Eden Hazard - Off to a flyer

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...

John Terry's shin pads

I for one, am still getting over what's been an incredible season in England and throughout Europe. Manchester City's final day antics to deny their Red city rivals was remarkable.  Real Madrid knocking 'the best team in the world' Barcelona of their perch in Spain certainly hasn't gone unnoticed.  Bayern Munich's capitulation in the final games of the season seeing them runners up a hat trick of times in the Bundesliga, The German Cup and of course that dramatic Champions League Final in their own back yard!  The drama of Chelsea's first ever Champions League Trophy, only the 5th English team to win the tournament.  Their victory was top drawer, they we're the worthy winners, even though they got battered for the majority of the final (and 2 legs of the semi final), because of one simple fact, they won.  There's been so many highs and lows this season, from Sergio Aguero's last gasp City winner, Drogba's header, Suarez's and Terry's racism rows but nothing more disturbing for me than the Chelsea captains costume change during the final at the Allianz arena.  Yes the other suspended players did the same thing, but they hadn't been sent off for a ridiculous knee into the back of an opposition player, and they weren't trying to steal the limelight from the real heroes of the hour, they guys that actually played for over 2 hours!

JT started out wearing his club suit, patrolling the side lines and I'm sure trying to take the ear of Roberto Di Matteo at half time, or whenever he could, then in the second half he emerged in the clubs Adidas Champions League tracksuit before changing in the extra time and penalty drama to his full kit, including boots and shin pads!  UEFA had said that Terry would be allowed to lift the cup as captain if Chelsea won prior to the game, but that was probably only because they didn't think they had a hope.  it was a stupid decision from UEFA allowing a player suspended from the game to even be allowed on the side lines which is technically the field of play.  Even in NCAA college soccer that's a massive no no!  Here we were on the biggest stage, in the biggest club competition in the world with a player who shouldn't have been there roaming around, changing kits and eventually lifting the trophy alongside the real Captain of the team that night, Frank Lampard.  Comparisons were immediately drawn to Roy Keane and Paul Scholes lifting the trophy between them on the pitch after the trophy had been awarded and the team was doing one of many laps of honour.  They were pivotal players, who got booked in the semis helping get their team through and they turned up in the team suit and waiting until the right moment to take some deserved applause.  Terry did no such thing, stealing much of the limelight as the photo's in 10 years will show him at the heart of the team with the trophy without even kicking a ball or kneeing a back in that final.

The saving grace was how bad Chelsea's cup lift was.  Watching UEFA president Michel Platini try and usher players out the way to allow the cup and Chelsea's captains through just summed up how little respect he has over players and how important he thinks he is as they completely disregarded him and bundled in front so when the trophy was hoisted you couldn't really see it.

'It was written in the stars' for Chelsea Gary Neville reckons, maybe he was bought into the England fold to be the new Eileen Drewery (Glen Hoddle's infamous faith healer who was an 'agony aunt' to plays - Ray Parlour apparently sat down in her chair for a consultation and started by asking for a "short back and sides" Classic.)  Neville was constantly banging on about it being Chelsea's time, and how it was a destiny for them.  It wasn't at all.  It was uncharacteristic sloppiness in front of goal from a German side feeling the pressure of playing inside their own Stadium in front of millions of Bavarian's who expected a comfortable victory.  Bayern had their chances, and a lot of them, but didn't take them, that's why Chelsea won, they had one corner, one goal.  They had big game goal specialist Didier Drogba, not a misfiring Mario Gomes.  Chelsea had better penalty takers on the day and some momentum after Peter Cech performed so excellently in the shootout.  Was it fate that Cech saved those crucial penalties, the first from Arjen Robben in the second half of extra time, the others in the shootout?  No, it was meticulous preparation and a DVD that had every penalty every player had taken in the past 10 years and calculated decision making from a world class goalkeeper.  That isn't quite as romantic and enjoyable as a pundit shouting about it being the clubs destiny and having their name on that big eared trophy all along!

Chelsea were completely outplayed and set out their stall to defend and ride their luck, and that they did till a downward Thomas Muller header eluded Peter Cech by somehow bouncing over the huge Czech keeper. Game over everyone thought, it was the 83rd minute 'the perfect time to score'.  I've always had a problem with these types of sayings, 'perfect time to score' which it turns out was a ridiculous shout as Chelsea still had time to come back and tie up the game. Didier Drogba's 89th minute bullet header towards Manuel Neuer's goal was a better time to score for the Germans surely?!  Didier Drogba's last kick in a Chelsea shirt before he buggers off to China to make a mint was a lovely end to a great service from the Ivorian.  Fernando Torres will be happier than any defender to see the back of the big man, as he may now finally play a few games for the club that signed him for 50 mill.  The Drog still has a lot to offer, and could play for a year or two at the very highest level.. he's worth signing just for Cup finals, 8 goals, 8 games, thanks.

JT will be in the England squad for the Euro's at the expense of Rio Ferdinand who Terry isn't on best terms with after being accused of racially abusing his brother, Anton.  So JT is having a great run at it, got AVB sacked, been pulling the strings behind Di Matteo's back? Won the FA Cup, didn't play but WON the Champions League according to photo's from the day, got in the England squad for the Euro's and his old man has finally finished his 100 hours of community service for flogging 3 grams of gear to a journalist in an Essex wine bar in 2009.

TOWIE! The only way is England, for JT at least...

The 'Magic' of the FA Cup final - Dwindling

The FA cup final used to be the only game televised all year when I was a boy on my terrestrial TV back in England, and it was the season's best game (because it was the only one everyone could see!) It was the biggest of the footballing calender, something that everyone would be at least aware of if they weren't watching the game live.  Nowadays you can watch 50+ games from across the world's top leagues in just one week!  Maybe it's this or rise of the Champions League and the money of the Premiership but England's, and the worlds oldest club competition, has steadily declined in sync with the Premier and Champions Leagues' ascent.

Steven Gerrard has just realised that Stewart Downing has 3 years left on his current deal

Now the FA Cup kick off is shifted around on a day with Premiership games.  It's almost an afterthought after both semi finals have been hosted at Wembley.  I refer to it as Wembley, and not 'the new' Wembley like so many, seeing as it's not that new anymore having opened in 2007.  Two big teams fought out this seasons 2012 Budweiser sponsored FA Cup, Chelsea and Liverpool.  These two teams are no strangers having played over 30+ times against each other in the past 8 years which is quite staggering.  Maybe it was the fact that it was these two teams playing each other, again, the late kick off, the fact Liverpool aren't very good or that Chelsea have one eye firmly fixed on the Champions League final but there was no spark or excitement surrounding the build up to this game, compared to say, that of the recent Manchester derby or the Champions League semi-finals first and second legs.


The first hour of the game was incredibly dull.  After Jay Spearing gave the ball away in a bad area for the 6,000 time this season Ramires' energy and pace put him past a decaying Jose Enrique and his shot straight at Pepe Reina was straight through the Spaniard (who's suffered his worst season in his 7 at Anfield this year) and that was the only moment of note in a slow, and bland first 45.  After Didier Drogba had his customary Wembley goal Liverpool looked completely dead and buried.  The introduction of Andy Carroll did change Liverpool's attacking impetus and finally Luis Suarez had another red shirt inside the opposition half with him!  Jordan Henderson, Jay Spearing and Stewart Downing all had atrocious games and one wonders what was ever seen in them.  Spearing was a product of the Academy (which doesn't bode well as he's dire) and the other two were signed for close to 40 million quid by good old King Kenny!  Incredible to think about that waste of finances for two players who wouldn't stand out in a league 2 side.  The 'Caveman' Carroll got his second Wembley goal in a matter of weeks (adding to his semi final winner over Everton) and his decent return in big games (he also scored on his England debut at Wembley) but alas, it was too little, too poor, too late for the Reds, and Chelsea, by default rather than incredible play, were rightly Cup winners for the 4th time in the past 7 years.

Chelsea. FA CUP Winners...again

I miss the magic of the FA Cup, the giant killings, the small minnows of the non-league taking on the big dogs of the top tier, the support, Wembley way, the suits, the walking out onto the Wembley pitch, the iconic trophy being hoisted aloft after the long trudge up the Wembley steps for the valiant losers... These are all distant and past memories like the Crazy Gang beating Liverpool in '88, Charlie George in '71 and Crystal Palace taking Man U to a 3-3 draw in 1990.
Even the cup final of 1992 between Liverpool and Sunderland was more exciting.  I was up at the crack of dawn wearing my full Liverpool kit, drinking squash out of my Liverpool mug and swinging my Red scarf around my head as I went nuts in the living room 6 hours before the game even kicked off.  The anticipation was extraordinary.  I barely remember the game or the goals, but I can clearly remember the excitement of it all, the fantasy of one day maybe I'd be playing in final, what it would be like to lift the old trophy and get a medal from a member of the Royal family.  All that magic is still alive in me, but not for the current versions of the FA Cup, I wonder if  kids nowadays whip themselves into a frenzy for this game, or if they'd rather play out their own cup final on the Playstation on FIFA 2012?!  I must be getting old and bitter as I'm reminiscing about the 'good old days' of FA Cup finals and football, but I don't think I'm the only one that wants to recast the magical spell of the FA Cup back over English football once again.  

Champions League Semi Finals

What a pair of games these two turned out to be.  In no ones wildest dreams can anyone have envisaged a 10 man Chelsea come back from 2 down to draw 2-2 away at the mecca of modern football, the Camp Nou.  Surely not many thought that Bayern could overturn the away goal against a Real team fresh from winning their first El Clasico in a while?

No many would have predicted it, and that's what makes it all the more entertaining and stunning.


Barcelona will be left feeling empty and robbed after completely battering the Blues from West London over the two legs but without being able to book themselves into the final on May 19th in Munich.  Roberto Di Matteo who three years ago to the day was overseeing a MK Dons team lose to Walsall in League 2 certainly has pulled on all his previous experience to help push the aging and 'over the hill' Chelsea old guard over one last hurdle to reach their second ever Champions League final.  Pep Guardiola may not be in his job at the end of the season as he makes a decision on his future, sadly for Di Matteo, a man who has helped transform Chelsea in his 15 games in charge, may not get the full-time managers job even if Chelsea do go on to win the Champions League! It's tough at the top!

After that shock Barca defeat Real Madrid we're already etching their name on the famous trophy for the 10th time as they were 2 nil up within no time at all in their home leg at the Bernabeu.   Those efficient Germans had other ideas however and deservedly went through after playing with invention, guts and attacking flair, as well as taking some a few better penalties.  Ronaldo and Kaka a pair of the worlds most expensive and well known players fluffed their lines in the penalty shoot out with Manuel Neuer saving each penalty kick comfortably.  It was a crazy semi final stage and one of the most entertaining and interesting from a neutral perspective in recent memory.




Before the first leg everyone and their dog had written Chelsea off, during the first half onslaught of the second leg, that chance was even less.  Fair play to Chelsea though as they showed real fighting spirit (and not the kind John Terry was involved in when he kneed Alexi Sanchez square in the back off the ball) but the kind of steely determination and never say die attitude that used to so very British and for a night at least was again thanks for an expensively assembled team with players from all over the world selected by an Italian and man handled by a Russian Oligarch... so as British as it gets really.  The scenes of jubilation after the match we the type that money can't buy, fitting then that Abramovich wasn't even there to see it, must have been busy doing something else I suppose!?

All this leads us up to the final itself in Bayern's home stadium in a couple of weeks time.  Surely it won't live up to the games that got them there? But I'm sure both sides will give it a good go...