1 hour ago, Nibs said:

I agree, I am always more comfortable when I see Fabregas in the side rather than Drinkwater or Bakayoko - especially bearing in mind the latters woeful form.

That said, at times Fabregas can be a complete liability. Look at the game against Watford and that goal we conceded where the Watford player went past Fabregas as if he wasn't there. And last night his lunge that could easily have seen us concede an early penalty. He is just so slow it really is painful to watch. He has been a great player but I pray that at the very top of the clubs shopping list and most urgent requirement for next season is a replacement for Fab. A proven player in his 20's, with the vision and passing ability of Fab, but a whole lot quicker and stronger on the ball. 

Can we find such a player?

From what I've seen when he's been played in the midfield, Ampadu could be the man. Good passes and composure to look up and see the runs. Defensively will be much more accomplished than Fabregas too. I think that Conte or whoever is the coach next season should look at developing him for that role.

28 minutes ago, RMH said:

From what I've seen when he's been played in the midfield, Ampadu could be the man. Good passes and composure to look up and see the runs. Defensively will be much more accomplished than Fabregas too. I think that Conte or whoever is the coach next season should look at developing him for that role.

I prefer Ampadu in the midfield, as imo he is the type who can control a game, and have a much better influence.

It's not just his lack of physicality and speed. I do appreciate his Hollywood passes, but with those Hollywood passes comes very bad passing in between, the kind of passing you cant afford in his position on the pitch, the kind that has your whole team turning around and running backwards, he's made plenty of them as well.

2 hours ago, Osgood is Good said:

I prefer Ampadu in the midfield, as imo he is the type who can control a game, and have a much better influence.

I still haven't seen enough of him to decide yet, but you could be right, he looks more comfortable on the ball when under pressure than Cesc, but that isn't hard.

Just hope come the end of the season we check out this man too:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marco_van_Ginkel

Truth be told I think only Toni Kroos has better passing ability than Cesc Fabregas.  Cesc can read a game like only so few can.  Eventually I'd like to stop relying on 1 or 2 players for all our creativity, and get a much more well balanced team.  RN Cesc and Hazard really are all we have to create.  Hazard through his dribbling and pace, Cesc with his vision and passing.  It's very hard for us to break from back to front with just those two options.  Verrati would add quickness and vision to our midfield, same with a few players in Serie A but I'm not sure we will go in for them.  Bakayoko was supposed to bring that tank that could charge the ball from the first third to the third, but he is just nowhere near ready.  Drinkwater and Barkely are average PL midfielders.  We will see what the board want to do in the summer.  

 

tl:dr

buy Toni Kroos or get some athletic true all-round midfielders

32 minutes ago, Strider6003 said:

Just hope come the end of the season we check out this man too:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marco_van_Ginkel

i keep seeing his name pop up with goals while on loan, but I also think he's their main penalty taker at PSV.  Sadly I think given his loan after loan, he'll be shipped on soon.

I don't get any of the Eredivise games here, so i'm not 100% sure how he has been playing.  Any updates would be greatly appreciated, as he was a player i had high hopes for until his knee injury.

The web says he is an all rounder and can play any midfield position. Like yourself I also had high hopes before his injury which is why I would like them to check in on him.

8 hours ago, ForeverCarefree said:

For all his defensive limitations, I just think we're a better team with Fabregas in the starting XI than without. 

His passing from midfield keeps us ticking over and stretches defences to much more. 

Plus, what about that 60 yard back pass to Courtouis last night?! 

It just goes to show what we need in the summer, we need a central midfielder who can pass the ball forward and who doesn't come with huge defensive limitations. 

It's clear Conte was after a box to box player in that position but he hasn't found the right one for the job. 

I think ampadu will be better suited to centre back. He's tidy in possession, but it's some stretch to say he has the technique or playmaking ability to be Fabregas long term replacement. 

I think he will be a fantastic centre back though. 

Id like to see sign sergej from lazio, although he may be out of our reach nowadays. 

9 hours ago, Nibs said:

I agree, I am always more comfortable when I see Fabregas in the side rather than Drinkwater or Bakayoko - especially bearing in mind the latters woeful form.

That said, at times Fabregas can be a complete liability. Look at the game against Watford and that goal we conceded where the Watford player went past Fabregas as if he wasn't there. And last night his lunge that could easily have seen us concede an early penalty. He is just so slow it really is painful to watch. He has been a great player but I pray that at the very top of the clubs shopping list and most urgent requirement for next season is a replacement for Fab. A proven player in his 20's, with the vision and passing ability of Fab, but a whole lot quicker and stronger on the ball. 

Can we find such a player?

Totally agree with your 2nd paragraph Nibs. 

Fabregas would be one of the first out the door for me in the summer. 

10 minutes ago, just said:

Totally agree with your 2nd paragraph Nibs. 

Fabregas would be one of the first out the door for me in the summer. 

Certainly not, he has his uses, much more than Bakayoko & Cahill who are liabilities. 

4 hours ago, just said:

Totally agree with your 2nd paragraph Nibs. 

Fabregas would be one of the first out the door for me in the summer. 

Don't be silly, you keep him in the squad for his experience, creativity and he is still a very good player. 

I would even say the same for Cahill regarding experience but I would say both shouldn't be first team regulars.

 

This squad needs rejuvenating. Fabregas, Luiz, Cahill, Pedro should all be gone in the summer.

None of them would be starters in any of the top six.

Never of life Fabregas should be start with us, his lack of physically is dreadful, and his defensive limitation is lethal against an strong team... 

Just look the number of games we lost when Fabregas plays with Kante in minddle... (Burnley, Crystal Palace, AS Roma, Watford).... the half of our defeats..

When was his last good assist against a big team ? Manchester City last season...... 

1 hour ago, just said:

This squad needs rejuvenating. Fabregas, Luiz, Cahill, Pedro should all be gone in the summer.

None of them would be starters in any of the top six.

Either would Baka, Drinkwater, Moses, Zappa, Alonso, Willian, Giroud, Morata, Emerson. Cant get rid of them all.

The team is in a transitional process but you can't make 11 changes to the squad. The main positions that need improving are CM and more attacking flair to take over the inconsistent Pedro and stop and go Willian.

1 hour ago, Cyborg7 said:

Never of life Fabregas should be start with us, his lack of physically is dreadful, and his defensive limitation is lethal against an strong team... 

Just look the number of games we lost when Fabregas plays with Kante in minddle... (Burnley, Crystal Palace, AS Roma, Watford).... the half of our defeats..

When was his last good assist against a big team ? Manchester City last season...... 

Kante didn’t start the Roma or Palace game, Fabregas didn’t start the Watford game and there was a sending off, Burnley game was obviously a disaster from the start.

Every fan knows Fabregas struggles in a midfield 2 so why does the manager play him there? Does none of this come back on the manager? If you want Fabregas to assist you play a 4231 with him sitting just behind the striker, if he is playing further back you won’t be getting the most out of Fabregas’s ability. Conte would rather have 8 or 9 defensive players.

5 hours ago, Cyborg7 said:

Never of life Fabregas should be start with us, his lack of physically is dreadful, and his defensive limitation is lethal against an strong team... 

Just look the number of games we lost when Fabregas plays with Kante in minddle... (Burnley, Crystal Palace, AS Roma, Watford).... the half of our defeats..

When was his last good assist against a big team ? Manchester City last season...... 

Palace and Roma was Fabregas & Bakayoko.

On 2/13/2018 at 12:50, Nibs said:

I agree, I am always more comfortable when I see Fabregas in the side rather than Drinkwater or Bakayoko - especially bearing in mind the latters woeful form.

That said, at times Fabregas can be a complete liability. Look at the game against Watford and that goal we conceded where the Watford player went past Fabregas as if he wasn't there. And last night his lunge that could easily have seen us concede an early penalty. He is just so slow it really is painful to watch. He has been a great player but I pray that at the very top of the clubs shopping list and most urgent requirement for next season is a replacement for Fab. A proven player in his 20's, with the vision and passing ability of Fab, but a whole lot quicker and stronger on the ball. 

Can we find such a player?

Surprised you haven't pushed forward our own Mason Mount for this role. As for Fabregas, i do think it depends on what role he is prepared to take in the coming years. If he is content with playing a 'bit' part role, mainly as a sub in the last 20 mins of a game we are controlling I would think he will be kept on his home grown status alone.

57 minutes ago, charierre said:

Surprised you haven't pushed forward our own Mason Mount for this role. As for Fabregas, i do think it depends on what role he is prepared to take in the coming years. If he is content with playing a 'bit' part role, mainly as a sub in the last 20 mins of a game we are controlling I would think he will be kept on his home grown status alone.

You know when I typed that, I did have Mount at the back of my mind!! As I've posted elsewhere, I do have hopes for him and he has looked very good at youth / reserve level but I must admit to not really knowing how he has been performing at Vitesse and of course, we have been there before with McEachran! As he is only 19, it would be a lot to ask for him to step-up so think we really need an established player, mid 20's and hope Mount could be eased in.

Just as a by-the-by, @Nibs wasn't Fabregas himself doing it at the age of 17 at quite a high level (and then Arsenal, obviously)

3 minutes ago, Zeta said:

Note how the pants are clean because he’s done f**k all...

This guy has got to be the most over-rated footballer ever. 

For someone who is known for his passing ability, the guy can barely complete 3 consecutive passes or hold the ball under ANY level of pressure.

What tops it all is that JOG. Right after he lost the ball, THAT f**kING JOG. How far behind was dembele when he lost the ball and how far was cesc behind dembele when he scored. Pathetic.

4 minutes ago, didierforever said:

This guy has got to be the most over-rated footballer ever. 

For someone who is known for his passing ability, the guy can barely complete 3 consecutive passes or hold the ball under ANY level of pressure.

What tops it all is that JOG. Right after he lost the ball, THAT f**kING JOG. How far behind was dembele when he lost the ball and how far was cesc behind dembele when he scored. Pathetic.

I just think time has caught up with him. He can no longer play these big games from the start anymore. Conte got it right last season, we got the best out of Fabregas by using him as a squad player. But when your other options are Bakayoko and Drinkwater, you can see why Conte feels like he has no choice but to use him.

Edited March 14, 20188 yr by Scott Harris