Robben in his prime was a better player than Bale.
I'do go with Hazard. Bar his previous season, hardly ever injured and carries Chelsea.
Hazard or Bale
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In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik (@Rood) was joined by comedian Ali Woods to look back at the best and worst moments of a rollercoaster season with the annual United Hour Awards.
Has Ten Hag been sacked yet? We're not sure and we hope not, but it's looking more likely as the days pass.
Who should replace him and why is it taking so long to make a decision?
I'do go with Hazard. Bar his previous season, hardly ever injured and carries Chelsea.
You can be an ineffective, or even downright average, player in a great team (not applying for Hazard), so I'm not sure I agree with your argument. Hazard has stated himself that he will never score as many goals as Messi or Ronaldo. He doesn't look to assist a whole lot either. He contributes a lot in build-up play, so he's kind of more similar to Iniesta perhaps?
Nani at his best was bloody good though!
Despite bales pace and power I think Hazard brings more to a team overall. Far more ability to get his team scoring rather than trying to be a one man wrecking ball. Hazards impact is really underrated. It's no coincidence that if he has a good season Chelsea tend to win/look like winning the league.
Bale probably a better match winner, but i prefer Hazard myself. And would rather watch Hazard play
Better athlete - Bale
Better technical footballer - Hazard
If we could sign one though, it'd be Bale for me.
Better technical footballer - Hazard
If we could sign one though, it'd be Bale for me.
Bale - just a better player - the nearest thing to Ronaldo in his prime
Sorry, when did he insult you? Or are you just disgruntled that there are in fact people who don't agree with you? You poor kid.
If Bale wasn't so brittle, it would be him by a country mile. Can play all over the midfield and attack.
Wow, peak Robben and Ribery have easily been Bale's level if not better. Neymar will go down as the better player than both of them but their prime against his best form so far isn't really much apart either.
Are you kidding me? How in the world are Neymar and Bale a level above Robben and Ribery at their peak? Robben at the very least has reached levels beyond definitely bale. Ribery although not consistent throughout his career has put in seasons better than bale.
Yeah, i meant when judging them it's not really close. Bale is clearly the better player. That said, yes, of course they're close in terms of ability
Everybody thinks football is all about scoring goals and if so, knowing that they are both wingers we do know they're both very good players. Both these talents were recognised by the greatest of managers in Jose and Anchelotti, they deserve credit for that. But when it comes to one v one, here are the comparisons:
BALE HAZARD
Offense: 8/10 8/10
Creation: 8/10 7/10
Passing: 9/10 9/10
Finishing: 9/10 8/10
Defense: 7/10 8/10
That's pretty close but there is one more attribute,
Experience: 9/10 7/10
Therefore, Bale.
BALE HAZARD
Offense: 8/10 8/10
Creation: 8/10 7/10
Passing: 9/10 9/10
Finishing: 9/10 8/10
Defense: 7/10 8/10
That's pretty close but there is one more attribute,
Experience: 9/10 7/10
Therefore, Bale.
Put it like this: if we're only judging hazard on his 14/15 pl season, i think he might just edge it. Problem is, hazard has yet to replicate that form, both in the league, in the CL and for belgium
And it might just be a case of him being held back by his teams...
And it might just be a case of him being held back by his teams...
To be fair not that long ago Robben was considered a choke artist and wasn't viewed in the same light as he is now.
five years is pretty long in football time, a year before that he knocks us out of the CL with a outrageous volley remember?
Easiest example would be Wales v Belgium... direct comparison, recent and think Belgium were ranked 2 at the time?
Bale had a decent game (less obvious in terms of end result but effective and a good example of how he can work as part of a team)....... Hazard relatively anonymous, huffed and puffed but well controlled by Welsh MF and defence.
Bale had 23 shots in the tournament 17 on target, scored 3. Hazard 6, 3, 1.
Bale was good to excellent throughout tournament too.
Finally, which team/squad were most likely to progress and give you the chance to shine? Think most people thought it'd be Belgium but despite players from Italy, United, City, Spurs, etc Hazard couldn't help raise their game..... meanwhile, Bale played in a team with players from non PL teams and some without clubs - good example of someone who can shine individually while making the team he plays for better.
Bale over Hazard any day of the week and twice on Sundays.
easy example or "Only" example
Its laughable you think Neymar and Bale are above Robben and Ribery. Incredible really. Neymar has been average for the good part of a year now.
Some serious underrating of Ribery and Robben in this thread, Hazard has never reached the levels of either of them or Bale. Hazard's done feck all in Europe for a start which is the best stick to measure with. Not even close for me, Bale every time.
Well when someone (you) types "Has he been great against a top country for Wales?"..... the "a" in the sentence suggests asking for one example?easy example or "Only" example
That said, I didnt post about the "only" example, I posted about the tournament as a whole also and how they respectively performed, individually and in their respective teams?
I'd say they had similar strength group opposition and Hazard scored ZERO..... when they needed him against top class opposition (Italy) which you asked about Bale, he was nowhere. He managed one goal v an average Hungary team and did diddly v Wales.
Bale (in a much worse squad, on paper) scored in every group game.
If a direct comparison and tournament performance is still "only" for you, how about the Euro qualifiers, which is another perfect example to compare being as they were in the same group so played the same opposition?
Hazard scored five (though two pens), Bale scored seven (no pens) and was equal top scorer in the group. When they played each other, one was a draw, the other Wales won with BALE the goalscorer (excellent anticipation and cool finish).... again, Hazard ran around looking busy but couldn't influence the game.
Bale makes a difference through effort, teamwork, assists and goals... stats, above show that. Bale looks comfortable in a good team, but can raise an 'average' team.... Hazard looks good in a good team (still a very good player mind).
Oh and Bale has scored in a CL Final (which are generally stronger quality than a lot of international matches).
By any measure, I'd choose Bale.
Hazard is a better footballer, more talented and more skilled. But Bale has more killer instinct and is probably a better match winner. Tough one. Bale just edges it for me.
You think Bale & Neymar are above Robben?
To be fair how many great teams have Wales played? If we're only counting the best teams in the world, then in competitive games they've only played Belgium a couple times and that's it. He's consistently played better teams than Wales though and led his sides to victories, you'd be hard pressed to find someone who was more important to their teams Euro qualification than Bale was.easy example or "Only" example
He played well against Belgium in qualifying too, leading his team to a 1-0 victory where of course he scored the sole goal of the game.
Then again I find your original point well off the mark, as he won the PFA player of the season while playing for Spurs, who were far from the best team in the league.
I can understand someone choosing Hazard, but to say Bale only shines in great teams is very disingenuous when he's shown scintillating form for Wales and Spurs.
Is this even a debate? Bale is clearly the better player IMO.
I feel like people tend to overrate players that play for the Spanish giants, even to the point of downplaying the level of players like Robben and Ribery. @AshfordLad doesn't have much basis for those claims
Considering that since 2006 Barca and Madrid have won more CL trophies than the rest of Europe combined..
If fully fit, I'll always choose Bale. But he gets injured too often for my liking and takes a bit of time to get back into his rhythm. For this reason and for being 2 years younger, I would choose Hazard. I remember being really pissed off when we refused to pay the 8m agent fee needed to sign Hazard and ultimately losing out to Chelsea.
Bale quite easily. I think people have forgotten how good he is since he's been in Spain. Hazard on the other hand is a lovely player when at his best but goes missing in action for club and country far too often. I couldn't see Hazard nailing down a place in Madrid's team for long.
Not sure that's a given. I don't think there was that much better than Arjen Robben at his best. In my opinion he's a top 5 player of this generation alongside Messi, Ronaldo, Xavi and Iniesta. Pretty illustrious company.
I remember being pissed that we missed out on Bale, though to be fair that was more Southampton/his agents fault ..... which ended up costing them. Another reason to beat them in the League Cup Final .... on top of '76.
Yes, I hold a grudge.
True if Hazard ever goes to one of the big two clubs people will see how truly good he is, for example i don't think Suarez or Bale got the plaudits they deserved till their moves, Hazard playing for a team that blitzes teams by 3 or 4 goals a game would look even more special, also playing under even more attacking orientated managers, Conte and Mourinho are two of the best managers in the world but they're not exactly known for their scintillating attacking setups, rather for the discipline, ruthlessness and sheer robotic like consistency of their teams
As a forward/wide forward to stand beside Ronaldo and Messi you need to be literally a goal a game type of player. Which he is not.
I think people have forgotten how good Bale is...Hazard's a great great player but I can't really think of anyone I would rather have at United than Bale. Fully fit, I don't think he has a weakness whereas Hazard literally decided not to show up for the entirety of last season.
He is not as good in tight spaces, thats a weakness from the top of my head.
Personally I think this was more of a problem in his early days at Madrid, before his latest injury he'd come on leaps and bounds with regards to his ball control and retention when pressed and squeezed. Of course if you're comparing his close control to Hazard then he certainly comes off worse as Hazard is at an elite level with regards to close ball control.
Different physical build
That there is exactly my point. You can't argue that he has been great for wales when they/he have not faced the best teams.
You can't have it both ways. This is not about bale per say but about the logic of the argument when your comparing with another player who has been great against the top sides internationally.
I think if he was in a better national team then he would not have to be a one man army and would shine against the better sides.
So your argument was Bale had never done it against decent international opposition, then when given an example, you say it's "only" one and do a smiley face (way to make your case) then given good arguments re last international tournament and DIRECT comparison when countries played each other, you try and tackle it from another angle, namely Hazard has been great against top sides..... has he?
His goals have been v Kazakhstan, Montenegro, Slovakia, Macedonia, Sweden, Cyprus, France (friendly), Bosnia, Cyprus, Andorra, Israel, Norway, Hungary, Bosnia, Gibraltar, Estonia.
Yeah, top opposition?
"You can't have it both ways?"
#agenda