Cesc Fàbregas

[nadavTKL 1,787]

When Costa dont play, we have to play Cesc... really hope he'll be fine for the game.

[MrBlueGuy 1,552]

When Costa dont play, we have to play Cesc... really hope he'll be fine for the game.

Nope he will be a passage in this big physical game, Ramires should take his place imo.

[nadavTKL 1,787]

Nope he will be a passage in this big physical game, Ramires should take his place imo.

A passage? one of our best and important players, really? im not suggesting he should play in the pivot with Matic alone, we should play with Ramires and Cesc. Willian/Oscar should be droped.

[MrBlueGuy 1,552]

A passage? one of our best and important players, really? im not suggesting he should play in the pivot with Matic alone, we should play with Ramires and Cesc. Willian/Oscar should be droped.

Yep best player on paper and in majority of our games, just a shame most of those games are against lesser sides. Against tough teams(City away, Liverpool home and away CO Cup, away to them in the league, Spurs away) he has been really disappointing. He is not suited to high tempo games, that is why at Barca he was heavily criticized for it. Oscar and Willian will be playing no matter what, their work rate is irreplaceable in a game like this.

[nadavTKL 1,787]

Yep best player on paper and in majority of our games, just a shame most of those games are against lesser sides. Against tough teams(City away, Liverpool home and away CO Cup, away to them in the league, Spurs away) he has been really disappointing. He is not suited to high tempo games, that is why at Barca he was heavily criticized for it. Oscar and Willian will be playing no matter what, their work rate is irreplaceable in a game like this.

Without Cesc we only have Hazard to really create, i just dont think its enough and we can pay for it.

[MrBlueGuy 1,552]

Without Cesc we only have Hazard to really create, i just dont think its enough and we can pay for it.

Well never really had problems creating against big teams last year...normally I would agree but Fabregas is so limited in these games we might as well use Ramires's energy instead. Also he is injured anyway, serious or not I doubt he is fully fit after just 3 days.

[lito 180]

Cesc Fàbregas likely to miss Manchester City game with hamstring injury

http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/jan/28/cesc-fabregas-manchester-city-injury

[dmode 113]

Yep best player on paper and in majority of our games, just a shame most of those games are against lesser sides. Against tough teams(City away, Liverpool home and away CO Cup, away to them in the league, Spurs away) he has been really disappointing. He is not suited to high tempo games, that is why at Barca he was heavily criticized for it. Oscar and Willian will be playing no matter what, their work rate is irreplaceable in a game like this.

Completely disagree with your assessment. First of all Barca doesn't play high tempo. They are slow as fuck. They have no counter attack, so to hear their criticism is laughable. Second, he is actually pretty good in high tempo to lay the correct pass during a counter attack. Third, he had a lot of good performances in big games this season including all CL games, Southampton, Newcastle, Arsenal etc etc He was actually pretty good in the first Man City game, staying back and putting in a tough performance. Fourth, he just put in a stellar performance against Swansea couple of weeks back. He would do fine

[RoyalBlues 4,050]

We could afford, to lose Costa, but both? We will back to our oldself form, I'm afraid.

[BlueLyon 9,359]

A passage? one of our best and important players, really? im not suggesting he should play in the pivot with Matic alone, we should play with Ramires and Cesc. Willian/Oscar should be droped.

While Cesc gives alot of creativity in our game, in big games he is not even close to his best. And that is what worries me most. I told Barbara this once and probably more members, but while Cesc is great player, consistent (so far), he realy drops level while playing bigger teams.

In such games, he doesnt dictate tempo, he doesnt keep the ball as good, while in defensive way, he is overrun by opponent waaay to easy and doesnt even track back. He aint fast, agile, mobile and thats very clear against big teams or even against teams with high pressing physical game.

I wonder if he is able to dominate midfield like Modric, Iniesta etc do because it could be major problem if one of our key players cant rise their level and be instrumental in big games. And like I said, in PL it wont be that difficult, there are smallgames where he can perform excelent, while CL is another thing. I wait to see how he plays against Psg over two legs. If he will play like vs Pool, its going to be big dissapointment. Long term solution, either play him as #10, because in pivot we definately need more mobile and pacy player or we will continue to have problems in defensive shape.

He is 27, years of experience and I fully expect him to stand out in at least two of three games vs city and psg (home and away). But I dont think he will perform anywhere close to his best games at chelsea. I hope Im wrong though.

[RoyalBlues 4,050]

While Cesc gives alot of creativity in our game, in big games he is not even close to his best. And that is what worries me most. I told Barbara this once and probably more members, but while Cesc is great player, consistent (so far), he realy drops level while playing bigger teams.

In such games, he doesnt dictate tempo, he doesnt keep the ball as good, while in defensive way, he is overrun by opponent waaay to easy and doesnt even track back. He aint fast, agile, mobile and thats very clear against big teams or even against teams with high pressing physical game.

I wonder if he is able to dominate midfield like Modric, Iniesta etc do because it could be major problem if one of our key players cant rise their level and be instrumental in big games. And like I said, in PL it wont be that difficult, there are smallgames where he can perform excelent, while CL is another thing. I wait to see how he plays against Psg over two legs. If he will play like vs Pool, its going to be big dissapointment. Long term solution, either play him as #10, because in pivot we definately need more mobile and pacy player or we will continue to have problems in defensive shape.

He is 27, years of experience and I fully expect him to stand out in at least two of three games vs city and psg (home and away). But I dont think he will perform anywhere close to his best games at chelsea. I hope Im wrong though.

Against Arsenal at home he is brilliant though, unless people think they are not classified as big team, I could understand.

What I realized though, he is usually perform better at home rather than away. Against City, if he is fit, I think he could perform.

[BlueLyon 9,359]

Against Arsenal at home he is brilliant though, unless people think they are not classified as big team, I could understand.

What I realized though, he is usually perform better at home rather than away. Against City, if he is fit, I think he could perform.

Arsenal didnt put any kind of fight against us, it was easy game, they let us do the job...

[BlueLion. 21,491]

I love Cesc but Tuesday only reaffirmed the gut feeling I've had since the start of the season - in some games you have to play particular players whose styles are more adjusted to the type of opponent you're facing. Against a big and powerful side you need runners in the team, especially one like City that likes to have the full-backs press high up to offer their genuine width. If we want to stifle City as an attacking threat the best thing we can do is play Ramires over Fabregas. If we're chasing the game, fine, bring him on for his set-piece delivery and his eye for the pass. But when you need to counteract the offensive runs of Zabaleta and Clichy, and someone who isn't going to leave David Silva alone for a second, you need someone with an unbelievable engine and a turn of pace. Sound like a particular number 7 of ours?

[CeleryFC 373]

We survived without him last season. It's not the end of the world. Rather he had time to recover fully, than risk further injury anyway. I'm more bothered about Costa, but I want to see Remy in the central role over Drogba.

[Barbara 15,149]

Arsenal didnt put any kind of fight against us, it was easy game, they let us do the job...

I think your memory has been failing you. Arsenal have played one of their best matches against us in recent years. They were pressing and marking like they never did before. It was a competitive match during the first half. then because they are arsenal they simply imploded after we scored the first or second goal (can't point exactly when the implosion happened). And Cesc was one of the best players in the pitch if not the very best.

[Chelsea Legend 11 4,062]

He's missed me rooting for him all way from Brazil

In all seriousness though, he has to be ready for Saturday, we need him, even more so as a #10... although without Yaya I'm not sure only Silva will be enough to cause our defensive midfield that much trouble. I mean Silva is quality, top player, but I think City miss a lot without Yaya. Either way, I'd rather play Rami in the pivot and have Cesc as #10 than have Cesc in the pivot.

He's not played one decent game as a 10. Oscar should be in that position and rest Cesc... Play Ramires.

[Chelsea Legend 11 4,062]

We could afford, to lose Costa, but both? We will back to our oldself form, I'm afraid.

We beat them twice last year as our old self

[RoyalBlues 4,050]

We beat them twice last year as our old self

but we still have our 'lucky charm', Torres last season. Now I'm worried.