Cesc Fàbregas

[Barbara 15,149]

If I need I'll post this picture on every page of this thread, maybe then the myth will go away.

He had good second halves of season as well as bad. He's been injured more often between Jan-May than Aug-Dec - which is normal as players normally start collect knocks and tiredness appears then.

He was never played to his full capabilities on Barcelona as he was played out of position, so I won't bother with his Barça years and the 2005/06 season for Arsenal and the ones before he didn't have expressive numbers yet.

I don't think a guy assisting a goal every two matches is bad return, even every three... there's no doubt he usually has better stats in the first half of the season - I suppose that was never in question - but the idea he can't perform from January to May is a myth. He's been plagued with injures the second half of season - most small injuries (except 2008/09) - but then again most players that are overplayed in the first months suffer from this.

At the end of the day in 87 matches he started in the second half of the season he directly contributed with 47 goals, which means 0,54 goals+assists per match. If that's bad for a pivot player - then I don't know what is good...

edit: all that said he had a bad match against PSG and today again. Maybe because he was ill, maybe he because he hasn't fully reach form yet after missing a few games with an injury. Either way this could have happened at any moment of the season, it has nothing to do with a general idea comes January he can't play anymore.

[Styles 9,790]

This whole 'bottler' label is really confirmation bias at its finest. That's not to say that Cesc hasn't been playing poorly, clearly he has. But it seems like right from the start some people have been waiting and watching him closely for the slightest sign that confirms their suspicions. Looking at the team's performances in big games or in the 2nd half of the season, Cesc hasn't been any worse than the other players but yet no one else gets labelled "a choker". Why? Because folks here already have a preconceived idea about Cesc and selectively see things that affirm the label of him being a bottler.

He's being treated unfairly by some on here and I think people really get it into their heads that the team in general is playing poorly. To start singling out players is absurd. Cesc, Oscar, Costa, even Matic. The team overall has been poor and it doesn't come down to just one player.

I was one of Fabregas' biggest critics earlier in the season, but I'm cutting him some slack because while I do agree that he is playing poorly so are most of the players . The entire team hasn't played consistently for several weeks. We've had one or two decent performances this calendar year; everything other game has been a real struggle with mostly terrible football on display.

[dee25 1,044]

I was one of Fabregas' biggest critics earlier in the season, but I'm cutting him some slack because while I do agree that he is playing poorly so are most of the players . The entire team hasn't played consistently for several weeks. We've had one or two decent performances this calendar year; everything other game has been a real struggle with mostly terrible football on display.

Completely agree with this Styles. I've had my share of criticisms of him as well but there are too many individuals playing poorly - whether it's the tactics, exhaustion, inability to cope with the pressure, lack of quality, or a combination of all these.....I really don't know but the team is not looking good at all and it's very unfair to start labelling Cesc as a bottler given these circumstances. As you rightfully said, he should be cut some slack. Same with Costa.

[Laugh1ngMan 393]

Even if he is struggling a bit (some uncharastically bad passes from him), the difference he brings to this team in the pivot is unquestionable. He keeps us ticking when in posession. Players keep looking to combine passes with him. He constantly tries to provide an outball when the spaces are getting tight. He, along with Hazard is one of the main reasons we can keep possession in the final third and keep these smaller teams under pressure, and hence create much more chances than last year.

Compare that to Mikel, Ramires or even Matic and you would see them constantly turning around with their back to the goal as soon as they recieve passes and look for a save pass towards one of the defenders.

[The Chels 2,502]

In bad form right now, something has to be done. If I remember correctly, at Inter Jose sent Wesley Sneijder for a week's vacation at Mallorca or something and he ended having the spring of his life. Maybe same should we done with this lad. Go sit under the palm trees for a week or two and then come back for the PSG game.

I thought he already did. http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/pictures-chelseas-cesc-fabregas-takes-4979998

I was one of Fabregas' biggest critics earlier in the season, but I'm cutting him some slack because while I do agree that he is playing poorly so are most of the players . The entire team hasn't played consistently for several weeks. We've had one or two decent performances this calendar year; everything other game has been a real struggle with mostly terrible football on display.

Might there not be a link though? Barca fans used to say that Cesc and the entire team played brilliantly for the first half of the season but he went missing in the second (except for some stat padding) and the team's level also subsequently dropped. I don't doubt that there's a lot of hyperbole in their arguments but there does seem to be an eerily similar thing happening here.

[The Chels 2,502]

Double post

[Styles 9,790]

I thought he already did. http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/pictures-chelseas-cesc-fabregas-takes-4979998

Might there not be a link though? Barca fans used to say that Cesc and the entire team played brilliantly for the first half of the season but he went missing in the second (except for some stat padding) and the team's level also subsequently dropped. I don't doubt that there's a lot of hyperbole in their arguments but there does seem to be an eerily similar thing happening here.

They very well may be a link - I'm not discounting that; in fact I'd be making similar criticisms if the rest of the team was performing well and Fabregas' form alone had nosedived but that's not the case.

I think the entire team is struggling right now. We play rubbish football with very little cohesion and we're just relying on bits of magic or inspiration to see us through games.

[Vybz Kartel 1,613]

His doing a Barca on us, dipping in form towards the key part of the season

[Special Juan 28,100]

Shite today, pick it up when you feel ready Cesc.

[dmode 113]

Guys just two examples of big games where he performed - World Cup Final and Euro Final. I guess games don't get any better than those

[LondonsFinest 692]

Same as Costa. Needs momentum and form. When the whole team is bad, he can't do much. He was trying.

[kellzfresh 7,229]

I hope he picks up form. Since his assisting rate has reduced, we haven't played as well this year. He is so important to our gameplay and this bad patch hopefully will stop sooner rather than later.

[We Hate Scouse 10,326]

I hope he picks up form. Since his assisting rate has reduced, we haven't played as well this year. He is so important to our gameplay and this bad patch hopefully will stop sooner rather than later.

Maybe the Arsenal fans were right about his season endings

[Muzchap 8,966]

If the rest of the team is playing shite - what can he do?

He needs players around to pass too and not just Hazard

Our whole team is poor at the moment and to single out Fabregas as a bottler is pretty poor

Our whole approach to games is no longer attacking and 100% defensive - That's not going to work for him, he needs runners and movement in front of him - exactly what we were doing at the start of the season and exactly what we are not doing now

Drop Cesc into City, Arsenal or Liverpool right now and you will see how good he is - our team needs a wake up call and to lose the negative tactics and start finding space again and looking like they want to fucking win something - instead of running around like a bunch of pussies hoping something might happen

It's a shambles at the moment and Mourinho has to step up and make a decision.

[BlueLyon 9,359]

The thing i hate is why we buy players who cant play different styles. I know its hard, but if we play this way in big games, Cesc, Oscar or Mata in past are completel useless. Meaning our key midfielders are pointless in CL. And at that rate we will never win CL unless we have another 2012 season and we will never dominate the big games either.

Midfield or Koke-Matic-Pogba would suit any style and would be more useful for us IMO. But we have Cesc and Oscar and that will have to work for now.