Breffni 39, don't let it get to you !! Boys will be boys and so will a lot of middle-aged men !!

Cavan_Slasher (Cavan) - Posts: 10253 - 19/01/2010 18:16:34    537430

Sung to the tune of "I love you baby"

Cesc Fa-bre-gas,
You are the love of my life,
Cesc Fab-re-gas,
I'd let you sh*g my wife,
'Cos you're Arsenal
Through and through

mugsys_barber (Tyrone) - Posts: 2160 - 19/01/2010 19:33:13    537513

he's class, reminds me of a younger even better version of paul scholes. small great passer, strong and can even put in some tackles. the only reason he didnt start for spain is because xavi and iniesta were so used to playing together and they arent bad either.
however im a united fan so he's crap wouldnt start for united reserves unless ther was an injury crisis :P

speedy12 (Fermanagh) - Posts: 592 - 19/01/2010 19:59:33    537534

Just to correct the blatant lies from fredrickwood's first post on this topic:

1. Fabregas suffered a serious knee injury in December 2008 vs. Liverpool and he missed 4months. Hardly "going missing". Anyway he is just 22 years old today, it is only natural that his performance could be expected to drop towards the end of the season when he was just 17-20 and playing centre midfield with Arsenal depending on him so much.
2. He appeared in every game of Euro 2008 for Spain. He scored a goal a set up another against Russia. He scored the winning penalty in their shootout win over Italy. He set up two goals in the semifinal. He started in the final. He was named to the team of the tournament by FIFA. Hardly "Spain winning the tournament without him".

nocky (Wexford) - Posts: 2059 - 19/01/2010 21:29:04    537601

He is a genius. One of the greatest players in the world right now

zidane (Galway) - Posts: 272 - 20/01/2010 09:21:23    537652

Himself and Feillani are way above any midfielders in the premiership at the moment. Utd/Liverpool would love to have them

frankbhoy77 (Antrim) - Posts: 1300 - 20/01/2010 09:51:50    537673

He's a hero! Seems to have been about forever and he's only 22! Spanish equivalent to Joe Canning!

A_Border_Bandit (Monaghan) - Posts: 95 - 20/01/2010 12:31:28    537872

nocky County: Wexford Posts: 1158 537601 Just to correct the blatant lies from fredrickwood's first post on this topic: 1. Fabregas suffered a serious knee injury in December 2008 vs. Liverpool and he missed 4months. Hardly "going missing". Anyway he is just 22 years old today, it is only natural that his performance could be expected to drop towards the end of the season when he was just 17-20 and playing centre midfield with Arsenal depending on him so much. 2. He appeared in every game of Euro 2008 for Spain. He scored a goal a set up another against Russia. He scored the winning penalty in their shootout win over Italy. He set up two goals in the semifinal. He started in the final. He was named to the team of the tournament by FIFA. Hardly "Spain winning the tournament without him". Well Well Well.Turns out after a little research that you are right nocky and I was wrong in relation to Mr.Fabregas' role for espana in the Euro 2008 C'ship. To an extent. In fairness to myself,My judgement of him(or anyone) in that tournament is somewhat clouded because I was down unda for Euo 2008.So any games I seen in that competition were through sleepy eyes and beer goggles,and with Fabregas being only 5ft 8 or thereabouts it was easy to miss him. However his contribution in that tournament needs greater assesment IMO. He only started one of the group games,against Greece,when the Spaniards had already topped their table and qualified for the Qf's.He did score the winning penalty against Italy in the Qf,What an acheivement for the young man,scoring from 12 yards,one-on-one.He came on for the injured Daveed Veeeea in the semi-final and played his best game of the tournament as they qualified for the final. He only started the final though because of Villa's injury and that nobody can deny.Of course the inevitable happened and he was even taken off(replaced by Xabi Alonso)early in the 2nd half, as he did his usual and got tired,against a poor German team. As for the team of the tournament,well sure any amount of talentless footballers do make them from time to time.The history of the beautiful game shows us that complete nobodys can star at these tournaments and disappear immediately afterwards.Schillachi,Poalo Rossi,Poborsky,Suker,That colombian dude. Also it was'nt a team of 11 players it was a squad of players which included 3 Keeper's,6 Defenders,10 Midfielders, and 4 Strikers.He did,however have a good tournament when you consider the little time he had on the field. When it comes to the PL and CL,question marks need to be asked I think,In the last 3 years Arsenal's title challenge has wilted when the hard questions were asked,and Fabregas was found wanting the same as any of the rest of them,sure he has had injuries here and there but with the exception of the injury mentioned above I don't think 3/4 years of not even Contesting the league came about from anything other than a team not producing the goods on a regular basis. He played in the CL final in 06 where,Shock!Horror!He was taken off again with the game in the melting pot.Apart from a sensational goal against Milan a few years back and the odd good performance in groups and Knockout stages he has flattered to decieve on the big European stage.He was completely anonymous against United over the 2-legged semi last year,when the Gunners were in the trenches lookin for leadership. This all may seem a bit harsh on the lad,and maybe it is,because he is still young enough and has time on his hands.Fabregas is a terrific talent but I firmly believe that his best years are in front of him and he is with the right club and manager to get the best out of him but a current great?I don't think so.Not until your best football is being played in March/April/May with actual end product can you lay claim to this title.

fredrickwood (Roscommon) - Posts: 2871 - 20/01/2010 17:00:17    538245

fredrick, Fabregas established himself as the star of Arsenal's midfield at 17. Seventeen. In comparison, Paul Scholes, for example, didn't (regularly) make United's team until he was 21-22. It is only natural that a player that young, playing in a position as important as centre midfield, would get tired towards the end of a season - yet Arsenal still made the top 4 every year, won the FA Cup (who did they beat in the final?), consistently made the latter stages of the CL, even reaching the final as you pointed out.

If you have watched the Premiership in the last two years at all you will see that his game has got even better, he now scores goals to go with all his assists. You are in a minority of one, even your fellow Man United fans are in agreement, I think it's time to face up to the facts and admit it: Fabregas is a class act.

nocky (Wexford) - Posts: 2059 - 20/01/2010 19:02:16    538407

nocky
County: Wexford
Posts: 1163

538407 fredrick, Fabregas established himself as the star of Arsenal's midfield at 17. Seventeen. In comparison, Paul Scholes, for example, didn't (regularly) make United's team until he was 21-22. It is only natural that a player that young, playing in a position as important as centre midfield, would get tired towards the end of a season - yet Arsenal still made the top 4 every year, won the FA Cup (who did they beat in the final?), consistently made the latter stages of the CL, even reaching the final as you pointed out.

If you have watched the Premiership in the last two years at all you will see that his game has got even better, he now scores goals to go with all his assists. You are in a minority of one, even your fellow Man United fans are in agreement, I think it's time to face up to the facts and admit it: Fabregas is a class act.

It's Fred Rickwood not Fredrick Wood.I think I have given him a lot of credit in my previous post,if you were to read it thoroughly.You stated that he was the best midfielder in the premiership by some distance,I happen to disagree.I think it's fair to say I provided enough proof to back my argument,But Oh heaven forbid a lad might disagree with Eamon Nocky.

fredrickwood (Roscommon) - Posts: 2871 - 21/01/2010 13:18:26    538875

he's no nicky Butt

Rhodejim (Offaly) - Posts: 2888 - 21/01/2010 15:15:51    538988

Out of interest fred, who do you consider to be the "current greats" playing in the premiership?

nocky (Wexford) - Posts: 2059 - 21/01/2010 15:49:06    539029

fredrickwood the fact is that he has scored the most goals for a midfielder in the league this season and has the most assists in the league therefore he is the best midfielder in the league. Sadly you can only appreciate talent when it is in the red of man utd than in the red of arsenal. i on the other hand am not as biased and think rooney is an excellent player and so was ronaldo in his time with united. Your assertion that he goes missing in the big games is just false. For example you said that fabregas flopped in the cl final of 06. Did you not remember his excellent displays in both legs against real madrid and against juventus and villareal to get arsenal to the final and all at the age of 18. By the way do united currently have a player in central midfield better than fabregas?

PK57 (Louth) - Posts: 1663 - 21/01/2010 16:25:14    539075

Rhodejim
County: Offaly
Posts: 1468

538988 he's no nicky Butt

FACT

miketyson (Limerick) - Posts: 2748 - 21/01/2010 16:56:05    539132

A class act, was brilliant against bolton last night. Can only get better but how long can arsenal hold onto him with the money Barcelona/Madrid can offer.

dollarbills (Mayo) - Posts: 37 - 21/01/2010 17:17:54    539167

He might even get on for Spain soon.

But I doubt it.

patrique (Antrim) - Posts: 13709 - 21/01/2010 21:20:10    539512

21/01/2010 21:20:10
patrique
County: Antrim
Posts: 6711

539512
He might even get on for Spain soon.

But I doubt it.
____________

He's started 7 out of their last 10 matches and come on as a substitute in the other 3, so I suspect you could be right.

Although they were all pretty meaningless games I suppose. But then he did play in every game at Euro 2008, and I have a feeling Spain did quite well at that. Remind me who scored the winning penalty against your beloved Italy again?

nocky (Wexford) - Posts: 2059 - 21/01/2010 21:36:14    539537

He might even go to a rich club like Man Utd !!

Cavan_Slasher (Cavan) - Posts: 10253 - 22/01/2010 10:01:07    539659

I would have Michael Essien and Frank Lampard ahead of Fabregas any day of the week.Maybe Gerrard as well but he shares some uncanny charachteristics with Fab,like regular injuries and needing a search party to find him in a title race.Of course I would probably go for Gerrard purely because he is taller,quicker and stronger.Gerrard is maybe a bit gung-ho whereas Fabregas would have a better football brain.As regards United I don't think we have anyone as good as Fabregas,(we do have players who have proven themselves over a long hard season)although if I had a choice of Mid-Fielders from Arsenal I would pick Diaby every time who is easily the most under-rated player in the prem. Oh dear. I hope I havent embarrassed anyone who was expecting me to name United players only. Rhodejim,It wold take you longer to polish Nicky Butt's medals than Fabregas's. Or Ciaran McManus's.

fredrickwood (Roscommon) - Posts: 2871 - 22/01/2010 10:58:22    539733

Hilarious fred, you slag Fabregas for getting injured when the three midfielders you name ahead of him have missed more time with injuries this season than Fabregas has. Essien and Gerrard in particular are extremely injury-prone, while Lampard always misses a few weeks a season with muscle strains.

Fabregas is carrying Arsenal in the middle of a title race (they are top of the league or have you noticed?) which flies in the face of your theory that he "goes missing". He won the game for them against Villa in 27mins when only half-fit, scored the opening goal against Bolton at the Reebok and dragged them back to win 4-2 from 0-2 down at the Emirates on Wednesday.

Fabregas leads all premierleague midfielders in goals this year, and leads the entire league in assists. To say that you would pick Abou Diaby ahead of him just shows that you don't know what you're talking about.

nocky (Wexford) - Posts: 2059 - 22/01/2010 12:23:06    539866