🇧🇪 Eden Hazard

[MrExcalibur100 7,124]

how in the fucking hell do some think he isn't better than Neymar and Robben ... oh GFY!

if he doesn't win the PFA, POTY it would mean he's been great all year long without being recognized a single time, not even one player of the month award ... how fucking despicable would that be?

I guess Robben is somewhat understandable, because he's an incredible player, but Neymar, wow, that's a joke. I've watched him play so many times and i'm yet to get it. His movement off the ball is brilliant, he scores goals, but does little else. His dribbling, passing, football IQ, creativity and finishing is all poor. He tries to dribble past too many players thinking he's still in Brazil. He's a great skiller but his actual dribbling is not great. He gets dispossessed too often as well.

Like Ferguson said in an interview when asked about him, it's all hype and potential. Perhaps Neymar is the most over-hyped player I've ever witnessed in my days watching football. Whoever are his handlers must be some seriously powerful people. If he isn't scoring, he's a very average player and he's been very poor in 2015, only 3 or 4 goals this year, plus his attitude disgusts me. Always winding up the opposition and diving like a bitch. Reading Barcelona forums, and their fans are even calling for him to be dropped for Pedro for a couple of matches. I'll definitely take Sanchez over Neymar any day of the week in all seriousness. He's talented, but nowhere near as good as the media brainwash people to believe and 75-85% of his goals for Brazil have been in meaningless friendlies. 33 of his 43 goals in friendlies. It will be a travesty if he surpasses some really great players to be Brazil's 1st or 2nd highest scorer. Those players didn't have the luxury of padding up their stats with countless friendlies. Thankfully, Brazil will from now on have to play real qualifiers. If I was making a top 10 list of players in world footballers, he certainly won't be in it as I don't buy his hype. And if in the future, he manages to improve and make me eat my words, then great.

And I just don't type that to bring him down or anything or to compare him unfavourably with Eden, I've always felt this way about Neymar. Why would I anyway, it's he who needs to improve to reach Hazard's new level.

[MrExcalibur100 7,124]

On a side-note, my top 5 best players in football in no order is Ronaldo, Suarez, Messi, Hazard and Robben.

To win the ballon' d'or he definetly has to score more goals.

But to say Robben, Neymar are better because they are more deadly is just plain daft. They both play in superior teams who play superior attacking football with superior team mates. Neymar has fucking Messi/Iniesta/Rakitic/Suarez who can provide him with pin point passes. Hazard has Cesc/Oscar/Willian, nuff said.

Besides, the only way to judge goals is how important they are to the team. Look at CR and his 5 goals against granada, everybody raving how special that is, but essentially they meant nothing to the team and only count towards his personal ambitions. They would have won that game without him and his goals just as easily. When you compare that to Hazard's performance against Stoke it's clear he was way more vital to us and without him you can easily see us lose points.

(1) In order to win that award ahead of Messi/Ronaldo, it does seem to be the case. But these two won't be around for ever and Hazard is improving every time. More importantly, we also need to do our part and get stronger as a team. We need more world class quality attacking options and we need to regularly challenge to win the Champions league to keep him at this club. That's just the reality.

(2) Yeah, I found it weird because the comparison isn't even like for like at all. It's like saying Van Nistelrooy > Bergkamp/Zola because the former scored more goals. Neymar's primary job is to run the channels with his movement off the ball and score goals. That much is obvious. And when he's not scoring......... case in point being his poor display in the Clasico and in both legs vs City. Anonymous all game. He rarely ever gets seriously involved in the build up, as he invariably messes it up anyway. That's Messi, Iniesta, Rakitic and partially Suarez's business. Hazard like Messi is expected to be the chief playmaker, the one who dictates the tempo of attacks and also chip in with goals. Unlike Messi, Hazard is also expected to track back more, though it seems Mourinho is giving Hazard more freedom recently.

(3) I read a comment on Marca after the Clasico that said : "CR scored his goal and Barca takes the 3 points. The two teams have achieved their objectives." Really cracked me up but there was a tint of truth to it.

[MrExcalibur100 7,124]

This was Neymar's last game. This is the guy that's supposed to be on par with Hazard?! Watch that video. Watch it intently, then slap yourself

[MrExcalibur100 7,124]

I'm going to say it; Eden is, in my opinion, the second best player ever to line up for Chelsea. It's so much fun watching this bloke play football. I really, really hope we can get him more help next season so he, and we, can truly benefit from his genius. It's well over 50 years since Jimmy Greaves left the club and it may be 50 more before we sign another player of Eden's calibre.

We completely wasted Jimmy's talent because the rest of our squad at the time was poor. By no stretch of the most pessimistic fan's imagination could we say today's squad is poor, but extraordinary players deserve an extraordinary platform to display their talent. Let's build that platform for Eden then sit back and enjoy the show.

High praise indeed. Unfortunately, I never got to see the great man play. Which modern player can you compare him to, in terms of style of play, because the old videos don't do him justice. I reckon he's probably the best player England's ever had.... Alongside the great Stanley Matthews and Charlton.

[Muzchap 8,966]

High praise indeed. Unfortunately, I never got to see the great man play. Which modern player can you compare him to, in terms of style of play, because the old videos don't do him justice. I reckon he's probably the best player England's ever had.... Alongside the great Stanley Matthews and Charlton.

I managed to see both Zola and Eden live and I love Zola - but Eden is on a different planet.

Tv does not do him justice.

I have also seen CR7 in person and he is just as unbelievable as Eden.

Eden's pace from a standstill is breathtaking - it's worth the admission fee alone.

I don't think he will win B'd'or this year - but will be knocking on the door very soon! He should clean up domestically though.

[kellzfresh 7,229]

This was Neymar's last game. This is the guy that's supposed to be on par with Hazard?! Watch that video. Watch it intently, then slap yourself

I watched the match and Neymar was terrible. I said in some other thread that cuadrado performance against Stoke was better than this Neymar performance. I don't think hazard can play that poor.

Once Neymar doesn't get those cheap freekicks he used to get, he loses possession too much.

[johnnythefirst 1,076]

What I really don't understand about Neymar is that he's obviously an inferior player compared to the likes of Romario, Ronaldo, Ronaldinho (I'll leave Pele out of the comparison because completely different era), yet he'll easily outscore all of them for Brasil, while he has a vastly inferior team. Is it just because every ball gets played directly to him? Quite weird. He's at 43 goals in 62 appearances. Those are better stats than even Ronaldo got. And the dude is 23. I think he shouldn't have gone to Barca, because he'll never be the real star there until Messi is gone. Should have made his own name in Europe in another top team.

[hamad138 190]

Neymar better than ronaldo and ronaldinho? Are u kidding me?

Ronaldo was probably the best striker of all time and ronaldinho was the most magican of all time.

Hazard is better than divemar even barcelona fans accept that. His goals were created by messi, withouthim hes a joke

[johnnythefirst 1,076]

Also, Eden's goal ratio would go way up once he doesn't have to start four out of five attacks by himself. If he'd play with more creative attacking players, he'd be at the end of an attack much more in stead of always initiating them.

[johnnythefirst 1,076]

Neymar better than ronaldo and ronaldinho? Are u kidding me?

Ronaldo was probably the best striker of all time and ronaldinho was the most magican of all time.

Hazard is better than divemar even barcelona fans accept that. His goals were created by messi, withouthim hes a joke

If you're replying to me, you misread. I said he was obviously inferior to them, but he will outscore all of them for Brazil. That's what I don't understand. Look at his stats.

[DYC. 7,542]

2011/2012: 20 goals & 17 assists in 44 apps + 3 sub apps (Lille)

2012/2013: 13 goals & 20 assists in 49 apps + 13 sub apps

2013/2014: 17 goals & 9 assists in 45 apps + 7 sub apps

2014/2015: 17 goals & 9 assists in 41 apps + 3 sub apps

8 games left. He can reach the double-double, hitting 20 goals for Chelsea for the first time. Just needs to score 3 goals and provide 1 assist, more would obviously be welcome.

The funny thing is, those are some fine numbers for an attacking midfielder. Eden is not a forward, other AMs with a similar style would love to average the same. But he can definitely do better in terms of goals from open play. He keeps improving so I expect it too happen.

His assists total has suffered quite the drop. I have no idea why since he has not changed his game. Maybe he's been creating less clear-cut chances? What I do know is that he doesn't play many through balls. This is an area I think he'll naturally improve in. Strengthening the team is also crucial of course, Costa currently being the only 'runner' and goal scorer.

[cármenes 21]

This was Neymar's last game. This is the guy that's supposed to be on par with Hazard?! Watch that video. Watch it intently, then slap yourself

Dip in form. He's very bad lately but on form he's better than Hazard easily.

[Oscar 441]

What I really don't understand about Neymar is that he's obviously an inferior player compared to the likes of Romario, Ronaldo, Ronaldinho (I'll leave Pele out of the comparison because completely different era), yet he'll easily outscore all of them for Brasil, while he has a vastly inferior team. Is it just because every ball gets played directly to him? Quite weird. He's at 43 goals in 62 appearances. Those are better stats than even Ronaldo got. And the dude is 23. I think he shouldn't have gone to Barca, because he'll never be the real star there until Messi is gone. Should have made his own name in Europe in another top team.

Neymar is a fantastic goalscorer thats why.

He's overall game is not great, but scoring goals is something he does extremely well in.

Free kicks, counters, long shots, tap ins, 1v1s, etc. Also, brazil plays through neymar since scolari took over.

[The Skipper 20,609]

Dip in form. He's very bad lately but on form he's better than Hazard easily.

The only thing Neymar is easily better in is goal scoring. Everything else, Hazard trumps him.

[Oscar 441]

The only thing Neymar is easily better in is goal scoring. Everything else, Hazard trumps him.

Neymar passing ability is really good, but he's a selfish player at times, so, he either doesn't sees it well or doesn't pass it purposely.

Techincally, Neymar is better than hazard as well.

[cármenes 21]

The only thing Neymar is easily better in is goal scoring. Everything else, Hazard trumps him.

Neymar is leading the attack line of Brazil and has more goals than Pele when both at age 22. I'd say Neymar is better than Hazard at everything besides link up play and dribbling.

[Oscar 441]

Neymar is leading the attack line of Brazil and has more goals than Pele when both at age 22. I'd say Neymar is better than Hazard at everything besides link up play and dribbling.

Definitely link up play.

Dribbling depends. Neymar has amazing speed and quickness, so he always tries to go pass people, but his dribbling is really good. However, hazard is exceptional.

[The Skipper 20,609]

Neymar is leading the attack line of Brazil and has more goals than Pele when both at age 22. I'd say Neymar is better than Hazard at everything besides link up play and dribbling.

Neymar passing ability is really good, but he's a selfish player at times, so, he either doesn't sees it well or doesn't pass it purposely.

Techincally, Neymar is better than hazard as well.

Sorry chaps, fully disagree. I've never rated Neymar higher than Hazard, and I've extensively followed both since their Santos and Lille days.

It's very close but IMO if you take away both of their goal scoring traits, Hazard would easily remain as the better player. He has greater playmaking ability, better dribbler, physically he's better as well, Neymar can only dream about having Hazard's balance.

I really don't care about Neymar's stats for his country either.

[Oscar 441]

Sorry chaps, fully disagree. I've never rated Neymar higher than Hazard, and I've extensively followed both since their Santos and Lille days.

It's very close but IMO if you take away both of their goal scoring traits, Hazard would easily remain as the better player. He has greater playmaking ability, better dribbler, physically he's better as well.

I really don't care about Neymar's stats for his country either.

Hazard is stronger, because he's stocky.

Neymar on the otherhand is faster, quicker and has better stamina.

Neymar has the ability to be a really good playmaker, but I think at a young age he was developed to be the goal scoring threat he is now, so, the mentality isn't there for neymar which was evident during brazil's world cup run.

[The Skipper 20,609]

Hazard is stronger, because he's stocky.

Neymar on the otherhand is faster, quicker and has better stamina.

Neymar has the ability to be a really good playmaker, but I think at a young age he was developed to be the goal scoring threat he is now, so, the mentality isn't there for neymar which was evident during brazil's world cup run.

Similarly I can say Hazard probably has the ability to be a more clinical goal scorer but he doesn't have the mentality for it...