I think Willian is a bit more mobile nowadays

Definitely tracks back better than Pele.

I just want to see something different, which is why I'm really hoping for Cuadrado to hit the ground running but process has been slow, however if he doesn't start games how can he?

I have given him a lot of hate this season but to be fair to him we bought him knowing his stats weren't great and he'd look better in an attacking side rather than one which has a philosophy of individual brilliance winning matches over exceptional attacking teamwork. 

All that pace and he never uses it.

All that pace and he never uses it.

Use his pace all the time.

Just not going towards the opposition goal.

Use his pace all the time.

Just not going towards the opposition goal.

 

Thats what i meant.

I have given him a lot of hate this season but to be fair to him we bought him knowing his stats weren't great and he'd look better in an attacking side rather than one which has a philosophy of individual brilliance winning matches over exceptional attacking teamwork. 

 

well considering we got gypped at 30m, id say emenalo/mourinho expeted a lot more attacking wise.

 

and yeah, its not his fault, i think hes trying his best. that why youll never see me saying stuff like 'willian/ivan/oscar needs to f**k off'. i just think hes not good enough, and he simply doesnt have it in him to be a serious attacking threat no matter how much hours he puts in at the training ground.

I'm not sure if these rumours are true, but I recall some Russian guy back in August 2013 on Twitter saying that we signed Willian because Anzhi at the time were going bankrupt and needed to recuperate some money--basically by selling off players. Since the owner of Anzhi is Roman's friend, it was understandable that we signed him. I don't even think we needed him at the time. It was clear to everyone we lacked a midfielder and a striker, but instead we paid a lot of money for him. 

 

Not sure why we picked up Eto'o from Anzhi along the way though. 

General report, owner sold off players due to lack of success. http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/08/07/soccer-russia-anzhi-idUSL6N0G82EW20130807

Then why bother hijacking the spurs deal ?

 

He is a midfielder too, so if we needed one we bought one.

Edited March 24, 201511 yr by Stim

No way was he bought to help out Roman's friend. If that were the case we'd have just let Spurs take him. I think Jose wanted him.

He looks absolutely knackered at the moment, which considering his role in the team, really reduces his effectiveness, although credit to him for a very good match-winning assist. I really hope he doesn't play much during the international break as he could do with the rest. I suppose this might be a good opportunity for Cuadrado to stake his claim to a first-team spot.

Really impressed by him, he has grown into his role and along with Ivanovic our right flank is the envy of the PL. What I really like about him is his directness and ability on the ball, a Blue legend in the making.

Really impressed by him, he has grown into his role and along with Ivanovic our right flank is the envy of the PL. What I really like about him is his directness and ability on the ball, a Blue legend in the making.

Why do you keep trolling on Willian and Ivan?

I'm 99% sure you were at it on the match day thread too lol

He's been here for nearly two seasons now so I'm not sure what people expect from him. He's not an attacking winger and he'll never be. He does a decent job of supporting play, works hard and fills gaps left by other players. I think he would do better in his natural position at no.10 or even on the left wing, but that is up for debate.

 

Is he what we expected when the club spent 30 million on an attacking player? No, not even close. But what is the point of using that number to criticise him over and over. And his good form at the beginning of the year seems to have been forgotten when he hasn't played any worse than a number of our players since then.

 

I would love to see Cuadrado given a run to see if he can do better, but if its between Oscar and Willian for no.10, the its still Willian for me.

He's been here for nearly two seasons now so I'm not sure what people expect from him. He's not an attacking winger and he'll never be. He does a decent job of supporting play, works hard and fills gaps left by other players. I think he would do better in his natural position at no.10 or even on the left wing, but that is up for debate.

 

Is he what we expected when the club spent 30 million on an attacking player? No, not even close. But what is the point of using that number to criticise him over and over. And his good form at the beginning of the year seems to have been forgotten when he hasn't played any worse than a number of our players since then.

 

I would love to see Cuadrado given a run to see if he can do better, but if its between Oscar and Willian for no.10, the its still Willian for me.

 

When you say his 'good form at the beginning of the year' do you mean the Villa game? That was probably his standout performance up to the Everton match.

 

It's easy to criticise him because he doesn't score goal, doesn't really get that many assists and doesn't seem to have a tremendous amount of vision or creative ability. You could also question how effective his defensive work is in reality. But you're right that he isn't the only player under-performing. Willian's problem is that this level of performance seems to be the norm rather that the exception.

 

If we're talking about early season form, Oscar's was way above Willian's and he put in some truly match winning performances in both attack and defence before having another post-Christmas drop-off. The difference is he's only 23 and still developing whereas (as others have said) we knew exactly what we were getting when we signed Willian.

 

That's why it's unfair to criticise him. 

When you say his 'good form at the beginning of the year' do you mean the Villa game? That was probably his standout performance up to the Everton match.

 

It's easy to criticise him because he doesn't score goal, doesn't really get that many assists and doesn't seem to have a tremendous amount of vision or creative ability. You could also question how effective his defensive work is in reality. But you're right that he isn't the only player under-performing. Willian's problem is that this level of performance seems to be the norm rather that the exception.

 

If we're talking about early season form, Oscar's was way above Willian's and he put in some truly match winning performances in both attack and defence before having another post-Christmas drop-off. The difference is he's only 23 and still developing whereas (as others have said) we knew exactly what we were getting when we signed Willian.

 

That's why it's unfair to criticise him. 

 

But that's just it - I DIDN'T!!!

 

When I had seen him play for Shakhtar, he looked to be full of skill and ability to go past players. I honestly thought we were getting something a bit special rather than the player who runs about a lot with little end product.

But that's just it - I DIDN'T!!!

 

When I had seen him play for Shakhtar, he looked to be full of skill and ability to go past players. I honestly thought we were getting something a bit special rather than the player who runs about a lot with little end product.

 

Maybe he looked good against us because we had a midfield of Ramires and Mikel?

We probably should have let Spurs sign him.

So much better value for money signings that have gone since like Sanchez.

We will never make back the money we punted on him.

You should see how much money we'd get as PL winners.

You should see how much money we'd get as PL winners.

It's not a massive difference from what you get finbishing 2nd or 3rd.

Last season Liverpool earned more than City who won it.

When you say his 'good form at the beginning of the year' do you mean the Villa game? That was probably his standout performance up to the Everton match.

 

Going by MOTM votes.

 

Aston Villa (A) - 8 votes (1st)

Watford (H) - 3 votes (2nd)

Everton (H) - 13 votes (3rd)

Liverpool (H) - 13 votes (3rd)

Man City (H) - 3 votes (tied 3rd)

Swansea (A) - 2 votes (tied 4th)

Newcastle (H) - 5 votes (tied 4th)

Going by MOTM votes.

 

Aston Villa (A) - 8 votes (1st)

Watford (H) - 3 votes (2nd)

Everton (H) - 13 votes (3rd)

Liverpool (H) - 13 votes (3rd)

Man City (H) - 3 votes (tied 3rd)

Swansea (A) - 2 votes (tied 4th)

Newcastle (H) - 5 votes (tied 4th)

 

I see.

I'd take Kalou over him at the moment, he's that frustrating.

I'd take Kalou over him at the moment, he's that frustrating.