Cesc Fabregas

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It's hard for anyone, even Fabregas, to walk straight into that team and look the part completely - think what a donkey Mascherano looked in their midfield last season.

You're talking about a midfield that have played together for years and years - Cesc is a great buy as he at least knows them better than most but it'll still take time.
 
Boss said:
He does seem a bit languid compared to his Barca counter parts. Maybe the movement at Barca is a whole different ball game to that of Arsenal. Players are just so hard to track as they're constantly on the go.

It's just a different system he will get used to.
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His movement has been excellent so far in the games I've seen him play for them. If there's he's taken anything away from this league, it's the direct running through the heart of the defence which was something he perfected in his latter years here. He's putting that to good use over there.
 
DiaboliQue said:
He did not look very good against Milan or Real Sociedad in the weekend. While he has the ability to come good, he has looked a bit out of place to me so far in the Barca team, mainly because his off the ball movement is very poor and that is an important component to the way barca play.

Too early to judge but unless he picks up his game a bit, I don't see him starting in the important games once Pique* gets back.

* The return of Pique will mean that Busquets moves back to CM, where he will most likely be playing alongside Xavi and Iniesta with Fab on the bench.
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Eh, from what Ive seen he's slotted in beautifully for them, scoring goals and looks like he's already been there years

Personally even though obviously world class I fancy Fabregas to improve and become one the greats for them. He actually adds a little more direction to Barca for me - I fancy Villa will benefit from him more

Maybe I'm watching a different game ...I dunno
 
Jopub said:
Eh, from what Ive seen he's slotted in beautifully for them, scoring goals and looks like he's already been there years

Personally even though obviously world class I fancy Fabregas to improve and become one the greats for them. He actually adds a little more direction to Barca for me - I fancy Villa will benefit from him more

Maybe I'm watching a different game ...I dunno
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His class is unquestionable and he may well become on of their greats. But his movement is taking a bit out of the Barca game, at least that is the impression I got from the last two games. Barca's passing and movement is on a completely another level when Iniesta and Busquets play instead of Fabregas and Keita.
 
Seems like a lovely lad. (Even if he threw a pizza at Fergie :p)
 
Lynk said:
Seems like a lovely lad. (Even if he threw a pizza at Fergie :p)
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Yes, despite the fact that he is a cnut on the pitch, he seems like a very decent lad off it. It is nice to see that he still has sentiments for Arsenal and Wenger.

Just affirms again really how players' personality on and off the pitch can be so different (see Drogba, Bellamy, ...).
 
How well has he slotted into that Barca team. I can't remember a player immediately slotting into a team with such ease. I thought he was slightly over-rated when he was rated one of the best MF in the world at Arsenal, but since he has gone to Barca it is clear that the fella is pure class.

Was superb last night playing a very advanced role. 14 goals for a MF in your first season is excellent, no matter what players you are playing with or against. And it's only half way through as well.

He's as good as Xavi and Iniesta imo. Barcelona have the 3 best midfielders in the world, and that's not taking into account the best player in the world.

It's just not fair, is it?

And before people come in saying 'He has been playing to this standard for his whole career', I disagree, I think he has really brought his game to the next level since being aquired by Barca.
 
David Silva is better. But yeah, Cesc is the real deal. I thought it was pretty obvious though, even before he went to Barca?
 
unitedbhoy said:
How well has he slotted into that Barca team. I can't remember a player immediately slotting into a team with such ease. I thought he was slightly over-rated when he was rated one of the best MF in the world at Arsenal, but since he has gone to Barca it is clear that the fella is pure class.

Was superb last night playing a very advanced role. 14 goals for a MF in your first season is excellent, no matter what players you are playing with or against. And it's only half way through as well.

He's as good as Xavi and Iniesta imo. Barcelona have the 3 best midfielders in the world, and that's not taking into account the best player in the world.

It's just not fair, is it?

And before people come in saying 'He has been playing to this standard for his whole career', I disagree, I think he has really brought his game to the next level since being aquired by Barca.
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As a Central midfielder? Absolutely no way. He still can't control games like they can. His passing and retention is a little out of place in the team (no slight on him given the players they have). He is getting a lot of joy as a forward though. Which is the role he's been playing there, he's as much of a midfielder in their system as Messi is (probably less actually).

EDIT: Xavi has been better than him this season too. Because, as usual he has been the go to man in midfield, controlling most of their play, while being almost as productive, with 9 goals and 11 assists, which is amazing considering his position.​
 
Blair said:
David Silva is better. But yeah, Cesc is the real deal. I thought it was pretty obvious though, even before he went to Barca?
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I think Fabregas's versatility edges it for me, concerning the Silva comparisons. Fabregas has played consistenly well deep in MF as well as advanced. Although I haven't seen Silva in a deep role, I don't think he would be anywhere near effective.

It was obvious Fabregas was an important player for Arsenal but maybe the fact that he never had a good game against United (that I can remember), was the main factor in my opinion of him being over-rated.
 
Inspectah deck said:
As a Central midfielder? Absolutely no way. He still can't control games like they can. His passing and retention is a little out of place in the team (no slight on him given the players they have). He is getting a lot of joy as a forward though. Which is the role he's been playing there, he's as much of a midfielder in their system as Messi is (probably less actually).

EDIT: Xavi has been better than him this season too. Because, as usual he has been the go to man in midfield, controlling most of their play, while being almost as productive, with 9 goals and 11 assists, which is amazing considering his position.​
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Xavi and Fabregas play different roles in the Barca team so it is hard to pick you is the better player imo. Xavi is definitely more important to the team as he completely controls their tempo and is the hub of their whole team.

I think they are equally talented though. You also have to remember Xavi is a lot more experienced and has 7 years (8 years in 6 days) on Fabregas. Xavi was only really hitting the scene as a top class midfielder at Fabregas's current age whereas Cesc has been recognised as one of the best (obviously not by me, until recently) for years.
 
SATA said:
He's a better player than Silva
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Agreed. Fabregas is definitely tha better all-around-player. His goals and assists stats while at Arsenal were pretty phenomenal, and he has been even more productive since he has joined Barca.

I have found Fabregas to be very underrated by some on this board, amazes me really. He has a-bit of a twattish streak, but he is a genuinely class player.
 
Quite a few of Fabregas's goals have come through headers. He's given them a bit of an extra dimension with that.
 
Fabregas probably has the best killer ball in the business, just look at that pass he made for Sanchez last night...incredible.
 
Blair said:
David Silva is better. But yeah, Cesc is the real deal. I thought it was pretty obvious though, even before he went to Barca?
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No way.

I was actually at the Betis match myself on Sunday, he was very poor, probably one of the worst games I've ever seen from him, strangely enough.

Generally though he's been class for them
 
Inspectah deck said:
As a Central midfielder? Absolutely no way. He still can't control games like they can. His passing and retention is a little out of place in the team (no slight on him given the players they have). He is getting a lot of joy as a forward though. Which is the role he's been playing there, he's as much of a midfielder in their system as Messi is (probably less actually).

EDIT: Xavi has been better than him this season too. Because, as usual he has been the go to man in midfield, controlling most of their play, while being almost as productive, with 9 goals and 11 assists, which is amazing considering his position.​
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You can't take a few attributes and use them to rate him. What he lacks in the passing and retention departments (and this is compared to his teammates, he's still excellent compared to most midfielders) he more than makes up for it, in terms of his killer balls, assists/goals, and the urgency he introduces into their play. I rate him equal to Iniesta, and both behind Xavi, if that makes sense.
 
Yesterday was the only Barca game I've watched all season but I thought he was very good. He gives them a real goal threat from midfield which, for all their brilliance, Xavi and Iniesta have never consistently provided. His wee ghosting runs from deep are like watching a young Paul Scholes. Terrific player IMO.
 
Not at the same level as Xavi or Iniesta but with his age, he has a lot of time to get better which he will at Barca. Wonderful player though. Fantastic eye for the killer ball. and executing it too ofcourse.
 
With Villa injured I wonder if Spain will now try and use him as a 'false 9' the way he's played for Barca alot of the time this season.
 
FranklyVulgar said:
I thought his last couple of games, against Betis and Madrid he was one of Barcelonas poorest performers... strange time to get this thread on the go i think.
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For me he was one of the best at the Bernabeu the other night, behind Sanchez and Abidal.

He definitely had two poor games just prior to the CDR though ... looked sluggish and dare I say it a bit tubby after the Xmas break.
 
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