MrExcalibur100

Cannavaro won the award because he was Italy's best player and a lynch pin in defense. I remember that vividly, because I watched majority of the games in the world cup. He was like a monster. He seemed to win every headed ball, though he wasn't the tallest and his awareness in the box was immense. There was no other Italian player who was better than him. Ironically, Zizou was player of the tournament despite headbutting someone in the final. And as for your "modern day football fan" drivel. You obviously don't have a clue on what I know and don't know about football. I was only pointing out that a player who is relied upon to score goals and create goal-scoring chances is more valuable than a full-back who is tactically restricted from over-lapping a lot during games. I also feel that it's easier for such a full-back to be more consistent in his performances. You clearly don't know what the footballing term "match-winner" means. I wasn't undermining Azpi's contribution at all, but stating something that any "knowledgeable football fan" would at least relate with even if he/she completely disagrees with. Maybe if you didn't dismiss my opinion as "shite", just maybe I wouldn't have to get into a long-winded argument on something irrelevant.

Nice constructive criticism. Feel free to agree or disagree, but if you can't offer any valuable retort, then your opinion to me is a complete waste of time. A world class striker for example is more valuable than a world class full-back. A world class striker gets more individual awards than a world-class full-back. How many full-backs can ever win the ballon d'Or? A world class striker is a match-winner because he scores goals while is world-class full-back can rarely be one. World-class strikers earn more than world-class full-backs. We would struggle for 4th without Hazard while we won't without Azpilicueta. That's the reality of football. I'm not even trying to under-mine Azpi's contribution this season. I just stated my opinion on why Hazard is (and should be) the overwhelming favourite. Take for example Cahill. I don't think Azpi has been better than him this season. I think their performance level have been roughly equal, but if you ask me to choose between the two for POTY, I will choose Cahill, because he is more important to the team. If we didn't have Cahill, we would have been forced to play Luiz at CB and I somehow doubt that our defensive record would have been anywhere near as good as it is now. We would also have dropped more points/lost more matches. Conversely, if we didn't have Azpi, we have Ashley Cole. And while Ash has been underwhelming on occasion ( that rib injury he had didn't help), we all know what he is capable of defensively. He is a much better defender than Luiz. Less error prone too. I think our performance level would have been more or less the same with Cole as LB. That's just how I see it.

It's easier to be more "consistent" when you're a fullback who is sometimes glued to John Terry as opposed to a winger who is relied on for goals and creativity and who gets double-marked in almost every game. I think the player of the year is definitely Hazard as he has comfortably been our best player this season, though Matic would have given him a run for his money had he arrived earlier. Besides, there is only so much impact a full-back can have in deciding a game. A full-back can hardly if ever be a match-winner. Hazard is a match-winner and has won us games on his own this season. We would struggle for top 4 this season without his amazing contribution. Conversely, I doubt we would struggle for top 4 without Azpi in the team. But I hope in the "official" Chelsea POTY awards that Azpi or Cahill win the Players' player of the year award because they deserve that. But Hazard is definitely the POTY. It would be silly if he gets shunned by the league and then us for the individual awards when he is obviously more than deserving.

http://plainsofalmeria.co.uk/2014/03/26/joses-midfield-machine-2-0/

Apparently he was already feeling his calf in the warm-up. No wonder he had a couple of un-Edenlike moments in the match before he came off.

Hopefully he'll be back for the CL semi's. That's either on the 22/23 and the Liverpool game is on the 27th. It's a big blow. The only negative of tonight.

Now we have a player that is actually really good with the free-kick taking lark.

Honestly, I was disappointed with it in parts today. Maybe they were nervous, but I expected more noise at certain moments in the game today. I guess it's a big club London thing. The atmosphere at Arsenal is nothing special too. Way too many tourists in attendance nowadays.

Immense game today. Heroic even. I love it when a player plays for the shirt and is willing to die on the pitch to accomplish his mission. He was up against Matuidi, Verratti, Motta and Cabaye, but stood up to them all.

Still the best in the business for me. Absolutely world class keeper and over the years has surpassed Schmeichel as the greatest keeper in premier league era. How could anyone doubt him after what he's done for us in that CL run in 2012? In the CL final? In the Super Cup even this season? Even Guardiola said "What a keeper" in his post-match presser. Let's stop pretending that the Neuer's and Courtois' of this world don't make errors. Neuer was average last season and rarely even gets tested in Bundesliga. Courtois, believe it or not makes mistakes too...... Courtois will one day succeed Cech but not yet. Cech is still our number 1.

His positioning and movement skills were already obvious even from those pre-season games in Thailand and Malaysia. Now he's added muscle and is no longer easily brushed off the ball. Looks like a really awesome player now.

The WINNING mentality of Chelsea is just unbelievable. It bears little consequence that we're building a new team. Hazard, Oscar, Willian, Azpi, Schurrle have never even played in the CL quarter final before but they come out and play like absolute warriors. It's what Drogba was talking about in a post-match interview after we won the CL in Munich. Passing the winning mentality to the next generation of Chelsea players. It's not just about talent and quality, it's about straining every sinew in your body to win and win at all costs and there's no team better at that than Chelsea. It's been that way since Mourinho's first spell at the club. The nights in Munich and Barca. We've seen shades of that tonight. The younger ones are learning the CHELSEA WAY quickly. So proud of my team tonight.

Where are my fellow Blues who wanted Courtois to replace Cech. Courtois is very good no doubt, but Cech has proven yet again to be number 1 at The Bridge.

"celebrating" indeed. Lol

Luiz WTF are you doing to Azpi??? LOL Anyway, FUCKKKKKKKK YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

He's been one of our best players really.

The fans in the stadium are so pessimistic. If you aren't going to give your all and chant the team in a must-win knock out tie, then don't go. Very disappointed in them.

I'm sorry to say, but the match going fans are a fucking disgrace. Just a bunch of tourists.

Nice to see Schurrle has gotten phyiscally stronger/bigger over the winter period and as a result looks a better player. He doesn't get bullied off the ball anymore like he did in his first few months here. Perhaps that's why Jose froze him out over the Christmas period..... To give him time to build some muscle. http://www.clubcall.com/chelsea/schurrle-adds-muscle-to-title-bid-1715692.html?utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitterfeed

Ridiculously underrated because he moved to a shit team in an average league. This guy is just as talented as any of the other so-called future ballon d'Or winners out there.

First thing, the board is stupid. Main reason lies in Sturridge as perfect example. He scored 9 goals in first half under Avb, as soon Avb was sacked, Danny never realy got first team action, one would think Torres got back to his best, but that wasnt realy reason for Danny not playing. I will never understand why is Torres getting all that playtime, yeah he cost 50mio but he was playing simply terrible and as big club with enough money, we should get rid of him 2 seasons ago. More baffling is how Mourinho, who benched MATA and before CASILLAS, arguably something only crazy man would do back then, but yet he couldnt see how shit Torres is. I mean, is Ba realy that worse?!? Why is Mou still sticking to Torres, Mou of all people, I wont ever understand. But that is discussion for another topic. So, Danny, boy we never trusted moves to Lpool and becomes top striker in two seasons. Would be that different if we simply benched Torres and give Danny a real chance? You forgot about Drogba in all of this.

(1) Hazard (2) Azpilicueta (3) Cahill

"Only 3 players (Suarez 52, Van Persie 37, Sturridge 31) have scored more league goals than Lukaku since August 2012.”

We haven't gotten anywhere near the amount of decisions Man City have gotten, especially in the second half of the season. And Liverpool already have 12 penalties, we have 5. We've had many penalties turned down this season. Against Stoke, just yesterday, we should have had one on Lampard and maybe one on Torres. How many times is Hazard fouled in the box and he gets nothing? What about the Villa game? We've gotten fuck all in the second half of the season compared to those two teams.

I will prefer it if Gerrard played against us. The defensive cover he offers their back four is far from impressive and that's a position of strength for us with Oscar, Willian, Schurrle, Hazard and co coming through the centre. Lucas and Henderson provide better cover.