Willian

[1chelsea 864]

pele would have go be a special kind of idiot to play toure against us 3 days before thwir match against barca

i really don't know but if he lock in the mind game stuff he will be trying to prove a point against Jose and that is where he lose the battle

[Excalibur KTBFFH 109]

He still needs to step up in the final third though (and I know it takes time). We paid 30 million for him, far too much if you ask me, considering that we bought Hazard for 32 million (a fair price was probably 22-25) and we are going to need to see some more productivity in terms of goals and assists. Hard-work, running and contribution in both halfs of the pitch is not enough at that price. Also needs to be more direct when he's in the box instead of putting in hopeful low-crosses. Can still improve a lot.

[Special Juan 27,429]

He still needs to step up in the final third though (and I know it takes time). We paid 30 million for him, far too much if you ask me, considering that we bought Hazard for 32 million (a fair price was probably 22-25) and we are going to need to see some more productivity in terms of goals and assists. Hard-work, running and contribution in both halfs of the pitch is not enough at that price. Also needs to be more direct when he's in the box instead of putting in hopeful low-crosses. Can still improve a lot.

All that is correct, there is room for improvement definitely. Jose will make sure what he needs to up his game and it will come to fruition. His work rate right now is phenomenal, his distribution and link up play is also very, very good. Right now Willian is a proper team player, he is doing everything asked of him and for the shifts he is putting in he is nigh on un-droppable.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

pele would have go be a special kind of idiot to play toure against us 3 days before thwir match against barca

City don't exactly have many options for rotation at CM atm, though.

[Jase 43,479]

City don't exactly have many options for rotation at CM atm, though.

A duo of Rodwell and Milner will be welcomed...

[didierforever 7,349]

City don't exactly have many options for rotation at CM atm, though.

rodwell and milner. Garcia is coming back I think.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

A duo of Rodwell and Milner will be welcomed...

rodwell and milner. Garcia is coming back I think.

Think they'll want to stay in the cup a bit more than to do that. I hope they do, though.

[Mufassir08 2,400]

A duo of Rodwell and Milner will be welcomed...

Indeed......

[didierforever 7,349]

Think they'll want to stay in the cup a bit more than to do that. I hope they do, though.

depends on what the manager might want. I remember RDM making 9 changes for the arsenal game after the fitst leg against barca. And that was PL. This is a cup game.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

depends on what the manager might want. I remember RDM making 9 changes for the arsenal game after the fitst leg against barca. And that was PL. This is a cup game.

Yeah, but this cup game means more than that PL game because our hope of getting 4th place was already gone and our only realistic chance of making the CL was by actually winning it. The Arsenal game was more of a meaningless friendly than anything else.

[Shakez 755]

He's been recalled for the Brazil friendly against South Africa . Alongside Luiz, Ramires, and Oscar. Who is his main competition for a starting spot though? I guess Hulk or Gustavo no?

Full Brazil Squad: Cesar, Luiz, Dante, Thiago Silva, Alves, Marcelo, Rafinha, Gustavo, Paulinho, Fernandinho, Ramires, Oscar, Willian, Hulk, Bernard, Neymar.

[Pacquiao 1,834]

He's been recalled for the Brazil friendly against South Africa . Alongside Luiz, Ramires, and Oscar. Who is his main competition for a starting spot though? I guess Hulk or Gustavo no?

Full Brazil Squad: Cesar, Luiz, Dante, Thiago Silva, Alves, Marcelo, Rafinha, Gustavo, Paulinho, Fernandinho, Ramires, Oscar, Willian, Hulk, Bernard, Neymar.

Ramires will be his main competition, even though he should play Rami ahead of Paulinho, but i think he likes to play Rami as a RAM, it would be Hulk also but without Fred i think Scolari will play Hulk as a striker.

Scolari will probably play

Cesar

Alves - Luiz - T.Silva - Marcelo

Paulinho - Fernandinho/Gustavo

Willian/Ramires - Oscar - Neymar

Hulk

[kellzfresh 7,229]

I'm more worried about ramires chances than willian.

Especially as I feared fernadinho has been called up. Gustavo is already secured as their starting dm. So can ramires beat paulinho and fernadinho for the CM spot?? I'm afraid if all 3 are fit ramires could find himself on the bench especially as paulinho is a brazilian favourite

[Pacquiao 1,834]

I'm more worried about ramires chances than willian.

Especially as I feared fernadinho has been called up. Gustavo is already secured as their starting dm. So can ramires beat paulinho and fernadinho for the CM spot?? I'm afraid if all 3 are fit ramires could find himself on the bench especially as paulinho is a brazilian favourite

Ramires doesn't play as a CM for Brazil they play him on the right so Ramires will be fighting with Willian for a starting spot in the team.

[Barbara 15,149]

You guys have to keep in mind Brazil plays 4-3-3 and not 4-2-3-1 as we do - although a lot of people think we play 4-2-3-1. I don't know, maybe I'm going crazy, but both Hulk and Neymar played as second strikers in Confed Cup imo, while Fred was the CF.

We have a pivot + Oscar in the middle and three strikers: Neymar, Hulk and whatever #9 isn't injured or sucking much.

Willian's main competition is Oscar himself as our NT doesn't play wingers as Chelsea, but rather play them like some sort of strikers and second strikers - a role I don't think Willian is used to play.

Ramires wouldn't be in my starting eleven (as I said yesterday I favor first Paulinho + Fernandinho and then Gustavo + Fernandinho), but I'd have him in the squad. I don't like Lucas Leiva better than Rami and definitely not Hernanes. I like Hernanes playing where Oscar plays...

[Pacquiao 1,834]

You guys have to keep in mind Brazil plays 4-3-3 and not 4-2-3-1 as we do - although a lot of people think we play 4-2-3-1. I don't know, maybe I'm going crazy, but both Hulk and Neymar played as second strikers in Confed Cup imo, while Fred was the CF.

We have a pivot + Oscar in the middle and three strikers: Neymar, Hulk and whatever #9 isn't injured or sucking much.

Willian's main competition is Oscar himself as our NT doesn't play wingers as Chelsea, but rather play them like some sort of strikers and second strikers - a role I don't think Willian is used to play.

Ramires wouldn't be in my starting eleven (as I said yesterday I favor first Paulinho + Fernandinho and then Gustavo + Fernandinho), but I'd have him in the squad. I don't like Lucas Leiva better than Rami and definitely not Hernanes. I like Hernanes playing where Oscar plays...

I have always seen it as a 4-2-2-2

Cesar

Alves - Luiz - T.Silva - Marcelo

Paulinho - Fernandinho/Gustavo

Willian/Ramires - Oscar

Hulk - Neymar

[Barbara 15,149]

I have always seen it as a 4-2-2-2

Cesar

Alves - Luiz - T.Silva - Marcelo

Paulinho - Fernandinho/Gustavo

Willian/Ramires - Oscar

Hulk - Neymar

I know Fred rarely plays - as he's injured 90% of the time, but the main team is in theory double pivot + Oscar and ahead of them Hulk - Fred - Neymar.

[kellzfresh 7,229]

02

Ramires doesn't play as a CM for Brazil they play him on the right so Ramires will be fighting with Willian for a starting spot in the team.

Their fantastic run in the confed cup included

Paulinho-gustavo

Oscar

Hulk-Fred-Neymar

There is no way their system will be changed after a good run.

From that we see two fast players with oscar central free role.

Unless scolari has not seen the problems with ramires on the wing then I don't see where ramires fits.

National team coaches tend to trust players that get him where he is.

Ramires is not a dm so he can't bench gustavo

Ramires is not benching brazilian favorite paulinho

Ramires is not benching oscar

That alone is no place in the midfield for ramires in the starting 11.

Then we have fernadinho looking much better ability on the ball than ramires. Which is valued by brazilian fans. Lucas/sandro is the second DM.

So a spot on the bench could be in serious threat.

If the coach goes super defensive and plays

Gustavo-paulinho

Ramires-------oscar

Fred-Neymar

This is the only way ramires is getting a spot for me which is very unlikely given the brazil fans will want them to attack everybody in their home ground.