Willian

[iseah100 5,612]

I like Willian. He's much better than Moses lol. I don't think he's netter than Scurrle though. My ideal 3 AM's would be Schurrle-Willian-Hazard. His numbers aren't eye popping, he isn't a £30m player, and he lacks an end product. But he is very direct, takes guys on, good dribbler, passer and is just overall very good technically and has his moments of beautiful finishing (Norwich last year?), not to mention he puts in a ridiculous amount of work and that could help keep the Matic-Cesc pivot. He doesn't deserve criticism. He may not be a £30m player, but he is very good.

Also, some questioning if he would start on any other "elite" team? So? He's on OUR team, I could give a fuck if he's good enough for Dortmund, Barca, Real or PSG. He's good enough for us.

Now Oscar. lol I'm kidding. Chill people.

[Barbara 15,149]

I like Willian. He's much better than Moses lol. I don't think he's netter than Scurrle though. My ideal 3 AM's would be Schurrle-Willian-Hazard. His numbers aren't eye popping, he isn't a £30m player, and he lacks an end product. But he is very direct, takes guys on, good dribbler, passer and is just overall very good technically and has his moments of beautiful finishing (Norwich last year?), not to mention he puts in a ridiculous amount of work and that could help keep the Matic-Cesc pivot. He doesn't deserve criticism. He may not be a £30m player, but he is very good.

Also, some questioning if he would start on any other "elite" team? So? He's on OUR team, I could give a fuck if he's good enough for Dortmund, Barca, Real or PSG. He's good enough for us.

Now Oscar. lol I'm kidding. Chill people.

I actually think Oscar is better than Willian and that Schurrle is in better form than both.

But those comparisons are harmless, as they're all CFC players and whoever is in better form or fits the tactical plan better for certain matches will play. So we're good, it's good to have three players so different, but also with great qualities to them. Comparing our AMs will always sound okay for me because at the end of the day they're all here and Mourinho knows who's best for each moment and situation.

[lionsden 4,689]

From my criticism of oscar and Luiz (former) by now everyone already knows that I can't tolerate players who do not excel or atleast perform their primary task with decent level of proficiency. Therefore, I wan't my defenders to be rock solid defensively, my attacking midfielders to be creative and aggressive etc. I don't have time for players who suck at their primary task/role.

[kellzfresh 7,229]

He's a technically and tactically sound player, but he's afraid of the 18box, afraid of taking on his man towards goal.

He should start asserting himself soon or he would be used only when we want to kill the game like mikel.

[iseah100 5,612]

I actually think Oscar is better than Willian and that Schurrle is in better form than both.

But those comparisons are harmless, as they're all CFC players and whoever is in better form or fits the tactical plan better for certain matches will play. So we're good, it's good to have three players so different, but also with great qualities to them. Comparing our AMs will always sound okay for me because at the end of the day they're all here and Mourinho knows who's best for each moment and situation.

Harmless comparisons are good for debate; Schurrle or Willian, Willian or Oscar, Schurrle or Oscar. But the criticism Willian is getting is undeserved, he's a good player who will start quite a bit and we will need him if we want to win anything this year. Just like we will need Oscar and Schurrle. Different games require different players. I like Willian and he is valuable to us. So the criticism should stop. IMO.

[The Skipper 20,609]

Very. Almost as embarrassing as those who were branding Schurrle as the new Salomon Kalou - the same Schurrle who is now being extolled to such great heights. The way players go in and out of fashion on this forum is something else.

Lol, I very much remember this one. Schurrle was the new Kalou and now he's like a god on here. I love Schurrle but that was very funny.

[Madmax 9,219]

Football is a game of Efficiency and productivity. Players like Thomas Muller win you titles while players like Willian win you spoons and sum total of fuck all.

I take strong objection to the implication that Muller isn't much of a 'footballer'. He reads the game better than anyone I've seen.

[The only place to be 11,313]

I take strong objection to the implication that Muller isn't much of a 'footballer'. He reads the game better than anyone I've seen.

There is no implication of that.

Willian is a very pretty player. He dribbles nicely, he passes nicely, but there's very little incisiveness to his play which is why I compared him to Mikel earlier.

Muller is a devastating player. He finds chinks in defences and attacks them mercilessly. That doesn't mean he isn't a 'footballer'.

The slating of him is way OTT like wow. This just came out of no where. He might of not done a lot stats wise but I think people underrate his contribution to the team. People are just looking at the transfer fee and judging that he is a flop. I was impressed with him last season despite the stats. I think we will see more goals and assists this season. To compare him to SWP is laughable. Willian has came of his first season which I thought he done well. If anyone is using his stats as a way to say he was poor, I completely disagree. In many games where we won, he was a contributing factor.

My comparison of him to SWP was based on his transfer fee - he's another AM/winger that we've overpaid for and who we'd probably have to sell for quite a loss (I'm guessing to a Turkish team now, since Ukraine has gone to shit).

His stats aren't just a problem over the last year, but over the course of his career. He's never scored that many goals so the chances of him doing so at 26 are low. As for his defensive contribution, it's good in the context of a wide midfielder.

I also think he's deceptively slow over anything more than 5 yards. I don't think I've ever seen him outpace a player, but he does have quick feet and a fast running style which means he can usually beat the first man.

But it's hard to separate the fee from the man.

[hjperdeath 2,226]

Even with Schurrle, I still see him as a starting player next season, especially in the big games. Stats or not, he aid Mourinho's way of playing.

[Madmax 9,219]

There is no implication of that.

Willian is a very pretty player. He dribbles nicely, he passes nicely, but there's very little incisiveness to his play which is why I compared him to Mikel earlier.

Muller is a devastating player. He finds chinks in defences and attacks them mercilessly. That doesn't mean he isn't a 'footballer'.

I may have jumped the gun. Yee haw.

[kellzfresh 7,229]

Even with Schurrle, I still see him as a starting player next season, especially in the big games. Stats or not, he aid Mourinho's way of playing.

Yea but when we need a goal, he has no business being on the pitch with that laid back mentality.

[hjperdeath 2,226]

Yea but when we need a goal, he has no business being on the pitch with that laid back mentality.

I don't really think its a about laid back mentality, because if he did, Mourinho wouldn't be playing him. I would be more inclined to believe that he's been instructed to play like that.

[kellzfresh 7,229]

I don't really think its a about laid back mentality, because if he did, Mourinho wouldn't be playing him. I would be more inclined to believe that he's been instructed to play like that.

He is like mikel, in the sense that he follows the coaches instructions, and tactically executes them. But to become a better player one needs to impose yourself in the match, and Willian does this rarely.

[hjperdeath 2,226]

He is like mikel, in the sense that he follows the coaches instructions, and tactically executes them. But to become a better player one needs to impose yourself in the match, and Willian does this rarely.

that's true to an extent. He doesn't dare to take risks as often as Eden or Oscar do and sticks to what Jose probably does tell him to do.

[5354 204]

He does impose himself isnnt it? Just rarely.

I rememberd the few occasions whereby he scored some wonderful goals which wasn't really expected from him