Eden Hazard

[WhatsTheMatic? 28]

If we're going to continue playing this same formation than Bale would be brillaint.

If we switch to a 4-3-3 (like I'd love for us to do) than you're right, Pogba would be great.

I think Pogba and Oscar play similar roles already in the system that we currently use. Oscar spends a lot of his time deeper already

[MrExcalibur100 7,124]

Belgium have two must win (or at least, must pick up points) Euro qualifier games, so it seems Hazard won't be rested by Wilmots, which is bad news .

[Spike 12,049]

I watched the game with my lad yesterday and he said "Dad, Hazard is a bit special isn't he"

Nail on the head.

I read that as you saying that to your dad. Haha. Old cunt.

[lionsden 4,689]

He's improved his consistency, which was a big issue in the past (usually dissapears midway through the season after a great start to finish the season well). It seems he's ironed that issue out of his game and he's also more aggressive and direct.

Despite the relative freedom he has, I still feel jose's tactical set up and mentality in certain games does hold him back alot . It's hard for an attacking player to be fully effective when the team spends majority of the game defending deep and without willing runners and overlapping fullbacks (luis enhances hazard's game but he rarely plays).

Still he's been our most consistent performer this season alongside thibo and kudos to him.

Thats why some of us get so frustrated with players that show no signs of improvement and progress and have been at the club for a while.

[Jayvytee 2]

Belgium have two must win (or at least, must pick up points) Euro qualifier games, so it seems Hazard won't be rested by Wilmots, which is bad news .

Hazard will always play for Belgium in games that are important, so no, no rest for him. Hopefully he will recover enough from those two games though. If not, a club like Chelsea should be able to cope with that I think/hope.

[Tomo 21,751]

He's improved his consistency, which was a big issue in the past (usually dissapears midway through the season after a great start to finish the season well). It seems he's ironed that issue out of his game and he's also more aggressive and direct.

Despite the relative freedom he has, I still feel jose's tactical set up and mentality in certain games does hold him back alot . It's hard for an attacking player to be fully effective when the team spends majority of the game defending deep and without willing runners and overlapping fullbacks (luis enhances hazard's game but he rarely plays).

Still he's been our most consistent performer this season alongside thibo and kudos to him.

Thats why some of us get so frustrated with players that show no signs of improvement and progress and have been at the club for a while.

Fair point's there.

Also out of interest has Tibo completely won you over because I know you had doubts at the start? (not a dig im just genuinely curious).

[ParNolio7 285]

Thoughts

Yes, if we can get Bale, I wouldn't hesitate. Even if I'm not his biggest fan..

A central defender

An undisputed top central midfielder to complete the Cesc - Matic - triangle. Personally I'm not that impressed with Pogba. De Bruyne on current form would've been perfect..

[ParNolio7 285]

Belgium have two must win (or at least, must pick up points) Euro qualifier games, so it seems Hazard won't be rested by Wilmots, which is bad news .

Nope, Hazard will be crucial for Belgium.

Wouldn't worry too much though, he thrives on playing matches, the more the better.

[lionsden 4,689]

Fair point's there.

Also out of interest has Tibo completely won you over because I know you had doubts at the start? (not a dig im just genuinely curious).

Definitely. My reservation was centred around the fact that he wasn't getting tested near enough due to Atletico madrid's outstanding defence and I wasn't sure how he would cope in a team where the GK's are far more busy and called to be the hero on a constant basis like Thibo himself has already found out this season.

That's the thing about me, I'm willing to admit I was wrong when a player proves me wrong and give credit where it's due.

[ParNolio7 285]

Despite the relative freedom he has, I still feel jose's tactical set up and mentality in certain games does hold him back alot . It's hard for an attacking player to be fully effective when the team spends majority of the game defending deep and without willing runners and overlapping fullbacks (luis enhances hazard's game but he rarely plays).

I don't know if that's really Mourinho's fault. The tactical set-up is pretty similar to that of other European top teams. 4 in the back, a triangle in midfield and 3 up front. And as far as mindset is concerned, I can't really imagine he wouldn't want to dominate play.

For me the technical quality of the defenders is key. If you look at Bayern Munich & Barcelona, their defenders have a crucial role in the build-up play. If I look at us sometimes, we got the four at the back doing nothing but defending and all the build-up & attacking play is left to Cesc, Hazard & Willian. Ivanovic likes to go forward of course, but the quality is sometimes lacking. Luis seems capable of going forward so I think we should definitely play him more. But in the end the whole team should be capable of build-up play.

[lionsden 4,689]

I don't know if that's really Mourinho's fault. The tactical set-up is pretty similar to that of other European top teams. 4 in the back, a triangle in midfield and 3 up front. And as far as mindset is concerned, I can't really imagine he wouldn't want to dominate play.

For me the technical quality of the defenders is key. If you look at Bayern Munich & Barcelona, their defenders have a crucial role in the build-up play. If I look at us sometimes, we got the four at the back doing nothing but defending and all the build-up & attacking play is left to Cesc, Hazard & Willian. Ivanovic likes to go forward of course, but the quality is sometimes lacking. Luis seems capable of going forward so I think we should definitely play him more. But in the end the whole team should be capable of build-up play.

I wasn't necessarily referring to tactics in terms of formation but how we actually set up i.e high pressing, persistent attack, good movements, high line, overlapping fullbacks etc. We have done it at times this season but not consistently enough and certainly never in big games where we are more interested in preventing goals than actually playing football.

As for your last statement, I have to disagree. Manager's play the most significant role in how smooth and fluid a team's build up play is. If you have a manager that lacks the know how in that department and/or the unwillingness to play that way, the team training routine would future less of certain things that's not part of the managers philosophy and it ultimately shows on the pitch.

Why was a man utd team that were very creative and scoring goals for fun under Ferguson turn into a rigid,clueless and offensively awkward team under Moyes with practically the same group and core of players? it's unrealistic to just expect players to figure out build up play by themselves without active and conscious tactical input and constant training.

[Laugh1ngMan 393]

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When i look at these stats and put them into context, I really feel Hazard could improve himself/us drastically

You can look at these stats and say: wow, he's better than Bale and Suarez in so many area's. But that would not be the right way to look at it imo, because he's behind them in the two most important stats namely; goals and assists.

His pass completion%, shot accuracy% and succesful dribbles% is higher but that just means he is not taking enough risks. There is a optimal line between risk/reward and this just shows Hazard is definitely below that line.

In a team with alot of risk takers, this kind of Hazard would be perferct, he would bring balance to such a team by not taking alot of risk but still contributing an awful lot.

But in Chelsea were there is such a void in our other AM's ability to contribute anything, he would improve the team enormously if he would just go for it more at times, take that long range shot, try to dribble past his two markers when he is in the box, try some more through passes.

(a bit more like Coutinho now that i think about it but with the exception he actually has the skill to pull it off)

[Weckerz 3,781]

:

When i look at these stats and put them into conetext, I really feel Hazard could improve himself/us drastically

You can look at these stats and say: wow, he's better than Bale and Suarez in so many area's. But that would not be the right way to look at it imo, because he's behind them in the two most important stats namely; goals and assists.

His pass completion%, shot accuracy% and succesful dribbles% is higher but that just means he is not taking enough risks. There is a optimal line between risk/reward and this just shows Hazard is definitely below that line.

In a team with alot of risk takers, this kind of Hazard would be perferct, he would bring balance to such a team by not taking alot of risk but still contributing an awful lot.

But in Chelsea were there is such a void in our other AM's ability to contribute anything, he would improve the team enormously if he would just go for it more at times, take that long range shot, try to dribble past his two markers when he is in the box, try some more through passes.

(a bit more like Coutinho now that i think about it but with the exception he actually has the skill to pull it off)

Then again, comparing his goal ratio with a striker is pointless and Bale was one freak season. Add the fact he has taken a lot less penalties than last season and the countless pre-assists and made goals his teammates failed to score.

Expecting him to do more while he's carrying us every week is a bit strange. As you said yourself, the problem lies with his co-AM's who need to step the fuck up.

[zolayes 14,489]

Then again, comparing his goal ratio with a striker is pointless and Bale was one freak season. Add the fact he has taken a lot less penalties than last season and the countless pre-assists and made goals his teammates failed to score.

Expecting him to do more while he's carrying us every week is a bit strange. As you said yourself, the problem lies with his co-AM's who need to step the fuck up.

TOP post ... If there were others shouldering the creative burden it would be easier for Eden .. He is ALWAYS double or tripled marked .Surely this is creating

space and chances for others . IF THEY can't capitalise then the blame lies not with Hazard

[LukakutoStamford 779]

Why compare him to goal scorers Iniesta didn't have a lot of assists or goals. While Eden could certainly stand to be more selfish and aggressive, I think too many people don't understand that his strength is in playmaking and creating holes in the defense so that the team benefits. That's what makes him so valuable even when he's not scoring he's drawing 2-4 men and forcing defenses to set up in unnatural positions just to stop him which allows other players much more space and time.