Oscar

[Myself 793]

You should try using the auto-save feature then. It saves everything automatically. You could have retrieved your post. It happened to me a couple of times before one of the staff members told me that.

I don't see any auto-save button? help plz

[Dion 2,476]

I don't see any auto-save button? help plz

You probably can't do it now, since it has been a while. And it is enabled by default. But try it right now - start writing anything, wait to see the message that it has been auto saved. Then leave the page and return. When you start typing again it will appear under the box, like this:

That inception though...

[zolayes 14,489]

I believe if Makelele was still here he would be criticised for lack of goals and assists.

[ZOS 580]

he was great against Burnley .. the hell people want?

[DYC. 7,542]

If you're focusing on the positives of his performance that's completely fair. But my point is that if that's as good as its gonna get with Oscar, then he won't be here for too long

Can't argue with you there. I honestly wanted Reus as well (greedy, I know). With him, Chelsea would be up there with Bayern and Real.

I honestly don't know what to expect from Oscar this season. But if he can't play a starring role himself, there can only be so many star players in one team anyway, he could support the likes of Hazard and Cesc, making their jobs easier and and helping them achieve a higher level so the collective becomes stronger.

Real have a team filled with stars but you have to realize, that's not normal. Chelsea can't pull that off because they don't have that allure.

[Daniel1980 1,425]

Can't argue with you there. I honestly wanted Reus as well (greedy, I know). With him, Chelsea would be up there with Bayern and Real.

I honestly don't know what to expect from Oscar this season. But if he can't play a starring role himself, there can only be so many star players in one team anyway, he could support the likes of Hazard and Cesc, making their jobs easier and and helping them achieve a higher level so the collective becomes stronger.

Real have a team filled with stars but you have to realize, that's not normal. Chelsea can't pull that off because they don't have that allure.

Our team has enough stars as it is this year, tbh.

United fans at Redcafe, drooling all over our starting XI before the match against Burnley:

That Chelsea line up is class.

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That Chelsea lineup is just cheating. Proper FIFA shit right there.

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Now thats some proper football team. Class all over the pitch...

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This chelsea line up is just porn..footyporn.

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Matic and Fabregas is enough to make me weep. A very balanced pairing and utter quality of the highest order.

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I shouldn't but a part of me is looking forward to seeing Chelsea play...

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If Chelsea avoids any major injury problems they will take the league with ease. Scary team.

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Matic - Fabregas midfield two is close to perfection.

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Chelsea's team is ridiculous. I really don't rate Costa though. I think he's good but way overrated and overpriced. Fabregas, Hazard, Matic, Cahill & Terry, Courtois, so strong from back to front.

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That Chelsea team is class. And now that they play for Chelsea, they'll never get injured. Like ever.

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Looking at Chelsea's squad compared to ours is embarrassing, they are so much stronger than us in defense and midfield is worrying.

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I'm expecting Fabregas and Matic to immense for Chelsea this season; very envious of that pairing.

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etc

Our squad might not be filled with stars like Real and Barcelona, but it's certainly good enough to make other clubs' fans very envious. We have classy creative players, amazing dribblers, hard-working players, fast players, good defence, great goalkeeper(s). There are a few vulnerable positions that ideally should be addressed, but truth be told, if I didn't support Chelsea, I'd be envious of our squad too. Now hopefully Jose can turn them into a well-oiled team.

[bababoom 4,478]

Real have a team filled with stars but you have to realize, that's not normal. Chelsea can't pull that off because they don't have that allure.

I agree, but i wouldn't want Chelsea to be full of stars. We are finally balanced whereas Madrid are all over the the place.

[We Hate Scouse 10,326]

FUCK OFF YOIU FUCKING CCUNT GOd damn

don't you just fucking hate it when you click backspace and then your fucking page goes back? FUCK MY LIFFEEEEEE

was writing a fucking article trying to figure out oscars performance from a tactical standpoint and i was fucking proud of what i'd written too

its always when i try to make good posts this shit happens

Thought you was talking about Oscar at first....

[Tomo 21,751]

I agree, but i wouldn't want Chelsea to be full of stars. We are finally balanced whereas Madrid are all over the the place.

Exactly, I genuinely think we would beat this Madrid side more often than not, the AMs won't do there defensive work and if as expected Kross and Modric are the pivot then no true DM protecting an already weak back line.

I think they will be a better version of Liverpool last season, will smash some shit teams into submission, but ultimately come unstuck when the likes of Simeone or Mourinho turns up with a smart tactical approach.

[Barbara 15,149]

I re-watched the whole first half again in a more tactical and detailed way. And yes, people were absolutely unfair on Oscar - including me in my first assessment of his performance.

1) If you watch closely the whole team at times played the ball fast, getting rid of it quickly to the closest teammate. I think it's something Mourinho asked - they drilled those things a lot, Mourinho talked about drilling those things as well (quick passing under pressure or not). But only Oscar was criticized for that, but I saw Fàbregas, Hazard, Costa, Schurrle, Matic doing it at least a handful times each.

2) During the whole first half Oscar was the guy who set our attack in motion at least five times (I didn't count, but I remember at least five at the top of my mind) and by setting it in motion I don't mean starting it near the CBs, but changing the tempo and actually making the ball reach our attackers near or inside the 18-yard box. Our very first time reaching the final third was a long ball by him to Costa - an accurate one. At least three times his pass was the immediate one before the potential assist from a shot on goal, a blocked shot or a last minute tackle by the defense.

I don't blame anyone for not noticing the good things he did, he wasn't spectacular in the eye and in a night where Cesc, Iva, Costa, Hazard and Schurrle were really eye popping, is hard to catch little basic Oscar doing his thing. When I watched live I was working and I can never watch matches properly while writing reports of the highlights at the same time and I thought he was meh. Not good, not bad with a few atypical misplaced passes. Then the second time I've watched streaks of the match - basically from many individual vids (Cesc, Costa, Hazard) I realized that Oscar was involved in a relevant way at least three times. Now I really rewatched the match (first half only though) and I paid attention to our movement, positioning and players and my eye often caught him and also something else someone pointed out in the Ivanovic thread, that I'll be there in a bit to discuss.

All in all I think that was his best match since the Southampton one in January (if I remember correctly he did well against Arsenal as well and another match). It's still far from the matches he did early last season for us, but at the same time with now so many guys with better tools than him - whether it's dribbling, pace, vision, passing - I don't think we'll see much of those matches anymore. Jack of all trades, master of none (maybe except recovering possession in the final third) that he is, someone will always look better than him with their dribbles, runs, passes, through balls and therefore will be more influential, but he'll contribute in his discreet way... he isn't flashy, he looks awkward on the ball, he seems clumsy sometimes and he doesn't aspire much confidence because of his nearly uncomfortable-looking style of conducting the ball and passing, but he does contribute in his own way. He isn't on his best physical condition yet so I think he will improve his passing and finish some, but he'll mainly set the stage for others to shine. I think it's a fitting role given that he isn't a 9+ player in any aspect of his game...

[Myself 793]

I re-watched the whole first half again in a more tactical and detailed way. And yes, people were absolutely unfair on Oscar - including me in my first assessment of his performance.

1) If you watch closely the whole team at times played the ball fast, getting rid of it quickly to the closest teammate. I think it's something Mourinho asked - they drilled those things a lot, Mourinho talked about drilling those things as well (quick passing under pressure or not). But only Oscar was criticized for that, but I saw Fàbregas, Hazard, Costa, Schurrle, Matic doing it at least a handful times each.

2) During the whole first half Oscar was the guy who set our attack in motion at least five times (I didn't count, but I remember at least five at the top of my mind) and by setting it in motion I don't mean starting it near the CBs, but changing the tempo and actually making the ball reach our attackers near or inside the 18-yard box. Our very first time reaching the final third was a long ball by him to Costa - an accurate one. At least three times his pass was the immediate one before the potential assist from a shot on goal, a blocked shot or a last minute tackle by the defense.

I don't blame anyone for not noticing the good things he did, he wasn't spectacular in the eye and in a night where Cesc, Iva, Costa, Hazard and Schurrle were really eye popping, is hard to catch little basic Oscar doing his thing. When I watched live I was working and I can never watch matches properly while writing reports of the highlights at the same time and I thought he was meh. Not good, not bad with a few atypical misplaced passes. Then the second time I've watched streaks of the match - basically from many individual vids (Cesc, Costa, Hazard) I realized that Oscar was involved in a relevant way at least three times. Now I really rewatched the match (first half only though) and I paid attention to our movement, positioning and players and my eye often caught him and also something else someone pointed out in the Ivanovic thread, that I'll be there in a bit to discuss.

All in all I think that was his best match since the Southampton one in January (if I remember correctly he did well against Arsenal as well and another match). It's still far from the matches he did early last season for us, but at the same time with now so many guys with better tools than him - whether it's dribbling, pace, vision, passing - I don't think we'll see much of those matches anymore. Jack of all trades, master of none (maybe except recovering possession in the final third) that he is, someone will always look better than him with their dribbles, runs, passes, through balls and therefore will be more influential, but he'll contribute in his discreet way... he isn't flashy, he looks awkward on the ball, he seems clumsy sometimes and he doesn't aspire much confidence because of his nearly uncomfortable-looking style of conducting the ball and passing, but he does contribute in his own way. He isn't on his best physical condition yet so I think he will improve his passing and finish some, but he'll mainly set the stage for others to shine. I think it's a fitting role given that he isn't a 9+ player in any aspect of his game...

That was what I was going to fucking write, but NOOOOOO my fucking computer decides to fuck me over.

That was a good read, Barbara. Completely agree.

[Polo7 3,496]

Oscars performance on Monday. Get the ball, take two steps forward then pass ball back or sideways. He is our number 10. He can do so much better I know he can. But he can't continue to be a freeloader.

[Korea 734]

Oscars performance on Monday. Get the ball, take two steps forward then pass ball back or sideways. He is our number 10. He can do so much better I know he can. But he can't continue to be a freeloader.

Dumb posted and dumber likes, now we dumbest to complete the cycle.

[BlueLyon 9,359]

I think people look on Oscar from wrong angle. He might look like #10 and be positioned there on tactical board before games, but once the game actualy starts, everything he does is what #8 would do. Tracks around the whole midfield, make quick passes, create space and drag players on himself, so that others have more options in attack. Even does fair share of tackles and interceptions aswell. But people cant get over that tactical board before game and still think Oscar is #10. And obviously, because that is not his role atm anymore, he wont score or assist, make dribbles in attack etc, and people will be dissapointed.

From tactical angle, Oscar had nearly perfect game vs Burnley, he was amazing #8. But if you judge him as #10, he had awfull game. But thing is, that wasnt his role in quite a few games recently, however people cant get over that.

In conclusion, Oscar has potential and talent to do alot more at #10, but that is not his role atm. I would prefer a bit more powerful and faster #8, ala Essien (if he existed), but Oscar as #8 wasnt bad either considering he switched positions alot with Cesc, he worked for others, to make play as fluid as possible.

I dont think Oscar will ever be that real #10 tbh, but the main question is if he can raise the form and then keep it wherever he plays for us in this season.

[Diego 433]

I didn't think he had a bad game at all Monday. I watched the first half again and he was always making him self an option for the person who had the ball, he kept the ball well and worked hard. People seem to forget there is a middle ground between a MOTM performance- having a terrible game. If he can perform to his best we would have a ridiculous good front 4.