Cesc Fàbregas

[MrBlueGuy 1,552]

The worst thing is, if he does go Arsenal.. They will actually have a squad worth challenging for the PL. Fiberglass behind Ozil behind a striker is something that could beat most teams.

Anyway, I think he'd be a great acquisition for us. Using some of that David Luiz money too.. They used to want Romeu? Lets offer him back for a cut-price deal

Doubt it, not if they continue to play the same way all the time using the same mentality. Arsenal had RVP, Nasri, Fab, Song...etc all at their best a few years ago and lost to Birmingham in the final+facing same old problems in title race.

[Chelsea Legend 11 4,062]

I do, when i know there arent many options and Cesc is a WC midfielder, and the type of midfielder we need.

what makes you think he wouldnt want to go here because he wouldnt want this position? thats a bizarre assessment.

Let me guess, you want Pogba in Chelsea right? you know he never really played in a double pivot? in Juve he plays in a 3-5-2 with Pirlo and Vidal, and in France he plays in a 4-3-3 with Cabaye and Matuidi. He played in the pivot maybe 2-3 times in France, but they changed it.

No what's bizarre is you think a player like Cesc, who you think is a WC midfielder is going to come to Chelsea and play defensive midfielder for us because we have a need there. On top of that he's gonna abandon the hatred he has for Jose and the style of play and just miraculously change his entire footballing style in the prime of his career to play under Jose's boring style... LOL You guys need to have a couple cups of coffee and wake up. If Cesc comes here its to play as our 10 and it means someone is on the outs, Oscar.

Pogba is a box to box midfielder capable of playing in an advanced role as well as a holding role. Anyone with half a footballing brain can see that he is this type of player.

[LDN Blue 7,903]

Doubt it, not if they continue to play the same way all the time using the same mentality. Arsenal had RVP, Nasri, Fab, Song...etc all at their best a few years ago and lost to Birmingham in the final+facing same old problems in title race.

Yeah true, but at the same time they're also showing intent on spending on their own as opposed to balancing the books with constant sales. That's why RVP & Nasri walked, even Song to an extent.

[The Skipper 20,593]

No what's bizarre is you think a player like Cesc, who you think is a WC midfielder is going to come to Chelsea and play defensive midfielder for us because we have a need there.

I completely disagree with this... In a pivot you don't necessarily have two pure DMs i.e. two pure number 6s... You can easily have a number 8 in there like Fabregas. Dortmund do it with Gundogan. Real do it with Modric. Both are known for their strong counter attacking styles.

Even at Barcelona when he does play in midfield he doesn't always play as the most forward CM in that 4-3-3, that's usually Iniesta when Andres does play through the middle.

Nadav makes a very valid point regarding Pogba - Pogba always plays in a three man midfield, doesn't mean he can't play in a 2 man midfield. Same can be said about Cesc who used to play in a 2 man midfield extensively at Arsenal.

[LDN Blue 7,903]

Also in terms of any bad blood between Fabregas and Chelsea.. Well if Lampard is leaving then it really does open to door to Cesc, it's evident those two don't like each other from previous dealings.

[jmarlow 458]

Not sure why anyone wants him here? It makes no sense at all selling players like Mata and KdB because they dont suit our counter attacking style and sign Fabregas who has no pace! Matic can do what Fabregas can do plus defend! we need a dynamic box to box midfielder next to Matic not someone like Fabregas! if we were to sign him with the intention of playing him as a number 10 that would make a bit more sense, but still wouldn't be a necessary signing.

[Chelsea Legend 11 4,062]

I completely disagree with this... In a pivot you don't necessarily have two pure DMs i.e. two pure number 6s... You can easily have a number 8 in there like Fabregas. Dortmund do it with Gundogan. Real do it with Modric. Both are known for their strong counter attacking styles.

Even at Barcelona when he does play in midfield he doesn't always play as the most forward CM in that 4-3-3, that's usually Iniesta when Andres does play through the middle.

Nadav makes a very valid point regarding Pogba - Pogba always plays in a three man midfield, doesn't mean he can't play in a 2 man midfield. Same can be said about Cesc who used to play in a 2 man midfield extensively at Arsenal.

But under Jose you do need someone who can at least hold his own defending and to be honest with you, Skipper, Cesc ain't the one. Nor do I think he will accept playing in a deeper role just so he can play for Chelsea... You guys are dreaming man, he's in the prime of his career, why would he come here and accept playing a new role when he can play his desired role elsewhere???!

You really think Jose is going to change his philosophy at this stage in his career and play someone who can't defend in one of two defensive midfield roles?

What you need to understand is 4-3-3 and 4-2-3-1 have entirely different roles for the midfielders, its not as simple as saying "well in 4-3-3 he wasn't the most forward so he can play 4-2-3-1 for Chelsea" every formation has its own set of rules and under Jose's those rules are VERY strict, some would say restrictive!

Pogba is a Jose type player, a guy that can seamlessly play in a variety of roles, that's why he's so valuable.

[LDN Blue 7,903]

Not sure why anyone wants him here? It makes no sense at all selling players like Mata and KdB because they dont suit our counter attacking style and sign Fabregas who has no pace! Matic can do what Fabregas can do plus defend! we need a dynamic box to box midfielder next to Matic not someone like Fabregas! if we were to sign him with the intention of playing him as a number 10 that would make a bit more sense, but still wouldn't be a necessary signing.

He might not have pace, but he's certainly got a great ability to dribble and I'm sure his stamina is up there too.. This goal highlights exactly what's he capable of (1:24);

[quickpassnmove 924]

good player in CM at Arsenal, but I would rather have someone different.

[Chelsea Legend 11 4,062]

Not sure why anyone wants him here? It makes no sense at all selling players like Mata and KdB because they dont suit our counter attacking style and sign Fabregas who has no pace! Matic can do what Fabregas can do plus defend! we need a dynamic box to box midfielder next to Matic not someone like Fabregas! if we were to sign him with the intention of playing him as a number 10 that would make a bit more sense, but still wouldn't be a necessary signing.

Someone understands football here.

[True_Blue1403 3]

Someone understands football here.

because we need a holding midfielder who can create chances and dictate the pace of the game! He can play next to matic mata and de bruyne couldn't! IMO he would fit us perfectly for the pace we have hazard schurrle salah willian.. That's why I would also sign lavezzi for a decent price around 20m

[iseah100 5,612]

because we need a holding midfielder who can create chances and dictate the pace of the game! He can play next to matic mata and de bruyne couldn't! IMO he would fit us perfectly for the pace we have hazard schurrle salah willian.. That's why I would also sign lavezzi for a decent price around 20m

Cesc is a holding midfielder?

[Chelsea Legend 11 4,062]

because we need a holding midfielder who can create chances and dictate the pace of the game! He can play next to matic mata and de bruyne couldn't! IMO he would fit us perfectly for the pace we have hazard schurrle salah willian.. That's why I would also sign lavezzi for a decent price around 20m

Where's your evidence?

Listen I know what you guys wanna see from Chelsea next year I just don't believe what you guys envision and what Jose envisions is quite the same! He played David Luiz in the pivot next to Matic last year, had he really wanted to play a more forward thinking player in that role why didn't he play Oscar there?

This is what I think you guys want

but I personally think Jose wants this,

[The Skipper 20,593]

But under Jose you do need someone who can at least hold his own defending and to be honest with you, Skipper, Cesc ain't the one. Nor do I think he will accept playing in a deeper role just so he can play for Chelsea... You guys are dreaming man, he's in the prime of his career, why would he come here and accept playing a new role when he can play his desired role elsewhere???!

You really think Jose is going to change his philosophy at this stage in his career and play someone who can't defend in one of two defensive midfield roles?

What you need to understand is 4-3-3 and 4-2-3-1 have entirely different roles for the midfielders, its not as simple as saying "well in 4-3-3 he wasn't the most forward so he can play 4-2-3-1 for Chelsea" every formation has its own set of rules and under Jose's those rules are VERY strict, some would say restrictive!

Pogba is a Jose type player, a guy that can seamlessly play in a variety of roles, that's why he's so valuable.

I'd love for you to provide me evidence that Cesc can't defend... Cesc really isn't that bad defensively. He can hold his own, just like someone like Modric does.

Why would he not accept playing the deeper role for Chelsea, or any club? If he went to United or City he'd play behind a number 10 too. Cesc played his best football in that deeper CM role, it really isn't that hard to fathom whether he would accept that role here. I completely disagree with you on that. What is Cesc's desired role? Where else is he going to play number 10? At United (Mata, Januzaj, Kagawa, Rooney)? No. At City (Silva or even Yaya)? No. At Arsenal (Ozil)... no.

Cesc has never been a number 10. Always naturally been a number 8 that can be shoved in to various roles because of his talent.

I completely disagree with you also on the fact that you think Mourinho would have to completely change his philosophy or tactics if Cesc came here to play in the pivot. How many times did Mourinho play Lampard there over Mikel last season? If Mou was so rigid with his 4-2-3-1 that he required great defensive work from both of his midfielders in that pivot, why did Lampard play so many games over JOM? That alone should tell you that Jose is not adverse to putting someone who isn't a pure DM or B2B in the pivot.

Of course a midfielder's role in a 4-3-3 is different to a midfielders role in a 4-2-3-1, that goes without saying, but have you never seen a counter attacking 4-2-3-1 featuring a number 8 in the pivot before? Again, I gave you the Dortmund and Real example, or even Bayern under Jupp.

In fact, an inverted midfield tandem of Oscar, Fabregas and Matic in the 4-2-3-1 would work very well in my opinion, it's nicely balanced, especially against teams that sit deep - which was our main problem last season. Against these sort of setups where we don't really require a pure B2B midfielder in the pivot a player like Cesc can be very effective.

Again, putting Cesc in the 2 man midfield doesn't mean Mou would completely alter the system I think Jose wants to develop here at all. Adding Cesc actually gives him a lot of variety in midfield to change it up to how he wants it to be. For example, in the bigger games Jose usually employs a 3 man midfield anyway in the 4-3-3. Here Cesc can also be effective alongside someone like Ramires and Matic.

Someone understands football here.

I actually think that's quite narrow minded view... Football can be played in many different ways and as we all know Jose knows that very well. I would love to sign Pogba, you know that, but just because I would like the Cesc signing as well doesn't mean I don't understand football, that's a ridiculous thing to say.

Anyway. We don't even know if Pogba is attainable, but we do know that Cesc is transferrable for a very affordable fee of £30m. £30m for a world class midfielder who is very versatile and home grown too would be a great deal in my opinion.

Courtois

Azpi - Cahill - JT - Luis

Fabregas - Matic

Willian - Oscar - Hazard

Costa

That is the look of a very well balanced, talented team IMO.

[True_Blue1403 3]

Cesc is a holding midfielder?

depends on the Interpretation of holding so i think yes

[iseah100 5,612]

depends on the Interpretation of holding so i think yes

LET'S GET HIM!!!!!!

[True_Blue1403 3]

LET'S GET HIM!!!!!!

you have a Opinion about or you only want to trol around...

[iseah100 5,612]

you have a Opinion about or you only want to trol around...

Lol no i'm serious, we should get him. We can offer him a starting spot, CL football, and competitive wages. How much defense would he actually have to put in with The Beast Matic next to him? He could play in a deeper role, and has before. Not just that, he's versatile so if anyone got injured he could easily play on the wings or as a #10.