[J_746]

37e journée
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a241/jasonx746/L1%20totw/37e.jpg

[Novus Audax]

It seems as though they rate defenders quite harshly if two of the best for only got 6.

Also, Eden Hazard is a brilliant talent, and he'll be playing his last season at Lille. I'm unsure though as to whether he'll look to move to a big European team in a top league, or if he'll just move to a bigger team in France to establish himself more steadily.

[Gon O' Rhea]

Novus Audax, on 29 December 2009 - 02:48 PM, said:

It seems as though they rate defenders quite harshly if two of the best for only got 6.

Also, Eden Hazard is a brilliant talent, and he'll be playing his last season at Lille. I'm unsure though as to whether he'll look to move to a big European team in a top league, or if he'll just move to a bigger team in France to establish himself more steadily.

He's been linked to us apparently, and Real Madrid. Would he be worth the risk do you think?

[J_746]

Novus Audax, on 29 December 2009 - 02:48 PM, said:

It seems as though they rate defenders quite harshly if two of the best for only got 6.

It's the same with most punditry across Europe. It's a strict code applied in France, Spain and Italy whereby a 6 is actually a decent mark. The only way you'd get a 10 is by scoring a double hat-trick or by showing some intellect that no player has ever shown before. A 9 would be showing something special and being the one and only influence on the match. It's the European mentality that there is always room for improvement.

[J_746]

Gon O, on 29 December 2009 - 02:50 PM, said:

He's been linked to us apparently, and Real Madrid. Would he be worth the risk do you think?

He's one of the top young prospects in Europe and one which several clubs have been tracking since he was 16. At the age of 18 to be getting regular football in any league is a mean feat and the fact that he has become a key player for Lille over the past 2 years (whilst aged just 18) proves that he has the ability to become something special in the future.

Going back to Novus' original point, Hazard has stated that he would much rather stay at Lille and get regular football than play from the substitutes' bench or be put into a reserve or youth team at another big club. Teams like Bordeaux and Lyon have already submitted enquiries and bigger clubs still like Real Madrid and Manchester United had shown interest last season, but he's shrugged it off to have a great season for the club so far. Not only does he show good skill and composure on the ball, he has the leadrship qualities which will make him even more of a prized asset in the future.

I can see him staying at Lille for the considerable future unless he is able to guarantee himself first-team football elsewhere. Most clubs would feel apprehensive about playing an 18-year-old who is still developing his footballing education in their first-team, that is why I can see Hazard being a Lille player unless either a club pays the huge transfer fee he would command or they can do something to get him playing regularly. I think he has it in him, but it remains to be seen whether he'd get what he's looking for straight away elsewhere.

[J_746]

Updated. A pretty high quality week in Ligue 1 really with Gyan and Gourcuff receiving high notes from l'Equipe. On top of that, Jimmy Briand is showing some decent form since coming back from that horrible knee injury last year. Taiwo had an excellent game against Lyon, grabbing the winner in the 81st minute.

[J_746]

No Marseille or Bordeaux players this week due to them not playing league football. Gervinho was back with the goals for Lille this week and Eden Hazard had another solid week.

[J_746]

Mathieu Valbuena deservedly enters the team of the week. Decent performances from Christophe Jallet also ensure his place in the side. Good to see Anthony Mounier in the side too as he's performed fairly well for Nice as of late.

[J_746]

Updated with the second-to-last 'team of the week' for this season.