The fact is Oscar is going further and further away from being a fair player with creativity...

 

He's becoming like a tireless box 2 box midfielder...

 

Don't get me wrong I don't have anything against him but he doesn't look like a #10 to me. I've seen how talented he is he can create moments of magic but nowdays he just simply run, run and run and make tackles. That is I think is making hindrance in his development.

 

It's just my opinion.

One thing that for me is apparent with Oscar is he shows up in big games. He is still up and down between matches but whenever the stage is big he puts in a shift. I'm not saying it is a positive thing because we lost the title last term because of things like that. Now I'm not blaming Oscar for losing the title but the old question we throw around here is very relevant talking about him "Can he do it on a wet tuesday at Stoke?" Lot of our guys went missing last term in those games.

But he is a very talented player and I'm glad he is ours! Great game from him

One summer in the weight room and we got our new b2b midfielder....

 

People want a creative 10, but how exactly are the likes of coutinho, ozil and mata doing so far this season?  

 

Oscar is Chelsea's most balance player and the player that allows hazard and cesc to do their magic.  Without Oscar, Cesc would get pressed to death.  

Edited October 6, 201411 yr by Eligius

There always seems to be this contention that if a player runs around alot and has a great work ethic he is no longer creative...

Personally im still seeing oscar take players on, still playing some great passes and a little trick here and there. He's never going to go past people as well as hazard or thread the killer pass as often as mata or fabregas.. its not to say hes bad at those things.. actually he is pretty good at all of those things, but few players of his ilk will get up and down tbe pitch like he does..

For me he or willian should always be on the team sheet and personally id be happy to have both

Probably pushing my luck here and asking for too much but I just want to see him in and around the box more often. His movement in those areas is Lampard-esque, he's just always in the right place. He's been working so hard to win the ball back that he's normally the last to arrive, or in some cases just sits back, when attacking which has meant Schurrle, Fabregas and Hazard have been getting more of the ball in those areas. If half of the chances Schurrle has been wasting these past few games had fallen to Oscar he would have probably done better cause he can pick out a pass. 

 

Can't complain though, he's getting back to his best with each game.

The shift Oscar put in yesterday was outstanding, he may not be as creative as some other No 10s but you show me another who would charge a shot down full force on the edge of the box.

One of my favorite parts about yesterday was when Oscar was subbed off he got one of the loudest cheers I have ever heard and like 5 or 6 teammates came over to thank him. I think that says a lot about how much he means to this team and how valuable he is seen by everyone. 

Is it me or should Oscar and Fabregas swap positions?

Is it me or should Oscar and Fabregas swap positions?

To play that position you need to at least be able to hold up very well or control the ball really well under pressure. Oscar doesn't as yet, but Fabregas does the latter as well as anyone in the game.

Oscar has had the same qualities from the day he arrived and yet none of managers have even considered giving him a go in the midfield. And for good reason.

I really think we should be playing 4-3-3 and have oscar in the middle with fabragas at matic

I really think we should be playing 4-3-3 and have oscar in the middle with fabragas at matic

 

Well that IS pretty much how we play. 

Well that IS pretty much how we play. 

 

Yep, Oscar sitting deeper and contributing more defensively also in theory allows Hazard or Schurrle to stay higher up the field so that we can really punish teams on the counter too.

Yep, Oscar sitting deeper and contributing more defensively also in theory allows Hazard or Schurrle to stay higher up the field so that we can really punish teams on the counter too.

 

Works really well when we have Fabregas playing next to him as it allows Oscar to focus on his strengths and doesnt put as much pressure on him to create. When Ramires is in there its another story.

I think Oscar is better further forward so we can harrass the opposition in possession in deeper positions. Also I feel like he plays better on the half-turn rather than in front of the opposition; Fabregas is better further back as his passing is more accurate and he has the creative decision-making to make best use of the space. If we put him further forward he wouldn't have the space to start attacking moves or the necessary angle to float through long balls.

 

To be perfectly honest our system is fairly fluid anyway, the players aren't static and they don't move around in perfect shape, so these minor formation quibbles aren't all that important. As long as each player's position best fits the specific role he is supposed to play defensively and offensively I think it is fine.

I really think we should be playing 4-3-3 and have oscar in the middle with fabragas at matic

Agree. It fits our team better. Both Oscar and Fabregas are something between #8 and #10 anyway. 

Thought he was immense against Arsenal, my MOM.

Oscar was a complete player against Arsenal. Defensively he was a key player.

 

What I would like from him is to learn a bit from Fabregas when it comes to laying in a final ball. He has that ability. 

Oscar was a complete player against Arsenal. Defensively he was a key player.

 

What I would like from him is to learn a bit from Fabregas when it comes to laying in a final ball. He has that ability. 

It's not so easy. It's easy enough to improve general pass accuracy, but the final ball delivery and vision are very hard to learn. If it wasn't, all players would be able to do it. It's a talent too and it's not something one just learns at the age of 23. I'm sure Oscar wouldn't even see the opportunity and attempt the pass Fabregas made to Costa, much less actually pull it off.

Edited October 7, 201411 yr by Ward

He is not the same type of player we signed. He does not look like a #10 by any means he has little to no creativity no vision or flair in his game to be regarded as a #10. He has become a tireless box-2-box midfielder who covers most of the ground and make tackles more of a #8.

 

C'mon man you're very talented midfielder please recreate your magic like you had in the 1st half of last season..

 

He should influence the game more to be regarded as a real playmaker but he isn't. That was the problem we suffered last season in the absence of Mata Oscar was not creative at all. But thankfully we've got Cesc now.

 

Although he was very very good for us yesterday no denying that but he hardly started any attacks.

 

I think Oscar has been used as a vassal to vent last seasons frustration on very unfairly. Thanks largely to guy in your avatar we played with 10 men in most games last season. There was so much pressure of the attacking midfielders to compensate but it isn't easy getting goals from midfielders. None of ours are natural finishers, Hazard and Schurrle are flakey as hell and Oscar was never a great finisher. Lampard's legs had gone and in any case there was no Drogba who could make space for him or anyone to pop up regularly in a position to score. We bottled many good chances last year and blaming our creativity is a cop out, think of Everton away and Norwich at home when we did everything but score. Cesc has added quality but do you really think Torres would have 9 goals by now? And I was at Stoke in the FA cup which was late Jan and Oscar was sensational that day so it's just so lazy to keep going on about Oscar. As Jose said, the entire team lacked balls last season. 

Edited October 7, 201411 yr by Nichollz

Just to add that I'm delighted Oscar is finding form and to acknowledge the tremendous shift he put in on Sunday.

Edited October 7, 201411 yr by EmeraldBlue

It's not so easy. It's easy enough to improve general pass accuracy, but the final ball delivery and vision are very hard to learn. If it wasn't, all players would be able to do it. It's a talent too and it's not something one just learns at the age of 23. I'm sure Oscar wouldn't even see the opportunity and attempt the pass Fabregas made to Costa, much less actually pull it off.

 

Yeah I agree that its an innate quality but I think Oscar does have better vision than he is showing at this time, although not at Fabregas' level. The difference is Fabregas always has his eyes forward then if nothing is on he keeps possession more simply. Oscar is always looking to combine with the players closest to him only rather than seeking out the most dangerous player.

To play that position you need to at least be able to hold up very well or control the ball really well under pressure. Oscar doesn't as yet, but Fabregas does the latter as well as anyone in the game.

Oscar has had the same qualities from the day he arrived and yet none of managers have even considered giving him a go in the midfield. And for good reason.

 

Oscar also puts a lot of pressure on the oppositions defence. The cam role is an additional role despite being in the middle, he has the task of chasing the ball constantly when we are not on it without anyone having to cover in his position.

 

Fabregas doesn't really have that mentality and Oscar couldn't afford to pressure everyone if he was in the central midfield position and no was left to cover.

I thought this was a good article from sabotage times, I agree with pretty much all the writer says about young Oscar.

 

How Jose Turned Oscar Into Chelsea's Most Important Player - Sabotage Times

P 18 October 2014 U Joe Tweeds

#456680832 / gettyimages.com

How Jose Turned Oscar Into Chelsea’s Most Important Player

Oscar has never really taken the easy path since joining Chelsea. He arrived at Stamford Bridge taking the departing Didier Drogba’s number 11 shirt. When the Ivorian legend returned, Oscar took Frank Lampard’s recently vacated number 8 shirt. In Chelsea’s recent history those two shirts have been synonymous with success and world class performers. Oscar never seemed phased by the shoes that he was filling.

The Brazilian already boasts one of the greatest goals scored at Stamford Bridge. He announced himself to the world by turning Andrea Pirlo inside out before curling a ferocious effort into the top corner beyond Gigi Buffon. The goal was magical but the opponents he managed to outfox added credence to the quality of the skill and strike.

In the short term he formed a potent attacking trio with Juan Mata and Eden Hazard. They produced some of the most exciting and aesthetically glorious football that Chelsea had seen in years. Nonetheless, with each passing game there was a growing feeling amongst Chelsea fans that Oscar move eventually back into a deeper midfield role. He had the passing, vision, technique and – surprisingly – the tenacity to make the role work. When chasing games, Oscar was often dropped slightly deeper to great effect.

 

With Mourinho’s return and Juan Mata falling out of favour, Oscar thrived early in the season in a traditional number ten role. People often skirt over his early season form that prompted Mourinho to feel comfortable enough with Mata’s sale. He was arguably Chelsea’s best player up until January: then things fell away somewhat. With Mata’s departure Oscar seemed to lack the same spark that he had played with previously. Reasons seemed to largely fall into two categories: (1) he was far too focused on the World Cup and his performances tailed off; or (2) without Mata he felt he no longer needed to go the extra mile during games.

Mourinho noted this on more than one occasion and it was patently obvious that Oscar had fallen out of favour. The Brazilian had played a phenomenal volume of football by this point in his Chelsea career and it was likely that he was in fact burning out. His game demands so much physically that the accumulated fatigue would eventually catch up with him. Oscar sparkled very briefly in the World Cup, which seems to go against the theory that he was saving himself for Brazil. My genuine feeling is that he was simply shattered.

 

Was Oscar another bright young starlet who would peak early and then fizzle out into becoming simply another okay player? When you have world class potential merely settling for being a decent player is never quite enough. Thankfully for Chelsea fans Oscar appears to be resurging in both form and energy. His performances of late have prompted plaudits and acclaim. Interestingly enough he is almost creating a unique position for himself as a false ten.

 

What is so distinctive about how Oscar plays the number ten role is the responsibility he has in all facets of play. Traditionally a number ten is there to facilitate attacks and provide assists for his fellow forwards. Oscar has taken the role one step further. He orchestrates Chelsea’s pressing game, wins the ball frequently high up the pitch, makes key tactical fouls to slow play and diligently defends his penalty area when required. His block from Flamini on Sunday was utterly amazing – this Brazilian playmaker throwing himself in front of the ball like he was John Terry.

 

In possession he dovetails magnificently with Cesc Fàbregas. The two interchange wonderfully with Oscar coming deeper and Fàbregas pushing forward. Teams are not coping well with this movement of late as they either press and get passed around or leave Fàbregas free high up the pitch. Oscar is also becoming extremely comfortable drifting out wide to allow Hazard or Willian/Schürrle to move inside to occupy his number ten slot. He is skilful enough to beat his full-back and intelligently uses the ball. His display against Arsenal was absolutely complete.

 

Oscar is slowly becoming a player José Mourinho loves. There may not be a player in world football that can operate to such a high standard performing so many varied roles within a side. Being a defensive lynchpin, attacking fulcrum and tireless worker are not things your average number ten can do. There will always be people who bemoan his lack of goals or assists, but it appears that is not the role Mourinho is asking him to play. Considering just how well Chelsea are playing, perhaps Mourinho knows best?

 

Chelsea has had Juan Mata operate as a classic number ten previously and despite unbelievably good performances from him Chelsea finished 6th and 3rd (for various reasons). That side was built around using a traditional playmaker to the detriment of the side. Oscar should be scoring more and he can do more to directly provide goals for teammates. Nevertheless, he is always involved in attacking moves and his influence leading up to shots on target is often prominent.

 

The team are finding their feet at the moment. Over the last few games all of Chelsea’s key players have become accustomed to what is being asked of them and three clean sheets with six goals scored is fine reading. Oscar has been a huge part of this stabilising period and the way his teammates rushed to applaud him off the pitch against Arsenal spoke volumes as to his performance. He is the ultimate team player, sacrificing elements of his natural attacking game to complete the team. His flicks and tricks are measured now and he is far more effective because of this new found discipline.

 

For Chelsea fans it may take time to move on from Mata’s wonderful goals/assists record. The expectation is still on a number ten to score or to create. Nevertheless, in this Mourinho system Oscar’s role goes beyond that of a playmaker. He is there to provide a passing option, to recycle the ball, create overload opportunities and make space for his teammates. More than this, he is a defensive animal who alleviates pressure by his desire to win back possession. He is a different beast all together this season. The reception he got leaving the pitch against Arsenal suggests Chelsea fans are starting to notice his importance.

@JoeTweeds

I really think we should be playing 4-3-3 and have oscar in the middle with fabragas at matic

 

Yeh as has been mentioned above I think we basically play like this already.

 

While Oscar is supposedly the 10 in a 4-2-3-1 he actually is afforded significant spatial freedom and interchanges a lot with other players including Fabregas. He has been dropping out to the left a lot recently where Hazard usually sits as well.

Edited October 19, 201411 yr by gussy122

Mourinho added: "He's not a number 10 that plays with the ball at his feet, he's a number 10 that looks back, looks to the side, analyses the game and sees where the team needs him to move to get the ball and also to create balance.

 

So you are talking about a CM Jose..Deep lying playmaker maybe. Something we've all known he is capable of from day one..He is more capable of breaking play than Cesc but not as able passer as him. Oscar is in his 3rd season and finally?