First, I don't follow stats, I watch the games. That's how I know Iniesta is better passer. Second, Iniesta is more versatile because he can play in the middle and out wide, in midfield and in attack, while Cesc can only play through the middle. Defensively they are both the same.
The short answer: YES. Controlling the ball is the essence of Barca's/Spain's game plan, therefore Iniesta is more decisive.
Puyol can play wide too. Everyone can play wide lol, the quesiton is how effective that person is there. Cesc is not very effective wide and thats just facts, even when analysing what he is good at its perfectly clear that he will not be very effective wide, Iniesta however is quite effective. Thats not to say Cesc is useless wide, no he is ok, just not great. And I really don't get do people argumenting here watch no games at all or what? I watch all spain games aswell as most Barca games and most Arsenal games and it just is a fact that Cesc has been quiet a few times in big games, he got lost or he got shut out of the game, these are facts gentlemen, if you haven't watched most or all matches Cesc played then I do not see the logic to why you would even bother posting here and acting smart. Iniesta however is next to impossible to shut out of the game.
But You just also said that scoring is more decisive than passing, so if Cesc scores more goals and assists more than Iniesta in general, how's he not as or more "DECISIVE"??? As for the passing argument, they're about equal in short passes but Cesc has a much better long range passing ability.
Well we can really only judge them with Barca an the NT, i can't remember Cesc getting lost in a big game for these teams. And when he played in Arsenal, he more than often showed up against the other top teams even in the CL (which ironically he choked against Barca like the rest of his team). These 2 players have some bad games too, but these bad games are rarely ever in the big games. You're right that Cesc is "just ok" and not as effective when playing out wide (i never argued otherwise by the way), but Iniesta can't play as a false 9 either.
So how is Iniesta more effective in wide, furthermore how is he more versatile, or effective with your evaluation of versatility, in more places? And what's with the innuendo, I've probably watched more Barca games than you, every game from the past 6 years, and I have almost every game from the past 8 years. So don't patronize me with your arrogance.
When has Cesc played in a wide position? Do you realize that there is a difference between that and someone who drifts wide from time to time? How many of Cesc's goals have been decisive or as decisive as two of Iniesta's career goals (vs Chelsea and vs Holland)? Also, it goes like this: direct assists are more decisive than hockey assists, goals are more decisive than direct assists, but then some goals are more decisive than others. Then there is another thing: the role someone plays on a team can be more decisive to the team in terms of style of play. I don't think anyone can close their eyes and deny the fact that Iniesta, along with Xavi (for Barca/Spain) and mainly Messi (for Barca), has been one of the most decisive player for his teams. Also, Iniesta is indisputably in the starting 11 for both Barca and Spain, whereas Fabregas hasn't been, especially for Spain. Lastly, I disagree about the long range passing ability in favor of Cesc.
Maybe its time for you to refresh some English ... They are the most "important" player but hardly a "decisive ones" per se. (Messi is the decisive player at Barca - agree 100%) Look at the Euro, 7 Spaniard scored for them of 12goals - Ceces scored 2 and assist 1 in final! Neither Iniesta nor Xavi scored a single goal' At WC10, it was Villa the "decisive player " up to semi 5 /8goals team. Iniesta scored 2 (assisted by Cecs in final)
You mean the one that Cesc assisted? Seriously though, right now Iniesta deserves to be rated higher, but I'm not sure that will be the case 2-3 years from now. Cesc has had more challenges being outside the Barca system for a few years. Once he gets some more time back in that system I expect him to be more dominant for both Spain and Barca. Lets face it, he has all the tools. He has no glaring weaknesses, unlike Iniesta (finishing).
So can Cesc play wide or not? And I'm still confused what playing wide especially has to do with overall versatility? It's just a position, when Cesc is better attacker and better defensively.
It has already been said, maybe ur blind. Everyone can play wide, the question is if they are effective wide. Cesc is slow, can't dribble that well hence he is not very effective in wide positions. Iniesta is not that slow albeit not fast either, and is an amazing dribbler and always dangerous coming from wide positions.
Iniesta isn't faster than Fabregas. So you need to be a good dribbler to be effective, to be versatile? Pedro and Villa can play wide and they aren't better dribblers than Fabregas, Fabregas has created and scored multiple goals from wide positions. Still haven't heard plausible argument why Iniesta is more versatile. For me Fabregas is better in the middle, can attack and defend better.
Some statistical (OPTA) comparison to back my statements about attack and defense. League 2011-2013 Fabregas - Iniesta Position M(L,C,R), Forward - AM (L,C,R) Games 46 - 42 Goals 15 - 3 Shots per goal 4.7 - 23.3 Assists 17 - 21 Dribbles 43 - 85 Passing Comp. 88% - 90% Throughballs 31 - 24 Key passes 66 - 60 Longballs 134 - 84 Crosses 8 - 6 Defensive Clearances 15 - 4 Interceptions 38 - 36 Tackles 75 - 43 Blocked shots 6 - 0 Dribbled by 26 - 22 I think these figures portray real life pretty well, at least on my subjective level, passing is pretty similar, Fab is better at defending, and a lot better at scoring. Iniesta has only clear advantage in dribbling.
Iniesta isn't faster than fabregas? Im seriously starting to doubt u even watch Barcelona, the only player slower than Fabregas is Busquets.
I don't think there is a big gap between the top bunch of Spanish attacking players and Iniesta most certainly isn't 'A LOT' better than Cesc. That might be a matter of opinion though, personally I would use 'a lot better' when comparing David James with Gigi Buffon or Stephane Guivarc'h with Andrei Shevchenko.
Well said ... Media has planted in some fan boys (Barca) that Iniesta/Xavi are like Rivaldo/Zidane (who were way better than Cecs)??? There are very TINY BIT gap between them and each one has his own ability better or worse. Spain NT were in their best term of having produced many great quality players in this era (almost 11 Worldclass) Xavi and Iniesta were the main engine, but they could NOT do anything without the others like Villa, Torres, Cecs (a great sub), Silva (another super sub) Xabi, Ramos, Busquet, Cassilas, Puyol - if not mentioning others come and go in Senna, Aberloa, Alba, Pedro, Mata, Carzola, Llorent ... WOW. ===================================================== In brief (11 worldclass) Well decisive in attack: Villa, Cecs, Silva .. and arguably Torres( before 2010) Well rounded in midfield: Xavi, Iniesta, Cecs, Xabi, Well solid at back in big games: Puyol, Ramos , Busquet and Cassilas