He is entitled to the odd bad game. Having to carry the rest of the team must be wearing thin on him. Being subbed and Moses, morata and baka left on was an insult.

Even last season Conte was taking him off early every game. I understand wanting to keep him fresh but what other top players get taken off EVERY game early?

 

Ronaldo is into his 30's and can still play a full 90 twice a weak. 

I must admit I don't understand when we take Hazard off these days, I remember under Jose he was playing 180 minutes a week with defensive duties. Now he has a lot more freedom, taking him off last night was just a silly thing to do.

 

46 minutes ago, RIP Mourinho said:

Even last season Conte was taking him off early every game. I understand wanting to keep him fresh but what other top players get taken off EVERY game early?

 

Ronaldo is into his 30's and can still play a full 90 twice a weak. 

If it's 2-0 or 3-0 in the 75th minute and we have a midweek / hard game coming up, then i get, but Hazard get's taken off even before the game is won these days. Yesterday was just stupid, he wasn't great but we needed him on the pitch. The top players find a way even when they are having an off game.

I understand that Conte wants to protect him, but he's getting too much of that this season. Hazard can easily play 90+ minute matches twice a week.

I wouldn't mind but Willian and Pedro are hardly in great form themselves. 

Hazard looked really tired to be honest. Think he is still nursing an injury

Checked the stats and he's got 1 goal and 1 assist in his last eleven games. The one goal was a penalty.

Nowhere near good enough to be honest. I expect more from Eden Hazard, we all like to think he's top 10 in the world but he's not delivering like he is.

 

 

3 minutes ago, Sindre said:

Checked the stats and he's got 1 goal and 1 assist in his last eleven games. The one goal was a penalty.

Nowhere near good enough to be honest. I expect more from Eden Hazard, we all like to think he's top 10 in the world but he's not delivering like he is.

 

 

It is the system, he needs to play in a front three, he is not a second striker.

2 minutes ago, Strider6003 said:

It is the system, he needs to play in a front three, he is not a second striker.

We've played plenty of games in 3-4-3 in that period as well. And for me his best game of the season was against Atletico in Spain in 3-5-2.

1 hour ago, Sindre said:

We've played plenty of games in 3-4-3 in that period as well. And for me his best game of the season was against Atletico in Spain in 3-5-2.

We have had some success when we have changed to 3-5-2 purely for me as a surprise change. Yet now teams realise how they can stop us as the full backs do not get up quickly enough to support Hazard. Now if we had got Sandro then just maybe we could have made a go if it.

I think we only used it when we did not have a recognised striker and when we had injuries in midfield and tried to include Fabregas. The issue is now it is past it's sell by date and we need to change to avoid mid-table mediocrity.

Bit sloppy but awesome today.

Class act all around. 

http://www.goal.com/en-gb/amp/news/hazard-my-dad-is-in-trouble-for-real-madrid-transfer/1egqaok8igauf1a5p4889izlp5?__twitter_impression=true

Eden Hazard has brushed off claims made by father Thierry that he is holding off on signing a new contract to encourage an offer from Real Madrid in the summer.

The 27-year-old was in fantastic form as he provided two goals in Chelsea’s 4-0 win as they got back to winning ways in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon.

Real Madrid are understood to be interested in signing Hazard but Chelsea are also trying to offer him a big pay-rise to remain at Stamford Bridge. Hazard joked that his father Thierry is in trouble for the interview he made in Le Soir but clarified that he will begin talks after the season has finished.

“My dad says some bad things,” Hazard told reporters after the win. “Yes. I talked with him [to tell him off], no, no worries.

“I'm focused with Chelsea. I've got two years contract left and I'm happy here. Like I said 10 times before, I want to finish this year and then we'll see. But I'm happy here.” 

Chelsea showed great improvement up front with Hazard playing alongside Willian and Michy Batshuayi at the Amex Stadium.

Their exciting attacking play was a far cry from the recent struggles against Norwich, while before that the club had registered three 0-0s in a row for the first time in their history.

Chelsea are still looking to sign another striker in January and may loan Batshuayi with the likes of West Ham’s Andy Carroll and Stoke City’s Peter Crouch being linked. However, Hazard thinks that the display against Brighton shows Chelsea don’t necessarily need a big striker to win games.

“Football is simple: keep the ball on the ground and try [to play] like we did. I think we have two very good strikers in Alvaro and Michy. If they are not ready to play I can play striker, so I don't think we need [another one].

“Because we are missing chances people are saying we need another striker, but if we are scoring goals we are the best attack in the league and no one can say we need a striker. It depends on the form of the team and I think we're happy with the team we have. 

“Who is the best team this year? Man City. The strikers, [Gabriel] Jesus and [Sergio] Aguero, are not big. It's simple. It depends how you want to play. If you want to play with long balls you need a target man, if you want to keep the ball on the floor you need a small guy. It depends how you want to play.

“Yes, it sometimes happens. From the first minute until the last one you feel confident. When you score early it's easier because you have the confidence straight from the start of the game.

“When you see the second goal with Willian, it's one of the best of the season because we create movement with one touch, one touch, and then the finishing is good. We want to do more like this.

“No, no. Maybe one big boy can do that also! Of course we are sharp on the floor, so maybe it's easier to do the movement we are working on in training.”

Hazard completed only his second 90 minutes in the last nine games as Conte tries to protect him during a busy fixture schedule.

The forward also missed pre-season and had a broken ankle that he recovered from over the summer. Hazard spoke about his fitness and how he is being managed by his Italian boss.

“Yes I was not sure, but now I'm sure! It's good to play, good to score, so everything was good today. You can ask the manager. The manager answered last week, so I don't need to talk about this.

“When I'm on the pitch I try to give my best, when I'm not on the pitch on the bench I want the team to do the best. That's it. I think it's normal when you miss two months of preseason with an injury.

"I had a good start to the season after the injury, and then it's not easy to stay on the top. But I try, I try to work in training and when I'm on the pitch I try to give everything. Sometimes it happens like today when we play an amazing game, sometimes not. I just keep going, keep training hard and try to do my best."

Even if you think he's inconsistent or should be taking the next step or whatever, he's such a great character and very down to earth and I think they are underrated characteristics when it comes to gelling with a team.

He's humble but certainly not dismissive of his abilities and what is expected of him.

A top bloke really.

I see that as a sign from Hazard he does not normally make statements suggest it might be wise to tread carefully......

44 minutes ago, Van Butsen said:

Even if you think he's inconsistent or should be taking the next step or whatever, he's such a great character and very down to earth and I think they are underrated characteristics when it comes to gelling with a team.

He's humble but certainly not dismissive of his abilities and what is expected of him.

A top bloke really.

 

I'm not one for man-crushes, but you can't help but melt a bit when you see Hazard interviewed after a game. As you say, Top Bloke. 

The guy just loves playing football and plays it like very few can. We are lucky to have him - may it last for a good while yet.

 

 

The comments from the father are worrisome.  If anyone knows about what has been going on behind the scenes, it's him.  If we do not resign hazard we are in a world of trouble.  He is the one player on our team who transforms our team.  Top player in England and is irreplaceable.  

I don't think he is irreplaceable yet it might take more than one player to get back that attacking ability and it might take time to gel. So within limits make sure he is happy, IMO.

If Hazard wants a day off let him have a day off, if he wants to eat a cheeseburger let him eat one.

Do everything we can to keep him happy, we have to keep him.

Hazard is actually saying we could emulate man city, and Barca, fast skilful small players, its sounds like thats what they practise in training.

I thought that some of his play was brilliant against Brighton on Saturday. Some of the backheel interplay was also a joy to watch and his gesture in going to the young fan and handing him his jersey at the end of the game was nice to see.

3 hours ago, jack_super_class said:

If Hazard wants a day off let him have a day off, if he wants to eat a cheeseburger let him eat one.

Do everything we can to keep him happy, we have to keep him.

 

Absolutely!! if he wants a cake give him 2 cakes...if he wants a pony, give him a whole field full of them.

Best player we've ever had...by a country mile.

2 minutes ago, Odiddy said:

 

Best player we've ever had...by a country mile.

No he's not. 

2 minutes ago, dkw said:

No he's not. 

who's better? seriously.

I'm not talking about who's the biggest club legend..talking about the best footballer we've ever had.

Edited January 22, 20188 yr by Odiddy

there's an argument to be had that he's one of the best players we've had,  in my opinion he's not.  But even if you think he is the best,  it's certainly not by a country mile. 

He's a top 5 player in the world, maybe top 3.

Zola and Lamps were great but were always 1 step away from very cream of the crop..maybe top 10 players. Robben was amazing too, but think his best time was at Bayern, but still think Hazard better than him too.