What were Hazard's stats last season? Costa and Fabregas have changed the dynamic at Chelsea and takes the reliance off of Hazard to score and assist.

He'll likely have lower numbers this season, however, doesn't mean he cannot be equally as impressive in his all round performances - especially with a more balanced and stronger side to play in.

I suppose the good news for Chelsea this season is looking at those numbers, and Hazard's performances, and knowing there is still more to come from him.

If him, Cesc and Costa really start to hit it off it's gonna be tough for anyone to stop them, even City.

Don't think Wenger will ever have enough 5"10 skinny attackers, Darren, but will depend on Theo's return and Ox's development this season.

With it almost certainly being Rosicky & Podolski's last season, though, wouldn't surprise me to want to get him in.

14 goals in 35 games in the league. Don't know his assists darren.
Thing is with hazard sometimes he thinks quicker than our other players and can go past a player and then no finishing product due to lack of an option. That has changed with fab and costa.

Chris

I imagine a lot of it really depends on Walcott. If he returns to form he'll be one of the first names on the team sheet with Sanchez likely being the same on the other side.

Nick, I see. He could potentially score more than that if he's more consistent and Cesc provides him with more goal scoring opportunities.

Strikes me as a player that can score a brace or a hattrick one day and then not score for a few games after that. Lucky for you you've got him really. I'm gutted we didn't get him in 2012.

I think we'd be in better shape had we got him or Moura (the other target). Di Maria has come straight in and shown us exactly what we've been missing since losing Ronaldo - apart from that period where Nani was excellent.

Hazard wouldn't make my top 10-15 players

Needs to improve in front of goal. Shooting and final pass aren't up to scratch.

comment by Chris H (U15205)
posted 33 minutes ago
Seems like it's almost fashionable to slate Ibra at times.

World class striker, with a superb goal record wherever he's been. Even when Barca were ridiculously playing him out wide he still got a 1 in 2 return I think.

In terms of out and out strikers, probably only Suarez is genuinely better
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This (but I think he is better than Suarez), the bloke has won the league in every year he has played football (bar one) since 03-04.

Literally scores for fun, and is Swedens all-time goalscorer. Holds the ball up better than almost any other striker in the past decade, and constantly performs against big teams in tough matches.

I think Hazard is a properly class player btw, but wouldnt make my top 5 attackers atm.

Ronaldo, Messi, Ibra, Suarez, Bale, Di Maria, Robben all definitely being better for me. Then the likes of Reus, Sanchez, Hazard, Pjanic, Costa, RVP, Lewandowski Rodriguez, Benzema etc in that bracket below

Edin I would also add Silva, Neymar, Iniesta, Toure and Aguero (No ones even mentioned him)

I don't think Rodriguez deserves to be there and if Benzema is in that category then Rooney should also be in it.

I think Aguero is just as good as Suarez.

Silva, Neymar, Aguero are all under etc. I love Aguero (he is my favourite player) but injuries have set him back too much to fit that bracket above. I havent included the likes of Yaya/Iniesta cos they dont really fall under 'attackers'.

In terms of talent alone, Aguero is surely up there. I think I read he has the best goals to minutes ratio in the history of the PL - might be wrong!

comment by Edinspur (U1109)
posted 22 minutes ago
Silva, Neymar, Aguero are all under etc. I love Aguero (he is my favourite player) but injuries have set him back too much to fit that bracket above. I havent included the likes of Yaya/Iniesta cos they dont really fall under 'attackers'.
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I disagree I think all of them are better then Hazard.

Toure was playing as an attacking midfielder last year so he deserves to be mentioned.

Aguero for me is up there with Suarez

Silva is one of the best passers in the Premier League. Brilliant player.

and Iniesta does play high up the pitch as an attacking midfielder and they aren't many better then him.

The likes of Mata, Ozil, Ribery and Fabregas (he has but is playing as a DM) need to up their game this season.

I put aguero in my OP did I not?

Meant in the comments

Not sure why you think Hazard is underrated but Neymar overrated Nick. Neymar has started the season extremely well for club and country.

Ronaldo, Messi, Robben, Suarez, Ibra and Bale are the only attackers I'd say are better than Hazard.

That would suggest Hazard is the best attacker in the prem. He's clearly not better than Silva and Aguero - won't mention Di Maria, who is obviously a better player, because it's early days in a new league and don't want to get ahead of myself proclaiming him the best player in the league like Arsenal fans did with Ozil.

Nick,

Going back to your original comments, I read it as he thinks those 5 are at a different level for skill and consistency, and he is a level below.

Not sure he was trying to say he is no. 6 on the list.

Surely the best direct player comparisons when trying to assess Hazard are players such as Messi, Ronaldo, Ribery, Robben, Reus and Bale.........not players like Suarez and Neymar......

IMO Hazard is on track to become a greater player than both Robben and Ribery but I do not think he will ever really challenge Ronaldo or Messi

Neymar plays the same position as Hazard.

I doubt he'll be greater than Robben, he's got a long way to go.

Influential player in title winning teams across four different countries, as well as CL winners, and one of the best players at two world cups in second and third placed teams.

Hazard has a long way to go to surpass Robben as a player. And Robben is still only 30.

Robben, has been the best winger in the last ten years in Europe after Ronaldo.

Robben probably hit his peak in 2012/2013.....they say players tend to do that at around 27 or 28 years............I see no reason why Hazard will not be better than Robben, he is a better player for Chelsea than Robben was

Neymar may play the same position but he does not play the same role...................

2012-13 he hit his peak, right. You know he was dropped that season and then got back into the side and fired them to the CL final? His peak was years before that.

Because Robben has been crucial in teams and titles that Hazard will be very lucky to replicate. As I said, Robben has probably been the best winger in the world after Ronaldo for the last ten years and has achieved so much in that time.

So what is he doesn't play the same role. Ronaldo doesn't play the same role as Hazard but you want to compare him.