Cesc Fàbregas

[xPetrCechx 13,570]

how many assists he got ? 8 ?

PL-7.

CL- 1 i think.

[kellzfresh 7,229]

[Special Juan 28,133]

That tackle on Ozil.

[bababoom 4,478]

Am i the only one who thought he looked very strong (physically) against Arsenal? He was fucking outmuscling the arsenal players, he was spot on with his tackling and the way he was able to shield the ball with ease, he looked fast, strong and sharp.

[zolayes 14,489]

I'm sure it boosted his ego to shut down Ozil for the Ars match. A wonderful F** you to Wenger

I was told Ozil was the complete midfielder .. it was on the Oscar thread.

[Daniel1980 1,425]

Am i the only one who thought he looked very strong (physically) against Arsenal? He was fucking outmuscling the arsenal players, he was spot on with his tackling and the way he was able to shield the ball with ease, he looked fast, strong and sharp.

Actually, yeah. Not sure, but it looks like he put on some muscle. He doesn't really look lightweight.

[DJames 729]

I was told Ozil was the complete midfielder .. it was on the Oscar thread.

I like Ozil as a player but he's far from the complete midfielder. He often makes good runs off the ball and can pick out a good pass but he has nothing on Fabs

[kellzfresh 7,229]

Am i the only one who thought he looked very strong (physically) against Arsenal? He was fucking outmuscling the arsenal players, he was spot on with his tackling and the way he was able to shield the ball with ease, he looked fast, strong and sharp.

That was my biggest fear when we bought him. I thought he was going to be loosing balls under pressure like Mata but he proved me wrong in the arsenal match. I clenched my fist each time he made a tackle or evaded arsenal pressing.

[Atlas Lion 1,223]

Am i the only one who thought he looked very strong (physically) against Arsenal? He was fucking outmuscling the arsenal players, he was spot on with his tackling and the way he was able to shield the ball with ease, he looked fast, strong and sharp.

He's always been a great tackler of the ball tbh

[Nike 373]

That was my biggest fear when we bought him. I thought he was going to be loosing balls under pressure like Mata but he proved me wrong in the arsenal match. I clenched my fist each time he made a tackle or evaded arsenal pressing.

Cesc is better in possession than Mata, but this team is better masking cesc's defensive deficiencies as well...

[Daniel1980 1,425]

While it's undeniable that Cesc improved a lot defensively and tactically to play in the pivot, I still would like him to play higher, tbh. I think he's playing too deep most of the time. Most of his assists actually happened when he played a more advanced role in 4-3-3 or as #10.

His Burnley assist to Schurrle: although Cesc technically played in the pivot, he went forward a lot in that game and made the assist to Andre from where one would expect a CAM play.
His Swansea assist: played as the most advanced midfielder in 4-3-3 after Ramires came on, linked up brilliantly with Hazard, and Costa only had to tap in after Cesc's pass.
His Everton assist: played #10 in the beginning and assisted Costa with a through-ball. Also played another through-ball to Costa that could been a goal.
vs. Schalke: played the most advanced midfielder in 4-3-3, linked up well with Hazard, scored, played a great through-ball to Hazard.
vs. Villa: played in the pivot and spent the majority of the game distributing the ball. Mikel was subbed in and Cesc moved higher. The ball to Costa followed--> Willian's goal.
vs. Sporting: after Mikel came on, Cesc moved higher up the pitch and made through-balls to Costa and Salah(which they wasted, but that's another story).
His Arsenal assist: played #10 after Mikel came on, which resulted in a FIFA-like though-ball to Costa.

So the majority of great chances and assists he created actually happened when Cesc played higher. When he plays in the pivot, he spends most of the time defending and distributing the ball to the AMs, which is a shame. His talent is wasted in the pivot, IMO. He'll be even more productive if he plays a bit more advanced all the time.

[bababoom 4,478]

So the majority of great chances and assists he created actually happened when Cesc played higher. When he plays in the pivot, he spends most of the time defending and distributing the ball to the AMs, which is a shame. He's wasted in the pivot, IMO. He'll be even more productive if he plays a bit more advanced all the time.

Great post but the point in bold is something i disagree with. It's a big plus to have a player with his vision that can distribute the ball to the Ams while their on the half turn. So many times last season our pivot players (Lampard/Luiz/Ramires/Matic) struggled to get it into them meaning they had to drop deep to touch the ball. Again great post but i'm not so sure he's wasted in the pivot, he may be more productive further up the pitch but in the pivot he keeps us ticking and is the 'brains' in midfield so to speak.

[Daniel1980 1,425]

Great post but the point in bold is something i disagree with. It's a big plus to have a player with his vision that can distribute the ball to the Ams while their on the half turn. So many times last season our pivot players (Lampard/Luiz/Ramires/Matic) struggled to get it into them meaning they had to drop deep to touch the ball. Again great post but i disagree when you say he's wasted in the pivot.

I agree. I worded it badly. I don't really mean that he's wasted in the pivot. He's obviously very useful there and distributes the ball better than anyone to the AMs. I mean that he's wasted only in the sense that he could have been even more productive if he actually was the one who receives the ball a bit higher up the pitch, not the other way around.

[bababoom 4,478]

I agree with this. I worded it badly, I guess. I don't really mean that he's wasted in the pivot. He's obviously very useful there and distributes the ball better than anyone to the AMs. I mean that he's wasted only in the sense that he could have been even more productive if he actually was the one who receives the ball a bit higher up the pitch, not the other way around.

Oh i see, thats the great thing about Cesc, he's so versatile in the midfield area. You know he can control the tempo while playing deep but could also just as easily be our creative spark, kind of a rarity to see a player so good in those two roles. I know Scholes used to play behind the striker in his younger years but he was really a box to box player. Xavi and Pirlo always played deeper and Modric had games where he would play as a number 10 for Spurs but he had far more impact playing deeper thats why 'arry bought VDV.

No doubt he's way more productive as a number 10, but you know right now i'm really excited about the potential of the Oscar, Cesc and Matic trio.

[Nike 373]

Dont see cesc in the future Spain team.

As costa.