Eden Hazard

[mccg 1,528]

Eden Hazard vs. Wolves: Should we be concerned with latest subpar showing? 

http://weaintgotnohistory.sbnation.com/2017/2/19/14663744/eden-hazard-wolverhampton-wanderers-chelsea-fa-cup-individual-highlights-concerns#comments

[manpe 10,861]

47 minutes ago, WNDS said:

 

Both of those players have brought plently to the team so far this season.

I mean, Willian's got 7 goals and 3 assists as a squad player who has played only just over half the minutes that Hazard (10 goals 5 assists) has this season; this is the sort of return you want from a squad player, isn't it?

By my calculations, the attacking contributions of Willian (and Fabregas) have been vital in ensuring that we have our current 8-point lead. Willian has scored the winning goals against Hull, Man City, and Stoke (6 points right there), whilst also making impotant contributions against Burnley (scored the second goal to kill the game), Sunderland (assisted Fabregas' winner), and Leicester (had a big hand in two of the three goals). Fabregas has provided crucial assists against Watford (for the winner), Man City (for the equaliser), Bournemouth (for the winner), and Stoke (two assists that were the difference between a draw and a win), whilst also scoring the aforementioned winner against Sunderland. Basically, the two of them have been excellent squad players so far this season, and are EXACTLY the calibre of player that we should be aiming to have as 'first-choice' rotational options. Sure, both of them have been inconsistent (particularly Willian), but that's what happens to any player who isn't allowed the opportunity to establish a rhythm within the first 11.

And as for Matic.... Yeah, the guy has clear limitations to his game, and yeah, he should probably not start quite as many games as he does, BUT he was excellent for around four of the first five months of this season, and was absolutely crucial to the initial implementation of the 3-4-3. He has (and will continue to have) a very important role within the current set-up, limitations and all.

Seriously, what type of squad depth do you (and others) think we can realistically achieve? Even clubs like Barca, Real, and Bayern struggle to keep their higher-quality squad players happy and contributing, and EVEN these clubs do NOT possess world-class talent throughout their benches.

And speaking of world-class talent, Hazard (who I belive IS a world-class player, despite what other posters have been saying) CANNOT simply coast on his inherent quality and put in displays like he did against Wolves; his attitude and application absolutely stank the place out. It's notable that over the last month or two it is Pedro (a very good player indeed, but not on Hazard's level in terms of raw ability) who is looking increasingly like the key man in our 3-man forward line, being the one who seems to contribute the most in terms of both direct attacking contributions AND positional/defensive work at the moment.

You wrote this post on the assumption that I think they don't bring anything to the team. This couldn't be further from truth, re-read my post and you will see nowhere did I state such a ridiculous thing. I don't contest any point you made, they're all true. 

[WNDS 502]

28 minutes ago, manpe said:

You wrote this post on the assumption that I think they don't bring anything to the team. This couldn't be further from truth, re-read my post and you will see nowhere did I state such a ridiculous thing. I don't contest any point you made, they're all true. 

You said that you'd 'rip into' Matic and Willian for what they fail to bring to the team, and implied that their lack of quality was such that they are not worthy of sharing a team with Hazard. At least that's how your post reads to me. Even after re-reading it.

If you meant differently, then fair enough. But using terms like 'rip into' when describing your own criticism of some of our players seems over the top to me given what they have contributed so far this season. Too many people give the impression that players who play for the team they support MUST be starting 11 quality outright or they can gtfo. I'm tired of encountering this attitude seemingly everywhere nowadays, and so maybe I'm too quick to confront people who are raising more valid points that I have misinterpreted.

[manpe 10,861]

6 minutes ago, WNDS said:

You said that you'd 'rip into' Matic and Willian for what they fail to bring to the team, and implied that their lack of quality was such that they are not worthy of sharing a team with Hazard. At least that's how your post reads to me. Even after re-reading it.

If you meant differently, then fair enough. But using terms like 'rip into' when describing your own criticism of some of our players seems over the top to me given what they have contributed so far this season. Too many people give the impression that players who play for the team they support MUST be starting 11 quality outright or they can gtfo. I'm tired of encountering this attitude seemingly everywhere nowadays, and so maybe I'm too quick to confront people who are raising more valid points that I have misinterpreted.

Honest mistake, English is not my first language and it was the first expression that came to mind, I didn't give much thought to the wording. I'd be happy to keep both as squad players, but with our ambitions they shouldn't be automatic starters imo (Willian already isn't I know). It's clear to see what both bring to the team or we wouldn't be leaders, but there are some critical aspects in which both are lacking that limits our ceiling at a certain height, but we need to go higher if that makes sense. Hazard imho is not an issue here.

[WNDS 502]

25 minutes ago, manpe said:

Honest mistake, English is not my first language and it was the first expression that came to mind, I didn't give much thought to the wording. I'd be happy to keep both as squad players, but with our ambitions they shouldn't be automatic starters imo. It's clear to see what both bring to the team or we wouldn't be leaders, but there are some critical aspects in which both are lacking that limits our ceiling at a certain height, but we need to go higher if that makes sense.

That's more than fair fair enough, and it makes perfect sense to me. If we're in the CL next season and are making a serious effort to be genuinely competitive, certain improvements will probably have to be made to the starting 11; Matic, Cahill, and possibly one of either Moses or Alonso are the players who appear most vulnerable at the moment.

That being said, we can only reach a certain level of overall squad depth and quality before we risk harming squad unity. I think that Willian, Cahill, and Moses/Alonso would all be fine with 'expanded squad roles' next season (the season after that, I'm not so sure), but Fabregas and Matic are the two that I can see leaving under these circumstances. Pedro could also be a worry if we strengthen the forward line, as he didn't leave the club he loves (Barcelona) to find himself with the same squad role that he already had (despite the form he's been in this season, he's almost certain to be the man to lose-out if someone new and 'shiny' arrives and Hazard+Costa are retained).

[Tautvix 1,321]

3 hours ago, Tomo said:

No it's not, very rarely does he have a major bad game, most of his "bad games" still involve him creating chances and serious inroads for teammates, like at Anfield, five times at least he created strong attacking situations for the team which the teammates (particularly Moses) screwed up.

But hey this is the new generation in football so unless you are doing 40 stepovers and shooting 20 times a games to score once or twice you are shit.

I have never said he is shit My point is he is not on the level he is/was supposed to be.

[BoyBlue96 990]

He's a good player. Class player. A good player for us who will be difficult to replace but he is NOT world class. If Real eye him to replace CR7 on the left, well good luck because Hazard is and will never be on that guy's level. 

[Tomo 21,736]

6 hours ago, Tautvix said:

I have never said he is shit My point is he is not on the level he is/was supposed to be.

That was more in jest, but what level was that? The only level up to what he currently is is Messi/Ronaldo level.

A winger who gets to teens in goals every season (last year aside) and creates numerous inroads in a game is gold dust, I dread to think this team without him, we would hit 10/11 levels of lack of creativity.

[Kieran. 6,317]

2 minutes ago, Tomo said:

That was more in jest, but what level was that? The only level up to what he currently is is Messi/Ronaldo level.

A winger who gets to teens in goals every season (last year aside) and creates numerous inroads in a game is gold dust, I dread to think this team without him, we would hit 10/11 levels of lack of creativity.

He has been a bit disappointing you have to admit.

[manpe 10,861]

15 hours ago, BoyBlue96 said:

If Real eye him to replace CR7 on the left, well good luck because Hazard is and will never be on that guy's level. 

Who is or will be?

[LukakutoStamford 779]

Amazing that people still don't understand that Chelsea has issues in the midfield that kill the ability to properly use Hazard not to mention there is a distinct lack of quality in terms of creativity and technique all around the pitch. 

 

Hazard is is human he has bad games, but he's not getting the help he needs.

[mccg 1,528]

1 hour ago, LukakutoStamford said:

Amazing that people still don't understand that Chelsea has issues in the midfield that kill the ability to properly use Hazard not to mention there is a distinct lack of quality in terms of creativity and technique all around the pitch. 

 

Hazard is is human he has bad games, but he's not getting the help he needs.

Yeah more quality in his position may help also , hopefully next season Conte sorts that issue out and gives Hazard the number 10 role 

[kellzfresh 7,229]

2 hours ago, LukakutoStamford said:

Amazing that people still don't understand that Chelsea has issues in the midfield that kill the ability to properly use Hazard not to mention there is a distinct lack of quality in terms of creativity and technique all around the pitch. 

 

Hazard is is human he has bad games, but he's not getting the help he needs.

When costa was in great form in the first half of the season, winning us games single handedly(Westham, Watford, Swansea, mancity, westbrom etc), hazard didn't have much attention on him. But Costa has lost form since the China problem and hazard has had only 2 or 3 great games in 2017 as a result. Too much attention is on Hazard because costa isn't carrying attention from defenders like before. 

Hazard isn't a machine, so I don't expect his dribbling to be on in every single match. What he needs to do is add variety to his game, so that when the dribbles isn't working, he can contribute with movement off the ball like Pedro and getting in goalscoring positions and avoid not touching the ball for long periods in a match. 

[manpe 10,861]

3 hours ago, LukakutoStamford said:

Amazing that people still don't understand that Chelsea has issues in the midfield that kill the ability to properly use Hazard not to mention there is a distinct lack of quality in terms of creativity and technique all around the pitch. 

 

Hazard is is human he has bad games, but he's not getting the help he needs.

Spot on. We are not helping him at all by having Alonso and Matic as the closest players to him and benching Fabregas. Good workhorses and defenders, below par attacking intelligence and/or technical ability to effectively combine with Eden. And as you said, this problem is all over the field. Expecting him to do everything alone is one-man-team a la Liverpool mentality. Hazard has proved he can win alone when conditions are right for him to perform like that, but with proper teammates it would be much more consistent and responsibility to create something more divided across the pitch. I expect this issue to be solved in the summer.

[Tomo 21,736]

12 hours ago, Kieran. said:

He has been a bit disappointing you have to admit.

At Wolves? Absolutely.

In general over the course of the season? No.

[Spike 12,049]

I've read people stating that Hazard is a Muslim and the reason for dips in form is due to fasting. I can't find a single source that states that he even is a Muslim. I've read reports that bloody Lionel Messi is a Mulism, despite having a Catholic cathedral tattooed over half of his body.

[Blue Armour 4,328]

 

[dimmas 126]

21 hours ago, manpe said:

Spot on. We are not helping him at all by having Alonso and Matic as the closest players to him and benching Fabregas. Good workhorses and defenders, below par attacking intelligence and/or technical ability to effectively combine with Eden.

Exactly.

And to make it worse, behind matic and alonso is cahill !. Which relatively slow and he isnt very good to build up from the back.

Cahill need so much protection from matic or alonso to position more close to him. Another reason why our left area is poor and that is really obvious in certain match

It sad to watch week in week out hazard surround by limited player. So we have to accept, we barely see excellent and dangerous combination from our left area.

 

Even though need to mention, for some games hazard also frustating player. He looks lacking consistency on desire, or determination. It likes he only playing well if he only wants it but on another game sometimes he looks didnt give a fuck at all.