Thats a bit un-pc for you.

Am I not normally?

Had a nasty collision with the goalkeeper against Watford apparently.

 

Could be part of why he was replaced at half time much like when Cahill was recently a half time sub following a clash of heads. 

That assist for Costa's goal... Phwoor!

What I like about the guy is that he doesn't hide, he keeps trying things (sometimes to elaborate) even when it's not working.

At times yesterday against Newcastle especially in the first half he gave the ball away a fair bit trying quick counter attacking passes with a small margin for success.

At times these were the wrong choices, but I feel as he matures he will balance out the good time to do this and when to not.

But he never hides, a great trait to have, whether it's going well personally or not he keeps plugging away then gets rewarded with his great link up play for Costas goal.

He's work rate as we know is second to none and he is a very important part of our machine that I think Jose is managing so well ( often rested and first subbed) at the moment.

I think there is still a lot more to come from this lad!

Christ he was dreadful in the first half - had it not been for his goal he might have been for the hook at half-time again. Hopefully that boosts his confidence, need him back to his best for the run-in.

 

Interesting stat from Jake Cohen on twitter

 

Jake Cohen @JakeFCohen · 10h10 hours ago

 

In Lampard's age 23 season, he had 7 PL goals + assists (5G 2A). In Oscar's age 23 season, he already has 11 PL goals + assists (4G 7A).

 

Christ he was dreadful in the first half - had it not been for his goal he might have been for the hook at half-time again. Hopefully that boosts his confidence, need him back to his best for the run-in.

 

Interesting stat from Jake Cohen on twitter

 

Jake Cohen @JakeFCohen · 10h10 hours ago

 

In Lampard's age 23 season, he had 7 PL goals + assists (5G 2A). In Oscar's age 23 season, he already has 11 PL goals + assists (4G 7A).

 

 

My thoughts exactly, you can call me harsh but I want to see a better showing from Oscar next time around, we are going to need him. We can't just rely on Hazard and Fabregas most of the time, we need other players to chip in otherwise we wont win the league.

 

Lets hope that's a kickstarter for him from coming back from injury, we will need the lad at his best. Because that first half performance was just not acceptable, if he enver scored the goal I think he would have easily been off.

My thoughts exactly, you can call me harsh but I want to see a better showing from Oscar next time around, we are going to need him. We can't just rely on Hazard and Fabregas most of the time, we need other players to chip in otherwise we wont win the league.

 

He chipped in twice.

 

Lets hope that's a kickstarter for him from coming back from injury, we will need the lad at his best. Because that first half performance was just not acceptable, if he enver scored the goal I think he would have easily been off.

 

Could say that for a few players first half, and they never even scored.

Personally I'd do my best to sign Pogba, drop Oscar and put Fabregas in his position. I just can't get on board with Oscar, he's just too hit and miss to be playing at this level.

We were starting Oscar at about age 20/21. The type of 'youth' people scream for season after season. If Oscar isn't good enough then shut down the academy, the chances of it production the top 0.1% of player are slim to none.

 

Would be interesting to gauge opinions if he was an academy product and not brought in at a young age and getting starts

Edited January 11, 201511 yr by Stim

He chipped in twice.

 

 

Could say that for a few players first half, and they never even scored.

 

Yes of course Stim, becuase I meant just for this one whole game of the season didn't I? Not for the rest of the season or anything, you will go out of your way to understand Jamie Redknapp? But you wont do that for me? Not even the benefit of the doubt? Cheers mate.

 

Understand my point here, I'm not blind, I can see that Oscar scored and grabbed an assist, but if you're going to get carried away from that and let that over shadow a bad performance in the first half where he shown little abillity (terrible first touches, no sense of vision to other players around him) then it's wise to pick that out. I'm not just looking at this game, I'm glad it's done and dusted, we got 3 points, I'm looking towards the rest of the season.

 

Some games go your way some don't, I feel this game went our way, Spurs one definitely didn't, we were punished for every little mistake, but you get games like that, but rarely as harsh as the Spurs game. That's just a minor assessment, you catch the drift (I HOPE) I'm not saying that's how games are judged because it's not, mostly it's down to us. One smart little bit of play just turned the game around from us and funnily enough it came from Willian and ended with Oscar. That's great but am I going to get carried away from that? No I'm most certainly not. Fabregas and Hazard didn't have much influence in the first half but whenever they got the ball you could see what they were made of, what they were about. With Oscar he struggled, really struggled, that's something that has happened often with Oscar and he hasn't been able to hit the ground running immensely now has he? No he hasn't. Had a good start to the season this season and last, lets hope this time he keeps it up, because we need him.

 

That's my main point, we need him from now until the end of the season, this isn't hating on a player, it's just called criticism, if he grabs a goal and assist every time he has a bad game perhaps I wont complain, but that's not going to be the case is it.

Edited January 11, 201511 yr by Slawth

We were starting Oscar at about age 20/21. The type of 'youth' people scream for season after season. If Oscar isn't good enough then shut down the academy, the chances of it production the top 0.1% of player are slim to none.

Would be interesting to gauge opinions if he was an academy product and not brought in at a young age and getting starts

He cost 20m! Might as well say we gave youth a chance playing hazard! Not that it's a slight on oscar, I think he will be top drawer.

Yes of course Stim, becuase I meant just for this one whole game of the season didn't I? Not for the rest of the season or anything, you will go out of your way to understand Jamie Redknapp? But you wont do that for me? Not even the benefit of the doubt? Cheers mate.

 

I figured it would be obvious I was ok with his contributions in his other matches as well. Whole team looked off the space so to single out Oscar for it is unfair imo. (Yes I read your whole post).

 

 

He cost 20m! Might as well say we gave youth a chance playing hazard! Not that it's a slight on oscar, I think he will be top drawer.

 

Yeah, price tag was a sign that we really believed in him, just playing a bit of devils advocate.

 

Just feel he needs to beef up a bit. He looks exactly the same as he did when he was a 20 year old and the PL will take it out of you. Drops off second half of season because he looks like a twig.

Edited January 11, 201511 yr by Stim

Well he has been good so far, but I tend to think Oscar has a habit of not producing enough, I am assuming a lot here I understand that, that's why I understand a lot of disagreements coming my way.

 

I'm just pointing from now on until the end of the season, I want Oscar to keep it up but also improve his attacking game. Many times this season alone if you watched him carefully he slowed down attacks and didn't have the end product on some of them, just lead to a sideways or back pass. That type of stuff becomes stale for too long, it is good to keep the ball I understand but when it all adds up you begin to realize why so many teams go on the defensive against us and sometimes manage to get something out of it, this season not so much but I have the small pessimistic feeling we will encounter this coming to the end of it.

 

Just feel he needs to beef up a bit. He looks exactly the same as he did when he was a 20 year old and the PL will take it out of you. Drops off second half of season because he looks like a twig.

 

I've been having similar thoughts about Willian too. He seems to get knocked off the ball/lose it a fair bit when shoulder to shoulder. Also, I've got to say that I used to think that Wiilian was moderately fast but now I'm not so sure. His legs move very quickly but he must have a very short stride. In yesterday's game it was a bit comical at times to watch him attempt to get past a player. He tried it numerous times & it didn't work. 

I've been having similar thoughts about Willian too. He seems to get knocked off the ball/lose it a fair bit when shoulder to shoulder. Also, I've got to say that I used to think that Wiilian was moderately fast but now I'm not so sure. His legs move very quickly but he must have a very short stride. In yesterday's game it was a bit comical at times to watch him attempt to get past a player. He tried it numerous times & it didn't work. 

 

I noticed that but I think that might be just a case of being tired, I mean running about like that for a full game will tire anyone like it or not. You will lose that rush, should I say acceleration from you.

^ well maybe but he didn't look all that tired to me based on his leg speed.

Hmmm, not sure, maybe tired wasn't the word to use, perhaps he has used just about all in the tank, he can clearly run for the whole game we have seen that. But a burst of pace? Hard thing to do when you're non stop running about.

 

Either way I find it concerning, if he is struggling to beat defenders which he was then he is going to struggle in creating goals, he can't really test defenders he can't get past them or get a cross in even.

Yep - it's an issue - probably more so with the quicker sides like yesterday.

He's rarely found in a crossing position, much more central and more likely to get in and around the area to assist, as we saw yesterday.

mmmm...maybe he shouldn't be so central so much of the time so as to get in crosses - I mean he's our free kick specialist - he ought to have a good cross in him. I guess it's a width debate too.

I think he's played well out wide when he was there early last season, I actually think that could be his best position if he was given time to settle, but it could also be a bit of a waste as he is also dangerous around the area. I would love to see Jose try a proper 4-4-2 once in a while, with oscar released from defensive duties and just playing off Costa. God only knows who would play right wing though.

Edited January 11, 201511 yr by dkw

Well he has been good so far, but I tend to think Oscar has a habit of not producing enough, I am assuming a lot here I understand that, that's why I understand a lot of disagreements coming my way.

5 goals and 7 assists in 22 appearances this season. He's contributing to a goal every two games on average, to me, that's a pretty good return to date.

He's improving on his contribution from last season and is improving on the consistency of his performances too.

As for the doing nothing until his goal yesterday, you could say the same about Willian, Costa and Matic too and even Dave was having a bad game up to when he went off injured.

5 goals and 7 assists in 22 appearances this season. He's contributing to a goal every two games on average, to me, that's a pretty good return to date.

He's improving on his contribution from last season and is improving on the consistency of his performances too.

As for the doing nothing until his goal yesterday, you could say the same about Willian, Costa and Matic too and even Dave was having a bad game up to when he went off injured.

 

I can agree to that. We were so sloppy in the first half, Costa and Oscar especially.

 

I do like Oscar but not only do I want him to keep it up for the rest of the season, something he failed to do last season but I think he can improve on his game also. I know with a lot of defensive work you have to accept he isn't going to be Juan Mata, that's not the point I am making though. I think at times he slows the game down far too much, even at times he lacks the quality to play in a good pass which you could expect someone of his caliber or should I say value to make.

 

Perhaps it's a harsh game for him to pick on him from, as many were also poor, but I'm just pointing this out. I know the inevitability of teams parking the bus against us in the future and for some reason I'm still sensing a Fabregas injury, that's probably the most pessimism you'll get from me, but I'll put it out there.

I understand the point you're making about quality of pass but did you see his assist for Costa yesterday, that's talent and creativity right there.

His whipped cross for when Hazard scored a header?

Personally I think he gets undervalued for his contributions to the team, we are a much better team with him than without and I was extremely happy when he extended his contract for another five years.

5 goals and 7 assists in 22 appearances this season. He's contributing to a goal every two games on average, to me, that's a pretty good return to date.

He's improving on his contribution from last season and is improving on the consistency of his performances too.

As for the doing nothing until his goal yesterday, you could say the same about Willian, Costa and Matic too and even Dave was having a bad game up to when he went off injured.

And you only need to look to Matic as to how much a player can improve between the ages of 23-26. The fact is that no matter how much he can occasionally frustrate fans, he is amazing for his age and lack of experience (especially when he arrived). He would still be a starting player for most of the top European sides.