🇧🇪 Eden Hazard

[Madmax 9,219]

Woeful is a bit strong. The first chance was a good block from Johnson. The second he could have been a bit cleverer and taken Johnson out of the game by taking another touch. The third time he did wonderfully to drive into the box and should have passed to Ramires who was open on the far post. At least he's starting to really drive at players and looking to commit them and force the initiative. Finishing will come with some luck and in time. I'm happy with the ambition; there's a marked change in mentality.

[iseah100 5,612]

I like the aggressiveness, going right at players and wanting to score. It'll come.

[MrExcalibur100 7,124]

Woeful is a bit strong. The first chance was a good block from Johnson. The second he could have been a bit cleverer and taken Johnson out of the game by taking another touch. The third time he did wonderfully to drive into the box and should have passed to Ramires who was open on the far post. At least he's starting to really drive at players and looking to commit them and force the initiative. Finishing will come with some luck and in time. I'm happy with the ambition; there's a marked change in mentality.

Ramires will probably have missed.

[Barbara 15,149]

I've openly criticized his finishing during the live match thread and I'll do it again. But I'm criticizing his finishing, not the player. He needs to improve, end of it. I read some fellas saying it wasn't his fault as his shots were deflected. I wonder two things 1) if it was someone else they'd say the same; 2) if they honestly think those were well taken shots. If someone the answer is yes - and I don't need to read anyone answering me - color me shocked.

While a couple of his four shots (I remember four, maybe there were more) weren't exactly that bad, the other two were far from good. Especially the one he got the pass from Ramires after that unbelievable pass by Oscar. He's all by himself, he has time, he's in front of the goal, he chooses to shoot where there's the most concentration of players (opposition or not). That's a bad decision making in terms of finishing, whether some people want to admit it or not and I'll go further, it doesn't need to be super talented to score that goal. A good finisher would have netted it, an average finisher wouldn't.

The thing is I don't think Hazard is an average finisher. It's the area of this game that needs the most improvement, but I remember a lot of well taken goals by him. He's a good finisher with a lot of room for improvement. I don't think what he's been lacking now is quality, but confidence. His problem is clearly mental. He needs to score one of those goals to feel better, to increase his confidence. His movement improved a lot and we've been begging him to add a killer instinct to his game. Well, he's half way through it. He's been getting in those position and that's not simple. It's improvement he's clearly done in the last few months. He's going for the shots - something he not usually does - so the shoot-or-not-shoot decision making improved too. He needs confidence combined with better decision making on shot placement. He needs to instinct of knowing immediately where to place the ball. He's getting there, but I think we'll only see real progress about the actual finishing when he scores one or two goals from open play. He seems to be lacking a lot of confidence and he seems a bit anxious too. He wants it really bad, you can see it easily on the way he's carrying himself in the pitch. It's a bit a lack of luck, confidence and calm combined with an area of his game he can improve. During the games I get more irritated because I feel like any of these days he can cost us points (imo he cost us the win against Maribor, but that wasn't important, so I'll overlook it), but I can coldly analyze it and say while frustrating, I'm also hopeful for the goal to come soon. It could be his turning point.

[Tomo 21,751]

If he plays like today, Marinbor away and Swansea for every single game this season onwards iy truly doesn't matter if he fails to score for the rest of the season excluding penalties as we will win the league because of it.

Outstanding player.

[Rom2013 446]

Horrible. Missed many clear goals like in the last game.

[MrExcalibur100 7,124]

I've openly criticized his finishing during the live match thread and I'll do it again. But I'm criticizing his finishing, not the player. He needs to improve, end of it. I read some fellas saying it wasn't his fault as his shots were deflected. I wonder two things 1) if it was someone else they'd say the same; 2) if they honestly think those were well taken shots. If someone the answer is yes - and I don't need to read anyone answering me - color me shocked.

While a couple of his four shots (I remember four, maybe there were more) weren't exactly that bad, the other two were far from good. Especially the one he got the pass from Ramires after that unbelievable pass by Oscar. He's all by himself, he has time, he's in front of the goal, he chooses to shoot where there's the most concentration of players (opposition or not). That's a bad decision making in terms of finishing, whether some people want to admit it or not and I'll go further, it doesn't need to be super talented to score that goal. A good finisher would have netted it, an average finisher wouldn't.

The thing is I don't think Hazard is an average finisher. It's the area of this game that needs the most improvement, but I remember a lot of well taken goals by him. He's a good finisher with a lot of room for improvement. I don't think what he's been lacking now is quality, but confidence. His problem is clearly mental. He needs to score one of those goals to feel better, to increase his confidence. His movement improved a lot and we've been begging him to add a killer instinct to his game. Well, he's half way through it. He's been getting in those position and that's not simple. It's improvement he's clearly done in the last few months. He's going for the shots - something he not usually does - so the shoot-or-not-shoot decision making improved too. He needs confidence combined with better decision making on shot placement. He needs to instinct of knowing immediately where to place the ball. He's getting there, but I think we'll only see real progress about the actual finishing when he scores one or two goals from open play. He seems to be lacking a lot of confidence and he seems a bit anxious too. He wants it really bad, you can see it easily on the way he's carrying himself in the pitch. It's a bit a lack of luck, confidence and calm combined with an area of his game he can improve. During the games I get more irritated because I feel like any of these days he can cost us points (imo he cost us the win against Maribor, but that wasn't important, so I'll overlook it), but I can coldly analyze it and say while frustrating, I'm also hopeful for the goal to come soon. It could be his undoing.

(1) This.

(2) This.

(3) And that. His body language suggests that. There's no point in trying to force the issue as the goals will come more from open play. He should know we don't rely on him for goals like last season so he should be more relaxed. It's not like he has zero goals. He's scored 5. Aside from that, his all round game has been immaculate. I didn't see the 1st half but in the 2nd, he looked by far our most dangerous attacker. Again.

[iseah100 5,612]

Horrible. Missed many clear goals like in the last game.

[Supermonkey92 1,428]

I actually think that he is trying to reinvent himself too much that it is hurting his ability to really objectively affect the game. He has not, and I think even a completely top hazard will not ever be a big goal scorer. He has been the most creative player in Europe in this year, I can say that with confidence. An it is this that he should focus on, go back to the eden who gets 15-20 assists a season and improve on that. be the guy who makes the goal, that is who he is. I bet a dribbling monster like him, who gets say 30-35 assists compared to Ronaldo's goals a year will still fight for the award. As for Chelsea, I think it is in our interests to have him as the most creative player, the most dangerous, but with players like costa and maybe another RW who are the goal threat.

[BlueLion. 21,491]

If he could shoot on the run, á la Messi, Bale or CR7, he'd be the fourth best player in world football.

Sadly he can't, or at least not at the rate he should be. It's the aspect of his game that is actually somewhat disappointing.

Otherwise he was fantastic again today.

[MrExcalibur100 7,124]

If he could shoot on the run, á la Messi, Bale or CR7, he'd be the fourth best player in world football.

Sadly he can't, or at least not at the rate he should be. It's the aspect of his game that is actually somewhat disappointing.

Otherwise he was fantastic again today.

So Bale is the 3rd best player in the world?! You rate him very highly indeed.

As for shooting and running, I'm thinking Sunderland away last season, his first goal away or Hull away, so he can do it. It's not just his game.

[DYC. 7,542]

I actually think that he is trying to reinvent himself too much that it is hurting his ability to really objectively affect the game. He has not, and I think even a completely top hazard will not ever be a big goal scorer. He has been the most creative player in Europe in this year, I can say that with confidence. An it is this that he should focus on, go back to the eden who gets 15-20 assists a season and improve on that. be the guy who makes the goal, that is who he is. I bet a dribbling monster like him, who gets say 30-35 assists compared to Ronaldo's goals a year will still fight for the award. As for Chelsea, I think it is in our interests to have him as the most creative player, the most dangerous, but with players like costa and maybe another RW who are the goal threat.

30-35 assists? Maybe once in your career but that's just not possible. Assist kings even struggle to average 20+ assists a season.

Hazard should be on 10-15 goals (open play) and around 15 assists by the end of the season, maybe even more. He's too talented not to get numbers like that.

[BlueLion. 21,491]

So Bale is the 3rd best player in the world?! You rate him very highly indeed.

As for shooting and running, I'm thinking Sunderland away last season, his first goal away or Hull away, so he can do it. It's not just his game.

Regarding Bale, IMO, yes.

Second point, yes he can do it, but you're missing my point if you think I'm saying he can't. I'm saying he doesn't do it as often as he should going by the sheer number of chances he has. He should be in double figures this season already.

[kellzfresh 7,229]

His shots are just too weak. If he can't power the shot, he should try to curve it in the top corner.

[MrExcalibur100 7,124]

Regarding Bale, IMO, yes.

Second point, yes he can do it, but you're missing my point if you think I'm saying he can't. I'm saying he doesn't do it as often as he should going by the sheer number of chances he has. He should be in double figures this season already.

Like I said, that's not his game at this moment of his career, neither in Lille or in Chelsea. He has always been more of a creator, far more than a goal scorer. For instance, against Maribor, he created six chances for his teammates and opened up lanes with his dribbling ability.

You can't expect him to be good at something he's not yet comfortable doing on a regular basis and might not or never be and I can more than appreciate that.

It's a case of eating your cake and having it, that's why I can never understand the constant bickering about Hazard when he doesn't score, dribble, shoot, pass, track back etc.

[xPetrCechx 13,570]

His shots are just too weak. If he can't power the shot, he should try to curve it in the top corner.

[johnnythefirst 1,076]

Horrible. Missed many clear goals like in the last game.

Troll

[kellzfresh 7,229]

He also scored a screamer against stoke in the Benitez time. The problem is he shots are weak almost all the time.

His dribbling this season though is absolutely phenomenal. Robben levels

[zolayes 14,489]

dump him and bring back sweep

[Rom2013 446]

Troll

It's the reality. Missed a clear goal in the first half, was selfish in the second half when Ramires was completely alone. And missed many other chances. It was horrible.

By the way, last game he missed another clear goal and it was a little pathetic the way he missed that penalty.

Time to start improving... he won't be young all his life and his end product is far from what he should do.