Cesc Fàbregas

[Jype 6,398]

When did we adapted to this small team mentality?

It's not small team mentality, it's being smart.

[Daniel1980 1,425]

It might fire up the 'rivalry' between Mou and Arsene even longer.

Ozil had his best seasons under Mou, with Arsene he's a ghost of himself.

Then Arsene lets go of Cesc because he doesn't believe he can play both him and Ozil. Then Mourinho moves Cesc to a position that has nothing to do with #10 - where Ozil plays - and he has a hell of season, Arsene will look even more the clown than he is.

I can't wait.

I bet the mere fact that Fabregas will play for Chelsea is painful for Arsene. Yes, ultimately, he made the right choice -- Fabregas would have been a luxury signing for them, considering the fact that they have more important positions to fill--but this is Cesc, his golden boy. Arsene was/is very attached to Cesc.

I almost feel sorry for him.

[Fernando 6,502]

When did we adapted to this small team mentality?

That's how we played the last few seasons and more then likely Mourinho will be conservative in the big matches.

[Jase 43,479]

When did we adapted to this small team mentality?

All about being streetwise and adapting to the circumstances...unless that is you want to be like Wenger and just play all the attacking players and get thrashed..

[Ryan Fong 2,776]

I wonder what Mourinho actually says to convince all these players he rings!

"Let's win some trophies"

[Barbara 15,149]

It's not small team mentality, it's being smart.

And what made get the double over against ManC and Pool and not lose to ManU, Arsenal and Tottenham - if you can consider any of those big teams in the first place (based in their seasons or in Arsenal case, in general, lol).

We were smart and I don't a give f! about people (not Joker10 in specific at all) saying we were parking the bus, playing 10 men behind the ball, it got us the results.

[Starman60 1,343]

I wonder what Mourinho actually says to convince all these players he rings!

"Hello? is that Cesc? Would you like to win some major silverware and earn £150,000 a week while doing so"?

[Tomo 21,736]

A lot is made of football related feuds, some people actually realise that they are in a result based profession and sometimes thing's happen. Big Sam and Jose probably laughed at there little digs at each other over a bottle of wine after soccer aid.

Cesc and Jose were on separate sides of 2 major rivals twice before, if there wasn't a little bit of tension between them then one of them aren't doing their job properly.

Like with Jose and Eto'o, now both are batting for the same side, expect any past tensions to be forgotten pretty quickly.

[Joker10 946]

That's how we played the last few seasons and more then likely Mourinho will be conservative in the big matches.

Our squad has improved seasons by seasons. With addition of Costa, Cesc and Luis, i fail to see a definite better XI in the world. What else Mourinho needs to play proactive and stop with the underdog mentality?

Proactive was a word Mou used to describe how he wants to play at Chelsea, instead of playing reactive.

It's not small team mentality, it's being smart.

Big Sam is thinking the same thing, but he is the manager of West Ham. It is perfectly fine for them to play like that, with their resource, squad, and stature.

All about being streetwise and adapting to the circumstances...unless that is you want to be like Wenger and just play all the attacking players and get thrashed..

I like how Arsenal are always brought as an argument against attacking football and playing youths..filled with fallacies. There is attacking football and Arsenal, who i can't remember the last time they actually had a natural holding midfielder. Our attacking players are far better defensively then theirs.

I am hardly against being pragmatic and conservative, there is a situation for everything.

[RoyalBlues 4,050]

I wonder what Mourinho actually says to convince all these players he rings!

"Hello there, do you want to join my 'lets kick some gooners & scousers ass' club?"

[Fernando 6,502]

Our squad has improved seasons by seasons. With addition of Costa, Cesc and Luis, i fail to see a definite better XI in the world. What else Mourinho needs to play proactive and stop with the underdog mentality?

Proactive was a word Mou used to describe how he wants to play at Chelsea, instead of playing reactive.

Big Sam is thinking the same thing, but he is the manager of West Ham. It is perfectly fine for them to play like that, with their resource, squad, and stature.

I like how Arsenal are always brought as an argument against attacking football and playing youths..filled with fallacies. There is attacking football and Arsenal, who i can't remember the last time they actually had a natural holding midfielder. Our attacking players are far better defensively then theirs.

I am hardly against being pragmatic and conservative, there is a situation for everything.

Still for me Mourinho is conservative in big matches.

That won't change, he will not turn into a Bielsa, Pep or Wenger and go all crazy attack.

[Polo7 3,496]

Still for me Mourinho is conservative in big matches.

That won't change, he will not turn into a Bielsa, Pep or Wenger and go all crazy attack.

You could always go support those teams. It seems very important to you.

[Fernando 6,502]

You could always go support those teams. It seems very important to you.

What's important?

To me balance is more important then all out attack or all out defense.

[Polo7 3,496]

What's important?

To me balance is more important then all out attack or all out defense.

For me, its about stability and winning.

[Joker10 946]

Still for me Mourinho is conservative in big matches.

That won't change, he will not turn into a Bielsa, Pep or Wenger and go all crazy attack.

Never did i suggested Mou to do a 360 and go "all crazy attack."

[iseah100 5,612]

Never did i suggested Mou to do a 360 and go "all crazy attack."

180° *

[Namika 922]

“When I decided that my time at Barcelona had ended, I looked for the best option for me,” Fàbregas explained. “Arsenal was the first option, for contractual reasons. There was a clause that gave them the right to decide. We spoke to Wenger and he said that the space was very well filled by Mesut Özil and it was hard to find a place for both of us in the team.”

Fàbregas continued: “I wanted to go back to the Premier League and I had to think about what my options were then. I had many very goodoffers, the logical options. I spoke to José Mourinho and he told me that he wanted me there. He convinced me very, very quickly. He told me what I wanted to hear; he won me over and convinced me. It was very quick. I am very happy, very satisfied and I think it will all go phenomenally well.”

[Daniel1980 1,425]

A pretty good article on what Cesc brings to Chelsea: http://www.statsbomb.com/2014/06/what-cesc-brings-to-chelsea/

Coming from an Arsenal fan, no less.

Damn, if Fabregas can play even 70% as well for us as he did for Arsenal back then, I'll be happy. He was really incredible when he played in the Premier League. Hope Barcelona's tiki-taka didn't completely mess him up.

His style of play obviously changed in Barcelona's system, but some of his stats are still as good: