Cesc Fàbregas

[jamrock]

That's funny because I always see people saying Xavi is an absolute necessity by referring back to his one 30 minute cameo vs Villarreal

I swear people change their tune about Cesc every week. Before he couldn't perform against pressing teams and could only break down buses. Now people say "well yeah the game is open, but try doing that against a parked bus like Xavi had to play against". Any time a team presses, they leave space at the back. If we play a quick game like we should, Cesc can exploit that space despite the pressure. Rayo pressed us today, but since our tempo was very quick it made no difference. A pressing team plays an open game, giving an advantage to Cesc. A parked bus team allows him to have a lot of time, giving an advantage to Cesc. The only games where he struggles are when we play a tough pressing team AND our tempo is unbelievably slow to the point where we have no options or energy to get forward (and the culprit for that is.......you guessed it, Xavi.)

Anyone who said that is stupid firstly and especially the last big make no sense

secondly, if what raco did today is considered pressing i hope to go thats what we come up against everyday

lastly, cesc struggles in games where he doesn't get time and space, to look up and see what he is doing, that's it no arguing that.

that's the reason pep didn't play him after a while, is the reason he plays false 9 for spain and not in the midfield.

thats being said he is improving.

 

[DonAndres]

Anyone who said that is stupid firstly and especially the last big make no sense

secondly, if what raco did today is considered pressing i hope to go thats what we come up against everyday

lastly, cesc struggles in games where he doesn't get time and space, to look up and see what he is doing, that's it no arguing that.

that's the reason pep didn't play him after a while, is the reason he plays false 9 for spain and not in the midfield.

thats being said he is improving.

Any player would struggle without any time or space. The point is that he struggles most when the team in general is playing slow. He used to not play under Pep because his form dipped after half a season. Rayo did press today, they just weren't organized in the back line (their usual issue) which is why we had around 15 chances to score.

Cesc's play in tight spaces and his reactions have improved vastly. Even after refining that, he manages to be unbelievably penetrative. Xavi on the other hand can retain the ball but hasn't done much else in the past season or two. Cesc was always better against buses, and this season he's shown he's great in intense matches with higher pressing too (not just this game). His poor form was at false 9. He's rarely ever given a run in midfield for big games, it's time he gets one over Xavi so he can use his wonderful connection with Iniesta.

 

[FCBarca]

He had time on the ball today and he had space...That is not a combination he sees much with Barcelona...That being said, I'd start Iniesta-Cesc against City (Bring Xavi on in the last half hour) but I suspect Tata will go with Xavi...I'd also start Pedro & Alexis to pair with Leo

 

[jamrock]

Any player would struggle without any time or space. The point is that he struggles most when the team in general is playing slow. He used to not play under Pep because his form dipped after half a season. Rayo did press today, they just weren't organized in the back line (their usual issue) which is why we had around 15 chances to score.

Cesc's play in tight spaces and his reactions have improved vastly. Even after refining that, he manages to be unbelievably penetrative. Xavi on the other hand can retain the ball but hasn't done much else in the past season or two. Cesc was always better against buses, and this season he's shown he's great in intense matches with higher pressing too (not just this game). His poor form was at false 9. He's rarely ever given a run in midfield for big games, it's time he gets one over Xavi so he can use his wonderful connection with Iniesta.

one game doesn't mean he has a wonder connection with iniesta though, especially against rayo, they have tend to not play particularly well together. but as with everything it will get better with time.

i dont really have a problem with starting those two in most of our games and leaving xavi for the big ones when he is fresh

 

[eye-switcher]

He was very good today (again) , Tata should have some nice problems selecting the team for Tuesday.

 

[big_man]

He had time on the ball today and he had space...That is not a combination he sees much with Barcelona...That being said, I'd start Iniesta-Cesc against City (Bring Xavi on in the last half hour) but I suspect Tata will go with Xavi...I'd also start Pedro & Alexis to pair with Leo

Not in the first half he didn't. Rayo are one of the most intense pressing teams out there, they are the sixth best possession team in ALL of Europe for a reason. They may be shite in defence, but as a midfielder, you wont get many sterner tests than today in terms of being harrassed in midfield, and Cesc did very very well.

 

[FCBarca]

I wouldn't agree at all, he sat deeper today in everything that was built from the back...always behind Iniesta...Considerably more space/time to play the ball into the defense compared to two banks of 4

 

[Armando929]

The criticism I've heard is that Cesc loses the ball and slows down our attack. I've seen that countless times here... Not saying it hasn't been true at times, but for a long while now, Xavi has been losing the ball a lot and not keeping up the attacking rhythm instead settling for sideways passing and back passing, taking no chances to create shots on goal..

I love Xavi and at his peak, he was the best. But right now I think Xavi needs to be in more of a supporting role. He doesn't have the quick mind or mobility of his yesteryears to do it anymore. It's been evident for a while now.

 

[The Observer]

one game doesn't mean he has a wonder connection with iniesta though

It's not 1 game. It worked against Leverkusen away in 11/12, it worked when Barca trashed Valencia 5-1 in 11/12, it worked against Granada this season, it worked when Messi should have scored 5 goals in the Mestalla this season. And everytime everyone was surprised. Like today. Don't know why. Philipp Lahm can play defensive pivot in midfield but Fabregas can't play as a central midfielder? LOL

 

[jamrock]

It's not 1 game. It worked against Leverkusen away in 11/12, it worked when Barca trashed Valencia 5-1 in 11/12, it worked against Granada this season, it worked when Messi should have scored 5 goals in the Mestalla this season. And everytime everyone was surprised. Like today. Don't know why. Philipp Lahm can play defensive pivot in midfield but Fabregas can't play as a central midfielder? LOL

thats what 4 games, my good

as i said with time they will learn to play with each other, and i would rather they start most games together to save xavi. but i'm not in a frenzy because they played well together against rayo.
can cesc play CM certainly, can he play in, it a traditional barca/spain system? NO

but again adjustments will be made over time

 

[hardyboy]

he should definately start with Iniesta against City. Cesc currently is the most underrated midfielder in the world.

 

[KhaledBarca]

Most assists in europe's top 5 leagues this season for club & country (17).

Neymar 15
Rooney 14
ALEXIS, Ibra, Ozil, Koke 13

Messi with 12 is close to join the Top 5!

 

[Flavia]

I think Cesc, Iniesta and Xavi will all start. It'll be the line-up that played against sociedad, with Valdes instead of Pinto.

 

[Alarcón]

I think Cesc, Iniesta and Xavi will all start. It'll be the line-up that played against sociedad, with Valdes instead of Pinto.

I think so too although I don't approve of that line-up at all

 

[Paganinisrvnge]

Cesc deserves to start against City but as a midfielder. I have nothing but respect for Xavi but he's only had maybe 2 or 3 pretty good matches so far this season. He's actually become the cliché that ignorant people used to say years ago. Xavi "passes backwards and sideways" Hernandez.