Cesc Fabregas

KM

The previous pages of this thread makes for a good read, the Arsenal fans were being cocky cunts as usual.

Fiskey

I've always thought he will end up going down as the best midfielder of all time, has everything imo.

Sparky_Hughes

No pressure there then

Cina

Not a fucking chance.

Varun_Utd

Never get these best of all time remarks unless the player really stands out from everyone else which fabregas doesnt.

unitedbhoy

Awk c'mon, you've got to me jokin'. His touch and productivity were fantastic. Link up play is second to none as well. He is a better player when in a more advanced role imo.

Robbie Boy

You haven't watched the last 2 matches, have you?

Against Betis he had a poor enough game by his own high standards. Against Madrid? Well he was one of the best players on the pitch.

Fiskey

At his age he does, I think when he's 30 he'll be unbelievable.

kouroux

He's exactly what they have "lacked", another versatile and young goalscoring threat.He's a great player, I'm surprised he's done that well in his first season

Fiskey

Who'd Fabregas have to be better than come the end of his career to be considered the best of all time. I suppose its Matthaus, Platini, Xavi, Rijkaard, Edwards, Scholes, Davids and the like.

I think that's very possible considering his body of work at the age of 24.

kouroux

He'd have to be Barca's main player (which won't happen till Messi is there).He can have a great career but I don't think that by the end of his career he'll be compared with the all time best.He ain't that good

Fiskey

I think he is that good, potential to be a more dynamic Xavi, which is some player.

kouroux

Him and Xavi are two different players.The football they play is entirely different, I've never understood the comparison between the 2

Cheesy

While their games are different, essentially, both are central midfielders. It's perfectly logical to expect comparisons between the two of them.

kouroux

It is logical indeed but I think the way Fabregas is transforming his game, I think only later in his career (in his 30s for instance) I see him take a more Xaviesque role.He's essentially a forward right now or a very attacking midfielder

AttackingFlair

Before he use to play similarly to Xavi when Arsenal played two in midfield but since they changed to three midfielders, he had the more advanced role and was contributing with a shit load of goals and assists. He can do both, he's top class but not as good as Xavi and Iniesta imo.

kouroux

I think even at Arsenal he was adjusting to a more advanced position.

TheHorse'sMouth

Bollocks. He has it in him to reach and even surpass that level.

Cheesy

He's obviously more advanced as a midfielder than Xavi, but I still wouldn't go as far to call him an attacking midfielder, and I definitely wouldn't call him a forward. There may be slight differences, but if we worked that way, then you wouldn't be able to compare anyone.

FranklyVulgar

I didnt see it that way, i saw him have a hard time in posession bu the did make some fabulous runs. I thought that him, xavi and INiesta were not at their ball retention best.

I was probably harsh but just when you set such high standards it's easy to not be as impressed with a performance that doesnt match them.

Fiskey

I think he's better than Xavi at 24, Iniesta is quite a unique player so a bit more difficult to compare but I think Fabregas definitely has it in him to be even more effective.

Varun_Utd

I do agree that he's fantastic but becoming the best ever when he already has the likes of Xavi and Iniesta in his own team is going to be one hell of an ask.

Moreover, he's becoming much more of an attacker or a very attacking midfielder if you like, than a CM now at barca and its likely to stay that way.

i do see immense potential in him, everybody does. but the best ever. i find it tough to compare tbh across generations.

Red Indian Chief Torn Rubber

Fabregas is a speedy verion of Riquelme

mariachi-19

He's far more Scholes than Xavi. Xavi has never been a forward lying play maker. Always sitting in the usual CM role directing play. It's why his stats this year are pretty interesting.

Carl

Was Fabregas' class ever really in doubt? Injuries aside he's been one of the best players in Europe for a while.

Godfather

How old is iniesta? Cesc will never be better than him neither

JazzG

27 and Fabregas is 24. As pretty on the eye Iniesta is the stats for Fabregas this season at Barca are 14 goals and 12 assists in 24 appearances, that is superb considering it is his first season with the first team. I think he will go on to become a better player than Iniesta because while Iniesta might control games better he will never come close to the amount of goals Fabregas will score or set up. I also think he has the best killer pass in that whole squad

I think that is the position he wanted to play but never got the chance to. Was talking to a friend the other day and I think right now if he took Ramsay's place in the side he would be even better than he has before. He would of been even better having Song and Arteta behind him but for most of his time here he played with mediocre players with him in midfield


His passing and general play is also a hell of a lot more adventurous than either of them. If most of his passes were simple sideways passes to keep hold of possession and retention he would have 95% pass completion rate as well but that isn't what his game is about, that pass to Sanchez is proof of that. Iniesta and Xavi don't play those kind of passes as often as Fabregas.

Gazza

Don't agree. I'd rather have the man who controls games in my team, as good as Fabregas is at coring goals and setting them up. You prefer it the other way around, but how does that make Fabregas potentially better than Iniesta? It just means you prefer one set of attributes over another, surely?

I also disagree about killer passes... Xavi and Iniesta are both at least as good and in my opinion two of the best out there for it.

kouroux

Surpass what level Sherlock ? He's a very good player but can be he one of the best ever ? I doubt it and besides it's impossible to tell.

FranklyVulgar

you have to have a wee look at where he's actually played for Barcelona, at this moment he is being utilized further forward than at any point in his career. Once Xavi slows or is injured he'll probably play that role and do it as well as anyone (that isn't xavi) can do.

Brwned

He is but that comes with it's downsides too, Barca fans think he's still too much of a PL player and he's admitted he still needs to learn to play a more patient passing game with better ball retention.

adexkola

I don't think that will make him a better player.

FCBarca

Last night at Emirates

Pogue Mahone

Has Ronaldo ever come to OT to watch us play?

Ash_G

I think he has come once or twice and I swear he's mentioned watching us or something.

Anyway fabregas is just one of those players I wish we'd got to first. He would have been the perfect replacement for scholes, modric is quality but fabregas is better.

Amar__

Bang Irina, or watch Manchester United play? Though choice.
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towcester_red

Not a chance! He would definitely make sure everyone noticed if he did!

Im sure he has said he watches out for our results and that but id be stunned if he had made any effort to come to a game!

Uzz

No. Just no.

Snow

I'm sure he was there to visit friends as well. Probably has more friends in London than in Barcelona.

cesc's_mullet

He obviously still has a deep connection with the club... Hopefully we can see him come back in some capacity in the future.