It was like his career for chelsea scaled down to three weeks, First match good, after that he slowly gets worse. I understand the tactics wasn't great but the player also holds some responsibility, going forward he was dreadful.
This is a classic example of being overly critical of our own and overrating or overhyping other players. This is normal. If Hazard was a Man Utd player, the wankfest on here would have been crazy. And that's not a criticism, Barbara. I expect a surgeon to know more about the human anatomy than a geologist for example. (1) You mention the Belgium matches, okay, let's talk about the Belgium gane and Hazard "fading". Let's take the Russia game for example. It's very common for us casual fans to overstate the importance of a player's individual efforts and understate the team effort. Will James look as good as he does if Colombia was playing poorly, no. Belgium have not been playing well. They have been playing, slow, ponderous, predictable football and have had the unfortunate ignominy of playing two defensive minded teams (at least in the games that Hazard started). This is obviously going to have a negative effect on individual performances, particularly of the forwards. Even more so for Hazard as he got double-marked on that left wing in both games vs Russia and Algeria. He is the only player on the Belgian team that gets this treatment. This is a big problem for him because as been discussed a 1000 times, Vetorghnen (sp?)/ Vermalean are CB's and simply do not support the winger in attack, so Hazard is left in a situation were he has to beat two players OR receives the ball with his back to goal and is closed down quickly. Back to ^^^^^^^ in a moment. (a) It was only in when Algeria came out to play a little and lost the ball in transition that Hazard had an opportunity to launch a counter and the result was a goal for Mertens. The Russia game was similar. The first half, stranded on the left side, facing the problems I discussed in (1). It was late in the 2nd half, when Wilmots became less defensive minded and focused on "shape" did he give Hazard a free role and he wrecked havoc on Russia's backline in a 10 minute cameo. He started drifting in to the centre where he was able to influence the game more. What happens next, Belgium win the ball in transition, Origi lays it to Hazard and he blows by a Russian defender, cutting it back on his "weaker" foot for Origi. Goal for Origi. So, two key actions when his team are not playing well, when the football is slow and predictable, in searing heat (both those games played at midday), when his coach is tactically inept, he still provides to match-winning moments. Very similar to Messi vs Iran and Bosnia. I dunno about you guys, but that is the mark of a world class player. (2) It's up to Wilmots to solve the problems in (1), that even we arm-chair experts and analysts can see. Give Hazard a free role. You play with 5 centre-halves for fuck's sake. If not, start him as a 10 where he has more breathing space. Also, stop playing Dembele all the time cos he's been shit for a year or so and start Origi ahead of Lukaku because the USA are coming to defend deep, frustrate and park the bus. It's a shame Vanden Borre got injured because he looks like the only decent fullback in the Belgian team (why didn't he start in 1st two games?) (3) You said Hazard is "lazy", no he's not. Check the facts. He covers an insane amount of kilometres per game for a winger. People also accused Messi of being lazy, calling him Walkessi and all that silliness. None of them highlighted how Barca's system was not as fluid as before. Iniesta, Xavi and Busquets triumvirate was not as good as before. Pressing game was not as good as before. Pep, the guy responsible for a fair share of the success of that GREAT Barcelona was no longer there. Then comes the "Messi is just walking". . "He's not calling for the ball" etc, without mentioning all the other subtleties. It's the same with Hazard. People, like you (no offense) criticize him for things that are beyond his control instead of looking at the broader picture. Then the Bale thing is wrong. This is what annoys me. Bale has been known to disappear from games at his time with Tottenham and Madrid. Watch him, he does those exact same things you say Hazard does. Bale does not demand the ball. He is quiet on the pitch. What you did there is what I call overrating the opposition player and underrating our own. I even read someone here put Bale in the same sentence as Messi and Ronaldo. Many players disappear from games for various reasons, Messi included. You can't deny that Hazard has not suffered from this problem this past season because he's under the best tactician in the world, Mourinho. Almost everything good about our attacking play came through Hazard. Maybe when we have a better team than the average one we saw last season, we can see Hazard in a more fluid system. It's amazing how many conclusions you come to from a bunch of games. Surely, most of what you said doesn't hold true for the Hazard that we all saw dazzle for Chelsea this past season, so I'm assuming it's mostly based on the World Cup. All the names thrown around. Reus, Bale, Neymar, Robben, Sanchez Ribery. I won't take any of these players ahead of Hazard. I don't consider any of these players to be better than Hazard, neither do I consider them to have his talent. The thing this guy is able to do with a football is beyond scary. The only winger I put above him is Ronaldo and that guy is not even a winger anymore. The only player I'll swap him for is Messi. And I say this as a football fan, not a Chelsea one.
I know this has been posted before, but: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJQ9AWwnA2Q Best young player in the world and does with a football what most footballers can only dream of doing.
He's adapting to a new team and a new league. Of course he isn't on his best yet nor showing much confidence. Also, my opinion on Willian doesn't rely on that video... Dude, go find a Eden Hazard forum for you. I'm sure there must be one in the internet and if there isn't, with the amount of free time you seem to have, I'm sure you can come up with one. Eden has to improve his decision making, period. The team doesn't help him at times, I agree and it leads him to not have many options, but other times he holds the ball instead of passing, goes for a dribble when it seems almost metaphysically impossible, doesn't shoot when he gets in positions to do it. I'm not saying he's crappy because of that, I'm just saying is one of the aspects of his game that there is plenty of room for improvement. Everyone can see it, but you and a few other fanboys. If he improves his decision making he'll be even more dangerous and deadly than he already is.
Goals aside, Ronaldo can be most frustrsting and least team player out there...as soon something isnt going to the plan, he is terrible. Last year vs Bvb, this year vs Atletico, he just dribbles and doesnt realy gets past anyone and then in frustration shoots from everywhere... On his day he is unplayable and scores shitload of goals, but one of worst team players in history. Even fucking Nani got past few opponents against Germany, while Ronaldo wasted ball again and again...not to speak of his freekicks; takes 50 atempts to score one..
Marko Marin: "Sevilla want to keep me, they want to buy me outright" I know it's not very ethical to take advantage of people with clear mental disabilities but if someone in the Sevilla board is actually willing to pay something for this guy, we should take the money and run.
I was about to make a similar post about Oscar. Oscar is more of a lightweight #8 (central midfielder) than a true #10 (attacking midfielder) I think based on Oscar's best attribute, maybe we'll see him play more of a CM role this season in a 4-3-3? (with Fabregas as the more 'advanced' mid)
If he has another disappointing season YET AGAIN, next season, he should either be relegated to a squad player, sent out on loan or sold. He's done absolutely nothing and no where near good enough to earn preferential treatment.
We don't need Oscar. If he doesn't improve significantly next season, I have absolutely no problem if he decides to leave for PSG. Willian/Hazard can take his place at the number 10 role. For me, Salah is better than him... Also Schurrle.
