Cesc Fàbregas

[CHOULO19 24,332]

you know how much I don't rate Ramires technically when I'm willing to accept Fiberglass as his replacement...

There are three players I just hate in the football world: Dani Alves, Sergio Busquets and Cesc Fabregas... but I'm willing to swallow my pride and self-respect and support this SOB if it means Ramires hits the bench.

I like Ramires as a guy, but as a footballer, I'm fed up with his limitations and how he messes up our attacks and his own tackles 3 seconds after regaining possession.

Bring Cunt Fiberglass if that's what it takes to get rid of Ramires in the starting XI

Just watch Jose switch to 4-3-3 when Cesc arrives to play both him and Rami in the starting XI!

[LukakutoStamford 779]

Should be interesting should Cesc end up a Blue. I think there are better options but they may not be realistic due to monetary questions. I've made no secret that a Witsel Matic partnership would be ideal assuming Pogba, Vidal, or Koke aren't available. I just really wonder if Cesc fits in Jose's system

[Pizy 17,860]

Just watch Jose switch to 4-3-3 when Cesc arrives to play both him and Rami in the starting XI!

Wouldn't mind that at all. In fact, I'd prefer it to be honest.

Midfield 3 of Matic/Cesc/Ramires looks extremely strong. Rotate Oscar and Ramires depending on the opposition. You won't burn Oscar out like last season and will have him fresh over a long year.

Think flooding the midfield with numbers will completely overwhelm most sides. Have Fabregas or whoever we buy as the most advanced CM.

[Barbara 15,149]

Just watch Jose switch to 4-3-3 when Cesc arrives to play both him and Rami in the starting XI!

I'll kill Jose myself if we switch to a 4-3-3 and he doesn't play Oscar as the third mildfielder... kidding about the killing part, but I'd be pissed. That's his best position currently imo.

Oscar >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Ramires

******************************************************************************************************************

things I read in those odd 20 pages I've just read (post by post) and my take on them

1) Cesc and nobody is replacing Lamps. Lamps as a Blue is not replaceable, as a midfielder Cesc isn't the kind of player to replace him either. different kind of #8s imo

2) Cesc is a #8, not #10 and definitely not a false 9, no matter who decided to play him there. Barcelona have been a mess since the last Pep season there. They've got 3 managers in the last two seasons and it's a transition moment for them as their key players started the descending years of their careers (Puyol, Iniesta, Xavi) in addition to Messi having more physical issues in the last two seasons than usual

3) Cesc isn't as bad defending as some of you make him out to be

4) Cesc is even less amazing as most of you make him out to be. A good player and although as I stated I hate him, but I can recognize his qualities. I wish we had someone like Modric instead (even though Mou underused Luka in RM and he played much better at Spurs and under Carlo than under Mourinho).

Now I think there are some important information some seem to have overlooked or forgot based on what Mourinho said early in the season from July-November.

He was signed to make us one of the best teams in the world, with an offensive style. Some may argue that he's the wrong man for the job, but his second season at RM had one of the most successfully offensive and dangerous teams I've watched. He can do it, he just won't sacrifice his defensive solidness for that. He needs and will always pursue a solid defense so he can afford having a more offensive team. I'm not saying he's absolutely the right guy for the job, but dismissing his offensive capabilities, tactics and systems and labeling him as a defensive guy is something worth of our rivals fans and his haters. He's made mistakes, but I think he can see them and I believe he can get the right team for what he wants next.

Why am I talking about it? Because I don't think we need two overly defensive pivot players (such as Ramires and Matic or Mikel or whoever more you want to add here) for 75% of the matches we play. We can work with Matic and a B2B ahead of him just fine. I think Ramires is a B2B, as much as Lamps and Cesc also are although the three of them have completely different qualities and styles. Oscar offers a lot of support to our pressing midfield and if we move to a 4-3-3 (my biggest prayer for next season, right after a reliable striker) he can offer even more, while also supporting the attack. I can see us playing 4-3-3 against stronger sides with Matic-Ramires-Oscar and all other matches (about 75% of them) either with a 4-2-3-1 with Matic-Cesc or even the same 4-3-3 except with an inverted triangle of Matic with Oscar and Cesc ahead of them.

So I don't expect Mourinho to sign another Matic-like player to play by his side (also he already has a defensive guy on Ramires, to a lesser degree). I expect someone like Modric or Lamps (would rather a Modric), but how many of those are really available?

I can't stand Cesc, I don't think he's that great, but he is definitely major improvement from what we have in the pivot currently. And no, I don't think he offers Oscar, Hazard or Willian any competition for the #10 and Mourinho doesn't play false 9, especially with a real 9 coming for sure - thanks God for that.

[Pizy 17,860]

When's the "Football According to Barbara" book coming out?

[Barbara 15,149]

When's the "Football According to Barbara" book coming out?

I never know if I'm supposed to take that as a compliment or a bad thing... and I'm actually afraid to ask.

Maybe it's because I'm always very emphatic in my view and it may lead some to think I'm stating my opinion as a fact, but I'm not. I don't try to establish my view as the right one, but I like to defend my view and give my arguments for that, but I'm not trying to speak the truth above all truths...

[Pizy 17,860]

I never know if I'm supposed to take that as a compliment or a bad thing... and I'm actually afraid to ask.

Maybe it's because I'm always very emphatic in my view and it may lead some to think I'm stating my opinion as a fact, but I'm not. I don't try to establish my view as the right one, but I like to defend my view and give my arguments for that, but I'm not trying to speak the truth above all truths...

Compliment.

Your posts are always gigantic blocks that are basically blog posts.

[zolayes 14,489]

When's the "Football According to Barbara" book coming out?

Well I would certainly read it .. One of the best posters on the forum

[Barbara 15,149]

Well I would certainly read it .. One of the best posters on the forum

When's the "Football According to Barbara" book coming out?

The book may never come, but my hot seat thread I guess starts this week

I asked Spike and he told me I was 5th in the list

[zolayes 14,489]

The book may never come, but my hot seat thread I guess starts this week

I asked Spike and he told me I was 5th in the list

prepare for some serious sexual harassment ,, maybe youd be safer in tin knickers

[bushman 2,043]

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/transfers/cesc-fabregas-transfer-latest-chelsea-manager-jose-mourinho-chasing-koke-and-paul-pogba-ahead-of-barcelona-midfielder-9480992.html

Well, as I suspected. Jose is not too keen on Cesc.

If that´s the case, then how are these two gonna work together?

[Barbara 15,149]

prepare for some serious sexual harassment ,, maybe youd be safer in tin knickers

I'm sure there won't be any. TCers are classy and I can take a light joke

[1chelsea 864]

Hate for transfer window is growing to another level. Till this day no transfer confirmed?? [emoji31][emoji34][emoji35]

[Styles 9,790]

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/transfers/cesc-fabregas-transfer-latest-chelsea-manager-jose-mourinho-chasing-koke-and-paul-pogba-ahead-of-barcelona-midfielder-9480992.html

Well, as I suspected. Jose is not too keen on Cesc.

If that´s the case, then how are these two gonna work together?

Koke would be brilliant.

[xPetrCechx 13,546]

Koke/Pogba/Fabregas.

Good times Ahead.

[bushman 2,043]

Koke would be brilliant.

I feel the same.

Something tells me the board wants Jose to start playing more offensively. Meanwhile, Jose rather plays his counter attack. His 1 zip games.

[dkim2 73]

Hazard Costa Willian

Matic Cesc Oscar

Luis Terry Cahill Cesar

It seems like a side capable of winning domestic league & European cup.

[Pizy 17,860]

Would be awfully depressing and a huge anticlimax if after being linked with all of these world class midfielders we end up signing Tiago on a free. Replacing one old player with one just about as old.