The Impact of Eden Hazard at Chelsea versus Neymar at Barça

Gil wrote:You guys just got his NT manager who compared him to the great Zidane without blinking an eye and you think this is an indictment on Hazard?

I don't think he'll ever match Messi's & Ronaldo's yearly consistency without a direct rival pushing him to improve every year but it's not completely impossible to reach one of his peak seasons. If lesser talented players like Suarez & Ibrahimovic can do it then it's not a target that's completely out of the orbit for Eden. He's talented, assured in his ability and has acknowledged he needs to score more to ever reach their level so I wouldn't put it past him.

He doesn't have Messi's explosiveness over the first 5 yards but from what I've seen this season his all round game is already his level. He just needs to become more decisive like Wilmots said and that'll come over time. The same criticism was leveled off at both Messi & Ronaldo earlier on in their careers if you remember correctly.

Like my man Le Samoroui already noted Hazard is a completely selfless player, he'll always look for the pass before he takes a shot. A statistic that emphasizes this point is the fact he's 4th in the PL in goalscoring yet averages the 31st most shots in the League. This is of course partly because he doesn't take up the attacking positions the likes of Ronaldo & Messi do but you have to acknowledge he's playing a different role than those two.

I think next season when we eventually move away from "give Eden the damn ball and lets see what happens". Both the team and Hazard will evolve into the very elite.....a left back that completely dominates his flank a la Marcelo/Alves in Shaw will take a load of burden off Hazard. A World Class centre midfielder to pair with Matic which relives Hazard the duty of taking up interior positions to help build up play & keep us ticking but instead force him to take up more devestating positions in the final 3rd. And of course....as well as old man Eto'o has been doing all things considered, a striker who's movement isn't completely shit and can finish the chances Hazard will create.



Hazard's highlights so far this season. What a player!

Valkyrja wrote:They are both top 5 players. Different styles, but both great in their own rights

S wrote:who mole

Great Leader Sprucenuce wrote:

S wrote:who mole

Messi, Ronaldo, Robben and Suarez.

Valkyrja wrote:Suarez isn't better than them. Robben is on their level though

S wrote:Can we expect Robben to be the same after his injury though ? Not to mention age is not on his side.
It might to be a tad bit premature to call Hazard Top 5 but its not that farfetched tbh.
Matter of time before he cements his place among the elite.

farfan wrote:

Great Leader Sprucenuce wrote:

S wrote:who mole

Messi, Ronaldo, Robben and Suarez.

did you also think that Robben was a top 4 player back in 2005 ?

'i'm not sure if it's you , but i think i remember you saying that Robben was at least this good , if not better during his time at Chelsea .

RealGunner wrote:How can ANYONE argue Suarez isn't a top 6 player after a season he has had?

Messi & Neuer are in a separate league, followed by Suarez, Neymar, Robben, Ronaldo.

Then the likes of Müller, Hazard, Benzema, Sanchez, Boateng, Alaba, De Bruyne come in.