Eden Hazard

[Blue-in-me-Veins 4,067]

Dropping a 20-minute MOTM performance with a Goal and Assist. 

Time and time again, Eden Hazard showing up when it matters most. Time to finish the league off and the FA Cup.  

La Puta Madre! 

[MrExcalibur100 7,089]

I'll say it again like I did in the past. Best big game performer in CFC history alongside Drogba. "The man for the big occassion". 

[The Skipper 20,591]

Hazard master class against Spurs, water is wet. 

[The Skipper 20,591]

23 minutes ago, MrExcalibur100 said:

I'll say it again like I did in the past. Best big game performer in CFC history alongside Drogba. "The man for the big occassion". 

Can't say that yet until he does it in the CL for me. 

[MrExcalibur100 7,089]

13 minutes ago, The Skipper said:

Can't say that yet until he does it in the CL for me. 

The problem is that we honestly haven't been that relevant in the Champions League since 2012. It's not like the mid to late 2000's. Hazard has dominated what has been put in front of him. He hasn't had that many opportunities or a platform in the Champions League for several reasons. He doesn't need that to validate himself as our best big game performer  for me. Especially as these might help win us 2 league titles in 3 years. 

[The Skipper 20,591]

Just now, MrExcalibur100 said:

The problem is that we honestly haven't been that relevant in the Champions League since 2012. It's not like the mid to late 2000's. Hazard has dominated what has been put in front of him. He hasn't had that many opportunities or a platform in the Champions League for several reasons. He doesn't need that to validate himself as our best big game performer  for me. Especially as these might help win us 2 league titles in 3 years. 

He certainly is our best big game performer but I'm not putting him on the same pedestal as Didier until he's much better in the CL. His CL record is quite embarrassing, but hopefully he puts it to bed next season. Conte too. 

[MrExcalibur100 7,089]

2 minutes ago, The Skipper said:

He certainly is our best big game performer but I'm not putting him on the same pedestal as Didier until he's much better in the CL. His CL record is quite embarrassing, but hopefully he puts it to bed next season. Conte too. 

What exactly is his CL record and how is it embarrassing? His goal scoring record in the Champions league for Chelsea is 1 in 3 games. He's had his moments and Mourinho's tactics negated his impact in the biggest games (of which there have only been very few since he's been here and scored in 2 of them) and/or he was injured. Hardly embarrasing. Stop believing the bullshit opposition fans come up with.

Secondly, I didn't put him on the same pedestal as Drogba. I said they're both the best I've seen in big games, with Drogba obviously being 1 and Hazard being 2. Hazard plays better than Lampard in the big games. Plays better than Zola. Hasselbaink. Whichever legend you want to mention in the last 25 years and I've watched all of them. Besides, there have been several great players in our history who never played in the champions league but were big game players. I'm not sure why you're conflating these two things. 

[MrExcalibur100 7,089]

3 weeks out and barely fit as well and expected to do everything Really embarrassing. I just laugh when people try to use the CL as a stick to criticize Hazard with. Moreso from CFC fans who actually watched the games and should know better.

[Blue Colored Sky 1,799]

9 minutes ago, MrExcalibur100 said:

3 weeks out and barely fit as well and expected to do everything Really embarrassing. I just laugh when people try to use the CL as a stick to criticize Hazard with. Moreso from CFC fans who actually watched the games and should know better.

Hazard game against PSG at home in 2014/15 was special. Watched that highlights a few times and I'm still amazed by that performance. His away leg game was quite good too. Yet we went out and somehow he has a tag of not performing in the Champions League. 

[MrExcalibur100 7,089]

2 minutes ago, Blue Colored Sky said:

Hazard game against PSG at home in 2014/15 was special. Watched that highlights a few times and I'm still amazed by that performance. His away leg game was quite good too. Yet we went out and somehow he has a tag of not performing in the Champions League. 

It's retarded, right? I never understood the criticism. The level he's shown in most CL games (bar last season) has been pretty much what we've seen from him in his CFC career, performance wise.

Yeah, his away leg was good in the 2013/14 season considering he barely touched the ball. Hit the bar with a volley and scored a goal. 

[Igi26 346]

Great game from him. MOTM

 

[MrExcalibur100 7,089]

I'm watching the 2nd half again and the impact he had on the 2nd half was pretty incredible. Better than I thought watching it live. 

[The Skipper 20,591]

2 hours ago, MrExcalibur100 said:

What exactly is his CL record and how is it embarrassing? His goal scoring record in the Champions league for Chelsea is 1 in 3 games. He's had his moments and Mourinho's tactics negated his impact in the biggest games (of which there have only been very few since he's been here and scored in 2 of them) and/or he was injured. Hardly embarrasing. Stop believing the bullshit opposition fans come up with.

Secondly, I didn't put him on the same pedestal as Drogba. I said they're both the best I've seen in big games, with Drogba obviously being 1 and Hazard being 2. Hazard plays better than Lampard in the big games. Plays better than Zola. Hasselbaink. Whichever legend you want to mention in the last 25 years and I've watched all of them. Besides, there have been several great players in our history who never played in the champions league but were big game players. I'm not sure why you're conflating these two things. 

Hazard has played in the CL 36 times and only has 5 goals. 3 of those goals are penalties. That's an embarrassing record.

[MrExcalibur100 7,089]

Just now, The Skipper said:

Hazard has played in the CL 36 times and only has 5 goals. 3 of those goals are penalties. That's an embarrassing record.

How many of those games were at Lille?  More importantly, how many of those games were big games vs Top European teams? I seem to remember Hazard not scoring against Schalke and Galatasaray but still playing very well. We've played PSG and Atletico Madrid and he's scored twice in those games (the only big teams we've faced in that competition since Hazard has been at Chelsea), most of them with no help and having to play left back.

Most importantly, what does that have to do with my comment  about big games, nothing since most of those games haven't been in big games.  Really bizarre argumentation and not befitting of this thread as Eden only deserves praise right now. 

[manpe 10,565]

2 hours ago, MrExcalibur100 said:

3 weeks out and barely fit as well and expected to do everything Really embarrassing. I just laugh when people try to use the CL as a stick to criticize Hazard with. Moreso from CFC fans who actually watched the games and should know better.

Haha that line-up is embarrassing.

[The Skipper 20,591]

12 minutes ago, MrExcalibur100 said:

How many of those games were at Lille?  More importantly, how many of those games were big games vs Top European teams? I seem to remember Hazard not scoring against Schalke and Galatasaray but still playing very well. We've played PSG and Atletico Madrid and he's scored twice in those games (the only big teams we've faced in that competition since Hazard has been at Chelsea), most of them with no help and having to play left back.

Most importantly, what does that have to do with my comment  about big games, nothing since most of those games haven't been in big games.  Really bizarre argumentation and not befitting of this thread as Eden only deserves praise right now. 

6 of them were against were for Lille, the rest for CFC (30). He scored 2 goals vs. Maribor, 2 vs PSG, 1 vs. Schalke. Obviously, I take away nothing from his performance, but we're talking about something that's irrelevant to the game he's played just now. We're having a much broader discussion than that. I'm not using it as a stick to beat him with, your post just sounded like you put him level with Didier when it comes to big game performances, and I stated that his record in the CL isn't anywhere near as good as someone like Didier, or even Lamps. Several of our former players have been better than him in the CL. 

I'm using the CL as a barometer because it's the top competition in world football. The only amazing performances befitting of his talent that he's had in the CL are those games against PSG, and we know he's much better/consistent than that. I want him to prove it, because I know he has the ability. We've discussed this before, and I acknowledge that the situation here at CFC obviously hasn't been ideal - I'm sure if he was at Real for example, he would've had a lot more top performances in the CL. But that doesn't mean I can't say he must do better there. Like I said, he has next season to put this stuff to bed. It's one of the few things that stops people acknowledging what a great player he is.

[MrExcalibur100 7,089]

6 minutes ago, The Skipper said:

6 of them were against were for Lille, the rest for CFC (30). He scored 2 goals vs. Maribor, 2 vs PSG, 1 vs. Schalke. Obviously, I take away nothing from his performance, but we're talking about something that's irrelevant to the game he's played just now. We're having a much broader discussion than that. I'm not using it as a stick to beat him with, your post just sounded like you put him level with Didier when it comes to big game performances, and I stated that his record in the CL isn't anywhere near as good as someone like Didier, or even Lamps. Several of our former players have been better than him in the CL. 

I'm using the CL as a barometer because it's the top competition in world football. The only amazing performances befitting of his talent that he's had in the CL are those games against PSG, and we know he's much better/consistent than that. I want him to prove it, because I know he has the ability. We've discussed this before, and I acknowledge that the situation here at CFC obviously hasn't been ideal - I'm sure if he was at Real for example, he would've had a lot more top performances in the CL. But that doesn't mean I can't say he must do better there. Like I said, he has next season to put this stuff to bed. It's one of the few things that stops people acknowledging what a great player he is.

(i) 2013/14 vs PSG 1st leg (away) - Hazard plays well despite barely seeing the ball (a classic problem he and all our forwards had under Mourinho). Scores a goal and hits the post with a volley. http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/26811631 

(ii) 2013/14 vs PSG 2nd leg (home) - Barely plays for 30 mins and goes off injured. Shouldn't have played at all really but Mourinho shoehorned him into the side. Out for 3 weeks.

(iii) 2013/14 vs Atletico Madrid 1st leg (away) - Did not play. Still injured.

(iv) 2013/14 vs Atletico Madrid 2nd leg (home) - 1st game out for 3 weeks which is a big problem at that level. Still rusty, playing in the most defensive XI ^^^ I've ever seen at the Bridge.

(v) 2014/15 vs PSG 1st leg (away) - One of the most embarrassing defensive displays I've ever seen under Mourinho. Hazard played as a left back all game. Willian RB. Costa barely got a sniff. Pathetic tactics.

(vi) 2014/15 vs PSG 2nd leg (Home) - By far the best player in blue on the day. The only player with any game changing quality at the time trying everything vs top class defenders who were particularly defensive because they were down to 10 men. Mourinho's inability to train high quality coordinated attacks also didn't help us in that game as well.

So where are the so-called big games in the CL Hazard has apparently not performed in for us? It's just a bunch of bullshit. You can argue his scoring record in the competition is not great, but 

(1) That was not my initial point of argumentation. I stated he was the best big game performer in CFC history (at least I've seen) alongside Drogba. with Didier being (1) and Eden being (2). I think that's fair comment to make.

(2) You started talking about his CL record which is neither here no there. It's just numbers with no real meaning without any context. 

So imagine in a hypothetical scenario Hazard goes to Madrid next season, does anyone really believe he won't be one of the most dominant players in the tournament? It's just an inane stick to beat him with at this point. 

[The Skipper 20,591]

33 minutes ago, MrExcalibur100 said:

2013/14 vs PSG 1st leg (away) - Hazard plays well despite barely seeing the ball (a classic problem he and all our forwards had under Mourinho). Scores a goal and hits the post with a volley. http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/26811631 

2013/14 vs PSG 2nd leg (home) - Barely plays for 30 mins and goes off injured. Shouldn't have played at all really but Mourinho shoehorned him into the side. Out for 3 weeks.

2013/14 vs Atletico Madrid 1st leg (away) - Did not play. Still injured.

2013/14 vs Atletico Madrid 2nd leg (home) - 1st game out for 3 weeks which is a big problem at that level. Still rusty, playing in the most defensive XI ^^^ I've ever seen at the Bridge.

2014/15 vs PSG 1st leg (away) - One of the most embarrassing defensive displays I've ever seen under Mourinho. Hazard played as a left back all game. Willian RB. Costa barely got a sniff. Pathetic tactics.

2014/15 vs PSG 2nd leg (Home) - By far the best player in blue on the day. The only player with any game changing quality at the time trying everything vs top class defenders who were particularly defensive because they were down to 10 men. Mourinho's inability to train high quality coordinated attacks also didn't help us in that game as well.

So were are the so-called big games in the CL Hazard has apparently not performed in for us? It's just a bunch of bullshit. You can argue his scoring record in the competition is not great, but 

(1) That was not my initial point of argumentation. I stated he was the best big game performer in CFC history (at least I've seen) alongside Drogba. with Didier being (1) and Eden being (2). I think that's fair comment to make.

(2) You started talking about his CL record which is neither here no there. It's just numbers with no real meaning without any context. 

You make a strong case to be fair. My main point was that I just want to see him dominate the CL like he does here in the PL/England, which we know he has the ability to. Your initial point doesn't dispute any of that, in fact, I must say I brought forward an argument that isn't too related to what you said. I was talking about his general performances on the biggest platform in club football - the CL. What ticked me off is that you essentially compared his influence to that of Didier. 

I disagree with him being the best in history with Didier though - first, we can't say that for sure to begin with as we haven't seen CFC for that long. Would love to know what some of the older members on here think about that. @OhForAGreavsie @Unionjack @Iggy Doonican @Duppy Conqueror? Also, I think Lampard and JT are ahead of him in that aspect, alongside Didier. They all won 10+ trophies here and were all a major part of those, performing in most big games/winning us those games. Hazard has only won 3 trophies here at CFC. It's incomparable because they've had many more bigger games to play in than Eden has.

[MrExcalibur100 7,089]

17 minutes ago, The Skipper said:

You make a strong case to be fair. My main point was that I just want to see him dominate the CL like he does here in the PL/England, which we know he has the ability to. Your initial point doesn't dispute any of that, in fact, I must say I brought forward an argument that isn't too related to what you said. I was talking about his general performances on the biggest platform in club football - the CL. What ticked me off is that you essentially compared his influence to that of Didier. 

I disagree with him being the best in history with Didier though - first, we can't say that for sure to begin with as we haven't seen CFC for that long. Would love to know what some of the older members on here think about that. @OhForAGreavsie @Unionjack @Iggy Doonican? Also, I think Lampard and JT are ahead of him in that aspect, alongside Didier. They all won 10+ trophies here and were all a major part of those, performing in most big games/winning us those games. Hazard has only won 3 trophies here at CFC. It's incomparable because they've had many more bigger games to play in than Eden has.

I disagree. I think he's plays at a higher level than Lampard (I actually think Essein generally played better) in the big games and honestly, I wasn't really considering defenders so JT wasn't in my thinking. That's not to say Eden is in the same conversation as Frank and JT and Didier as Chelsea icons. But just from a purely objective standpoint, as someone who has been following the club for 20 years, I don't believe anyone excluding Didier has performed better in the big games so consistently. And I'll exclude defenders and goalkeepers as it's hard to make a coherent comparison there. Just in the last year or so, he's scored 10 goals against the best teams in the country. And that's not even considering some of the performances. 

[Milan 17,052]