The Skipper

How you're even trying to draw comparisons between the Luiz and Lukaku situation is astonishing.

I actually like it.

So because they believe in their own abilities they're spoilt kids?

Fabregas from deep.

I think it simply has to do with the fact that there isn't a reasonable squad number available for him (i.e. 9 or 19). Once that's sorted (i.e. Ba or Torres being sold) he'll be unveiled officially.

Neymar's injury might be a blessing in disguise for us and Oscar.

Take away his free kick today and he was still brilliant defensively tonight. Get over it, Luiz can be a brilliant defender as he shown tonight and as he showed on occasion at CFC.

He just scored 27 league goals in Spain for the title winning team, why is it mad to think that he can get 20 for us?

Just like how you said Fabregas was certainly going to United?

We won't sign another (starting) midfielder IMO.

According to Marca Simeone doesn't want him anymore.

Fully understand that guys, there's no rush at all, just thought that article (which was actually mailed out to the fans by CFC) pretty much confirmed it. But I see that you're waiting for the actual full confirmation of it (contract signed etc.). Understandable. I suspect however the main thing holding up official confirmation is the fact that there isn't a suitable number available for him atm (9 or 19).

http://www.chelseafc.com/news-article/article/3945459?cid=DM6467&bid=83278589 This really should be in the player section now surely...

http://www.chelseafc.com/news-article/article/3945459?cid=DM6467&bid=83278589 This really should be in the player section now, it's already official...

Because those guys are starting for us game in game out right? Do you really think Kroos will come here for cover? Funny how you've conveniently left out our best CMs in that little line up... We're stacked in every position Kroos plays, there's no need at all for him.

take a bow. I remember this game very well. 3 assists (could've been like 5 had some players been more clinical) and a great goal. That's what the real Cesc is all about. Operating from deep, dictating the pace of the game, opening up banks of 4 with fantastic through balls, making late, surging runs into the box... He'll have a similar role here at CFC. Brilliant.

He should go Gladbach, think he'll get the most playing time there. Would be a great loan for him.

That's incredible. Thanks for this.

Why does everyone always use Torres as a moot point with everything these days? Just like Diego Costa, it's a completely different situation... You seriously can't ignore his Arsenal performances because of what happened to Torres. There are clear reasons why Torres has lost it and that's more due to the fact that his body has basically given up on him. Can you say the same about Fabregas? Has Fabregas been that rubbish at Barcelona? Even if he hasn't been as good as his Arsenal days there are reasons that draw no comparisons with the Torres situation. There's the fact that he isn't the main man there (everything goes through Messi), the fact that he doesn't even fit their system (he's naturally a lot more direct than what Barcelona allow him to do - the system restricts his natural instincts), and the fact that he isn't even the midfield regulator at Barcelona; that's Xavi - I personally think that that's his best role but not in a tiki taka system - in a more direct, faster paced system is where he belongs... Regardless of all of this, he still statistically pulls out great numbers. You bring up the Torres analogy (which is very misguided IMO with all due respects), I'll bring you the Zlatan at Barcelona analogy, the Sneijder and Robben analogy (when they were at Real and weren't being used correctly), the Sanchez analogy (much better at Udinese and for Chile where he plays in a system that fully suits his strengths)... You're worrying way too much. I personally am very confident that he's going to be a great player for us. He's coming back to a more natural environment, he'll play in my opinion in a system that suits more to his strengths... Good times ahead in my opinion.

What about his time at Arsenal then, (the best moments in his career by far, much better than what he was at Barcelona) where he pretty much exclusively at CM? Why are you completely ignoring that? He didn't play the position of Mata at Barcelona because they don't even operate with a number 10 due to Messi. You can't have a false 9 and a number 10 in the same system. He played best as a number 8 in Barcelona - i.e. the most advanced midfielder in a 4-3-3 and there's a big difference between a number 8 and a number 10; but then again he also played a lot as the 2nd most advanced midfielder in the 4-3-3 - i.e. Iniesta - Fabregas - Busquets... It honestly isn't that hard to understand why Mourinho purchased him. He's not like Mata or KDB, he gives us something both couldn't - the ability to dictate the game from deep. He wasn't bought to defend or for exceptional work rate. PS: if a mod could move this to the Fabregas thread that would be good because we're very off topic.

But he isn't coming to perform the same role as Mata or KDB. IMO he's not coming to play as a number 10 (first and foremost) or as a right winger...He's coming to aid in something we lacked big time last season - a proper midfield metronome from deep that can distribute the ball, put in through balls from deep against tough sides that need to be broken down. Mata and KDB are incapable of doing that (from deeper anyway) - they can't play deeper in midfield (or haven't played there anywhere near as consistently as Fabregas in KDB's case). Mata or KDB were never going to play in the pivot for us but Fabregas certainly will, quite a lot too IMO.

I'm interested in knowing how you've concluded that...KDB and Mata have been deployed further up the pitch for the majority of their careers, whilst Fabregas has spent a bulk of his playing deeper than both. No way he's worse at defending than Mata or KDB.

Mourinho didn't buy him to come and defend - his defensive work isn't amazing but it's adequate, just like someone like Modric's is. Just to reiterate: Mourinho bought him. Mourinho also thinks Ozil is the best number 10 in the world - he's bought him because he wanted him and because he thinks he can perform in the role he'll put him in. Don't know why you're worrying about that. Bayern under JH also had players that aren't known for their pace in the midfield in Schweinsteiger and Kroos in his system but they still managed to implement a high press attacking system. It's a myth that you just need super fast players for something like that to work.

He really isn't as slow as some make out to be here. True he doesn't have blistering pace like a Ramires but he's got respectable speed. He's already used to the fast paced style of the PL. I wouldn't be too worried about that at all IMO.