Eden Hazard was regarded as one of the hottest prospects in European football this summer and had a host of top clubs scrambled for his signature before he eventually signed for the European Champions, Chelsea. Hazard's former club Lille ended up £32 million richer from the transfer and Roman Ambrovich's newest acquisition was on his way to the Kings Road.
Like so many I was interested to see how the tricky wide man would transition to the English game, would his flair and ability to manipulate the ball be as consistent against quicker and stronger defenders in the 'best league in the world'? Or would be take time to settle in to a club with big personalities in an aging dressing room with known problems? His start to this season's Premiership campaign has relieved any worries fans might have had with his performances being nothing short of spectacular thus far. Of course it's early days and he's played two relatively 'easy' defenses in Wigan (who barely survived last season) and new boys Reading and no ones going overboard just yet, but he has been the difference for Chelsea so far, and if you include the penalties he's won (as assists) he's had a hand in each of the 6 Blues goals so far, and he deserves enormous credit for that.
Joe Cole, a former Chelsea player and teammate of Hazard at Lille last season (whilst on loan from Liverpool) has heaped some pretty serious praise on the young Belgian. Of course, some might argue it's only Joe Cole and he's not the most educated or reliable source in the world, but Joe does know and love the game, and he's been around long enough to tell a real player from flash in the pan. After playing with him for the best part of a year in training everyday and alongside him on match days Cole said of Hazard;
"He knows how good he is, and that's a positive thing. All the top players have got that belief and a bit of presence and arrogance, and he's like that.
"He's a bit like Messi. There's only one Messi and I don't want to put pressure on the kid, but he's like him - short, squat, powerful legs, great touch, he can finish, he's got everything."
-Hazard has also admitted confiding in Cole and taking his advice on joining Chelsea over the host of other clubs interested in him.
Personally, I've been really impressed by Hazard's confidence to receive the ball with players around him, and then take on defenders at speed without hesitation. He's not the head down, knock it down the line and chase type of player, instead his real asset is the speed of his ball movement and manipulation. One of the reasons he's earned seven penalties in his last 20 club games (including Lille last season). No other player in Europe managed to win more than three! It's this close, quick and deceptive control that saw him win penalties against both Wigan and Reading, and Premiership defenders are going to have to learn about Hazard and fast if they are going to stop him, and stop giving penalties away. Hazard's skill is earning the penalties, giving the defender a 'chance' of winning the ball and then with a final touch flicking it away from their lunge or defensive movement before going over to win a concrete spot kick. Neither of the penalties won were questionable, and Hazard's ability to get in the box and get at defenders the majority of the time he receives possession is as exciting for the fans as it is scary for the opposition back-line.
Compared the the £50 million spent on Torres (who still looks completely out of sorts even with his winning but clearly offside goal) Hazard looks a decent buy for close to £20 million less. He's even made Chelsea's player of the season from the previous campaign, Juan Mata look fairly pedestrian in comparison, not an easy task! Chelsea's other new boy Oscar, the Brazilian, looks much more lightweight than Hazard, and although he clearly has raw pace and some lovely touches, he seems like a player that could do with a rest (he's played consistently through the summer in the Olympics and friendlies for Brazil) time to settle, and a little bit more work off the pitch to ready him for the intensity of the game on it. For Hazard? As a football fan, hopefully more of the same...
The Barclay's Premier League is back. After a super summer of Olympic sport in London, the most watched league in the world was getting a little bit of criticism on it's morals and entertainment value. Wonderful scenes of athletic performance, prowess and passion created pride and excitement nationwide whilst stories of footballers moving clubs and tales of money hungry ego-maniacs demanding ransom like wages and some (Clint Dempsey) even refusing to play at all, all added fuel to that negative fire burning amongst the critics. That was all before the season kicked off however with a tremendously entertaining opening weekend of fixtures.
The two eye-popping performances again came in the capital following on from the amazing spectacles witnessed during the Olympics. Fulham stuffed Norwich with 5 lovely goals, and their new (free) signing Mladen Petric looked instantly at home at the Cottage. Martin Jol embraced his former assistant at Tottenham, Chris Hughton, warmly before the game, at the end, Hughton probably wanted to wring his old bosses neck. It's sure to be a more difficult season for the Canaries this time round, but for Fulham, with their quality players and attacking style of play it could be one of their best yet.
There were another 5 goals smashed in on a few miles away at Loftus Road. Sadly for the super hoops of QPR they were on the receiving end of Michael Laudrup's Welsh wizards who played with the style, creativity and grace their manager so epitomised as a player. But for the woodwork it could have been 7. Fellow Welsh club Cardiff have famously changed their colours this summer to suit their new owners, Swansea have done the same with their away kit, but instead changing it to the patriotic colours of the Welsh national flag, red, white and green. They played with the fire of a dragon as they tore apart fellow Welshman, Mark Hughes', new look side. For Hughes it's a case of making his new signings gel as quick as possible and trying to stop people shooting at the terrible Robert Green who looks as shaky in goal as ever.
There was more interesting games in London with Sunderland gaining a great point at the new look Arsenal sans RVP and Alex Song. Santi Carzola will have made the Gooner support feel a little better about themselves with his performance, and if new signing Olivier Giroud had tucked away a late chance they would have been even less worried about the loss of their captain (the 2nd captain to leave successive summers-Cesc to Barca, RVP-Man Utd) but sadly for Arsene Wenger the Frenchman fluffed his lines and put an effort Van Persie surely would have converted, wide of the mark. For the Maccam's some more firepower is needed and the rumour of Dimitar Berbatov joining them maybe be just that, a rumour, but would be a great addition for the lightweight Black Cat attack.
The final game in the Capital was the return of West Ham United to the big show, and they started with a 1-0 win over a very poor Aston Villa team. The Hammers were much like last season, bland at home, but getting a result and Villa followed on from where they left off with a poor back line and nothing going forward. Darren Bent is back, but against his old teammate James Collins he was non-existent and Paul Lambert is going to need to add some new quality players in the next 2 weeks to have any chance of improving on the Villians dreadful campaign from last season under Alex McCleish.
Elsewhere Manchester City did their best to replicate their famous victory over QPR at the end of last season by beating new boys Southampton 3-2 at the Eithiad. This time they did it with a little bit more time to spare and without the injured Sergio Auguero who looks set for a scan on his knee in the next day or so.
Ex-Liverpool assistant Steve Clarke opened his Managerial career with a resounding 3-0 win over the visiting Reds. His opposite number Brendan Rodgers needs to improve from what he called 'a bad day at the office' and quick with Manchester City, Arsenal and Manchester United all coming up within the next 5 games for the former Swansea boss.
Chelsea's new boy Edin Hazard looked the part as he made Chelsea's 2 goals in a dreadful 6 minutes for the Latics at the DW. Wigan, so often slow starters, will take confidence from the way they attacked Chelsea down the flanks, but Roberto Martinez needs to sure up that back line and quick if they are not to be in big trouble again this season. For Robbie Di Matteo it was a pleasing start with the two new boys Hazard and Oscar looking excellent, but Fernando Torres doing what he does best in a Chelsea shirt, not much.
Newcastle carried on from where they left off last season by beating Tottenham and their new gaffa AVB at St.James' Park (or should I say the Sports Direct Arena?). Spurs looked bright, but Tim Krul in the Magpies net was solid as always and with Demba Ba finding his scoring touch again and Ben Arfa running the show, Newcastle should be top 6 contenders again. They might have to do without idiotic manger Alan Pardew as he stupidly half pushed the linesman in the back over a decision and was rightly sent to stands. What he tried to brush off with an apology and jovial tone in the post-match interviews might save him a few matches but he'll surely get some touchline ban for punishment from the FA.
Stoke conceded late on as Reading showed the type of grit and determination needed by newly promoted teams as they earned a point at the Madjeski. It was a good day for Reading as their fans basked in the sunshine and glory of being back amongst the elite for the first time in four years. They look like they have some backbone, but will need more quality to get results. For Stoke, it's much more of the same, with their effective and direct style of play.
The only fixture remaining should see Robin Van Persie make his debut for Manchester United against Everton tonight at Goodison Park. David Moyes is still at the Helm on the blue side of Liverpool and they'll be looking to start their season the way they finished off last, which according the the form book probably won't happen as they don't seem to get their act together until after Christmas! For United, they'll want 3 points to show everyone their intent in the hunt for their 20th title.
