Based on performances you've seen from the Community Shield to present moment in time just before the transfer window, what signing that we made in the summer of 2012 has performed the best?

Just a fun poll to lighten the mood from which was a dismal display to Corinthians.

I'm aware it is difficult to base it on only four months of football but i'm interested to know who people think has started their Chelsea career the best.

Edited December 16, 201213 yr by JMaher94

Tough one but i'd say Oscar just edges it over Hazard and Azpilicueta.

 

I expect all 3 to form part of the "new guard" over the next decade though.

 

Moses & Marin I still really haven't seen enough of.

Hazard for me, his start to the season was sparkling.

Hazard. He started incredible, had a little dip in form and is now playing well again. Oscar has been brilliant as well, but both players are young and prone to inconsistency. 

 

Azpilicueta has been a great signing, still haven't seen enough of him.

 

Moses was a bargain I think. Given us some vital goals in big games.

 

Marin was good on pre-season. Been invisible the times he's been on though. 

The ones who have played all deserve praise. We really signed well. What's even more pleasing is how young they all are.

If I have to single one out then it's got to be Hazard, he's one of those rare players who excites the fans everytime he receives the ball.

Edited December 17, 201213 yr by bluedave

Hmm... Azpi for me just ahead of Ed-in Az-ar.

Azpi hasn't played that much so don't think him. Hazard had a great start to the season and he's high in the assists table. Moses and Marin haven't done much yet due to playing time. Oscar has been class, but I think Hazard just edges it at the moment.

Tough poll cause I think they all have performed well. I would like to see more from Marin, I think he could be as good for us as the others.

Hazard has had the greatest impact overall and has been the most consistent. Oscar has been underwhelming for me in the league, but very good in the CL. I like what I've seen from both Moses and Azpi too and hope they both get more gametime as the season goes on. Marin hasn't had much of a chance yet so can't comment on him.

No option other than to vote for Azpilicueta as he has looked good when given the chance. The others have seriously underwhelmed me to be honest.

 

Oscar has looked brilliant on occassions, mainly in the Champons League and I do think he is one for the future but he isn't looking capable of playing at the top of his game every week at the moment and I honestly think we should get McEachran back from loan and rotate the two of them.

 

Hazard had a great first month but has flattered to deceive since then. The £32M transfer fee is not of his making but right now that looks a heck of a lot of money for the return we have got. For that sort of dough, I don't want to see someone flit in and out of games like Hazard does - I want to see him dominate matches. I have often compared Hazard to Joe Cole and someone had the audacity to say Joe was not in Hazard's class. Sorry but Hazard still has a long way to go before he can be compared favourably to Cole (who only cost a fraction of that £32M).

 

Moses looks what he is, a good and handy squad player. Someone who will start in some games and come of the bench in others but not a first 11 regular.

 

Marin? I will reserve judgement until such time as he actually plays some foottball.

 

So it has to be Azpilicueta for me who looks like being our right back for many seasons to come.

No option other than to vote for Azpilicueta as he has looked good when given the chance. The others have seriously underwhelmed me to be honest.

 

Oscar has looked brilliant on occassions, mainly in the Champons League and I do think he is one for the future but he isn't looking capable of playing at the top of his game every week at the moment and I honestly think we should get McEachran back from loan and rotate the two of them.

 

Hazard had a great first month but has flattered to deceive since then. The £32M transfer fee is not of his making but right now that looks a heck of a lot of money for the return we have got. For that sort of dough, I don't want to see someone flit in and out of games like Hazard does - I want to see him dominate matches. I have often compared Hazard to Joe Cole and someone had the audacity to say Joe was not in Hazard's class. Sorry but Hazard still has a long way to go before he can be compared favourably to Cole (who only cost a fraction of that £32M).

 

Moses looks what he is, a good and handy squad player. Someone who will start in some games and come of the bench in others but not a first 11 regular.

 

Marin? I will reserve judgement until such time as he actually plays some foottball.

 

So it has to be Azpilicueta for me who looks like being our right back for many seasons to come.

 

I would rather get De Bruyne back and rotate him with Oscar.

Oscar is my personal favourite as I really feel he looks like a great player in the making, I would go with Azpi for consistency though as I've only seen him have the one poor game and that was in the Monerray game.

 

Hazard has shown signs of whats hopefully to come but really needs to take hold of games more, like Oscar hopefully a decent manager around for a reasonable time where these boys are getting used to a system might go a way to seeing consistent performances from him.

Edited December 17, 201213 yr by Chippy

I thought Hazard startedreally well but he faded quite a bit as the season progressed. This is not a knock on him., I'm sure he'll become a brilliant player for us in years t com but it'll take some time to get used to a tougher better league than the one he arrived from.

 

Oscar is my pick. Has been the most consistent out of the newcomers and surprised me with his ability. A real steal, if you ask me.

No option other than to vote for Azpilicueta as he has looked good when given the chance. The others have seriously underwhelmed me to be honest.

 

Oscar has looked brilliant on occassions, mainly in the Champons League and I do think he is one for the future but he isn't looking capable of playing at the top of his game every week at the moment and I honestly think we should get McEachran back from loan and rotate the two of them.

 

Hazard had a great first month but has flattered to deceive since then. The £32M transfer fee is not of his making but right now that looks a heck of a lot of money for the return we have got. For that sort of dough, I don't want to see someone flit in and out of games like Hazard does - I want to see him dominate matches. I have often compared Hazard to Joe Cole and someone had the audacity to say Joe was not in Hazard's class. Sorry but Hazard still has a long way to go before he can be compared favourably to Cole (who only cost a fraction of that £32M).

 

Moses looks what he is, a good and handy squad player. Someone who will start in some games and come of the bench in others but not a first 11 regular.

 

Marin? I will reserve judgement until such time as he actually plays some foottball.

 

So it has to be Azpilicueta for me who looks like being our right back for many seasons to come.

 

Nibs, I usually agree with you on matters football but you're talking patent nonsense here.

 

Hazard is a far better player than Joe ever was and you are seriously underestimating him.

 

He dazzled at the start of the season. Absolutely dazzled in a way that was totally beyond our Joe, good player that he was. Yes, Joe was part of our terrific team under Jose, but he did not form the backbone of that side. He invariably played on the flank and did a good job, but he was a long way off being the best in his position. A wide attacking player? I can think of far better. A number 10? Not in Rooney's class, not by a long shot. A playmaker? Maybe at West Ham but not since.

 

Hazard is what? 21? First season in England having come from a far inferior league. Would we have the same amount of points this season without him? No. On top of the assists and pens he has won for us already, he should have been awarded about five more pens. That makes about ten, already. That's how dangerous he is. There are flashes of brilliance, absolute brilliance, the stuff he does goes way beyond the capabilities of any ordinary mortal. I have seen enough to convince me he will be top-drawer, and I mean top-drawer. An absolutely brilliant buy.

 

How anyone can suggest Azpilicueta has been better is beyond me.

 

We can say he has faded since his brilliant start but as I've said elsewhere, you put a top quality striker in that side and he will create far more goals. The pace and the physicality of the Prem may have taken a toll after that auspicious start, as he is totally unaccustomed to it, and maybe he needs a rest. The fact that he often fades out of games suggests it is a physical problem, one that diminishes as he gets accustomed to English football. For a young boy, he has played a lot.

 

He gets fouled a lot, and I mean a lot, and he expects the whistle to blow and it does not. He needs to get used to that. I don't think he has got the protection he deserves and maybe he needs to be braver, as a flair player such as he, that can skin players for fun, needs to be incredibly brave in England, far more than on the continent. This is a tough league. The likes of Stoke, West Ham and Sunderland don't make it easy for you.

 

Maybe our expectations are too high, because from what I've seen, he's been brilliant. Remember when he came on against Utd in the CAO Cup? Remember the difference he made? Remember the assist? Remember his performance at Sunderland not long back? I could go on and on. First-half at Sunderland he created a goal and should have had a stonewall pen. That put the game to bed, right there. He is a game-breaker, a real, bonafide game-breaker. His pass for Mata at Tottenham his assist for Torres against Newcastle? Joe Cole didn't do that very often. Those were sublime, as was his pass for Moses yesterday, from which we couldn't take advantage. Very few players can hit a pass like that. Inch perfect, taking the defender out of the game, imaginative, incisive, creative. Executed to perfection. That's what we have on our hands. A player that can make something happen out of nothing. It is a very rare gift.

 

Mata is our best player currently. Hazard has made all the difference to him. Now imagine a half-decent striker ahead of them. We will be scary.

 

Hazard has pace to burn, in the blink of an eye he can take three defenders out of the game. He has unbelievable skill. He can turn on a sixpence. He can spot a pass. He is strong. Furthermore, and crucially, he does not need to be taught the game in the way Joe did. Hazard has a more alert football brain. He is a far better guy to have in the team, because he links up better with teammates, he understands when to try a flash of skill and when not, when to run with the ball and when not, when to give it and when not. He is not a show off, which was a criticism that could be levelled at Joe at times. In fact, I wish Hazard would be a bit more selfish at times.

 

Without doubt our two best buys this summer were Oscar and Hazard, that goes without saying, and they haven't even got started yet.

 

Azpi has played a few games and started well. Remember Hazard's first few games .. ? There was talk of him being the best foreign import of all-time. My prediction is, there will be a lot more of that kind of talk in the years to come, especially if we hire a top manager to go with that top striker.

 

Edit: World watch out.

Edited December 17, 201213 yr by Davey Baby

Hazard is a far better player than Joe ever was and you are seriously underestimating him.

 

 

Davey, I’m amazed that you could make such a sweeping statement based on, what, 4 months evidence? Joey was with us for some 6/7 seasons and made a MASSIVE contribution to our success. It’s all too easy to look at his last season or so with us and what has happened since and forget all of the great games and the important goals and assists in big games. He was brilliant against Barca when we destroyed them 4-2 at The Bridge. Goals which spring to mind against Liverpool, Arsenal and Man Utd were all hugely important. He was also England best player in the 2006 World Cup (who can forget the goal against Sweden?). Regrettably, once he got that knee injury in the cup match against Southend, just like Essien, he was never going to be the same player. But prior to that his contribution was significant.

 

Now Hazard could well go on to surpass what Joe did for us and become a much better player. But right now I think you are confusing actual with potential.

 

Don’t get me wrong, I’m well pleased that we have Hazard (and Oscar for that matter) and that they aren’t playing for one of our rivals and I really do think both will become a success. Both are only 21 and there is plenty of learning and development ahead. But until Hazard starts winning us big games like Joe did and scores goals like he did against Man Utd, then to say Hazard is a far better player than Joe ever was, sorry but it’s just plain wrong. (See, even you are wrong at times!)

It's a double edged question really. I think Moses has exceeded expectations most for me, but Hazard has been the best buy. As he should have been. That said he isn't quite at Mata like status yet. If he does, by god it will be something to behold.

 

I also agree with Nibs, Joe really did have some great games for us. His two goals against Man United, the backheel under Carlo and then the ripper in the 3-0 are just examples of his really fine play. Hazard hasn't hit those heights yet. Hope he does though.

To be fair Hazard is only 21. He still have 5 years or so to hit is peak and its his first season in the league. I think he has done fantastic, all of our new signings have really. We have got very lucky this season with that.

I think Davey is underrating Joe Cole a little there. The problem with Joe Cole is that when his career started, English football was all about power and pace (Drogba, Henry, Gerrard, Lamps/Essien etc.) and he's a distinctly "European" player - when I look at Hazard, it just reminds me of Cole. Cole had fantastic potential when he was at West Ham. We bought him and he was great for us, but he just wasn't suited to the league at the time and I always felt that he was capable of more. Then the injuries came and ruined his career.

 

I honestly believe that Joe Cole had the potential to be the best English player of my lifetime (22 years). Shame that he couldn't get all the way there, but the levels he reached were absolutely fantastic, and comparing anyone to a young Joe Cole is a huge compliment.

 

I do think that Hazard is now playing at around the same level Cole was between 04 and 06, and he's got more in him, he's going to be a genuine star.

 

My vote went to Azpilicueta because, whilst Oscar and Hazard are both fantastic talents, they were high profile signings with big price tags. Cesar has come in relatively low-profile/under the radar and has looked like a top RB already. He's looked like the best value for money.

Edited December 18, 201213 yr by Samdwich

Davey, I’m amazed that you could make such a sweeping statement based on, what, 4 months evidence? Joey was with us for some 6/7 seasons and made a MASSIVE contribution to our success. It’s all too easy to look at his last season or so with us and what has happened since and forget all of the great games and the important goals and assists in big games. He was brilliant against Barca when we destroyed them 4-2 at The Bridge. Goals which spring to mind against Liverpool, Arsenal and Man Utd were all hugely important. He was also England best player in the 2006 World Cup (who can forget the goal against Sweden?). Regrettably, once he got that knee injury in the cup match against Southend, just like Essien, he was never going to be the same player. But prior to that his contribution was significant.

 

Now Hazard could well go on to surpass what Joe did for us and become a much better player. But right now I think you are confusing actual with potential.

 

Don’t get me wrong, I’m well pleased that we have Hazard (and Oscar for that matter) and that they aren’t playing for one of our rivals and I really do think both will become a success. Both are only 21 and there is plenty of learning and development ahead. But until Hazard starts winning us big games like Joe did and scores goals like he did against Man Utd, then to say Hazard is a far better player than Joe ever was, sorry but it’s just plain wrong. (See, even you are wrong at times!)

 

 

I am wrong a lot, according to the wife. I loved Joe. He was our player of the year one year and rightly so, and who can forget his performance at White Hart Lane in the 4-4? Yes, the game against Barca also sticks out. I don't want to knock him I absolutely loved him but he never turned out to be the player I hoped he would become and I regard Hazard as a far more dangerous player, even at the age of 21.

 

Nibs, let's just agree that I'm right and move on ;)

I am wrong a lot, according to the wife. I loved Joe. He was our player of the year one year and rightly so, and who can forget his performance at White Hart Lane in the 4-4? Yes, the game against Barca also sticks out. I don't want to knock him I absolutely loved him but he never turned out to be the player I hoped he would become and I regard Hazard as a far more dangerous player, even at the age of 21.

 

Nibs, let's just agree that I'm right  I've had a bit of a shocker here and move on ;)

 

 

Fair enough!

Following on with what I wrote above, I think it's fair to say that we've seen lots of promising glimpses from all our signings (except Marin because he hasn't had a kick yet). Some of the signings have shown a little more than others. However, its still far too early to draw any conclusions. What we can say with confidence though is that Hazard and Oscar have both shown considerable talent and potential, with Oscar more sporadically so than Hazard. To me, both have demonstrated world-class ability and its now a question of getting them to produce that every game. I'm confident that, in time, they will become the players that they have clearly have the talent to become. Moses and Azpi don't quite have the same exceptional level of skill and potential, but both have nevertheless shown that they can contribute decisively for us and should be solid options for us in moving forward.

 

I hate to make this about Torres, but I feel that with a better striker we'd see more out of Oscar and Hazard. I've noticed in games that these 2, combined with Mata, seem to operate on an entirely different level to Torres. A top-class striker like Falcao, with a better all-around game and with more of a goal threat, would be able to draw more from our creative players.

I think Hazard hasn’t shown enough in his current appearances for the club to justify the hyp surounding him. I hope the lad settles into some kind of consistent form and can justify the faith the club have put in him and start to fulfil his potential.

 

For me, Hazard is performing only in one of every few games, and his good performances usually come against poor opposition ( a speciality that torres gets rightly criticised for).

                           

Hazard was ineffective in both Man City game, was poor away to Shakhtar, ineffective up front away to Juve, hot and cold against liverpool, poor against swansea, poor against QPR, poor against Athletico, poor against Corinthians, poor against Fulham, he was poor against stoke and quiet against Arsenal.

 

He was lively and effective against Norwich, Sunderland, New Zealand,Wigan,  Reading and Spurs but these lively performances have been few and far between. The main positive from Hazards arrival is that he takes defenders attentions away from Mata, who has shone since Edens arrival.

 

Azpi has been a pleasent surprise at RB, and i would put him in the team ahead of Brana at RB on current form.

 

Oscar is a beautiful player to watch who glides across the pitch. It is taking him some time to adjust to the prem league, and whilst this is expected i have faith that he will go on to great things with us. 

 

Marin must be well and truly p'd off at the way he has been treated by RDM and Rafa. neither seem to fancy him, and 4 mins at the end of a game is pointless. For that reason i he got my sympathy vote (even though i am aware he has not been our best!)

Oscar: Been very good since the start of the season for such a young, and some might say inexperienced player. That second goal against Juventus was just incredible. Been very good in the Champions League games but haven't seen that much of him in the Premier League. He'll get so much better and he should be pivoted with someone because I personally don't think he's ready to play a full 90 minutes 2 games a week just yet.

 

Azpilicueta: Didn't see much of him until the last month or two but my God what a bargain he was at £8 million. Thought he's been fantastic as well. Always puts the effort in and his only bad game was against Monterrey. Very good defending and great going forward as well.

 

Moses: Thought he has been a bargain as well. Saved us a couple of times, for example that header against Shakhtar. Didn't see the point in signing him at first but he's great on the wing and extremely quick. He'll only improve!

 

Marin: Haven't seen enough of him to pick a fair judgement but based on pre-season he was very quick and put in the effort. Other than that there's not a lot to say until he gets more game time.

 

Hazard: Summer signing of the season so far for me. Although he hasn't quite justified his £32 million price tag just yet he's getting there. Started off the season incredibly, had a blip and now he's brilliant again. Ridiculously fast and skillful. Great player and like the other young players he'll improve!

hazard followed by oscar.

 

it's easy to forget hazard is only 21. the same age as oscar and moses. younger than joe cole when we signed him, younger than sturridge, azpilicueta and a lot of other players in the league who are still sort of seen as 'prospects'. to be seen as a peer to players like mata and silva tells you how good he is already.  

Edited December 18, 201213 yr by g3.7

Hazard, followed by Moses then I'd lump the rest together (including De Bruyne) and finally Marin (mainly because he's had the least chances).

 

Hazard looks great. He doesn't dive, despite people thinking contrary, and I think he'll continue to grow as a player.