mudge

Certain aspects of his game may of been underwhelming but as a whole, no he is not.  He is a pivotal player in a side that's playing a Cup Final, leading the league by 7 points and in the knockout stages of the CL. In fact, the one competition we have been knocked out of occured in a game where Willian didn't start. Willian's contributions to that have been immense even if not in a manner that's recorded in the Goals or Assists column.  Or do you claim this was done by a team who fielded 10 players and 1 passenger named Willian?
 
Aside from Zouma, who was here at CFC last season and have upped their game substantially since last season?  The changes of the team have come from new additions because they represent what we were missing last season.  
 
Have you taken a moment to consider that, season prior to last we were no where near being title challengers, yet with the arrival of Mourinho and a few players such as Willian, CFC almost won the title last season without a form striker?  Did you consider that perhaps that feat was only made possible by players like Willian who can massively contribute to a game without a goal or an assist?  
 
There are very few players who would be a definite improvement upon Willian, very few and I cant think of any who would be realistically attainable.  Bringing in a player whose better offensively and worse defensively could make the team worse just as likely as it being an improvement.
 
If anything I would point to how the team improved when Mata was removed despite him being a great goal scorer/creator.  This is a special manager with special techniques and I suspect we can all agree he is the type of manager who will sacrifice goals and assists for points on the table.  Personally, I think he has found a swell formula for that this season and one Willian is integral too.

I could probably post this in the Oscar or Willian thread, as both seem to get equal criticism of the “must be replaced, not good enough” variety pretty quickly. We are currently sitting top of the league because of these guys, not inspite of them. The work that Willian gets through game in game out is incomprinhcibale… I’m not sure if I have ever seen anything like it.. Check out every time Ivan is forward, and we our contender, who is covering right back, the clue is he has an afro!  He drives us forward with the ball is able to take possession of it under pressure and release us quickly.
On to Oscar, getting compared with Errickson and Corzola, neither of them are asked to put in the same defensive shift, neither of them tackle for toffee… and furthermore, neither of them are watched by you and me with such scrutiny week in week out. I guarantee they have sh*ty games and spells, otherwise there teams would be in the top 4 perhaps? Fact is Oscar is not the second coming of maradona, he’s a dam good player who ticks in our system and is still only 23. Consistency will come with age
 
I can’t understand how people want to swap two players who work their asses of for us week in week out, our handpicked by our manager (because he had options, most of us would have gone with Mata) and have been ever present in a team that is now 7 points clear at top, for players who can’t get their respective teams in to the top 4!... every one looks good on MOTD

All the talk about Wilian and opinions on him so far can only really be significant if you know what the instructions are in the managers game plan.
 
Players at other clubs that play right wing better or more direct than Willian really don't (imo) have his workload, he isn't really a wide player, he could likely do the job of hugging the line and sprinting down the wing but that would make it difficult to get back and cover the space that a marauding Ivan has left, he drifts around mopping up and pressing all over the place and I don't think that's his natural game, I think it's the role the manager has asked him to play.
 
It's the same as Ivan doesn't take it in his head to do what he does, it's again Joses instructions and I'm not sure the "better" wingers Willian gets compared to could do the job as well as he does when Ivan does what he does.
 
Obviously we expect the new man to be more direct, get in more crosses and generally take some of the weight off of Hazard but Ithink that was the plan with Shurrle, Willian for the games Jose wants more pressing and tenacity and one other that has turned out not to be Salah or Shurrle for games where he feels a more creative threat on the right is the key.
 
Willian will likely play many more games where he has been playing but hopefully when a change is made it will involve enough of a threat going forward to negate the need for the harrying that Willian does so well, so far replacing him with a player offering little threat has left us a bit open.
 
I like Willian and he will be an option in Oscars place if Jose wants to rest him so there will be a few options if Cuadrado fits in as well as we all hope.
 
I'm fairly happy with Willian to date and think he, like Oscar is an important part of the team, I'd certainly have kept him ahead of Salah or Shurrle on what I've seen.

Nice article sent to me from friend
 
Kurt Zouma has praised Chelsea captain John Terry and "the best coach in the world" Jose Mourinho for making him a better defender
The 20-year-old made his full Premier League debut in Saturday's 2-0 victory over Newcastle - a win which put the Blues two points clear at the top of the table.
Zouma signed for Chelsea almost 12 months ago but remained on loan at former club St Etienne until the end of last season, linking up with his new Stamford Bridge team-mates ahead of the current campaign.
With Terry forming a strong central-defensive partnership with England international Gary Cahill, Zouma has had to be patient to make his mark on the league having been limited to mostly cup and Champions League appearances so far.
But the France Under-21 international looked right at home as he played alongside his skipper in the win over the Magpies and admits lining-up next to someone with the experience of Terry can only help his development.
"I'm very happy because it was my first start in the Premier League but I have to improve and we have to keep winning, but we won so for me that is the most important thing," he said.
"The manager said to me well done, but I have to continue because I have only played one game, but I have continue and if gives me a chance I have to continue to improve.
"I learn from John how to defend because it is not the same

He pushes me and says 'go, go go' - and I have to go

Yes he does the same in training every day

When we are on the pitch we have to work because when you train it is the same as when you play.
"He (Terry) helps me a lot, when the striker goes behind me, or when the striker drops back I have to follow, to keep depth, so helps me a lot

Gary Cahill is the same.
"I have learned from playing alongside John

It was the same when I was on the bench and I looked at John and Gary and I learned from both every time

So I am happy to play alongside both.
"I learned that the Premier League is not the same at the French League because there is more contact, tactically I learn a lot, tactically, technically and physically I learn from both of them."
Zouma, whose middle name is 'Happy', is certainly enjoying life with the league-leaders and praised Mourinho for also having an influence on his game.
"He helps me in every area

Defensively, tactically

For me he is the best coach in the world," Zouma said of the Portuguese

"I knew that we wanted to play well and to be top of the league

I was very happy to come here

I know that I have not played a lot but every day I have learned

When the coach gives me a chance I have to do my best."
 
Source : PA

Keep in mind that Deschamps said he sees Zouma being captain of France one day, I think theres more to him than just being a massive bloke.

He's very talented, I like him. I think Jose can start planning on him as replacement for JT in 2 years, maybe next year. He's good header, has excellent passing skills, he actually has whole things which every central defender must have. Of course he has a lot of things to improve as well, but with the time he will gain experience and cover all his mistakes. If I remember right Chelsea were chasing Mangala, but at the end they bought Zouma, they did good in my opinion. I'm fully supporting Zouma, I hope Jose will continue to give him chances and in two-three seasons he will be 1st team player.