By on September 18, 2012
Kicking it with the best
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Chelsea: Like this team?
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93 Comments
posted 21 days ago
Contributor I
I know he's young, but wasn't Messi
already on another level at 21? I think Hazard could very well be one
of the best players in the world eventually, but I don't think he'll
ever get to the complete domination level of Messi and Ronaldo.
Especially in terms of goal scoring, there's no question. Besides,
Chelsea better hope he doesn't get that good, because he'll be leaving
for Madrid or Barca once they come calling in a heartbeat...
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posted 21 days ago
Contributor I
- Two things:
1. Madrid wanted Hazard but he wanted to play in the Premier League.
2. Ronaldo's first season at United wasn't that impressive (6 goals and 4 assists in nearly 40 games).
Hazard has all the potential to be one of the worlds best and if he can continue the way he has started I am certain he will be there.-
posted 21 days ago
Contributor I
- Nonsense - he wanted RM but they didnt want him and made no approach, hence his "I only want to play for RM" then turned into " Spurs are a good team", then Manchester United, then City, then Chelsea etc etc.
Dont make things up. -
posted 20 days ago
Contributor I
- @Phil: He did want to play in the premier league and picked Chelsea because they were the Champions of Europe. Real Madrid showed interest in him but didn't want to pay over 30 million for him.
Dont make things up. -
posted 20 days ago
Contributor I
- @Michael: Of course the sun revolves around the earth Galileo
Don't make things up -
posted 20 days ago
Contributor I
- Ronaldo was 18 when he played his first season for united
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posted 20 days ago
Contributor I
- @Michael: Sure they did. Thats why he claimed "I only want t o play for RM", before they were not interested.
And he picked Chelsea because City refused to pay him what he wanted.
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posted 21 days ago
Contributor I
- Hazard scored more than 20 goals last season, that's not bad at that age man..
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posted 21 days ago
Contributor I
- messi at age 18 was already getting on balon d'or list and had a good image. hazard is just over hyped because he plays for chelsea!!
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posted 20 days ago
Featured Columnist II
- @solie: The first Ballon d'Or Messi was even close to was 2007, which was when he was 20.
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posted 20 days ago
Contributor I
- how many of those were penalties?
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posted 21 days ago
Contributor I
I read the title, then said LOL
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posted 20 days ago
Contributor I
- same
posted 21 days ago
Contributor I
I'd take Gotze or Wilshere over Hazard
at the moment actually. Let's see if he can manage to be consistent over
the course of the season before he is compared to anyone.
The January winter season is when the real test starts and everyone starts losing a little pace.
Btw Messi scored an incredible 70 goals in 63 appearances last season. Honestly I don't see anyone in the world overtaking him for at least a decade.
The January winter season is when the real test starts and everyone starts losing a little pace.
Btw Messi scored an incredible 70 goals in 63 appearances last season. Honestly I don't see anyone in the world overtaking him for at least a decade.
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posted 21 days ago
Featured Columnist II
- I doubt that record will be matched anywhere but La Liga, Hadi.
Whether it's a case of lacklustre defending or the significant gulf in between top and bottom teams, the likes of Ronaldo and Messi seem to find it easier to score than in the EPL.-
posted 21 days ago
Contributor I
- Ronaldo was a frequent scorer in the premier league especially in 2007/08 31 goals in 34 games and golden boot winner.
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posted 21 days ago
Contributor I
- @Nathan: Which is different than 40+ in 2 consecutive seasons. No one's ever done that in the EPL.
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posted 21 days ago
Contributor I
- @Nick: yes because like we see, maybe the ucl is also lack of good defending. messi has been top scorer for 4 years now and also whether you acknowledge it or not, when a striker follows 73 goals with 29 assists, there is no denying! there isnt an excuse anymore
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posted 21 days ago
Contributor I
- @Nick: i believe ronaldo's first season in la liga, messi scored 34, after that they both started inspiring that, so rather than blame la liga defenses, maybe acknowledge their greatness.
we all saw how great chelsea's defending was when falcao was on the field -
posted 21 days ago
Contributor I
- @solie: Where did I say it was a lack of defending? Go ahead and point that out. Its because the styles are differently and if you feed one player over and over again the EPL players start getting more physical. La Liga doesn't do that. Its nothing about the quality of the leagues, don't try to read points that aren't there.
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posted 21 days ago
Contributor I
- @Nick: la liga doesnt get physical? bullcrap!! for all its physcality, they still dont do as well anymore in europe!! bring up chelsea but we all know theres something more than just their abilities that won them the ucl!! you simply dont get outshot 40-9 by bayern and still win, at the allianz arena, nnor does barca (4 post hit, and 1 goal clearance), napoli got a goal cleared on the line! there was destiny in chelsea's win, not just their abilities. as falcao pointed out..
and i brought the defending part to respond to the original post.
also for all the physicality, we all have seen what small technical players can do no matter what. look at mata, aguero or silva! -
posted 20 days ago
Contributor I
- @solie: It has nothing to do with destiny, the other teams were wasteful on the day, very wasteful. For all there shooting Bayern more than half the time they didn't look like they were going to hit the target. Out of there 40 shots 7 were on target that's horribly inefficient, Gomez choked in that match, Robben choked. Gomez was not the usual one touch finisher he was known for and Robben cut in so many times on his left and did nothing. The possession was not even that skewed 55% - 45%. As for Barcelona all they had was possession and no penetration. They were up a man, and from Terry came off Barcelona did the same thing over and over and over again without fail. 72% - 28% possession, 660 - 117 passes and out of their 22 shots attempted in only 5 were on target in the second leg alone. They had more than ample opportunities to change the way they played but the fact of the matter is that teams usually mentally break down vs Barcelona and Chelsea did not. They defended superbly and Barcelona did not bank on this and had no plan B. Had David Villa been fit it might have been a different story but on both days, Barcelona was wasteful and one dimensional and Bayern simply choked in that final. It had absolutely nothing to do with destiny.
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posted 19 days ago
Contributor I
- @solie: Lol.. Well said about chelshit
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posted 21 days ago
Contributor I
- Well lets see if Wilshere can actually stay healthy.
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posted 21 days ago
Contributor I
- Wilshere...maybe...hopefully he can hit the ground running when he gets back from his injury, but he really is England's next best thing. Gotze on the other hand...he pretty much can do what Hazard can do, he's very technically gifted like Hazard except hazard is a better dribbler and a bit pacier. But what i think what separates Hazard & Gotze is the fact that Hazard is more of a goal scoring threat than Gotze. But when it comes to passing and the vision needed to make those exemplary passes i'd say they're the same.
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posted 21 days ago
Contributor I
- haha what? I am sorry, even when Wilshere wasn't injured, he wasn't as good as Eden Hazard is now. Same with Gotze.
Although I agree with you about the January winter season. -
posted 21 days ago
Contributor I
- Nobody even Messi would score anything close to that amount in the Prem because it is more defensive and why would you take Wilshere? The guy can't stay fit!!
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posted 21 days ago
Contributor I
- i think ronaldo or messi would get close to that stat though!! ronaldo's first season in la liga, he had 26 goals, then the following season, he had 40 goals, which was just 6 more than his highest total in the prem league. then last season he had 46, its just a matter of getting better every year!! and messi was 34, then ronaldo came and messi scored 31, then last season scored 50. and he didnt just top la liga, he got 14 in the ucl as welll, which was higher than all his other totals in previous years.
like i said, its a matter of getting better. and i think the prem's defense is overrated.
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posted 20 days ago
Contributor I
- You take a often injured wilshire over Hazard? Ok lol
posted 21 days ago
Contributor I
lol what did he really do agaisnt
decent teams such as athletico or newcastle. Its ok when he is facing of
against wigan, qpr and reading but there our tougher test for him and
then you judge. Chelsea fans geting a bit over there head
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posted 21 days ago
Contributor I
- hazard scored a penalty and got an assist in the game against newcastle
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posted 21 days ago
Contributor I
- stand corrected on nufc, but athletico showed you to be poor
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posted 21 days ago
Contributor I
- lol scored a pk and an assist... haha haha how about the game vs athletico? as soon as he's in the epl, he becomes overhyped
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posted 21 days ago
Contributor I
- to be fair, the whole chelsea side played terrible against Atletico.
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posted 21 days ago
Contributor I
- They are going to do the same if they do not do anything to stop counter attacks.
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posted 21 days ago
Contributor I
jog on
posted 21 days ago
Contributor I
4 games in and he's Messi? Comedy gold.
Frankly he's nowhere near Messi, and never will be. Give the guy a
chance and lets see if he can succeed in the PL first, and not just
against weaker opposition. The jury is out - he has it all to prove.
As for youngsters Gotze is really the one to watch, and he's not a mercenary little whore like Hazard too which is a real bonus.
As for youngsters Gotze is really the one to watch, and he's not a mercenary little whore like Hazard too which is a real bonus.
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posted 21 days ago
Contributor I
- Excatly . Look at messi at 21 and the difference will be noted .
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posted 21 days ago
Contributor I
- i agree messi was already on ballon d'or list at age 21. i think gotze is a talent!! has anyone seen thiago alcantara? if he didnt have to compete with barca's midfielders, i.e if he was in chelsea (who have an awful midfield) i think he'd be getting all the hype as well
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posted 20 days ago
Contributor I
- @solie: exactly...
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posted 21 days ago
Contributor I
I actually believe Goetze has the most
chance of becoming the next player who could even remotely be compared
to Messi because Messi was playing at a very similar level at 19 or 20
years old as Goetze is now. Anyone who watched Germany's qualifiers
against Faroe Islands last week will know what I mean. Some of Goetze's
movement, chipped passing in impossibly tight spaces, pace and the
ability to burn players on the dribble makes him better than Hazard in
my opinion . Arsenal (a notoriously tight financial team) offered 40
million for Goetze when he was only 19 which would have smashed their
other record of 23 million. Chelsea who is know to pay way TOO much for
players only paid 33 for Hazard.
posted 21 days ago
Contributor I
Nice article!!!
Eden Hazard is already a world class talent that i'd love too see become as great as Messi & Ronaldo are.But EPL is is a physically demanding league which will test his fitness mentally & physically....
Eden Hazard is already a world class talent that i'd love too see become as great as Messi & Ronaldo are.But EPL is is a physically demanding league which will test his fitness mentally & physically....
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posted 21 days ago
Featured Columnist II
- I'm glad you liked it Gaurav.
And you're right, only time will tell in that essence.
posted 20 days ago
Contributor I
Hazard is a great talent, but it's
really too early to say that he can challenge Messi and Ronaldo. Hazard
is on the same level as Shaqiri and Kagawa.
posted 21 days ago
Contributor I
he needs to be deadlier in front of
goal. He should have scored twice last weekend, although admittedly the
first chance was a great save from cesar. The second one was a sitter
and he should be burying those.
However, like you said,time on his side. he also needs to win trophies to be in the conversation. he would probably vying for that honour with neymar and gotze once they are starting to reach their peak.
However, like you said,time on his side. he also needs to win trophies to be in the conversation. he would probably vying for that honour with neymar and gotze once they are starting to reach their peak.
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posted 21 days ago
Contributor I
- He should have no scored, no doubt, but Chelsea fans will definitely give him a break given what he's already done for us. There's a lot of weight resting on his shoulders and I think he started to realize the pressure is on after our colossal loss to Atletico. Remember, even Messi missed a penalty in the CL Semi Final, no one's perfect.
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posted 21 days ago
Contributor I
- except messi was proven as a born scorer at age 21, he was already top scorer in ucl i think!
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posted 21 days ago
Contributor I
Hazard will soon challenge messi and
ronaldo? WTF? isnt he better than both of them? at least he's the best
player in the best team in the best football league in the world not
some $#!tty 2 Teamed B-League
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posted 21 days ago
Contributor I
- I can't tell if you are serious or not judging by your name.
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posted 21 days ago
Contributor I
- I think he's serious...
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posted 21 days ago
Contributor I
- Way to go KID
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posted 21 days ago
Contributor I
- just wow
posted 20 days ago
Contributor I
Who's Eden Hazard?...
posted 21 days ago
Contributor I
Ummm Messi was the best in the world at 21. He will be among the best one day but i cant see him being THE BEST.
posted 20 days ago
Contributor I
LOL at this article!!
posted 20 days ago
Contributor I
the thing that annoys me the most is
the fact that Hazard is a glorified version of "chelsea/mourinho's" JOE
COLE. I can also think of many young players that are TECHNICALLY better
than him!
posted 20 days ago
Contributor I
Kagawa is a better player, the stats
shows it, his trophy cabinet shows it and more importantly his impact on
the pitch shows it.
posted 19 days ago
Contributor I
hazard being 21 and joining Chelsea
doesnt lead to him becoming the best in the world. Messi started his
career in Barcelona at the age of 16 and made his senior team debut at
17. Ronaldo joined Manchester United at the age of 18. On top of
that,messi started getting all his honours at 22. Ronaldo getting his
awards at 23. If hazard doesn't get it by then, he won't join the two
legends.
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posted 19 days ago
Featured Columnist II
- Technically speaking, Messi came to Barça when he was 13 and made his senior debut at the age of 16, Hiro.
As for your point, different stars reach different states at different times. There's no ticking time bomb on Hazard, so I'd have to disagree with you statement.-
posted 19 days ago
Contributor I
- I know, I thought that we should focus on their senior career. I just wanted to point out that joining Chelsea at his age is not that young. Also, I want to point out that it's too early to say he will become the best or one of the best players because he hasn't contributed to the team's honour yet.
He made his UNOFFICIAL debut at 16. He then made his OFFICIAL debut at the age of 17.
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posted 20 days ago
Contributor I
Messi has time on his also. He's only 25.
posted 21 days ago
Contributor I
dont sleep on hazard's little brother
either! Eden himself has said his younger brother is the more talented
one out of the bunch!
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posted 21 days ago
Contributor I
- Of course he would say that he doesn't want to sound stuck up.
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posted 20 days ago
Contributor I
- so? so what if he said that? of course he would say that, it's his BROTHER and plus he wants his YOUNGER brother to be encouraged, and he's almost carrying out his duties as a older companion.
posted 20 days ago
Contributor I
Ronaldo and Messi are on another league. Hazard's good but no where near their league
posted 21 days ago
Contributor I
When Messi was 21 he was on a whole nother level
posted 21 days ago
Contributor I
Hazard can definitely become the best
player in the world. But I don't think he will dominate to the extent
that Messi and Ronaldo do. No players have scored the amount of goals
these guys are currently scoring in decades.
Hazard is a great playmaker. But he really needs to develop his goalscoring ability if he wants to challenge Messi and Ronaldo's greatness.
Hazard is a great playmaker. But he really needs to develop his goalscoring ability if he wants to challenge Messi and Ronaldo's greatness.
posted 20 days ago
Contributor I
Messi isnt exactly two footed.
posted 21 days ago
Contributor I
I think Hazard will be entering his
prime right about the time Messi and Ronaldo are exiting theirs. Maybe
there will be a year or two where Messi is still at his best and Hazard
is just getting to his best, but you never know. Ronaldo is 27, after
all.
posted 21 days ago
Contributor I
hate it when people say they will
choose wilshere over hazardbecausewilshere has been out all season and
hazardhas only just arrived and is actually doing well so how can they
say that
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posted 21 days ago
Contributor I
- Thats what we call ARSENAL spirit i bet they would choose Bendtner over Messi and Ronaldo
posted 20 days ago
Contributor I
Nicely put article but I think its way too early to compare him to Messi and CR7 as he has a lot prove...
The matches that he has played in aren't very high pressure matches and that's where you actually get to see a true talent...
Also I'm not sure about the fact that if he has ever got injured. Not saying that it should happen but I have seen player abilities decline after coming out of injuries.
If it ever happens that would be one of his true tests and if he does come out of it with flying colors he might be considered among the best, still not the best as the stats, figures, charisma and awesomeness that Messi and CR7 have given to the footballing world would be hard to counter...
The matches that he has played in aren't very high pressure matches and that's where you actually get to see a true talent...
Also I'm not sure about the fact that if he has ever got injured. Not saying that it should happen but I have seen player abilities decline after coming out of injuries.
If it ever happens that would be one of his true tests and if he does come out of it with flying colors he might be considered among the best, still not the best as the stats, figures, charisma and awesomeness that Messi and CR7 have given to the footballing world would be hard to counter...
