Diego Costa - still hot or not?

[Chelsky Boy Luke 21]

The recent decline in form of Diego Costa is slowly becoming one of the great curiosities of this Premier League season.

The Brazilian looked every inch the signing of the season during his first six months at Chelsea with 17 goals in 19 Premier League appearances.

But the controversial three match ban he received for a stamp of Emre Can during the Capital One Cup semi-final against Liverpool has prompted an astonishing collapse in form which has seen him fail to hit the back of the net in his last 6 matches, the same amount of games he went without scoring for the Spanish National side.

Costa’s drought reached a new low at Upton Park in what turned out to be an unproductive evening for Costa as an attacking force, had it not been for a lack of competitive forward options, I suspect that José Mourinho could have hauled off the Brazilian earlier then the 93rd minute.

Speaking after the game against the Hammers, Mourinho reiterated his belief that the three-match ban has impacted on Costa’s form by stating “I don’t think it’s good for a player to be three weeks, or three matches, without starting a game. A little rest is welcome for everyone; a big rest isn’t good for the players. So we are not going to see the best Diego.”

It’s hard not to dispute that the three match ban is the cause of Costa’s dip in form. Before the ban he was banging goals in for fun.

After analyzing Costa’s performance in his last 6 premier league appearances, it is obvious he is off the pace. His ball control has been uncharacteristically poor in each of these games which has hampered his ability to score some of the solo goals which were somewhat of an early season trademark… A good example would be the goal he scored against West Ham on Boxing Day.

Costa has also found himself drifting out of position. At the start of the season, Costa was popping up on the penalty spot for the simple tap ins, however Costa has recently found himself dropping deeper to receive the ball or has drifted out wide resulting in a lack of goal scoring opportunities.

This however begs the question, how does one loose all positional sense within the space of three weeks?? The short answer to that is one doesn’t, therefore there has to be another reason for this…. That reason is Cesc Fàbregas.

Since Ramires has been favored in the deeper midfield role, Fàbregas has been pushed up to the attacking midfield role normally occupied by Oscar. This has presented multiple problems.

Firstly Fàbregas hasn’t been allowed as much space as he had become accustom to in the deeper role, making it next to impossible to play his game. Fàbregas needs the space to find the killer pass, when he is starved of that space he becomes ineffective which we have recently seen.

Heat Map of Costa touches during Swansea vs Chelsea when Fábregas was playing alongside Matic - 13.09.14

Secondly, moving Fàbregas has resulted in a change of tactic from Mourinho, because we have no players in the middle of the park that can dictate a game like Fabregas did, we have resorted to counter attacking football, which requires players with speed (Hazard, Willian, Ramires).

When Ramires, Hazard or Willian break, they leave Costa behind as he struggles to match their pace, this leaves the Brazilian frustrated at the lack of service normally provided by Fàbregas.

Heat Map of Costa during West Ham vs Chelsea when Fábregas played in the attacking midfield role - 04.03.15

Because Costa is dropping deeper to receive the ball or drifting out wide to provide support to the attacking winger, our game has become more about speed rather then ball retention and as such, has limited Costa’s chances.

We witnessed a similar situation with Fernando Torres; his lack of confidence was a result of not scoring which is a consequence of not being provided with too many opportunities…. Mourinho needs to revert back to early season tactics if he is to get the best out of Costa and prevent a Torres-like decline.

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[BlueLyon 9,359]

He was decisive in second goal vs spurs, I dont care if it was confirmed as own goal...without Costa, that wouldnt be a goal anyway.

This is getting ridiculous btw, every player hits lack of form, the key is to regain it and Costa can do it, Im sure. Its his first season here and he is doing amazing job so far.

And for the record, its not just Costa. Take a look at our performances overall, Cesc form, how many goals we scored,...in comparison with first six months. So its not just Costa, but whole team that is underperforming in 2015. If not for defenders, our results would be quite bad now.

[Roquila 1,335]

Obligatory 'is Costa shit' thread of the day.

[OneMoSalah 8,613]

Fuck sake we aren't starting this shite again are we?

Not slagging the article of mate obviously a lot of work gone into it and that but the whole still hot or not thing, its the same with the other thread about early season form.

Costa is human, he cannot just replicate his first 5 or 6 games can he? Scoring 9 goals in 4 games or whatever it was. That sort of form for a guy in a new country in a new team was incredible. People get injuries in a season, people have ups and people have downs, hes played a lot of games without training properly at the start of the season which has obviously affected him because hes looked very sluggish for a while.

Not a dig at you mate again, but next it will be an article by someone about Fabregas going back to his old ways like at Arsenal or an article about Ramires, hounding him out the club again like some people where because he got 2 red cards in like 8 months at the end of last season or whatever (you do know who yous are).

We are too demanding... especially on a team who has won a trophy this season, top of the league by 5 points with a game in hand and also in with a very big chance of going through to the CL quarter finals or whatever.

[Wxgba 306]

Good article, poor topic.

We, as Chelsea fans, are our own worst enemies at times and expect far too much. If a player goes through a patch of fine form, we begin to expect that sort of standard consistently but the reality of football is that very few footballers in world football can be that good, that consistently. (In fact, two players only spring to mind...)

He's played well this season, suffered a dip of form as of late but still managed to score (yes, it definitely was his vs. Spurs) when it mattered most.

He's the closest thing we'll have to replacing Drogba so, in my eyes, we should be thankful rather than over-analytic.

[MichaelDance 552]

He was decisive in second goal vs spurs, I dont care if it was confirmed as own goal...without Costa, that wouldnt be a goal anyway. This is getting ridiculous btw, every player hits lack of form, the key is to regain it and Costa can do it, Im sure. Its his first season here and he is doing amazing job so far. And for the record, its not just Costa. Take a look at our performances overall, Cesc form, how many goals we scored,...in comparison with first six months. So its not just Costa, but whole team that is underperforming in 2015. If not for defenders, our results would be quite bad now.

Agreed mate since he's suspension he's been careful as he can be, and to be honest all this "costa is underperforming" on the web is becoming a joke he's only had a few games with us, takes time to get used to how we play, and he is 1 player out of 11.

[mikeholiday 209]

Costa is shit. Salah is god.

[quickpassnmove 924]

He's another one who hasn't adapted to colder+damp weather --maybe. We'll see in the coming season(s). Hasn't seemed to be in the right spot for counterattacks on numerous occasions during the colder months and continues to win very little in the air. Just not good enough from him for a while now. Chelsea should have been using another striker and/or lineup recently IMO. Next season will be more interesting with Costa's 2nd Chelsea year and maybe Oscar leaving, maybe another striker coming in.

[Blue.Llama 7]

Should have passed it to Fabregas and finish the game, but that would be injustice to PSG

[MrBlueGuy 1,552]

Good striker, nothing more than that really. Tbh if we get a chance for someone like Lacazette in the summer I would do it.

[iseah100 5,612]

Remy should play more to shake him up.

[quickpassnmove 924]

Remy should play more to shake him up.

I think more will need to be shaken up next season. just a hunch.

[iseah100 5,612]

I think more will need to be shaken up next season. just a hunch.

Not really. A CB and RW and we'd be good. Oscar/Willian is a dilemma. Oscar presses better but Willian is slightly more offensive

[Jack Uzzi 54]

Chelsea lacks a second striker. Remy simply is not good enough.

[iseah100 5,612]

Chelsea lacks a second striker. Remy simply is not good enough.

How do you figure? He doesn't play, Remy is our 3rd striker anyway

[Iggy Doonican 4,186]

For his first season Costa has been exceptional the only gripe is his temperament which at times can be petulant and you know you'll never get a full season out of him because of suspensions. Remy should get far more game time then he does he's scored some important goals for us Sunday's goal could be pivotal. Then you come to dear old Didier who's such a legend but this is a season to far for him. Playing in Turkey and China has knocked the edge off him he's a shadow of his former self. His first touch has completely gone and at the moment he looks like he couldn't trap a dead mouse never mind a football.

[Victor Von Doom 258]

Chelsea lacks a second striker. Remy simply is not good enough.

6 goals in 7 games says different. He's been fantastic for us

[michalcfc 69]

He's hot