Not to mention less successful... Bayern were a better side under Heynckes IMO.

 

He took over a team that had just won the treble, very very differcult to repeat that.

Fabregas would be a great signing especially now that we know Frank is on his way

Come on Roman use that luiz wonga.

 

.................................................COUTOIS

 

...DAVE.........................CAHILL...................JT....................SHAW

 

..................MIKEL.....................MATIC.............

 

SCHURRLE........................FABREGLAS...................HAZARD

 

......................................COSTA.......................................

Come on Roman use that luiz wonga.

 

.................................................COUTOIS

 

...DAVE.........................CAHILL...................JT....................SHAW

 

..................MIKEL.....................MATIC.............

 

SCHURRLE........................FABREGLAS...................HAZARD

 

......................................COSTA.......................................

Mikel... 

Mikel?

Be serious

Mikel and Matic yuck swap Oscar with Mikel and it becomes a different team. Like the use of Dave at rb adds more to the team also.

He took over a team that had just won the treble, very very differcult to repeat that.

 

But still the manner in which they lost against Real was pretty embarrassing... Tiki taka swept away by a very adept and ruthless counter attacking side.

Come on Roman use that luiz wonga.

 

.................................................COUTOIS

 

...DAVE.........................CAHILL...................JT....................SHAW

 

..................MIKEL.....................MATIC.............

 

SCHURRLE........................FABREGLAS...................HAZARD

 

......................................COSTA.......................................

 

oscar?

Come on Roman use that luiz wonga.

 

.................................................COUTOIS

 

...DAVE.........................CAHILL...................JT....................SHAW

 

..................MIKEL.....................MATIC.............

 

SCHURRLE........................FABREGLAS...................HAZARD

 

......................................COSTA.......................................

 

Swap Mikel for a ham sandwich and you have a better team.

I personally like that side. Especially the signing of Equestrian Olympic medallist Michelle Coutois to play in goal. 

 

I personally like that side. Especially the signing of Equestrian Olympic medallist Michelle Coutois to play in goal. 

 

 

This is a serious discussion, stop horsing around....

I personally like that side. Especially the signing of Equestrian Olympic medallist Michelle Coutois to play in goal. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jose a man of his word get the milk.

 

"The title race is between two horses and a little horse that needs milk and needs to learn how to jump," he said. "Maybe next season we can race."

Edited June 3, 201412 yr by pete

This is a serious discussion, stop horsing around....

Neigh.

Would he be taking one of the deeper roles or the sole AM spot?

Cesc is a great player but he is a carbon copy of Mata. Those two are the same player basically. We already had one and sold him. Not too pacy, not too strong or powerful but a great eye for pass and smart. He was the sole reason Arsenal did anything when he was there just like we were with Juan when he was here.

This may change your minds:

http://weaintgotnohistory.sbnation.com/chelsea-fc-transfer-rumours-news/2014/6/3/5777144/chelsea-fc-transfer-rumors-cesc-fabregas-pivot

"Can Cesc Fabregas play in Chelsea's double-pivot? It's a question that many Chelsea fans may be asking themselves in the light of recent developments, while Manchester City fans might just be asking themselves the very same thing. Let me save you all some time and answer that conundrum for you: "No". And before you ask, there are no "ifs" and there are no "buts"; he simply cannot do it. Of course, there are no doubts that Fabregas has been blessed with an abundance of natural talent and God-given technique, but his skill set just doesn't apply to a deep lying position, particularly at an elite level."

"It's been crushingly obvious for quite some time now; Fabregas drifted back into the double-pivot on occasion at Arsenal and on one memorable night, the "Barca DNA" coursing through his veins proved fatal. That tendency to over-elaborate, that primal desire to play the extra pass led to a mistake and a Barcelona goal. But that's not all holding Fabregas back from a successful career in a pivot -- a noticeable lack of athleticism, a mediocre work-rate, maybe even his height -- Cesc just lacks too many vital attributes."

"Perhaps there's the right partner out there for him -- the Xavi to his Iniesta if you will -- but Chelsea, and any other interested party would be wise to scour the market; at that price, in this position, there are simply better alternatives available."

Bit more from The Times today:

Cesc Fàbregas is open to the idea of joining Chelsea despite his strong emotional attachment to Arsenal. The Barcelona midfielder has yet to hear from Chelsea as he assesses his options after being told to find a new club this summer, but would welcome an offer from Stamford Bridge.

Fàbregas has admitted to breaking down in tears when he finally left Arsenal after a lengthy transfer saga three years ago, but such feelings will not prevent him exploring the possibility of signing for one of their biggest domestic rivals.

The Spain player would have preferred to return to Arsenal, who secured the right to have the first option on his services in the event of his departure from the Nou Camp as part of his £35 million transfer to Barcelona, but have opted not to exercise it.

Sources in Spain have claimed that Fàbregas is angry about Arsenal’s failure to bid for him, but in reality he is sanguine about the situation. Arsène Wenger is understood to have told Fàbregas that he would have loved to have taken his former captain back to Arsenal 12 months ago, when he also appeared unsettled at Barcelona, but having completed the club record £42.5 million signing of Mesut Özil at the end of last summer he has no need for another attacking midfielder in his squad. The Frenchman has up to £100 million to spend on new players and their wages this summer, but his priorities are to sign a striker, defensive midfielder and right back, as well as a reserve goalkeeper.

Fàbregas is believed to have adopted a similarly pragmatic view and as a result is seeking the best possible deal irrespective of his previous allegiances, with Chelsea very much part of his thinking. The 27-year-old will hope to secure an increase on his £100,000-a-week Barcelona wages if he returns to the Barclays Premier League, but that should not prove prohibitive to Chelsea despite their policy of reducing the wage bill, as they have already off-loaded high earners such as Ashley Cole, Frank Lampard and David Luiz this summer.

There are concerns at the club as to whether Fàbregas suits José Mourinho’s style of play, however, as his preference for time on the ball and penchant for slowing things down clashes with the Portuguese’s demand for a high tempo, a problem that was instrumental in the sale of Juan Mata. As a result Koke, of Atlético Madrid, remains Chelsea’s main midfield target, while they are still looking at alternatives, including Paulinho, of Tottenham Hotspur. Manchester United and Manchester City are also monitoring Fàbregas’s situation, and while they too have other priorities, both could make a move depending on the outcome of the rest of their activity.

Thibaut Courtois confirmed yesterday the widely suspected view that he is to return to Chelsea after three seasons on loan at Atlético by revealing details of a private phone conversation with Mourinho. The Belgium goalkeeper was expecting to spend another season in Spain, but a call from Mourinho before Atlético’s title-winning match away to Barcelona last month has altered his perspective. The 22-year-old is expected to sign a new five-year contract at Chelsea after the World Cup.

“My future seemed clear,” Courtois said. “But then we played each other in the Champions League and that changed everything. Yes, Mourinho called me before the Barcelona game.

“I have two years left on my contract at Chelsea. As things stand I’ll report for pre-season training there and then we’ll speak.”

From The Independent:

"Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho is not interested in bringing Barcelona's Cesc Fabregas to Stamford Bridge and is instead focusing his attentions on Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba and Atletico Madrid's Koke."

Now Hazard has got the number 10 shirt I think we'll see less of Oscar and more of Schurrle on the left wing.

Means we don't need Cesc behind the striker and I agree he won't be effective in the deep midfield role

Hazards shirt number will have zero say in what position he plays.

Boularouz had the number 9 shirt for a season under Mourinho, but he played in defence.

Cesc is a great player but he is a carbon copy of Mata. Those two are the same player basically...

 

eg. the strawman argument that proceeds from the false premise... 

This may change your minds:

http://weaintgotnohistory.sbnation.com/chelsea-fc-transfer-rumours-news/2014/6/3/5777144/chelsea-fc-transfer-rumors-cesc-fabregas-pivot

Those quotes are from a barca fan, and bearing in mind barca don't play the same system, and fabregas has been played much further forward, I don't think this opinion holds much substance.

What about 7/8 years at Arsenal, where he played at least half of them in a double pivot.

I am now confused. This was such a good story yesterday. Now it's a just a rumour again.

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

 

This is what I like to hear!

From The Independent:

"Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho is not interested in bringing Barcelona's Cesc Fabregas to Stamford Bridge and is instead focusing his attentions on Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba and Atletico Madrid's Koke."

 

Sorry, should've read this before posting!!

Ha, no worries 1905!