Coutinho or Hazard?

[Forthright]

Fantastic reply Christian. No doubt you spent some time coming up with such a witty comment.

 

[ZianfrancoGoal]

let's get 100,000 signatures on a petition and allow parliament to settle the debate

 

[G-Dragon]

Looks like we have all decided. So far Coutinho been the better player this season.

 

[Christian Slater]

Fantastic reply Christian. No doubt you spent some time coming up with such a witty comment.

Well, naturally it took some time.

 

[SALTIRE]

Looks like we have all decided. So far Coutinho been the better player this season.

We'd better not mention Henderson's stats in midfield, which are the best in the league, otherwise the forum might go into meltdown.

 

[Christian Slater]

Why did you then?

 

[Stevencc]

Looks like we have all decided. So far Coutinho been the better player this season.

Actually the forum has spoken and Hazard is the better player.

Thanks for taking part in the democratic process.

 

[SALTIRE]

Why did you then?

 

[Son of Cod]

Looks like we have all decided. So far Coutinho been the better player this season.

 

[G-Dragon]

Actually the forum has spoken and Hazard is the better player.

Thanks for taking part in the democratic process.

One might think so. However, this form of democracy cannot be considered legitimate considering many have made their decisions with relatively little information. A vote that is supposed to be about an important issue has ended up instead being about the popularity or unpopularity of a particular player. The public [forum] has responded emotionally to these arguments, especially in a climate of insecurity with relation to their own respective clubs.

I have clearly provided the evidence necessary to show Coutinho, so far, is the best player in the Premier League this season. As such the decision, a rational and thoughtful one, has been made for you [Philippe Coutinho has been better player than Eden Hazard].

After all, we live in a representative democracy.

 

[Christian Slater]

As SoC demonstrated, you were selective with the stats you chose to present. Disgraceful.

 

[G-Dragon]

I hope you realize Hazard has played more mins than Coutinho. That is why "per 90 metrics" is used.

As SoC demonstrated, you were selective with the stats you chose to present. Disgraceful.

I personally wouldn't recommend you use a person who does not know what statistics is to support your claim.

 

[Stevencc]

One might think so. However, this form of democracy cannot be considered legitimate considering many have made their decisions with relatively little information. A vote that is supposed to be about an important issue has ended up instead being about the popularity or unpopularity of a particular player. The public [forum] has responded emotionally to these arguments, especially in a climate of insecurity with relation to their own respective clubs.

I have clearly provided the evidence necessary to show Coutinho, so far, is the best player in the Premier League this season. As such the decision, a rational and thoughtful one, has been made for you [Philippe Coutinho has been better player than Eden Hazard].

After all, we live in a representative democracy.

Actually we live in my thread at the moment and I have given the people an isolated section of society, a microcosm, if you will, within which to MAKE THEIR VOTE COUNT and they have done so despite your attempts to derail the process!

I'm proud of what we achieved here in, what I will now reveal to be, our very own, GARDEN OF EDEN.

 

[Bottega Don]

I think if we're comparing top quality attacking midfielders in the Premier League the list goes.

Ozil
De Bruyne
Hazard
Coutinho
Silva
Payet

I think Hazard is far more naturally gifted than Coutinho, from what I've seen Coutinho is a class player but I've never really seen him dictact the tempo of the game like Ozil or De Bruyne can.

 

[Skinner]

Özil and De Bruyne don't really dictate games, they find pockets of space and creative openings, dictators are players like Fabregas, Xavi, Alonso, Pirlo etc

 

[Bilo]

As SoC demonstrated, you were selective with the stats you chose to present. Disgraceful.

And what says that SoC wasn't equally selective?

To be honest I find G-Dragon's list of stats more accurate considering the difference in playing time between the two. But it's close, anyway. Two fantastic players. I wouldn't have Hazard over Coutinho but I'm sure Chelsea fans wouldn't have Coutinho over Hazard.

 

[johnnytodd]

 

[joethegill]

If both are at full pelt then I'd have Hazard. Coutinho is currently at the max of his ability in my opinion and is absolutely flying (though having Mane and Firmino in superb form alongside him is certainly helping), and for me Hazard still has a little way to go before getting back to his performances of a couple of years back, although against Everton he certainly looked to be back to his best.

Think it's a very close call currently, but I'd probably still just about have Hazard.

 

[Pagnell]

If both are at full pelt then I'd have Hazard. Coutinho is currently at the max of his ability in my opinion and is absolutely flying (though having Mane and Firmino in superb form alongside him is certainly helping), and for me Hazard still has a little way to go before getting back to his performances of a couple of years back, although against Everton he certainly looked to be back to his best.

Think it's a very close call currently, but I'd probably still just about have Hazard.

Before I continue I would like to point out that I chose Hazard in this poll, as I think at the moment he's the better of the two players, but it's mighty close. However, I'm curious what makes you hold this opinion? He's the younger of the two players and has 3-4 years before he hits what is generally viewed as a footballer's peak period, what's to suggest he's not going to further improve?

 

[Son of Cod]

I hope you realize Hazard has played more mins than Coutinho. That is why "per 90 metrics" is used.


I personally wouldn't recommend you use a person who does not know what statistics is to support your claim.

As has been pointed, I was merely doing what you did and being selective with stats. You'll see I've used a fair few % based stats too, so you can't argue with those. The passing stats are close, but Hazard is comfortably better at taking his man on and streets ahead in combative terms. Admittedly, the later is obviously not the main reason the pair of them are on the pitch but it all adds up to the reality that Chelsea are much more solid. The fact that Hazard at 5'7" or whatever he is has won 6 times more aerial battles than Coutinho is one that highlights just how much Coutinho doesn't really get stuck in.

The more interesting question for me is not who is better, Hazard or Coutinho? Rather, who is better, Firmino or Coutinho? Obviously, I don't watch Liverpool as much as the Liverpool fans on here but from an outsider's perspective it seems that they tend to set themselves up around Coutinho and that their system doesn't always fully accentuate Firmino's prowess.

 

[joethegill]

Before I continue I would like to point out that I chose Hazard in this poll, as I think at the moment he's the better of the two players, but it's mighty close. However, I'm curious what makes you hold this opinion? He's the younger of the two players and has 3-4 years before he hits what is generally viewed as a footballer's peak period, what's to suggest he's not going to further improve?

It's a fair question.

I feel Coutinho as a player does more or less everything he does incredibly well. However, I feel Hazard is simply capable of doing a little bit more. I think Coutinho is at his peak playing centrally, whereas Hazard can play anywhere across the front. Hazard has the ability to absolutely skin a defender with raw pace as well as ridiculous close control - Coutinho for me doesn't have that pace, and is unlikely to develop it now.

As I said, Coutinho is exceptional at what he does, but how do you improve on that? If he gained a yard of pace and became more versatile then that'd be an improvement. But I'm not sure I see that happening.....Could be wrong!

Don't get me wrong though, he's been awesome this year.

 

[Pagnell]

It's a fair question.

I feel Coutinho as a player does more or less everything he does incredibly well. However, I feel Hazard is simply capable of doing a little bit more. I think Coutinho is at his peak playing centrally, whereas Hazard can play anywhere across the front. Hazard has the ability to absolutely skin a defender with raw pace as well as ridiculous close control - Coutinho for me doesn't have that pace, and is unlikely to develop it now.

As I said, Coutinho is exceptional at what he does, but how do you improve on that? If he gained a yard of pace and became more versatile then that'd be an improvement. But I'm not sure I see that happening.....Could be wrong!

Don't get me wrong though, he's been awesome this year.

Fair enough. But there has been a big improvement in Coutinho in just the last 12 months, I'm not as certain as yourself that there isn't more to come, even if it might not be as obvious as what we will see with Hazard.

 

[thespus]

I think Coutinho has played better this season, albeit both have been fantastic. I think Hazard is slightly more talented; both wildly creative along with being goal threats, Hazard's 1 v 1 ability gives him the edge for me. Two world class players, so there isn't much to dissect.

The stat comparisons do provide good data, but Chelsea and Liverpool play different systems. % of team chances created would be a useful stat.

 

[merseyboyred]

Now comparing Pooba with Coutinho and Hazard would be idiotic

You actually typed out "Pooba" and hit post there G-Dragon mate.

And now I have. Sake.

 

[G-Dragon]

What a goal by Coutinho against Argentina. Best player in the PL without a doubt.

 

[Stevencc]

It was a great goal, not quite enough to instantly elevate him to the status of best Premier League player, though!

 

[SALTIRE]

It was a great goal, not quite enough to instantly elevate him to the status of best Premier League player, though!

On form he's right up there currently and he had a better game than Messi or Neymar as well. The lad is stepping it up this year.

 

[Pagnell]

Argentina made the same mistake some Premiership teams have made, letting Coutinho run across goal and open up with his right boot. What a fucking screamer.

 

[Ablur]

On current form I'd take Coutinho but overall for their time in the league it's Hazard.

Hazard has hit a level Coutinho hasn't before in the past, although if Coutinho keeps it up then he'll get there... Last season Hazard was a shadow of his former self but Coutinho has always been a bit inconsistent.

 

[Stevencc]

There has been a slew of articles tentatively linking Coutinho to Barcelona recently with Neymar seemingly doing his best to throw his weight behind the idea. The dreaded "Barca DNA" phrase has even been trotted out. All Liverpool fans except Saltire - beware!