🇧🇷 Willian

[The only place to be 11,313]

Willian already proved himself last season,

No he didn't. The most impressive thing about him is those occasional bursts where he'll close down the keeper. His passing is tidy but unexceptional, his set-piece delivery is decent but nothing special, his pace is good over the first few yards but he's not exceptionally speedy and his shooting is ok but doesn't produce enough results.

As Skipper said, he's not a £30 million in the slightest yet he doesn't get any criticism which is remarkable.

I think he had maybe one really strong game last season (Stoke at home) but beyond that he really wasn't anything to write home about. Really needs to step it up but I'd go with Schurrle to start the season.

[bababoom 4,478]

I like him, i know he's not worth 30 million and he should score and assist more but he suits our high pressing system so well. He works hard for the team and i think he's going to improve this season.

[Korea 734]

Willian has a role and plays his role well.

Similar to di maria under jose... Put willian on lw or cam, he will instantly pop up better stats.....

[TheIceMan 596]

I don't know if you remember but initially I was very against the transfer because 1. we didn't really need him at the time 2. the fee was far too excessive. Let's be honest now - Willian isn't a £30m player in any sense, he's worth £20m max, and even then it's slightly excessive, so I get what you're saying. He escapes regular criticism because he always puts in a decent shift IMO.

It's also very true that he's never really produced big numbers in his career but he isn't that sort of player. I'd like to think of him as a player that will provide the pass before the pass, amongst other things like his energy, work rate, tactical ability and ability to keep possession. Sure, all of that isn't truly worth £30m, but I do believe that Willian will have a good season this year - something like 10 goals and 10/15 assists plus all the other intangibles he brings to the table would be a great season for Willian - sure, maybe that isn't worth the £30m; you'd expect more than that of a player of that fee; but he's a CFC player and we must support him and hope he improved this year on his productivity, which I believe he will, especially now the side is a lot more balanced so maybe we can afford to give him a bit more freedom tactically.

Mehn, you sure do like Willian a lot!

[The Skipper 20,609]

Mehn, you sure do like Willian a lot!

Is that meant to be sarcastic or?

[TheIceMan 596]

Is that meant to be sarcastic or?

no just expressing something. When I read the forum and in some thread, someone mention anything bad about Willian you throw everything you got and defend him like a mother when somebody attack her child, which is admirable and was more like to congratulate you, than to attack you with harmful sarcasm!

[The Skipper 20,609]

no just expressing something. When I read the forum and in some thread, someone mention anything bad about Willian you throw everything you got and defend him like a mother when somebody attack her child, which is admirable and was more like to congratulate you, than to attack you with harmful sarcasm!

I didn't really defend Willian in that post tbh if you read it again. Nor have I really defended him in other threads. All I said in other threads that he'll play on the right a lot this season in response to someone who said he'll play exclusively in the middle...

[TheIceMan 596]

I didn't really defend Willian in that post tbh if you read it again. Nor have I really defended him in other threads. All I said in other threads that he'll play on the right a lot this season in response to someone who said he'll play exclusively in the middle...

not in this partiular post no ( you're right I didn't read it top to bottom but from a few sentences i thought i got the idea it was too long), I just used it as a mark. Never mind maybe I got the wrong impression,if so I apologize, but never the less you really like Willian admit it!

[The Skipper 20,609]

not in this partiular post no ( you're right I didn't read it top to bottom but from a few sentences i thought i got the idea, I just used it as a mark. Never mind maybe I got the wrong impression,if so I apologize, but never the less you really like Willian admit it!

...No... I don't... You're obviously not even reading my posts correctly. Before we signed him last year, I didn't even want to sign him initially to begin with but that's passed now. I like him as a player, just like I do with the majority of other CFC players, but I wouldn't say I "really" liked him, or that he's one of my favourites.

[MrBlueGuy 1,552]

Along with Oscar, imo also a pretty big season for this guy. Always been said around Europe as one of those 'top player' but never really had the chance to prove it at a big club, last season you could say it was his 1st year after Russia...etc but if he is truly be recognized as 1 of the top winger in the world he would need to improve on his statistics. He is very talented and is capable of doing Hazard moments, he is just not as flashy and willing to track back a lot so he is underrated by many people.

[TheIceMan 596]

willing to track back a lot

on the contrary i think that is one of his stong sides!

[TheIceMan 596]

Along with Oscar, imo also a pretty big season for this guy. Always been said around Europe as one of those 'top player' but never really had the chance to prove it at a big club, last season you could say it was his 1st year after Russia...etc but if he is truly be recognized as 1 of the top winger in the world he would need to improve on his statistics. He is very talented and is capable of doing Hazard moments, he is just not as flashy and willing to track back a lot so he is underrated by many people.

Yes exactly this!

[MrBlueGuy 1,552]

on the contrary i think that is one of his stong sides!

I know I meant because of things like that and not banging in a goal from 20 yards out or dribbling past 4 players in a role so he isn't recognized by other people as much as Hazard. Physically he is way better than Hazard imo, never injured and can run all game long without tired.

[TheIceMan 596]

I know I meant because of things like that and not banging in a goal from 20 yards out or dribbling past 4 players in a role so he isn't recognized by other people as much as Hazard. Physically he is way better than Hazard imo, never injured and can run all game long without tired.

Yes I realized it, what you ment, but it was too late , my stupid post was already outthere!

[couris 232]

When Torres is gone, Willian and Oscar are next on the hate target list by the fans.

[TheIceMan 596]

When Torres is gone, Willian and Oscar are next on the hate target list by the fans.

I thnik Mikel is numero dos at the moment!

[The only place to be 11,313]

When Torres is gone, Willian and Oscar are next on the hate target list by the fans.

Oscar has the potential to be a great player so if he can find some form he'll be fine.

Willian....he puts in a shift so he'll probably never be hated.

[MrBlueGuy 1,552]

When Torres is gone, Willian and Oscar are next on the hate target list by the fans.

Naaa Oscar is next on the list and rightly too, needs to improve on his consistency or faces being forced out of the club. Then it will be Courtois when we start to concede a bit often than usual and the Cech fans will start to attack him in their 1st chance. Followed by Ramires and the hate list is complete for now.

[Barbara 15,149]

I'm speaking on a technical level - sure Willian's purpose and productivity should definitely be more, but technically speaking, his close control and ability to beat his man is only 2nd to Hazard IMO.

His lack of productivity has a lot more to do with bad decision making in the final third, i.e. shooting instead of passing or passing instead of shooting or just failing to put in that decisive ball. I think he'll improve on that aspect this season though.

I agree the problem is his decision making,but that's not the main mistake he does imo. Comparatively, Hazard makes that mistake you mentioned much more than Willian does, especially when he isn't playing his best yet yet. Last season I was pulling my hair when Hazard was dribbling everybody and their mother in OUR half. That's not where you do that, and many times he lost possession in the second third, offering a counter to opposition. Then he started playing better and that was much less noticeable and prominent. And we don't need to say for the 3495874th time that Eden has bad decision making about shooting on the goal. He just doesn't do it as much as he should.

Now Willian's decision making problem is of a different nature imo and I feel bad for saying it so bluntly, but he's just not a clever person (or player as I don't know him personally, but judging by his interviews even in portuguese you can say he's far from the brightest kid in the class, very far). If the guy doesn't think, he doesn't execute, simple. Also he lacks some directness. He's all flair and technique and that's cute and dandy and it makes vids such as the one on the previous page mouthwatering. But he rarely does something out of it. He dribbles, he has such a class touching the ball, flawless ball control and first touch, but as he isn't direct or clever, well, the result is what we see.

Said all that, I think he will improve this season simply because one more season makes a lot of difference for players coming from a different league to the EPL. The first season can be tough, but normally the second is when they settle and grow. That's likely to be the case with him, but I wouldn't hold too high expectations because of those two limitations I've mentioned. While Mou can help him directness (someone like Cesc too), the cleverness part is there for good imo.

[killer1257 3,282]

Now Willian's decision making problem is of a different nature imo and I feel bad for saying it so bluntly, but he's just not a clever person (or player as I don't know him personally, but judging by his interviews even in portuguese you can say he's far from the brightest kid in the class, very far).

I do not think that education has something to do with intelligence.Also,you have to look very carefully if you want to find an educated footballer,especially in countries like brazil where the education standard isn´t that good(according to the media).