Cesc Fàbregas

[nyikolajevics 2,456]

Well, someone should have been sacked at Chelsea too for paying so much money for your son.

[OhForAGreavsie 5,776]

I thought it was a very big drop in performance. [Against Sporting] He went from being the engine of the whole team and the architect who designs the attacks and controls the tempo, to fairly limited impact on our attack, mostly through set-pieces. Salah, Schurrle and even Matic had a much bigger impact on our attack and general play than him.

Wow, I'm going to have to watch the game again to try to understand how our impressions of Cesc's performance on Wednesday can be so different.

[Special Juan 27,115]

The fact that it hurts Arsenal so much seeing him here, makes me love him more.

[The Skipper 20,593]

Call it whatever you want, I don't think he plays nearly as well in the number ten role in our system as Oscar or Willian.

I thought it was a very big drop in performance. He went from being the engine of the whole team and the architect who designs the attacks and controls the tempo, to fairly limited impact on our attack, mostly through set-pieces. Salah, Schurrle and even Matic had a much bigger impact on our attack and general play than him.

No idea what you're talking about. Fabregas had a good game and looked comfortable.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

No idea what you're talking about. Fabregas had a good game and looked comfortable.

I thought he was largely uninfluential in the game. Oscar and Willian usually have a lot more impact on the match in that position.

[Rom2013 446]

Fabregas is untouchable. He is with Costa the best payer of the season so far... and when compared with Oscar... there is no doubt. If it's better to play with Ramires in some games, the one to be dropped is Oscar.

FOr me Fabregas was the best player against Sporting again.

[The Skipper 20,593]

I thought he was largely influential in the game. Oscar and Willian usually have a lot more impact on the match in that position.

Not when we're going forward. Fabregas controlled the game at the number 10 last game.

I do agree he's better for us deeper but that doesn't mean he won't perform well in a more advanced position.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

Not when we're going forward. Fabregas controlled the game at the number 10 last game.

I do agree he's better for us deeper but that doesn't mean he won't perform well in a more advanced position.

The question is whether he can perform there better than Oscar and Willian. I don't think so, although, like we said above, there isn't exactly a large sample to judge on.

[The Skipper 20,593]

The question is whether he can perform there better than Oscar and Willian. I don't think so, although, like we said above, there isn't exactly a large sample to judge on.

Even then, I don't think we can compare Oscar's and Willian's roles at number 10 to Fabregas'. Against Sporting, Fab played a lot more like a true number 10 since he effectively had two shields in Matic and Mikel behind him. He wasn't given the same duties as Willian or Oscar would usually have at #10.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

Even then, I don't think we can compare Oscar's and Willian's roles at number 10 to Fabregas'. Against Sporting, Fab played a lot more like a true number 10 since he effectively had two shields in Matic and Mikel behind him. He wasn't given the same duties as Willian or Oscar would usually have at #10.

Was it because he had different duties or because he is unable to play like Oscar and Willian?

[The Skipper 20,593]

Was it because he had different duties or because he is unable to play like Oscar and Willian?

Both. Fabregas isn't a defensive beast like Oscar or Willian so of course that's impossible. However when it comes to being a pure number 10 he's much better than both.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

Both. Fabregas isn't a defensive beast like Oscar or Willian so of course that's impossible. However when it comes to being a pure number 10 he's much better than both.

Yes, and both our attacking and defensive systems are built with a number ten (if you could even call it that) like Willian and Oscar. We would need to alter our pressing system and the dynamics of our movements in the final third if we want to play Cesc there in bigger games. That's exactly my point.

[Barbara 15,149]

Both. Fabregas isn't a defensive beast like Oscar or Willian so of course that's impossible. However when it comes to being a pure number 10 he's much better than both.

I can't for the life of me understand how a player can play in the pivot, lead tackles won in some of our matches and still be labeled as someone who can't do the same job Oscar or Willian do defensively.

Maybe they press better than him - as if our system was based that much on press to start with. There was a time this season that yes, we were a pressing machine, not as of late though, but I wouldn't call either a beast and I don't see how much inferior defensively Cesc is to any of them. If he is, it's slightly imo, something we can totally overcome.

[chelseafc9010 224]

Willian and Oscar aren't better at defending in the pivot. There's two types of defending, down hill or up hill. Oscar & Willian defend up hill as they are very good at pressing and winning the football. Cesc on the otherhand prefers to defend deeper, make smart tackles and smart movement. Both are good at defending but Fab is better in the pivot and Oscar & Willian better higher up.

[Gilvorak 3,734]

Oscar can defend in the pivot, WIllian can't.

[ZOS 580]

any news on the injury?

[Sheva. 5,373]

any news on the injury?

He's not injured. He was suspended for picking up his 5th yellow last game.

[ZOS 580]

He's not injured. He was suspended for picking up his 5th yellow last game.

oh that. thanks buddy