Haha, quite. But I do think it's a good discussion even if everyone picks the same player. Perhaps it could be extended to our three most irreplaceable players? Or our second, after young Eden.

 

I thought it was worth bumping as the initial vote had Matic ahead with quite a large lead.

Oops sorry Ploks, I didn't even see when this thread was created. Good to look back on now.

I don't feel confident choosing between Hazard or Matic. They're both so vital.

1. JT

2. Hazard

3. Matic

Picked Hazard and its been justified.

I was wrong but very happy to admit it, as important as Matic is, Hazard is the one that makes us tick.

JT, Eden and still Matic

JT, Eden and still Matic

Yep!

The idea of not having Hazard in the team fills me with dread.

If you'd have asked me a couple of months back I would have said Matic, but now it is indubitably Hazard.

Has to be JT. This is an issue that has been worrying me for a couple of years!

Why JT? Not just because he's the best CB in the premiership. Nor because he is the captain and brilliant organiser of the defence. But to me he is the soul of the team who would run through a brick wall for the club and who leads by brilliant example. 

He's simply irreplaceable. 

I am struggling to grasp the concept of relativity of irreplaceability!

 

But I agree with Wicksy!

I agree with Wicksy as well. But it really is a complex question. Hazard is the player producing offensively. Without him, we'd look a lot like Liverpool or other mediocre team in the league. And there aren't that many players we could replace him with. How many can there be? A couple? Messi and who else? Which is very unlikely.

 

If Costa is unable to play, we can still find a bunch of top class strikers, and we wouldn't have to completely change our style of playing. We could possibly get an alternate player to Matic or Fabregas, so we're not that relying on them.

 

When it comes to our CBs, we can see there are some competent defenders out there. The hard thing is to replace JTs presence both on and off the pitch. So I think it is JT and Hazard combined.

It's a very tough question, Chelsea have such a strong spine and most of your players are key to implementing a league winning side. I'm going to take this thread to mean irreplaceable in terms of towards your system and style of play rather than looking at your squad players and seeing who can be replaced and who can't e.g. Courtois's importance despite having Cech as an alternative squad member.

 

As a neutral, I feel Hazard really symbolizes what it means to be a Chelsea player in this day and age under Jose as he really defines what is expected of the blues. By that I mean, not only being talented and skillful on the ball and contributing wonderfully offensively with intricate attacks but also contributing to the defensive side of the game; tracking back, winning tackles, high pressing, interceptions and as a whole lightening the workload on your fullback so they in turn can contribute in the attacking side as well. Hazard has the perfect balance of attack and defence and that's what Jose expects of him, which is why others such as Mata (though we all love him for his attacking contributions) and others were sold. So I believe he is your most irreplaceable player towards your philosophy and system.

Not a player, but Mourinho is our most irreplaceable asset.

Put him in charge of City or United, with the millons they have spent and the squads they have assembled this season, and he would have them topping the table.

He could even turn Le Arse in to EPL winners and that would be the biggest miracle since Jesus did that thing with the loaves and the fishes.

Hazard has dragged us through the past couple of months. We've become a one man team lately and he's been the difference in so many games this season.

Hazard has dragged us through the past couple of months. We've become a one man team lately and he's been the difference in so many games this season.

......... and Mourinho is the man who has more made him a more complete, rounded and consistent player.

......... and Mourinho is the man who has more made him a more complete, rounded and consistent player.

I think you should give the player himself more credit. Mourinho has said many times he's only given Hazard encouraging words and improved his mentality. The other facets of improvement are mostly down to the player. 

I think the big talking point in regards to this thread is the drop off in quality without certain players. We will struggle mightily if any of Hazard, Matic or Fabregas were out for a month. I'm not so sure about JT. Of course, his leadership skills are irreplaceable, but I'll be fairly confident with Zouma and Ivanovic (who is actually a more than decent CB) for about a month, than say being without Hazard or Matic.  

 

I think the take home point is seek to add more genuine world class scoring options like Reus and midfield lynch-pins like Pogba into the starting XI and also add more depth and youth team players. Apart from Costa or Hazard, this team struggles for consistent goal-scoring threats.