I prefer him behind the striker rather than out wide on the left. He can be predictable playing on the left you know he is going to cut inside. I loved the way he played agains't Liverpool at Anfield near the end of the season playing as a no.10

Some ridiculous posts on here, it's not like he's a new signing, we don't know the full story from last year, he's proven quality, I'll knock him, but never doubt his effort and ability when fully fit

Reports that James has one foot out the door at Madrid and Zidane has always been a fan of Eden. Will they come in for him following his good form at the Euros? (provided he keeps it up, obviously)

They might but he will be here for at least one more season

If he was captain, would it afford him slightly more protection and respect from the officials ? He certainly gets little at present in the Premiership.

That's a very good question, though considering how teams seem to be given free reign to boot him at every opportunity I'm not sure it would happen.

Hazard probably isn't captain material. He has ball skills not leadership qualities. It's up to the captain to bring the refs attention to any pattern of fowling which a player may be on the wrong end of. Can you see Hazard rushing over to the ref when one of the other players gets a bad knock?" Barry Bridges" suggested the captaincy should go to a  player on merit. Based on last season that would probably be Willian. Not sure about that one. JT is without doubt the best captain this club has ever had (Sorry Chopper) and will be a very hard act to follow. There's a chance whoever follows will be seen as a bit of a failure. 

 

Leave Hazard to do what he does best. Tear up the premier league and show he is the best!

Can you see Hazard rushing over to the ref when one of the other players gets a bad knock?"

 

Your'e suggesting because he is small that he cannot 'rush to the ref' ?  How stupid does that sound ?

He's not the kind to have anything to say where the ref is concerned though. I in no way think Hazard is captain material and it's not just cause of the ref thing.

Edited June 28, 201610 yr by Bobbywoodhogan

I would love a team and captain that respects the referees and don't question them, ever.

 

That's the kind of attitude I want to see us take forward.

 

Let Conte do the shouting and cursing, God I've had enough of seeing Costa curse and snarl at the refs as it is.

Back on Hazard, would love to know what Conte thought of his performance the other day.

But you won't name him.

Sadly, I will admit our squad certainly lacks leadership figures.  I've made numerous posts to that effect this season.  Yet, Hazard is still a poor leadership figure compared to even the likes of Fabregas abd even Costa seems more likely to rally the team.

 

I'd probably give Dave the most consideration.  I dont see, JT aside, any real leadership figures I would trust not to bite the hand of the club/manager the moment they get in a mood or are good enough to be on the pitch every game.  That being said, Dave is one of the very few in the squad I would trust to lead by example every single time regardless of what his personal opinions were.

 

It just seems to me Hazard is obviously not captain material because the whole captaincy debate is about how it will help Hazard and not about how it will help the club.  Sorry, to me CFC comes before Hazard by a ridiculously large distance. 

 

You seriously believe Hazard 'took a season off' rather than he just struggled to come back from the hip injury ? 

 

Well if its just a bad hip, how would captaincy help Hazard with that?  I do find it odd that the game before his break to recover, the game vs Liverpool, is also the game I recall being told he put in his best performance of the season.  Maybe the anticipation of the month off was all his hip needed.  Great timing though, for Belgium, as his hip healed right as CFC had nothing to play for but right before he was able to shine for his country.  Well lets hope its playing for Belgium that's motivating him and not the thought of the transfer market.

 

A bad hip that limited his talents by that much being ignored/missed by two top class managers with a host of medical and fitness experts who work daily with the player? Not to mention Hazard likely has his own medical people, or do you think he was risking his career through injury for this club?lol   I mean if we are talking Arsenal then maybe lol, but really?  You honestly believe they just played Hazard into the ground knowing he was injured?  Why?  Because of all the goals he was banging in the team just couldn't afford his absence? lol

 

If what you say is true then there needs to be a wholesake dismissal of all the medical staff and trainers who worked with Hazard.

Barry, he is such a magical player that I would like to believe he was suffering from a longer term of recovery from his injury, and was only ever 60-70 % of his usual level of fitness.

 

A big part of his game is the initial acceleration he has from a standing start, I think his injury took away that acceleration, but the more he played, the more it came back.

 

I'm looking forward to seeing him play Friday.

Barry, he is such a magical player that I would like to believe he was suffering from a longer term of recovery from his injury, and was only ever 60-70 % of his usual level of fitness.

 

A big part of his game is the initial acceleration he has from a standing start, I think his injury took away that acceleration, but the more he played, the more it came back.

 

I'm looking forward to seeing him play Friday.

I hope you are right.  I get torn seeing him play like that for Belgium because, as you know, it solidifies my opinion that he is just trying harder now than he did all season.  But again, I hope you're right and we can expect to see him playing like this in a Blue shirt come September.

 

We will certainly need it considering whats going on at other clubs in this league.

Sadly, I will admit our squad certainly lacks leadership figures.  I've made numerous posts to that effect this season.  Yet, Hazard is still a poor leadership figure compared to even the likes of Fabregas abd even Costa seems more likely to rally the team.

 

I'd probably give Dave the most consideration.  I dont see, JT aside, any real leadership figures I would trust not to bite the hand of the club/manager the moment they get in a mood or are good enough to be on the pitch every game.  That being said, Dave is one of the very few in the squad I would trust to lead by example every single time regardless of what his personal opinions were.

 

It just seems to me Hazard is obviously not captain material because the whole captaincy debate is about how it will help Hazard and not about how it will help the club.  Sorry, to me CFC comes before Hazard by a ridiculously large distance. 

 

 

Well if its just a bad hip, how would captaincy help Hazard with that?  I do find it odd that the game before his break to recover, the game vs Liverpool, is also the game I recall being told he put in his best performance of the season.  Maybe the anticipation of the month off was all his hip needed.  Great timing though, for Belgium, as his hip healed right as CFC had nothing to play for but right before he was able to shine for his country.  Well lets hope its playing for Belgium that's motivating him and not the thought of the transfer market.

 

A bad hip that limited his talents by that much being ignored/missed by two top class managers with a host of medical and fitness experts who work daily with the player? Not to mention Hazard likely has his own medical people, or do you think he was risking his career through injury for this club?lol   I mean if we are talking Arsenal then maybe lol, but really?  You honestly believe they just played Hazard into the ground knowing he was injured?  Why?  Because of all the goals he was banging in the team just couldn't afford his absence? lol

 

If what you say is true then there needs to be a wholesake dismissal of all the medical staff and trainers who worked with Hazard.

Think you've got it backwards.

Hazard was playing injured for months and had to take painkillers to keep playing. Only when we didn't have anything to play for did we actually give him time to heal up properly and after a proper rest he was back to his best.

 

Also think you're underestimating the pressure there is at the top level on the player and the medical staff to get the player ready as fast as possible. We're talking about millions at stake.

 

The theory of Hazard downing tools makes little sense because i'm certain Hazard would have preferred playing in the CL next season considering that was the reason he came to Chelsea.

Hazard also simply doesn't posses the personality to do something like that. He strikes me as calm, level headed guy who just enjoys playing football and isn't interested in schemes and playing dirty "politics".

 

Do agree with you on the captaincy. Hazard isn't captain material. He's not the type to tell other people what to do or raise his voice when things aren't going well. Fabregas or Azpi for me.

I'd keep Terry as Captain though even if he probably won't be a starter next season. Simply make one of the 2 vice captain.

Your'e suggesting because he is small that he cannot 'rush to the ref' ?  How stupid does that sound ?

 

Yep, Ash wasn't that big either but he was usually the first to complain to the ref :)

Cough *Dennis wise* cough

 

 

 

 

 

 

He had no problem with the big Hungarians. 

 

Eden Hazard says: "Gareth Bale is a special player, I am not a special player.....He plays for one of the best clubs in the world."

If that's a real quote lol

BBC seem to have picked it up.

amazing how punctuation can change a sentence.

 

I think it is much more likely he calls him "a special player who plays for one of the best clubs in the world "rather than a special player as he plays for one of the best clubs in the world".

 

i.e. it is almost certainly a nothing comment.

If Hazard has another blinder tonight (very possible), we will arguably have, not only the best player in the tournament, but the best manager.

Against a good defense Haz has done very little....

Against a good defense Haz has done very little....

So as Bale and he's claimed to be a better player.

So as Bale and he's claimed to be a better player.

Ramseys been awesome.

Ramseys been awesome.

Can hardly disagree.