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What John Hollins wanted when he signed Micky Hazard was a replica of
Glenn Hoddle. What he got was a birds-eye view of why the little
Wearsider had spent the last five years never quite establishing himself
alongside Hoddle in the Tottenham side. He became Chelsea's record
signing when he moved to West London for £300, 000 in September 1985 and
was an instant hit with the supporters who appreciated his cultured
style. However, he had trouble displacing the ever-reliable Nigel
Spackman and John Bumstead and within weeks of his arrival he found
himself on the bench. He opened his goal scoring account for The Blues
as a substitute against Fulham in the Milk Cup and scored his only
league goal of the campaign a fortnight later when he converted a
penalty in a 4-2 victory over Nottingham Forest. Micky by his own
admission struggled to come to terms with Chelsea's 'up-and-at-'em'
style of play and his first season was something of a disappointment but
he returned for a run in the team late in the season and his
defence-splitting pass which released Kerry Dixon for his first goal in a
win at Old Trafford illustrated just what he was capable of.
Hazard
scored twice on his return to White Hart Lane early in the next campaign
but the following week Chelsea lost 6-2 at home to Forest and were then
beaten by York City in the Milk Cup. He was made the scapegoat and
replaced in the team by a little-known bruiser called John McNaught. The
supporters howled their disapproval and their anger seemed justified
when Hazard came off the bench against Manchester City to turn a 1-0
deficit into a 2-1 win, a feat he repeated against Aston Villa in the FA
Cup, scoring the winning goal in both games. Hollins remained
unconvinced and Hazard made just 16 league starts that season, yet was
voted second to Pat Nevin for the supporters' Player of the Year award.
Micky made a more acceptable 28 league appearances in 1987/88 and scored
the spectacular goal against Derby which brought an end to the
embarrassing run of 21 games without a win which ultimately cost Hollins
his job and Chelsea their place in the top flight.
Bobby Campbell took
the reins but his summer signings of Graham Roberts and Peter Nicholas
gave a fair indication that the club would be taking the pragmatic route
out of Division Two. Silky skills were out and Hazard made just four
appearances as The Blues raced away with the title. Micky's performances
during an extended run in the side in autumn 1989 helped Chelsea to the
top of Division One but a pre-Christmas slump saw him sacrificed again.
He had been on the transfer-list since the previous season and in
January 1990 Chelsea accepted Portsmouth's offer of £100,000 for
Hazard, leaving many with the feeling that neither club nor player had
made the most of his undoubted talents. (Kelvin Barker)
1978–1985 Tottenham Hotspur 91 (13)
1985–1990 Chelsea 81 (9)
1990 Portsmouth 8 (1)
1990–1993 Swindon Town 121 (17)
1993–1995 Tottenham Hotspur 11 (2)
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