Apparently he put in a real Olympian performance to get his wife pregnant, and he's still recovering.

Maybe coincides with him going off the boil around Christmas time!

His wife is a serious hottie! Maybe Cesc is still suffering from the recent birth.. Wifey not available for some activities.

His wife is a serious hottie! Maybe Cesc is still suffering from the recent birth.. Wifey not available for some activities.

 

What? He's having to do his own cooking and ironing? Poor bar steward!!!

Since his form faltered last season, I've said he's a liability in the 2, especially in tougher games. No idea why Jose played him there against City, when he usually plays him further up in those games. Even then, further up, he's not a patch on Mata for me, who's a better number 10 in my book, and about a million times better at set-pieces, and let's not forget his goals. He's a luxury player, Fabregas, because everybody else has to cover for him, which is okay if you're a Hazard or a Messi, but I think Fabregas is a real core issue in the team and you can see why Barcelona let him go. I've been criticised a lot for saying this but it's true. He's a class act, obviously, nobody doubts his quality, but where the f**k do you play him, nobody, but nobody knows his best position, and that includes Jose, who let's not forget sold Mata because he deemed him a luxury.

 

Now, this might seem strange, given we won the league last season and Cesc was instrumental in that, but the first half of last season is a distant memory now, in terms of form, we're now much more functional and Cesc isn't really trusted in the 2. Last season he came along and dictated games, at his own pace and he was majestic, but I can't see teams letting that happen again. Against City far more than anyone, he was the problem in that first-half and I'm amazed Jose waited for half-time to change things. Matic, not for the first time, was playing midfield all by himself. Maybe this means we have to play a higher block and Terry gets dropped, who knows, but something will have to change in the big games. Against smaller teams at home, maybe, but not in these games.

 

Last thing. He plays on the right of the 2, and when he's letting the likes of Fernandinho and Shelvey run past him our right-back will always be exposed, no matter who it is. Ivanovic has enough on his plate having to worry about Cahill IMO but that's another thing.

 

I would like to see RLC play in the 2 alongside Matic, or even Oscar, if we're going to play that way, but I've long said 433 with Willian in midfield, in the Iniesta role, but sadly that depends on us having a right-winger.

It simply comes down to using him properly and its that way with the squad as a whole. You pick certain players for certain games and it's as simple as that. Fabregas was a key reason we won the title last season.

Since his form faltered last season, I've said he's a liability in the 2, especially in tougher games. No idea why Jose played him there against City, when he usually plays him further up in those games. Even then, further up, he's not a patch on Mata for me, who's a better number 10 in my book, and about a million times better at set-pieces, and let's not forget his goals. He's a luxury player, Fabregas, because everybody else has to cover for him, which is okay if you're a Hazard or a Messi, but I think Fabregas is a real core issue in the team and you can see why Barcelona let him go. I've been criticised a lot for saying this but it's true. He's a class act, obviously, nobody doubts his quality, but where the f**k do you play him, nobody, but nobody knows his best position, and that includes Jose, who let's not forget sold Mata because he deemed him a luxury.

 

Now, this might seem strange, given we won the league last season and Cesc was instrumental in that, but the first half of last season is a distant memory now, in terms of form, we're now much more functional and Cesc isn't really trusted in the 2. Last season he came along and dictated games, at his own pace and he was majestic, but I can't see teams letting that happen again. Against City far more than anyone, he was the problem in that first-half and I'm amazed Jose waited for half-time to change things. Matic, not for the first time, was playing midfield all by himself. Maybe this means we have to play a higher block and Terry gets dropped, who knows, but something will have to change in the big games. Against smaller teams at home, maybe, but not in these games.

 

Last thing. He plays on the right of the 2, and when he's letting the likes of Fernandinho and Shelvey run past him our right-back will always be exposed, no matter who it is. Ivanovic has enough on his plate having to worry about Cahill IMO but that's another thing.

 

I would like to see RLC play in the 2 alongside Matic, or even Oscar, if we're going to play that way, but I've long said 433 with Willian in midfield, in the Iniesta role, but sadly that depends on us having a right-winger.

 

it's very possible that Terry and Fabregas can't coexist in games in the big teams; but more should go to Cesc than Terry. Even if we were to get a defender that enabled us to play a high line (and hence reduce the defensive distance Fabregas has to cover, automatically minimise his positional mistakes/complacency), Cesc would still be too weak defensively. He offers far too little in defence and it was one of the reasons why he wasn't trusted in midfield at Barca (a high line set up). His positioning is too poor and he's just not defensively inclined. Little likelihood that he could ever play defensively well over a length of time in a double pivot. And whether a 4-2-3-1 is really best suited to a high pressing game with the current set of players is also to be asked.  

 

We could go to a 4-3-3 but asking Jose to drop Terry, Ivanovic, change formation, employ a high press, employ a possession game in players who and train Cahill against his instincts for the last 4 years seems hard to do without dropping a fatal number of points in the title race. Especially seeing as most of those he's never done before and go against the very nature of the man and his footballing philosophy.  So the best bet is to stick to the same system and just get a better set of players. CM, RW, drop Ivan and just get a pacier replacement for Terry and/or Gaz (not necessarily to adopt a super high line, but higher than the line that's deployed right now) 

Since his form faltered last season, I've said he's a liability in the 2, especially in tougher games. No idea why Jose played him there against City, when he usually plays him further up in those games. Even then, further up, he's not a patch on Mata for me, who's a better number 10 in my book, and about a million times better at set-pieces, and let's not forget his goals. He's a luxury player, Fabregas, because everybody else has to cover for him, which is okay if you're a Hazard or a Messi, but I think Fabregas is a real core issue in the team and you can see why Barcelona let him go. I've been criticised a lot for saying this but it's true. He's a class act, obviously, nobody doubts his quality, but where the f**k do you play him, nobody, but nobody knows his best position, and that includes Jose, who let's not forget sold Mata because he deemed him a luxury.

Now, this might seem strange, given we won the league last season and Cesc was instrumental in that, but the first half of last season is a distant memory now, in terms of form, we're now much more functional and Cesc isn't really trusted in the 2. Last season he came along and dictated games, at his own pace and he was majestic, but I can't see teams letting that happen again. Against City far more than anyone, he was the problem in that first-half and I'm amazed Jose waited for half-time to change things. Matic, not for the first time, was playing midfield all by himself. Maybe this means we have to play a higher block and Terry gets dropped, who knows, but something will have to change in the big games. Against smaller teams at home, maybe, but not in these games.

Last thing. He plays on the right of the 2, and when he's letting the likes of Fernandinho and Shelvey run past him our right-back will always be exposed, no matter who it is. Ivanovic has enough on his plate having to worry about Cahill IMO but that's another thing.

I would like to see RLC play in the 2 alongside Matic, or even Oscar, if we're going to play that way, but I've long said 433 with Willian in midfield, in the Iniesta role, but sadly that depends on us having a right-winger.

Out of curiosity, who would be the 3rd midfielder with Willian and matic in a 433?

Imo a 433 with said 2 plus fabregas, wouldn't effect how we currently defend now. Matic would still be the deepest midfielder, either 1 of willian would press further up and fabregas would be trying to cut out the passing lines into the forwards.

If it was midfield 3 with Matic Willian and oscar, it would still be the same, but is oscar any better defensively than fabregas?

Whether it's 433 or 4231, when we are defending it will still be 451, and the 3 central midfielders will still have the same roles.

If we wanted to take some of the defensive responsibility off fabregas, we would have to play another defensive minded player in there with him and Matic, I don't think willian or oscar fit the bill.

Even with 2 defensive midfielder players with fabregas, I don't think he presses well enough to play to play that far up the pitch.

I think it's a case of horses for courses, it didn't go to well Sunday, but there is a few problems with the back four at the moment, which is making life more difficult for matic and fabregas at the moment.

I think matic and fabregas will work fine as a 2, in all but 6/7 fixtures in the league.

Developing rlc, or bringing in a more rounded centre midfielder than ramires or mikel, would be the best options for the more difficult games.

Out of curiosity, who would be the 3rd midfielder with Willian and matic in a 433?

Imo a 433 with said 2 plus fabregas, wouldn't effect how we currently defend now. Matic would still be the deepest midfielder, either 1 of willian would press further up and fabregas would be trying to cut out the passing lines into the forwards.

If it was midfield 3 with Matic Willian and oscar, it would still be the same, but is oscar any better defensively than fabregas?

Whether it's 433 or 4231, when we are defending it will still be 451, and the 3 central midfielders will still have the same roles.

If we wanted to take some of the defensive responsibility off fabregas, we would have to play another defensive minded player in there with him and Matic, I don't think willian or oscar fit the bill.

Even with 2 defensive midfielder players with fabregas, I don't think he presses well enough to play to play that far up the pitch.

I think it's a case of horses for courses, it didn't go to well Sunday, but there is a few problems with the back four at the moment, which is making life more difficult for matic and fabregas at the moment.

I think matic and fabregas will work fine as a 2, in all but 6/7 fixtures in the league.

Developing rlc, or bringing in a more rounded centre midfielder than ramires or mikel, would be the best options for the more difficult games.

 

Yeah good question. Matic our Busquets, Willian our Iniesta, and Fabregas our Xavi, or Rakitic as it is now? Funny thing is, just when Xavi was coming to the end Barca decided Cesc wasn't his rightful heir and sold him, which is interesting. They didn't think he could perform the role, or at least, they thought they could do better. Barca didn't know his best position, they played him everywhere, and in the end they decided he wasn't good enough in one position to keep him. Now, that's no shame, seeing as they're the best in the world, and the likes of Sanchez have been sold too, but it's telling. Xavi retiring, the obvious thing is play Cesc in the position he covets, the position he's been waiting for, and they said no.

Apparently he put in a real Olympian performance to get his wife pregnant, and he's still recovering.

To be fair, known for his passing, not penetrating the box and scoring

Fabregas may not be an excellent defender but he's still far better than Mata in that category, I don't think that comparison is fair on Cesc and I wouldn't go so far as to call him a luxury player. He's no more a luxury player than Xavi, Iniesta, Pirlo or Xabi Alonso.

Lack of rotation can breed complacency eventually, maybe not on the pitch so much as off the pitch. Costa was in Ibiza midweek last week, that tells me he's not concerned about his lack of form/fitness.

But also hunger is another consideration for our pathetic form, have they got the belly to go again @100% commitment ? I could name a few that could do with rotating because they are not hungry enough to fight both on and off the pitch.

Probably quicker to name players that looks like they are hungry to go again then to list the ones that are not.

Edited August 19, 201510 yr by MissouriBlue

Just thought I'd point out that so far this season Fabregas leads the teams in tackles per game (3.5) and is second in interceptions per game(2.5).

I just remember him vs City specifically getting into a ton of good tackles despite the score he's gotten from some. He has really boosted this side of his game since joining the club. Was also just behind Matic and Luis in tackles per game last season too.

Just thought I'd point out that so far this season Fabregas leads the teams in tackles per game (3.5) and is second in interceptions per game(2.5).

I just remember him vs City specifically getting into a ton of good tackles despite the score he's gotten from some. He has really boosted this side of his game since joining the club. Was also just behind Matic and Luis in tackles per game last season too.

He's a bit like Oscar in that he likes to get stuck in, difference being that Oscar doesn't sacrifice the shape of the whole team and leave gaps behind him.

He sets up far more chances and goals than Mata.

He's also a better passer of the ball too.

It's where and how Jose uses him that's the problem, he's a top class footballer.

and he answers his recent criticism with one of his greatest assists yet:

 

Why are they wearing matching clothes?

Just thought I'd point out that so far this season Fabregas leads the teams in tackles per game (3.5) and is second in interceptions per game(2.5).

I just remember him vs City specifically getting into a ton of good tackles despite the score he's gotten from some. He has really boosted this side of his game since joining the club. Was also just behind Matic and Luis in tackles per game last season too.

 

I've seen an improvement in this side of his game, but Fabregas is still a liability IMO defensively and tactically.

 

I would love to us to sign Koké and pair him with Matic in the pivot. He's a creative CM but one who is also very good defensively and has been well drilled tactically by Simeone for many years. I can't see this happening in this window but something worth keeping an eye on for next summer. Given our relationship with Atletico Madrid a deal could well be feasible.

No doubt he is poor defensively. In, the main because he cannot get around the pitch with any pace, so often players are running off and around him. Also 'cheats' which means he lets players go in the hope, we win the ball back, and he is then in space. 

 

In the main I think we will get away with this against the smaller teams when we have a lot more possession, and thus wont defend as much. I feel if we could add another CM (Witsel or ideally Verratti) to play with him and Matic, itd be ideal. It means we dont play with a set no10, but offers more Stability through the middle. Hazard or Willian/Pedro :D will drift inside and offer a threat in that respect, and it gives Cesc more freedom and less defensive responsibility. Oscar could also play this role.

Why are they wearing matching clothes?

I was gonna say the same

Pedro arriving could really reinvigorate Cesc.

One of his old friends and teammates and both linked up well with Barca and of course Spain.

I'm really looking forward to the next few weeks.

The club got Fabregas missus to phone Pedro's wife to convince her to come to London.

What a legend. There's a song in there somewhere.

No doubt he is poor defensively. In, the main because he cannot get around the pitch with any pace, so often players are running off and around him. Also 'cheats' which means he lets players go in the hope, we win the ball back, and he is then in space. 

 

In the main I think we will get away with this against the smaller teams when we have a lot more possession, and thus wont defend as much. I feel if we could add another CM (Witsel or ideally Verratti) to play with him and Matic, itd be ideal. It means we dont play with a set no10, but offers more Stability through the middle. Hazard or Willian/Pedro :D will drift inside and offer a threat in that respect, and it gives Cesc more freedom and less defensive responsibility. Oscar could also play this role.

Very Ratty? Nooooo!

Another assist for Fabregas

and he answers his recent criticism with one of his greatest assists yet:

 

Don Quixote and Sancho Panza

Very Ratty? Nooooo!

 

Ha! He consistently annoys me when we play PSG, which tells me he is a good player!

 

Gets around the pitch, puts a tackle in, and very good technically. Can take, and keep the ball in tight situations.