I've seen Zola take a hoof ball booted out of the defense and bring it down to a dead stop like it was the easiest thing in the world. 

 

I've seen him twist and turn defenders in knots until they didn't know what day of the week it was. 

 

I've seen him give free kick masterclasses.

 

Produce countless moments of individual genius. 

 

 

Right now Zola is a Chelsea legend, a God. 

 

Hazard is a very talented player to have played for Chelsea... He's getting there but he's no Zola. 

 

 

Yet. 

 

Possibly my favourite goal ever!

Zola, both great skill levels, hazard slightly quicker but Zola vision was a touch higher, imagine fabregas and hazard in one package, that was zola

Difficult to compare with the late 90s early 00s, anyone have stats for fouls?

In his time (229 appearances) he only received two yellows. Could anyone keep up to foul him?

In time, I think Hazard could be the greatest footballer in the world. He certainly has the potential.

Edited March 19, 201511 yr by CFC-Forever

In time, I think Hazard could be the greatest footballer in the world. He certainly has the potential.

Nah Messi is far better than Hazard and is not declining any time soon.

Messi is what 27?

Still has around 5 years at least at the very top, unless he does a Ronaldinho and packs it in at 30.

Reading about Zola made me look back on a few YouTube videos and this comment made me laugh:

 

Then he quit football, changed his name to "Ben Stiller" and made it in Hollywood.

Legend.?

 

 

As for the Hazard vs Zola debate, right now it's Zola by a long way.

Edited March 19, 201511 yr by Huttsey

Judging for their total Chelsea career it's Zola by a mile. In 5 more years it could be Eden. I not sure Hazard will ever have the scoring touch or great football mind that Franco had TBH.

 

 

 

 

 

 

La la la la Zola.

Bit of an unfair comparison atm. Hazard turned 24 in january while Zola was 30 when he arrived at Chelsea. Right in the prime of his career.

He also stayed for 7 seasons while Hazard is just finishing off his third season for us.

 

 I think a Hazard in his prime could give Zola a real run for his money.

 

Another 4-5-6 years of PL, CL experience, who knows how good Hazard can be after that.

 

In the 3 years he's been here he's made some big steps. Especially this season he really stepped up and added a consistency to his performances that wasn't there before.

Now , imo, the next step is to up his end product. More goals, more assists. Too many times this season he's had good/great games but didn't get a goal/assist or he did get a goal/assist but he should have had 2 or 3.

Needs to improve his shooting and take more shots. Too many times he's passing the ball while he's in a good position to shoot.

 

I don't think he'll ever be a 50 goals a season player but 25-30 goals and 15-20 assists in all competitions seems doable for Hazard in his prime.

Another thing about Zola was his work rate, I have never seen a player give as much as him it was incredible.

 

I think Hazard has potential but he really has to go some to get close in my opinion.

 

Zola was massively underrated outside of Chelsea he was Maradona's protégé at Napoli and if we were to compare him to todays footballers I would say Messi. Would have loved to seen him in todays team wow.

Another thing about Zola was his work rate, I have never seen a player give as much as him it was incredible.

 

I think Hazard has potential but he really has to go some to get close in my opinion.

 

Zola was massively underrated outside of Chelsea he was Maradona's protégé at Napoli and if we were to compare him to todays footballers I would say Messi. Would have loved to seen him in todays team wow.

 

Zola talks about how he'd spend time after training working with Maradona on his free-kicks. I do wonder if Eden has that same attitude.

Zola talks about how he'd spend time after training working with Maradona on his free-kicks. I do wonder if Eden has that same attitude.

I wish someone in our team would.

We miss a set peice specialist.

A couple more from memory lane. 

 

Franco's delivery was sublime.

 

Set pieces:

 

Lofted through balls:

 

Free kicks:

 

 

And not forgetting, dribbling. 

 

Don't you think it's too early for this comparison? Hazard is the most talented player in the world. He's carrying the team right now. But Zola? He is a legend. He is a God. It's not fair to compare Eden with God, right? 

 

Hazard is more skillful but Zola, in his best years, was more varied. I mean - goals, assists, passes, free kicks, finishing... much, much better. For now. 

 

I need to see more than this from Eden. Right now he's dribbling, he's running but this is missing..

Edited March 19, 201511 yr by Pendergast

Zola was different class on & off the pitch, no one can compare to him yet, ask again in 10 years & we'll know for sure, until then its Zola all day long.

Don't you think it's too early for this comparison? Hazard is the most talented player in the world. He's carrying the team right now. But Zola? He is a legend. He is a God. It's not fair to compare Eden with God, right? 

 

Hazard is more skillful but Zola, in his best years, was more varied. I mean - goals, assists, passes, free kicks, finishing... much, much better. For now. 

 

I need to see more than this from Eden. Right now he's dribbling, he's running but this is missing..

There is no way on god's green earth that hazard is more skillful than franco, you hit the nail on the head there, passing, goals, assists, free kicks, crossing hazard can't knock 40 or 50 yeard passes to feet like zola did. he's good player hazard but way to inconsistant at the moment, to even be mentioned in the same breath as zola, messi, ronaldo, gullit, etc.

I would say Zola at the moment, due to the points that others have already mentioned, passing, free kicks, finishing etc..he was also a big game player, scoring in a final, he's one of the greats.