Cesc Fàbregas

[RoyalBlues 4,050]

What's the big deal with Fabregas - Mata comparison?

[Daniel1980 1,425]

Sadly it's true.. The man is losing the battle to baldness.. It's an epidemic

LOL I always thought his hairline was weird, even when he was a 20-year-old kid.

Now imagine him with that odd haircut and you'll get the same result. His hair just usually masks his weird hairline.

[LAM09 7,043]

He looks weird with his new hair cut!

[Sheva. 5,373]

Last season we were worse against teams who parked the bus because there was no Mata. In his time here, he always found a way to create at least 1 good chance - either from open play or from corners.

In Fabregas we have a great replacement for him, someone arguably better and definitely more complete in his style of play and positions he can play.

Now i just hope Hazard makes more runs in behind. Fabregas will surely find him, like Mata did.

[Pizy 18,864]

It's apparent straight away that Cesc is going to almost be attached at the hip to Torres every time we see pics of him traveling or in training just like Mata was.

We'll have constant reminders of our worst ever buy and one of our best (hopefully) in the same pics over and over.

[Vybz Kartel 1,613]

Juan Mata in 2013-2014:

15 appearances for MU, through ball rate 0.3 (5 through balls in total)

13 appearances for Chelsea, through ball rate 0.2 (3 through balls in total)

I think 28 appearances is more than enough to get an accurate data. Mata has never been a through ball master for us. In 2012-2013 season, he played 35 games for us and his through ball rate was 0.2 (8 through balls in total). Compare it to Cesc's through ball's rate of 0.7 (24 through balls in total). It's not even worth comparing. Cesc is obviously a more creative passer.

Were are you gettin those stats?? I have a feeling you made those up

[TorontoChelsea 4,064]

Last season we were worse against teams who parked the bus because there was no Mata. In his time here, he always found a way to create at least 1 good chance - either from open play or from corners.

In Fabregas we have a great replacement for him, someone arguably better and definitely more complete in his style of play and positions he can play.

Now i just hope Hazard makes more runs in behind. Fabregas will surely find him, like Mata did.

It was our biggest issue for sure. Mata didn't fit Mourinho's system but you can't counter-attack against everyone and sometimes you need to break down teams. Too many times, it was down to Hazard to create something magical for us to score. Fabergas will hopefully give us some of that creativity Mata did from a deeper position.

[Daniel1980 1,425]

Were are you gettin those stats?? I have a feeling you made those up

TB -- through balls per game.

Sorry to disappoint, mate--not making anything up, I'm afraid. Whoscored's data.

[Vybz Kartel 1,613]

TB -- through balls per game.

Sorry to disappoint, mate--not making anything up, I'm afraid. Whoscored's data.

If you notice his through ball stats increase in Champ League becoz we play more on the counter whereas in the league we face parked buses more often than not. He also has more willing runners for spain than us

[TorontoChelsea 4,064]

Mata still led the team in through balls. It was a system thing, that's it. Barcelona played five through balls a game last year. Chelsea played one. Mata is extremely capable of playing through balls as we've all seen.

[mannyfreshh 164]

Fabregas is a fuckin' millionare with a supermodel wife so I don't really think he is sad about his hair.

True. But it's still funny

[Peace. 4,352]

Well, I am quite surprised to see how much Mata's dribbling ability is held in high regards here. Mata is not a very good dribbler. He is decent, at most good ; he can pick up a dribble here and there but that is it. This is by the way one of the reasons for which he has never been given a go with his national team... And, even if you would like to think he is a "very" good dribbler, as @James has mentioned, it is not his game and he does rarely try to dribble past players. So in the end, good or not good, the end product (since it is a term in vogue over here) is : nearly no dribbles.

Cesc is definitely not as good as Iniesta when it comes to dribbling, but he is better than Mata for sure. Once again, even if from a technical stance they were on the same level, Fabregas is more aggressive in his game a more or less likes to dribbles, whereas Mata it is not part of his game.

In regards with the fact that whether or not he is one-footed, and to reply to @Ze Mario... Well, I will not even bother to make an assessment regarding the talent of his right foot since it is not the question ; the question is to know whether he is over-reliant (and feels uneasy on his weak foot) of his strong foot. The answer is yes. And the fact he scored one goal with his right foot does not change anything to that fact ; Messi and Sturridge also can score and pass with their right-foot, nonetheless they still are one-footed (which seems to be a common trait of the left footed players).

As for is ability to hold on the ball... Well, it is rather a weakness than a strength for him. First off all, as it has been said numerous times, physically he cannot cope with the pressure ; and he cannot get away from it through acceleration/speed, as he has none, and only decently through dribbles. This is another reason for which he is overlooked in the Spanish national team. It might be also a weakness of Fabregas, if you will, but he is significantly better in this aspect and it does not cause nearly as much problems that it does with Mata.

And finally, the famous end product. Juan Mata has been many time hailed because of his stats here. In his best season here, in 31 games started (and four subs) in the League, Mata has scored 12 and assisted 12 ; the same season, out of 30 starts (and two subs) in the Liga, Fabregas has scored 11 and assisted 11. The season before : 6 scored and 13 assisted in 29(+5) games for Mata ; 9 scored and 8 assisted in 23(+5) games for Fabregas. Basically, in regards of the statistical productivity, they both are more or less on the same level. While the later being only the odd man in the starting team and never had a set position ; the former was the center of the team.

And finally mark II, Mata was not versatil at all. It was even his fiercest defenders that admitted that fact ; you cannot put him on the (right) wing as he is inefficient. A contrario, Fabregas is apt to play in several positions ; sure at different extent of efficiency, but still. In the contemporary football, this quality is more and more required.

It is pretty clear as to why Mourinho decided to buy someone of the likes of Fabregas. This player is direct, "aggressive", is a great passer, can dribble, can cope physically and technically to pressure, can play several positions.

[Dion 2,476]

Were are you gettin those stats?? I have a feeling you made those up

Whoscored.com has it. Go under current participation, passing tab. You're looking for "TB" (accurate through balls per game).

[Peace. 4,352]

Another thing about Fabregas. Some were questioning how would he fit in a team that like to counter attack, as he is slow.

What is a counter attack ? It is primarily the ability to project yourself forward the quicker possible — but it is also the ability to find yourself in a good position to score goals by eliminating in the process the more opponents you can (in order to, ideally, being one versus one against the goalkeeper).

To project yourself forward quickly, it does not necessarily require to have superhuman athletic abilities. For a reminder we are talking about football ; you have to project quickly your body, but also the ball. And to do so, either you run fast with the ball at your feet à la Ramires ; or you quickly see the run of your team-mates and quickly pass them the ball. It happens that Fabregas fit exactly that very description : he is an excellent passer from deep.

To weight my point :

* Bayern Munich in 2012-13 has been hailed as a fabulous counter-attacking team. They had Robben and Ribéry on the wings who are fast players ; yet in the midfield, they had Schweinsteiger/Martinez/Kroos (if my memory serves my right) which are slow players, and I am not sure that Müller is extremely fast.

* Same for Madrid under Mourinho, when they were successful on the counters : quick players up-front (Cristiano, Ozil, etc..) while two slow players in the middle in Alonzo and Kheidira.

* Barça was/Are a possession-based team, but they also used to be successful on the counters : Messi and Pedro up-front, which are fast players ; Xavi and Sergio (and Iniesta to a lesser extent) who are slow players.

* United circa 2007... They were great at the counters. They had fast players (Cristiano, Rooney, Nani) and slow players (Schols, Carrick).

* The list goes on...

To be successful at counter-attacks, you need fast players that make runs and get to the box the sooner ; and you need players to pass the ball to them quickly and accuratly. That is why I am convinced that Fabregas has all the tools to be successful in our counter-attack approach of the games. He is a deadly passer from deep ! And as for the runners up-front, we have them : Willian, Schurrle and Hazard (even though he has to improve at making runs ; he is fast) — you can even had Ramires to the mix, though it remains to be seen whether he would control the pass/ball ahah.

It might be presumptuous, but he might be the piece of the puzzle we missed to be deadly on the counters, as we only had the runners.

[Vybz Kartel 1,613]

Well, I am quite surprised to see how much Mata's dribbling ability is held in high regards here. Mata is not a very good dribbler. He is decent, at most good ; he can pick up a dribble here and there but that is it. This is by the way one of the reasons for which he has never been given a go with his national team... And, even if you would like to think he is a "very" good dribbler, as @James has mentioned, it is not his game and he does rarely try to dribble past players. So in the end, good or not good, the end product (since it is a term in vogue over here) is : nearly no dribbles.

Cesc is definitely not as good as Iniesta when it comes to dribbling, but he is better than Mata for sure. Once again, even if from a technical stance they were on the same level, Fabregas is more aggressive in his game a more or less likes to dribbles, whereas Mata it is not part of his game.

In regards with the fact that whether or not he is one-footed, and to reply to @Ze Mario... Well, I will not even bother to make an assessment regarding the talent of his right foot since it is not the question ; the question is to know whether he is over-reliant (and feels uneasy on his weak foot) of his strong foot. The answer is yes. And the fact he scored one goal with his right foot does not change anything to that fact ; Messi and Sturridge also can score and pass with their right-foot, nonetheless they still are one-footed (which seems to be a common trait of the left footed players).

As for is ability to hold on the ball... Well, it is rather a weakness than a strength for him. First off all, as it has been said numerous times, physically he cannot cope with the pressure ; and he cannot get away from it through acceleration/speed, as he has none, and only decently through dribbles. This is another reason for which he is overlooked in the Spanish national team. It might be also a weakness of Fabregas, if you will, but he is significantly better in this aspect and it does not cause nearly as much problems that it does with Mata.

And finally, the famous end product. Juan Mata has been many time hailed because of his stats here. In his best season here, in 31 games started (and four subs) in the League, Mata has scored 12 and assisted 12 ; the same season, out of 30 starts (and two subs) in the Liga, Fabregas has scored 11 and assisted 11. The season before : 6 scored and 13 assisted in 29(+5) games for Mata ; 9 scored and 8 assisted in 23(+5) games for Fabregas. Basically, in regards of the statistical productivity, they both are more or less on the same level. While the later being only the odd man in the starting team and never had a set position ; the former was the center of the team.

And finally mark II, Mata was not versatil at all. It was even his fiercest defenders that admitted that fact ; you cannot put him on the (right) wing as he is inefficient. A contrario, Fabregas is apt to play in several positions ; sure at different extent of efficiency, but still. In the contemporary football, this quality is more and more required.

It is pretty clear as to why Mourinho decided to buy someone of the likes of Fabregas. This player is direct, "aggressive", is a great passer, can dribble, can cope physically and technically to pressure, can play several positions.

Are you seriously going to compare stats in the Premier League with La Liga?? Messi and Cristiano score 50 league goals every other season and we dont anyone getting close to that in the EPL Cesc is a great player one of my favorite in fact but dont downgrade Mata's ability just becoz u are he did not fit Mourinho's philosophy