The Cesc saga: ‘Which’ Fabregas is Moyes looking for?

An aspect that is not going to change at United due to Moyes’ arrival would be the shape upfront. Unlike teams like Arsenal and Chelsea who prefer playing 3 attackers with a midfield 3; United have always shown a tendency to attack with a centre-forward and a striker, along with 2 out-and-out wingers providing the crosses. Moyes has had a history of preferring this shape via the duo of Anichebe and Jelavic or Anichebe and Fellaini, although most of his wing-play was via his fullbacks rather than wingers. So now stands the question of where Cesc Fabregas fits into this system, considering him to be the most attractive option from the 3.

Fabregas has already been in the limelight of Europe for 10 years even though he is only 26, and the Spanish international could easily be listed as the player to have been played in the most varied of roles. Right from when the 16-yea-old was played as part of the central duo with Gilberto in a 4-4-2 under Wenger, Cesc’s performances had started to create a spot for himself, which has led to major changes in shapes around him.

With the departures of Viera and Bergkamp, Wenger shifted to a 4-3-3 with Fabregas being given the free-role at the tip of the midfield trio. And with 3 strikers playing ahead of him, his creativity and vision were tested at its best. But then Cesc has never been renowned for his defensive duties. Though he is often seen energetically tracking back and covering opponents in his half, Fabregas’s awareness of runs made by opponents at the centre of the park is not always the best; pretty similar to the flaw in Rafa van der Vaart’s game. This made Wenger shift to a 4-2-3-1 with Fabregas at the centre of the attacking trio, and the other 2 alongside him also not so high up in attack. This saw the likes of Nasri and Arshavin slot into the positions besides him, and this shape saw Cesc at his very best for Arsenal.

His shift to Barca might have seen him getting much more goals than what his tally was in North London, but his struggle to fit-in was clearly visible. In a statement that made matter clear, Cesc said that the game at the Nou Camp was much more about his tactical positioning and movement with the team, which, when compared to his free role at Arsenal, demanded much more patience than blindly pushing forward in attack. This new role saw him slot in next to Leo Messi upfront and he kept switching with the Argentine in the false-9 role. The goal tally was a direct outcome of the immense talent that the Catalans possessed in midfield. His further emergence at a similar position for Spain did not turn out to be all bright and sunny, due to the Spanish team’s lack of a proper striker.

But the season under Tito has not been as productive for Cesc in terms of the tactics and positioning of the squad. Vilanova has been seen to push Xavi into a deeper role and hence pull back Cesc into an attacking trio with Iniesta and Pedro/Tello. Though he prospered in a similar position at Arsenal, the presence of Leo Messi at a now unfamiliar false No.9, and also Cesc’s constant switching with Iniesta for the left wing position, has left Fabregas at times frustrated and at others on the bench.