Oscar

[kellzfresh 7,229]

I agree with this, but I feel that you have perhaps missed the point that I was trying to make.

Oscar's game currently lacks a genuine 'X-factor'; he takes very good direct free-kicks and he tackles well, but even this becomes somewhat irrelevant if he's off-form. When Willian, Ramires, and Cuadrado are off-form and are miscontrolling the ball/misplacing passes, they at least have their pace to fall back upon; they can still get back into defensive positions quickly, still press effectively, and also offer the option of breaking forward on the counter at pace. If Fabregas is having a poor game, he remains capable of providing that one pass/cross to create a clear-cut chance. Even on his bad days, Hazard is generally capable of dribbling past his man, at least on occasion. Costa's movement and positioning in the attacking third is often so good that he can play really badly and yet still be dangerous. In Oscar's case, he simply doesn't offer any of the above if he's having a poor game; he doesn't have the levels of pace, vision, raw technique, strength, or attacking nous to offset whatever shortcomings he may be displaying during any given game in which he is off-form.

As we all know, Mourinho is a cautious manager, and he's not going to prepare for a 'big' game against a tough opponent with the expectation that we are actually going to play 'well' during the game. When we are playing against the better teams in the league/in Europe, he's aware that it's quite possible for us to end up putting in the sort of display that we did against PSG a few weeks ago. When this happens, and the team as a whole is 'off-form', the players that are out on the pitch need to possess certain attributes (whether they be physical, technical, mental) that will give the team a chance of forcing a result regardless of the general performance level. In these circumstances, pace is essential as it allows for spaces to be controlled more easily, technique and vision are useful as they allow for the possibility of single 'moments of genius' to occur, and good attacking movement and physicality are invaluable as they ensure that the opposition will find it difficult to commit themselves as fully as they may wish to. Starting an 'all-rounder' who is 'good' at most things but not exceptional at anything is a huge risk to take in such games, because they often hinge on small details in individual match-ups; an 'all-rounder', despite having few genuine weaknesses to their game, is always likely to lose a match-up in games like these.

Perfect description of Oscar.

Let's hope he gets his performance levels up today.

[MrExcalibur100 7,124]

Was he even on the pitch today? His latest disappearing act as the game simply passed him by.

[Pacquiao 1,834]

He started the majority of those games because Ramires wasn't 100 % fit. If you recall Ramires has been struggling with his fitness for the entire first part of the season. It took Ramires until the 27th january to be fully fit again.

That day Mourinho stated "My Ramires is back".

There's nothing ridiculous about it. If a big game comes up and Ramires, Fabregas and Matic are fit ( and aren't banned) Oscar simply doesn't get into the starting eleven.

So lets just ignore the fact Oscar and Ramires started against Liverpool away. And lets just keep pretending that when Jose wants to play 4-3-3 that the reason Oscar often gets left out is clearly not because there is no room for a number 10 in a 4-3-3 formation.

Some Chelsea fans lack of knowledge is bizarre

[lionsden 4,689]

Was he even on the pitch today? His latest disappearing act as the game simply passed him by.

Im one of his biggest critic but He actually had a really good game especially in the first half. This was a much better performance than what he's been producing in the last few weeks

[MrBlueGuy 1,552]

Disappear for the 3rd year running, time to sell to PSG in the summer I think. Need a more dynamic and physical CAM, someone like Isco/James/Rakitic/Gotze I am thinking.

[MrExcalibur100 7,124]

Im one of his biggest critic but He actually had a really good game especially in the first half. This was a much better performance than what he's been producing in the last few weeks

I think his 1st half performance was v.overrated, tbh. Solid, yes, but nothing more. 2nd half, he was dire.

[Gilvorak 3,734]

If even Lionsden is defending Oscar today that means you have an obvious agenda against Oscar. He was great in the first half, understandably disappeared after the interval once the game descended into a hoofing contest.

[Gilvorak 3,734]

I think his 1st half performance was v.overrated, tbh. Solid, yes, but nothing more. 2nd half, he was dire.

What was he supposed to do when the defenders were hoofing the ball and Costa couldn't win one aerial duel to save his life?

Learn the game.

[edetarod 2,155]

PSG, comeback

[OhForAGreavsie 6,060]

If even Lionsden is defending Oscar today that means you have an obvious agenda against Oscar. He was great in the first half, understandably disappeared after the interval once the game descended into a hoofing contest.

I'd say that in fact he disappeared well before half time but even so I was satisfied with Oscar today.

[Belgiannutt 3,201]

So lets just ignore the fact Oscar and Ramires started against Liverpool away. And lets just keep pretending that when Jose wants to play 4-3-3 that the reason Oscar often gets left out is clearly not because there is no room for a number 10 in a 4-3-3 formation.

Some Chelsea fans lack of knowledge is bizarre

Some Chelsea fans need to learn how to read properly. I said "He started the majority of those games because Ramires wasn't 100 % fit." The majority. I didn't say he started all of them because of Ramires not being fit.

We don't play a 4-3-3 we almost always play a 4-2-3-1. Fabregas goes into the number 10 role. Ramires and Matic are the 2 players protecting the back four.

Agree with Lionden, he was good in the first half today. Second half difficult with the game being so stretched.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

Nope. I tried, but I won't ever understand the discussions about Oscar. I just don't see any of it.

In my world, he had a pretty good game like most of our players today. He linked up very well with Eden and Cesc, and his movement was excellent. In defense he was also probably the player that pressed the most in our team (mainly because Diego looked tired/not arsed to press half of the time). Made a few wrong decisions on the ball, but that's very normal for all of our attacking players.

[MrExcalibur100 7,124]

What was he supposed to do when the defenders were hoofing the ball and Costa couldn't win one aerial duel to save his life?

Learn the game.

You're the one who needs to learn the game. Oscar was terrible in this game. Did absolutely nothing to contribute to his team's overall performance and was at best a passenger and at worst anonymous. I'm not going to apologize for anybody or use any double standard. He was simply very, very poor.

[MrExcalibur100 7,124]

What did Oscar do in the 1st half that made him "good" and "sensational" like I was reading in the match thread? Bang average at best. If Willian played like that today, guy would have gotten slaughtered.

[WNDS 502]

He played well when in possession of the ball during the first-half, but faded out of the game after half-time. His play when the team is out of possession is what concerns me the most at the moment, given that it's usually one of his stronger points; he's often slow into challenges and his positioning is sometimes off as well.