Best performance I've seen in a long time today. 

His decision making was on point which is something I've been very critical of lately. Probably our best player on the pitch. 

He played really well tbf and his hunger and workrate seems to have returned. 

Even in the 80 Something minute(?) minute he was trying to outpace players on the right flank. 

Not too many misplaced passes, slipped in mount I think for his goal and as usual excellent dribbling to keep the ball. 

 

 

5 minutes ago, GhostOfDembaBa said:

He played really well tbf and his hunger and workrate seems to have returned. 

Even in the 80 Something minute(?) minute he was trying to outpace players on the right flank. 

Not too many misplaced passes, slipped in mount I think for his goal and as usual excellent dribbling to keep the ball. 

 

 

There were two occasions that reminded me of his Mourinho era when he came back and got the ball, both of them were vital occasions also, I think it was Redman both times. 

He did a great job, Willian seems to pace himself a lot, we've seen his acceleration a few times and he's fast when he wants to be, he looks like he was shaking off an injury, ran all 90 minutes and managed to do that at the end, crazy... 

I hope he keeps it up. 

@Slojo & all the others who mocked me for saying Willian had been great the last few games. 

“The last four or five games he's been our best player.” - Frank Lampard, 06.10.19

If somebody wanted to be cynical they could point out that Willian's contract is up this year and this is his last chance of a big pay out.

That's If somebody wanted to be. I'm just happy he's playing really well and we have 3 or 4 players who can slot into that position.

32 minutes ago, Munkworth said:

@Slojo & all the others who mocked me for saying Willian had been great the last few games. 

“The last four or five games he's been our best player.” - Frank Lampard, 06.10.19

I didn't mock you, I just disagreed. 

I personally don't think he played well against Lillie or against Brighton even though he got two very important goals. I know that sounds harsh but I just don't think he was good enough, luckily he got the goals which are important. 

Today he didn't score and it was his best performance all season. 

16 minutes ago, DP2 said:

If somebody wanted to be cynical they could point out that Willian's contract is up this year and this is his last chance of a big pay out.

That's If somebody wanted to be. I'm just happy he's playing really well and we have 3 or 4 players who can slot into that position.

I'm interested to see how he plays in Feb once he's signed a new contract with a different team or us. I've always said he's too streaky and he hasn't made the most of his undoubted talent. A few games doesn't change that view, it reinforces it. 

1 hour ago, Slojo said:

I didn't mock you, I just disagreed. 

I personally don't think he played well against Lillie or against Brighton even though he got two very important goals. I know that sounds harsh but I just don't think he was good enough, luckily he got the goals which are important. 

Today he didn't score and it was his best performance all season. 

I’m taking the piss mate! It’s not everyday I get back up from Lamps himself 

Willian needs a new contract and turns it up a bit, lets see if he carries this on once the ink has dried on a new deal.

Playing his best football in years. Reckon it's because he is in the shop window come January? 

4 hours ago, RIP Mourinho said:

Willian needs a new contract and turns it up a bit, lets see if he carries this on once the ink has dried on a new deal.

That is my thoughts on it as well.

However as an admitted member of the "Willian is simply not good enough often enough, I.e. sh*t," club I will give him his due. He is playing really really good of late.

4 hours ago, axman2526 said:

That is my thoughts on it as well.

However as an admitted member of the "Willian is simply not good enough often enough, I.e. sh*t," club I will give him his due. He is playing really really good of late.

I’ll echo this, always criticised his end product but he’s delivering on that big time now. Big upturn in form so fair play to him it’s brilliant to see and he’s starting on merit. 

 

If it is down to his contract, we’ll just need to keep him on a one year rolling contract. I think it could be down to being one of the more senior players and not being in Hazards shadow so he’s taking on more responsibility but we’ll see if and when he signs a new contract.

35 minutes ago, EdinburghBlue said:

I’ll echo this, always criticised his end product but he’s delivering on that big time now. Big upturn in form so fair play to him it’s brilliant to see and he’s starting on merit. 

 

If it is down to his contract, we’ll just need to keep him on a one year rolling contract. I think it could be down to being one of the more senior players and not being in Hazards shadow so he’s taking on more responsibility but we’ll see if and when he signs a new contract.

If I was a betting man I would bet on him not being here next year, no way he'll take a rolling contract.

There'll be a lot of interest in Jan, especially if he continues his current form.

His daughters have just started school and he's already lived in the Ukraine so I suspect he'd be happy to move away for a big pay out. I'd be surprised if he doesn't end up in China or similar. 

Edited October 7, 20196 yr by DP2

His workrate has improved so much, I guess partly because his contract's up, partly because there's added competition, and partly because of the manager. He used to have a good workrate and then it went missing for years. I think he saw Hazard on the other flank and he thought I'll just play like him. Difference is, Eden had much more talent so he could get away with it, in fact it was preferable for him to conserve a bit of energy, so that he could inflict more damage. I think Frank has made it very clear if you want to play you're going to have to put yourself about.

I think a lot of fans have gotten too accustomed to Willian’s mediocrity over the years. He plays well for a few games and all is forgotten. I’m in the lucky/unlucky part of the fan base that doesn’t forget.

Imagine we hypothetically got Mane in who has all the energy of Willian but scores every other game. Those fans would be like damn we should have got rid of Willian ages ago. We will never sign him but you see my point. You can have a player who does both. And I really hope the club is scouting for that kind of player as we speak.

Fair play to him for playing well but i’m just ready for the club to move on.

13 hours ago, rtwelch said:

I think a lot of fans have gotten too accustomed to Willian’s mediocrity over the years. He plays well for a few games and all is forgotten. I’m in the lucky/unlucky part of the fan base that doesn’t forget.

Imagine we hypothetically got Mane in who has all the energy of Willian but scores every other game. Those fans would be like damn we should have got rid of Willian ages ago. We will never sign him but you see my point. You can have a player who does both. And I really hope the club is scouting for that kind of player as we speak.

Fair play to him for playing well but i’m just ready for the club to move on.

Agree, I think the thing is with Hazard leaving and having just CHO and Pulisic in the attacking forward role being unproven at top level meant we were willing to keep him another season.

It is great he is playing well as that builds momentum and belief in Frank while the others get their EPL 'feet'.

If he keeps this level up (unlikely) then that will be interesting.

I didn't mention Pedro as he is not delivering so far this season.

 

On 08/10/2019 at 19:50, rtwelch said:

I think a lot of fans have gotten too accustomed to Willian’s mediocrity over the years. He plays well for a few games and all is forgotten. I’m in the lucky/unlucky part of the fan base that doesn’t forget.

Imagine we hypothetically got Mane in who has all the energy of Willian but scores every other game. Those fans would be like damn we should have got rid of Willian ages ago. We will never sign him but you see my point. You can have a player who does both. And I really hope the club is scouting for that kind of player as we speak.

Fair play to him for playing well but i’m just ready for the club to move on.

Where do you stop with that analogy? We could always have better. Tammy is playing great, but if only he could bury headers like Drogba! Jorginho is passing brilliantly, but if only he could physically dominate a midfield and score goals like Ballack!

Like every other player Willian is performing very well under Frank's management. As is Tammy. As is Jorginho. He deserves just as much credit.

17 minutes ago, just said:

 

Where do you stop with that analogy? We could always have better. Tammy is playing great, but if only he could bury headers like Drogba! Jorginho is passing brilliantly, but if only he could physically dominate a midfield and score goals like Ballack!

Like every other player Willian is performing very well under Frank's management. As is Tammy. As is Jorginho. He deserves just as much credit.

The issue is willian has years of experience behind him where we've seen him fail to finish. 

Today is yet another game where he played really well but did ultimately nothing. His final pass / shot has consistently been poor and despite his energy, he's a waste of his undoubted talent. 

He deserves to keep playing, but ultimately, this should be his last season. 

Just now, bisright1 said:

The issue is willian has years of experience behind him where we've seen him fail to finish. 

Today is yet another game where he played really well but did ultimately nothing. His final pass / shot has consistently been poor and despite his energy, he's a waste of his undoubted talent. 

He deserves to keep playing, but ultimately, this should be his last season. 

 "He played really well but ultimately did nothing"

I'm just gonna hope you see the huge contradiction there.

43 minutes ago, just said:

 "He played really well but ultimately did nothing"

I'm just gonna hope you see the huge contradiction there.

I fully do and that's why I think he should leave at the end of the season. 

I can see how his running maybe changes there play, changes their defence. But for me I want more from that role. 

I've noticed in recent years in the EPL you need a number of runners and runners that can change the pace or open a defence. Without Kova (at the start) or Kante, Willian was a nailed-on starter.

It was good to see Pulisic get some minutes as we need a squad for the winter months than can perform in all competitions.

The Haters worse nightmare has come to fruition

 

Anybody notice he's a lot faster this season? He's using his pace a lot more, I've always heard about him being one of the quickest players but he never really shows it. 

Captain against Palace, solved the game with that amazing assist! Great job Willian!

Willian has been like a new signing this season! Absolutely brilliant form - fair play! I was at the Leicester game where he had that horrific cameo and I thought that was the end of his Chelsea career. He’s turned it round spectacularly! So good today! 

 

Corners are still terrible though haha!