Cesc Fàbregas

[Daniel1980 1,425]

He never said directly he wanted to go back to Arsenal but think from what he has said or indicated, he did want to play for Arsenal again. We all know his love for them is no secret.

Yeah, I'm sure he's still fond of Arsenal, but first and foremost, he's a WC player who wants to win. As a human being, Cesc is far from being a cunt outside the pitch, but imo, his loyalty to Arsenal is a bit questionable after he forced his way out of the club to play for Barca, home club or not.

He's 27 years old and he won everything but the champions league and PL. He's a smart lad. And going back is pretty humiliating.

[Term-X 7,891]

He never said directly he wanted to go back to Arsenal but think from what he has said or indicated, he did want to play for Arsenal again. We all know his love for them is no secret.

Arsenal had first option, so 'contractually' he had no choice in regards to who would be first choice.

[sdrcfc 461]

I still can't get how out of the blue (pardon the pun) this transfer was. Can't say I'm complaining though, another world-class player at the club! :blue scalf:

[Jase 43,479]

Yeah, I'm sure he's still fond of Arsenal, but first and foremost, he's a WC player who wants to win. As a human being, Cesc is far from being a cunt outside the pitch, but imo, his loyalty to Arsenal is a bit questionable after he forced his way out of the club to play for Barca, home club or not.

He's 27 years old and he won everything but the champions league and PL. He's a smart lad.

Forced his way out of the club? I don't think so. He wanted to go back to Barcelona all those years ago and he made it clear. But instead, Wenger stubbornly went against his wishes and kept him at the club. And despite that, Fabregas didn't sulk and still performed for them. He practically stuck to the task till the end. It's not like he moaned to the media 24/7 and refused to play for the club.

[sdrcfc 461]

[Daniel1980 1,425]

Forced his way out of the club? I don't think so. He wanted to go back to Barcelona all those years ago and he made it clear. But instead, Wenger stubbornly went against his wishes and kept him at the club. And despite that, Fabregas didn't sulk and still performed for them. He practically stuck to the task till the end. It's not like he moaned to the media 24/7 and refused to play for the club.

Well, there are many versions of the whole Fabregas to Barcelona saga. According to some Arsenal fans, he did sulk a bit(but still did his job, being a professional and a captain). I actually remember how pissed Arsenal fans were when an injured Cesc attended Spanish GP instead of watching Arsenal play the last game of the season like Gerrard did. Some fans started questioning his loyalty to Arsenal, etc. So it's not all black and white. Fabregas isn't the type to publicly sulk and refuse to play if he isn't sold, but his desire to leave for Barcelona was hardly a secret, and Arsenal was forced to sell him for far less money than he was worth because he only wanted to go to Barcelona. Sure, he loved Arsenal, but it was his choice to leave. And I can't imagine him wanting to go back with his tail between his legs when he had other options from top clubs like Chelsea. I know I wouldn't.

[Barbara 15,149]

Forced his way out of the club? I don't think so. He wanted to go back to Barcelona all those years ago and he made it clear. But instead, Wenger stubbornly went against his wishes and kept him at the club. And despite that, Fabregas didn't sulk and still performed for them. He practically stuck to the task till the end. It's not like he moaned to the media 24/7 and refused to play for the club.

Of course he forced himself out of the club for the way things happened, for how he talked about it before and after he signed to Barcelona. I doesn't mean he wasn't professional while he did it. He wanted to leave, he did everything in his power to leave, while still respecting the company that paid his wages - which is the honorable thing to do, but he forced his way just fine. He did everything ethical in his power.

and I also agree with Daniel about him mentioning Arsenal. It wasn't optional, he HAD to talk to Arsenal (it wasn't Chelsea job to check with Arsenal if they wanted him). So he said what happened. We talked to Arsenal (something he couldn't avoid because of the clause) and they didn't seem interested. End of it. He never worded it in a way HE wanted to go back, it was just business as usual given the clause in his contract.

I do think Mourinho is trolling, but I also think someone like Cesc wouldn't want to go to a club that doesn't win anything relevant in 8 years. Who knows how long it's going to take for them to win something again, especially something more important than FA Cup - a charming, nice trophy, but not that important. Relevant yes, I love the Cup, but seriously, 8 years and that's all they could win? Who'd want to go back there?

[Jase 43,479]

Of course he forced himself out of the club for the way things happened, for how he talked about it before and after he signed to Barcelona. I doesn't mean he wasn't professional while he did it. He wanted to leave, he did everything in his power to leave, while still respecting the company that paid his wages - which is the honorable thing to do, but he forced his way just fine. He did everything ethical in his power.

That was practically what I said..

and I also agree with Daniel about him mentioning Arsenal. It wasn't optional, he HAD to talk to Arsenal (it wasn't Chelsea job to check with Arsenal if they wanted him). So he said what happened. We talked to Arsenal (something he couldn't avoid because of the clause) and they didn't seem interested. End of it. He never worded it in a way HE wanted to go back, it was just business as usual given the clause in his contract.

I do think Mourinho is trolling, but I also think someone like Cesc wouldn't want to go to a club that doesn't win anything relevant in 8 years. Who knows how long it's going to take for them to win something again, especially something more important than FA Cup - a charming, nice trophy, but not that important. Relevant yes, I love the Cup, but seriously, 8 years and that's all they could win? Who'd want to go back there?

I'm not disputing about the "contractual" agreement with Arsenal but rather why do people seem so adamant that Arsenal wasn't his first choice, his preferred club to return to if it could have happened? What has been mentioned may be true that he doesn't want to return to them but doubt it's as black and white as that.

But oh well, he's ours now anyway. These things don't matter anymore.

[LDN Blue 7,903]

You forgot to mention Fabregas said this...

http://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/jun/15/cesc-fabregas-arsene-wenger-arsenal-chelsea

Interesting quote. does that give insight into where he will play for us? Ozil occupies the n10 for Arsenal..

[Daniel1980 1,425]

Interesting quote. does that give insight into where he will play for us? Ozil occupies the n10 for Arsenal..

Not necessarily. It just tells us where Wenger would have played him.

But of course it doesn't mean that Jose won't play him there. He really might. I'm sure we'll see at least a few games with Cesc as #10, if not more.

We'll find out soon enough, I guess. Chelsea TV will probably ask him about his position when they interview him next week.

[Namika 922]

Wenger on Fabregas: "I don’t know who tells the truth here or not. But he landed where he wanted to go.”

[Chelsea? 892]

Wenger on Fabregas: "I don’t know who tells the truth here or not. But he landed where he wanted to go.”

didn't Arsenal say they had other targets so they didn't want him?

[Peace. 4,352]

I saw numerous comments raising the question as to how would Fabregas fit in a Mourinho's team if Juan Mata (and to a lesser extent de Bruyne) could not. It is to misunderstand what was the situation with Mata.

Mourinho does not have solely work-rate warriors in his teams, that is not true. At Inter and Madrid, he had Sneijder and Ozil (whom he described as the best n°10 if I remind correctly) as key players — both not exactly being great contributors to the defense, to say the least (Ozil having even stamina problems...).

Despite his small size, Sneijder is quite a tenacious and powerful player, and is a good, nay very good, dribbler. As for Ozil, despite being quite physically light, he is a great dribbler, has some pace and speed. The two of them are able to sustain a high-paced and intensive game, because they have the physical and technical attributes. And more importantly, they can dictate the game of their team under more or less any situation because they can, among other things, get away from their opponent because of the physical and/or technical abilities they have.

On the other hand, Juan Mata has no dribbling ability. He has no pace, no speed, no acceleration. He neither can out-muscled his opponent as he is physically pretty weak. I will not even talk about his ability at headers. And finally, he has no right foot. — notice how I have not even mentionned the defensive side of the game — Basically, Mata has a very good ability to pick up passes with his left foot (especially on set-pieces situation), a very good final ball and a decent eyes for goals. Because of that, he disappears immediately when the game becomes physically strong or/and high-paced. And more importantly, as SeB demonstrated it in the past, he cannot retain possession and thus he quickly passes the ball ; which will always lead to accelerate the game — as matter of a fact, he is not suited to be the player dictating the game.

In order to maximize his strengths, and to nullify his weaknesses (which are many), you have to put him in the center of the team and to give him a free pass. And unfortunately, for him, he is simply not good enough to be given such a role in a team with our ambitions.

That is why Juan Mata has been sold. Had he been a complete player (hello Lukaku ), and simply put, had he been a better player, he would have been kept, regardless of his inability to participate to the defense.

Now, is Fabregas a Mata, or a Sneijder/Özil ? He is not very fast, but he still remains decent in that regard. He is a very good dribbler. Physically decent. And because he is an excellent player, he is able to play serveral positions (in the pivot, as a n°10, a n°8, on the wings, as a false nine). If anything, he is (or rather will be) Mourinho's Chelsea Ozil/Sneijder ; the comparisons with Mata stop at the fact that they are both spanish, at that is all.

Anyway, it is pretty obvious as to why Fabregas and not Mata, without taking into account the defensive side ! Anyway, it is pretty obvious as to why Fabregas and not Mata, without taking into account the defensive side ! Speaking of it, Fabregas has not the quality of Oscar nor Willian, but he is decent, nothing more, nothing less.. Barça fans can say what they want... as the saying goes in French "when you no longer want of your dog, you say he has the rabies" (at the exception of last year, I have nearly watched all of his games at Barça...).

[Spike 12,049]

@Peace., oh shit it's kilmanjaro

[Spike 12,049]

Why the fuck did I read Peace's post from the bottom up? WTF