I think promises were made to Bale to get him to sign and then were broken by the club and he was not first choice and sat mainly on the bench.

The press knowing how good he could be started asking questions and sooner or later he was going to make comments to the press. 

Obviously there is a difference between Bale and Hazard in terms of how they would pick up languages, yet did Gazza or Ince speak Italian? 

Don't think he is the first to be slack learning the language.

 

On Hazard he is still unsure of his ankle and thinks he may need another operation yet will try and play on it to see if he can retain his form. 

Eden is not the player he was, as he said he broke his ankle 3 times, sure Maradona broke his leg once but that was early on. Having said that by the end of the match against Finland he was starting to run into some form. Chelsea sold him at the perfect time and got a great price.

As crazy as it is to think considering the esteem in which he was held only two years ago... I don't think I want him back.

I will preface this by saying that if he is the player he used to be then it's a no-brainer. Hazard was the best player in the league for quite a few years. I'm just not convinced that's the case. Hazard increasingly looks like a player who is suffering from the cumulative and permament effects of multiple injuries, a hobbyist's approach to fitness, and being kicked in the ankles for seven years. There are still glimpses of genius, but without the short-burst acceleration then he's mostly unable to execute them, which makes him a fraction as effective as he once was.

Another issue is his defensive laxity. Tuchel requires his forwards to press when out of possession. Hazard does not and has never done that. It's a weakness you can tolerate and adjust for when the player in question is the entire crux of your attack - if that's no longer the case then it seems like we'd be creating an unnecessary problem.

I think Hazard could be useful as an impact player, but considering how much he would cost, his age and physical condition, the defensive problems described above, and the fact that we already have Mount, Pulisic, Hudson-Odoi (and maybe Werner) who can all play in his position, it doesn't seem like an option worth taking.

On a side note, Hazard is only six days older than me. It's a bit galling to think of him as a spent force...

8 minutes ago, PloKoon13 said:

As crazy as it is to think considering the esteem in which he was held only two years ago... I don't think I want him back.

I will preface this by saying that if he is the player he used to be then it's a no-brainer. Hazard was the best player in the league for quite a few years. I'm just not convinced that's the case. Hazard increasingly looks like a player who is suffering from the cumulative and permament effects of multiple injuries, a hobbyist's approach to fitness, and being kicked in the ankles for seven years. There are still glimpses of genius, but without the short-burst acceleration then he's mostly unable to execute them, which makes him a fraction as effective as he once was.

Another issue is his defensive laxity. Tuchel requires his forwards to press when out of possession. Hazard does not and has never done that. It's a weakness you can tolerate and adjust for when the player in question is the entire crux of your attack - if that's no longer the case then it seems like we'd be creating an unnecessary problem.

I think Hazard could be useful as an impact player, but considering how much he would cost, his age and physical condition, the defensive problems described above, and the fact that we already have Mount, Pulisic, Hudson-Odoi (and maybe Werner) who can all play in his position, it doesn't seem like an option worth taking.

On a side note, Hazard is only six days older than me. It's a bit galling to think of him as a spent force...

Some top quotes in there Plokkers. A hobbyist's approach to fitness could be one of my favourites of the year.

As for Eden, he had another difficult year with injury. I've no doubt fully fit under Carlo he'll be a different proposition.

That said, he would not fit in our current approach. We missed lots about Eden but we didn't miss his complete neglect of his off the ball duties. I dare say the off the ball work of Mount and Kante etc. had more to do with us winning the CL than our work with the ball. In a system like that you can't carry players who don't want to defend. Eden for all his strengths is definitely a player who doesn't want to defend.

3 minutes ago, Spiller86 said:

Some top quotes in there Plokkers. A hobbyist's approach to fitness could be one of my favourites of the year.

I'm afraid that line was shamelessly stolen. Can't remember from where, I think it was last year.

20 minutes ago, PloKoon13 said:

On a side note, Hazard is only six days older than me. It's a bit galling to think of him as a spent force...

Judging by your profile pic Eden can call himself lucky! 🤐

But yea, some things are better left in the past - as tempting as it may be.

 

Looks like Madrid might still want to sell even if Eden wants to stay. Sadly most fans don't really want him back and I can understand not tainting the legacy.

This isn't a post about whether we should sign him, just an appreciation post. 

18 hours ago, LongtimerLurker said:

Looks like Madrid might still want to sell even if Eden wants to stay. Sadly most fans don't really want him back and I can understand not tainting the legacy.

This isn't a post about whether we should sign him, just an appreciation post. 

I can’t imagine there’s a Chelsea supporter that doesn’t appreciate Hazard. On his day, and there were lots and lots he could do anything. He deserved to win the champions league but pretty much just represented the bridge between the two cl winning teams. Whether he can recover from his injuries and put in another couple of good seasons is the question. 

On 22/06/2021 at 09:12, weetee said:

 

But yea, some things are better left in the past - as tempting as it may be.

 

I've  read there is someone senior at Chelsea advocating his return to the club which I understand would suit the player - but the club are already making efforts to sign another player,so make of it as you will.

I would hope for the first then.

Actually, after watching this, I take it all back. Bring him home:

 

12 hours ago, PloKoon13 said:

Actually, after watching this, I take it all back. Bring him home:

 

No!, just No! If his body can’t hold up in La Liga, how do you expect it to hold up in the PL. Worst thing you can do to Tuchel is buy him a player he didn’t ask for, and we are stacked on the LW

Yes this should be a non starter, he looks done at the top level.

A second coming is a lot more likely to roll up like Sheva's return to Milan than Eden recreating former glories.

Unfortunately given the way that he trains and looks after himself, his peak will be much shorter and he won’t go into his mid 30s. Basically he won’t do a Ronaldo. 
 

Thank goodness Marina cashed in. Best deal ever 

Nobody can blame him though really, Burgers are quite nice.

Maybe Real just isn't a match. Not every player goes just as well with every team.

He was one of the few positives when he played for Belgium on the EC 

1 hour ago, Night-T said:

Maybe Real just isn't a match. Not every player goes just as well with every team.

He was one of the few positives when he played for Belgium on the EC 

He really wasn’t, more like hampered them as he was seen as a reference point and couldn’t stay fit. In hindsight they were better off bringing him off the bench to influence games.

2 hours ago, Night-T said:

Maybe Real just isn't a match. Not every player goes just as well with every team.

 

There was the same theory's about Torres/us, Alexis/United, Kaka/Real that they will suddenly burst to life at a new club with a fresh start but it just didn't happen. 

When players are finished, they are finished.

Edited July 25, 20214 yr by Argo

What if we just loaned him.  Take a page from the Italians book or Spurs with Bale.  Nothing to lose there.  Pay a small loan fee and a portion of his wages.

Edit: I say the above like we have any influence over any of this.  

Edited July 25, 20214 yr by PhilH930

1 minute ago, PhilH930 said:

What if we just loaned him.  Take a page from the Italians book or Spurs with Bale.  Nothing to lose there.  Pay a small loan fee and a portion of his wages.

Edit: I say the above like we have any influence over any of this.  

I think on loan is the only way I would take him back, it's hard to know if he's really finished as a top level footballer or he's just playing for the wrong team.

1 hour ago, PhilH930 said:

What if we just loaned him.  Take a page from the Italians book or Spurs with Bale.  Nothing to lose there.  Pay a small loan fee and a portion of his wages.

Edit: I say the above like we have any influence over any of this.  

We already have about 7 players for 3 positions more if we get Haaland and all for their faults are better than present day Hazard.

Emotion aside there's just no room for him.

8 hours ago, Argo said:

We already have about 7 players for 3 positions more if we get Haaland and all for their faults are better than present day Hazard.

Emotion aside there's just no room for him.

I just don't see a path to getting Haaland, and balancing our top scorer had 6 goals in the league last season.  I do believe there is a lot more to come from Werner, and would also agree Hazard is far from his best.  That said, still think he'd have an impact after 3+ months of serious fitness training.

18 hours ago, PhilH930 said:

I just don't see a path to getting Haaland, and balancing our top scorer had 6 goals in the league last season.  I do believe there is a lot more to come from Werner, and would also agree Hazard is far from his best.  That said, still think he'd have an impact after 3+ months of serious fitness training.

It’s hard to run on broken ankles