Willian

[Clockwork 1,794]

I wouldn't go overboard. He had no end product last season, but he's added that to his game to an extent for club and country this season. It all depends on what value £30m is to you. We bought Hazard for a similar fee and look how that turned out.

What end product did he add this season?

Are we counting dead ball situation as the player end product?

His only live ball Goal+Assist came against West ham, and that was frankly a gift.

[Stats 7,056]

What end product did he add this season?

Are we counting dead ball situation as the player end product?

His only live ball Goal+Assist came against West ham, and that was frankly a gift.

You can say that about the rest of the team too. How about this:

Let's remember it was his pressing and assist that got Costa the goal against Aston Villa. Obviously a simple assist but the pressure he applied to Lescott forced them into a mistake. He also set up our first goal against Dynamo Kiev with his excellent footwork and cross which forced them into an own goal. Costa should of actually made a run to the far post but never.

It seems like you are another one who is not really a fan of him but it does not hurt to give him praise when it is deserved.

[LAM09 6,750]

What end product did he add this season?

Are we counting dead ball situation as the player end product?

His only live ball Goal+Assist came against West ham, and that was frankly a gift.

It's something. He offered nothing going forward last season.

Also, have you watched him play for Brazil in the last few months?

[the wes 7,212]

Willian to sign a new contract

http://www.espnfc.co.uk/chelsea/story/2703720/chelsea-eager-to-sign-willian-to-new-long-term-contract

[Muzchap 8,966]

He has been a frustrating figure at times in a Chelsea shirt

I still think his best position is in the middle.

This season he has added a left shoulder drop and a wicked free kick!

I have always liked his energy.

Overall a decent player - the cost was there to snatch him from the Spuds - those bellends pushed his price up as they love overpaying

[MrBlueGuy 1,552]

Wouldn't look out of place in the Bayern 11 imo that is how good he is this season.

[the wes 7,212]

Wouldn't look out of place in the Bayern 11 imo that is how good he is this season.

fuck bayern hes staying with chelsea

[TorontoChelsea 4,064]

He's a bit of an odd player. Amazing energy, fantastic at free kicks, wonderful work rate, but I hate him on the ball. He is very slow at moving the ball once he receives it and runs sideways and in circles a lot instead of attacking. At the top level, you have to move the ball quickly and Willian just doesn't do that often enough. It's a strange contradiction that he's been both our best player this season and also that he has been too central to our attack.

[OhForAGreavsie 5,892]

I like the bloke enormously but the long and the short of it is that he flatters to deceive. Lots of eye catching moments in open play but they pretty much all come to nothing. The killer touch, pass, finish or decision nearly always eludes him. We need an upgrade. Desperately.

There's been a lot of debate about him recently. A strand of the debate being that Willian is the best we have for the role he plays. Well, I don't happen to think that he is but it doesn't matter either way. The important thing is neither he nor Oscar is good enough for that role so an upgrade is essential.

I'm sure Willian's supporters will want to carry on the discussion but I can't see any way to assess his output other than as I've said above.

[BlueLion. 21,491]

Willian is no more than an 8/10 player, and even when he has an off day (like yesterday for the most part), the fact he is still comfortably our best player is deeply disconcerting.

[!Hazard! 3,394]

He's a bit of an odd player. Amazing energy, fantastic at free kicks, wonderful work rate, but I hate him on the ball. He is very slow at moving the ball once he receives it and runs sideways and in circles a lot instead of attacking. At the top level, you have to move the ball quickly and Willian just doesn't do that often enough. It's a strange contradiction that he's been both our best player this season and also that he has been too central to our attack.

Under attacking manager he would play at fullback. I would love to see something like Baba - Hazard and Willian - Pedro on the flanks against some pub teams at least. I believe that's how Pep would play this squad.

[Stats 7,056]

I like the bloke enormously but the long and the short of it is that he flatters to deceive. Lots of eye catching moments in open play but they pretty much all come to nothing. The killer touch, pass, finish or decision nearly always eludes him. We need an upgrade. Desperately.

There's been a lot of debate about him recently. A strand of the debate being that Willian is the best we have for the role he plays. Well, I don't happen to think that he is but it doesn't matter either way. The important thing is neither he nor Oscar is good enough for that role so an upgrade is essential.

I'm sure Willian's supporters will want to carry on the discussion but I can't see any way to assess his output other than as I've said above.

You can say that about Hazard then too. 21 games without a goal and has put glimpses in this season but not enough. Maybe if our star players were performing like him this season, he would also look better and have better stats. Right now he is the only one who is consistently looking like offering anything. If Hazard can put in performances like last season and Costa can start playing football and the likes of Fabregas can rmeember his passing instinct we might even have a better player.

Willian is fine in our team. Realistically who can we get that will be an upgrade on him. He is a quality player. We need upgrades on the likes of Oscar who really does not add anything and looks way out depth and fragile when he is on the pitch.

[LDN Blue 7,903]

He's a bit of an odd player. Amazing energy, fantastic at free kicks, wonderful work rate, but I hate him on the ball. He is very slow at moving the ball once he receives it and runs sideways and in circles a lot instead of attacking. At the top level, you have to move the ball quickly and Willian just doesn't do that often enough. It's a strange contradiction that he's been both our best player this season and also that he has been too central to our attack.

Perfect summary.

[OhForAGreavsie 5,892]

You can say that about Hazard then too. 21 games without a goal and has put glimpses in this season but not enough. Maybe if our star players were performing like him this season, he would also look better and have better stats. Right now he is the only one who is consistently looking like offering anything. If Hazard can put in performances like last season and Costa can start playing football and the likes of Fabregas can rmeember his passing instinct we might even have a better player.

Willian is fine in our team. Realistically who can we get that will be an upgrade on him. He is a quality player. We need upgrades on the likes of Oscar who really does not add anything and looks way out depth and fragile when he is on the pitch.

I'll give you that I can't offer an available name who might be brought in to replace Willian but I put that down entirely to my lack of knowledge not a lack of appropriately talented players. I'm busier work wise than I have been for a while and I'm watching a lot less football than I have done recently.

I thought that yesterday was a great example of what we get from Willian. Some of his ball carrying was outstanding, turning defence into potentially dangerous attacking situations. I want to stress that I don't regard this as nothing, this is a great attribute. However what did he ever generate to make any of those more than an uplifting moment for the fans? Time after time he was in position to translate a good position into a great one but missed the boat. As for example when his pass to Ramires was just too far in front of his fellow Selacao resulting in a pressured shot and wasted opportunity. That, I'm afraid, is how it goes with William, just too far in front, a little behind the run instead of into it, little flicks than find touch or the defender and cross-field balls that look great but require headed control and so limit the receiver's options.

I'm not trying to pretend that passes which require accuracy within a matter of inches are easy. Of course they are not but Willian misses and misses and misses again. To satisfy me that he's a Chelsea player he'd have to hit sometimes. In fact we should be looking for players who hit more often than an average player might. Willian does not.

Eden Hazard has shown us what he can do. He has given us reason to believe and to be patient with him. (In fact I thought he wa very good yesterday.) I'm still waiting for Willian to do likewise. His lovely runs beating 2 or 3 opponents is for show, the simple pass perfectly executed at the right moment is for dough. Willian puts on a great show.

There is a logic to what you say about Willian looking better if the side is playing well. My fear however is that as long as Willian is deserving of a starting place it will only serve to reinforce the fact that we are not playing well. When we get the side we need, the side we all want, Willian won't be in it.

[kellzfresh 7,229]

He's a bit of an odd player. Amazing energy, fantastic at free kicks, wonderful work rate, but I hate him on the ball. He is very slow at moving the ball once he receives it and runs sideways and in circles a lot instead of attacking. At the top level, you have to move the ball quickly and Willian just doesn't do that often enough. It's a strange contradiction that he's been both our best player this season and also that he has been too central to our attack.

Exactly. I've said a few pages back that he always seems to be our best player when we're playing poorly. I don't know why....

[illmatic 901]

Around of the minute 45 of the first half. Great counter attack for us. Willy on the ball, at least 3 teammates near to him, but thinks a lot his choice, and lets Stoke reset his form. Goodbye to a great counter attack option.

The reason for who Willy is not a totally TOP, in one action.

[JDY 1,290]

Interesting that some don't like him on the ball. He can be frustrating at times on the counter when he has too much time to think, but he's no more frustrating than the likes of Oscar, Pedro, Costa, and even Hazard in that regard at the moment. His ball retention is excellent, the best in our squad bar in form Eden. I really think people under appreciate players who can keep the ball under intense pressure, the lad who was meant to replace Willian last season couldn't even control the ball with no one around him. Sounds simple but only him & Eden are good at it in our squad, and for a supposed top team that's simply not enough when you look at some other clubs.

His passing when under pressure is also excellent most of the time. Countless times does he receive the ball with not a lot on, shift it quickly & play a precise ball instantaneously. He actually sets up a LOT of counters by being quick in possession, the problem is that when he's the one leading the counter the initial burst is good but then he seems to get overwhelmed and picks the wrong option.

[Oscar 441]

Regarding willian's free kicks this season that ended up as goals...

Have you ever seen a luckier batch of goals than WIllian's fks this season?