Whats is gonna be different with him lining up on the right? He swaps wings in game quite often already

 

The train of thought at the time of my post is that if Hazard is playing on the right (or anywhere other than left flank) someone like Perisic or Arnautovic (or any left sided midfielder who can also play as a second striker alongside Diego, ideally Bale but unrealistic) will have room to expose the opposition. Maybe too much to ask but I think for all the flair players we have we still lack physicality and potency in advanced positions, for example with Hazard we can't play direct diagonals or expose the RB on the back post.

Edited April 26, 201610 yr by the special one

Some people on this forum need a reality check. Jesus...... 

Hazard is by far one of the most talented players ever to play for Chelsea. I'm pretty happy to have him.

Edited April 26, 201610 yr by evissy

You've made some good points, although I don't agree with many of them. I will answer one point for you though, zidane only scored 2 goals in 40 games, In 98-99 season, when he was current wpoty. Nedved scored 2 in 43, just a couple of seasons before winning Balon D'or.

It's actually a pretty pointless argument though, as there are so many different circumstances as why hazard's form dropped off this year, but you wanted examples and I've given you 2 based on goals scored, which is seems to be the yard stick these days.

 

I'm not entirely sure which season you speak of with Nedved. He frequently scored low numbers of goals and didn't even break double digits in the league when he won the Ballon D'or. I'd not complain about two league goals from Hazard this season if his overall game offered what Nedved did. I suspect if you look past the stats, Nedved's worst season in his prime was still far far better season than Hazard's current...or do you feel Hazard's goals are misleading and that he really had a good season otherwise?

Ditto Zidane who only once ever broke double digits in the league.

You're using goals to compare players to Hazard when goals mean far more to Hazard's game than either of them. I also notice you were kind enough to Hazard to bring assists into it either. Things is, many could probably take seasons of Nedved and Zidane where they barely had any goals between them and point to seasons where they were as important to their teams success as Hazard's last season. They just offer far more than Hazard.

 

But.. but.. He did get nominated for the Ballon D'or shortlist just last year, Barry..? 

 

http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/newsid=2295822.html

 

Not only that he also came 8th altogether. Ahead of Iniesta, Ibrahimovic, Aguero, Pogba, Bale, Benzema, Robben etc. The list goes on.

 

I'm pretty sure he's won quite a few 'big prizes' as well.

 

Would you like to try again?

 

Sorry, I guess I should of specifically mentioned top 3 as was my intent when saying short list. I assumed you would of taken the same view seeing as you claim Hazard is better than player like Neymar who has made top 3. A player far more suitable in comparison than either Nedved or Zidane in my mind, but that comparison would make some here mighty uncomfortable in the claims of how great Hazard is.

But yes, Hazard got 8th in his very best year by a mile and it apparently took so much out of him that he followed it up with a season long performance that would see him struggle to make this year's top 200 players in Europe.

And for top competitions I mean their is really 4 (call me a snob if you well) that count as the top prizes to European footballers. League titles in England, Spain, Italy and maybe Germany ( call me a snob again if you will), the CL, Euros and the WC. The FA cup isn't what it used to be, there's a reason why everyone wants to play/test themselves in those leagues and the top players don't want to be at clubs playing European football on a Thursday. From my experiences, these are what Europe footballers refer to when speaking of the big prizes, what means the most to them and their careers.

Hazard has one of those and as nice as it was for him to pick up the EL, remember he won it by also earning the record for being part of a team that had he worst ever record in defending their CL crown, being eliminated in the group stages. Guess that will go well with his distinction of the worst ever defence of a BPL POTY title and his featuring role in the worst ever defence of a BPL title.

Seems like a pattern, doesn't it?

Bb.

I do think Hazard's lack of goals have exaggerated how bad he has played this season. Under mourinho I would say he was still our second best attacker behind Willian. Since mourinho left he's either been injured or playing with an injury, as proved by the fact he has had to have over month off to get over the injury he picked up at Leicester.

Since Hiddink has came in fabregas has managed to win the fans back over after being a defensive liability under mourinho, and even Costa has got the fans back on side after throwing a bib at mourinho which was far worse than Hazard shirt swapping or completing psg.

Hazard hasn't had the opportunity to win the fans back, which is why he is coming in for heavier criticism than most of squad.

Regards the argument of he can't become world class, because he has had one poor season. I think it is a ridiculous argument, as there as soon many factors a to why he has played poorly.

How many world class players have gone from playing for the best team in the country, to the 4th worse? Every player is differen, giggs never even had to cope with the upheaval of changing manager.

If you put a nedved in our team at the beginning of the season, would he have performed much better than hazard? It's impossible to say.

Hazard is largely responsible for his own form, but you have to take into account how poor everyone else has also been around him.

So I'm not gonna get on board with slating a player that has largely been fantastic for us, and in all likelihood will be fantastic for us in the future.

http://www.squawka.com/players/eden-hazard/stats#total-chances-created#chelsea-(current)#english-barclays-premier-league#8#season-2015/2016#165#all-matches#1-18#type

You can interpret statistics in any way you want, but from squawka it looks like he hasn't been as abysmal as some people would have you believe, especially before he got injured against Leicester.

But hazard played in teams that hold the records for worse defence of a cl, and pl, especially obviously sh*t....conveniently ignoring that both those teams contained some fantastic players.

http://www.squawka.com/players/eden-hazard/stats#total-chances-created#chelsea-(current)#english-barclays-premier-league#8#season-2015/2016#165#all-matches#1-18#type

You can interpret statistics in any way you want, but from squawka it looks like he hasn't been as abysmal as some people would have you believe, especially before he got injured against Leicester.

But hazard played in teams that hold the records for worse defence of a cl, and pl, especially obviously sh*t....conveniently ignoring that both those teams contained some fantastic players.

 

Only Fabregas and Willian have a higher performance score?  Matic 4th in performance on the team?  Costa 12th in total performance, not even warranting a spot in the starting lineup?

 

I have lots of problems with this ranking.

At least Hazard is fresh and raring to go in the European championships. 

Only Fabregas and Willian have a higher performance score? Matic 4th in performance on the team? Costa 12th in total performance, not even warranting a spot in the starting lineup?

I have lots of problems with this ranking.

I wouldn't read too much into the rating, but Costa was dreadful in that time period. I think it highlights that Hazard was still our most creative player during a period people are saying was of our worse players

“There is a lot of nonsense said, that’s for sure,” Hazard told French TV channel Antenne Centre.

“Every day there are different things if you believe it. My contract ends in four years.

“For now I am at Chelsea (and have) no worries, 100 per cent.

“It’s true that I’m even better than I could have imagined, both in football and in my private life!

“I am at one of the best clubs in the world and in the best league. And in my private life, everything is also going very well. At 25, I feel in the right place.”

I wouldn't read too much into the rating, but Costa was dreadful in that time period. I think it highlights that Hazard was still our most creative player during a period people are saying was of our worse players

I may be reading it wrong but isn't it showing the stats for the whole season?  That time frame at the top spans the Swansea game to bournemouth. 

Some people on this forum need a reality check. Jesus......

Sit back and enjoy

Bb.

I do think Hazard's lack of goals have exaggerated how bad he has played this season. Under mourinho I would say he was still our second best attacker behind Willian. Since mourinho left he's either been injured or playing with an injury, as proved by the fact he has had to have over month off to get over the injury he picked up at Leicester.

Since Hiddink has came in fabregas has managed to win the fans back over after being a defensive liability under mourinho, and even Costa has got the fans back on side after throwing a bib at mourinho which was far worse than Hazard shirt swapping or completing psg.

Hazard hasn't had the opportunity to win the fans back, which is why he is coming in for heavier criticism than most of squad.

Regards the argument of he can't become world class, because he has had one poor season. I think it is a ridiculous argument, as there as soon many factors a to why he has played poorly.

How many world class players have gone from playing for the best team in the country, to the 4th worse? Every player is differen, giggs never even had to cope with the upheaval of changing manager.

If you put a nedved in our team at the beginning of the season, would he have performed much better than hazard? It's impossible to say.

Hazard is largely responsible for his own form, but you have to take into account how poor everyone else has also been around him.

So I'm not gonna get on board with slating a player that has largely been fantastic for us, and in all likelihood will be fantastic for us in the future.

Well that's the thing. I don't think it's because of a poor season that he will never be true world class like the players some have brought up in comparison.

I think the reason he is having such a poor season is the reason why he wont. He doesn't have the mental strength or the sustained drive (the desire to push on even harder in the face of adversity even when you just won the league, for example).

And it's not a question that only this season brought up. I wondered it before, it's no secret he isn't the hardest working player(he is no Ronaldo or Lampard, willing to work harder than everyone else to become the absolute best they can) at the club by any stretch and he has only really had one exceptional season and one just pretty good season here. I did think last season might of shown he had changed if he could kick on.....but he has only since confirmed my worst fears regarding him.

In all likelihood he could be fantastic again? Maybe, but in all likelihood he should of been amazing this season.......

It's not his talent stopping or hindering him. I will say it yet again, if he had Lampard work rate or ethos, Hazard would likely be a Ballon d'-or winner and maybe multiple. He would be among that list of some of the best players to play the game. That is how naturally talented Hazard is in my mind. If he never wins it ( and guess what, wouldn't be surprised) he will only have his lack of application to blame.

But at 25 he still hasn't found the encouragement to become the very best he can and that is why, in my mind, he will only just be a very very good player on his day and not seen as World Class over his career.

If a high work rate can be what allows people like Lampard to be world class despite lacking the natural talents of many WC players, you better believe that a lack of work rate can prevent a massively talented player from reaching their potential. It is a factor as significant as the talent itself.

But don't get me wrong. I suspect Hazard will be here next season and I 100% hope I am wrong and that he will reach the highs of last season and higher and maintain that form over multiple seasons..... I'm just not putting any money on it.

cheers eden. 

 

nice celebration too.

Edited May 2, 201610 yr by g3.7

Lets hope he stays.

Great second half.

Well done leicester

Well down the tinkerman

If he can keep that up it will go a long way to repay the fans.

Question now is will he stay?

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He will stay, we won't give up on him. 

He will stay, we won't give up on him.

I doubt we would give up as in the new manager and club. Tonight was a reminder of what he is capable of, just a shame it's taken till game 35 to see it.

He will be the prize asset come summer time, be interesting to see what happens.

Hazard will not leave ..you can see it in wants to repay the fans 

He's back. That was some finish. What a player. 

If we can have this Hazard next season, then we can start challenging again. Tonight was a start, now he needs to make it up to the fans by putting in these performances next season.

 

Where has he been all season ?

ehm. so, still want him to be sold?

If we can have this Hazard next season, then we can start challenging again. Tonight was a start, now he needs to make it up to the fans by putting in these performances next season.

 

Where has he been all season ?

He's been back since his long rest, I've been saying all along that he didn't look 100% fit.

When he's sold for 50m in the summer I look forward to the inevitable posts from Barry Bridges about how he 'lacked the fight' to stay at Chelsea