🇧🇪 Eden Hazard

[xPetrCechx 13,571]

Interesting that despite his indifference in form, he still is joint top in the most created chances from open play. As I have said before, I don't think he has been awful as people make out. He just seems too passive at times and chooses to come to life when he feels to but there have been several games this season where he has took on responsbility. Swansea second half, he was fantastic. WBA, second half, his ball retention was top class and constantly won us fouls which was key in us getting the win despite being down to 10 men. Arsenal he was excellent. Newcastle had a poor first half but second half stepped up. No way near as good as last season but not as poor as people make out. Just want him performing on a constant basis.

2 more assists today....

[kellzfresh 7,229]

On one hand, it feels like Mourinho is holding Hazard back from reaching the next level by asking him to constantly defend but on the other hand, when you see what players like Sanchez are doing, you can perhaps see why Mourinho said what he said.

Sanchez has the attacking workrate I wish hazard has. He doesn't defend in the 18box but when arsenal are attacking, I see Sanchez everywhere making runs, asking for the ball, making passes, all energy but hazard relaxes and waits for the ball to land on his feet most of the time before he moves a lot of the time.

If hazard has that attacking workrate like Sanchez and ronaldo, Mourinho wouldn't dare tell him to follow the fullback to the 18box.

[Blue_Fox_ 2,086]

José, José if because of you we lose Eden and Matic.............

[DYC. 7,542]

Interesting that despite his indifference in form, he still is joint top in the most created chances from open play. As I have said before, I don't think he has been awful as people make out. He just seems too passive at times and chooses to come to life when he feels to but there have been several games this season where he has took on responsbility. Swansea second half, he was fantastic. WBA, second half, his ball retention was top class and constantly won us fouls which was key in us getting the win despite being down to 10 men. Arsenal he was excellent. Newcastle had a poor first half but second half stepped up. No way near as good as last season but not as poor as people make out. Just want him performing on a constant basis.

Exactly. I've been very disappointed by his form thusfar but that's because he's been very poor for his standards, not very poor in general. He looks normal. But you don't want or expect normal from him.

Mourinho kills me. I'll never agree with him in matters such as this. How about implementing tactics that play to the strengths of your players instead of vice versa. I honestly think he should go back to coaching underdogs or a 'new power' like Chelsea in 04 and Inter. That's when he is in his element. Chelsea has outgrown that status imo and should aim far higher.

[DYC. 7,542]

Sanchez has the attacking workrate I wish hazard has. He doesn't defend in the 18box but when arsenal are attacking, I see Sanchez everywhere making runs, asking for the ball, making passes, all energy but hazard relaxes and waits for the ball to land on his feet most of the time before he moves a lot of the time.

If hazard has that attacking workrate like Sanchez and ronaldo, Mourinho wouldn't dare tell him to follow the fullback to the 18box.

Hazard can't be like Messi, like Ronaldo and like Sanchez. It's impossible. Hazard will never have an engine like and the drive of Sanchez, that's where Sanchez's strength lies. It's the same as saying Sanchez should be capable of ghosting past players in the tightest areas, create chances at will and possess the same calm and vision as Hazard. He can't do those things.

Hazard is in the Silva, Iniesta, Ronaldinho, Zidane, Figo bracket in terms of style and role within a team.

[TheIceMan 596]

The Fat One!

[Sir Mikel OBE 4,920]

That "come my way" line is eerily similar to what he said when he first dropped Mata.

I think Hazard's time is limited here if Mourinho isn't sacked.

[Hamilton 2,120]

That "come my way" line is eerily similar to what he said when he first dropped Mata.

I think Hazard's time is limited here if Mourinho isn't sacked.

Then it's Romans duty to take care of this, no player is bigger then the club, but no manager either! Roman wanted attacking football with a lot of youth, were still waiting..

[Sir Mikel OBE 4,920]

Then it's Romans duty to take care of this, no player is bigger then the club, but no manager either! Roman wanted attacking football with a lot of youth, were still waiting..

I think Jose has talked Roman into a corner on the "This is an important moment in the history of this club" line though.

[Clockwork 1,794]

On one hand, it feels like Mourinho is holding Hazard back from reaching the next level by asking him to constantly defend but on the other hand, when you see what players like Sanchez are doing, you can perhaps see why Mourinho said what he said.

Hazard does fine defending, how many goals have we conceded from his side?

Pls Sanchez has two lungs he is like Willian in terms of work rate, he will never be like him in that sense.

People should appreciate our players for what they bring, there is a lot to like about Hazard for example. And stop making unrealistic comparison to other players.

[LAM09 7,054]

On one hand, it feels like Mourinho is holding Hazard back from reaching the next level by asking him to constantly defend but on the other hand, when you see what players like Sanchez are doing, you can perhaps see why Mourinho said what he said.

South Americans are different beasts (Cavani, Tevez, Aguero, Suarez, etc). Hazard just doesn't have it in his game to that extent.

[LAM09 7,054]

On one hand, it feels like Mourinho is holding Hazard back from reaching the next level by asking him to constantly defend but on the other hand, when you see what players like Sanchez are doing, you can perhaps see why Mourinho said what he said.

South Americans are different beasts (Cavani, Tevez, Aguero, Suarez, etc). Hazard just doesn't have it in his game to that extent.

[stroey 2,525]

I am happy we have a manager that has the balls to bench his star player.

Carlo when asked about a disagreement between Bale and Ronaldo on who takes the freekicks answered: " Ronaldo is the boss, if he wants to give the freekick to Bale, Bale can take it."

Do you want a manager that has no balls to punish their star player, even when they are under performing or acts like the king?

This worked before after the Atletico game.

And don't tell me about the love story between Ivanovic and Jose. If we got Stones/Marquinhos back in August/or kept Filipe, he'd have benched Ivanovic already. Baba is just not ready yet.

Same goes for Cesc, no decent replacement for him. Remove him from our team and we will struggle to create even more.

Every other player has been punished: JT, Cahill, Matic, Eden, Falcao (not selected twice), Oscar. There are no untouchables, the problem is quality depth.

And no, an alpha does not run away from his responsibilities and problems. A beta does.

[Blue_Fox_ 2,086]

I am happy we have a manager that has the balls to bench his star player.

Carlo when asked about a disagreement between Bale and Ronaldo on who takes the freekicks answered: " Ronaldo is the boss, if he wants to give the freekick to Bale, Bale can take it."

Do you want a manager that has no balls to punish their star player, even when they are under performing or acts like the king?

This worked before after the Atletico game.

And don't tell me about the love story between Ivanovic and Jose. If we got Stones/Marquinhos back in August/or kept Filipe, he'd have benched Ivanovic already. Baba is just not ready yet.

Same goes for Cesc, no decent replacement for him. Remove him from our team and we will struggle to create even more.

Every other player has been punished: JT, Cahill, Matic, Eden, Falcao (not selected twice), Oscar. There are no untouchables, the problem is quality depth.

And no, an alpha does not run away from his responsibilities and problems. A beta does.

I agree on benching him, but later making those comments wasn't the wisest idea, you do one or the other, not both.

[zolayes 14,489]

We have ONE outstanding attacking threat and he is benched because his defence isnt good enough .. Thank God we didnt sign Messi or Ronaldo

[DYC. 7,542]

Hazard does fine defending, how many goals have we conceded from his side?

Pls Sanchez has two lungs he is like Willian in terms of work rate, he will never be like him in that sense.

People should appreciate our players for what they bring, there is a lot to like about Hazard for example. And stop making unrealistic comparison to other players.

Thank you. Not a single Barca fan shed a tear when Sanchez left. He did well but he never shone. I rarely heard/read his name when discussing the best players in the world. He joins Arsenal, gets played to his strengths and all of a sudden the whole world sees there's a lot to like about Sanchez.

It's to be expected though, thinking about it. Sanchez recently blew up so annoyances grow when looking at Hazard's form. I hope he kicks on soon. He's the type of player that can lift the team rather than just shine on his own. And this Hazard is boring.

[Bosnian Blue 2,471]

If Mourinho makes us choose between him and Eden, I choose Eden every single day of the week. Hopefully he is not that stupid and stops putting players like Pedro play and making Eden warm the bench.

[Barbara 15,149]

Yeah, it might send a message to the group, it might rile the player up, but Hazard is the kind of player that can win you a match in a moment of magic. Only Cesc has that ability with a brilliant through pass (how I miss those, btw), and even then Hazard is much more influencing, important and talented.

So while I don't have a big problem with him being benched today (especially because I think this is going to be a one-time thing), I think it was a mistake and I think what José said afterwards might be an even bigger mistake.

But I also disagree with people saying the problem is Chelsea or Mourinho, except for one good game for Belgium, Hazard hasn't played well at all during the two international breaks. He's in a slump, but especially given the fact he's was coming from his best game of the season - that happened to be with the NT - José had one more reason to play him, so he could carry on from that. Now instead his spirit might be a little bit broken... huge assessment mistake by Mourinho imo.

[stroey 2,525]

I agree on benching him, but later making those comments wasn't the wisest idea, you do one or the other, not both.

Just a way to trigger him, worked before after the Atletico game.

"Eden is not ready to sacrifice himself for the team" The comments today were basically the same.

Just because he carried us and was the best player does not mean you can now relax and sit back. He was rewarded with a new contract and is the best paid /one of the best player. He has responsibilities but he is simply hiding this season in attack, and maybe also lazy in defending.

[Fulham Broadway 17,313]

Echoes of the Robben saga.

Benched, daddies constant influence, prob end up at Bayern as well

Still, whilst it lasts,handy sub to have.