Oscar Chelsea Deal No Guarantee of Game Time but Gives Chance to Reach Potential

Chelsea are flying in the Premier League, unbeaten and top of the table, and more good news came along on Monday with playmaker Oscar signing a new contract.

Brazilian Oscar has committed himself to the club until 2019, per the club's website (h/t BBC Sport), further ensuring the growth and continuity of a top side with a young, dynamic attack over the coming seasons.

Having already picked up a Europa League medal with Chelsea in his first campaign, he looks almost certain to add a league title to that this season, with further silverware possible domestically and abroad.

A regular international player too, the future looks great for Oscar—but his new deal is no guarantee that he will stay in the side. As last season's drop in form showed, he still has work to do to cement himself as a truly irreplaceable part of the squad and must use his extended time at the club to fulfill his potential.

"

Oscar has signed a new Chelsea deal until 2019. Get ready for 4 1/2 more years of this: (Vine: @Futbol_Vines_1) https://t.co/n0h1g8SUfo

— Bleacher Report UK (@br_uk) November 10, 2014"

First XI

Shaun Botterill/Getty Images

There's little doubting that Jose Mourinho's first-pick XI this season features Oscar right at the heart of things: He's the No. 10, the creative man between midfield and forward lines who Mourinho expects to both find gaps and work hard; in short, doing a lot of his work off the ball regardless of whether Chelsea are in possession. 

Oscar has played in nine of Chelsea's 11 league games this season, along with all four Champions League fixtures—two as sub.

The No. 8's mix of technique, work rate, flair and tactical versatility make him a clear favourite with his manager and a good fit for the way Chelsea approach matches. Add end product to that and there is no surprise as to why he has become so important for the club.

"

5 - Oscar has been involved in five goals (three goals, two assists) in his last seven Premier League appearances for Chelsea. Rewarded.

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) November 10, 2014"

Dips

It was only a year ago, though, that Oscar was suffering the effects of perhaps too much game time, perhaps too much expectation or perhaps simply the ails of being a young player.

He played the full 90 minutes in five of Chelsea's first 10 league games, but then was removed from the regular XI for a period and certainly wasn't relied upon to stay on the pitch throughout when he did start. For the remainder of the season he completed the full 90 on just three occasions, averaging just over an hour of game time per appearance over the whole Premier League campaign.

Darron Cummings/Associated Press

The off-the-ball movement wasn't there, he wasn't having the same impact in the final third and, with the team lacking a natural leader of the front line—also a reason for Oscar's lack of productivity—he had no real target offering him somebody to play off.

A run of games from early November to Christmas saw Oscar create shooting chances for any team-mate in just one game out of seven, with him being left out entirely for two of them.

All told, Oscar created 48 chances in 33 games last season; so far this term, he's on course for the same tally if he plays the same number of matches, but has already translated that into more assists than he managed in the whole of last term, three to two.

Improvement and Competition

The addition of Diego Costa (and, to a lesser extent, Loic Remy and Didier Drogba) doesn't just give Chelsea a stronger front line, it lends itself also to getting a much better productivity rate of the players operating in deeper roles.

Shaun Botterill/Getty Images

Better movement and anticipation, not to mention better and more consistent finishing, means that quality vision and execution of passes from the attacking midfield line are more likely to give high-value chances, not simply shots on the angle or rushed efforts from out-of-form forwards. That's where Oscar comes in—he has the vision, certainly, and the technique in his passing to seek out the No. 9's in a Chelsea shirt each week.

Tactically, there are few managers better placed to oversee a further improvement in Oscar's game than the man who picks him each week—but similarly there are few around who will not hesitate to put in Willian, or Andre Schurrle, or Ramires instead, if Oscar's displays drop as they did last year. And, of course, they don't lack for funds to go out and spend £30 million on a rival for the position if a newer, younger, more dynamic offering rears his head.

The same can be said for Brazil: Not at their best point in history perhaps, but one thing they'll never lack for is creative No. 10s, dying for a chance to be the national hero in the key role in the side.

"

Coutinho, Lucas Moura, Oscar, Roberto Firmino, Neymar and co.... Brazil's future is in safe hands. They don't just perform, they ENTERTAIN.

— Seleção Brasileira (@BrazilStats) October 25, 2014"

Rotation and fluctuations in form are normal parts of any Premier League side, but the very top players are able to do it on a weekly basis almost without fail.

Oscar, as a playmaker in a prime position for both club and country, has to aspire to reach these great heights to become a long-term, integral part of both teams.

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