Eden Hazard

[kellzfresh 7,229]

One of his worst matches ever for us, he looked even more leggy than those who played on thursday. Lost the ball a lot by his standards, and Cost us 2 goals by trying to flick the ball in the box when one on one with the keeper instead of shooting. And once hazard has a poor game, none of our players can score especially with pedro out. 

[Jase 43,479]

32 minutes ago, kellzfresh said:

Cost us 2 goals by trying to flick the ball in the box when one on one with the keeper instead of shooting.

THIS! FUCKING INFURIATING! You do that when you're 3, 4 goals up but not when it's still 0-0! Hazard deserves some bollocking for that! 

[kellzfresh 7,229]

35 minutes ago, Jason said:

THIS! FUCKING INFURIATING! You do that when you're 3, 4 goals up but not when it's still 0-0! Hazard deserves some bollocking for that! 

And of all people to flick it to when he had a clear chance to score, it was Morata  

[manpe 10,861]

39 minutes ago, Jason said:

THIS! FUCKING INFURIATING! You do that when you're 3, 4 goals up but not when it's still 0-0! Hazard deserves some bollocking for that! 

Complacency

[Jase 43,479]

1 hour ago, manpe said:

Complacency

Not sure complacency is the right word. We've seen him do this so many times. Just pure idiocy decision making wise. 

[manpe 10,861]

13 minutes ago, Jason said:

Not sure complacency is the right word. We've seen him do this so many times. Just pure idiocy decision making wise. 

I've noticed throughout time that when things are going bad, he keeps things simple and somewhat retreats to his shell. But when he's in shit hot form getting praised left and right, he starts doing unnecessary bullshit like that more. I think he can get too complacent yes, I mean he has several times jokingly said he is the best at something, but we know he wasn't really joking.

[Jase 43,479]

12 minutes ago, manpe said:

I've noticed throughout time that when things are going bad, he keeps things simple and somewhat retreats to his shell. But when he's in shit hot form getting praised left and right, he starts doing unnecessary bullshit like that more. I think he can get too complacent yes, I mean he has several times jokingly said he is the best at something, but we know he wasn't really joking.

Think this just reinforces the point that he doesn't have the killer instinct. Just gets too self indulgent some times with his tricks.

[LAM09 7,048]

Think this just reinforces the point that he doesn't have the killer instinct. Just gets too self indulgent some times with his tricks.

Precisely what holds him back. I think Sarri will either manage to get it out of him again or he'll stagnate.

[robsblubot 3,595]

 

9 hours ago, Jason said:

Think this just reinforces the point that he doesn't have the killer instinct. Just gets too self indulgent some times with his tricks.

Killer instinct is part of it, but I think it's more about him lacking a restlessness that the big game players need to have; heh perhaps we speak of the same thing, or at least, very similar things.

I've always felt that Eden does not drive the team and it's actually the other way around. When Chelsea plays well, it enables him to be at his best, but when spaces are scarce in tougher games and you need someone to change things up, yeah I do think he lacks that.

I don't think it's really about him being indulgent though. This is personality trait and it's not going to change.

[Blue Armour 4,438]

The 'unselfish' play is just Hazard being Hazard. I don'think we'll ever see him change that aspect of his game, and I don't think he should.

 

But if I have to criticize, and I'm sure Hazard would also wonder the same, is why he never switched flanks earlier on instead of staying on the left and occasionally drifting to the center.

He was being double man marked by both Zabaleta and their CM (can't remember the name), and Pellegrini admitted afterwards that that was their plan from the beginning. Nullify the Chelsea's left hand side attack, rendering the Alonso-Hazard combo ineffective, since that is our strength.

This isn't the first time Hazard has been man marked. He's experienced it several times since Herrera did that to him.

His best bet to get out of this trap, is to drag his man markers out of position, and that's what would have helped when he was getting double teamed upon on the left hand side.

All our best attacks in the 2nd half happened when him and Willian swapped positions around the time Morata came on.

Hazard I'm sure would have realized this. Whether he didn't do so earlier because of the manager's instruction, I don't know, but i hope he can rectify this in other games moving forward. He knows the solution, but for some reason didn't click in this game. I guess you could put it down to this being one of the first games of the season.

[Vesper 30,160]

1 hour ago, Blue Armour said:

The 'unselfish' play is just Hazard being Hazard. I don'think we'll ever see him change that aspect of his game, and I don't think he should.

 

But if I have to criticize, and I'm sure Hazard would also wonder the same, is why he never switched flanks earlier on instead of staying on the left and occasionally drifting to the center.

He was being double man marked by both Zabaleta and their CM (can't remember the name), and Pellegrini admitted afterwards that that was their plan from the beginning. Nullify the Chelsea's left hand side attack, rendering the Alonso-Hazard combo ineffective, since that is our strength.

This isn't the first time Hazard has been man marked. He's experienced it several times since Herrera did that to him.

His best bet to get out of this trap, is to drag his man markers out of position, and that's what would have helped when he was getting double teamed upon on the left hand side.

All our best attacks in the 2nd half happened when him and Willian swapped positions around the time Morata came on.

Hazard I'm sure would have realized this. Whether he didn't do so earlier because of the manager's instruction, I don't know, but i hope he can rectify this in other games moving forward. He knows the solution, but for some reason didn't click in this game. I guess you could put it down to this being one of the first games of the season.

Pedro Obiang was their CMF, along with DMF Declan Rice who tied him up. It also was just our luck that Issa Diop, the new young, expensive French Shammer CB, finally had a good game, after a super shakey start to the season.

When Willian starts at RW, we are pretty weak on the right side, as Azpi, even though he is probably the best defensive RB on the planet (maybe you could make a case for Kimmich) is not even in the top 20 or 25 offensively. His main strength there is/was crosses to Morata, but that has dried up, along with Morata in general.

Teams will always attack our weak points.

Luiz's defence and bad positioning/mental errors.

Alonso's defence mainly coming from lack of pace.

Azpi's offence.

Overall lack of height in all 3 MF's (only comes into play in specific situations)

They will try and muscle Jorginho (and usually fail). Kante and Kovacic are very strong for their size, with superb balance and low centre of gravity. 

Kante is struggling to find his exact role, but I have faith he sorts it out. We owe him a whole year to try. After that, if it still isn't clicking, we may have to sell. It would be insane to waste the world's best pure DMF (and worth £120m or so) by forcing him into a systemic role he just cannot thrive in. We are nowhere that yet, but it may come down to Kante v the system (its impossible, literally to use him as a trad DMF destroyer in Sarriball, it fucks up Jorginho role, and you will always be short a MF further up the field. I posted a great article on this yesterday. https://theprideoflondon.com/2018/09/24/chelsea-sarrismo-ngolo-kante-midfield/ ). The system will always win out as long as Sarri is coach, and I believe in his system 10000%.

Cesc's lack of pace, stamina, and little defence. He still is a magnificent passer though. 

Pedro's small size (which can be a plus or minus depending on situ)

Willian's slow play ball hogging, and hesitations. He had great pace, almost never uses it effectively, and will lose it as he further ages into his mid 30's.

Eden's weaknesses are very few, other than he is moody and can go too passive at times, plus can over-dribble in Sarriball terms. Sarri will fix the over dribbling part.

Morata, everything is a weakness except his hair (DONT TOUCH IT MATEO!)

It is not rocket science why we always are positing the need for new players at 4 main positions (CB, LB, RW, CF) and perhaps 3 more. RB if Azpi lack of offensive thrust really starts to hurt and cripples the system and the other 2 MF slots if we lose Kovacic, Kante simply doesn't transition to new role, and Barkley somehow tailspins.

Bailey at RW and Icardi or Dybala or Martial or maybe even Piatek at CF would take a lot of pressure off Azpi though. 

[Johnnyeye 7,501]

Congrats to Eden and Kante for making the Fifpro XI

https://mobile.twitter.com/goal/status/1044312271567097856?ref_src=twsrc^tfw|twcamp^tweetembed&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fd-34295292101609406487.ampproject.net%2F1809142227020%2Fframe.html

check the hate on Hazard in some of the comments lol i do agree Salah deserved a place, after all he did finish in top 3 for the main prize, but not at the expense of Hazard.

Bias much?

 

this twat must have been living under a rock in the past 3 seasons, typical Pool troll.

[Johnnyeye 7,501]

also, i do agree that Courtois should have got the nod over De Gea, if you win best GK award how do you not make the best 11? the Puskas award was a joke,  Salah's goal over Bale or Ronaldo's overhead kick? Bollocks

[Vesper 30,160]

1 hour ago, Johnnyeye said:

Congrats to Eden and Kante for making the Fifpro XI

https://mobile.twitter.com/goal/status/1044312271567097856?ref_src=twsrc^tfw|twcamp^tweetembed&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fd-34295292101609406487.ampproject.net%2F1809142227020%2Fframe.html

check the hate on Hazard in some of the comments lol i do agree Salah deserved a place, after all he did finish in top 3 for the main prize, but not at the expense of Hazard.

Bias much?

 

this twat must have been living under a rock in the past 3 seasons, typical Pool troll.

Ask that motherfuker scouser twat where Salahs trophies are.

Those rotters have never even won the fucking EPL, we have 2 of the last 4 years.

[Vesper 30,160]

Dani Alves?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

Dani Alves in 2018:

16 club games

2 games for Brazil

Out at Last 16 of the Champions League

Didn't go to the World Cup

Hasn't played this season

FIFA World XI right-back.