Eden Hazard

[Barbara 15,149]

Good thing we actually won't remove Costa and Cesc from the team to let Hazard literally carry it all by himself though. Had enough of that last season. I'm happy Hazard doesn't have to endure that and I think one of the reasons he's flourishing now is because the pressure is off. Instead of running from the responsibility - as I thought he maybe could based on that interview before the Swansea game - he's actually capitalizing on it and letting his talent take over without the pressure of HAVING to win us the matches. If he fails there are others that have been stepping up, if he doesn't have a good day in the office, there are others that could compensate, if he's marked by two-three players, there are others that will take advantage of that.

Actually that's a conversation that is actually interesting to have and that we pointed out would happen before the season started, but that we haven't discussed much since it actually did. Hazard hasn't been marked by too many opponents now last season because Costa and Cesc actually drag some opponents with them. Do you guys feel like he has a little more space and freedom now? Of course, sometimes opponents gang up on him, especially in a match like yesterday where our attackers were too isolated, but in general, it feels like teams haven't been deploying 2, 3 and sometimes even 4 players surrounding him like we saw many times last season. They have other players to also worry about now and I think that's one of the factors that has been helping him the most. Am I the only one to feel a difference about it?

[dee25 1,044]

The comment about Cesc and Costa carrying our attack is interesting - couldn't 'disagree more with it. Sure they've been key players for us but it's hazard that has actually been the catalyst in the majority of our attacks. It was his dribble that opened up the space for our equalizing goal against Burnley; against Leicester we struggled in the opening mins when hazard was largely anonymous but once he grew into the game we immediately became more threatening, exactly the same thing happened against Swansea, and against Schalke and City it was Hazard that created both goals. Cesc and Costa have gotten the headlines but this kid has been a massive influence in our attacks.

I think Hazard is still our best player IMO (just my opinion guys so for the love of sweet god don't flame me). He now has better support in attack which has made it easier for him to have more of an effect but I completely agree that he's been the driving force behind most of our attacks.

The thing with him though is that his impact has mostly come in bursts.

[mikeholiday 209]

Skill with the ball i dont think anybody is even close to his level. His ability to take players on is a delight to watch.

[Special Juan 28,141]

Skill with the ball i dont think anybody is even close to his level. His ability to take players on is a delight to watch.

It's down to the sheer pace he does it. Thing with Eden is his first instinct is to drive at players, they immediately back off and that is plays right into his hands. His speed of foot to shift the ball also plays a pivotal part in his way of playing- when the defenders does commit, he shifts it so quickly they are left for dead.

[meetdoscar 335]

95 % passes completed (team highest), no turnovers, dispossessed only once. Pay attention or don't comment pls.

Yes maybe, just maybe he comes really close in dribbling since he actually got twice the amount of succesful dribbles than the second best player so far this season in the EPL while simultaneously keeping the amount of unsuccesful dribbles low (67% succesful).

Also had the highest amount of key passes from open play last season so I think he's pretty good at "assisting". And please define "total skills" lol.

Dribbling in our half or non-dangerous areas isn't exactly what I want as a chelsea fan despite adding to his successful dribbles statistics, that's for statisticians. However how many of those dribbles(which are many statistically) led to a cross, shot or penalty or even a through pass(even attempted) which is what i mean by total skill (skill set if you like). Di maria for example always dribbles to find space for the cross, shot or to drive at defenders. For the statistics you put out he dribbles for fun rather than effect. You seem to be digging to deep to make sense of most of his dribbles. What we expect are shots, crosses, penalties, attempted through balls, running into the box. He does do it but not enough for the kind of stats you put up.

[Chelsea Legend 11 4,062]

The only way teams have been able to stop Hazard this year has been to foul him. He's been devastating in the build up but needs to be on the end of chances and scoring them more.

[Barbara 15,149]

I think Hazard is still our best player IMO (just my opinion guys so for the love of sweet god don't flame me). He now has better support in attack which has made it easier for him to have more of an effect but I completely agree that he's been the driving force behind most of our attacks.

The thing with him though is that his impact has mostly come in bursts.

Hazard is the kind of player you keep in the pitch even when he's not having a good match because out of nowhere he can create magic in a burst as you called it. He has the talent and power to do that stuff.

[meetdoscar 335]

The only way teams have been able to stop Hazard this year has been to foul him. He's been devastating in the build up but needs to be on the end of chances and scoring them more.

This is close to what some have been trying to say including me. If he dribbles in threatening areas we will get penalties and hazard will score more because penalties are assigned to him.

[kellzfresh 7,229]

This is close to what some have been trying to say including me. If he dribbles in threatening areas we will get penalties and hazard will score more because penalties are assigned to him.

He's getting much better this season. It was last season that he dribbled towards the throwing line A LOT which was annoying. But he's getting into the box more with his dribbles, watch the Swansea match. Give him time

[kellzfresh 7,229]

This is close to what some have been trying to say including me. If he dribbles in threatening areas we will get penalties and hazard will score more because penalties are assigned to him.

He's getting much better this season. It was last season that he dribbled towards the throwing line A LOT which was annoying. But he's getting into the box more with his dribbles, watch the Swansea match. Give him time

[meetdoscar 335]

I think Hazard is still our best player IMO (just my opinion guys so for the love of sweet god don't flame me). He now has better support in attack which has made it easier for him to have more of an effect but I completely agree that he's been the driving force behind most of our attacks.

The thing with him though is that his impact has mostly come in bursts.

Sorry dude he isn't our best player anymore. When mata was in great form and our best player for two seasons we won trophies. Hazard lead us to third but thanks more largely to our defense.

Some People say he is our best player but what is he really best at(dribbling?) Or may be chance creation but fabregas is our best passer of the ball and an assist master but also the new brain of our team so how is hazard better? Costa is another who for me personally is our best player because he is what you call an impact player(always there when you need him),he is a winner despite his young age and our saviour in terms of finishing. Matic is also outstanding with a curious talent of winning second balls and despossessing opponents seemlessly in addition to being proficient in building attacks or counter attacks. Please Hazard isn't our best player IMO he might be our best dribbler therefore in that sense our most skillful or exciting player but not our best player. We now have players I feel have greater impact on our team giving us great precision in attack and defensive solidity and who have more experince in big games and winning major trophies, I am afraid hazard lacks a bit for now to be the best player in our new team.

[iseah100 5,612]

Sorry dude he isn't our best player anymore. When mata was in great form and our best player for two seasons we won trophies. Hazard lead us to third but thanks more largely to our defense.

Some People say he is our best player but what is he really best at(dribbling?) Or may be chance creation but fabregas is our best passer of the ball and an assist master but also the new brain of our team so how is hazard better? Costa is another who for me personally is our best player because he is what you call an impact player(always there when you need him),he is a winner despite his young age and our saviour in terms of finishing. Matic is also outstanding with a curious talent of winning second balls and despossessing opponents seemlessly in addition to being proficient in building attacks or counter attacks. Please Hazard isn't our best player IMO he might be our best dribbler therefore in that sense our most skillful or exciting player but not our best player. We now have players I feel have greater impact on our team giving us great precision in attack and defensive solidity and who have more experince in big games and winning major trophies, I am afraid hazard lacks a bit for now to be the best player in our new team.

Umm.no. just no. According to you Hazard is our 5th best player? FOH.

[Bir_CFC 3,455]

Yeah the goals and assists numbers aren't there yet but they'll come. I don't have the stats but I could tell just by watching that hes getting into a lot of scoring positions now and in turn taking more shots. Sooner or later they'll start going in and he'll score even more than last year.

Where do you guys check stats? I'd love to see the number of shots he's taken so far and compare it to last year's averages.

[LukakutoStamford 779]

Still a criminally underrated player even more so by fans of other teams.

I think Hazard gets so much flack because he's a flair player who makes it look too easy, and as a result people take him for granted. The beauty of his game is in the subtle flicks, the through balls at the edge of the box send players marauding down the left flank, and sloping around defenders.

His role is to create space. At times you can see teams putting a 4 man square within close proximity to deter Eden from sneaking into the box.

Against City he was good not great, but the tactical approach by Jose virtually nullified Hazard's ability to move forward with support.

Why people continue to wish him to be Messi Ronaldo Bale etc is beyond me. He doesn't have their skill sets. He has his own that no other player has. Sadly he's not going to be recognized for his play until long after he retires when people say we need someone like Hazard to create moments of pure brilliance to free up our top scorer.

[Myself 793]

Umm.no. just no. According to you Hazard is our 5th best player? FOH.

No, he's just our fifth most important player. Without Hazard we could still cope, but with Matic/Fabregas/Costa we wouldn't be able to

[iseah100 5,612]

No, he's just our fifth most important player. Without Hazard we could still cope, but with Matic/Fabregas/Costa we wouldn't be able to

Your under estimation of Eden is shocking.

[Myself 793]

Your under estimation of Eden is shocking

Explain.

[Bir_CFC 3,455]

No, he's just our fifth most important player. Without Hazard we could still cope, but with Matic/Fabregas/Costa we wouldn't be able to

What do you mean by cope? Two of those guys you listed just joined us this season, I don't know how we coped last few years without them then. Matic just joined us this year so I don't know how we coped without him in the first half of last season and all the way to CL semis.

I'm not saying you can't make an argument for any of those players, but to definitively state that Hazard is our fifth most important player doesn't make sense to me.

[Belgiannutt 3,201]

Sorry dude he isn't our best player anymore. When mata was in great form and our best player for two seasons we won trophies. Hazard lead us to third but thanks more largely to our defense.

Some People say he is our best player but what is he really best at(dribbling?) Or may be chance creation but fabregas is our best passer of the ball and an assist master but also the new brain of our team so how is hazard better? Costa is another who for me personally is our best player because he is what you call an impact player(always there when you need him),he is a winner despite his young age and our saviour in terms of finishing. Matic is also outstanding with a curious talent of winning second balls and despossessing opponents seemlessly in addition to being proficient in building attacks or counter attacks. Please Hazard isn't our best player IMO he might be our best dribbler therefore in that sense our most skillful or exciting player but not our best player. We now have players I feel have greater impact on our team giving us great precision in attack and defensive solidity and who have more experince in big games and winning major trophies, I am afraid hazard lacks a bit for now to be the best player in our new team.

Fabregas and Costa are great players but i really think you're vastly underestimating Hazard's impact on the team. Take Hazard out of the team and you're going to see a big drop, performance wise.

Fabregas is an excellent passer of the ball but he's not fast nor a good dribbler making him easy to press and not allowing him to turn and orchestrate our attacks.

Costa is an awesome striker. He offers us some well needed grinta upfront but at the end of the day a striker is only as good as the support he gets.

It's funny how you belittle Hazard but it's usually Hazard's driving runs that give Fabregas the time and space to work his magic.(best example Burnley away, Schurlle goal)

Hell sometimes it's even just the fear of him cutting inside that takes all the attention leaving Fabregas to make the overlapping run and be left in acres of space.

I don't really understand why you find it so ridiculous and hard to believe that some people consider Hazard to still be our best player.

It's very much down to peoples opinion and how they rate certain qualities against other qualities. All three offer something different. Fabregas: incisive passing, Costa: physicality, finishing, Hazard : penetrating runs.

All three have a positive effect on eachother as their abilities "enhance" one another.

Imo i think Hazard is still our best player. For 1 very simple reason really. When sh*t hits the fan i'm looking at Hazard to get us out of it and honestly i could be wrong about this but i think the majority of the Chelsea fans do too.

When it comes down to those 3 i consider Hazard to be the one most capable of creating something out of nothing. Costa might get the goals. Fabregas might get the assists but more often then not it's gonna be Hazard that creates the spark that leads to the goal.

[LAB 1,030]

If Hazard was not in our team, then we would be 3 points down right now. He practically kept us alive in the Swansea game alone.