🇧🇪 Eden Hazard

[Stingray 9,441]

Hazard has been poor.

And how do you see this exactly, Oh wise one?

Pluspoints for factual correctness: take into account his age and his first year here, take indeed his stats with it, take into account the team is a trainwreck now, the trainer shuffle, no striker .... also no cherry picking on his actual bad matches: the whole package of Hazard this season. How is this exactly bad for a - again - 21 year old - debutant? And if he is, who has done better in this team that is even remotely comparable? Oscar? Mata (ow he was older)? Torres (LOL), Luiz, Lampard, Romeu, Cole,, Ivanovic, Cahill....Ow didn't they all go down at a certain point?

Now, what is your reference point? Where was he a really below par in comparison to everyone else - again - he is new here and young? Was he decisive in some games (also, when you say someting like: thats not hard it was against Norj...., why wasn't everyone good there?), and so on, and so on....

Could it possibly be even remotely possible its not actually Hazard being a truly bad player, but a young guy having adjustment problems in a newly formed, much changed team where even the old guard is struggling - although being one that shows great talent even in these situations - which is very good in itself? Still, he is not awefull not bad at this time. He is a very decent team player with moments of briliance. If you think otherwise, look Torres, look defence, look even double pivot;

To the haters, a big fuck you. Look up 'confirmation bias' on wikipedia and study. I am done with the lot of you. I will retaliate from now on.

I salute you.

enlighten me with your factualness, please...

[LukakutoStamford 779]

Hazard needs to be better. It seems he's struggling with confidence, and I think he's deferring to much to the others and not seizing contol like he did for Lille.

That being said to blame him for what's been transpiring at Chelsea is insane.

Frankly the 4-2-3-1 is horrible especially when the one is Torres who has been virtually useless. I begining to wonder if stylistically Chelsea was a bad match for him.

Don't get me wrong he's is capable of much much more and he needs to start playing like the 2x La Ligue 1 player of year.

His finishing has been poor.

[Stingray 9,441]

Hazard needs to be better. It seems he's struggling with confidence, and I think he's deferring to much to the others and not seizing contol like he did for Lille. That being said to blame him for what's been transpiring at Chelsea is insane. Frankly the 4-2-3-1 is horrible especially when the one is Torres who has been virtually useless. I begining to wonder if stylistically Chelsea was a bad match for him. Don't get me wrong he's is capable of much much more and he needs to start playing like the 2x La Ligue 1 player of year. His finishing has been poor.

So again my question. HOW? is it because he is at fault or because the situation is screwed? He could easily be the best an amazing young talent IS in this situation. Thought about that? Or do you want to wait untill KDB gets burned here, or Piazon or Chalobah? How do you explain Oscars' averageness in the EPL? Get your question/remark right! What is it now?

fuck me.

[LukakutoStamford 779]

So again my question. HOW? is it because he is at fault or because the situation is screwed? He could easily be the best an amazing young talent IS in this situation. Thought about that? Or do you want to wait untill KDB gets burned here, or Piazon or Chalobah? How do you explain Oscars' averageness in the EPL? Get your question/remark right! What is it now?

fuck me.

Whoa! Hazard hasn't been at his best and to dish all blame on everyone and everything else is silly. I'm not disagreeing with you. I feel like Hazard has been struggling at times because Torres is shit and the system he's in is stifiling for his play style. I appreciate what Hazard can do I'm just suggesting that he isn't showing his ultimate form. Why? There could be reasons we don't know about.

I'm not sure why you are so upset with me as I'm not blaming Hazard for anything ...

[Stingray 9,441]

Whoa! Hazard hasn't been at his best and to dish all blame on everyone and everything else is silly. I'm not disagreeing with you. I feel like Hazard has been struggling at times because Torres is shit and the system he's in is stifiling for his play style. I appreciate what Hazard can do I'm just suggesting that he isn't showing his ultimate form. Why? There could be reasons we don't know about.

I'm not sure why you are so upset with me as I'm not blaming Hazard for anything ...

Hey dude! This was a general post, not directed to you. I am sorry for that. You might have gotten that impression because you were cited .

:-)

[LukakutoStamford 779]

Hey dude! This was a general post, not directed to you. I am sorry for that. You might have gotten that impression because you were cited .

:-)

My response was quoted so I figured you were responding to me. No sweat.

[Stingray 9,441]

My response was quoted so I figured you were responding to me. No sweat.

Cool. I just had it with some Hazard-critics on here even though he was really decent (or more than so - especially season wide). Why is that? Just because of a pricetag? Don't you want him to feel Chelsea is a place a young gun can grow as well?

Ps: Henrique please do not reply. I know your position on young, potential - non brazilian - players.

[Mufassir08 2,400]

Hazard should be the last of our worries right now,we have other areas that need to be looked upon immidiately.

[LukakutoStamford 779]

Cool. I just had it with some Hazard-critics on here even though he was really decent (or more than so - especially season wide). Why is that? Just because of a pricetag? Don't you want him to feel Chelsea is a place a young gun can grow as well?

Ps: Henrique please do not reply. I know your position on young, potential - non brazilian - players.

Heh, I try not to be homer, hence a mild critique of Hazard but I live and die for Les Diables Rouges. I'm frustrated with the crazy manager swap the tactics and like everyone else, Torres.

[robsblubot 3,595]

And how do you see this exactly, Oh wise one?

Pluspoints for factual correctness: take into account his age and his first year here, take indeed his stats with it, take into account the team is a trainwreck now, the trainer shuffle, no striker .... also no cherry picking on his actual bad matches: the whole package of Hazard this season. How is this exactly bad for a - again - 21 year old - debutant? And if he is, who has done better in this team that is even remotely comparable? Oscar? Mata (ow he was older)? Torres (LOL), Luiz, Lampard, Romeu, Cole,, Ivanovic, Cahill....Ow didn't they all go down at a certain point?

Now, what is your reference point? Where was he a really below par in comparison to everyone else - again - he is new here and young? Was he decisive in some games (also, when you say someting like: thats not hard it was against Norj...., why wasn't everyone good there?), and so on, and so on....

Could it possibly be even remotely possible its not actually Hazard being a truly bad player, but a young guy having adjustment problems in a newly formed, much changed team where even the old guard is struggling - although being one that shows great talent even in these situations - which is very good in itself? Still, he is not awefull not bad at this time. He is a very decent team player with moments of briliance. If you think otherwise, look Torres, look defence, look even double pivot;

To the haters, a big fuck you. Look up 'confirmation bias' on wikipedia and study. I am done with the lot of you. I will retaliate from now on.

I salute you.

enlighten me with your factualness, please...

How being young guarantees a spot for him? How being young allows him to not produce enough and still start for a club like Chelsea? Ever other sentence you wrote you mention his age, something I did mention myself, so don't really get the reason for your rant. So I will just comment about what I care about: that Hazard IMO has been very poor.

So, in my view Hazard is already a player with deficiencies; He does not track back or defend well. He's very static when without the football, though he explodes into movement when he does get the ball. So, with the football at his feet he is very good, sometimes excellent.

So, aside from his known and quite obvious deficiencies, he should've been scoring goals and creating chances all the time, but he is not.

Him being young gives a reason for his lack of consistency, but does not give one for Chelsea to start him when he can't deliver. What applies to other players also applies to Hazard, regardless of age. Lukaku can't be too young and inconsistent for Chelsea, but it's OK if Hazard vanishes because he is too young.

Nobody is saying sell him, but if his current form does not improve he should not be starting.

[Stingray 9,441]

How being young guarantees a spot for him? How being young allows him to not produce enough and still start for a club like Chelsea? Ever other sentence you wrote you mention his age, something I did mention myself, so don't really get the reason for your rant. So I will just comment about what I care about: that Hazard IMO has been very poor.

So, in my view Hazard is already a player with deficiencies; He does not track back or defend well. He's very static when without the football, though he explodes into movement when he does get the ball. So, with the football at his feet he is very good, sometimes excellent.

So, aside from his known and quite obvious deficiencies, he should've been scoring goals and creating chances all the time, but he is not.

Him being young gives a reason for his lack of consistency, but does not give one for Chelsea to start him when he can't deliver. What applies to other players also applies to Hazard, regardless of age. Lukaku can't be too young and inconsistent for Chelsea, but it's OK if Hazard vanishes because he is too young.

Nobody is saying sell him, but if his current form does not improve he should not be starting.

Than bench him instead of burning him up and then criticize him. Thats all I say when I say he is young. BUT, also be consistent and say the same for the rest of the team. Who plays regularly better than him?? Will you bench them as well?? Who stands out, even with the older, more experienced ? Who? Please explain?

[robsblubot 3,595]

Than bench him instead of burning him up and then criticize him. Thats all I say when I say he is young. BUT, also be consistent and say the same for the rest of the team. Who plays regularly better than him?? Will you bench them as well?? Who stands out, even with the older, more experienced ? Who? Please explain?

Burning him up and criticize him?! lol That's what fans do... that's what we do around here... we want Chelsea to win, not Hazard or Oscar, or Moses. We all have our preferences, but it's about the team! If Hazard isn't creating or scoring what the hell is he doing? Why is he starting?

Mata plays a lot better than him and regularly so (only 23 btw). So, yes, if the player is not performing he should be benched. Then he gets another chance when he shows something during practice. That's how things usually work when the club has options, which I think is one of the problems with Chelsea this season (lack of strength in depth).

[The Skipper 20,609]

Burning him up and criticize him?! lol That's what fans do... that's what we do around here... we want Chelsea to win, not Hazard or Oscar, or Moses. We all have our preferences, but it's about the team! If Hazard isn't creating or scoring what the hell is he doing? Why is he starting?

Mata plays a lot better than him and regularly so (only 23 btw). So, yes, if the player is not performing he should be benched. Then he gets another chance when he shows something during practice. That's how things usually work when the club has options, which I think is one of the problems with Chelsea this season (lack of strength in depth).

Mata is 24 and its his second season in the EPL. Who should Hazard be benched for? Marin? Please.

[Greyco 143]

Les connaisseurs will know that Hazard always has a dip in form from october to december, even when he was at Lille. He doesn't play bad by any means but not to the full of his abilities. The past seasons he always kicked it on a notch from february till the end of the season. I'm curious if he can emulate that at Chelsea.

Now there are a few other reasons why he isn't shining as he was at Lille. Lille were often dubbed the Barcelona of the Nord because of their playing style. When Hazard and Cabaye were there they had an enormous majority of ball possession. They basicly defended by preventing possession of the ball to the opponents. This enabled Hazard to reserve his high intensity runs forward and you saw more dazzling runs from him.

At Chelsea this is not the case. He has to do a lot of high intensity runs to the back, sprinting back to cover the fullbacks. For me this is the biggest reason Chelsea are dropping behind at the moment, the failure to have better ball retention. Hazard, Mata and Oscar excell in retention of the ball and aren't that suited to be pacing back all the time. However, more than half the squad isn't used to this. Especially when other teams pressure Chelsea high up the field, the defensive element of the squad have problems reaching the front. You can't play the high ball with the players up there.

I'd think Chelsea would have a lot more success if a few players get more assured when in possession of the ball. The possession% should get up to near 60% (like ManU) or higher instead of the 'mere' 54% now. Especially if we'd want to see the best out of Mata-Hazard-Oscar.

ps: Some of the other Belgian posters should take a chill-pill, Hazard isn't and shouldn't be immune to criticism. I don't think his age is a valid argument either. He's one of the most experienced and mature players around for his age. He has been playing sub-par the last few months and you shouldn't immediatly get on your horse when other posters point that out.

[Muzchap 8,966]

Les connaisseurs will know that Hazard always has a dip in form from october to december, even when he was at Lille. He doesn't play bad by any means but not to the full of his abilities. The past seasons he always kicked it on a notch from february till the end of the season. I'm curious if he can emulate that at Chelsea.

Now there are a few other reasons why he isn't shining as he was at Lille. Lille were often dubbed the Barcelona of the Nord because of their playing style. When Hazard and Cabaye were there they had an enormous majority of ball possession. They basicly defended by preventing possession of the ball to the opponents. This enabled Hazard to reserve his high intensity runs forward and you saw more dazzling runs from him.

At Chelsea this is not the case. He has to do a lot of high intensity runs to the back, sprinting back to cover the fullbacks. For me this is the biggest reason Chelsea are dropping behind at the moment, the failure to have better ball retention. Hazard, Mata and Oscar excell in retention of the ball and aren't that suited to be pacing back all the time. However, more than half the squad isn't used to this. Especially when other teams pressure Chelsea high up the field, the defensive element of the squad have problems reaching the front. You can't play the high ball with the players up there.

I'd think Chelsea would have a lot more success if a few players get more assured when in possession of the ball. The possession% should get up to near 60% (like ManU) or higher instead of the 'mere' 54% now. Especially if we'd want to see the best out of Mata-Hazard-Oscar.

ps: Some of the other Belgian posters should take a chill-pill, Hazard isn't and shouldn't be immune to criticism. I don't think his age is a valid argument either. He's one of the most experienced and mature players around for his age. He has been playing sub-par the last few months and you shouldn't immediatly get on your horse when other posters point that out.

Excellent post

I think he's been ok last few games, nothing special, just solid.

But think you hit the nail on the head with the ball retention - is not just the passing, it's the complete lack of movement from the team that limits passing options look at Swansea, Wigan and WBA before the slump, they all passed and moved and created triangles. We did this sort of, for a few games, then lost our way. It's the Managers and Players responsibility to get this back!!!

Then we can start destroying teams!

[meetdoscar 335]

His finishing is poor for 32 million pounds. He must improve on this if he is to play on the wings else we might just have to play him in no.10 role where he will mostly be a play maker and be in less contact with the opposition goal. TBH for all his talent and creativity which is not in doubt I don't trust him in front of goal much like torres in this aspect.

[Peppen 934]

Think Hazard has been one of our better players this season so far. Of course he needs to improve, but let's be honest, who in this squad doesn't?

[Peppi85 110]

His finishing is poor for 32 million pounds. He must improve on this if he is to play on the wings else we might just have to play him in no.10 role where he will mostly be a play maker and be in less contact with the opposition goal. TBH for all his talent and creativity which is not in doubt I don't trust him in front of goal much like torres in this aspect.

Hazard wants to play the no.10 role! That was one of the reasons he came here... & that was the position were he played most of the time last season with Lille.

[DYC. 7,542]

People people.. Just look at the boy, so much natural talent. And he doesn't seem to have any attitude problems and looks like real professional so I don't have any doubt he'll be huge for us.

You just can't expect a newcomer to come in and rip the league apart. It has happened in different cases and it would've been nice but still unrealistic. To make things worse, he joined a unbalanced and struggling side, a team that doesn't possess a clear style of play.

He used to play in a inferior league as well. Ligue 1 can't be compared to the Premier League. Remember Essien, Drogba and Malouda? They were all Ligue 1 imports and they all needed time to adjust (and they joined a team that was among very the best at the time). They were far more experienced as well, Hazard is 21(!). But they turned out okay.

Hazard didn't ask Chelsea to pay 32 mil pounds for him did he? This is a completely new experience for him. Just give the boy some time and he'll come good.

[Stingray 9,441]