Cesc Fàbregas

[Daniel1980 1,425]

That's actually quite a good return considering he's not exactly a set-piece specialist (a la Kroos/Koke) but I think it's expected given the number of players we have capable of scoring from headers and the number of corners we usually get. His delivery isn't great imo but it's better than the shocking Willian/Oscar/Hazard corners.

Kroos actually has exactly the same amount of corner assists as Cesc this season: 3 in 13 games. Koke has 4 in 13 games. So Cesc is actually doing a very good job at assisting from corners, especially considering set pieces are not his strongest point--unlike Koke and Kroos, he's much better at assisting from open play.

[MrExcalibur100 7,124]

Also most of Gerrard's assists were mainly all from set peices if not all of them.

I think it was something like 12 out of 14 from set-pieces. Chances created are a far bigger indicator of creativity than assists which depends on others scoring.

[Barbara 15,149]

True. Most of Cesc's assists have been from open play but he should be looking to get a lot more from set pieces since we have such a big aerial threat. Like all our other AMs though his delivery is generally poor/average.

not true at all.

Many of his corners and free kicks were good/dangerous. Some of them turned into assists. He had a bad game set piece wise against QPR, but he's been good imo.

[The Chels 2,502]

Kroos actually has exactly the same amount of corner assists as Cesc this season: 3 in 13 games. Koke has 4 in 13 games. So Cesc is actually doing a very good job at assisting from corners, especially considering set pieces are not his strongest point--unlike Koke and Kroos, he's much better at assisting from open play.

Of Atletico's last 15 goals before this weekend 10 came from set-pieces, so while Koke only has 4 direct assists he must have managed a lot of the 'assist before the assist' type from set pieces.

not true at all. Many of his corners and free kicks were good/dangerous. Some of them turned into assists. He had a bad game set piece wise against QPR, but he's been good imo.

He has had some dangerous ones but when you get the number of corners we do that's inevitable. Too often his corners are too close to the keeper though imo. There was a lot of attention on the corners against United because of their small team and his poor crosses meant we couldn't take advantage in the first half, although we did in the end to be fair to him. It's not a big deal because it's not his speciality and he assists lots from open play but it's just a bit annoying that none of our midfielders are particularly great at them.

[Daniel1980 1,425]

Of Atletico's last 15 goals before this weekend 10 came from set-pieces, so while Koke only has 4 direct assists he must have managed a lot of the 'assist before the assist' type from set pieces.

He has had some dangerous ones but when you get the number of corners we do that's inevitable. Too often his corners are too close to the keeper though imo. There was a lot of attention on the corners against United because of their small team and his poor crosses meant we couldn't take advantage in the first half, although we did in the end to be fair to him. It's not a big deal because it's not his speciality and he assists lots from open play but it's just a bit annoying that none of our midfielders are particularly great at them.

His corner kicks were not that good in the last two games, but otherwise he's been generally good at them--much better than our AMs--and created many chances from corners that our players failed to score. He's doing a better job than most corner kick takers of the top PL teams. There are not many "set piece specialists" around.

[Supermonkey92 1,428]

His corner kicks were not that good in the last two games, but otherwise he's been generally good at them--much better than our AMs--and created many chances from corners that our players failed to score. He's doing a better job than most corner kick takers of the top PL teams. There are not many "set piece specialists" around.

Completely agree

[TheOneChan95 225]

I hope this doesn't spark a Mata vs Cesc debate but how many assists did Mata get from Set pieces for us in a season? Maybe it's poor memory but I could have sworn that almost every Mata corner was dangerous

[Daniel1980 1,425]

I hope this doesn't spark a Mata vs Cesc debate but how many assists did Mata get from Set pieces for us in a season? Maybe it's poor memory but I could have sworn that almost every Mata corner was dangerous

Mata's assists from corner kicks in the PL:

4 assists in 2011-2012

3 assists in 2012-2013

Cesc already has 3 in 10 games.

[Supermonkey92 1,428]

In terms of delivery Di Maria is another level, like 8/10 are amazing. Apart from that I think the most you can expect from a good set piece taker, cesc had given so far

[The Chels 2,502]

In terms of delivery Di Maria is another level, like 8/10 are amazing. Apart from that I think the most you can expect from a good set piece taker, cesc had given so far

Di Maria is a strange one. His delivery from free-kicks is amazing yet his corners are abysmal.

[Daniel1980 1,425]

Di Maria's corners are very poor. Even Willian's corners are better. United fans constantly complain about it, saying someone else should take corner kicks: RVP or Mata.

[The Chels 2,502]

Even Willian's corners are better.

That's a bit harsh on Di Maria. Willian's corners are something else

[Stats 6,980]

I hope this doesn't spark a Mata vs Cesc debate but how many assists did Mata get from Set pieces for us in a season? Maybe it's poor memory but I could have sworn that almost every Mata corner was dangerous

Mata is definitely a set peice expert. Puts the right weight, spin and pace on the ball.

[TheOneChan95 225]

Mata's assists from corner kicks in the PL:

4 assists in 2011-2012

3 assists in 2012-2013

Cesc already has 3 in 10 games.

Ahh I think our CL run clouded my memory then. Well it seems like Cesc would defo be the assist leader this season if he keeps this up.

[Barbara 15,149]

Mata's assists from corner kicks in the PL:

4 assists in 2011-2012

3 assists in 2012-2013

Cesc already has 3 in 10 games.

still most of his assists came from set pieces, didn't they? I suppose from FK.

I don't remember how many stats he had while here...

I'm positive Cesc will have more though

[Jase 43,479]

That's a bit harsh on Di Maria. Willian's corners are something else

Surely Schurrle's are somewhat worse than Willian's?

[Jase 43,479]

Mata's assists from corner kicks in the PL:

4 assists in 2011-2012

3 assists in 2012-2013

Cesc already has 3 in 10 games.

still most of his assists came from set pieces, didn't they? I suppose from FK.

I don't remember how many stats he had while here...

I'm positive Cesc will have more though

Need statistics? Should have given me a call then.

Mata produced 52 assists for us in all competitions during his time here and only 19 of those came from set-pieces.

Below is the breakdown of all his assists (Note: The list of assists will begin with matches from the Premier League, then League Cup, FA Cup, Champions League and lastly Europa League):

Open Play (33); He assisted:

Ramires vs Everton(H) = WON 3-1

Torres vs Swansea(H) = WON 4-1

Lampard vs Arsenal(H) = LOST 5-3

Sturridge vs Wolves(H) = WON 3-0

Drogba vs Newcastle(A) = WON 3-0

Lampard vs Bolton(H) = WON 3-0

Drogba vs Stoke(H) = WON 1-0

Torres vs QPR(H) = WON 6-1

Terry vs Southampton(H) = WON 3-1

Terry vs Fulham(A) = WON 3-0

Hazard vs West Ham(H) = WON 2-0

Hazard vs Stoke(A) = WON 4-0

Lampard vs Villa(H) = WON 8-0

Sturridge vs Spurs(A) = WON 4-2

Hazard vs Norwich(H) = WON 4-1

Ivanovic vs Norwich(H) = WON 4-1

Cole vs Stoke(H) = WON 1-0

Moses vs Leeds(A) = WON 5-1

Hazard vs Man United(A) = DREW 2-2

Ba vs Man United(H) = WON 1-0

Lampard vs Brentford(H) = WON 4-0

Ba vs Southampton(A) = WON 5-1

Ivanovic vs Southampton(A) = WON 5-1

Ramires vs Tottenham(N) = WON 5-1

Malouda vs Tottenham(N) = WON 5-1

Ramires vs Liverpool(N) = WON 2-1

Drogba vs Valencia(H) = WON 3-0

Drogba vs Valencia(H) = WON 3-0 [this is not a mistake; he assisted both goals]

Oscar vs Nordsjaelland(H) = WON 6-1

Moses vs Rubin Kazan(H) = WON 3-1

Torres vs Rubin Kazan(H) = WON 3-1

Torres vs Steaua Bucharest(H) = WON 3-1

Torres vs Benfica(N) = WON 2-1

Set Plays(19); He assisted:

Sturridge vs Bolton(A) = WON 5-1

Terry vs Wolves(H) = WON 3-0

Luiz vs Man United(H) = DREW 3-3

Ivanovic vs Aston Villa(A) = WON 4-2

Terry vs QPR(H) = WON 6-1

Oscar vs Liverpool(A) = DREW 2-2

Lampard vs Reading(A) = DREW 2-2

Terry vs Liverpool(H) = DREW 1-1

Torres vs Arsenal(A) = WON 2-1

Terry vs Tottenham(A) = DREW 1-1

Cahill vs Man United(H) = WON 5-4

Cahill vs Wolves(H) = WON 6-0

Torres vs Wolves(H) = WON 6-0

Cahill vs Leicester(H) = WON 5-2

Drogba vs Bayern Munich(N) = DREW 1-1

Moses vs Shakhtar(H) = WON 3-2

Cahill vs Nordsjaelland(H) = WON 6-1

Terry vs Steaua Bucharest(H) = WON 3-1

Ivanovic vs Benfica(N) = WON 2-1

[Magic Lamps 11,446]

The past couple of weeks showed exactly what Cesc is about. Delivering decent skill and precise passing, the more space he has the better. He will dominate weak teams like QPR, Palace etc and completely vanish in big games. He is a brilliant player and after this season no one will question his deliveries. He might very well pile up 30+ assists in all comps. Nonetheless he is a choker and will vanish in most big games no matter how poor DMs he faces.

It is no coincidence we once won against an Arsenal team he captained 5 successive times. I only remember 1 big game he actually performed in., which was when Arsenal beat us 3-1 at the Emirates due to some atrocious defensive errors by us. I remember most of his games against us and against MU. The latter i watched hoping that they could help us and take some points from them. But they never did. Everytime I switched to the stream he only saw him shooting wide and trotting back with hanging head. He was also immensely shit in our two encounters with Barcelona in 2012. Let's face it. This season he vanished vs City and MU. And you know what: Who cares. We bought him as our flat track bully, the one thing we lacked last season to win the title. Let's see what we can do in the big games though we should not rely on Fab.

Other players like Hazard, Oscar, Courtois have to step up and show their class now to crown their names with big titles by delivering in the most crucial of times. For the league it will suffice to be flat track bullies and for the rest let's hope our young guns develop into the kind of big-match winners Fabregas never will be.