Oscar

[Chelsea? 892]

Or because we're overly critical of a 22 year old player?

He hasn't been good enough lately, regardless of his age

[Chelsea? 892]

Yes, but it seems everybody will not be satisfied and expect him to score or at least give one assist in every match he played in. Otherwise, Oscar is s***.

Idk why ppl say this. He's been really poor and being criticized for it. We have higher standards for Eden hazard but we still praised him for his performance yesterday even though he didn't set the world on fire.

[Barbara 15,149]

Cesc and Schurrle will do it from now on

we hope, but during PS (if that's any indication) he took corners even when either Schurrle or Cesc were in the pitch. Especially at the left side. Makes no sense. Anyone but him, doesn't matter if it's not the other guy's best foot, his weak foot is better than Willian's rightful foot for corners. It's no jab on him - not everyone has to be able to take corners. He works well in central FK, but in corners he's terrible.

I re-watched parts of the match and I thought Oscar was better than in my first impression. He fulfilled a role well. Sometimes he did move forward, but he didn't receive the pass, I saw him a few times even higher than Costa (who comes back a lot to press, to receive, to everything, he's amazing). He's lacking a lot of creativity, but in the Costa goal (could be Schurrle's, not sure) he tried a through ball just a couple of seconds before the Cesc pass (probably Costa's, as for Schurrle's goal Hazard simply raped their whole defense all by himself). It was a nice ball by him, but the defender was lucky and could intercept. I remember another occasion he also completed a nice pass forward. The problem is/was he doesn't do it nearly enough and the accuracy isn't high. With Cesc creating like that, we won't miss it much, but the thing is, unfortunately, Cesc won't be this beast 38 games... Oscar should get the chance of being released of an overwhelming responsibility and flourish, just like Eden had. Eden didn't assist any goal yesterday, but he was amazing. He did his flicks, always very objectively, never just for the fun of it, and he played an important whole stretching their defense. We seem incredibly balanced now, but that's because Cesc was phenomenal. In a 'normal' day Oscar has to try harder and do better. Hazard seems to have already found his place there and he's working very good (oh I remember the other occasion, it was a sequence of passes involving Eden, Oscar and Costa, still in the first half, inside the 18-yard box - I guess it's from that play that comes the corner Iva scored? I could be wrong though about the timing).

Oscar doesn't need to appear in the stats if he can contribute to the match like Hazard did. Of course, some matches the last pass before the goal will be theirs and not Fab's, but that's the step Oscar needs to take now. Be there, do the thing, try to shine some all while still doing his pressing, high work-rate, tackle things. It doesn't seem to overload him and as I said a few days ago, he tackles a lot of balls in the final third. That's invaluable. To recover the ball when the opposition's defense and pivot are moving apart, to start their transition is one of the best attack opportunities. If he does that effectively, it's nearly the same as assisting, because if he intercepts/tackles the ball and passes it quickly to someone near him that may need another pass before the goal, his contribution is relevant. So I'll be happy if he keeps those tackles there and if he tries to create a few times himself during a match. I don't need him to have double digit assists in that case. I do expect him to have double digit goals though.

Idk why ppl say this. He's been really poor and being criticized for it. We have higher standards for Eden hazard but we still praised him for his performance yesterday even though he didn't set the world on fire.

are you kidding me? Hazard was a pivotal player for us yesterday and yes, he's set the world on fire. He was amazing and contributed a lot.

[Chelsea Legend 11 4,062]

Oscar provides great balance and cohesiveness to the squad, those that bash him don't quite understand how important he is to an XI. Cesc and Oscar compliment each other perfectly.

[Chelsea? 892]

Good role for him now. Doing what he's best at doing, which is being the perfect team player.

Covering for Cesc and Hazard as they go forward. You see for the second goal, where any other number 10 would force himself to be in the box but Oscar held himself back cause Cesc moved forward. He's never going to be as creative as Cesc and whatnot so this number 8 shirt and role is perfect for him.

but wouldn't ramires be the better option in the #10 if that's what we expect from that position?

[Pizy 18,891]

My only issue with him being in the role he played yesterday is that he wasn't a goal threat at all really. He was nearly invisible in the final third.

[Chelsea Legend 11 4,062]

we hope, but during PS (if that's any indication) he took corners even when either Schurrle or Cesc were in the pitch. Especially at the left side. Makes no sense. Anyone but him, doesn't matter if it's not the other guy's best foot, his weak foot is better than Willian's rightful foot for corners. It's no jab on him - not everyone has to be able to take corners. He works well in central FK, but in corners he's terrible.

I re-watched parts of the match and I thought Oscar was better than in my first impression. He fulfilled a role well. Sometimes he did move forward, but he didn't receive the pass, I saw him a few times even higher than Costa (who comes back a lot to press, to receive, to everything, he's amazing). He's lacking a lot of creativity, but in the Costa goal (could be Schurrle's, not sure) he tried a through ball just a couple of seconds before the Cesc pass (probably Costa's, as for Schurrle's goal Hazard simply raped their whole defense all by himself). It was a nice ball by him, but the defender was lucky and could intercept. I remember another occasion he also completed a nice pass forward. The problem is/was he doesn't do it nearly enough and the accuracy isn't high. With Cesc creating like that, we won't miss it much, but the thing is, unfortunately, Cesc won't be this beast 38 games... Oscar should get the chance of being released of an overwhelming responsibility and flourish, just like Eden had. Eden didn't assist any goal yesterday, but he was amazing. He did his flicks, always very objectively, never just for the fun of it, and he played an important whole stretching their defense. We seem incredibly balanced now, but that's because Cesc was phenomenal. In a 'normal' day Oscar has to try harder and do better. Hazard seems to have already found his place there and he's working very good (oh I remember the other occasion, it was a sequence of passes involving Eden, Oscar and Costa, still in the first half, inside the 18-yard box - I guess it's from that play that comes the corner Iva scored? I could be wrong though about the timing).

Oscar doesn't need to appear in the stats if he can contribute to the match like Hazard did. Of course, some matches the last pass before the goal will be theirs and not Fab's, but that's the step Oscar needs to take now. Be there, do the thing, try to shine some all while still doing his pressing, high work-rate, tackle things. It doesn't seem to overload him and as I said a few days ago, he tackles a lot of balls in the final third. That's invaluable. To recover the ball when the opposition's defense and pivot are moving apart, to start their transition is one of the best attack opportunities. If he does that effectively, it's nearly the same as assisting, because if he intercepts/tackles the ball and passes it quickly to someone near him that may need another pass before the goal, his contribution is relevant. So I'll be happy if he keeps those tackles there and if he tries to create a few times himself during a match. I don't need him to have double digit assists in that case. I do expect him to have double digit goals though.

are you kidding me? Hazard was a pivotal player for us yesterday and yes, he's set the world on fire. He was amazing and contributed a lot.

Its funny because people often talk about free role and who has it. If I'm going on last game I'd say Cesc had the free role and Oscar and Matic were left to compensate for Cesc's musings forward. I think Cesc had somewhere in the neighbourhood of 100 touches and most of that was facilitated by Oscar's awareness and improving positional sense.

I don't quite understand what everyone expects; that because Oscar is played in the traditional 10 position his role is that of a 10? he does so much more than that and as I said, now that Cesc is the main cog in unlocking teams, Oscar's footballing brain is even more important. He's a fantastic one touch player and understands what the manager needs from him tactically.

[Chelsea Legend 11 4,062]

My only issue with him being in the role he played yesterday is that he wasn't a goal threat at all really. He was nearly invisible in the final third.

And why was that?

[Daniel1980 1,425]

but wouldn't ramires be the better option in the #10 if that's what we expect from that position?

I feel that Ramires is more selfish and inclined to make wrong decisions than Oscar. When Ramires and Fabregas were on the pitch at the same time, Ramires was the one playing more advanced than Cesc, and Cesc wasn't going forward much, basically playing a holding midfielder. Their dynamic was different from the one we saw yesterday between Cesc and Oscar. It's hard to judge based just on a few matches, of course, but that's the impression I got.

[Vybz Kartel 1,613]

He was losing position way too much for my liking

[Bir_CFC 3,455]

but wouldn't ramires be the better option in the #10 if that's what we expect from that position?

I am looking at his role during the game than shirt numbers and their position on the team sheet. Oscar was the #10, you're absolutely right. But really we played more like a 6 (Matic) and two 8s (Cesc and Oscar). Now if Cesc wasn't behind him, then he inherently has to be responsible for being that creative #10 and in that case I agree with you and others that he just isn't that player.

Basically, my point is that he complements Cesc perfectly. If Cesc isn't on the team sheet then I rather play with Willian as the #10.

[Chelsea? 892]

And why was that?

because he's playing like a DM when he should be playing like a 10 or atleast an 8. I understand he's contributes to us defensively but if we just stuck a DM in his position we'd be better off. Don't make it seem like he was the reason we ticked yesterday. He did almost nothing yesterday.

[Chelsea? 892]

I am looking at his role during the game than shirt numbers and their position on the team sheet. Oscar was the #10, you're absolutely right. But really we played more like a 6 (Matic) and two 8s (Cesc and Oscar). Now if Cesc wasn't behind him, then he inherently has to be responsible for being that creative #10 and in that case I agree with you and others that he just isn't that player.

Basically, my point is that he complements Cesc perfectly. If Cesc isn't on the team sheet then I rather play with Willian as the #10.

I understand your point. But if his only argument for playing in the starting 11 is because he compliments Fabregas well, then he probably won't last.

[Chelsea Legend 11 4,062]

because he's playing like a DM when he should be playing like a 10 or atleast an 8. I understand he's contributes to us defensively but if we just stuck a DM in his position we'd be better off. Don't make it seem like he was the reason we ticked yesterday. He did almost nothing yesterday.

If you want to get an accurate understanding of Oscar's role in the team I'd encourage you to look at this video that highlights Cesc Fabregas. Look at the positions Oscar took up when Fab was on the ball.

Its about balance, most of you want 10 Hazard's on the field, a squad needs balance and guys like Ramires, Oscar and Willian are the types of guys who are willing to sacrifice their numbers for the betterment of the squad.

http://vimeo.com/103800629

[meetdoscar 335]

We win a flawless victory and people still complain of oscar because no goal and no assist. If willian/hazard played 10 fabregas won't go forward otherwise our defense would be exposed because they don't have that quality of feeling gaps where the team needs to be filled to keep the balance flowing. When we needed goals he had a lot of movement with matic and fabregas in midfield which resulted in exceptional play and gave us balance of possession for our attacks and when we were leading he dropped deeper to defend and link up midfield. He did not have a great game especially as an attacker but it was far from a bad performance as team player. Its not an excuse being a team player but just his quality which has developed the most. We will see on saturday if he plays a different kind of game because it was important to have possession away but at home it is natural. I find him more dynamic than our other attacking midfielders(able to try to adapt to situation of the team) despite not being better solely in direct attacking sense.