Eggman

The overhyping of KDB by belgians and belgium media is getting more and more annoying even for me, can only imagine what it must be like for others

Very unlike him to feel the pressure, but it does seem like it atm.

Also, I wanna see this guy playing centrally. I think that's the next step in his career. The next phase in his development. Kind of like Messi did when but not as a ST/CF... as a NUMBER 10.
It's clear that Eden doesn't have that ruthlessness in him. He's not that clinical beast in front of goal. I think he'd score many more goals and create way more goals in a position where he's closer to the goal. If you look at some of his most penetrating runs this season.. for instance, his goal against Spurs (away), his run against Arsenal (home), his run vs Liverpool in the COC a week ago, if you go and watch the Swansea game (A) there were two situations where he smashed the ball from a central position just outside the box and took two fantastic shots with his left foot. Both tested the keeper. I feel like he doesn't get that opportunity as much when he's on the wing.
On top of that, when he's on the left, the defenders know where he's gonna go. They know that he's gonna cut in. If he's on in the middle of the pitch, you don't know where he's gonna go cuz he's got a good left foot (better than Oscar and Willian) and he can shift the ball either way AND, AND, he's a far better creator than the other two also.
To me, he's our best #10 and playing in that position will improve him as a goalscorer and as a player in general. Ballon d'or elects score loads of goals. I don't seen Eden surpassing 25 goals on the left.. play him in the middle, behind Diego!!

Indeed, I said 'GOAL!' the moment it took a nick off JT. Great reaction save made all the better because he'd been wrong footed. He must provide so much relief to the defence ... compare Cech's flapping at the ball to his self-assured cool catches.

Schurrle has his place in the squad: he provides depth and he scores easily. That's a trait worth having.
Other than that, he has the most awful style I've ever seen, which for me is hard to live with. Everything he does looks ugly, even plain running. Thus: if we can replace him with someone who offers the same (good runs down the channels and goal-scoring) but with a bit more flair and easier on the eye, I wouldn't hesitate.
I'm shallow like that.

That's one controversial thread title

Hazard has been using rabonas as a way to cross balls since forever. If you have the technique and you keep improving it, it's only one more tool in your arsenal. It has nothing to do with wanting to make some fancy, plastically beautiful play, just the way he thinks he can execute it better. Witmots should worry about improving his own technique about tactics - since he has none - before criticizing Hazard for a meaningless thing. It was just a cross, it wasn't like a penalty he wasted with a rabona or a 1x1 with the goalie or a cross where he was completely by himself and had a free teammate waiting in the box. It was just a frigging cross that he's done many times before. It wasn't a clear chance for Belgium he wasted. But as usual, Witmots has no idea what he's doing or saying... so no surprise there.

Appreciate the article but it's clearly influenced by the press. Media darling De Bruyne had another average game that's why they come up with this story about other players running in the way.
Truth is De Bruyne had as much touches on the ball as Hazard against Wales and more than he averages for Wolfsburg. Just like Hazard and Chadli he had the freedom to roam as well, it was a fluent system and it's not like he hasn't played on the wing for the NT before anyway. I never heard anyone making excuses like this for Hazard when he had an average game.
I disagree with your assessment about playmakers. Like Belgiannutt said Belgium needs an extra playmaker rather than one less. De Bruyne is not a true playmaker anyway, and he's not the next coming of Cruijff or Zidane like a lot of Belgians seem to think. No playmaker anywhere near worldclass has a passing completion of only 75%. You confuse assists with dictating play and orchestrating the attacks.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ICehnzox39o
One of the most exciting players in the world to watch.

he should've chipped the 1v1 over the goalie.
Honestly. More chippin'.

What leniency? Oscar went through 9 months of terrible form, Schurrle has been crap through out the season (bar the opener against Burnley), Salah has been beyond hopeless since we signed him, Willian is his unproductive self and the biggest example of leniency of them all Torres who earned a killing for close to 4 years of abject mediocrity. KDB was never given anywhere near enough opportunities/leniency here. not even close.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-dL7tMoWUkU

Completely normal when you look at the teams in our group, only Croatia was a marginal contender. No idea why you include Scotland as an example, they're wank.
90% the same players? Do you even know what you're on about ? Under Advocaat we still had players like Swerts, Bailly, Mudingayi, Buffel, De Sutter, Lamah, Deschacht, Sonck, De Camargo etc getting regular playtime.
Under Leekens we had Vossen and Ogunjimi as strikers, Legear as a winger and Simons in midfield, with sporadic stints by up and coming talents like Hazard and Lukaku.
Baffles me how you can say they had the same players to use.
Another thing you may find suprising: youngsters get better. 2010 Hazard isn't comparable to 2014's. Witsel, Hazard, KDB, Mirallas etc weren't close to the level they are now.
Shit ass team with a shit ass manager. Thought it was pretty clear my point was that he had zero experience before getting the job coaching Belgium's up and coming golden generation for some fucked up reason.
He hasn't proven himself... nearly 3 years further and still no cohesive team, despite the players improving massively on club level. He's starting to get more and more criticism in Belgium from people who know what they're talking about as well.
You seem to focus solely on the results, which have been decent and absolutely normal for a team with a market value of 365 million euros. You could argue he's underachieved.

He is the one player who can change a game by himself for us. A vital part of our team.

I would add Matic to that, with those 4 I feel we can win any game, take one out and we are guessing again like last season.I think the depth is good, but those 4 are in a league of their own in this squad. It also shows just how good Mourinho really did getting last season's squad still in the race at January with just one of them 4.

You think Zidane won it for the amount of goals he scored? What about Cannavaro? Kaka?
Besides, he doesn't find it the most important part of his game, yet gets in to double figures consistently. Should be reassuring

He's still a top 5 gk in the world and no club can have 2 top 5 gk's in their squad since its hard to rotate with them.
It was only a matter of time when the one that ended up on the bench wants to leave .
A top player like Petr or TC should always be in a club starting 11 because thats how good they are, so like you said all the best to him and i hope he can join another elite club outside england

To be honest last year when teams played against Chelsea they very much set up firstly to stop Chelsea playing but they also went about nullifying the threat of Hazard more than any player by doubling up on him and preventing him from playing 1v1 in dangerous areas. Now that we have Diego Costa and Cesc Fabregas, I think that gives him a bit more freedom knowing that hes not always gonna be the only player teams really worry about when they face us so he should have a better season than last year, as he doesn't have to carry the team by himself.

Hehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehe
Thats me everytime I see him play.

And he is absolutely right. that's the bitter truth and there's nothing wrong with it.

There are two things to take into consideration:
1) if we want to get rid of Torres, Mourinho has to continue to praise the only possible aspect of him that can be praised and give him some match time, who will buy a player that doesn't play? It's really a case of being between a rock and a hard place.
2) Who are we going to play if he gives him the Malouda treatment? We don't have four strikers waiting to play. we have three, two already passed it.
I can't believe whatever happened because of stupid French television ruined Eto'o and Mourinho's relationship to the point he wants to stay in London but won't stay with us.
Sorry for people who may get offended by it, but based on current form Eto'o >>>>>>>>>> Drogba regardless of what Etoo's real age is.
Also, the order things are released to the general public isn't necessarily the order they happened. Mourinho probably knew about Lukaku's departure before we went after Didier. We probably went after him because it was clear Lukaku wasn't going to stay - the deal just hasn't been done yet at the time.
It's a HUGE miscalculation on Mourinho and the board's side thinking that Drogba is enough just because we have a good striker on Costa. Costa could struggle to adapt, injury himself and a lot of other things that will make us look to the bench and only see two players that aren't on their best anymore.
We should have brought someone other than The King (as much as I love him and I think he can be useful) because the awful truth is that both him and Torres are #3 striker material. None is up to being # striker. They should be getting the same amount of minutes as Ba had (even less actually, as last year we had a rotation for #1 striker throughout the whole season). It should be having Torres OR Drogba in the squad, both is nonsense and suicidal.
There will be only one person to blame if our season is jeopardized by not having a decent #2 striker and that is Mourinho. Even the board can't be held accountable if Mourinho tells them the same thing he tells us: that the three strikers we have is enough. It isn't.

Skipper. I remember me and you were big advocates for him staying. But I remember at the time and can still look back and see when he left the amount of people who dissed him, stating he was too greedy, too big for his boots and other forms of criticsm etc.. there was plenty of digs at him. Now he has proved that we were going to regret it and some people now say that he is different because he is a complete striker. He is a complete striker because he showed what he can do once he plays regularly and now people appreciate his talent. I mean no one would have labelled Sturridge as a complete striker when he was here. He just needed a move to show what he can do.
Now, yes I appreciate your comments on Lukaku's flaws but PL defences knew who they were coming up against last season after his first season with WBA. But he managed to get 15 goals and does that not tell you that he is no one hit wonder? He has got quality. Martinez rates him highly and was also able to tactically move Lukaku from his natural striking position to RW and Lukaku accustomed to that easily against Arsenal. So while he has some technical weakness he has some tactical strengths as well. He had a very good season at Everton. But where you think his ceiling is Everton, I disagree. If he continues to score goals that is what will be looked at. Like come on Skipper, when he reaches 25 and 26 his tranining and playing time will make him a much better striker. But yes I agree his technical qualities are not that good but in his favour he has got the power and pace and this is why I think he unstoppable at times and when he gets older I reckon he will be a beast. I think it is harsh to say he won't get better because he is only 21. The lack of depth at Everton was the only reason they did not get in the UCL last season and if they got there Lukaku would have been a huge reason why. Martinez did not describe him as "the complete striker" for the sake of it.
Viper. Put your teeth into this please. If he scores for WBA and Everton and then the excuses are that it is "not for Chelsea" why would we loan him out in the first place then? We loaned him out with the apparent intention of integrating him back into the team. Yes there is a difference but until he plays a full season here we cannot judge that he won't be able to score more goals here. Yes, I was talking about talent from the youth and players bought over from a young age. Lukaku was bought at the age of 18 so that is why I put him into that category because he was on our books for a few years. But as with the likes of Ake and Christensen, me and you would love to see them integrated fully into the first team in a few years but just because they have been promoted to the first team squad it does not guarantee anything mate. Mceachran and Chalobah have been part of the first team squad before but have rarely played and unfortunately look like their long term future is elsewhere. I hope it is different with Ake and Christensen but as I was saying no guarantees.
Despite his flaws, Lukaku has clear talent as well and I am deeply annoyed to see him ago so I apologise if I took things out of context there about the young ones but for me it is incredibly frustrating to lose him. This is why the news of signing Drogba never appealed to me. I don't reckon we will sign another striker. Costa is the main striker. Drogba is his 2nd and Torres third. I think when Mourinho said our transfer business was done he meant it. Yes Drogba was brought in but he was a free transfer.
This is what you need to understand. He asked to leave on loan but he said he wanted to come back here and fight for his place. Can you at least acknowledge that? Believe me I have tried to understand some of your views but it is annoying when your view is completely blindsided. His intention was to leave here temporarily, yes temporarily and come back here and challenge for the strikers position. So when you say comments like "he asked to leave the club you support" you make it sound as he wanted to leave here permanently. He done what he thought was best for himself and us because he thought playing regularly at Everton would make him a better striker. Simply. Yes and before you say it I know he would have got starts here but at the time he panicked and asked for a move. You make it sound like he has done something similar to Schneiderlin where he has handed in a transfer request and made it clear he does not want to play there again. He did and that is the difference so when you make comments such as the one I mentioned it just exaggerates the actual truth what happened because his ultimate plan was to come here but you see different.
Yeah and Ibrahimovic arrogant stance and him wanting to be the star player hindered his career right? One of the top strikers in the world so that logic does not add up.

Well, I am quite surprised to see how much Mata's dribbling ability is held in high regards here. Mata is not a very good dribbler. He is decent, at most good ; he can pick up a dribble here and there but that is it. This is by the way one of the reasons for which he has never been given a go with his national team... And, even if you would like to think he is a "very" good dribbler, as @James has mentioned, it is not his game and he does rarely try to dribble past players. So in the end, good or not good, the end product (since it is a term in vogue over here) is : nearly no dribbles.
Cesc is definitely not as good as Iniesta when it comes to dribbling, but he is better than Mata for sure. Once again, even if from a technical stance they were on the same level, Fabregas is more aggressive in his game a more or less likes to dribbles, whereas Mata it is not part of his game.
In regards with the fact that whether or not he is one-footed, and to reply to @Ze Mario... Well, I will not even bother to make an assessment regarding the talent of his right foot since it is not the question ; the question is to know whether he is over-reliant (and feels uneasy on his weak foot) of his strong foot. The answer is yes. And the fact he scored one goal with his right foot does not change anything to that fact ; Messi and Sturridge also can score and pass with their right-foot, nonetheless they still are one-footed (which seems to be a common trait of the left footed players).
As for is ability to hold on the ball... Well, it is rather a weakness than a strength for him. First off all, as it has been said numerous times, physically he cannot cope with the pressure ; and he cannot get away from it through acceleration/speed, as he has none, and only decently through dribbles. This is another reason for which he is overlooked in the Spanish national team. It might be also a weakness of Fabregas, if you will, but he is significantly better in this aspect and it does not cause nearly as much problems that it does with Mata.
And finally, the famous end product. Juan Mata has been many time hailed because of his stats here. In his best season here, in 31 games started (and four subs) in the League, Mata has scored 12 and assisted 12 ; the same season, out of 30 starts (and two subs) in the Liga, Fabregas has scored 11 and assisted 11. The season before : 6 scored and 13 assisted in 29(+5) games for Mata ; 9 scored and 8 assisted in 23(+5) games for Fabregas. Basically, in regards of the statistical productivity, they both are more or less on the same level. While the later being only the odd man in the starting team and never had a set position ; the former was the center of the team.
And finally mark II, Mata was not versatil at all. It was even his fiercest defenders that admitted that fact ; you cannot put him on the (right) wing as he is inefficient. A contrario, Fabregas is apt to play in several positions ; sure at different extent of efficiency, but still. In the contemporary football, this quality is more and more required.
It is pretty clear as to why Mourinho decided to buy someone of the likes of Fabregas. This player is direct, "aggressive", is a great passer, can dribble, can cope physically and technically to pressure, can play several positions.

Hazard's rate is really incredible. His numbers are mesmerizing both in percentage and total. His key passes are too far above the others as well. And then you see that, despite all those numbers, he has one of the lowest assists + goals / 90 minutes. We're really in need of improvement in our end product. He's also the one with fewest shots. Definitely in need to take matters into his own hands more frequently and be more clinical in his finishing, other than that he's golden. Thoses assists are probably going to build up with Costa though.