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Willian

Mike 93
in Football (Other Teams)

Featured Replies

I really think this attacking four could flourish next season.

Costa

Hazard - Willian - Cuadrado

Cuadrado is the RW we need from what I've seen previously. Direct when he needs to be, makes the runs inside. Very pacey and tracks back. Willian has looked very dangerous through the middle especially on counter attacks.

 

from what ive seen cuadrado looks a mess

I really think this attacking four could flourish next season.

Costa

Hazard - Willian - Cuadrado

Cuadrado is the RW we need from what I've seen previously. Direct when he needs to be, makes the runs inside. Very pacey and tracks back. Willian has looked very dangerous through the middle especially on counter attacks.

God No! I would hope we improve our 1st especially the right wing position, and let Oscar/Willian compete for the "10".

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    We know what he can do now.

    Play him in the no 10 role and watch him flourish, that's where he was most dangerous for his previous club.

    Not sure where that leaves Oscar though.

    Play him where he plays for Brazil, could be the making of him.  :wink:

    He always reminds me of a wind up toy - wind him up and let him run and if he hits something, he turns round and goes in a different direction.  So much energy,  But I agree that the last few matches he's added more to his game and is creating more.

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    Great signing,unlucky Spuds.

     

    Lets not get ahead of ourselves here. He had a great game against Leicester and hopefully he builds on that. But i dont see how even the biggest Willian fans can say hes been a great signing so far.

    Lets not get ahead of ourselves here. He had a great game against Leicester and hopefully he builds on that. But i dont see how even the biggest Willian fans can say hes been a great signing so far.

    probably by putting one word after the other.

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    probably by putting one word after the other.

     

    well, i mean, i can put the words  ''g3.7'',''is'' and ''witty'' one after the other, but it doesnt make the statement true

    Edited by launcher

    There has been a lot of talk from posters that Willian was unlikely to improve, due to his age, that because he's 26, there wasn't really much more room for development.

     

    What these people didn't take into account was the fact that he came from a far weaker league, and he was adapting to the rigours of the Prem, and the pressure of playing for Chelsea.

     

    Mentally and physically it's a big ask for somebody that's not used to it.

     

    Many many players have looked all at sea when they've first joined, established players, Cuadrado being the latest one, and Cuadrado comes from a stronger league than Willian had.

     

    Furthermore, prior to Chelsea he didn't really have to graft that hard, he has said so himself, he has had to do a lot more defensively than he's been used to, a lot more. That takes some getting used to, and he has gone about his work with a fine attitude, a real team player.

     

    Willian has truly adjusted now. He's adjusted to the pace, to the physicality, to the intensity, to the pressure. He's starting to look a complete player. Tenacious, skilful, intelligent, fast etc etc. Against Arsenal in the first-half and against Leicester in the second-half he was easily our best player. People will cite his lack of assists and goals but he could easily have assisted goals in those games but for poor finishing by his teammates, besides that's not really his game and never has been. He's a link man. He's an attacking midfielder, in the way Iniesta is, another player who has poor stats. He's not an attacker and people mustn't confuse him as one.

     

    I'm surprised people haven't made the comparison with Iniesta before and if they have I haven't seen it, but it's only just struck me. I'm not saying he's at that level and I'm aware of their differences but there are similarities in the type of player they are. Don't forget Iniesta has played wide for a large part of his career at Barcelona, before coming inside. He used to be viewed as an attacker but now he's seen more as an attacking midfielder, which is what he is.

     

    The fact our Willian plays mostly on the right means Jose allows Ivanovic to go forward, whereas Hazard is a true attacker who has a full-back behind him that stays back.

     

    Sure, people can say it's just two games but the signs have been encouraging for a while now. The key thing is he's improving. What a player he looked against Leicester, supremely confident. He has delivered in big games, and it's not the first time. He was excellent in the second-leg against Liverpool for example. I thought he might struggle for first-team action next season, not anymore. He is guaranteed to start.

     

    There have been games, particularly away from home, where he hasn't fancied the physicality, where he's been all too easy to knock off the ball and he's seemed a little intimidated. Jose has sorted all that out.

     

    What a fine player we have on our hands. I haven't always been his biggest fan but he's grown on me. He's a top player, no doubt about it. He hits 27 in August, about to reach his peak. 

     

    I'm glad he joined us and not Tottenham and I dare say he feels the same way too.

     

    Many many players have looked all at sea when they've first joined, established players, Cuadrado being the latest one, and Cuadrado comes from a stronger league than Willian had.

     

     

    The difference being people were saying these things after Willian had played 70 matches for this club, not 70 minutes.

     

    Many had also commented that even in this weaker league he had rarely shown the consistency (or indeed the stats) that suggested he could step up. Credit where it's deserved though, people who have criticised him have been quick to praise him but also recognised that it's just a start. He needs to build on it, and be given the chance to build on it.

     

    Hopefully this gives us another option to use at number 10 and allow Oscar to have more of a rest so hopefully he can maintain his traditionally good early season form into the new year.

    I thought he was great against arsenal and even better against Leicester and I'm not his biggest fan but fair play to him he's looked better lately, hopefully he can roll with that in to next season and add a little more end product, he looks terrific when he gets to the byline and drills the ball across the face, just need Diego for to get on the end of it!

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    He is having a fantastic end to the season but I would disagree with people who want him in the no.10 role, I still think his best position is on the right and Fabregas behind the striker.

    Ray Wilkins has selected Willian in a Chelsea team of the decade.

     

    I really like Willian and think he was one of our top performers, especially in the second half of the season, but I think that's a bit ridiculous.

    ^ Apparently if he hadn't gone for Willian he would have chosen Ballack.

     

    He's got him in a three-man midfield as well, which is a bit odd. He also cites his goalscoring ability as one of his reasons for picking him.

     

    Here's the link anyway: http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11668/9836532/ray-wilkins-chelsea8217s-team-of-the-decade

     


    I love Willian, I think he has been an absolute delight this year. What he gives you is he transforms defence into attack in the blink of an eye and he’s gone. He is a super footballer and has a magnificent work ethic and I think that is what Mourinho likes in his players. If I had not selected him, I would have gone with Michael Ballack instead, but I just think that Willian gives you a little bit more creativity and flair going forward and goals.

    ^ Apparently if he hadn't gone for Willian he would have chosen Ballack.

    He's got him in a three-man midfield as well, which is a bit odd. He also cites his goalscoring ability as one of his reasons for picking him.

    Here's the link anyway: http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11668/9836532/ray-wilkins-chelsea8217s-team-of-the-decade

    Yeah the fact it's in a 3 man midfield confused me even more, Ballack and Essien can feel mighty hard done by there!

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