3 hours ago, barak81 said:

2005- 2009 it was basically, The big 4 in the prem and the Spanish two and the last legs of the great Milan team and there wasn't much in it at the time.. 

 

Our domestic league is now much deeper in terms of strength, and it shows that we realistically have 6 teams for 4 spots CL wise and teams like Everton and Southampton are also alot stronger, but i think this combined with the emergence of PSG and recent rejuvination of bayarn have made it a bit harder to condence all the top tallent in the top 4 teams.

 

As for Hazard being the only truly world class player in the prem?

Aguero? Sanchez? Coutinio? Kane(Name 5 strikers right now you would have ahead of him) to name a few

The premier league will be lucky to have anyone in the semi finals of the Champions league this year but it all depends who city draw, luck of the draw as they say. The prem teams won't have a chance against the best in Europe. Even this Chelsea team isn't good enough, it's not a high quality team which could be winning the domestic league this year.

Just because 6 teams fight for the Champions league spots doesn't mean the top teams are stronger, it's pretty easy to see the top teams are weaker. Competition higher but quality lower.

2 hours ago, brakeit said:

I just can`t believe so delusional is here.

Hazard is highly overrated in this forum, highly.

Good player, but the only world class in the league, come on, such a bias .... I give up here ...

 

World class is used too much. There's only a select few in world football who can be put in the world class bracket and Hazard isn't one. I'm not even sure anyone from the premiership can be.

Obviously Messi and Ronaldo are world class and they are the benchmark, what they have done is unbelievable. Only other player I could see nearly on the same level atm is Suarez. 

1 hour ago, ashwin said:

I really don't care how 'effective' Hazard is. For me, it is a privilege to watch a player with his dribbling ability at Chelsea. We have never had a player who can constantly have us at the edge of our seats and that, more than anything else, is his greatest service to us. I hope he is with us for years. He gives us so much more than goals, assists and titles.

He's also had plenty of big moments in big games. 

 

I think it's because we all know how good he can be, that it gets used to beat him with when he doesn't reach those levels.

I admit it is frustrating when one game you see him glide past 3 or 4 defenders and leave them all trailing and then in another game it appears he doesn't want to take them on or he goes to ground at the slightest touch. We all want him to do what he did against Spurs & Liverpool last season or against Everton this season, etc etc but for whatever reason he can't do it as consistently as the likes of Messi & Ronaldo. On his day he is as good as them but they have performed more consistently over far longer periods, although it can be argued they play in an easier league and neither have been brilliant at International level.

But as you rightly say, it is a privilege to watch him perform and we don't have another player who currently comes close in terms of pure footballing ability. 

Edited February 2, 20179 yr by Nibs

http://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/eden-hazard-and-david-luiz-playing-through-pain-as-minor-injuries-threaten-chelseas-premier-league-a3456361.html

But Standard Sport understands that Hazard also suffered a knock against Leicester just under three weeks ago and it has been affecting his performances.

Hazard was seen pointing to his hamstring as he walked down the tunnel and went to have treatment on it from the club's staff.

1 hour ago, Ernie_blue said:

World class is used too much. There's only a select few in world football who can be put in the world class bracket and Hazard isn't one. I'm not even sure anyone from the premiership can be.

Obviously Messi and Ronaldo are world class and they are the benchmark, what they have done is unbelievable. Only other player I could see nearly on the same level atm is Suarez. 

You don't need to be on Messi or Ronaldo's level to be world class. We are talking about two of the best players of all time with those two. 

Hazard is world class, every club in the world would take him. Costa is also world class. There aren't many strikers like Costa around and he is another which every team in the world would take right now.

i would say to be considered world class you'd have to be able to demand a spot in the majority of teams in world football (which Hazard would) and be considered up there with say the top 20-25 players in the world (which Hazrad is).

 

Hazard when fully fit and firing is in the top 5 players in world football, just a shame we don't see that often enough.

17 minutes ago, RIP Mourinho said:

i would say to be considered world class you'd have to be able to demand a spot in the majority of teams in world football (which Hazard would) and be considered up there with say the top 20-25 players in the world (which Hazrad is).

 

Hazard when fully fit and firing is in the top 5 players in world football, just a shame we don't see that often enough.

He does seem pretty inconsistent. I know this sounds absolutely crazy, but until the day he sorts his consistency out I don't see him as a world class player. He clearly has the ability but don't seem to show it as regular as I would have liked.

If he's playing with a knock then he still needs to start against Arsenal, but i'd say we should give him a rest away to burnley and at home to swansea, Pedro and Willian can both play if we're playing 3-4-3, or if we wanted to switch to 3-5-2 then Fabregas can play, we have options, we need Hazard fully firing for the run-in.

No way we should rest him for Burnley! Burnley away is going to be one of our toughest matches in the league, their record at home is phenomenal.

54 minutes ago, RIP Mourinho said:

i would say to be considered world class you'd have to be able to demand a spot in the majority of teams in world football (which Hazard would) and be considered up there with say the top 20-25 players in the world (which Hazrad is).

 

Hazard when fully fit and firing is in the top 5 players in world football, just a shame we don't see that often enough.

Saying when a player is fully fit and firing is a top 5 player could be said about many players. Like you say it don't happen enough. Consistenty is a key when talking about world class and Hazard simply isnt. I get the bias but I simply don't think he is. But then I don't think many players are world class. 

Also Hazard wouldn't get in Barcelona, Madrid or Bayerns teams so there's 3 top teams he wouldn't get in.

Edited February 2, 20179 yr by Ernie_blue

3 hours ago, Ernie_blue said:

The premier league will be lucky to have anyone in the semi finals of the Champions league this year but it all depends who city draw, luck of the draw as they say. The prem teams won't have a chance against the best in Europe. Even this Chelsea team isn't good enough, it's not a high quality team which could be winning the domestic league this year.

Just because 6 teams fight for the Champions league spots doesn't mean the top teams are stronger, it's pretty easy to see the top teams are weaker. Competition higher but quality lower.

I'm sorry I'm not sure how your point relates to mine 

1 hour ago, Scott Harris said:

You don't need to be on Messi or Ronaldo's level to be world class. We are talking about two of the best players of all time with those two. 

Hazard is world class, every club in the world would take him. Costa is also world class. There aren't many strikers like Costa around and he is another which every team in the world would take right now.

I judge world class as very few players. I don't think Costa is world class either. World class isn't not turning up for a season because you can't be arsed. I only judge it by Messi and Ronaldos standards because they have done the same many years on the trot.

Hazard plays world class on some given days. But consitently over a number of seasons I am waiting to see that.

Of course clubs would take Hazard, why wouldn't they but that could be said for over 50 players at least.

5 minutes ago, barak81 said:

I'm sorry I'm not sure how your point relates to mine 

Won't bother then

5 minutes ago, Ernie_blue said:

Saying when a player is fully fit and firing is a top 5 player could be said about many players. Like you say it don't happen enough. Consistenty is a key when talking about world class and Hazard simply isnt. I get the bias but I simply don't think he is. But then I don't think many players are world class. 

Also Hazard wouldn't get in Barcelona, Madrid or Bayerns teams so there's 3 top teams he wouldn't get in.

Hazard was consistent since the 09/10 season up until last year. Carried us to the title in 2015 with his consistency. Its only since the sh*t show last year that he's been blowing hot or cold. Could be a mental thing after being ruined by Jose or could be carrying injuries as is often claimed, who knows.

 

Bale is injured 90% of the time so would get in Madrid's setup. All of Bayern's wingers except Robben have been average this season so would get in there. Neymar has been absolutely shocking this season so even on current form would probably get in there. 

16 hours ago, Bobbywoodhogan said:

Man some people in this thread are massively undertaking Joe Cole. 2005-07 he was immense for us. Of course people have short memories.

Saying he's not on Edens level isn't underating him.

7 minutes ago, RIP Mourinho said:

Hazard was consistent since the 09/10 season up until last year. Carried us to the title in 2015 with his consistency. Its only since the sh*t show last year that he's been blowing hot or cold. Could be a mental thing after being ruined by Jose or could be carrying injuries as is often claimed, who knows.

 

Bale is injured 90% of the time so would get in Madrid's setup. All of Bayern's wingers except Robben have been average this season so would get in there. Neymar has been absolutely shocking this season so even on current form would probably get in there. 

Hazard would never get in Barcas or Madrids team, not making excuses for injuries. That's like saying Mahrez would get in the team because Bales injured. 

There best teams Hazard is no where near the first 11. At Bayern he wouldn't beat Lewandowski or Muller to the starting 11 but maybe Robben or Ribery. They are getting on abit but they do have Costa.

Also no point in using the Mourinho excuse. A player should have the mental strength to play well whatever. Mourinho left in december so not sure what his excuse was for the rest of the season.

17 minutes ago, Argo said:

Saying he's not on Edens level isn't underating him.

I say it is, he didn't go missing in any of his seasons for us like Hazard did last season. 

44 minutes ago, dansubrosa said:

He does seem pretty inconsistent. I know this sounds absolutely crazy, but until the day he sorts his consistency out I don't see him as a world class player. He clearly has the ability but don't seem to show it as regular as I would have liked.

You mean he doesn't play like he did vs Hungary and Everton consistently? That's impossible, if he did the PL would be an even bigger one horse race than the SPL and we would be CL favs. I personally put Hazard's performances percentage wise like this. 5% of the time he doesn't have a good game. 45% of the time he is unspectacular but is still contributing highly to key dribbles, passes and creating openings, like at Anfield. 40% of the time he's world class, like vs Southampton, United, Leicester, Burnley and West Ham this season and the first few games of his Chelsea career. 7% of the time he is that step above world class, a level only only a few players can reach, like vs Spurs last season at The Bridge and Liverpool home in 2013. Then he has that 3% were he is touched by god (and imo that's a level only he and Messi can hit out of current active players) like Hungary in the Euros, Everton this season, Newcastle 13/14, West Ham under Rafa, Sunderland 13/14, Maribor and when they come he is truly something else.

So if we base his consistentcy on the standards he set in those games he's wildly inconsistent but in general he's very consistent and we will realize that badly if he goes.

25 minutes ago, Ernie_blue said:

Saying when a player is fully fit and firing is a top 5 player could be said about many players. Like you say it don't happen enough. Consistenty is a key when talking about world class and Hazard simply isnt. I get the bias but I simply don't think he is. But then I don't think many players are world class. 

Also Hazard wouldn't get in Barcelona, Madrid or Bayerns teams so there's 3 top teams he wouldn't get in.

 

7 minutes ago, Ernie_blue said:

Hazard would never get in Barcas or Madrids team, not making excuses for injuries. That's like saying Mahrez would get in the team because Bales injured. 

There best teams Hazard is no where near the first 11. At Bayern he wouldn't beat Lewandowski or Muller to the starting 11 but maybe Robben or Ribery. They are getting on abit but they do have Costa.

Also no point in using the Mourinho excuse. A player should have the mental strength to play well whatever. Mourinho left in december so not sure what his excuse was for the rest of the season.

Barca, no but that is because they have MSN.

If Real were to sign Hazard, they would have him in the team, simple as. While you think people are overrating Hazard, I think you are undermining/underrating him. Real would have Bale, Hazard, Ronaldo as the trio behind Benzema if Hazard was to leave and none of those left.

Bayern, he would get in too. Ribery is rotational. He used to be an excellent player but not a mixture of injuries and age, he is not the same as before. Muller has been awful this season. 1 Bundesliga goal all season in a league where he should be looking at least 20 goals. Costa has not replicated his form of last season and Robben is still a top player but injury prone. Hazard would be in that team imo with Muller and Robben besides him with Lewa upfront. Rotation would happen a lot in that team but their best team, of course Hazard gets in to. Let's be real.

5 minutes ago, Bobbywoodhogan said:

I say it is, he didn't go missing in any of his seasons for us like Hazard did last season. 

He also didn't carry us to a title when the team was crumbling around him. 

16 minutes ago, Ernie_blue said:

 

Also no point in using the Mourinho excuse. A player should have the mental strength to play well whatever. Mourinho left in december so not sure what his excuse was for the rest of the season.

Im guessing you've never suffered from severe mental burnout then? Because no way would you say that if you have.

7 hours ago, barak81 said:

2005- 2009 it was basically, The big 4 in the prem and the Spanish two and the last legs of the great Milan team and there wasn't much in it at the time.. 

 

Our domestic league is now much deeper in terms of strength, and it shows that we realistically have 6 teams for 4 spots CL wise and teams like Everton and Southampton are also alot stronger, but i think this combined with the emergence of PSG and recent rejuvination of bayarn have made it a bit harder to condence all the top tallent in the top 4 teams.

 

As for Hazard being the only truly world class player in the prem?

Aguero? Sanchez? Coutinio? Kane(Name 5 strikers right now you would have ahead of him) to name a few

Lewandowski, Auba, Costa, Cavani and Suarez. To name a few. 

24 minutes ago, Ernie_blue said:

Hazard would never get in Barcas or Madrids team, not making excuses for injuries. That's like saying Mahrez would get in the team because Bales injured. 

There best teams Hazard is no where near the first 11. At Bayern he wouldn't beat Lewandowski or Muller to the starting 11 but maybe Robben or Ribery. They are getting on abit but they do have Costa.

Also no point in using the Mourinho excuse. A player should have the mental strength to play well whatever. Mourinho left in december so not sure what his excuse was for the rest of the season.

It's all about opinions and that's just yours. 

IMO he would get in Bayern side easily but probably wouldn't want to play in the German league. The chances are, one day he will end up at Madrid and they will pay us a small fortune for him so getting into their starting 11 is exactly what he will do.

10 minutes ago, Argo said:

Im guessing you've never suffered from severe mental burnout then? Because no way would you say that if you have.

Those poor footballers, wow what a hard life they lead. They don't even do a full shift everyday. I feel so sorry for them lol.

2 minutes ago, Nibs said:

It's all about opinions and that's just yours. 

IMO he would get in Bayern side easily but probably wouldn't want to play in the German league. The chances are, one day he will end up at Madrid and they will pay us a small fortune for him so getting into their starting 11 is exactly what he will do.

One day could be 2, 3 or 5 years down the line. Not currently he wouldn't.