Cesc Fàbregas

[Indignado]

Messi on the wing just doesn't work. It's similar to when Iniesta plays on the wing, they both move to the middle anyway.

 

[Flavia]

No to Messi on the wing. Cesc playing as cf, like Villa, could work. Or just play Villa, sub in Cesc if he's not playing well.

 

[mixer]

Messi played at the wing in the 4-0 against Milan. Cesc will get defenders on him and then Messi will attack from the wing.

 

[Youngie]

That's a bold prediction. Playing Cesc centrally if Messi is fit to play? Just no.

Nobody had a problem playing Messi on the right & playing Villa centrally

 

[Indignado]

Messi played at the wing in the 4-0 against Milan. Cesc will get defenders on him and then Messi will attack from the wing.

No, he didn't. He was in the center most of the time. We need Messi to build up our play and he can't do that on the wing, so he will eventually come to the center and force the CF to move to the wing and we know exactly Cesc is no good there.

 

[mixer]

I'm not saying he will play on the wing most of the time. In the first leg against Milan he played center and did nothing. In the second leg Tito dropped him a bit to the right, so Villa could do his job in the center. This resulted in a fact that Messi had so much space that he could easily shoot from distance and score obviously.

 

[darthvader7888]

I'm not saying he will play on the wing most of the time. In the first leg against Milan he played center and did nothing. In the second leg Tito dropped him a bit to the right, so Villa could do his job in the center. This resulted in a fact that Messi had so much space that he could easily shoot from distance and score obviously.

Wasn't Messi playing in the center behind Villa? Kind of like a CAM? He was playing a bit towards the right though.

 

[barcanuck]

I think he earned the place in the PSG game.

Alexis---Fabregas---Messi

No bro, we rested Villa for the PSG game. We're not making the mistake of not playing with Villa in the big game again.

But I don't think Messi will start so Cesc may get his place up front with Villa.

 

[Ketoth]

Cesc belongs in central midfield.

Barcelona should go with Iniesta, Busquets, Fabregas in midfield. Messi, Villa, Sanchez in attack.

 

[DonAndres]

Cesc belongs in central midfield.

Barcelona should go with Iniesta, Busquets, Fabregas in midfield. Messi, Villa, Sanchez in attack.

...Xavi?

 

[Irish_Cules]

I think he earned the place in the PSG game.

Alexis---Fabregas---Messi

That frontline will not work. Fabregas and Messi would be occupying the same spaces.

The whole point of playing Villa in the centre is to occupy the centre backs and allow Messi to play in the hole with a little more freedom, with Alves providing the width on the right. Fabregas played great against Mallorca in the centre but he was a false 9, dropping deep to receive the ball and create. If he was to play in the centre with Messi behind him he would have to do what Villa did and stay fixed in the centre forward postion occupying the centre backs, and that isn't Fabregas' game.

If Fabregas is going to play against PSG it's either in the midfield or as a false 9 if Messi doesn't play.

 

[Stric]

It would be great if we could have Villa, Cesc and Messi on at the same time, but it's borderline impossible for various reasons. If Messi is not 100% fit, start Cesc as false #9 with Villa and Pedro/Sanchez on the wings. If Messi starts, bench Cesc and see how it goes from there.

 

[BerkeleyBernie]

Do you guys think Cesc and/or Alexis earned themselves a starting spot for PSG?

As much as I've criticized Alexis, I think he should start ahead of Pedro. As for Cesc; I just don't see where he can fit in if Messi is back.

It's not about "earning a place," it's about what is the best formation/tactics/roster for any particular opponent. Not to take anything from Cesc's and Alexis' goals (which were well worked and taken), but Mallorca's defense yesterday was as leaky as they come. Against a more mature disciplined team, the result could just as easily been 0-0.

If Cesc's and Alexis' qualities/fitness fit the system Tito has in mind for PSG, they'll play; if not, they won't.

 

[impeh]

Cesc has now, after 30 match rounds, already scored as many goals as last season, and given two assists more

 

[Stric]

Cesc has now, after 30 match rounds, already scored as many goals as last season, and given two assists more

Add a 2 month slump to that equation and his improvement beyond evident. And that's stats alone. His overall game (excluding the mentioned dip in form) is much better than last season.

EDIT:

Some numbers don't seem to add up.

2011/2012
La Liga: 9 goals, 10 assists: Cup: 3 goals, 6 assists; UEFA: 3 goals, 4 assists
total: 15 goals, 20 assists

2012/2013
La Liga: 9 goals, 11 assists, Cup: 2 goals, 1 assists; UEFA: 1 goals, 0 assists
total: 12 goals, 12 assists