Cesc Fàbregas

[Dion 2,476]

My God, how many through balls assists he provided in those three years? I should have counted them while I was watching the vid.

As I'm positive I'll watch again, I'll count them.

Seriously, I know those vids mask a lot of things, but how could Barça fans hate him so much when he's so much class? His finishing got even better imo, his quick thinking is second to few, his vision is also very good, his pass quality is amazing, a neat and classy player all around and they hated him? They're indeed assholes as their names suggest. Not only the guy professed his love for that club - that should be reason enough to love him, but I suppose when you're a Barça fan that's not enough, but he also offered an excellent end product.

Maybe the games he suck he really, really suck? Because, otherwise, what's wrong with this guy? I keep trying to find the answer and the only thing that came to mind is that up to now his club choice was awful, but even that has been properly fixed now that he's a Blue.

Honestly, from the games I've seen, I'd say he was misused a lot in Barcelona as of lately. He would often be played as a false nine (specially when Messi was injured), which doesn't fit him at all. And the Barcelona team from last season was way too disjointed. There were players still on the tiki-taka mentality while others were playing with a more direct approach, which proved to be a failure and a mess. Despite being raised in their youth team, he did look as if he was more comfortable with directness rather than with tiki-taka bullshit.

[Barbara 15,149]

If he disappears in the big games, it's all much better of a signing.

We had no qualms winning all big games in the EPL last season. He will be needed against the teams parking the bus.

Also I don't buy this BS...

[Dion 2,476]

Part of the problem is that he didn't suit their slow possession style. In the first half of the 2013-2014 season, Martino changed the team to be more direct and quicker in transition. And Fabregas thrived when Barca played more direct football, as he used to do at Arsenal, and most of his assists and goals came in the first half of the season.

But although the results were very good and Barcelona was winning games, some people on the board, Barcelona fans and some players didn't like the direct style of play, didn't like that they weren't dominating possession. The rumor has it that Xavi went to Martino and convinced him to go back to tiki-taka.

Either way, it seems Martino was pressured into doing it, and the second half of the season, Barca dominated possession again and created fewer chances. Cesc became pretty much invisible.

Cesc at Arsenal:

Cesc in the first half of the season when Barcelona played more direct football:

Cesc in the second half of the season (back to tiki-taka):

Look at all the lovely side passes and possession domination!

Couldn't have said it better myself.

[blu35_army 551]

I expect one of his first few touches for us to be some kind of jaw-dropping through ball or assist. A misplaced pass and I will label him a flop and throw in the 'overhyped' bin.

Maybe for 19 assist last season it just a good number for the false nine position. But still not guarantee since defense in la liga is joke...

[HD3D 1,038]

My only worry is when big games turn into a battle, when we faced him as a Arsenal player I was always confident Essien would have the measure of him, and he usually did.

Other than that no qualms whatsoever and is actually just what we need, our build up play will improve a lot with Cesc.

We handled big games very well this season. The real question is, can he break small teams?

[Tomo 21,739]

Maybe for 19 assist last season it just a good number for the false nine position. But still not guarantee since defense in la liga is joke...

The prem defences are catching up fast lets be honest. 2nd place Liverpool shipped 50, Spurs shipped 20 against last season's top 2 alone.

[Namika 922]

Cesc played false nine only two months (November and december...)

[RoyalBlues 4,050]

Cesc Fabregas : "It's always difficult playing Chelsea. When I was at Arsenal, we attack, attack, attack.. and then Drogba scores"

[LAM09 6,848]

Cesc Fabregas : "It's always difficult playing Chelsea. When I was at Arsenal, we attack, attack, attack.. and then Drogba scores"

Let's hope the rumours of him coming back are true, so he can continue where he left off.

[Korea 734]

Cesc should take all long fks and corner kicks responsibilities...

NO OSCAR, Willian or Hazard taking corners anymore.

[MrExcalibur100 7,124]

My only worry is when big games turn into a battle, when we faced him as a Arsenal player I was always confident Essien would have the measure of him, and he usually did.

Other than that no qualms whatsoever and is actually just what we need, our build up play will improve a lot with Cesc.

Matic will eat them all for breakfast.

[LAM09 6,848]

I wonder if he will be our number one PK taker now Lamps has gone, or will Hazard continue taking them?

[Milan 17,881]

Hazard has to be number one when it comes to penalties. His style of controling the gk's movement without even looking at the ball is just deadly.

[Ryan Fong 2,776]

Hazard has to be number one when it comes to penalties. His style of controling the gk's movement without even looking at the ball is just deadly.

This. The way Hazard takes penalty is almost impossible to miss unless he slotted wide. He literally watches the gk dives to one direction before shoots to the opposite. It looks simply effortlessly like he can read gk's mind.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

My only worry is when big games turn into a battle, when we faced him as a Arsenal player I was always confident Essien would have the measure of him, and he usually did.

Other than that no qualms whatsoever and is actually just what we need, our build up play will improve a lot with Cesc.

I have absolutely no doubt that Rami is the first name on the sheet in the vast majority of big games.

[Pizy 18,538]

I have absolutely no doubt that Rami is the first name on the sheet in the vast majority of big games.

Don't scare me like that, Choulo.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

Don't scare me like that, Choulo.

Jose rates Ramires VERY highly. There's no denying that. And he does give the side a very important balance in big games. It's just painful seeing him try to move the ball around against lower teams that park the bus.

[Barbara 15,149]

Jose rates Ramires VERY highly. There's no denying that. And he does give the side a very important balance in big games. It's just painful seeing him try to move the ball around against lower teams that park the bus.

That was the case last year... especially early in the season when Ramires was actually good. Later on it wasn't like we had better alternatives and he was suspended for some matches. Hopefully Mourinho won't rely and trust Ramires as much this season. I'm still holding hope that he won't be more than a squad player for e eventual match. If that's the big matches, so be it. Whether we admit or not, as frustrating as he can be we won most of the big matches with Ramires featuring on them. As long as we get the result in those matches and actually play decently, I don't care if it's Ramires, Cesc, Oscar... we only play as many big matches a season.

Of course it would be better if we evolved into a team that can face strong opponents without sacrificing as much as we do when we play Ramires. Let's hope for that, but I can handle Ramires in small doses if we keep winning big matches.