And why is that interesting? I've never criticised his workrate, but the guy cost £25-30 million to play as an attacking midfielder and the best thing you can say about him is that he runs around a lot.

 

Personally I think we can do better which is why I criticise him. 

 

Have to agree with that on the whole.

 

For me, Willian is getting as frustrating as Gronkjaer used to be. You think (and hope) he is going to do a whole lot more than he actually ends up doing. I know all sides need workers - guys who will put in a shift and bust a gut whilst others win the games with the skill and bit of magic. But I would like to see him contribute a little more as right now, he doesn't look like the kind of player who is going to win you a game out of nothing and that's kind of what I expected when we signed him.

He ran and ran, much like Hazard, only not as effective, obviously.

He made a couple of good passes out and down the channels, which is encouraging.

One of his finest games, but he needs to do that consistently if he isnt going to pop up with regular goals.

What I think is generally unappreciated in willian is that he turns over play a phenomenal amount. He wins most 50/50 balls and then has the composure and ability to set us away.

I can argue with those quoting his conversation rate.. Even I want him to score more buy them again, I always felt his best position would be center mid.

What I think is generally unappreciated in willian is that he turns over play a phenomenal amount. He wins most 50/50 balls and then has the composure and ability to set us away.

I can argue with those quoting his conversation rate.. Even I want him to score more buy them again, I always felt his best position would be center mid.

What I think is generally unappreciated in willian is that he turns over play a phenomenal amount. He wins most 50/50 balls and then has the composure and ability to set us away.

I can argue with those quoting his conversation rate.. Even I want him to score more buy them again, I always felt his best position would be center mid.

 

When the whole team presses then Willian does well, but I don't think he's exceptional at that in any way. Last night he had a decent game mainly because the players around him had a good game, but those types of players are ten a penny.

 

I've been accused of having an 'agenda' against him as well as one against Mikel. I also got that accusation with regards David Luiz as well and there's something that two of those players have in common - they're players who weren't good enough and needed to be replaced for us to be a top club.

 

Maybe I'm jumping the gun but I think Willian is another player we need to upgrade. We need a player who offers a threat, elevates the performance of those around him and takes it upon himself to lead the team when we're below par.

 

£26 million for an attacking midfielder whose strongest asset is his workrate and whose weakest is probably his creativity and incisiveness simply isn't good enough in my opinion.

When the whole team presses then Willian does well, but I don't think he's exceptional at that in any way. Last night he had a decent game mainly because the players around him had a good game, but those types of players are ten a penny.

 

I've been accused of having an 'agenda' against him as well as one against Mikel. I also got that accusation with regards David Luiz as well and there's something that two of those players have in common - they're players who weren't good enough and needed to be replaced for us to be a top club.

 

Maybe I'm jumping the gun but I think Willian is another player we need to upgrade. We need a player who offers a threat, elevates the performance of those around him and takes it upon himself to lead the team when we're below par.

 

£26 million for an attacking midfielder whose strongest asset is his workrate and whose weakest is probably his creativity and incisiveness simply isn't good enough in my opinion.

 

 

But when you refuse to achnolage that some one see's quality that simply don't it does come across very much as an agenda. 

But when you refuse to achnolage that some one see's quality that simply don't it does come across very much as an agenda. 

 

And what would the root of that agenda be? I've been accused of having one against Mikel too, but not anyone else (now Luiz has left) so why? 

 

People throw terms like agenda around as if that's enough to discredit someone's view. It's bullsh*t. 

I've been accused of having one against Mikel too, but not anyone else (now Luiz has left) so why? 

 

 

Must just be a coincidence.

Thought Willian was one of our very best last night. Sure, I wish he'd take more players on but he provided the cross for Ivanovic to nod in and his workrate was phenomenal, as it usually is. In tight cup games, especially ones that go to ET, player's physical and mental fitness is really significant and Willian's shift yesterday underscored how valuable he is for us, even if he doesn't get enough goals. Thought he interchanged nicely with the other forward players too.

And what would the root of that agenda be? I've been accused of having one against Mikel too, but not anyone else (now Luiz has left) so why?

People throw terms like agenda around as if that's enough to discredit someone's view. It's bullsh*t.

Don't remember the you last season on here so know nothing about your opinion on luiz

When the whole team presses then Willian does well, but I don't think he's exceptional at that in any way. Last night he had a decent game mainly because the players around him had a good game, but those types of players are ten a penny.

 

I've been accused of having an 'agenda' against him as well as one against Mikel. I also got that accusation with regards David Luiz as well and there's something that two of those players have in common - they're players who weren't good enough and needed to be replaced for us to be a top club.

 

Maybe I'm jumping the gun but I think Willian is another player we need to upgrade. We need a player who offers a threat, elevates the performance of those around him and takes it upon himself to lead the team when we're below par.

 

£26 million for an attacking midfielder whose strongest asset is his workrate and whose weakest is probably his creativity and incisiveness simply isn't good enough in my opinion.

 

Not sure about we need to upgrade him but we need a good player to rotate with him.

 

I agree though, one game does not exclude anything, I don't believe this is a turning point, before ET he was actually very bad in attacking yet again, however in extra time he seemed to contribute more in attack, he actually went past the fullback twice.

 

He has got some stamina I'll give him that, didn't stop working and didn't look tired either. I think he is important to the side, try and get the price tag out of your head, for me it's irrelevant right now, It's not the same situation as Torres were the fee dictated the player.

Great performance yesterday from the team but for me Willian was man of the match. Worked so hard and the only reason Courtois got the call was so it made the Dippers feel better. Also willian brings in a great song! 

And what would the root of that agenda be? I've been accused of having one against Mikel too, but not anyone else (now Luiz has left) so why? 

 

People throw terms like agenda around as if that's enough to discredit someone's view. It's bullsh*t. 

 

I hate this agenda crap that get's thrown around on here, it's ridiculous. As Chelsea fans we would like nothing more than all of our players to be great players. I don't rate Mikel or Willian ( as an attacker ) either, but i would love nothing more than for them to be great players for us just as much as any other Chelsea fan would. I honestly feel that if we were watching Mikel and Willian playing for other teams we wouldn't be urging Mourinho to go and sign them for our club.

Edited January 28, 201511 yr by Scott Harris

Don't remember the you last season on here so know nothing about your opinion on luiz

 

Different place but essentially felt he was a bottler who wasn't cut out to be a top class defender and that we needed to replace him to progress as a team.

 

I said the same about Mikel for years as well.

 

And now I'm kinda starting to think the same about Willian too.

 

Must just be a coincidence.

 

It's not. I just don't rate players who I think have to be carried by those around them. If we had to name our favourite players then they'd probably include leaders like Drogba, Lamps, JT, Maka etc. Those are the players I like. 

 

In the team now we have players who step up and lead the team. It's why I prefer Matic to Mikel, why I was incredibly impressed with Hazard against Spurs when he really put his hand up on a bad day, why I love Diego. Even someone like Oscar will get us something when others are having a bad day.

 

What I worry about with Willian is that whilst he's a cog in the team and looks good when others are playing well, he doesn't really shine on the bad days. He's not going to be the guy who lifts us. 

 

To put it into simple, rather harsh terms I question whether he's a winner or not.

My thoughts on Willian:

 

1) He was overpriced at 30 million pounds; he plays more like a 20 million pound player IMO (and that's perhaps generous).

 

2) I don't think he's especially underrated or overrated in truth, just polarising. He's like a more advanced Paulo Ferreira in the sense that he's usually good for a 7/10 performance. Like Ferreira, he always displays industry and a willingness to sacrifice for the greater good of the team. He also is quick, impressive technically and a decent third free kick taker. He's also more disciplined defensively than Schurrle, who is willing but gets dragged out of position. 

 

3) Unfortunately, like Ferreira, he's not a bonafide match-winner; Ferreira relied more on the likes of Terry/Drogba/Carvalho/Cech to win matches while he just played a supporting role in keeping the back four impregnable, whereas Willian just disrupts opposition attempts to build out from the back and helps trigger counterattacks for the likes of Hazard/Oscar/Costa/Schurrle to carry on or finish. However, neither can really be relied on to win matches for you on their own. When Willian scores, it's usually to add the icing on the cake on a favourable scoreline, so to speak. He's also an average passer with surprisingly average vision for a natural #10 and I don't remember his crosses being either frequent or noteworthy, so it's not likely that he'll create a game-defining assist or anything. 

Edited January 30, 201511 yr by DaRick

Was pulling my hair out in frustration the first half vs the scum at Willian's performance, but by the end of the 90, I was literally asking myself aloud, "How can you knock this guy?"

Just so much hardwork, closing down, pressuring (not to mention the few times he actually weaved in and out of players through the middle).

One moment in particular, ran.the length of the pitch from attack to defence, then kept running the width of the pitch from one side to the other, chasing back.

I know it's just running, but he gives 200% effort every game performing well or not... find it very difficult to be annoyed with a player for too long with that kinf of effort.

My thoughts on Willian:

 

1) He was overpriced at 30 million pounds; he plays more like a 20 million pound player IMO (and that's perhaps generous).

 

2) I don't think he's especially underrated or overrated in truth, just polarising. He's like a more advanced Paulo Ferreira in the sense that he's usually good for a 7/10 performance. Like Ferreira, he always displays industry and a willingness to sacrifice for the greater good of the team. He also is quick, impressive technically and a decent third free kick taker. He's also more disciplined defensively than Schurrle, who is willing but 

3) Unfortunately, like Ferreira, he's not a bonafide match-winner; Ferreira relied more on the likes of Terry/Drogba/Carvalho/Cech to win matches while he just played a supporting role in keeping the back four impregnable, whereas Willian just disrupts opposition attempts to build out from the back and helps trigger counterattacks for the likes of Hazard/Oscar/Costa/Schurrle to carry on or finish. However, neither can really be relied on to win matches for you on their own. When Willian scores, it's usually to add the icing on the cake on a favourable scoreline, so to speak. He's also an average passer with surprisingly average vision for a natural #10 and I don't remember his crosses being either frequent or noteworthy, so it's not likely that he'll create a game-defining assist or anything. 

You've kind of contradicted yourself there, how do you help trigger a counter attack for others to finish without  creating a game defining assist or anything?

You've kind of contradicted yourself there, how do you help trigger a counter attack for others to finish without  creating a game defining assist or anything?

 

Not necessarily; you can begin a counterattack without actually providing the assist, especially since Willian tracks back and hassles the opposition like mad...so it is not unknown for him to start counterattacking moves from quite deep.  

Note yet another instance in which Willian was pivotal in the buildup to a goal for us but for which he will get no statistical credit.

He played well in the first half.

Duly Noted. Note yet another mediocre game from Oscar.

He has a tremendous engine on him, easy to see why Jose likes him. Great work for our goal on the buildup.

He is showing why he is needed in the team regardless of who else we need.

 

Really looked up for it today, probably his best game in a while.

Played well today

In the first half tonight he was playing very central, almost like a number 10, and im pretty sure thats where Shakthar and Anzhi used him so effectively, and i must say he looked a peach there, was proberbly his best half in a chelsea shirt, and as stated elsewhere Oscar was very quiet again, perhaps with the Cuardrado signing Willian might be used in the central attacking role Oscar occupies and Juan will play on the right wing?