LukakutoStamford

Yikes, I forgot that soccer was 1 v 11 game. No one can tell you how important Hazard is to the framework of this team, but Cesc and Diego wouldn't have had as many opportunities without Eden running rampage down the left flank. Hazard demands double teams at all times and as I mentioned there are times when there are 4 guys within 8 yards of him.

Still a criminally underrated player even more so by fans of other teams. I think Hazard gets so much flack because he's a flair player who makes it look too easy, and as a result people take him for granted. The beauty of his game is in the subtle flicks, the through balls at the edge of the box send players marauding down the left flank, and sloping around defenders. His role is to create space. At times you can see teams putting a 4 man square within close proximity to deter Eden from sneaking into the box. Against City he was good not great, but the tactical approach by Jose virtually nullified Hazard's ability to move forward with support. Why people continue to wish him to be Messi Ronaldo Bale etc is beyond me. He doesn't have their skill sets. He has his own that no other player has. Sadly he's not going to be recognized for his play until long after he retires when people say we need someone like Hazard to create moments of pure brilliance to free up our top scorer.

I don't the team morale is going be affected by Hazard getting $200k pounds/wk as that's the reality of the situation. He's 23 he was the Young PFA player of the year, finished 2nd to Suarez in the PFA player of the year awards, was Chelsea's POY for 2013-2014. He's been in PL best XI the last two years, was one of the last 23 for the ballon d'Or. He was 2x young player of year at Lille and 2x player of the year at Lille. Lead Lille to its first league title since 1954-1955. He was #3 in Jersey sales in 2013-2014. He's Chelsea's most marketable player. The salary is a lot but warranted based in performance and marketability.

Thorgan can play #10 .

Remember that Thorgan was a benchwarmer at Lens before breakout out at Waregem. It's a bit early to write off Kylian. I don't expect much from him, but then again I didn't expect much from Thorgan and he's had an excellent career thus far.

Costa is professional WUM. I can just see the Liverpool, Arsenal, United, and City fans crying about how much of cunt he is ..

We'll see. I too thought his original contact was merely a throw in for Eden's deal but then Thorgan goes and wins the Belgian golden boot and leads Zulte to the champions league. He's had limited time at his German club so we'll if he able to hack the Bundesliga

I think the own goal system stinks. Absent a guy kicking/heading the ball into the net without pressure the goal should be counted to the guy who last touched it for the goal scoring team. Hazard created that goal by causing problems on the left side and putting Everton to the sword. I don't see how Coleman should get the blame for a bit of bad luck

So who are the current Nouveauchateau strikers? I just want to see who Chelsea will pick up in 2-3 years.

To be honest even with Costa Destro and Drogba the striker situation is a bit shaky. Hamstrings are the worst type of soccer injury because they take a long time to heal and they are so easy to reinjure. I'd really like to see a 4th option if it means Bamford or some other young prospect type. I know it's a pipe dream but Benteke/Costa/Destro would be a great striking trio. Young and versatile and could allow for 2 striker set ups to change the formation when needed.

.Only 4 pages my guess is that he's not going to make it here.

Man ... how far has Milan fallen to think that Torres is a good purchase ... Can't wait too see who comes in ... I presume Destro but who knows maybe a tentative deal for Cavani/Falcao was in place that was dependent on Torres being sold.

You're in the minority re: United shirt. It may just be my disdain for Chevy, but I think United's new shirt looks terrible. No sponsors on the jersey's yet in the U.S. I think that has to do with the commercials for baseball, basketball, and football that don't exist in soccer. I don't mind the 3rd jersey changes. I'd love to see something like Belgium's home world cup jersey for Chelsea, but instead of a crown outline have a lion outline done. http://image-load-balancer.worldsportshops.com/Images/watermarked_thumbnail.aspx?img=65544&photoNum=1&t=I&catalog=SoccerFifa&w=600&h=600

He's still so underrated by many people here. He was beyond every player on the pitch on Saturday. I honestly can't remember a player who creates so much with such flair and makes it look so easy. I'd recommend that you re-watch Saturday's match and watch Hazard's ability to play his teammates on into space. He's unparalleled by any player in the world in this aspect. He's a lot like Zizou and Ronaldino but he adds his own flair.

Complete meltdown. New owner last season fired Meulenstein to bring in the the Mad German Mcgrath and now they look like a good bet to drop from PL to to League 1 in two years without any known financial scandal.

Still hoping Luton Town can pick it up and battle for promotion. It's early and they're not doing too badly in League 2, but they were tipped for League 2 promotion right after dominating Conference last year. One day they'll get back to the top!

Welcome. It's the start of the season so people are bit pre-occupied with the Premier league, Europa League, Champions League, and all the other European Leagues that they follow. This isn't a site about credibility it's the interwebz after all. Although I will warn you some the player comparison threads can get a bit nasty.

Wilkomen, Bienvenue, Welkom and Welcome!

I guess I can overlook your dislike of the 49ers but welcome aboard! don't let the Belgian flag fool you, I'm in CA as well. The 4:45am start times are a bitch.

Balotelli + Mourinho = Molotov Cocktail. Way too volatile a combination. Chelsea just needs a striker who can start 10-15 games and fill in should Costa get hurt without too much of a drop off.

Don't care if it means Torres is gone and Destro is a great fit for second striker.

They go broke because they think the money won't stop and they keep getting bigger contracts but this only represents a very small % of footballers. Think about how many GKs thought they were good enough to play CL football at top club but didn't make it, we're talking about millions here. The money issue is about relativism to others in the same profession. The only different is that he makes 30k/wk which comes to 1.5 a year, but there's a difference between being rich and becoming wealthy. Most footballers become rich and throw it away because they don't know how to turn their riches into wealth.

Even at Lille he was at his best when working with Cabaye and Payet. Eden is a complimentary player. He's never going to be the main man like Messi or Ronaldo because of his play style and his make up. Last was tough because at times as we all saw it became feed the ball to Eden and ball watch or we need him to get us a goal so give to him and he'll break down 10 men in the box. He's just not as good as the focal point. Like everyone mentioned when others are directing the game it allows him to grow in the game. That's why adding Cesc was such a big deal as it takes away the pressure from Eden of setting up most attacks and affords him the ability to freelance knowing the offense isn't always going to flow through him. Last year that second goal v Burnkey would never have happened not just because there wasn't anyone like Cesc to make plays, but because Eden would have felt the pressure to continue the dribble into the box to draw a penalty or go at himself looking for cutback pass to someone in the box. Main point there is much pressure in Eden to force something out of nothing this year.

Low saves are tough for a tall GK the one thing he does try to do is not only parry them but parry them back into the turf to get them to bounce high stock give him time to get back up into position, but yes he does need to improve upon the parrying direction as well as his kicks

I was trying tell people that Courtois is a physical GK.