I still hope that when Conte has sorted the defence, Fabregas will get time.

i think that fabregas is somewhat, if not completely, done at the top level just like rooney is. i think that his legs are simply not the up to that of the demands of professional sport, especially the midfield role.

defensively, since he can't run, he can't close down oppo players fast enough and he can't track runners coming from deep from the opposing team.

offensively, since he can't run, he can't dribble the ball without running the severe risk of losing it and he can't make runs fast or often enough to create space for his team mates (or himself if teams close him down well enough).

couple this with his lack of defensive discipline (which is natural since he's never had to defend in his career before), you get a stationary one dimensional player who's only use is if he has a force field shielding him so he can spray passes (which only really happens if he's a super sub and the oppo team has parked the bus and/or has had a man sent off).

 

however, if you were to shoehorn fabregas in to the team, i think the only position he can play is that deep pirlo-role (he's not even half as good imo, but ok) with two extremely strong runners and tacklers in front of him. that way he could rely more on positioning (which i unfortunately don't think he has) while defending.

fabregas has had a long career, playing professional football since 17 years old. he has always struggled with inconsistancy, a testament to his lack of natural athleticism imo (because his technique hasn't gone away after christmas every season he's played). i think the niggling injuries he has had has finally caught up with him, making him not fit for how football is played in 2016.

Edited October 11, 20169 yr by opinionsarelike

I think his age definitely is a big factor. Keep in mind that he's basically been required to play top-flight, high intensity counter-attacking football for his whole professional life.

Also Pirlo had Tevez, Pogba, Marchisio, Vidal etc. in front of him; that's a lot of energy. We don't have a front four capable of that kind of energy. 

 

8 hours ago, SydneyChelsea said:

I think his age definitely is a big factor. Keep in mind that he's basically been required to play top-flight, high intensity counter-attacking football for his whole professional life.

Also Pirlo had Tevez, Pogba, Marchisio, Vidal etc. in front of him; that's a lot of energy. We don't have a front four capable of that kind of energy. 

 

 

Now I'm enlightened. So that is the reason.

On 10/11/2016 at 13:10, Hemel Blue said:

Surely there is room in the side for class.I was gutted when Mata was sold and i will feel the same if Fabregas goes.Selling creative,entertaining players bugs me.Workrate,workrate,workrate is all the game is about now but you need players with brains and guile.IMO.

not anymore, now almost everyone in the club and the fans think that defensive football is the way forward

Santi Cazorla is just as slow as Cesc in real life and much worse defensively yet Arsenal look shocking without him in the pivot. A top club like Chelsea shouldn't need two strong ball winning mids on the pitch to be able to play football. If City can play without a single recognised defensive mid and players like David Silva and KdB infornt then i'm sure we can slot Fabregas in and play with just the one much like in our title winning season.

12 minutes ago, RIP Mourinho said:

If City can play without a single recognised defensive mid and players like David Silva and KdB infornt then i'm sure we can slot Fabregas in and play with just the one much like in our title winning season.

I think that speaks more to the intricacies of Guardiola's system than to a general rule about midfields. When City are on the ball, Silva and Gundogan will push wide and forward respectively, and De Bruyne will marshal on the edge of the attacking third, with Fernandinho 'holding'. Either the full-backs or one of the centre-backs (generally Stones, otherwise Kolarov) will move into the midfield. While on paper City are down as playing a 4-3-3/4-1-4-1, when they are in possession it doesn't really look like that at all.

That said, I do agree that a midfield pairing of Matic and Kanté (especially with three centre-backs) has obvious limitations, but we know well the weaknesses that Fabregas causes to our defensive shape. Ideally we'd sign someone like Koke to fill the void.

3 hours ago, PloKoon13 said:

I think that speaks more to the intricacies of Guardiola's system than to a general rule about midfields. When City are on the ball, Silva and Gundogan will push wide and forward respectively, and De Bruyne will marshal on the edge of the attacking third, with Fernandinho 'holding'. Either the full-backs or one of the centre-backs (generally Stones, otherwise Kolarov) will move into the midfield. While on paper City are down as playing a 4-3-3/4-1-4-1, when they are in possession it doesn't really look like that at all.

That said, I do agree that a midfield pairing of Matic and Kanté (especially with three centre-backs) has obvious limitations, but we know well the weaknesses that Fabregas causes to our defensive shape. Ideally we'd sign someone like Koke to fill the void.

I'm sure we were heavily linked to Koke at some point in the Mourinho era were we not?  I wonder if there was ever actually in those rumours, would've made for a lovely signing.

9 hours ago, RIP Mourinho said:

I'm sure we were heavily linked to Koke at some point in the Mourinho era were we not?  I wonder if there was ever actually in those rumours, would've made for a lovely signing.

£46m Koke bid turned down by Atletico

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/chelsea/11792741/Chelsea-transfer-news-and-rumours-46m-Koke-bid-turned-down-by-Atletico.html

We are in the $hit in the midfield position. Cesc's defence and work rate won't improve at this age, Matic has very little chance to improve his passing or right foot, Oscar been like that for years, RLC is still a raw talent ( if we are kind). We either pay huge to get that 1 player, or risk it with Cesc/RLC.

5 hours ago, icecoolguy22 said:

We are in the $hit in the midfield position. Cesc's defence and work rate won't improve at this age, Matic has very little chance to improve his passing or right foot, Oscar been like that for years, RLC is still a raw talent ( if we are kind). We either pay huge to get that 1 player, or risk it with Cesc/RLC.

Baker's been doing great and honestly feel he is much better than RLC. Same goes for Chalobah. 

Edited October 14, 20169 yr by didierforever

On 10/10/2016 at 20:56, wallosh said:

He will easily fit in when you play him deep and that's when you can also get the best out of Costa.
And sometimes I wonder why we still worry about Fabregas' defending when we have already signed Kante for 30m so he can be the defensive midfielder to provide cover for the defence. Is Kante not up to the job? Fernadinho is doing that job alone for Manchester City and they are scoring goals. Yet I won't take Fernandinho over Kante on current form.

 

Not only scoring goals but the goals conceded is also a respectable record.. half of those goals conceded are from set pieces and own goals..

 

CIty is a very good example for comparison.. it doesn't limited to just 1 player but the whole team.. try to compare their starting XI and our 'best XI' (not conte's version best XI but our real best XI), it's little to choose between them

their back 4 against ours? The likes of zabaleta/sagna/stones/otamendi/kolarov/clichy?? lol..

Fernandinho vs Kante?

KDB vs Hazard?

Silva vs Cesc?

Sterling vs Willian?

Nolito vs Pedro?

Aguero vs Costa?

-------------------

Pep vs Conte?   This 1 along with Fernandinho vs Kante are the only one that have clear winner..

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On October 11, 2016 at 00:20, icecoolguy22 said:

He could still be playing the Pirlo role, who was never a gifted athlete but relying on his exquisite passing, decision making, position etc. It's easy to write him off, but who else in the team has the ability to hit an accurate 20-30 yards pass consistently?

Luiz...also you mentioned to play the pirlo role positioning is a key, when it comes to fabs positioning, he is somewhere between east and west. 

Would have been nice to see Fabtegas feature. Surely there's room for him somewhere in this system. Obviously not got the legs of a Pedro or a Willian, but him as one of those behind Costa? 

He's so good going forward, it's a shame to not see him playing. (Especially with that Ozil playing well and scoring for Arsenal!)

If we play with 3 at the back, the only way I can see Cesc contributing is in a 3-4-1-2 should we need to chase games and we require his incision.

I thought that Conte might try him in a Pirlo role, but he lacks the defensive nous...and there's no way I would play him as part of a two-man midfield. 

Yeah I can't see where he would fit into this team, other than coming on for one of Kante/Matic if we're chasing a win and the other team has shut up shop. We seem to have found a great balance at the moment and Fabregas isn't a like for like inclusion for anyone there. As he has shown multiple times this season though, he is an excellent late option off the bench.

I think what we will see soon in some games is Pedro playing at LWB and Fabregas playing with Hazard behind Costa, we saw what Cesc can do when he gets in the box against Leicester, such composure for his first goal in that game, and he has a great understanding with Hazard and Costa, I think it would work very well.

 

Courtois

Azpilicueta - Luiz - Cahill

Moses - Kante - Matic - Pedro

Fabregas - Hazard

Costa

 

story going around about a possible loan move in january

The stories have been there from the start of the season, but the longer he doesn't play the more likely the outcome will be that he will go. One of those stories linked him to Milan at the start of the season though no agreement could be made over who paid what proportion of his wages; he is the third highest paid player at the club. 

I think what we will see soon in some games is Pedro playing at LWB and Fabregas playing with Hazard behind Costa, we saw what Cesc can do when he gets in the box against Leicester, such composure for his first goal in that game, and he has a great understanding with Hazard and Costa, I think it would work very well.
 
Courtois
Azpilicueta - Luiz - Cahill
Moses - Kante - Matic - Pedro
Fabregas - Hazard
Costa
 

This will be a very good team. But Alonso will have to play ahead of Pedro against the top teams.

In fairness he is injured at the moment.

However I can't see Conte wanting to change a winning side, and rightfully so. There is a place for Cesc in the team, but I can tell you now it won't be as a part of the two man midfield that Matic & Kante are operating him, absolutely no chance.

The only position I can see Cesc in is as a slightly deeper version of the role Hazard is playing in now. It's a shame I have to admit. He is a world class player but in this system which is proving very successful I can't see where he fits in?

Rough start to the game but it was kind of expected since i cant remember the last time he started a game in the PL but he really bounce back in the 2nd with doing was he does best , ive been really impressed with his professionalism this year , really set a great example for the club  

Classic Fabregas assist to spark our fightback - evokes memories of late 2014.

I still think he is best off the bench to provide incision though. He overall lacks the energy and defensive acumen to play in a 2-man midfield.

Great assist, may have given Fernandinho a cheeky slap, I could care less.

Did Pep refuse to shake hands with Cesc?