🇪🇸 Cesc Fàbregas

[Tomo 21,751]

Average passer Cesc Fàbregas (btw why all the other players that have some sign - don't know the proper name in English - in their names have it, but Fàbregas is written as Fabregas?) had a 95% pass accuracy today according to Squawka.

Not so bad for an average passer: 6 key passes (don't remember any of them being a through ball), 95% accuracy, two assists today, six overall in four matches.

I do agree about their point about the 3-man midfield. We should just switch to 4-3-3 and walk the league

We do look much suited for 4-3-3 than 4-2-3-1 and at least now - during early days - I can see it bringing more stability to our defense. We must play our second half formation against City imo, though I could see Mourinho replacing Oscar - and not Schurrle - for Ramires because of his pace. I'd still rather the opposite as André seems to be having some world champion hangover.

Sorry who said he was an average player?

After yesterday im convinced 4 3 3 is the way to go, Matic, Rami and Cesc with Mikel covering, shame we didn't keep MVG really but that might open up some games for Baker.

[Jase 43,479]

I do agree about their point about the 3-man midfield. We should just switch to 4-3-3 and walk the league

We do look much suited for 4-3-3 than 4-2-3-1 and at least now - during early days - I can see it bringing more stability to our defense. We must play our second half formation against City imo, though I could see Mourinho replacing Oscar - and not Schurrle - for Ramires because of his pace. I'd still rather the opposite as André seems to be having some world champion hangover.

We have to go with 4-3-3 against City. We'll get slaughtered if we go 4-2-3-1 with Matic and Fabregas in the pivot. And as much as I think Schurrle will give us extra threat off the ball, I think it might be wise to go with Willian. Arguably protects the ball better and can still provide decent threat going forward. Last thing we need is the players to give the ball away carelessly to a team like City (which happened a lot in the first half against Swansea and we nearly paid a heavy price for it).

[Barbara 15,149]

We have to go with 4-3-3 against City. We'll get slaughtered if we go 4-2-3-1 with Matic and Fabregas in the pivot. And as much as I think Schurrle will give us extra threat off the ball, I think it might be wise to go with Willian. Arguably protects the ball better and can still provide decent going forward. Last thing we need is players to give the ball carelessly away to a team like City (which happened a lot in the first against Swansea and we nearly paid a heavy price for it).

It's definitely an option better than Schurrle atm, but Oscar has been playing well and it worked well. I'm not advocating harmony - as you did with the defense, I just think if it ain't broken, don't change it. Oscar had a great second half yesterday where he did a bit of everything, but of course, Willian is great and could offer a few things Oscar can't, with his silky, pace-y football.

[Jase 43,479]

It's definitely an option better than Schurrle atm, but Oscar has been playing well and it worked well. I'm not advocating harmony - as you did with the defense, I just think if it ain't broken, don't change it. Oscar had a great second half yesterday where he did a bit of everything, but of course, Willian is great and could offer a few things Oscar can't, with his silky, pace-y football.

Now now, let's not go there again.

This has nothing to do with harmony though. It's just a matter of selecting the right players in the right position to give us the right balance in the team. Oscar can drop deep and all but he's still no Ramires. And we need his energy, stamina and pace against City, especially if Toure were to play.

[Barbara 15,149]

Now now, let's not go there again.

This has nothing to do with harmony though. It's just a matter of selecting the right players in the right position to give us the right balance in the team. Oscar can drop deep and all but he's still no Ramires. And we need his energy, stamina and pace against City, especially if Toure were to play.

I'm defending the second half formation - which has Ramires, and I said it has nothing to do with harmony, so tbh I didn't get your answer

[Jase 43,479]

I'm defending the second half formation - which has Ramires, and I said it has nothing to do with harmony, so tbh I didn't get your answer

Pretend it never happened then.

[kellzfresh 7,229]

[Nero 1,874]

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x25woo7_fabregas-and-diego-costa-on-swansea-city-hd_sport

[Madmax 9,219]

Individual highlights - all touches

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WR3pufdLnjE

[meetdoscar 335]

I still can't believe he is blue. Dream signing after we missed out on pirlo some seasons ago.

[HarryCFC 23]

Costa and Fàbregas >> I've written an article on the statistics of their newfound partnership on my blog - check it out!

http://blogchelseafc.cf

[bababoom 4,478]

Neville on MNF just analysed Cescs first half performance defensively and it's safe to say he was pretty poor without the ball. It was obvious watching the game he was miles better when Ramires came on, he had more freedom and was able to get forward without worrying what's behind him.

[Namika 922]

It had nothing to do with Cesc, we were just outnumbered in midfield.

[Daniel1980 1,425]

Neville on MNF just analysed Cescs first half performance defensively and it's safe to say he was pretty poor without the ball. It was obvious watching the game he was miles better when Ramires came on, he had more freedom and was able to get forward without worrying what's behind him.

Pretty much everyone was pretty poor without the ball in the first half, to be fair. But yeah, he obviously won't complain, but he's far more used to playing in 4-3-3 when he doesn't have to worry so much about playing so close to defenders. Playing in the pivot limits his creativity a lot, IMO. He's essentially forced to do the job he isn't very good at(defending) and it limits his creativity and contribution in the final third. I mean, his decision-making in the final third and his final ball are one of the best out there, but he's wasted being played too deep at times. I said before the start of the season that Cesc would do much better as the most advanced midfielder in 4-3-3 and I haven't changed my opinion. In 4-3-3, he can control the play from the deep if needed, but he can also join the attack more often and link-up with Eden and Costa, as he did in the second half against Swansea.

[Styles 9,790]

Neville on MNF just analysed Cescs first half performance defensively and it's safe to say he was pretty poor without the ball. It was obvious watching the game he was miles better when Ramires came on, he had more freedom and was able to get forward without worrying what's behind him.

I saw that too, pretty conclusive I thought. Hopefully the video is uploaded to youtube.

[Barbara 15,149]

I saw that too, pretty conclusive I thought. Hopefully the video is uploaded to youtube.

I'll do better, I'll re-watch the match because as far as I remember it, he was just another player who couldn't find the way to press and position in a hot mess that were the first 30 minutes of the match. When nobody around you is playing their part, it's hard to find the guilty. Also Matic committed a few mistakes that set Swansea up... it didn't help Cesc that he was the closest - formation wise - to deal with an erratic Matic.

I'll analyze that match into detail and it doesn't surprise me that the media is choosing to focus (or at least pay attention) to what one of our players could have done wrong when another one had a hat trick or the debuting striker scored in addition to Cesc assisting twice. It's also a coincidence United netted 4 against the almighty Rangers. I mean why talk about what really matters when they can nitpick Cesc and probably worship United, right?

[TheOneChan95 225]

I think Cesc is better from deep if we are playing a weaker team and can control the midfield. This would be due to the fact that he is one of the best out there in sending splendid defence splitting passes from deep. He allows us to move the ball so much quicker as well.

But from what we have seen so far he is probably better as the advanced midfielder in a 433 for tougher games since it gives us good balance. The 4231 seems like a good way to commit suicide against good teams since he isn't as good defensively.

[Styles 9,790]

I'll do better, I'll re-watch the match because as far as I remember it, he was just another player who couldn't find the way to press and position in a hot mess that were the first 30 minutes of the match. When nobody around you is playing their part, it's hard to find the guilty. Also Matic committed a few mistakes that set Swansea up... it didn't help Cesc that he was the closest - formation wise - to deal with an erratic Matic.

I'll analyze that match into detail and it doesn't surprise me that the media is choosing to focus (or at least pay attention) to what one of our players could have done wrong when another one had a hat trick or the debuting striker scored in addition to Cesc assisting twice. It's also a coincidence United netted 4 against the almighty Rangers. I mean why talk about what really matters when they can nitpick Cesc and probably worship United, right?

Barbara, I think you're too emotionally invested in Fabregas and read far too much into any criticism. They MNF crew did go on to praise Costa for his hattrick and our ability to bounce back from a bad start, but that doesn't mean there wasn't some worrying things on display.

Fabregas is weak defensively -I think that much is clear for me at this point - but as long as we carry on overwhelming the weaker sides it is something everybody can live with. And Mourinho is surely too smart to ever play him in a two man midfield against decent opposition so there's nothing to worry about really.

But I do think Matic's poor start to the season can also be partly attributed to an increased workload because of a partner that is significantly weaker defensively than his previous partners (Luis, Ramires, Mikel, Lampard etc) and a CB duo that are too slow and do not push up to squeeze the opposition leaving Matic with too much ground to cover.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

Pressing is a team action. When someone makes a mistake, everyone else looks lost and out of position. And from what I saw, in the first 25 minutes, everyone in the first bank of four (Cesc, Matic, Schurrle and Hazard) made mistakes in pressing, leaving the Swansea midfielders with time and space and our players in trouble.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

Fabregas is weak defensively -I think that much is clear for me at this point

Way too early to pass that judgement. If you're going to judge on the opening 4 matches, then Matis is weak defensively as well.

No idea why we need to pick Cesc out in the first 25 minutes against Swansea when Matic and Schurrle made more defensive mistakes.