🇧🇷 Willian

[Nike 373]

He was hardly brilliant last season either. His defensive workrate is probably the only reason he starts over Andre, and his speed is probably the reason he starts over Oscar. He offers very little other than that, despite being technically gifted. His decision-making and passing in the final third are poor, he doesn't make runs, and he's no goal threat.

I think people here just want Oscar to be dropped regardless.

[Daniel1980 1,425]

I think people here just want Oscar to be dropped regardless.

Tbh, I'm not Oscar's biggest fan, but I felt he would have been more useful than Willian against City.

[communicate 2,703]

He was hardly brilliant last season either. His defensive workrate is probably the only reason he starts over Andre, and his speed is probably the reason he starts over Oscar. He offers very little other than that, despite being technically gifted. His decision-making and passing in the final third are poor, he doesn't make runs, and he's no goal threat.

We probably will not conceed that goal if Andre did not come in for willian but I don't see we get the goal without the sub.

[Daniel1980 1,425]

We probably will not conceed that goal if Andre did not come in for willian but I don't see we get the goal without the sub.

Yeah, if only Andre didn't fuck up... It was his chance to claim the RW. He looked ecstatic when he scored, and it was a great goal. Really feel sorry for the lad.

[Namika 922]

He was good... How can he do anything offensively if each time he had the ball at his feet he was fouled ?

[Barbara 15,149]

He was good... How can he do anything offensively if each time he had the ball at his feet he was fouled ?

he was fouled many times, and in many others he was absolutely horrifying passing the ball. He conceded turnovers in plays that he messed up all by himself. It was a subpar performance imo, although he did put himself in those positions in the first place so he deserves credit for that. If only he could add more vision and end product to his flair, he would be a hell of player.

He just keeps proving he doesn't think things through, that his vision can be very limited (it is most times). We could have made 1x0 in the first half when he commanded one of our counter attacks. Ramires penetrated City's defense all by himself, at the edge of the box. Willian was just a meter or two behind Rami who was running, all he had to do was make a basic pass and boom, Ramires would be 1x1 with Hard inside the box (and we all know how deadly Ramires can be in those situations). Instead Willian took 5 seconds to think what he would do with the ball and then passed it to Ivanovic who was in the sidelines. I cursed three generations of his family in that play. That's not even about vision as Ramires was literally in front of him, that's just being very limited at end product (and to be honest, this time I'll call it stupid, he was stupid in this play).

I remember a few other times in the midfield when we were about to start our attack that he's passed to no one, and misplaced some passes that would ashame even Ramires on his bad days...

[communicate 2,703]

Yeah, if only Andre didn't fuck up... It was his chance to claim the RW. He looked ecstatic when he scored, and it was a great goal. Really feel sorry for the lad.

The problem with schurle is that he is sometimes even poorer than willian on the ball.

[robsblubot 3,595]

He was good... How can he do anything offensively if each time he had the ball at his feet he was fouled ?

Doesn't that apply to all attacking players though? Especially in the PL?

Players who can avoid going to the ground, by pace and/or power, have a massive advantage in football.

I wrote a few pages back that Willian has no physical presence and stand by what I said. It's the same problem with Coutinho who is actually a lot smaller and weaker, albeit a bit pacier.

[Daniel1980 1,425]

The problem with schurle is that he is sometimes even poorer than willian on the ball.

True. He can also be too selfish. But at least he offers something different and actually presents a goal threat.

[Shakez 755]

It is funny that if you look in the Schürrle thread after last week against Swansea, and now here in Willians... Some players just get way more flack than others. Schürrle had an equally bad performance last week against weaker opposition while beïng a defensive liability. They both had basically no preseason's but Schürrle got the starts against weak opposition's. Willian was called upon at Everton, Schalke and City. Not really the easiest fixtures to come into the team and gel with Fabregas/Costa/Hazard, while coming from a WC where he barely played + a 2 week holiday.

I also want to remember people that he was instrumental in the quick 0-2 lead against Everton whilst keeping his side of the pitch defensively safe. Hazard's side got bombed that game and this resulted in a goal with Hazard not marking his player, something that got overlooked because we won in the end. Schürrle did basicaly the same thing yesterday, but somehow they get sugarcoated by most fans.

Also in this game Willian got fouled 7 times, it is almost a miracle that he didn't get an injury. These fouls where also partly the cause that breaked most of City's momentum and was a much needed release valve for the team. Zabaleta even got sent off after yet another foul on Willian, after wich we then proceed to score against 10 men. Though this lead was eventually nullified by everyone's favorite german. Hater's gonna hate i guess... Willian was bad this game and there are no excuses for his passing rate, but this hate crusade by some fans is plain disgusting (not only towards Willian, but Oscar too), even Branislav get's more hate than the person who was responsible for the Lampard goal. Luckily Mourinho has a clear eye on things.

[Shakez 755]

he was fouled many times, and in many others he was absolutely horrifying passing the ball. He conceded turnovers in plays that he messed up all by himself. It was a subpar performance imo, although he did put himself in those positions in the first place so he deserves credit for that. If only he could add more vision and end product to his flair, he would be a hell of player.

He just keeps proving he doesn't think things through, that his vision can be very limited (it is most times). We could have made 1x0 in the first half when he commanded one of our counter attacks. Ramires penetrated City's defense all by himself, at the edge of the box. Willian was just a meter or two behind Rami who was running, all he had to do was make a basic pass and boom, Ramires would be 1x1 with Hard inside the box (and we all know how deadly Ramires can be in those situations). Instead Willian took 5 seconds to think what he would do with the ball and then passed it to Ivanovic who was in the sidelines. I cursed three generations of his family in that play. That's not even about vision as Ramires was literally in front of him, that's just being very limited at end product (and to be honest, this time I'll call it stupid, he was stupid in this play).

I remember a few other times in the midfield when we were about to start our attack that he's passed to no one, and misplaced some passes that would ashame even Ramires on his bad days...

I rather take that kind of dumb, than a player like Schürrle who only focuses on runs and forget's to back the team in defence.

[iseah100 5,612]

I rather take that kind of dumb, than a player like Schürrle who only focuses on runs and forget's to back the team in defence.

I wouldn't.

[Myself 793]

i swear everyone thought schurrle wad the second coming of jesus just a month ago

[iseah100 5,612]

i swear everyone thought schurrle wad the second coming of jesus just a month ago

And now he's here.

[RoyalBlues 4,050]

Play him as a sub against tired defender, he is quite good last time.

[stroey 2,525]

Why is everyone suddenly so negative about Willian?

Last season he was our most consistent attacking mid, Jose even mentioned him to be a future untouchable. He created the second most chances in our team, Jose only said he has to score more goals. In the big games he was very important.

This season he started just 3 games and did well.

- Sub against Leicester: showed some great skills and pace

- Against Everton:

Reasonable performance, involved in 1-2 goals.

-Against Schalke:

Started really well, could've 2 assists if it was another striker

Against Mancity:

Wasn't his best game, but Costa and Hazard couldn't do much too, City played rugby or something. Willian was fouled 7 times I read. At least he kept them busy all the time.

[Footballover 222]

The thing about Willian is that he is an awful decision maker, but how can you say he is sluggish ON the ball? He is our second best dribbler in the team, he is freakin amazing whan he is the ball at his feet.

He had a very very poor match against City, usually he is shite in the last third of the pitch with his bad final touches and finishes, but against City he just had a bad game, all-around. Very bad passing and I think he got fouled that much because he was way too slow with his thinking, he held the ball too much and cost us a great deal of counter attacks.

I think it's fair to say that Schurrle provides us exactly the things Willian missses in his game (great attacking movement, finishing, aerial threat) whilst Willian gives us exactly what Schurrle is missing (tracking down players, better dribble, better touch on the ball). This what makes Willian a very important player for bigger games and that what makes Andre such a vital player for the smaller ones where we need to attack and create more in front of goal.

If Willian improves his cons he will become a real world class player, so as Schurrle. In the meantime, I'm personally very happy we have these two great players and such depth in the squad, and I think you should be too. Stop moaning and think about what other teams have in these positions.

[kellzfresh 7,229]

What I'll give for us to have a right winger on the same level with hazard

[Supermonkey92 1,428]

Every option on the right it seems has quite a big flaw.

Willian has the decision making of Ramires, which is more frustrating because he is capable.

Schurrle is probably the worst candidate when the ball is at his feet, I'd put salah ahead of him.

If Sarah's finishing was better last season I think he'd have more of a shout. Decent defensive coverages and can link up but at times seems average

[Bir_CFC 3,455]

While he had a poor game, I think some are being too harsh on him. Yeah he misplaced passes but really he didn't really have a lot of options. The limited ones he did have weren't easy either. That said, in the first half especially he was the only one that was able to release pressure by running with the ball and drawing fouls, while the rest of the forwards and midfield were of no help.