Hkibou

From what I saw, not very convincing on the wing.

My bad I thought Nigeria wasn't qualified. African football does not interest me at all, don't know why... Ok then, Marin instead of Moses.

If i was Benitez : ------------ Cech ------------ Azpi -- Ivan - Terry -- Cole ------- Luiz --- Lampard ---- Moses -- Hazard -- Mata --------- Demba Ba ---------- Are you relieved i'm not Rafa Benitez ?

He's not the first one to say this ^^. Every defenders in Ligue 1 know this feeling. Most fouled player of France in 2010/11. Most fouled player of Europe in 2011/12 ...

That's the problem of the internet. Dumb people who only look at youtube videos of Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo and still think it's enough to know what they're talking about :/

He's still not as good as he was with Lille but it's completely normal. You can't expect a newcomer in the team, league and country to come and take the lead of the game like he did in Lille, especially with the likes of Lampard and Mata who are more legitimate playmakers at the moment in Chelsea. But still his first half year in Chelsea, in spite of the poor CL campaign, is quite good. Statistically speaking, 6 goals, 7 passes and 2 penaltys provoked in Premier League is far from ridiculous. You'd expect him to do better given his natural talent but as I said he has to adapt (and learn english faster !!). He's probably going to finish the PL year with more than 10 goals and 10 assists, which is objectively quite good. And if he's finishing the year the way he's done it in Ligue 1 last year (13 goals 8 assists in the second half of the season if i reminder well), it's likely to be even more impressive (there's still a good chance he's finishing best passer of PL am i right ?). A little reminder : Mata's first year in PL was 6 goals 13 assists. He was 23 years old. David Silva's was 4 goals, 8 assists at the age of 25. Luis Suarez's first full season (he had 6 more months to adapt) was 11 goals, 4 assists. Antonia Valencia first season for Man United (not even in PL) was 5 goals, 9 assists. Gareth Bale's best season so far is 10 goals, 12 assists. These are all top wingers of the league, whose first seasons were all considered successful, and Eden Hazard, 21 years old, is very likely to do better than them, at least statistically speaking. In a team that is profoundly reviewing its game philosophy the year he arrived... When besides you know that he's not even at his top form since the beginning of the season ; and that even when it was the case, in Lille, he was still far from his full potential (I am so looking forward to see him play when he'll be 25/26 yo), i'd say 40 millions was a pretty good bargain, don't you agree?

That's not funny at all IMO. Luiz seems like a good guy. Why torture him like that?

I don't remember Eden playing as forward under Puel ? For me he was mostly used as a supersub on the wings who would destroy tired defenders at the end of the game with his acceleration and overall speed. Then when Garcia arrived, he continued using him on the wings but the type of play he implemented compelled Hazard to get more involved and come get the ball deeper in the field (especially because, as you say, the team under Garcia often face difficulties evacuating dangerous zones properly). And also he could leave his wing more easily to make place for the runs for the right/leftbacks, who are far more offensive with Garcia's tactic than Puel's. This was even more true when Bastos left and Gervinho replaced him, because the Ivorian would naturally run toward the box from his right wing, forcing Hazard, on the left flank, to counter balance Gervinho's tendency so that Cabaye and Balmont were not left alone in the build-up. That's why IMO Eden had less goals and assists than Gervais (but not less talent, we witnessed it last year when finally he was used as a real n°10). I agree with you on your analysis of Rudi Garcia. We're experiencing his limits at this very moment in Lille, which is still deeply mourning Hazard's departure. This coach relies indeed on very strong indvidualities, the likes of Bastos, Eden or Gervinho, or even Obraniak whose left foot was magical. But I don't agree with your analysis of Lille's game under Garcia. Despite these strong individualities in the team, they were excellent at playing together, collectively. Let's not forget that for 2 years in a row (2009-2011), Lille was the team with the most completed passes in Ligue 1. That's why a player like Cabaye, the metronom of the team, was so important in the field. And a forward like Moussa Sow, IMO, could never have finished the season with 25 goals if not playing in a very strong team, collectively speaking.

He's London's Blue flash Liked him better when he was Lille's red flash though...

Under Puel, Hazard was used exclusively on the wings. He was still very young then and giving his pace and dribbling abilities it was the logical decision. When Garcia arrived at Lille, Hazard was used to play on the wings and nobody ever thought of placing him at the heart of the game, because he was doing so well on the left wing. I'm pretty confident Hazard wouldn't have become the player he is today with only puel as a coach, for several reasons. First, Puel doesn't play with a playmaker, for the good reason that he doesn't relay on the possession of the ball to win matches. Puel's tactic is based on counter attacks and velocity. Very direct game. Garcia changed the philosophy of the club. The main idea was to confiscate the ball, and have the offensive players switch positions constantly. In a matter of weeks, Lille went from a United type of play to a Barça like tactic. Hence Hazard was compelled to get more involved in the construction of the actions, and to wander freely on the field. Under Puel, his most useful skills were his dribbling and pace (Ronaldo like) whereas under Garcia it was his passing and his ability to lead the attack (Iniesta like). IMO, being coached by Garcia made him a more complete player, able to adapt to many championships and tactics.

I really don"t see what you're talking about dude. I've been a Lille fan since 1998, I followed Hazard since his 16th birthday, he had then (and still has) some lacks in his game but he has never been selfish. And never been criticised fort it, except by some Marseille or PSG scumbags that were jealous such a class player was in our team. But even they were compelled to admit his great talent and unselfishness at some point. Except for last season (20 goals, 15 assists), Hazard always finished the league with more assists than goals. And even more "last but one passes" (not sure it's the right terms). The year he won the french league with Lille, I watched again each and every one of our 68 Ligue 1 goals. Hazard was involved in 57 of them (almost 85% of the team's goals!!), although he had scored only 8 goals (and had 10 assists). I don't think we can call that selfishness For me Hazard is quite like an Iniesta, with more pace and acceleration, but less smart in his game (but it'll improve in the years to come).

Better, loan him to the LOSC. We're ok to give it a try

I didn't say he should take them instead of Lampard, actually i don't know Lampard that much i can't judge. All i say is that i've never seen Hazard miss a penalty for Lille, in let's say 20 to 25 attempts

Very class touch from Moses ! Very difficult to do it in the heat of the moment As an Hazard fan i feel obliged to point out the corner was really nicely done by Eden, a corner he had provoked thanks to his very dangerous free kick

I've never seen Hazard missing a penalty i think...

Don't worry it'll happen pretty soon. Almost scored against arsenal, didn't he? Now he's getting some confidence with good games where he had a real impact on the turnout, he'll make more runs with the ball i think. Maybe the fact he starts to understand Vidic, Vermaelen, Kompany and all the stars are no flawless godlike defenders, and that he's already past their level will have some influence in his future. An excellent game in CL against Juventus would be a great thing too. And also, november is usually the month he woke up with the LOSC. He was semi-good every first two months, as the restof the team, and every october/november he and his teammates would start making the right decisions and then destroy every club in Ligue 1 for the rest of the year. I remember a serie of 9 victories in a row started in November, with six 4-0, two 3-0 and one 3-1, where Hazard was stratospheric. Implicated one way or another in 75% of these 33 goals (would have been better if he had shot penaltys, corners and fk but Cabaye did at that time).

He had a really good game i see. Good for him, get ready for more. The pass to Ramires is very beautiful. He has this ability to feel his partners around, like he has eyes on his back it has always amazed me. With KDB you'll have two belgians gifted with this talent...

Cole's goals in PL and Ligue 1 : 46 in 366 matches Hazard's : 38 in 155 matches Cole's best season in career: 8 goals in 2004/2005 Premier League Hazard's best season so far : 20 goals in 2011 2012 Ligue 1 You might wanna reconsider ^^

Knowing him a little (got the chance to itw him once), i think he's heard of "the difficulty of EPL" so much, he thinks he must change in game in order to adapt but he's wrong. He feels like becoming an "intelligent" player (no better terms to use), always thinking and acting at the same time. Like a Gerrard, Xavi, Zidane ... He's obsessed with playing as a good old playmaker, and now as soon as he gets the ball he lifts up his head and checks around. The right reflexe on most of the pitch, not in the last 40 yards given his type of skills. But to me Hazard is a playmaker a lot more like Messi. Messi provokes to create opportunities, which then can be exploited. After his first touch I think he should start running with the ball toward the box without overthinking it. Just let it go, improvise and see what happens. I'm sure with the quality around him there will be good runs and opportunities will come to him. He has the flair and the talent to trust his gut when he approaches the goal. Near the box, he has the skills to shoot the ball, spot a good run and pass it, or dribble and finish himself.

You need to have Eden at his full potential though. RDM should encourage him to take risks, and play like he did in Lille. It would be with absolute certainty beneficial to the whole team.

Shite is a relative term. If Stuart Downing had played like this, i'd have said good game. But i've seen enough games of Hazard to know that compared to what he can produce he had a shitty game today.

I saw the game today, Chelsea played but it pained me to see Hazard like this. He was shite So shy, unwilling to display all of his abilities, i don't understand why. He is reluctant to dribble whereas in Lille he managed most dribbles than anyone else in the league. He tries to be a bit too collective, in order to not get too much responsabilities. That doesn't fit to his character at all, at Lille he was the man, he carried the team and he loved it. Maybe he's tired in that case RDM should put him at rest soon. Maybe it's a lack of confidence, and then it won't get better without at least trying to make the difference by himself. He has the abilities to create so much danger, to eliminate on his own one or two defendes before releasing the ball...

What was the score then ? Because with his former team, and former coach, it was like Barcelona : possession is key. Counter attacks are good but only if you're sure it will end at least in the surface, so that you can press right back high in the pitch if you lose the ball. If one doesn't see a sure way to be dangerous quickly, no need to risk losing the ball. Might as well take our time, controlling the game and be dangerous another way. Especially if we're leading. So it might also be a bit cultural. It's how he's been learnt to play, and maybe it benefits your team. Not rushing things isn't always the bad option in football.

Lol you think defenders just understood a month ago he needs special care ? Don't forget he's terrorized Ligue 1 defenses the last four years. Every game he was marked by 2 to 4 defenders depending on the other side... That's why players like Gervinho could shine around him, with all the space he created. He realised long ago it will always be that way. Didn't stop him from being 2nd best scorer and best passer of Ligue 1 though.

Be honest with me. What can LOSC fans expect from Salomon Kalou in return (supposed to fill the void left by Eden ) ? Up until now he's been mostly injured... And on the pitch he displayed hints of talent, but too irregularly.