Tomo

I would, he may not be the most pleasing technically but his off the ball movement, intelligent runs and play and most importantly his finishing causes absolute havoc for defences. Take it from someone who has played defence before I'd much rather face a skilful player with average movement over a player with great movement. Atletico aren't creating anywhere near the amount of chances since Costa left, neither do we when he is not playing, he's just as big a reason as Cesc as to why we don't struggle vs lesser sides any more, if not more. Putting everything into perspective (age, how good they are, how they suit our team) l would only swap him for 2 strikers and that's Aguero and Suarez (pure strikers before anyone drops Messj and Ronaldo in there).

Fully agree with that, I don't know if you were on here when Rafa was appointed but I was really pissed off with some of the comments about Roman when that happened, we are very lucky to have him and seeing owners at other clubs like Newcastle and Blackburn serves to put that into perspective even more.

I agree with that I have even said it myself, what I was referring to was the lengths he went too after that,especially those unconditional minutes he got for 6 month's in 12/13.

Which shows a double standard in the average football fan. If wingers were judged on both attacking and defensive quality off their game most if not all the names that were considered the best these days wouldn't be there, however at fullback you can be a complete rock defensively but not the best going forward and your name doesn't become a consideration when talking about the best. Infact if anything fullback are more judged on what they offer going forward and if they can run in a straight line, Kyle Walker was talked up as some potential great a few years back, Bosingwa was regarded at one time as one of the best full backs in Europe, neither can defend for shit, it's criminal that Azpi doesn't get the credit he richly deserves, he isn't as bad going forward as made out any way.

And Costa

I very highly doubt Varane will be a sub.

I don't think a one off will be that much of a step back especially if we in general stick to the transfer policy we adopted.Can't argue with the last paragraph,an even bigger problem is even if he magically replicates his Leti form can we justify spending big money on a 30 year old? Especially as we have one of the best strikers in the world already.

Personally I think he might at a push get read the riot act but I doubt a loan signing all be it a high waged one would make that big a dent in the relationship in the Grande scheme of things. It would be a bit hypocritical of Roman anyway after he got Sheva not to mention the lengths he went too for Torres.Let's keep our fingers crossed Costa stays fit for most off the season and plays the bulk of the league games making Falcao as less of an issue as possible if he signs.

I can't honestly see it ever being as bad as it was in 2007, they wouldn't have "married again" as Jose put It if that could have happened.Back then Roman was a new owner and Jose was a young manager with the world at his feet, the egos of the pair at the time was through the roof. Since then Jose had a sobering experience at Madrid and Roman had his fingers burned by some seriously clueless manager's not naming any names Scolari, I think both realise how lucky those two were to have each other hence the second coming. Something will have to go seriously wrong most likely on the pitch for there to be a repeat off 2007,I honestly believe Jose has this job for as long as he wants it.

But we can't pass up on this type of opportunity on the off chance RLC will become just as good, if he does then brilliant, we can have both. Remember when people didn't want Neymar because it would stall Kakuta? Or no one wanted us to sign a CB because of Bruma?

That's fair enough, I hope he gets an applause back at The Bridge before and after the game in September, during it however he's the enemy and I'll be hoping Costa slams a hat trick past him

From what I have seen Falcao has lost the explosiveness and even the killer instinct that made him so good at Leti, however his movement is still pretty good, which alone makes him better than Torres who was like a lamppost. It's not enough to warrant his signing however and I'm praying it falls through.

You're one of my favroite member's on here but with respect that is completely untrue.If you are taking about people who plan to boo him, forget about his 11 years here or worse those morons who sent him death threats then absolutely, but seeing a player who I have created an emotional attachment with as a supporter wear that crest stings like hell, that would be the case regardless, whether I had no life outside of supporting Chelsea or such a active life outside Chelsea that I only really have time to watch the games (for the record its a lot closer to the latter than the former).

Well would you pay big money for Essien or Vieira If you could get a decade of them in their prime? I had a similar argument when Modric was linked, most people couldn't look past the goals and assists or lack off in his case, I said then he would have been worth every penny of £40-50m and nothing's happened since to change my mind.

He said in that interview with BT he will respect any decision the board/Roman makes. I can't see it becoming a serious issue because both Roman and Jose have changed a lot since 2007. Back then Roman was a 'new' owner and Jose was a young manager with the world at his feet, since then and with their experiences in between the two spells (Jose's abroad travels and Romans many managers) has probably made them realise just what both had in the first place, no way would Jose have returned if they were still their old selves

Someone mentioned about us selling to rivals or doing them favours but what I have noticed is Liverpool and United have both won nothing since they signed Sturridge and Mata respectively. If Arsenal get hit by that curse I won't be complaining.

I think he is a little overrated in the sense a lot of people think he can be #1 for most top teams in Europe, with the exception of whichever our off Real/United go into the season without De Gea I can't really see it myself. Barca have Bravo and Ter Stegan, Munich have Neuer, Juve Buffon, PSG Sirigu, Arsenal Cech, City Hart and Atletico have made a big financial commitment with Oblak. However as a back up to keep Tibo on his toes can't really get much better and I'll be delighted if we pull this off.

Managers getting complete control of team affairs is a thing of the past,Wenger is the last remaining member of that breed as soon as he's gone, that aspect has gone. It's not a bad thing either, if we left Scolari to his own devices Drogba would have been replaced by Adriano.

And that natural hurt of seeing him in an Arsenal shirt is going to put him a level below Didier andJT in terms of status with the fans, even on a subconscious level.Purely because at the end of the day 99% off supporters have an emotional connection with the club first and foremost, and while I will never forget what he has done with us and if I go to an Arsenal match while he's there I'll cheer him (before and after, not during), and this will leave a lingering bad taste. Ultimately even subconsciously, who will lot of fans say is their favroite if they are asked Cech or Drogba? The one that went to a rival or the one that went out of his way to avoid doing so. For my perspective I'll never turn against Cech I'll still love him too but I can't pretend this hasn't left an awful taste, when you build a legacy at a club you just simply don't go to a rival, it's not that far off the equivalent off Simeone not being wanted by Leti anymore and going to Real.

It won't

He is ridiculously over rated, before Mou arrived Madrids defence was a shambles for a number of years and he was one off the main reasons why, Madrid use to ship many goals and Cassilas still got man of the match a lot which says it all.

Very few have turned against him, and even fewer will forget what he did for us, but you can't expect it not to sting when he is wearing that horrible shirt.

Too early for this, its not even the end of June. We seem spoiled by last season, getting transfers done and dusted early is very rare and we got lucky that all our targets had release clauses and were keen on coming, that won't be the same every summer.

For a start the transfer window hasn't even opened yet technically and you are waving the white flag? Getting buisness done early June is extremely rare, I think we are getting a little too spoilt by last year, we managed to get those deals done with minimum fuss because they all had release clauses, if Costa didn't the negotiations would have dragged long into the summer. The summer transfer window almost always peaks in mid July, If nothing has been done this time next month then start to worry but for now, chill.

He may be a shadow of his former self but he will never be as bad as Torres.