SykikJV

In games like today he has to play too defensive in my opinion. I only watched the first half, but when you put Hazard in against a very offensive rightback like Srna, it's hard for Hazard to play his game. Especially when the opposing team is the dominant side in possession.

Impressive in terms of passing, movement and dribbling ability.

According to the match-summary he played in a central playmaker-role, together with Hunt and defensive midfielder Junuzovic.

MoM-performance from De Bruyne yesterday. Played as a right midfielder and created almost every danger for the Belgians. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJlUIqu4qD4 First goal : terrific first time cross to find Villa's Christian Benteke. Second goal : counter-attack finished by De Bruyne himself. But he also put Hazard through on goal with a lovely through-ball with the outside of his right foot. Pure class... Don't know if you guys can watch this video from outside of Belgium, but you can see the through ball at 10:15 : http://www.sporza.be/cm/sporza/videozone/MG_programmas/MG_sport_journaal_GNMA/MG_journaal_DAG_3/1.1454842

Check your information. De Bruyne played CM in a flat 4-4-2 for Genk. He was part of a central midfield duo with Khaleem Hyland (ex-Portsmouth and impressing this season) behind two strikers, Vossen and Benteke. He really excelled in that position, both defensive and attacking. At the moment it's possible he isn't ready for that position in the Premier League, but in the future I think his best position will be the position that Modric played in at Tottenham and Croatia.

8 Goals for Chelsea, 6 assists & 1 goal for Eden Hazard. Love the intelligence in his game for a player of his age. In the last minutes of the first half he was playing simple passes, 1-0 in front just before half-time so he's keeping the ball in the team. And then suddenly, gets the ball around box and creates a wonderfull goal for Torres. Just to remind everyone, he's 21 years old and it's his first season in the PL. He won't be able to keep up his current rate of goals/assists. He'll have games where things aren't going as well as they are at the moment. Let's keep expectations for the upcoming games realistic, he won't be a decisive player in all of them.

He seems to be feeling ok in Bremen.

In Belgian media (reliable this time) his managar speaks about a possible move to Werder : "Kevin is realistic. It will be difficult for him to get enough playing-time in Chelsea this season. That's why he likes the idea of a season-loan to the Bundesliga-club. After one season his progress will be evaluated again and a return to Chelsea is possible." "Nevertheless, Chelsea was very satisfied with Kevin in preseason. They said he was very close to the first-team. But a season-loan will be better for him to progress." "The loan isn't a done-deal yet. Due to the Olympic games it will be difficult for Kevin to get out of London today. He'll probably be in Werder by thursday."

Really doubt he said those things in that way because they don't make sense. First of all, De Bruyne always said he probably will be loaned to another club because he has to play to get better. Secondly, in the interview he supposedly said that RDM plays him on the right side of midfield. In the preseason friendlies he played on the left and in the center.

And you get all that from a few friendly games? Bit early to judge new players in the way that you do. Yes, he does have the control and the dribbling, but to state at this moment that that's all there is to his game is premature. Last year in France he racked up assists and goals, so he does have the quality to give a final ball or score himself. He's 21 and he's playing in another club than Lille for the first time in his life, a club that is at another level than Lille too. Give him some time to adjust to that club and that level. You say we Belgian seem to overhype Belgian players. That may be true, but jumping to conclusions based on a few friendly games in hot conditions isn't the right way either.

That's quite normal, isn't it? Marin is much more experienced playing at this level. Has been a regular at a Bundesliga-club for some years now and is a German international. De Bruyne is coming from a small league and doesn't have that much experience. You can see he is playing rather safe at moment, with his main focus being not to lose the ball much. Give him time to adapt to the level of Chelsea.

Like I said in the match-topic : Although you shouldn't underestimate his pace, it's good enough to go past his opponent. But yes, he should evolve into a central midfielder as that's his best position.

Is there a video available with, next to the goals, the highlights of the game? Would love to see De Bruyne in action.

I can see him evolving to that position as well. I'm a Genk-fan (his previous club). He played out wide most of the time with Genk because there's wasn't a real alternative on the left side and he came into the squad in that position. Last season he ended the season in the central midfield role and really started to excel. Played like a deep-lying playmaker but also was decisive on the other end of the pitch. Journalists described him as being a level or 3 higher than the rest of players in the Belgian league at that moment. His passing and vision in that position is really good.

Hello Chelsea, haven't been a Chelsea-fan all my life, but I have followed the Premier League for quite some years now. I'm Belgian so I'm here to follow our Belgian Chelsea-players and maybe give you some more info about them. grtz SykikJV