Eden Hazard

[Gilvorak 3,734]

Lol, I can't believe Belgium are going to waste away their best ever crop of players. It's pretty damn obvious they're going nowhere with Wilmots. They've shown zero evolution as a team under him.

[Styles 9,790]

Bale makes up for his lack of skill with his goals, pace and crossing ability.

Fair play to Bale, he has worked incredibly hard to make the most of his limited ability. I just think he's distinctly average in most areas and absolutely hate his style of play.

[Styles 9,790]

Lol, I can't believe Belgium are going to waste away their best ever crop of players. It's pretty damn obvious they're going nowhere with Wilmots. They've shown zero evolution as a team under him.

The reality is Belgium just aren't that good. Origi is still a few years away; they play Fellaini; their fullbacks are shit; manager seems clueless etc etc etc

Besides maybe 4-5 players they're really just not that good.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

Fair play to Bale, he has worked incredibly hard to make the most of his limited ability. I just think he's distinctly average in most areas and absolutely hate his style of play hair.

[Jase 43,479]

Fair play to Bale, he has worked incredibly hard to make the most of his limited ability. I just think he's distinctly average in most areas and absolutely hate his style of play.

It's quite ridiculous how much he wants to be Cristiano Ronaldo 2.0 - tries to follow/copy his style of play, the way he takes the FKs and heck, even the goal celebrations!

[Victor Von Doom 258]

Fair play to Bale, he has worked incredibly hard to make the most of his limited ability. I just think he's distinctly average in most areas and absolutely hate his style of play.

^

[zolayes 14,489]

It's quite ridiculous how much he wants to be Cristiano Ronaldo 2.0 - tries to follow/copy his style of play, the way he takes the FKs and heck, even the goal celebrations!

something I noticed when he was taking a freekick .. quite childish

[DYC. 7,542]

Just had a really good game against Wales. The most dangerous player on the pitch by a huge distance; Wales shat themselves everytime he touched the ball and were sending 3 men to cover whenever he had the ball.

The most expensive player in the world was on the same pitch and can't even do half the things Hazard does. The difference in quality between the two is massive.

What is 'most areas'? I'm genuinely interested.

It's quite ridiculous how much he wants to be Cristiano Ronaldo 2.0 - tries to follow/copy his style of play, the way he takes the FKs and heck, even the goal celebrations!

He's the far superior FK taker though. Bale's among the best FK takers in the world, his technique is great. CR is decent.

I never noticed similar goal celebrations. CR's most common goal celebrations are the boobie grabbing celebration and the 'turning jump with arm movement'. I've never seen Bale do any of those.

[Jase 43,479]

He's the far superior FK taker though. Bale's among the best FK takers in the world, his technique is great. CR is decent.

Regardless, Bale started off with trying to follow the exact way Ronaldo takes the FKs.

I never noticed similar goal celebrations. CR's most common goal celebrations are the boobie grabbing celebration and the 'turning jump with arm movement'. I've never seen Bale do any of those.

Not sure how often Bale does it but he did that against Andorra two months ago - http://www.espnfc.com/blog/the-toe-poke/65/post/2028552/gareth-bale-scores-vs-andorra-and-copies-cristiano-ronaldos-goal-celebration

[Tomo 21,733]

Fair play to Bale, he has worked incredibly hard to make the most of his limited ability. I just think he's distinctly average in most areas and absolutely hate his style of play.

Thats why i don't want Hazard to focus too much on becoming a goalscorer, too many players these days try too hard to improve weaknesses there strengths stagnate and they don't progress the way they should as a player (Lukaku for example, yes he scores goals but he doesn't make full use of his size like he should). Thats why Bale is where he is because he accepted the stuff he wasn't great at and focused on his main strength's like pace, athletism, power, if he tried to become something he wasn't and focused too much on improving his technical/skill side of the game, he would have got nowhere.

Hopefully Eden carry's on prioritising what he's great at, which is dribbling, creating, drive etc etc being a 10 shot a game merchant is the last thing i want to see Eden try and turn into.....

[JDY 1,290]

The difference between the two is that to put in a world class performance Bale has to influence the match in terms of goals and assists. For Eden he doesn't have to score or assist and he can still be the best player on the pitch by a mile.

In terms of effectiveness they're both neck and neck for me, but there's no doubt Hazard is a lot more talented.

[Styles 9,790]

What is 'most areas'? I'm genuinely interested.

He's the far superior FK taker though. Bale's among the best FK takers in the world, his technique is great. CR is decent.

I never noticed similar goal celebrations. CR's most common goal celebrations are the boobie grabbing celebration and the 'turning jump with arm movement'. I've never seen Bale do any of those.

Passing ability, both short and long; control and technique in limited space; ability to advance the ball when space is at a premium and his link play is average at best. Ability to recieve the ball with the back to goal and make things happen is something I've never seen Bale do ever.

[DYC. 7,542]

Regardless, Bale started off with trying to follow the exact way Ronaldo takes the FKs.

Not sure how often Bale does it but he did that against Andorra two months ago - http://www.espnfc.com/blog/the-toe-poke/65/post/2028552/gareth-bale-scores-vs-andorra-and-copies-cristiano-ronaldos-goal-celebration

Fair enough. I like the fact he upstaged him on the end product though. Can you imagine someone copying you in some way, only to surpass you.

Haha, he really, really loves CR. I would be seriously creeped out if I were him.

[Styles 9,790]

Thats why i don't want Hazard to focus too much on becoming a goalscorer, too many players these days try too hard to improve weaknesses there strengths stagnate and they don't progress the way they should as a player (Lukaku for example, yes he scores goals but he doesn't make full use of his size like he should). Thats why Bale is where he is because he accepted the stuff he wasn't great at and focused on his main strength's like pace, athletism, power, if he tried to become something he wasn't and focused too much on improving his technical/skill side of the game, he would have got nowhere.

Hopefully Eden carry's on prioritising what he's great at, which is dribbling, creating, drive etc etc being a 10 shot a game merchant is the last thing i want to see Eden try and turn into.....

Preach.

And Hazard scored 17 last season and 22 (?) for Lille in his final year. Those are very respectable numbers. 20-25 a season would be amazing - especially considering all the other things he does - and he's not that far off.

[Tomo 21,733]

Preach.

And Hazard scored 17 last season and 22 (?) for Lille in his final year. Those are very respectable numbers. 20-25 a season would be amazing - especially considering all the other things he does - and he's not that far off.\

Thats what i think, if he can get more goals great but honestly if i was offered 10 years of Hazard at this current level i would snap their arm off and munch on the carcass, then ask them where i sign.

[DYC. 7,542]

Passing ability, both short and long; control and technique in limited space; ability to advance the ball when space is at a premium and his link play is average at best. Ability to recieve the ball with the back to goal and make things happen is something I've never seen Bale do ever.

I'd agree with that. Though receiving the ball with back to goal is not a quality you look for a in a winger, that's a bonus. And I'd argue saying Bale can't make things happen is an unfair assessment.

All in all, football goes further than that though. I too prefer Hazard but that's because of his style and certain qualities. But players like Bale deserve credit and definitely have their value and that's why I understand why many say he's the better player, even though I don't agree. He's direct, a constant threat and he's very effective. And he's had big moments in his career, very important for a player's status and legacy.

Anyway, I just find it a very interesting discussion. Technique vs power. So I'm always interested in different people's (well constructed) opinions.

[Styles 9,790]

I'd agree with that. Though receiving the ball with back to goal is not a quality you look for a in a winger, that's a bonus. And I'd argue saying Bale can't make things happen is an unfair assessment.

All in all, football goes further than that though. I too prefer Hazard but that's because of his style and certain qualities. But players like Bale deserve credit and definitely have their value and that's why I understand why many say he's the better player, even though I don't agree. He's direct, a constant threat and he's very effective. And he's had big moments in his career, very important for a player's status and legacy.

Anyway, I just find it a very interesting discussion. Technique vs power. So I'm always interested in different people's (well constructed) opinions.

Honestly, perhaps I'm too harsh on Bale. And I'm a card-carrying Hazard fanboy so it is what it is. Bale is clearly a good player, but I'm just not a fan personally.

[meetdoscar 335]

I've always said hazard is a great dribbler but scoring isn't his only lesser strength, for all his creativity his assist numbers are also not special. In the last 2 or 3 games it has been more of him at the end of things (mostly misfiring) than actually creating for others. May be he is actually a midfielder because he doesn't put in crosses regularly like a winger should nor does he score as much as a forward. I think its time we utilize his dribbling in a four man midfield with a good defensive work rate he would be superb.

------------Courtois-----

Iva------Cahill----Terry-----Azpi

Oscar/willian--Cesc--Matic--Hazard

----------Remy/schurrle-------

------Diego Costa---------