🇪🇸 Cesc Fàbregas

[bababoom 4,478]

I must say, In the second half against Swansea i really enjoyed Matic, Ramires, Cesc and Oscar all playing together. On paper Oscar was out wide but in reality he was more central while Ivan kept the width. Against City i would probably play Willian just because of his pace and how good he is on the counter. Regarding Oscar, I'll be interested to see what Jose does with him in the coming months.

[Chelsea Legend 11 4,062]

Gary Neville is the man. Always seems to see the game for exactly what it is... A shame he singled out Cesc but there was no denying we had trouble against Swansea partly due to Cesc not being disciplined.

I'm not so sure it all just comes down to Fab though... In the previous games Oscar did a great job of playing off of him and filling in when Cesc did get go forward, on Saturday that was non-existent. The front four of Schurrle, OScar, Hazard and Costa didn't do a good job of pressing high and as a result Cesc tried to over compensate and it made things worse. He doesn't have to do that and will learn not, when the press is ineffective sit back a bit and wait for opportunities. One man pressuring the ball is never gonna work...

[Jase 43,479]

Here's the Neville analysis by the way:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DjP9KVWA91U

Absolutely spot on analysis by Neville there and in some ways, Fabregas' defensive issues in the pivot should come of no surprise really. For most of his career, he has played in a 4-3-3, with Barcelona and Spain and they have always played the pressing game and press as a unit high up the pitch. It has probably got to the point where he's used to that approach and now, he's not really yet used to ours where we don't always press that high up (just like what Neville highlighted about getting too eager to press and leave too much space behind him). Even when he did play in the pivot for Arsenal, I doubt they really did much on the defensive side of things either since they are getting constantly raped defensively by other teams.

[Dion 2,476]

Gary Neville is the man. Always seems to see the game for exactly what it is... A shame he singled out Cesc but there was no denying we had trouble against Swansea partly due to Cesc not being disciplined.

I'm not so sure it all just comes down to Fab though... In the previous games Oscar did a great job of playing off of him and filling in when Cesc did get go forward, on Saturday that was non-existent. The front four of Schurrle, OScar, Hazard and Costa didn't do a good job of pressing high and as a result Cesc tried to over compensate and it made things worse. He doesn't have to do that and will learn not, when the press is ineffective sit back a bit and wait for opportunities. One man pressuring the ball is never gonna work...

Oscar played more offensively on saturday. Until the moment Ramires came on, Fabregas was playing mostly deep and Oscar ahead with little if any interchangeability. You may remember that Oscar had a few shots on goal against Swansea and was generally playing around the box, which he had not been doing as frequently in the other games. I think Brazilian commentators mentioned it during the game too, I could be remembering it wrong though. I prefer the Oscar that appears everywhere he's needed on the pitch, I think that's one of his biggest qualities, I don't like it when he seems too focused on trying to score.

[Chelsea Legend 11 4,062]

Oscar played more offensively on saturday. Until the moment Ramires came on, Fabregas was playing mostly deep and Oscar ahead with little if any interchangeability. You may remember that Oscar had a few shots on goal against Swansea and was generally playing around the box, which he had not been doing as frequently in the other games. I think Brazilian commentators mentioned it during the game too, I could be remembering it wrong though. I prefer the Oscar that appears everywhere he's needed on the pitch, I think that's one of his biggest qualities, I don't like it when he seems too focused on trying to score.

Ya I agree, he didn't really read the game effectively for my liking. Both he and Fabregas were caught way too high up the pitch and not really pressing the ball at all. In the first few matches Oscar was better at covering for Cesc when he marauded forward. Ramires is so crucial to the team I don't know why people dog him so much... He is precisely what that game needed and he executed it to perfection... Love him.

[Barbara 15,149]

Ya I agree, he didn't really read the game effectively for my liking. Both he and Fabregas were caught way too high up the pitch and not really pressing the ball at all. In the first few matches Oscar was better at covering for Cesc when he marauded forward. Ramires is so crucial to the team I don't know why people dog him so much... He is precisely what that game needed and he executed it to perfection... Love him.

Actually the compilation of Oscar against Swansea shows him pressing many times and well positioned in most of them. He was the less worse (although far from his usual level) in the team regarding that. He pressed the zone he normally does (opposition transition from defense to midfield). But I do agree about Ramires. I think it was both Ramires effect and Mourinho positioning and explaining how everyone should press. Oscar, Cesc and Matic all benefited from the adjustments made by Mourinho and Ramires' presence.

[Chelsea Legend 11 4,062]

Actually the compilation of Oscar against Swansea shows him pressing many times and well positioned in most of them. He was the less worse (although far from his usual level) in the team regarding that. He pressed the zone he normally does (opposition transition from defense to midfield). But I do agree about Ramires. I think it was both Ramires effect and Mourinho positioning and explaining how everyone should press. Oscar, Cesc and Matic all benefited from the adjustments made by Mourinho and Ramires' presence.

Agreed. When I said 'not really pressing the ball' I mean't he wasn't getting close enough to it(credit some of that to how well Swansea played one touch passes out from the back) Pressing is mostly a team thing anyways... The thing I didn't like about Oscar's press is he didn't identify where on the pitch to apply the pressure on the ball. Swansea had no trouble playing out from the back and there were times in the first half we couldn't get near them. Hopefully just a blip... I'm almost convinced 4-3-3 with be the formation we play in big matches though, Gary Neville called it so perfectly, if you give Yaya, Silva and even Nasri the types of pockets we gave Swansea we'd get battered.

[Chelsea Legend 11 4,062]

Absolutely spot on analysis by Neville there and in some ways, Fabregas' defensive issues in the pivot should come of no surprise really. For most of his career, he has played in a 4-3-3, with Barcelona and Spain and they have always played the pressing game and press as a unit high up the pitch. It has probably got to the point where he's used to that approach and now, he's not really yet used to ours where we don't always press that high up (just like what Neville highlighted about getting too eager to press and leave too much space behind him). Even when he did play in the pivot for Arsenal, I doubt they really did much on the defensive side of things either since they are getting constantly raped defensively by other teams.

He was so ineffectual even when he did get near. I mean its one thing to press and quite another to press and win the ball back... If you're gonna be that reckless at least put in a tackle! That's why I love Ramires! He is a one man wrecking crew when fit and playing up to speed.

[kellzfresh 7,229]

I must say, In the second half against Swansea i really enjoyed Matic, Ramires, Cesc and Oscar all playing together. On paper Oscar was out wide but in reality he was more central while Ivan kept the width. Against City i would probably play Willian just because of his pace and how good he is on the counter. Regarding Oscar, I'll be interested to see what Jose does with him in the coming months.

I loved that formation, I don't know if it will work against bigger teams but the famous MAZACAR had oscar on the wings and he didnt look out of place. His combination with hazard and fabregas reminded me of them.

What I love about this season is that we now score corners because of Fabregas quality crosses. If we are struggling to break down the opponent, we score from the corner. Liverpool and mancity had a that advantage over us last season by a fair margin

[Manuf 1,448]

btw. how is he doing in that all-time assists table? he had so much in fewest appearances, is he going to top it in the coming seasons?

[Nike 373]

Cesc-Matic-rambo with oscar and hazard on the wings is Chelsea most effective team.

[stroey 2,525]

Cesc-Matic-rambo with oscar and hazard on the wings is Chelsea most effective team.

Replace Oscar with Willian and I'd agree,

Willian is so underrated...

[Supermonkey92 1,428]

But Oscar's best position is an inverted winger. One of his best games was in that position, away against west ham. Him and hazard with the two behind the striker and could go wide or centrL as they pleased with. Midfield behind him. D like to see William played in that formation rather as a wide winger who is there to track back and lick down a flank

[Sidzeret 2,257]

Went straight to his phone.

[Jase 43,479]

But Oscar's best position is an inverted winger. One of his best games was in that position, away against west ham. Him and hazard with the two behind the striker and could go wide or centrL as they pleased with. Midfield behind him. D like to see William played in that formation rather as a wide winger who is there to track back and lick down a flank

I wouldn't call it inverted winger at all because he doesn't operate like one. He played more of a CM tucking in narrow from the wide position to give us a more 4-man midfield to be able to control the game and give the side a good balance.

[Jase 43,479]

Fabregas was good offensively tonight again and he has been so far this season. However, defensive wise, he needs to improve...a lot. His pressing again was like neither here nor there Schalke and left gaps/spaces to be exploited. Would also helpful if he doesn't dwell on the ball for too long..

[Daniel1980 1,425]

Went straight to his phone.

Huh?

[DH1988 1,348]

Moving him back was a worry not sure why Jose did that but I thought he had a good game, I'm worried more about the gap between matic and the cb's if I'm honest.

[Barbara 15,149]

For it to work - regardless of the system or formation, Matic should be more conservative and hold position more often, he is after all, the team's holding midfielder.

I already shared my views about Fabregas game in the post match thread, but I'll try to watch the match again later this week. He seems just fine imo, can make some adjustments and slight improvements in the defensive aspect of his game, but nothing too life changing. He isn't a defensive midfielder despite being a pivot player. I still believe the moment Matic starts to play better, we won't have much issues and I have problems believing that Cesc's presence is what is causing him issues. He had old Lamps last season many times as his partner and an awful Ramires... Cesc is an improvement - even defensively - on both. Ramires had really a bad second half of season and Matic coped. I know he has more ground to cover now, but if he's actually deeper in the pitch it isn't much more ground. The problem is if he insists on approaching the attack and leaving a huge gap between him and the defense. We have slow CBs, Matic should be closer to them no matter what and who plays by his side at the pivot.

[iseah100 5,612]

Pounded the badge when he scored:) true blue