Has Eden Hazard peaked?

[Ligue 1 fan]

So what's going on? He was once touted as the 3rd best player in the world, I noticed last night that he was just walking around the pitch showing no desire or passion. He HAS to go in the summer doesn't he?

Is it when the thrill of big money becomes the norm, and you find yourself playing for a passionless club that form slips?

Or was it a falling out with Mourinho? Lack of confidence? Boots too small?

Where would he end up? Do big clubs want a player who goes missing and will get a manager sacked from his woeful performances?

PSG and Real are mentioned as potential clubs but hard to see him strengthing (?!) these two clubs.

 

[Storzy]

Where would he end up? Do big clubs want a player who goes missing and will get a manager sacked from his woeful performances?

Barca signed a racist striker that is prone to biting opposition players. Of course they'll be plenty of teams lining up to sign him.

 

[Whitechapel]

I can see him going to Bayern. Ribery's long term replacement.

 

[SALTIRE]

Barca signed a racist striker that is prone to biting opposition players. Of course they'll be plenty of teams lining up to sign him.

That striker happens to be one of the top five players in the world and has been for years now. Hazard isn't at that level and unless he bucks up his ideas, he won't be.

 

[Ligue 1 fan]

Barca signed a racist striker that is prone to biting opposition players. Of course they'll be plenty of teams lining up to sign him.

Why did you not mention his goal scoring and attacking qualities?

 

[JimJams]

Probably for the same reason you didn't mention Hazards attacking ability either. You brought up a negative reason for other clubs not to sign him and Storzy came up with a player with negative reasons for not buying him that had no effect on the sale whatsoever. Seems pretty obvious to me.

 

[BlueBee]

Hazard would score loads of goals in a team which played to his strengths. Stick him in the current Madrid/Barca/PSG/Munich team and he'll be one of the top performers in each team.

We play defensive boring football. Not even Messi could get this team going. There's not a single player in our squad which is anywhere near Hazard in terms of wavelength. On another planet to all of them.

 

[Art Morte]

No, I don't think Hazard's peaked yet. Just having a bad season. Even Messi - by his standards - had a quieter season in 13-14 before coming back to his usual self the next season.

Mourinho failed to motivate a lot of the Chelsea players. And Hazard doesn't look like a self-motivated guy to the extent of someone like Suarez, who is just insanely competitive and doesn't need anyone else to motivate him. I think Hazard, to be at his best, needs:
a) some pressure, and that isn't there this season after winning the title and the POTY last season.
b) competition and some big egos in the squad. I'm sure he'd be trying harder if he had to compete with Bayern Munich's or Real Madrid's forwards for game time. In the current Chelsea team, even if he's benched for someone like Pedro or Kenedy or Remy, he knows he's really better than them.
c) a manager who can motivate him in other ways than just telling him "you're a champion, you're the best, now play like it!"

At Chelsea this season there's been none of the above motivation for Hazard.

 

[merseyboyred]

Probably for the same reason you didn't mention Hazards attacking ability either. You brought up a negative reason for other clubs not to sign him and Storzy came up with a player with negative reasons for not buying him that had no effect on the sale whatsoever. Seems pretty obvious to me.

I guess the difference is Suarez never let those issues affect his contribution on the pitch, just his availability to play! A player being willing to down tools or reduce the effort they put in to the extent Hazard has may be a concern to clubs with already ego-packed dressing rooms?

 

[Storzy]

I guess the difference is Suarez never let those issues affect his contribution on the pitch, just his availability to play! A player being willing to down tools or reduce the effort they put in to the extent Hazard has may be a concern to clubs with already ego-packed dressing rooms?

So how does that change anything?

Suarez gets banned for 6 months and Hazard plays poorly. At least Hazard is on the pitch and doesn't have a potential lifetime ban hanging over his head.

They'll be a host of teams lining up for Hazard if he's available, nothing anyone has said has come close to disputing that.

 

[Pyeman]

How much money do you think he'd be available for?

I can see his valuation being a stumbling block for any potential deal. Chelsea would surely want a value that reflects his potential, which is undoubtedly huge. Yet after his performances this season, would any club be willing to splash £50/£60 million on him?

 

[Whitechapel]

I think he's worth about £30mil. Knowing PSG they'll probably pay £75mil.

 

[Art Morte]

Contract until 2020, he won't go for less than £80m unless Chelsea decide they want to sell, then they might accept £60m-70m.