🇧🇪 Eden Hazard

[Special Juan 28,141]

sorry but that's a ridiculous, based on nothing remark. if you really feel like analyzing my posts, go through them properly and you'll see that there's plenty of positive thoughts and excitement.

btw, there's no shame in being second best to Zola. most players in world history are. Eden is still an absolute delight though, won't hear me say otherwise.

So you think Hazard is (already) better than Zola then, honest opinion?

Fucking hell calm down, someone pinched you wallet and wife?

You are comparing someone who has done everything, won a hell of a lot and has completed his career to someone who is building to be potentially one of the best in the world.....So, if the question was...."Will he be better than Zola" my answer is yes.

The best should always be judged on consistency, where they produce week in and week out and stand out as sheer quality in everything they do. Hazard right now is potentially WC but his tendency to drop in form like last season is what holds him back from that bracket IMO. Now if he is to up his game, which he can and will I have no doubt we will be watching one of the worlds best at Chelsea.

As for Zola, at that point in time he was the best foreign import with ease, no arguments, better than Bergkamp and I say that with the utmost confidence. I have friends who are Middlesbrough fans and they argue with me all the time about how Juninho was better than Zola and that I have to laugh about. Juninho was superb at Boro, far and away the best player to ever to play for them, but in that season when Zola won player of the year they said Juninho was cheated out of it and call Zola the 'Half player of the year' because Juninho played for Boro he never got a look in. I think it says more about Zola than anything else, he was better over half season than Juninho was in a full season.

[The Skipper 20,609]

Looking at this magnificent video again (probably best football video in history), just makes you realize how far Eden still is from becoming our best ever player.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b25MZuCzK1U

Absolute genius Zola was, what a player. His dribble against Liverpool where he puts Carragher flat on his arse about 10 times is just brilliant.

[ParNolio7 285]

You are comparing someone who has done everything, won a hell of a lot and has completed his career to someone who is building to be potentially one of the best in the world.....So, if the question was...."Will he be better than Zola" my answer is yes.

I think Eden is absolutely brilliant but I really can't see him becoming better than Zola. Mainly because I think Zola was a lot smarter as a player, so far better decision making & positional play. Far better finishing and shooting as well. Even with age I don't think Eden will ever atteign that level.

Dribbling wise they're probably equally good, Eden even a tad faster in the first meters, equal technical skills and so on. But not many departments in which Eden actually excels to Zola.

Again, no shame in that, it's a big ask!

[Special Juan 28,141]

I think Eden is absolutely brilliant but I really can't see him becoming better than Zola. Mainly because I think Zola was a lot smarter as a player, so far better decision making & positional play. Far better finishing and shooting as well. Even with age I don't think Eden will ever atteign that level.

Dribbling wise they're probably equally good, Eden even a tad faster in the first meters, equal technical skills and so on. But not many departments in which Eden actually excels to Zola.

Again, no shame in that, it's a big ask!

I think Hazard can be what he wants to be, honestly and truthfully I mean that. Take for example the City game this Sunday, that's the type of game I want to see Hazard take it to City.....He's made a great start this season but for all the qualities he has these are the games against the big guns he has to shine and deliver.

The fact we have had players like Zola and have a player like Hazard says everything.

[Belgiannutt 3,201]

I think Eden is absolutely brilliant but I really can't see him becoming better than Zola. Mainly because I think Zola was a lot smarter as a player, so far better decision making & positional play. Far better finishing and shooting as well. Even with age I don't think Eden will ever atteign that level.

Dribbling wise they're probably equally good, Eden even a tad faster in the first meters, equal technical skills and so on. But not many departments in which Eden actually excels to Zola.

Again, no shame in that, it's a big ask!

Why not ? Zola was 30 when he arrived at Chelsea and stayed untill he was 37. While Hazard is still only 23. He's got about 10 years ( would then still only be 33) to improve.

I mean just think about that for a second 10 years worth of PL and CL experience. How good do you think Hazard can get with that ?

Decision making and positional play are things that usually improve a lot the older a player gets.

I'm with Special Juan i think Hazard will be better then Zola.

Absolute genius Zola was, what a player. His dribble against Liverpool where he puts Carragher flat on his arse about 10 times is just brilliant.

Always found this video funny. Dennis Wise and Zola are talking about their time at Chelsea. They show the clip of his dribble vs Carragher and Zola talks about after he did that he couldn't touch the ball for the next 2 minutes as they were all trying to kick the sh*t out of him.

Other funny stuff in there aswell.

Like how Wise taught Zola bad english words and then told him they were used to greet someone.

Or how Zola had an english book so he could learn English and Wise tore some pages out of the book so that the story would make no sense what so ever.

[BlueLyon 9,359]

Only thing Hazard is equal is dribbling. And even there, some might question. But in about anything else from vision, passing, shooting, FKs,...Zola was few times better. But Hazard has time and plays in different time, football is much more tactical nowdays.

[RoyalBlues 4,050]

This Zola comparison discussion really make me sad, as it reminds me with Mata discussion back then

[Topico 165]

[sutro 1,026]

sorry but that's a ridiculous, based on nothing remark. if you really feel like analyzing my posts, go through them properly and you'll see that there's plenty of positive thoughts and excitement.

btw, there's no shame in being second best to Zola. most players in world history are. Eden is still an absolute delight though, won't hear me say otherwise.

thing is that he's not second best to Zola , he has a long way to go to be considered as one of the greats in Chelsea history, alot to prove and alot to win.

The question is could he take his place in the galary of Chelsea greats?

For me the answer is yes, if he stays here long enough its possible .

Could he surpass Zola? very hard task but i believe he's gifted enough to get there, alot depends how he evolve as player in the coming years but the potential is there.

[Weckerz 3,781]

Wouldn't it make more sense comparing (seems that's all everyone does lately) him to players his age playing for clubs of similar quality instead of 1) Messi, 2) Ronaldo, 3) Legends of the game who in most cases became greats in the latter part of their career?

[sutro 1,026]

Wouldn't it make more sense comparing (seems that's all everyone does lately) him to players his age playing for clubs of similar quality instead of 1) Messi, 2) Ronaldo, 3) Legends of the game who in most cases became greats in the latter part of their career?

it makes more sense, but its also fun to compare old and new stars of the club ?

Not everything has to make sense hehe

[MrBlueGuy 1,552]

Wouldn't it make more sense comparing (seems that's all everyone does lately) him to players his age playing for clubs of similar quality instead of 1) Messi, 2) Ronaldo, 3) Legends of the game who in most cases became greats in the latter part of their career?

No one is the same though, everyone is different. For example Ibra now over 30 still top 5 strikers in the world. On theory 10 years ago he should have been like Messi now but instead he was just a decent one back then.

Also imo people are comparing Hazard because it makes sense on paper, but football doesn't work like that. What we all expect though is for Hazard to be regularly getting 15-20 goals/assists every SINGLE SEASON as minimum requirement now, if he is to sign a new £200k+ deal then that is pretty much a must to justify it in the long term.

[sutro 1,026]

No one is the same though, everyone is different. For example Ibra now over 30 still top 5 strikers in the world. On theory 10 years ago he should have been like Messi now but instead he was just a decent one back then.

Also imo people are comparing Hazard because it makes sense on paper, but football doesn't work like that. What we all expect though is for Hazard to be regularly getting 15-20 goals/assists every SINGLE SEASON as minimum requirement now, if he is to sign a new £200k+ deal then that is pretty much a must to justify it in the long term.

then we will judge him on his stats while i think he's much more of a feeder, he creates alot for others arround him, mostly he create and give the opportunity to others to score or to give the final pass that leads to a goal like he did alot this season.

For me thats equally important but the stats wont back that up tough

[Weckerz 3,781]

No one is the same though, everyone is different. For example Ibra now over 30 still top 5 strikers in the world. On theory 10 years ago he should have been like Messi now but instead he was just a decent one back then.

Also imo people are comparing Hazard because it makes sense on paper, but football doesn't work like that. What we all expect though is for Hazard to be regularly getting 15-20 goals/assists every SINGLE SEASON as minimum requirement now, if he is to sign a new £200k+ deal then that is pretty much a must to justify it in the long term.

Sadly enough there's this new breed of football fans that can't look at a player beyond stats. Do you realize what he brings to the team? His mere presence causes space for others.

[TheOneChan95 225]

Only thing Hazard is equal is dribbling. And even there, some might question. But in about anything else from vision, passing, shooting, FKs,...Zola was few times better. But Hazard has time and plays in different time, football is much more tactical nowdays.

He has better acceleration and pace. In terms of vision and passing Hazard is equally capable. I'd say Zola was more tactically clever though. A bit stereotypical but I think he learned that in Serie A and playing with Maradona really benefited his shooting and FK technique.

And damn i hope he scores that falling heel volley in the fifa 15 trailer some day in a competitive match.

[DYC. 7,542]

Absolute genius Zola was, what a player. His dribble against Liverpool where he puts Carragher flat on his arse about 10 times is just brilliant.

Zola's the greatest. The thought of him in the current team..

[sutro 1,026]

Zola's the greatest. The thought of him in the current team..

imagine the link up play with Eden ?

[MrBlueGuy 1,552]

Sadly enough there's this new breed of football fans that can't look at a player beyond stats. Do you realize what he brings to the team? His mere presence causes space for others.

When you are earning that kind of money yes you need stats to back it up.

then we will judge him on his stats while i think he's much more of a feeder, he creates alot for others arround him, mostly he create and give the opportunity to others to score or to give the final pass that leads to a goal like he did alot this season.

For me thats equally important but the stats wont back that up tough

That is not his role though, he should be banging a few of them in around the pen box every season and provide a few good crosses/passes for team mates to score. Like I said normally it is good enough but with the new contract he is signing soon it won't be. I want him to be a Bale for us, someone who always score a lot every season.

[kellzfresh 7,229]

When you are earning that kind of money yes you need stats to back it up.

That is not his role though, he should be banging a few of them in around the pen box every season and provide a few good crosses/passes for team mates to score. Like I said normally it is good enough but with the new contract he is signing soon it won't be. I want him to be a Bale for us, someone who always score a lot every season.

Hazard is never going to play like bale/ronaldo, he is never that selfish player. We have to realize that his role model is Zidane, someone who was elegant on the ball, but never had huge stats. Bales role model is ronaldo, so you can see that selfish style in him.

What I'm saying is he is a team player who rather assists than score, to change that mentality is hard work. He is still young and could become more hungry for goals, but I said the same thing about Iniesta so many years ago but till now Iniesta still is a team player who doesn't have the stats to back up how great he is when you watch him.

What we need is for him to maintain high dribbling causing panic in danger areas (box) and we are ok with 15goals 20assists

[MrBlueGuy 1,552]

Hazard is never going to play like bale/ronaldo, he is never that selfish player. We have to realize that his role model is Zidane, someone who was elegant on the ball, but never had huge stats. Bales role model is ronaldo, so you can see that selfish style in him.

What I'm saying is he is a team player who rather assists than score, to change that mentality is hard work. He is still young and could become more hungry for goals, but I said the same thing about Iniesta so many years ago but till now Iniesta still is a team player who doesn't have the stats to back up how great he is when you watch him.

What we need is for him to maintain high dribbling causing panic in danger areas (box) and we are ok with 15goals 20assists

Bale is not selfish, actually he is one of the best winger in the world because he is capable of doing what Hazard does, but also banging them in from 30 yards out.

Yep it is fine by me too if he just reach 10 goals and have like 20 assists, all I am saying is I want to see over 20 goals/assists combined EVERY SINGLE SEASON from a player of his status. That is not a big ask at all, it is bare minimum for a player of his quality for me. I know but I mentioned a few pages ago, people like Iniesta/Zidane/Xavi don't have great stats but they are known as best in the world in their position because of the sparkle moment they have. Zidane volley CL final or Iniesta last min goal at Bridge in 2009/WC 10 final.