Hope Chelsea scouts picked him up , better then Hazard.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QHMmO82wD8M

Impressive scoring record, especially this season: 4 games 6 goals in the Eredevise but no assist.

Last season: 30 games 10 goals (Erediv) and also no assist.

Are we looking for a wide player with scoring ability or passing?

Going off that short clip it just looks like his crosses just go in. And as it's goals that win football matches I'd go for goals over crosses.

The most interesting thing is that he's Belgian and they seem to be going winger mad these days. They're surely going an excellent side by the next world cup.

Very sturdy boots, long lasting.

Yep, I'll shut the door.

I hate videos like that where the production value and editing are obviously excellent, and yet because of the random transitions you barely get to see what the player can do. I find that among what little you can learn from a video of a player, one of the most important things is watching how they move off the ball and what they do to get into position when they make a play.

Are we looking for a wide player with scoring ability or passing?

Always, and ill take either!

This guy has been the standout player for Belgium tonight apparently, even more so than Hazard.

He looked good in the first half, I had to turn it off after that.

my opinion he is a second hazard,he is better the last months.

but I am sure,that if hazard is totally integrated in the belgium team ,that he will be a master!

only problem with hazard is that he is a little bit a rebel in his head,so few games ago there was something going on between him and the coach.So he has to show his talent now and fight for his place.He is a little bit confused in his head when he plays for belgium.So I hope he can be free the next 2 games, So that he can let us see some skills togheter with dries mertens!

After a closer look:

1. He is 24. That is shocking because he looks about 16 in that video

2. He has scored six goals in four games for PSV this season already

The way I make it, Hazard is going to be so sought after next summer on City, Madrid and Barca will be able to afford him. So we might as well go for someone we can realistically get.

Hazard= Quaresma

Mertens= Ronaldo

Just saying!

Going off that short clip it just looks like his crosses just go in. And as it's goals that win football matches I'd go for goals over crosses.

The most interesting thing is that he's Belgian and they seem to be going winger mad these days. They're surely going an excellent side by the next world cup.

I could only make out one of those goals as potentially being a cross - all the others were shots?

Hazard= Quaresma

Mertens= Ronaldo

Just saying!

Really? I have seen Hazard a few times and think he has much more to offer that Queresma. I've not seen Mertens enough to comment, so what makes you say this?

This isn't an attack or anything, I'm just looking for some insight from someone that obviously has more insight than I

Well either SC is being sarcastic, which is certainly possible.

Or he referring to Hazard's ability to throw a bit of a strop, and whispers from some in Belgium that he is a bit unprofessional.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=F95zMz5Fnc4

Mertens scores 4 this weekend , that brings his total on 12 allready.

This is just a thought as I am no serious authority on European football but looking at these clips of both Hazard and Mertens, I do wonder if we bough the right young Belgian player. The reason I think this is that as we are seemingly trying to move away form targeting a big man and playing this faster on the deck through-ball football, it seems odd that these fast skillful wide men that seem able to play as traditional wingers or to cut inside have been passed over in preference for what in a slightly sceptical sense is a Drogba MkII.

It's probably a fair comment Snedger. I myself feel Romelu is going to be a player who isn't really going to feature regularly for at least a couple of seasons. He's immensely raw, and his first touch isn't great. Hopefully working at the higher level day in day out can bring him along.

As for Mertens and Hazard. Both play in poor leagues. The reinvention of Joe Cole shows just how much of a step down France is and the Eredivisie is also a difficult one to judge attacking players from. How Hazard goes in the CL this season will determine for me whether he is up to it. Gotze in my mind showed he was up to it against Arsenal and Brazil. He is on the list of players we should be looking at to replace Malouda, Anelka, and Drogba over the next couple of seasons. Hazard and Mertens I remain unsure of.

Edited September 27, 201114 yr by Spiller86

True, Holland can offer a very mixed bag; Robben and Kezman. Of course the risk of waiting till next summer to see how they fared in the CL means that the fee goes up considerably - as does the list of clubs showing interest.

Being left out of the CL squad is a good indication of how important he is to us right now. But with Lukaku, it's not that I doubt he can become a very good striker, just whether Chelsea at this time really want that type of striker/attacking player. A future Torres MkII would seem a better idea.

Just my two cents , give Lukaku time to adapt , he's 18 , is used to always start and have a team play for him. He wants to learn and will learn . Give him this season and next year you will see .

Mertens is older , had time to grow in a smaller club and is ready , on Hazard , i'm not a fan , he's a troublemaker .

Yeah I hear he is a trouble maker as well. A bit of a case of I get what I want because I'm Hazard. I prefer Gotze and Reus from Germany, particularly Gotze who is probably the best young player of this generation.

We've done fantastically well to get Mata, the addition of someone like Gotze could potentially make us the most exciting team in Europe. There is a reason Arsenal apparently bid 40m euros for him on deadline day. He is just as capable as Hazard and Neymar without the attitude issues or ego.

No rumours about Dries Mertens?

Not because Im a belgian,but he is really amazing..Im sure when he can play in a big team that I can blow robben away.

His speed with the ball is incedible also his control and his shot..

It is a special plar believe me,I rate him times higher than De Bruyne.(ok not the same players...but)

I dont get it why nobody is asking for him...

Edited May 22, 201214 yr by Belgian_SW6_Lover

but it is not only his goals,he is perfect in his combinations....

Edited May 22, 201214 yr by Belgian_SW6_Lover

I'd really rather not buy every player from a team that couldn't even beat out Turkey for Euro qualification and were barely better than Austria.

Remember a bloke who did pretty decent i Holland. Had the letter "z" in his surname. Who am I thinking of?

I'm very pro-smart purchase of players, but a lad who's only proven himself in Holland and as old as 25 years? We've already bought a promising winger who CAN make it (Marin), but we also need players who are certain to make an impact right away. I really don't see this Mertens do that.

Not sure how he does for his club, but the last time I watched Belgium play, Mertens totally outplayed Hazard. Surprised that I haven't heard his name mentioned by any big club yet.

His record this season is very impressive , but Hazard is 4 years younger. I would take Dries Mertens but i wouldn't pay over 15 million.