Cesc Fàbregas

[edetarod 2,155]

Honestly I've never really rated the guy. Always thought he lacked a bit of drive and urgency in possession, the type of player that our midfielders (Lamps, Essien, Ballack, Ramires, Matic) would simply out-hustle and push off the ball.

To me he's the archetypal Arsenal bottle-job. Not at all surprised Van Gaal doesn't want him, and still surprised that we do.

agree, can't see what he offers that Mata couldn't

if we sign him for 36 million we've basically replaced Mata (a fan's favorite) with a prick

[Styles 9,790]

I will admit that he can prove me wrong. He seems capable and also, it may have been the case of bad squad politics at Barcelona--as in: 'we prefer to play with proven Barca players in centre midfield. this is our established starting center midfield."

My problem with this transfer is that a player like Koke is younger, about as equally skilled (dunno on the goalscoring as much), and Koke is a STRONGER, MORE ATHLETIC physical presence than Fabregas in centre midfield. I would prefer the stronger player with more youth and about the same amount of skill. Football demands the strength and speed of Koke more nowadays.

I hope Cesc just blows my perception away if he comes to SB.

I just don't like the idea of signing a player at that age who isn't performing at his best and then hoping he turns it around at our place. Torres is the perfect example. And before people throw stats at me suggesting Fabregas is performing, Shevchenko came here off the back of scoring nearly 30 goals and was a disaster.

Spend big money on the Hazard's of this world. Proven young talent with potential to get even better.

[MrExcalibur100 7,124]

He had ONE very good season with Arsenal and I don't think he is as dedicated to football in his life as he needs to be. But that's just a feeling I have while watching him and it doesn't surprise me that Barca fans don't care for him.

Hard to know what he would do back in England. Maybe he will find a better role at Chelsea and impress us all.

Fabregas had many very good seasons with Arsenal and was one of the best midfielders in the PL for majority of his time at Arsenal.

I will not judge him on his time at Barcelona where he was playing a completely different system and often playing out of position. Despite his "Barcelona DNA" he never fit their philosophy or the entire La Liga for that matter. He's much more suited for tempo and physicality of the EPL which is why one of the reasons I want us to sign him is that none of our rivals do.

If he can produce even 70% or 80% of what he did at Arsenal, he'd be a HUGE addition to the team.

Nail on head. It wasn't a quality problem but a not fitting into philosophy, not being liked by the fans and not being played in right position problem.

[Spike 12,049]

He is a very good scorer of goals.

[MrExcalibur100 7,124]

agree, can't see what he offers that Mata couldn't

if we sign him for 36 million we've basically replaced Mata (a fan's favorite) with a prick

Mata is a number 10. Fabregas has predominantly been a number 8. If you can't see what he offers, at least know his position on the pitch.

[Styles 9,790]

agreed.

I thought the same of Modric though, but he's done well after moving deeper. Thing is, if the player has enough technique, he can make the football move quickly, like Modric does, then avoiding physical confrontations - well most of the time.

Out of the CMs we are being linked with, Fabregas would have to be the least exciting.

Modric is a different player to Fabregas. He's more robust and quicker, and is able to link play much better.

[The only place to be 11,313]

agreed.

I thought the same of Modric though, but he's done well after moving deeper. Thing is, if the player has enough technique, he can make the football move quickly, like Modric does, then avoiding physical confrontations - well most of the time.

Out of the CMs we are being linked with, Fabregas would have to be the least exciting.

Modric has always had that snappiness. He was more like Oscar who can show some pace and hit some balls with some power.

Half the time when I watch Fabregas he seems to be jogging and he also looks like he underhits a lot of passes. Maybe it's just his style, but I always think that when we play against Fabregas that he's easily unsettled by someone like Matic or Essien.

I've said it before that he's the archetypal Wenger player....and we've always been able to smash those types of cunts.

[Sheva. 5,373]

I'm quite taken aback by just how many don't rate him and the flaws they cite.

This post in particular is worrying:

That sounds like Ramires!

Ramires Fabregas with space and time can pick out anyone he wants, which is what he didn't have in that .gif, in fact he really couldn't have done anything else in that situation.

His technique, passing etc is not a problem, his motivation/drive might be though.

[The only place to be 11,313]

Ramires Fabregas with space and time can pick out anyone he wants, which is what he didn't have in that .gif, in fact he really couldn't have done anything else in that situation.

His technique, passing etc is not a problem, his motivation/drive might be though.

And that's the problem - the reason Jose always beats Wenger is because he doesn't give his team time and space. He hustles them, he starves them of space and they collapse.

Look at the 6-0 win. Now which team does Fabregas fit perfectly into?

[milka 3,344]

Cesc Fabregas has agreed personal terms with Chelsea according to Mundo Deportivo!

[ephreak 42]

Saw this in another forum. Had to share.

[bushman 2,043]

According to the latest, Manures have offered more money than Chelsea & he prefers them instead of Chelsea.

[Sheva. 5,373]

And that's the problem - the reason Jose always beats Wenger is because he doesn't give his team time and space. He hustles them, he starves them of space and they collapse.

Look at the 6-0 win. Now which team does Fabregas fit perfectly into?

Our problem last season was not teams not giving us space and time, it was looking totally inept when we had to break down other teams.

Put Fabregas on the bench for the 5 or so games we might need to defend, but against your Sunderland's, QPR's etc, you want him in the middle spraying the ball around.

(Doesn't have to be Fabregas, can be Rakitic whoever, but a player like this would be great to have)

[iseah100 5,612]

Saw this in another forum. Had to share.

Wtf...

Fabregas will have to put in serious work here. Let's see if he can fit in here.

Why can't Oscar play next to Matic? He's got a motor, can defend, and create...

[xPetrCechx 13,563]

Chelsea set to sign Cesc Fabregas and send him on loan to Vitesse.

[cadenza666 221]

Chelsea set to sign Cesc Fabregas and send him on loan to Vitesse.

i got so excited seeing Petr post ...... then saw Vitesse -_______-

[quickpassnmove 924]

Fabregas had many very good seasons with Arsenal and was one of the best midfielders in the PL for majority of his time at Arsenal.

Nail on head. It wasn't a quality problem but a not fitting into philosophy, not being liked by the fans and not being played in right position problem.

didn't really rate him too highly aside for about 18 months at Arsenal.

[The only place to be 11,313]

Our problem last season was not teams not giving us space and time, it was looking totally inept when we had to break down other teams.

Put Fabregas on the bench for the 5 or so games we might need to defend, but against your Sunderland's, QPR's etc, you want him in the middle spraying the ball around.

(Doesn't have to be Fabregas, can be Rakitic whoever, but a player like this would be great to have)

And Jose put the blame for those performances at the feet of the strikers, and rightly so. Costa looks very much like a Jose signing. Matic looks very much like a Jose signing.

Fabregas looks like a Roman signing.

Fabregas....Rakitic....those aren't Jose players. He likes players with power about them, someone like Pogba or even Koke who has shown that he can be disciplined defensively as well as picking a pass. Jose is the guy who sold Mata and went with Oscar because Oscar edged Mata in terms of defensive discipline.

If this story was about United signing Fabregas then people would be saying he wouldn't fit Van Gaal's style....but he's going to fit Jose's? I have serious doubts.