Eden Hazard | "It's time to enjoy life drinking beers"

cyberman

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Called it. It was ok saying 100m for a 29 yo would get you 3 odd years of world class excellence but if he takes a year to settle then a third of that that is gone. And thats it he settles straight into the second year.
Hes not as good when he isnt hogging the ball, looking for fouls and slowing the game down. When his teammates need quick releases he loses a lot of his effectiveness
 

TrustInJanuzaj

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It is funny how some on the cafe thought Hazard was on the same level(or even better).

Neymar is a level above him and has been since 2015.
I’ll be honest, Neymar has always been a better player. He’s more aggressive, more hungry for goals and still has the same dribbling ability plus some additional flair.
 

Klopper76

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Grass isn’t always greener. Sanchez, Coutinho, Hazard. Seems like they would’ve been better off where they were, at least in terms of their individual development as players.
 

Bojan11

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As I said when this thread was made - a very overrated player who was going to disappoint many with their expectations.

Looking back, @Bojan11 , @Stadjer & @El-Manos thought I was crazy, but I saw this happening.
What you going on about? What posts?

Also looking back you also thought Sanchez should be given more time. So there goes your career of replacing mystic meg.
 

Wayne's World

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Why did he keep dropping deep time and time again to get the ball? He was getting the ball at the halfway like when he could be kept quiet...

Should have left him further up top with Benzema so he could link the game up more there. Poor performance
 

harms

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He was never as good as Neymar – while their general play was comparable at some point, Neymar is obsessed with contributing goals and assist, and that hunger alone puts him on another level.

Awful performance today, anonymous.
 

Eddy_JukeZ

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I’ll be honest, Neymar has always been a better player. He’s more aggressive, more hungry for goals and still has the same dribbling ability plus some additional flair.
The only time Hazard performed well on an international stage was the World Cup in Russia and he was pretty good, but that's a one-off for him.

There's so much difference between the 2 in terms of mentality.

Hazard is more reserved in his approach. Neymar will just keep going.
 

Raees

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He was never as good as Neymar – while their general play was comparable at some point, Neymar is obsessed with contributing goals and assist, and that hunger alone puts him on another level.

Awful performance today, anonymous.
Agreed.
 

Yagami

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WeePat

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Why did he keep dropping deep time and time again to get the ball? He was getting the ball at the halfway like when he could be kept quiet...

Should have left him further up top with Benzema so he could link the game up more there. Poor performance
That's exactly what made him so dangerous at Chelsea.
 

He'sRaldo

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For a top player he's had some shocking seasons. Inconsistency season by season is another level.
 

Wayne's World

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That's exactly what made him so dangerous at Chelsea.
I want to see him getting the ball further up the pitch when he can run one and one and use his dribbling ability to beat players or create space. He did neither tonight

Not going to call him a flop because he's had quite a few injuries this season but he needs to step up next season
 

Eddy_JukeZ

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That's exactly what made him so dangerous at Chelsea.
Benzema likes to drift out wide. When he does so, there's less space for Hazard to operate from the left channels.

I think Zidane tried to nullify this somewhat by playing Hazard as a #10, but Hazard's always been fairly poor as a #10 and it didn't work.
 

Lay

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Hazard never came across as a player who really wanted to go that extra mile. I think his career, which has been great, will slowly fizzle out from now on.
 

Bojan11

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It was in a different Hazard thread:
https://www.redcafe.net/threads/eden-hazard-real-madrid-confirm-the-signing.440127/post-24212884

Hey, I never said I was always right, but people acting like my opinion on him was nonsensical were ott! It didn't take a mystic meg to see this coming.
I think you need to read what you said. You called him the most overrated player in the prem and I replied with this isn’t the Ozil thread.

Well done. I don’t know why you needed to tag me, but go ahead Meg.
 

Zoo

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It’s his first season and all but the condition he was in at the start of the season was shameful. He has a weak mentality which is a shame as he’s a joy to watch at his best.
 

adamwest

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Pants tonight - but more has to be said about that midfield. It's the same one Zidane inherited when first came aboard. They were non-existent.
 

Luke1995

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Why Zidane is trying so desperately to get Bale out of the club but keeps giving Hazard chances ?
 

ChaddyP

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Grass isn’t always greener. Sanchez, Coutinho, Hazard. Seems like they would’ve been better off where they were, at least in terms of their individual development as players.
Makes you have to give even more respect to players like Zlatan and Ronaldo who basically perform at their best no matter which club they go and also for their national team even when the squad itself is poor
 

Theafonis

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Why did he keep dropping deep time and time again to get the ball? He was getting the ball at the halfway like when he could be kept quiet...

Should have left him further up top with Benzema so he could link the game up more there. Poor performance
That's typically how he plays. At Chelsea he'd come deep, pick up the ball and run at defenders or pick out a pass.
 

WeePat

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I want to see him getting the ball further up the pitch when he can run one and one and use his dribbling ability to beat players or create space. He did neither tonight

Not going to call him a flop because he's had quite a few injuries this season but he needs to step up next season
Benzema likes to drift out wide. When he does so, there's less space for Hazard to operate from the left channels.

I think Zidane tried to nullify this somewhat by playing Hazard as a #10, but Hazard's always been fairly poor as a #10 and it didn't work.
I haven't watched that many Real Madrid games this season, but in the games I have watched I noticed two things. 1. Benzema also likes to drift wide or drop deep so he winds up occupying the same areas Hazard typically likes to operate in. 2. His current teammates are nowhere near as interested in looking to pass him the ball to start every attack. He isn't the focal point the way he was at Chelsea, so as a result he winds up seeing much less of the ball.

I hope this is just teething problems exacerbated by niggling injuries. I want to see him back to his best next season.
 

giorno

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Why Zidane is trying so desperately to get Bale out of the club but keeps giving Hazard chances ?
Because we just spent 100m for Hazard

Bale has been completely ammortised
 

marktan

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Looks like Coutinho at Barca. In fact price wise not too dissimilar at all. Was absolutely terrible tonight, did nothing.
 

Maluco

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I can’t believe the way he came back after the summer to start at a new club like Madrid. I think that told you all you needed to know about his mentality. He hasn’t recovered.
 

Eddy_JukeZ

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You sure? I thought he was especially good in 2016/17 when Conte wanted him more in the final third.
He was very good that season. Conte's switch to the 5 back also made Hazard have less responsibility to track back.
 

WeePat

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You sure? I thought he was especially good in 2016/17 when Conte wanted him more in the final third.
Conte and Sarri both tried to restrain him in a rigid system but in all 3 seasons, especially under Sarri, he wound up playing exactly how he wanted, coming deep, drifting from side to side, because he was always our sole/most creative outlet.
 

ThinkTank@Cafe

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Raiding EPL cost La Liga giants a lot. EPL teams impressively improved at transfers since Ronaldo went from us to Real. Hazard, Coutunho, Bale becoming black holes in struggling Spanish royals financials.The end of Spanish hegemony in Europe. Strangely, this situation reminded me of Great ArmAda defeat.
 

SirReginald

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Why do Real Madrid play him over Bale? Because Bale is finished.

He doesn’t want to leave unless another lucrative offer comes in because if he drops his wages and goal/appearance fees they will never go back up. He isn’t Ibra, he won’t still have an incredible record post injuries as he reaches retirement.

Hazard has always had his issues. Mainly he likes to eat. He supposedly eats more than Lukaku. He came back fat a couple of times with us too. Still I’ll happily take him back though.
 

TheMagicFoolBus

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£88m up front, with further £40m in variables, which fair to say are not getting fulfilled any time soon.

I still don't know why Madrid sold Ronaldo, they have wasted so much money in trying to find a replacement, they'd be better off paying his ridiculous €60m salary instead.

I haven't watched too much of Chelsea in CL but he was a great player domestically and from glimpses I caught in EL last year. Almost always tore us a new ass when he played against us, hence he maybe slightly overrated by some on the board. But, he was absolute quality at Chelsea overall.
The variables are tied to Real Madrid's performances and not Hazard's - Chelsea get bonuses if Real Madrid qualify for the CL and if they win major trophies (e.g. the league this year).

Maximum possible value of the deal is €145m; Madrid are on the hook already for €120m. A further €15m is all but assured should Madrid qualify for the CL over the next two years; if they win two more major trophies then Chelsea get €5m for each.