Cesc Fàbregas

[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

[Fulham Broadway 17,023]

Theres no way he could ever have played with Lampard, absolutely no love lost between them. But can see him slotting in nice next to Matic now Franks gone.

Despised the fucker when he was at goonerland, and we gave him no shortage of verbals. But hating players is churlish, and I bet all those fuckwits on message boards that slag off Terry would shake his hand and ask for his autograph if they met him.

Fabregas is a horrible cunt, but hes our horrible cunt.

[kellzfresh 7,229]

Peace!!!!

"this page is blessed"

[Footballover 222]

Peace,

I think that you have made a Championship player out of Mata, and I can't agree with everything you wrote. Mata has no dribbling skills? This is absolutely ridiculous! He is an exceptional dribbler and he probably was, at the time, the second best after Hazard in our team.

Apart from that, I remember a quite large amount of very physical games in which Mata excelled and it's just impossible to say that about a player that was just so good playing at the EPL. I do agree with you though that he is not a player that can dictate the pace of the game and he does need too much time and too much free space to act.

Fabregas is different to Mata and I don't really know why Mourinho prefered him, but my guess will be that it was because Fabregas is a much better defensive player, he is more physical and maybe, just maybe, he can control the ball better than Mata with both feet.

IMO, these two criterions that I mentioned before and the fact that he is very very poor defensively, were the main reasons because of which he departed Chelsea. But still, Juan Mata is one of the best playmakers around and there is no need to downgrade him just to make a point. I think he can do great things at Man U. even though he is different than Cesc Fabregas.

[laura90 556]

Peace really made championship player out of Mata and it probably suits his argument that Mata went to Man Utd, club that relies on wingers and has his 300 000 a week attacking midfielder in Rooney and has zero chance to excell there, especially under Van Gaal . Eitherway, that to me that is the most cringeworthy post I have ever read on here.

[dee25 1,044]

If anyone is actually thinking that Fabregas is a better dribbler than Mata, then they're probably going to be very disappointed.

[Vybz Kartel 1,613]

You guys really amaze me, people forget how good Mata was, only 3 seasons ago we were crying out for his creativity and now all of a sudden because we some hw bought more attacking mid fielders you downgrade Mata's ability SMH, Its a fact Mata is one of the best play makers to ever don a Chelsea kit regardless of what Mourinho loyalists might think and just to show you a glimpse of what you are forgettin I will leave Mata's highlight video. I cant say Oscar can produce such high quality even if he tried to.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UiL0hMLTaxs

[1chelsea 864]

Am only going to be disappointed with the post that say am going to be disappointed that Fabregas is not a better driller than Mata, Mata pick a good pass have great cross in the box but like peace said Mata can dictate pace of the game which he usually dispatch the pass as soon as he get it. With other point mention as a false 9 a #10 and #8 I feel he improve the team couple with Diego you should watch out

[Daniel1980 1,425]

Yes, Fabregas isn't a better dribbler than Mata, but other than that, I mostly agree with Peace.

I'm not sure why people even compare Mata and Fabregas. They're both Spanish, they're both playmakers, but their similarities pretty much end there. Fabregas's style relies on different skills than Mata's. Fabregas is an outstanding passer. Mata isn't. There are very few playmakers out there that have better passing skills than Fabregas, actually. In that sense, he's a dying breed of playmakers. Current playmakers rely more on dribbling skills than outstanding passing. Fabregas is the opposite. His ability to pick a through pass is pretty much unrivaled. Even when he played at Arsenal, even when I hated the little shit's guts, his passing made go all Whoa, so ridiculous it is.

[Barbara 15,149]

Yes, Fabregas isn't a better dribbler than Mata, but other than that, I mostly agree with Peace.

I'm not sure why people even compare Mata and Fabregas. They're both Spanish, they're both playmakers, but their similarities pretty much end there. Fabregas's style relies on different skills than Mata's. Fabregas is an outstanding passer. Mata isn't. There are very few playmakers out there that have better passing skills than Fabregas. In that sense, he's a dying breed of playmakers. Current playmakers rely more on dribbling skills than outstanding passing. Fabregas is the opposite. His ability to pick a through pass is pretty much unrivaled. Even when he played at Arsenal, even when I hated the little shit's guts, his passing made go all Whoa, so ridiculous it is.

I only disagree slightly Mata isn't a great passer. He has a privileged and blessed vision and he's very intelligent. But yeah, he can't produce some of the passes Fàbregas does as if they were nothing.

And people refuting Peace's post - especially about the physicality - could please elaborate a convincing, factual, reasonable reason that will justify our more than poor results in the EPL while he was here (6th and 3rd - and the third must be taken into context for being 14 points behind the champion) if he was so amazing creating (if we had someone creating as much for us this season, I'm absolutely sure we'd be champions, why we weren't while he was then)? we've had this conversation so many times, but he was a big liability and he will continue to be to whatever English team he plays. He can only excel if he has a free role, and with his freedom comes a huge liability. I'm not taking away from him as a player. He's a great player, not suitable for English football at all. He's weak, slow, easily out-muscled and mostly everything else Peace pointed out. I agree with you guys he dribbles somewhat better than described by Peace, but how many times was he dispossessed while doing it? And leading to counters and even goals? How many times he was dispossessed, period, regardless of what he was attempting? The longest he kept the ball on his feet, the biggest the chance for him to be dispossessed. He worked better for us when he gave a quick pass, a dynamic 2-1 exchange with someone and a lot of his assists came from set-pieces. If he goes back to Spain - nearly the opposite of EPL in terms of style - I'm sure he'll flourish and his weaknesses will be easily overlooked because they won't detract his team much.