₦airaland Forum

Why all this unnecessary talk about Hazard?

Who is Hazard and what has he done to warrant all this noise. One would think we are discussing Messi and Ronaldo.

Hazard is just another good player in the team. I did not get excited when he was onform and will not call for his sale because people expect magic from him and he isn't delivering.

He is just another good player in the team! Likes of Lampard did not generate this much noise and he actually finished 2nd in WPOTY, something Hazard fans have been hyping but he hasn't even made Top20 yet. No one made this noise about Lampard or claimed certain managers did not use him well.

Ballack was a ninja who took his team to World Cup final. The best midfielder in 2002 World Cup but no one made noise saying such and such manager did not utilise him properly.

So who the phuck is Hazard that people will focus on him constantly. Some will blame the manager for his travails, others will say he is not carrying the team.

Who is he jor! He is another good player in my team who I will not persecute when things go wrong. I will not praise him to high heavens as a world beater either. My expectations from him are exactly where they should be - a good winger who can help stretch the play and commit fullbacks. He is not a be-all and end-all. I have seen better, more vital players at Chelsea and they didn't generate so much noise! Enough of all this nonsense.

This charlatan has come again. And how the phuck is Egypt close to Russia and Ukraine?

Kai, Rooney has lost all his pace.

See pass wey Martial give am, he no fit catch that ball.

Improved performance at left back for Nathan Ake at Watford today.

Last week he was shaky, today he really played well. Encouraging performance.

Shey this Jamie Vardy done dey feel like Thierry Henry abi wetin?

Scharck:
Nah. Gameweek only good if you got at least 20 points more than average.

Done that!

Just 4 days ago, he was being chanced by Glenn Whelan. I wonder what he will do next week.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5FLqFVWA1z0

Why we go dey discuss opposition midfielders who blocked all paths through the centre of the pitch, when our own midfield are useless!

Oya, Ramires, show us your number. . .



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hi7DucPeJIA

nitlad:
Look, I am not saying that Mikel and Ramires are capable.

I admit the effort required to show them up as incompetent sods is little - which Coutinho and co did.

I am also telling you in the same vein that the effort required to call out Can and Lucas as unreliable serfs is equally little - which Hazard and co didn't do.

That is the import of my yarns.

You missing the point entirely.

For Coutinho to directly attack Mikel and Ramires in Chelsea half, he needs a mobile midfield behind him.

If Chelsea forwards have a mobile midfield behind them, they would be in Liverpool half attacking Lucas and Can to potentially embarass them as you say. However no Chelsea forward line can press forward with ninjas like Mikel behind them. Even if they wanted to, the manager will not allow them knowing the midfield is susceptible on the break, as is John Terry to boot.

You may have short memory, but I can remind you of West Ham 3 - 1 Chelsea, Chelsea 2 - 2 Juventus, Donetsk 3 - 1 Chelsea, Newcastle 3 - 2 Chelsea, all games where Chelsea tried to play in the opponents half and Mikel and co got murdered on the break.

Mikel and Ramires influence on the team is tactically fatal. Any team with those two shielding must park the bus or get roasted on the counterattack. I wish I could make a compilation video right now of what happens when Chelsea commit to attack and leave Mikel to guard the defence. You will see a whole load of escorting and Mikel decelerating while his opponent is accelerating to score. The list of ninjas who raped Mikel the moment he stepped to the halfway line is horrendous but not limited to Mo Diame, Tevez, Bellamy, Sissoko, Marchisio etc. All ninjas you see Mikel escorting to goal.

This is why Chelsea midfield could not cross the halfway line and our forwards cannot receive the ball in advanced positions. Lucas and Can are mobile enough to allow Coutinho and co to play high up the pitch. The tactical influence on the team is the difference between Maiduguri and New York, never mind how many tackles were made.

This is the key point you are failing to grasp.

nitlad:
You are now speaking of intangibles.

When an attacker slows down the pace of a counter, allows the opponent regroup, how do you measure that too?

When an attacker chooses a wrong pass in an attacking move how do you measure that?

When an attacker keeps running into blind alleys, what is the metric?

When your chief attacker cannot punch his way out of a wet paper bag, nor be faaji opposing DMs dey?

You can go on and on about the nuances of MF play, but I am telling you now that our DMs gave as much support to the attackers as their opponents, only that our attackers nor give half the effort their opponents gave.

So all those stats you gave us are useless. Don't bring those kinda nonsense stats to a debate here unless you are discussing with awon boiz.

It is a fact that Ramires got disgraced by Coutinho and directly contributed to the first Pool goal. It is also a fact that Ramires was a disgrace against Stoke although I am sure you can pull up stats to show he had better pass completion than Stoke midfielders.

Lucas and Can never harmed their team or left them exposed in the midst of these stats. Mikel and Ramires did.

When Hazard slows the game down in attacking positions, I am also the first to criticise him here so save the sermon for the unbelievers.

Any gameweek where you get over 60 points is a good one.

67 for me this week.

nitlad:
I already said Can and Lucas did not do most of these things better than Mikel and Ramires in this game

Intelligence for positional defending = Interception, shebi?

Can and Lucas - 3 Interceptions

Mikel and Ramires - 3 interceptions.

Can and Lucas - 7/8 tackles won

Mikel alone - 7/8 tackles won

Can and Lucas - %83 pass accuracy

Mikel and Ramires - %84 pass accuracy

Which simple tasks did the Liverpool duo perform better in today's game?

All this na yarn. Useless stastistics.

I can even show you matches where Mikel made 95% pass completion and got overrun in midfield.

For one, by your own admission, Liverpool did all the attacking yet Mikel and Rami made the same no of tackles as Can and Lucas.

Secondly, Pool could press high with assurance that Lucas and Can are mobile enough to cover. Let one Chelsea forward try that one, all he will hear is "mumu, stop pressing, abi you want leave that snail Mikel exposed?"

Tactically the whole set up, balance and confidence of the team is affected by who is in midfield.

Thirdly what kind of nonsense stats is no of tackles. Does what Coutinho did to Ramires count as a failed tackle? That was not a tackle, yet Coutinho disgraced Ramires and equalised. We all saw it with our eyes so you don't need to tell us about tackles.

When Mikel jogs behind a player, escorting him on his way to score against Chelsea, which of these statistics will quantify that?

When Charlie Adams shii for Ramires and shade him off the ball to set up Stokes goal, which of these statistics quantify that?

All we know is that Lucas and Can let nothing through on their goal while Ramires and Mikel opened their nyash for raping.

Abegifuen.

nitlad:
My angle is that we cannot have lost this game to Ramires' and Mikel's ineptitude. Because their opponents - the ones they supposedly lost it to - are inept too.

But we directly allowed Liverpool back in the game due to an action by Ramires.

3 days ago, another action by Ramires gave Stoke the foothold in the game.

Whether this game or over the course of the season, there is great panic in the team from management tactics and colleagues behaviour because the midfield cannot serve its basic purpose.

And get it right - Can and Lucas are average. Inept is the correct description for Chelsea midfield. Big difference

nitlad:
Arsenal did not stand a chance in the MF battle against Bayern. They won the game!

Exception rather than the norm. Infact they won the game after Bayern had brought on the youngsters, besides Cazorla and Coquelin are not messing about in that midfield these days and Bayern midfield is regressing over the last 2 years sef.

My perception of the game is simple. The goal is in the centre of the pitch and that makes the spine of the team the most important section. Wingers play in an ancilliary position, there to help you stretch the game and create space for the central players to attack the goal. The minute you expect your winger to carry the game, you are setting unfair expectations.

.

Nihilist:
Oga you are talking unadulterated rubbish. The entire team stinks from Costa to Terry. Is it midfield that made Hazard miss the pen against Stoke or play nonsense today?

In case you forgot, Ivanovic was open like a wh0re till his injury and Courtois was not even positioning himself properly.

Be honest with yourself and see that there is no one single part of the team that is rubbish. It's every single aspect of our play...

And that surely goes beyond anything called 'midfield' right now.

Many parts of the team are rubbish. No one would argue with you. The major part of the team that has no solution to rubbishness is the midfield.

Even Ivanovic can be replaced by Azpi.

Hazard and co can be replaced by Willian, Oscar, Pedro, Traore, Kenedy etc.

What options are there in midfield?


There are many teams with rubbish players in certain positions but if the midfield is stable, half the war is won. A strong midfield can protect a shaky defence, a strong midfield can score for an off-form forward line, but no other position can compensate for a weak midfield.

What am I saying? You have poor memory! A midfield of Essien, Ballack and Lampard carried Phucking Malouda and Salomon Kalou for 5 years and never failed to compete in semifinals of Champions Leagues or chase the title down to the wire.

The midfield is the most important section of the team. That's why they say he who wins the midfield battle wins the game!!!

nitlad:
What are these simple midfield tasks that Can and Lucas performed better that Mikel and Ramires today?

Should we even be having a discussion about losing a match to the strength of Can and Lucas midfield play?


When will you start holding Hazard accountable?

I'm the last ninja you would call a Hazard fan on here! However Hazard is the least of my problems in this Chelsea team.

Can and Lucas prevented Chelsea breaking through their midfield to the point the only shot on target was a speculative Oscar chip from halfway line aside the goal from a cross.

Meanwhile Ramires was showing Coutinho his number to allow Liverpool score while Mikel was trying to play give me I give you monkey post football in his own half cos he dare not cross the halfway line as snails are allergic to counterattack.

That's all.

Nihilist:
Matic and Fab won a double last season. The same Matic you are helping to look for a partner has been one of our worst players this season and can't even make the first team!

Does this not tell you, that this is not about midfield

Matic is off form because he is destabilised by not having a competent partner to share his workload.

Even if he IS off-form, why don't we have 2 other competent midfielders to rest him? Every big team has 3 or 4 defensive midfielders with a basic level of competence in every aspect of midfield play except Chelsea who only have Matic.

Matic and Fab pivot got disgraced severally last season. They were lucky teams were scared at the start of the season and sat back allowing them to breathe and build up points to top the table. As soon as Spurs disgraced our midfield, we had to beg Zouma to play midfield to see us through the season and park the bus to cross the finish line. Even against PSG 10 men, that midfield was overworked and couldn't cross halfway line for fear of counterattack.

There is no problem in midfield yet we are conceding 3 goals per game and every talk on here is of which midfield to pick before games to stabilise ourselves?

Na you sabi. Ride on.

Nihilist:
I hate revisionism.

Lucas has not been in that first team for the last 2 years and Can has been played at left and right back for club and country all last year and most of this so far.

All of a sudden, they are good enough midfielders whilst Mikel and Ramires are not?

Ok what's the excuse for Matic and Fab. They too must be rubbish midfielders innit?

Look at Fab in the build up to the 3rd goal and weep.

This is not about Individials. This is a mental issue. When was the last time pool beat us in the league? How long have Mikel and Rami been with us.

Abeg call a spade a spade and not a spoon

Me revisionism? You must be high! Who has been most consistent on this midfield issue over the last 4 years?

Na una dey revise, not me.

Matic and Fab is not a good combination either. I've been calling for Fab to move forward and a partner for Matic since kporodim. Infact I never expected Fab in the pivot when he signed. I expected him to take Oscars role.

You are preaching to the choir.

Every member of this thread has been calling for a worthy partner for Matic all summer. In my case even longer.

Tiago was not a great midfielder but he won everything for Chelsea. Lucas and Can have the basic requirement to play midfield.

Fabregas, Ramires and Mikel are 1/10 in certain aspects of their game that make them completely unsuitable for the pivot and unbalance the team fatally.

Put Can or Lucas alongside Matic and that midfield is good to go. I am even on record as saying Jack Cork who is 5/10 in everything will improve that midfield.

It is not whether you are world class in certain aspects that make a midfield, you must have every aspect of midfield play to a proficient level to make a stable midfield.

nitlad:
But they had Can and Lucas in their pivot?

Can and Lucas bring the basic requirements of a standard midfielder, energy and physical strength plus can trap a ball. They are 6/10 in everything, not great but acceptable. They also had Milner with them who is 6/10 in everything.

Mikel and Ramires do not bring the basics.

Mikels ball retention is 10/10. His energy and tracking of runners is 1/10 and speed of passing is 1/10.

Ramires energy is 10/10. His strength on the ball is 1/10, his control and passing is 1/10.

You cannot put both of them together and expect them to compensate for each other. Mikel wants to slow the game, Ramires wants to speed it up. If Ramires runs forward, you just counterattack Mikel easily. If you catch Ramires 1 on 1 and shove him off the ball like Charlie Adam, Mikel will not make up the ground to cover him.

It is a HORRIBLE combination.

Any standard average midfield will better them all other things being equal.

There is a reason David Luiz and Kurt Zouma have been drafted substantially into midfield in the last 3 years.

Nihilist:
What has Hazard brought to the table since pre-season?

Nothing.

What has Oscar brought to the table since 2012?

This team is completely tactically imbalanced.

The midfield is completely IMBALANCED to begin with and as soon as we concede due to rubbish midfield, Jose will take them off for Falcao and completely vacate the midfield, turning a 1-1 draw into a 3-1 defeat every phucking time.

Nihilist:
Oscar trying to force the agenda. The game is far better with Hazard off. Yet the very players that are doing things are the ones that should be sold off.

Sometimes I don't understand some people on this thread

What has Oscar done in this game?

Fans were on his back before that chip.

We go use that chip chop fufu tonight when every other aspect of his game is subpar?

Yes, Oscar will be sold hundred times before Hazard is even mentioned. Hazard may be rubbish for the last 3 months, but Oscar has been crap for 3 years.

Gengen. E don happen.

nitlad:
If we sell Hazard sef, wetin go happen?

You don't sell one of your top players because of a poor run of form.

This is blame culture.

There are 10 other candidates to sell first before worrying about Hazard eg Mikel, Ramires, Ivanovic, Oscar and many other wastemen.

sinizia:
Even as a rival fan, I pity Hazard sometimes. Maybe coz I'm a fan of his. The truth is, Chelsea's midfield is lagging behind. No pressing, no tempo, no support for Hazard up front. Even the commentator is complaining of Mikel and Ramires not supporting those upfront. The full backs are not even turning up. I don't understand why Moaninghoe will come to Bridge and structure his formation to defend in front of his home. That's madness. Chelsea don't have that psychological advantage to defend a one goal lead like they do before. The defense is leaky, why not try to subdue your opponent by out-scoring and pushing them back to their own halves? Hazard can't make any magic without support.

You can't support attacking players with midfield of Mikel and Ramires.

I've been bleating myself hoarse over this issue for 4 years. Now I just siddon look and laugh them

JigsawKillah:
Warriblood. . . Hope you're cool? Make una pack go stay for another place. . . Town nor safe again. I pray God keep our various families safe.

Wetin dey happen for town?

Ramires fans celebrating too early not knowing he is an unreliable fellow.

Coutinho don sell am to add to the one Charlie Adam give am on Wednesday.

funlord:


Analogy aside? Kane is not man united material! Let's hope, pray and wish that he joins you guys @ chelsea instead since you have already noted his qualities for us! Maybe him and falcao (lol) can form a solid tag team for you blues ! We shall wait for "lewandowski!"

I'm not advocating Kane for Chelsea (or Manure) because he lacks pace which seperates the great from the good.

What I'm correcting is someone's totally incorrect description of a players attributes because he did not understand the meaning of the football slang he is bandying about.

It's like someone who doesn't speak English describing Julio Baptista as physically weak because he doesn't like him. We who understand English will tell him, Julio Baptista may not be a great player, but the term "physically weak" is not an adjective you can use to describe him. He is the exact opposite of that just like Kane is the exact opposite of the term "belle face".

Belle face is what you use for players like Shaun Wright Phillips, Theo Walcott, John Arne Riise, Ramires, Javier Hernandez who mostly pass and move in a singular direction (the direction their belle is facing).

dopeJemi:
It seems we both have different definitions to the term "belle face"

You said he holds up play, combines well with his team mates and all, that's why I said he should play the number 10 role


How many times have we seen messi and ronaldo place the ball in a different direction when facing the post.. I could be through on goal with the keeper just to beat, and do a belle face straight at the keeper and he pins it or parries it away... like I said, we both have different definitions to the term "belle face" so need for back and forth

There is only one definition of the term belle face. . . which every monkey post player in Nigeria knows.

dopeJemi:
Hold up play is not chances created or attempts on goal, is it? Who gives a rat asss about his hold up play? I'm talking about his belle face when through on goal not when he's "holding up play". Like I said, he should play the numer 10 role

Belle face is a style of play used to describe ninjas who can only play football in one direction. If you really played football, you would not be yarning about "when through on goal". When you are through on goal, your belle is already facing the goal!

Belle face is used to describe those whose general play is not up to scratch. Those who cannot play with back to opponent and will be running with the ball in the direction of their belle, whether or not it is the best action to take. A belle face player runs in straight line through 3 players and gets dispossessed when a simple control and layoff of the ball to his teammate is needed. A player who is great at hold-up play can never be described as belle face.

dopeJemi:
Then he should play the numer 10 role

How can a belle face play no10? Did you ever play football and understand the meaning of the term "belle face"?

Kane is highly intelligent, combines perfectly with his team mates and plays his best football with back to goal. The main thing he's lacking is pace.

Anyone who calls him belle face (given that hold up play is one of his best attributes) cannot know football, and does not understand what he is watching.

I think it's fear of spending £50m on a ninja with only one season track record that is making ninjas to yarn opata like 'belle face'. If you call Kane belle face, your brain cannot process what you are watching clearly.

Javier Hernandez is belle face
Theo Walcott is belle face
Van Wolfswinkel is belle face

Kane has all the attributes of a modern striker, except pace.