http://metro.co.uk/2017/05/02/liver...r-unhappy-chelsea-star-cesc-fabregas-6611996/
So full disclosure, my first reaction to this was no way: past his best, questionable character, probably end up being another Schweinsteiger. And while all those are legitimate concerns, I started to think, and there are some arguments for this one:
1. He's extremely productive. He's barely played this season, but when he has he's been very very good at not just creating chances, but good chances. See Michael Cox's recent analysis.
2. He (probably) wouldn't be a starter. I expect we'll pick up that much sought defensive midfielder to replace Carrick in the summer, and with a midfield three, it will be him who lines up beside Pogba and Herrera. However, we've seen how badly injuries can derail a season if you don't have quality players to replace them, and this has been especially true on the games Pogba has been out. Fabregas would be an ideal player to slot in; limited defensive responsibility, still a great creator. And if we go as far as we have in cup competitions next season, he'd surely still get plenty of games.
3. He's a winner. We don't really have too many senior players that can be looked up to as examples. Fabregas might just be that kind of player. Has won multiple domestic honours and knows what it takes to win a league title. I think he could really be a great example for those around him.
Caveats: The big one is our recent Schweinsteiger experience, who in truth, we signed for a lot of the same reasons I've outlined here. But the other big one is his relationship with Mourinho. There seemed to be a lot of Chinese whispers during the early part of 2015/16, and a suggestion that he was a key instigator of much of the dressing room turmoil, but none of it was ever confirmed. And to make things more confusing, Fabregas defended Mourinho with some vigour when he appeared on Monday Night Football later in the season. Ultimately though, it's fairly certain that if his relationship with Mou isn't good, he won't be signed.
Anyway these are just my thoughts, I'm not entirely sold, but I'm more open to it than I initially was when I first saw the story. What do you lot think?
So full disclosure, my first reaction to this was no way: past his best, questionable character, probably end up being another Schweinsteiger. And while all those are legitimate concerns, I started to think, and there are some arguments for this one:
1. He's extremely productive. He's barely played this season, but when he has he's been very very good at not just creating chances, but good chances. See Michael Cox's recent analysis.
2. He (probably) wouldn't be a starter. I expect we'll pick up that much sought defensive midfielder to replace Carrick in the summer, and with a midfield three, it will be him who lines up beside Pogba and Herrera. However, we've seen how badly injuries can derail a season if you don't have quality players to replace them, and this has been especially true on the games Pogba has been out. Fabregas would be an ideal player to slot in; limited defensive responsibility, still a great creator. And if we go as far as we have in cup competitions next season, he'd surely still get plenty of games.
3. He's a winner. We don't really have too many senior players that can be looked up to as examples. Fabregas might just be that kind of player. Has won multiple domestic honours and knows what it takes to win a league title. I think he could really be a great example for those around him.
Caveats: The big one is our recent Schweinsteiger experience, who in truth, we signed for a lot of the same reasons I've outlined here. But the other big one is his relationship with Mourinho. There seemed to be a lot of Chinese whispers during the early part of 2015/16, and a suggestion that he was a key instigator of much of the dressing room turmoil, but none of it was ever confirmed. And to make things more confusing, Fabregas defended Mourinho with some vigour when he appeared on Monday Night Football later in the season. Ultimately though, it's fairly certain that if his relationship with Mou isn't good, he won't be signed.
Anyway these are just my thoughts, I'm not entirely sold, but I'm more open to it than I initially was when I first saw the story. What do you lot think?