The Skipper

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.

Valid concerns, but I honestly believe he's going to do very well here.

I'll say the same thing and I'm Dutch (we're still in the WC so if that makes my opinion more valid for you then voila). It has nothing to do with England. If you think KDB has been amazing at this World Cup then you're just being biased. KDB is a good player, but shut up with this world class genius stuff like he's been one of the best in the World Cup so far.

A lot of people have forgotten how good this lad was in the PL. He was one of the best in the PL, like a top 3 player. He's going to be immense for us.

Potential? He's 27.

From a parody account mate... At least check the authencity before posting up a tweet.

Best Moment - Lampard v Bolton, Drogba v Bayern Best game I have been to - Chelsea 4 - 2 Barca Best goal - Drogba vs. Everton (2007?) Best goal(s) I have seen live - Lampard's double vs. Villa 2013 Worst moment - CL final vs. United.

I thought he was pretty good actually. If Belgium were more clinical he could've easily had like 3 assists.

We did let Hilario go so it isn't really that much of a surprise.

They did play Lallana out wide at Soton for the majority of his time there though, so in that sense he's a direct replacement.

Tremendous flop? LOL. He's only played for Spain 4 times, how can you even conclude that, and Torres has actually in general been pretty good for Spain, so your analogy doesn't make sense whatsoever.Your analogy further doesn't make sense again because at the next club Torres transferred to after Atletico (Liverpool) he became one of, if not the best number 9 in the world (debatable). People really need to stop trying to use Torres as a reason why Diego Costa will flop. The situation is completely different.

Tadic goes to Soton to replace Lallana for a mere £10m. What a signing.

Nope. We payed Atletico 31.99m to avoid that.

Get in.

Maybe, but it does gives us a lot of options and variety. Mikel and Tiago understand that they're squad players anyway. Tbh, I can see MVG going out on loan to get regular football.

I was against this transfer before but it makes sense now. A midfield of Cesc, Matic, Ramires, MVG, Tiago, Mikel is very fine. Lots of diversity and options there. Tiago >>> Lampard as of right now. He'd be a quality squad player for us and an excellent bridge for some of the younger ones coming through. Impressive how he's turned down lucrative deals from Zenit and Monaco. Proper Chels.