JamDav1982
Senior Member
Replace him with who?
Cesc Fàbregas
- Thread starter KhaledBarca
- Start date
Replace him with who?
Ursegor
World Champion
What do you mean "replace"? You don't need to worry about "replacing" someone who doesn't even have a fixed role or position in the team. Most of the game time he gets is forced upon the team based on his name, not based on merit. For example, if Whoscored is correct, he has started 10 games as a false 9 this season. Totally unnecessary. Buy a striker or use Alexis or Neymar there. Then you have lots of big games where no one wanted him to start because he forced Neymar to the right and Iniesta to the left wing. If we want to play like that ("control with 4 midfielders") then Rafinha already makes much more sense as he can play on the RW and actually play well there because he can dribble, take on defenders and is faster and more agile than Cesc. Won't force Neymar and Iniesta out of position either. And then there are the easier home games against midtable and relegation fodder where Rafinha can replace him without a shadow of doubt. Replacing his minutes won't be a problem at all. A single midfielder doesn't have to do it. An imaginative coach can vary the formations. We could even play 4-2-3-1 at times with Messi in a withdrawn midfield role.
The question would have made sense if Cesc-Iniesta combo would have proven to work. But it hasn't. They have played together very few times, mostly in easier games. Most of Cesc's minutes weren't even necessary (false 9, 4 midfielders etc.).
Superstar85
New member
How many Barca games did you watch this season???
JamDav1982
Senior Member
So the solution is Rafinha, Iniesta, Roberto and an aging Xavi?
That is much weaker midfield options than with Cesc there.
A Cesc/Iniesta midfield combination would be stronger than any two of that four together.
Ursegor
World Champion
You're looking at it the wrong way.
Let us accept for a minute that Iniesta and Rafinha together is weaker than Iniesta and Cesc together and that Rafinha is still not ready to play big games. That still doesn't mean that Cesc is necessary let alone irreplaceable. There are about 30 games where Iniesta and Rafinha or Xavi and Rafinha together is still more than enough. Most CdR games, most home games, away games against weaker teams and CL group stage games. That's about 30 games where you can use Rafinha without any problems.
Losing Cesc would only be a problem if he actually delivered in the biggest games. Which, up to now, he still doesn't. He only delivers against smaller teams where you could just as well use Rafinha and steamroll the Betises and Rayos of this world.
Let us accept for a minute that Iniesta and Rafinha together is weaker than Iniesta and Cesc together and that Rafinha is still not ready to play big games. That still doesn't mean that Cesc is necessary let alone irreplaceable. There are about 30 games where Iniesta and Rafinha or Xavi and Rafinha together is still more than enough. Most CdR games, most home games, away games against weaker teams and CL group stage games. That's about 30 games where you can use Rafinha without any problems.
Losing Cesc would only be a problem if he actually delivered in the biggest games. Which, up to now, he still doesn't. He only delivers against smaller teams where you could just as well use Rafinha and steamroll the Betises and Rayos of this world.
JamDav1982
Senior Member
Who would be the partnership in big games?
Xavi and Iniesta?
Cesc and Iniesta would be stronger.
As for just throw Rafinha in against the smaller teams - the league was lost against a lot of the smaller team this season.
Cesc is a much better player than Rafinha and to sell Cesc and not replace him would weaken team massively and with an ageing Xavi it would be ridiculous.
Ursegor
World Champion
Cesc and Iniesta will never play together under a more competent manager than Tata. In fact the game against Atletico was the first time that I remember Cesc and Iniesta playing together without Xavi against a meaningful opponent. It resulted in the worst pressing and ball retention I have ever seen from a Barcelona team since the Rijkaard days.
2 balls recovered in the opponent's half.
I will end this discussion here. We've already reached the point of total disagreement (Cesc-Iniesta midfield not being total garbage). Discussing further makes no sense.
2 balls recovered in the opponent's half.
I will end this discussion here. We've already reached the point of total disagreement (Cesc-Iniesta midfield not being total garbage). Discussing further makes no sense.
JamDav1982
Senior Member
Cesc and Iniesta will never play together under a more competent manager than Tata. In fact the game against Atletico was the first time that I remember Cesc and Iniesta playing together without Xavi against a meaningful opponent. It resulted in the worst pressing and ball retention I have ever seen from a Barcelona team since the Rijkaard days.
2 balls recovered in the opponent's half.
I will end this discussion here. We've already reached the point of total disagreement (Cesc-Iniesta midfield not being total garbage). Discussing further makes no sense.
The pressing from the team has been poor in the big games for a while......... but yeah its all Fabregas fault.
fabregas should be sold for the same reason Madrid sold ozil get a cm to replace him rafinha as a am backup.cesc does not have a position in our except as iniesta and Messiah backup and rafinha is as good if not better in this position.it not maye the player we are bringing is better than him but more suited to the position we want holim to play
Superstar85
New member
Rafinha better than Cesc??? 
In how many "big games" did Cesc actually start for Barca and in the midfield (as 1 of the midfield 3)??? I can only remember last weekend's game against Athleti and he was arguably better than Iniesta in that game.
Since he's been at Barca, he either never starts the big games or he starts as a false 9. So that should be put into consideration when some always use their "he never shows up in big games" argument. I'ld like to see Xavi or Iniesta play as a false 9 and see how they'll perform.
In how many "big games" did Cesc actually start for Barca and in the midfield (as 1 of the midfield 3)??? I can only remember last weekend's game against Athleti and he was arguably better than Iniesta in that game.
Since he's been at Barca, he either never starts the big games or he starts as a false 9. So that should be put into consideration when some always use their "he never shows up in big games" argument. I'ld like to see Xavi or Iniesta play as a false 9 and see how they'll perform.
Rafinha better than Cesc???
In how many "big games" did Cesc actually start for Barca and in the midfield (as 1 of the midfield 3)??? I can only remember last weekend's game against Athleti and he was arguably better than Iniesta in that game.
Since he's been at Barca, he either never starts the big games or he starts as a false 9. So that should be put into consideration when some always use their "he never shows up in big games" argument. I'ld like to see Xavi or Iniesta play as a false 9 and see how they'll perform.
Against Man city and against real Madrid in the second liga match, outperformed by iniesta in every game.
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