that can do what Mikel does, except they can also distribute the ball effectively.

It's all bullshit. Emenalo/Roman/the board playing fucking fantasy manager.

I don't know, there's so many things wrong, I don't even know where to direct my anger anymore...

The other day I thought "be great if we still had Kalou" Ha! I think that says it all!

[Santiago. 1,500]

I still think he would Excel in a 4 3 3 and a more than suitable 'replacement' for Lampard.

Hazard---------------Mata

------Oscar---Ramires---

----------Romeu-------------

Hazard------------Moses

---Ramires---Oscar---

----------Mikel-------------

[The Skipper 20,593]

I feel we bought Oscar after Porto priced us out of a move for Hulk. I think the initial plan for the season was for us to have

Torres

Hazard - Mata - Hulk

As the front four but that obviously didn't happen. That's why we pursued Moses and Oscar instead - I think the plan is to move Oscar into the pivot later on in his development though.

[The Mak 4,459]

I still think he would Excel in a 4 3 3 and a more than suitable 'replacement' for Lampard.

Hazard---------------Mata

------Oscar---Ramires---

----------Romeu-------------

Hazard------------Moses

---Ramires---Oscar---

----------Mikel-------------

Yes! This is what I was trying to get at when I started the "Why are we playing 4-2-3-1?" thread.

Even 4-3-2-1 or 4-2-2-2 or something. The pivot is such a major part of this formation, but we don't have the players for it.

All last season I thought that all we need is a creative partner for Mata and I think we got that in Hazard. Oscar I felt was a bit too much in terms of AMs.

However, it's be great to see him alongside Ramires with Mikel/Romeu deep. He'd have to discipline himself though, otherwise it can turn back to 4-2-3-1. Add KDB rotating as a CM and a world class DM and it's a mouthwatering prospect...

I feel we bought Oscar after Porto priced us out of a move for Hulk. I think the initial plan for the season was for us to have

Torres

Hazard - Mata - Hulk

As the front four but that obviously didn't happen. That's why we pursued Moses and Oscar instead - I think the plan is to move Oscar into the pivot later on in his development though.

I hope so! But until then I don't think we're suited to 4-2-3-1 at all...we've more CMs than DMs. It only makes sense.