Prime Hazard or Prime Salah?

BluesJr

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Anyone who says Hazard is on 100% certified smack. How can you possibly think that given Salah’s numbers since he’s been there? He’s on a different level to anything Hazard ever reached.
 

Dancfc

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Yeah I remember the massive drop off, I actually disagree with you about the nature of it though. The football became a lot less expansive (and more Mourinho like) and I think Fabregas losing a bit of form was a reason for that, as he was incredible in the first half.

Results wise Chelsea just powered through, and I think a lot of the defensive players deserve credit for this. I don’t think you lost in the league in the new year did you?

No argument from me about the importance of Hazard that season though, it’s one of the best campaigns I’ve seen in the PL from a player.
We didn't (until after we won it) but apart from Leicester away I can't recall a single point we gained that didn't come from a huge moment from one if not both of the Belgium guys. The last good team performance we had was away to you guys.
 

Dancfc

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Anyone who says Hazard is on 100% certified smack. How can you possibly think that given Salah’s numbers since he’s been there? He’s on a different level to anything Hazard ever reached.
I take it by that you rate Kevin Phillips above Bergkamp and Lampard as the best midfielder of all time?
 

Cascarino

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We didn't (until after we won it) but apart from Leicester away I can't recall a single point we gained that didn't come from a huge moment from one if not both of the Belgium guys. The last good team performance we had was away to you guys.
That’s fair, you’ll remember better than I would. And yeah I do remember the team performances drying out around that time. Sadly I remember the Swansea game vividly :lol:
 

Dancfc

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There is no argument.
I actually think Salah wins it due to his CL record.

The argument I'm contesting is people who go down the numbers route, its a beyond stupid argument as the examples I gave above show.
 

BluesJr

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I actually think Salah wins it due to his CL record.

The argument I'm contesting is people who go down the numbers route, its a beyond stupid argument as the examples I gave above show.
Goals are the ultimate barometer of your contribution to the team. They are both winger/forwards so I’d say it is completely relevant.
 

Dancfc

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Goals are the ultimate barometer of your contribution to the team. They are both winger/forwards so I’d say it is completely relevant.
So to clarify, you rated Phillips above Bergkamp?
 

Dancfc

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Phillips and Bergkamp have nothing to do with this argument. I’m talking about Salah and Hazard.
It is relevant because based on numbers the former is better so I'm asking if you also rate him higher.
 

jakko

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Salah belongs to the category of your Ronaldos, Henrys, Lewandowskis, Bales etc.. Hazard is to be likened to De Bruyne, Silva, Bruno etc.

2 very different type of player who start in similar positions but play very different roles.

In terms of who's the better player, you have to take different metrics into account. Hazard is a slightly better dribbler, a better key pass provider and a better player when it comes to dropping to collect the ball deep and start attacks. Salah is by far the better finisher, better at making incisive runs and movements, has better work-rate, helps out in defense & he is also quite a bit faster.

Hazard can (could?) often take charge of games completely and destroy the opposition but he also has dry spells where he has minimal input. Salah will give you the end product and his average performance is also much higher than Hazard's over the course of a season. For an absolute one-off peak performance, Hazard is probably a better pick (not that Salah is a pauper in this regard, Hazard is probs a bit better) but Salah will give you a regular 8.0 performance week in week out.
Hazard isn't slightly a better dribbler he is a much better dribbler.
 

Spaghetti

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It’s an easy decision. Nothing against Prime Hazard, who was great, but Prime Salah is a different level.
 

kaiser1

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I take it by that you rate Kevin Phillips above Bergkamp and Lampard as the best midfielder of all time?
Was Kevin Phillips a midfielder? The only one I recall was a striker
 

Righteous Steps

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People are going far the other way now Hazard in his prime was incredible, he was a playmaker first and foremost worth remembering but also someone who influenced games with dribbling only second to Messi.

Both footed also, and could score goals, Salah has gone to another level recently which puts him ahead but Hazard was still an incredible player.
 
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16/17 - 143.2 minutes per goal / assist (PL only since we weren't in Europe - 3007 minutes)
17/18 - 138.4 minutes per goal / assist (PL + CL - 3044 minutes)
Stats wise in 17/18 he was consistent but his on the pitch performances were not as good. Correct me if I’m wrong. Who won Chelsea’s Player of the Season in 17/18?
 

TheMagicFoolBus

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Stats wise in 17/18 he was consistent but his on the pitch performances were not as good. Correct me if I’m wrong. Who won Chelsea’s Player of the Season in 17/18?
He definitely suffered due to the downgrade from Costa to Morata - Costa was genuinely the only (even borderline) world class player he ever played with in attack during his time at Chelsea. I think it's fair to say he was slightly worse in 17/18 on that basis compared to 16/17, but given his preferred style of play synergy with his teammates is vital and as such I don't think it's correct to say it was overall a below par season.

As to your question, believe Kante won PotS in 17/18 (Hazard won in 16/17 despite Kante being named PFA PotY).
 
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He definitely suffered due to the downgrade from Costa to Morata - Costa was genuinely the only (even borderline) world class player he ever played with in attack during his time at Chelsea. I think it's fair to say he was slightly worse in 17/18 on that basis compared to 16/17, but given his preferred style of play synergy with his teammates is vital and as such I don't think it's correct to say it was overall a below par season.

As to your question, believe Kante won PotS in 17/18 (Hazard won in 16/17 despite Kante being named PFA PotY).
Fair enough, good points made. So technically only 1 bad season amongst many great ones. He was a top top player.
 

The Red Thinker

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Prime Salah any day of the week. Salah is a machine and can rip apart the very best of defences on his own. Goal monster.
 

christinaa

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Not sure I would at this age. Messi maybe, but Ronaldo is way too limited at this point compared to Salah.
Prime Messi and Ronaldo were far better than prime Hazard and Salah - that's my point.
 

KeanoMagicHat

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I think prime Man United Ronaldo was no better than Salah is now. Prime Real Madrid Ronaldo was another level.
 

JeffBoomTetris

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At this point, even going by bias of recent performances you have to go with Salah. It is hardly a question whether he could do it on a cold wet Thursday in Stoke. The guy destroys the minnows and the big teams equally for fun. A poll would be pretty good to see where people's perceptions lie.
 

ThierryHenry14

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Hazard is only 30 year old and he can't even get a game in Real Madrid and looks like he is finished, just like Alexis Sanchez at 30. Salad is 29 and is playing at the highest level at the moment.
 

Wolf1992

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Hazard is only 30 year old and he can't even get a game in Real Madrid and looks like he is finished, just like Alexis Sanchez at 30. Salad is 29 and is playing at the highest level at the moment.
Sure, but Salah was playing in the Swiss League when Hazard arrived in PL.

He is clearly a late bloomer.
 

NasirTimothy

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Anyone who says Hazard is on 100% certified smack. How can you possibly think that given Salah’s numbers since he’s been there? He’s on a different level to anything Hazard ever reached.
Because football is not just about numbers.