Cesc Fàbregas

[OneMoSalah 8,799]

If you're a great, world class player, this is not a legitimate excuse to be utterly invisible.

Well that is a load of shit.

If a team has set out with a gameplan that is to man mark a player like Fabregas and the marker is doing it well then he is gonna struggle to impose himself as much. In other games Oscar and Matic have controlled the game in phases when Fabregas has been marked tightly and they continued to do so today. Lets be honest, hes played worse in big games for Arsenal than he has done for us, his mentality for the bigger games has improved under Pep, Tito and Martino at Barca and even at Chelsea now he seems to be better equipped to play in bigger games and he is a much more mature footballer.

[MrExcalibur100 7,124]

Well that is a load of shit.

If a team has set out with a gameplan that is to man mark a player like Fabregas and the marker is doing it well then he is gonna struggle to impose himself as much. In other games Oscar and Matic have controlled the game in phases when Fabregas has been marked tightly and they continued to do so today. Lets be honest, hes played worse in big games for Arsenal than he has done for us, his mentality for the bigger games has improved under Pep, Tito and Martino at Barca and even at Chelsea now he seems to be better equipped to play in bigger games and he is a much more mature footballer.

That's your opinion which I think is a load of shite as well. He wasn't even man-marked for large portions of this game but was still ineffective. Fabregas has been nowhere near good enough either offensively or defensively in any of the big games so far. The only thing of note being his exquisite pass to Costa for the 2nd goal. It's early days and it might be harsh but that's the brutal truth. I'm not going to make excuses for him or any player.

[OneMoSalah 8,799]

That's your opinion which I think is a load of shite as well. He wasn't even man-marked for large portions of this game but was still ineffective. Fabregas has been nowhere near good enough either offensively or defensively in any of the big games so far. The only thing of note being his exquisite pass to Costa for the 2nd goal. It's early days and it might be harsh but that's the brutal truth. I'm not going to make excuses for him or any player.

He was obviously marked in the game today, Rodgers even stated in a interview somewhere after the game he wanted to man-mark Fabregas to null his influence. Anyway it wasn't the big games we had to improve on from last season remember, it was the smaller teams we played that set up to frustrate us that fucked us for the title, so if he doesn't score 23 goals, create 310 goals and make 49649 tackles in a big game (or whatever your 'crazy' expectations are even when you consider he was an Arsenal player who more or less struggled in big games 9 times out of 10) I don't mind because he does alright and he makes the difference in the smaller games, which is where we struggled last season.

[Styles 9,790]

That's your opinion which I think is a load of shite as well. He wasn't even man-marked for large portions of this game but was still ineffective. Fabregas has been nowhere near good enough either offensively or defensively in any of the big games so far. The only thing of note being his exquisite pass to Costa for the 2nd goal. It's early days and it might be harsh but that's the brutal truth. I'm not going to make excuses for him or any player.

So what do you propose? That he doesn't play in the big games?

[MrExcalibur100 7,124]

So what do you propose? That he doesn't play in the big games?

That he should have a greater influence, that's all and keep the ball better. He's already a player in his prime, so I don't expect him to drastically improve in any weak areas.

He's one of the best central midfielders in the world, so of course he has to play.

[smpl 3]

without him and Costa where Chelsea should be ?costa 10 goals and Fabregas i think 9 assists in BPL the best Chelsea players and best duo in premier league

[Styles 9,790]

That he should have a greater influence, that's all and keep the ball better. He's already a player in his prime, so I don't expect him to drastically improve in any weak areas.

He's one of the best central midfielders in the world, so of course he has to play.

I've made my own concerns about Fabregas very clear over the summer/early part of the season. The first 30 minutes today our midfield was way too open, but Liverpool didn't take advantage and I don't think Mourinho would set the team up like that against better opposition. We can take liberties with teams as bad as Liverpool; that belief has got us 29 points from 11 games. I'm not going to complain.

Where it gets really interesting is how Mourinho uses Fabregas / set the teams up in the latter stages of the Champions League.

[didierforever 7,349]

needs a rest. our mid has been way too open. oscar and matic are saving our asses right now.

[The Chels 2,502]

I've made my own concerns about Fabregas very clear over the summer/early part of the season. The first 30 minutes today our midfield was way too open, but Liverpool didn't take advantage and I don't think Mourinho would set the team up like that against better opposition. We can take liberties with teams as bad as Liverpool; that belief has got us 29 points from 11 games. I'm not going to complain. Where it gets really interesting is how Mourinho uses Fabregas / set the teams up in the latter stages of the Champions League.

I think he'll play him as an AM or bench him, but I thought that about Man City away too which is probably the most difficult PL game and he played him in CM!

[MrExcalibur100 7,124]

I've made my own concerns about Fabregas very clear over the summer/early part of the season. The first 30 minutes today our midfield was way too open, but Liverpool didn't take advantage and I don't think Mourinho would set the team up like that against better opposition. We can take liberties with teams as bad as Liverpool; that belief has got us 29 points from 11 games. I'm not going to complain.

Where it gets really interesting is how Mourinho uses Fabregas / set the teams up in the latter stages of the Champions League.

Mourinho will probably play 4-3-3, at least away from home. The problem with that is Ramires isn't good enough technically and it will be harsh on Oscar (if he's still in the form he's in at the minute). That's still so far away though.

[Styles 9,790]

I think he'll play him as an AM or bench him, but I thought that about Man City away too which is probably the most difficult PL game and he played him in CM!

That would be treated as the end of the world by some.

Mourinho will probably play 4-3-3, at least away from home. The problem with that is Ramires isn't good enough technically and it will be harsh on Oscar (if he's still in the form he's in at the minute). That's still so far away though.

Giving Mourinho more than enough time to think things through.

[DYC. 7,542]

I've made my own concerns about Fabregas very clear over the summer/early part of the season. The first 30 minutes today our midfield was way too open, but Liverpool didn't take advantage and I don't think Mourinho would set the team up like that against better opposition. We can take liberties with teams as bad as Liverpool; that belief has got us 29 points from 11 games. I'm not going to complain.

Where it gets really interesting is how Mourinho uses Fabregas / set the teams up in the latter stages of the Champions League.

Possession play was disgraceful during that time. If you're going to concede possession that cheaply, you will always struggle immensely.

Once the possession play improved, Liverpool became dull.

[RoyalBlues 4,050]

hopefully Del Bosque use his brain one more time

[smpl 3]

del bosque has a brain ? waw

[chelseafc9010 224]

Needs a rest but a game for spain could do him good, they dominate anyway so it is basically a passing session for him, which he needs.

[DH1988 1,319]

Big game weak link at the moment

[Fulham Broadway 16,952]

Big game weak link at the moment

They highlighted that on MOTD.Defensive frailties led to at least 3 goals conceded so far. I think its something that can be adapted to his game though, hes an intelligent bloke. There have been loads of SW6 'stars' eg Hazard, Drogba, that Mourinho has dug out and modified their play so as to incorporate dormant defensive qualities.

[Polo7 3,496]

He should be playing as number 10. Ramires has to start next to matic.