Key words "perceived pack of commitment" this is what get armchair mangers too often

 

Hence the very deliberate choice of the word 'perceived' because I'm talking about supporters' perceptions. He wasn't the only one either because Costa and Fabregas got stick too, but they've turned their seasons around and knuckled down. 

 

Eden hasn't. Not only that, he's given this interview so you can perhaps see why people are a tad miffed and don't deserve some of your comments.

It's time to cash in and sell. The biggest spender for him will only have this Summer as their opportunity due to the looming transfer embargo. 

 

Sell Hazard for £30-40mil (his market value has gone right down this season due to him being rubbish).

 

Let's buy lots of reinforcements ala Tottenham style with the Bale cash. We need squad depth.

One bad season doesn't mean we should accept that low a price. If PSG or Madrid want him, they can pay 70m+.

The lower price is supplemented by the secret term and condition that they have to take Mikel with him.

You don't go from being the best player in the league to one of the poorest because of a mere slump.

His head isn't in it and hasn't been since the summer, it's one of the most obvious cases of a players head elsewhere that I have seen.

You have your opinion and I have mine.

 

Fair enough - it's all about opinions.

 

Don't get me wrong, Hazard has been VERY disappointing this season - no argument there.But I just think calling him a huge liability is a sweeping over-generalization.

If we sell him prepare to be "that club" we sell our best players....

If we sell him prepare to be "that club" we sell our best players....

 

Who is 'that club'? Every club except Real Madrid and Barcelona? Maybe Man City as well but that could change if Barca decided they wanted Aguero.

 

As it stands he isn't our best player, but he could be. Some may say that Robben was the same when we sold him and his career in Munich would certainly support that.

 

Or is that team Spurs who sold their best player and reigning POTY but reinvested it and went from being a one-man team to being a very good, entertaining team with a strong English core and a commitment to youth. I'd take being 'that club' I think especially with our resources.

 

Selling Hazard isn't a statement of anything unless we do nothing after that. If we sold him and took that money and more and reinvested it to fully commit to the vision of a new coach and a new philosophy then we can arguably become stronger. Conversely if we sell him and do nothing then we take several steps back. His departure would not be in an of itself anything.

Who is 'that club'? Every club except Real Madrid and Barcelona? Maybe Man City as well but that could change if Barca decided they wanted Aguero.

 

As it stands he isn't our best player, but he could be. Some may say that Robben was the same when we sold him and his career in Munich would certainly support that.

 

Or is that team Spurs who sold their best player and reigning POTY but reinvested it and went from being a one-man team to being a very good, entertaining team with a strong English core and a commitment to youth. I'd take being 'that club' I think especially with our resources.

 

Selling Hazard isn't a statement of anything unless we do nothing after that. If we sold him and took that money and more and reinvested it to fully commit to the vision of a new coach and a new philosophy then we can arguably become stronger. Conversely if we sell him and do nothing then we take several steps back. His departure would not be in an of itself anything.

 

Good post - I agree with all of it except the Best Player bit. Sure, on this seasons form he won't be winning any player of the season awards but he is still our best player. No one else in our squad will be linked with moves to CL rivals at fees in the region of £70+ M.

 

Ideally, I would want Hazard to knuckle down, stay and recapture the form of last season. Any side with THAT Hazard will do well. But we don't live in an ideal world so IF we do sell in the summer and get anything over £70M, then I hope we do a Spurs. Get a coach who can integrate some of our good youth players with a couple of quality signings. As long as we don't blow the money on has-beens and no-hopers like we have in the past.

The current Yaya over Hazard? Lmao, you are just kidding right? RLC over the slow as a snail Yaya for me.

 

I said Yaya would be part of a group of players we could buy with the funds from selling Hazard. 

 

The more direct replacement from that group would be Mahrez.

 

And although I think RLC is a good prospect he is not ready to be an impact player for Chelsea. Just watching him against Newcastle, he came on and lost the ball under pressure 2-3 times. He has a lot to learn about playing faster and ball protection. 

 

Yaya would be a good experienced addition who still impacts games.

If we are to sell him then the end of this season is the time to do it.

He's at an age where we'll get the best money for him and has enough years on his contract to put us in control.

Any funds raised could go a long way to rebuilding the squad but with respectable cover in attacking midfield means replacing him won't be a priority

People are pretty hasty turning on a player who was the main reason we won last term. That hostility will only make him think of other clubs. He is an exceptional player.

I think some people forget that Hazard couldnt even win Chelsea POTY until we shipped Mata away.  That Hazard has only been voted Chelsea's Players' Player of the Year once.

 

Was he our best player last season?  Well, best attacking player because I'd put up the argument that JT was better, but thats about it.

 

Yes he is a great dribbler with a massive talent on the ball, when he feels like it, but I think it's pretty clear that even with Eden in our side , we never looked like BPL champion material until Mourinho arrived.  A great revisionism of history on these boards lately and none more so than the history of this guy.  He is not some great player who carried the club to success on multiple occasions.  

 

For most of his Chelsea career he has been along for the ride and he followed up his one truely good season with a season where players two years out of the championship are making him look like a cart donkey.

 

For those who say " Oh one bad season and see how they turn" I reply "Oh one good season and see how they build a Messiah".   World Class talents don't have a bad period that goes from August to March unless there is some major injury involved or they have just stopped caring.

 

As for the fee, even in his most stellar year with us Hazard has not put up the stats that get those 70m plus fees.  The only players to leave the BPL for that money is Rooney, Suarez and Bale..... and they put Hazard's POTY to shame compared to what they did in far lesser teams with far worse managers (Ronaldo aside).

 

This post may seem harsh but truth often is......and certainly not as harsh as Eden has been towards the club and the fans this season.

f**k him

People are pretty hasty turning on a player who was the main reason we won last term. That hostility will only make him think of other clubs. He is an exceptional player.

Actually Diego's goals and Fabregas' assists were just as crucial as anything Eden did to winning points but it was the defence, lead by iron man JT, who pulled this team across the finish line.

 

 

Dont forget how pants the attack became and how it was with 5 clean sheets in the last 8 games and only 3 goals conceded that period that we limped across the finish line in unspectacular fashion in all but the defense and the table.

 

So you can claim Eden dragged the team past the line but it was Terry and Co who put up the wall that let no team pass the one Eden was  apparently dragging behind him.

I think some people forget that Hazard couldnt even win Chelsea POTY until we shipped Mata away. That Hazard has only been voted Chelsea's Players' Player of the Year once.

Was he our best player last season? Well, best attacking player because I'd put up the argument that JT was better, but thats about it.

Yes he is a great dribbler with a massive talent on the ball, when he feels like it, but I think it's pretty clear that even with Eden in our side , we never looked like BPL champion material until Mourinho arrived. A great revisionism of history on these boards lately and none more so than the history of this guy. He is not some great player who carried the club to success on multiple occasions.

For most of his Chelsea career he has been along for the ride and he followed up his one truely good season with a season where players two years out of the championship are making him look like a cart donkey.

For those who say " Oh one bad season and see how they turn" I reply "Oh one good season and see how they build a Messiah". World Class talents don't have a bad period that goes from August to March unless there is some major injury involved or they have just stopped caring.

As for the fee, even in his most stellar year with us Hazard has not put up the stats that get those 70m plus fees. The only players to leave the BPL for that money is Rooney, Suarez and Bale..... and they put Hazard's POTY to shame compared to what they did in far lesser teams with far worse managers (Ronaldo aside).

This post may seem harsh but truth often is......and certainly not as harsh as Eden has been towards the club and the fans this season.

He was young player of the year the season before last, and also won all individual honours in France helping lille win there title. He hasn't been as bad as people are suggesting this season either, certainly hasn't been a liability.

He's had a poor 6 months by his own standards, his form hasn't been helped by injuries, and the fact the players around him have struggled aswell.

I don't like his comments either, but the fact is, barring 6 months, he has generally been one of the best players on the pitch over his 6/7 years in professional football.

Will he get back to that level? I think he will. He's one of the best players in the league, players of his quality don't grow on trees.

Actually Diego's goals and Fabregas' assists were just as crucial as anything Eden did to winning points but it was the defence, lead by iron man JT, who pulled this team across the finish line.

 

 

Dont forget how pants the attack became and how it was with 5 clean sheets in the last 8 games and only 3 goals conceded that period that we limped across the finish line in unspectacular fashion in all but the defense and the table.

 

So you can claim Eden dragged the team past the line but it was Terry and Co who put up the wall that let no team pass the one Eden was  apparently dragging behind him.

 

How about it being both? 

 

The team defended brilliantly in the run-in but Hazard's goals against United, QPR and a few others were key when it got tough.

 

Before last season he was inconsistent but was getting better and better so I don't think we have to rewrite history too much just because of this season and his comments. He can certainly get back to being one of the best around but I don't believe he'll ever be the best in the world.

 

Truth is I don't think we can replace him like-for-like because there's very few players of his class around but what I think we can do is remodel the squad so that we don't have to rely on one player quite so much and I think we'll do that. But he was probably the biggest individual difference-maker for us last season, especially in the second half.

I have no doubt Eden will get back to that level when he feel like he wants to put in the effort to do so.

 

I'm not calling him a poor player but Im not going to hype him up to be more than he really is either.  

 

As for Lille, that was around the time Kalou was transfered there and scoring a goal every other game if Im not mistaken.  So to be fair, Eden looked a top worl talent at Lille..... but it was an environment that also made Kalou look like a  top lethal striker.

 

Eden isnt a liability but he also isnt the world beater he is being portrayed as. 

 

EDIT:  And I disagree with you ShedEnder, Im not saying Eden wasnt a massive part but for me, wihout that defence it wouldnt of mattered.   Just take a look at how many times 1 goal decided the points or a share in it, that to me credits the defence and doubly so when you consider the attacking talent we were alleged to have,

Edited February 16, 201610 yr by Barry Bridges

Similarly the blind optimism that all is well and the player is happy can be taken as naive. we have been here before with players when it's been utterly inevitable that they're going to move yet people on here dismiss it as baseless rumour

Hazard has been controversial in this regard for months, unnecessary comments dropped to press overseas and simple likes on instagram pics linking him with real.

The lad may well move on, in fact I'd wager a grand on it that this summer he is off. People are entitled to assume this is the case especially given direct quotes attributable to the player himself alluding to the fact that he may indeed be willing to move to another club.

We will not turn down a huge offer for him. It's where we now find ourselves and the sooner people realise this, the better, IMO.

 

 

I wouldn't turn down a large offer for him either.

 

However, how many times was Drogba meant to be leaving us while he was here?  Remember the press going on about how unhappy he was, and how he was looking for any way out?

 

Excuse me if I think taking partial quotes and twisting them in the press is leading me to be somewhat doubtful of all this "unrest."  The papers need a story, they need to point blame for Jose's departure, etc.

 

Tell me, who in the past has been speculated like this and actually gone on to leave us?

I have no doubt Eden will get back to that level when he feel like he wants to put in the effort to do so.

I'm not calling him a poor player but Im not going to hype him up to be more than he really is either.

As for Lille, that was around the time Kalou was transfered there and scoring a goal every other game if Im not mistaken. So to be fair, Eden looked a top worl talent at Lille..... but it was an environment that also made Kalou look like a top lethal striker.

Eden isnt a liability but he also isnt the world beater he is being portrayed as.

EDIT: And I disagree with you ShedEnder, Im not saying Eden wasnt a massive part but for me, wihout that defence it wouldnt of mattered. Just take a look at how many times 1 goal decided the points or a share in it, that to me credits the defence and doubly so when you consider the attacking talent we were alleged to have,

Kalou was at chelsea in the 3 years hazard was at lille. You seem to dismiss his achievements so easily. I wonder how you would feel if we loan rlc or another academy graduate to a mid table french team, and they ended up winning the league and collecting poty in the process.

I have a feeling you would saying that is an incredible achievement for a 21 year old.

Edited February 16, 201610 yr by big blue

 

EDIT:  And I disagree with you ShedEnder, Im not saying Eden wasnt a massive part but for me, wihout that defence it wouldnt of mattered.   Just take a look at how many times 1 goal decided the points or a share in it, that to me credits the defence and doubly so when you consider the attacking talent we were alleged to have,

 

I agree that the defence was huge. What I'm saying is that when Jose closed everything down and we became very defensive, it was often Eden who either got the first goal, got an assist or got the only goal (I said QPR when he set up a goal, not scored it himself). 

 

In the second-half of last season he was unplayable at times.

On his day he is superb and i hope today is one of those days.If scores a hat trick tonight i would be over the moon as his value to PSG (if he decides to go)will increase.I really rate the man but would take 80-90 million all day.

Been defending him but poor again tonight. An in form Hazard would have made the difference tonight.

didn't help his stock price any.  Of course the cameras zoomed in on him claiming that "he wasn't looking happy"

Failed his job interview today.