The Rising Sun

Its @ Barelona Fake! Edit : Just saw the face!

Not happening today. Surely We would have heard something from these Journalists. None of them have the balls to say there is going to be an announcement today, as it probably isnt. So much nonsense these guys speak, One person must have said tuesday, and all the rest of them jump on the Tuesday bandwagon.

I cannot believe no one got suspended or banned after reading the last 3 pages. We read time and again from the mods regarding Thread Derailing, and that was 3 pages of Torres this Roman that, demba this eto that. That, followed by the cheapshots and bickering. I know we all are anxious and missing the PL, but guys lets please keep the Torres fighting in the Torres thread, and the Roman stuff in the Roman Abramovich thread. This is the Costa thread. I came here to read updates from "journalists" from twitter and their claims, but instead had to go through that.

Both our opinions when it comes to this topic are clearly on opposite ends of the spectrum. Everything i say always does have the other side of the coin argument and your opinions are right in their own way, however, i stand my opinion. Either way, we will know soon enough.

The funny part in this mess is that the barca supporters want cesc out, and we feel he will be perfect for us because he is class. Some supporters want Lukaku out, meanwhile other interested clubs' supporters will be thinking he is perfect for them because he is a beast and has a fantastic scoring record. The truth being that no matter what the history and background of such situations, the player never really got a good chance due to a number of reasons at their respective clubs, and had to leave to achieve their personal goals. We cannot get a better second striker in todays market, there simply isnt anyone who has so many different attributes as Lukaku does. He is strong, fast, clinical and a bully, good in the air with just about enough skill to trouble even the worlds best defenders. Why we arent convincing him that he is part of Chelsea's plans is beyond me. Just assure the guy, make him feel valued. Its been 2 years of sending him out, and after scoring tons of goals against the best teams, if we still cant trust him enough to let him know his value to the club, with some assurances, then he is right to leave. In normal life, if you worked alongside 3 equally placed colleagues , and over 2 years you consistently did soooooo much better than all of them, and the company keeps giving them bonuses while giving nothing to you, surely at some point you would realise that this environment is not the right fit, and you could be doing so much better at another company. That is the reason you ask for a transfer. At that moment either the company realises your value and gives you assurances..... or you leave. Simple. He has spoken more than he should have, the Club have not managed him as well as they could.

So what if he had asked to leave this club? He is a young guy and is temperamental. Having signed Eto only a day before the Super cup , and him missing the penalty were factors. Not wanting to compete with 3 strikers was not a fair reason, but a childish one. However, another season has gone where he has performed. We should do everything to keep him here. The fact is that he will be a fantastic second striker for us to have next season. As i did state in my previous posts, that in the worst case scenario, where he is sold, then we must buy someone who is fantastic, and not have Torres as our second choice. I dont rate Mandzukic so thats a subjective opinion. But he must be told where he is in the pecking order. I.E. Second choice or third choice behind Torres. He cant breakthrough as a 3rd choice and that makes it right for him to leave, but at second choice, he can do well and get his gametime as well. I still dont get the analogy that being one of the people who posted on this thread, I dont support Chelsea?

This is Sturridge V 2 on this forum all over again. When sturridge was a bit outspoken and believed he should play striker, he got a similar reaction as Lukaku is getting here. He was sold, and now he is one half of europe's best strike force. Lukaku is in a similar situation, with other clubs recognising his worth, and teams all the way from CL Finalists atletico, to Italian Champions Juventus and probably a few more wanting him. But Chelsea? We are remaining tight lipped and dont seem to be keen. I really hope for our own sake that better judgement prevails by our board this time. We have already bought Costa, so the board have made their statement of Intent. Now lets secure that position, not give some other european powerhouse Hulk.

Everton hands down for me. You can liken this opportunity with that of gerard deleufo from Barca. He got just enough playing time to shine, and he is back at barca now. Thorgan will replace him perfectly.

No problem with the idea, but its about where you would rate Lukaku. I would have Lukaku as our second choice over Mandzukic . Loaning him out and letting him develop further at another club after 2 years already on loan will either mean that we will lose him in the end or that he will demand coming back as the first choice, which for the next few years is going to be diego costa. What can be the harm in developing him here now that he has proven himself in the PL already?, that too as a second choice. We have the capability of developing players here, lets develop him into the finished article He has already terrorised the PL, and its not as if he is like that arsenal french striker guy who is crap.(the african-french one)

Forget him being sold, the idea of a loan next season without a proper second striker at Chelsea is wrong

Unless we are buying one more striker, letting him go is the dumbest thing i feel we can do. Dont know how everyone, including Jose is forgetting last season, where you couldnt trust any of the 3. We need Lukaku to be second in Line after Costa. I really dont see Torres or Ba coming on in the 75th Minute when the scores are level and winning us the game. With Lukaku, its much more possible. These are rumors in any case, but if we go into the season with Costa Ba Torres, PL wont happen.

1 Goal per Million Please! Every Season!

Doesnt mean anthing, but he took this selfie on their flight to brazil yesterday

haha have loved the Game of Thrones GIFS and a few others as well, had some stupid laughs sitting alone hoping no one around thinks im a psycho..... Anyways, while everyone having different views on this forum is a positive, it is quite amusing when everytime we are linked with a player, the negatives for some take such a different level, its just nuts. People should just think of the bottomlines when it comes to speculation.... will this person improve us as a team? If yes, then think of the personal feelings. But you have to level out your subjective feelings with objectivity. Objectivity always wins. Ashley Cole has been amazing for us the last few years. He was Arsenal too. Not relevant : Almost every other Bayern signing is a Dortmund player.

Matic - Fabregas does indeed sound really good. I am generally not as passionate about certain thoughts that i had 5-6 years ago even if there was bad blood then. Simply rating Cesc on his ability and the likely partnership with a defensive minded player like matic, and it sets a good balance for that position, and the rest of the team setup as well. I am glad that as a second option to our defensive 2, we are going for an attacking intelligent option rather than a defensive option again. We need an attack minded player to be able to do smooth transitions, so either fabregas or a player with those sort of characteristics is what i feel we need, We dont need another defensive rock next to matic..... we need the transitionary playmaker with a few goals.

and then people ask why england doesnt produce much talent.

We should sign him, even if it is for 25 million. He is english, and he is a fantastic ball player as well as a defender. he CAN cross the ball really well. We need a player like him, as a successor to Ashley cole. 25 million for a 7-8 year stint is worth the money. He isnt even at his peak yet. And when he plays with the WC players we have, i can imagine him becoming that much better instantly.

Glad QPR is back in the PL. It is the ONLY real derby we have, and the atmosphere is electric. Fulham for some reason is boring and slow, no passion atmosphere. They Hate us And we hate them. Lets have them back, and show them the door.

IMO, England's entire world cup relies on their first game. Win it, and i think it will give them the confidence to go till atleast the semi's.... then anything can happen. Anything other than a win in their first game and they wont go longer than maybe the first knockout fixture . The players are all there.... Rooney Sturridge is a formidable attacking line up Henderson sterling Lallana will do the quick bits. Gerrard is gerrard so he will do his long ball stuff. Its actually a really good team, but the confidence must come from the first game, and build from there onwards. Anything but a win, and the pressure will be too much.

I get what you are saying about the Sturridge v 2 analogy, but the difference being that we got Lukaku for some 18(15?) million pounds a few years back, and he has had the chance to develop elsewhere last 2 years. At the moment, he is more than qualified to play in a 4-4-2, or as a second striker option behind costa or cavani. Thats the reason i say we should keep him. Even if we were to sell him, we would surely have to buy him back for a huge sum, much closer to a 30 million amount or so in 2 years time....maybe more if he becomes crazy good? Matic was a chelsea youth guy so he was for free when we let him go, and bought him back for 21 million or so. Anyways, i think he is ready to play as a second striker, whether its 4-4-2 regular starting position, or to be chosen among two strikers based on the opponent. I think all our 3 strikers scored a combined 17 goals this season, and as for Lukaku, he will cross that in the PL alone, even as a second striker.

he was jumping around and celebrating after their win, so hopefully its not as bad as it looked initially

We bought Lukaku when he was young, thats the difference, we have developed him into a beast. Why not use what he has an give him the opportunity to play with better players and see if he can cross the 20 goal mark om a season? Another year on loan is possible, but considering if we buy Mandzukic, i doubt he will want to come back then even if his first touch improves. In any case, we differ on where we rate Lukaku. For me, if we were to lose Lukaku and be getting another Striker, then that should be in Falcao Cavani level.

Id rather see Lukaku develop as a second option over buying mandzukic. No disrespect to anyone but this sort of new attitude of alot of our supporters saying : "oh xx million is a good price to sell" for any and every player. At even the slightest bit of transfer gossip, a price is put on that player, even the hazard thread had prices etc a few weeks ago, oscar as well. That is appalling and frankly, sounds like what you would hear from an arsenal supporter, which had been laughable the whole last decade. OK, so lets just say Luiz, even though i think he is fantastic, is going to be exchanged/swapped or sold. Lukaku is already becoming a monster. We are already buying a 1st Choice striker in Costa or whoever. Lukaku, after raping top teams last 2 seasons, and scoring well in BPL with the experience, must be given at the least the 2nd striker option for a season. What the fuck is wrong with everyone wanting to flush him out and bring in Mandzukic. For fucks sake. I really cant see the parellels between people going on the youth threads and saying chalobah swift baker stuff, and then another player who we have developed is in a position to get some action, that too as a second choice, and people want him to fuck off/be sold for another second choice who has nothing to do with us, has never played in this league and will not develop at all anymore? How on earth will these youngsters get a chance if supporters at the first chance of a transfer window, start wishing away developing players for fancy names from exotic countries. Rant Over.

Please lets make sure we DO NOT do a Matic V.2..... the only difference will be that we will be buying him back in 2 years time for 35 million, instead of simply DEVELOPING talent. Why cant we as a club simply do that? The problem with always trying to buy talent and develop them elsewhere by countless loans, is that most of the time, their loan club values them more than you in the end, and the player loses his connect with Chelsea, or simply develops to such an extent, where he is almost there as a player, but coming back to Chelsea would mean they would be sitting on the bench, and not 1st choice. Now, while no one just deserves to be first choice at Chelsea, other clubs in Europe rate this player as their first choice capable, and a player gets to flourish abroad in the CL, become a star, but alas, not at Chelsea. So we will buy early, loan him here and there, earn a few million when selling, and still be the side that is losing. Lukaku being sold or exchanged, or even loaned again will be a massive failure for us as a club. If no player who joins Chelsea when they are young actually make it in OUR OWN team, thats just an embarrassment for us. I.e. buying talent and assisting its development, then not having faith in that talent when it comes to actually using it for ourselves. Basically, just like it is with Managers in England, as Tim sherwood said, "he's not english", owners like going for foreign guys for whatever reasons. With us, it seems to be buying players who are not experienced in England, instead of giving someone who has done well in English leagues for 2 seasons in a row, and bullied the big boys in the BIG games. I know i have gone off point a bit at times. But Bottomline : Lukaku must be playing for Chelsea next season. Do you want to win the Title next season? If yes, then he must be a Chelsea player next season.

This time next year...... - Media talking about how important our transitionary season in 2013-14 was, for us to gain an identity again, which in turn allowed us to win a title so convincingly. - Mourinho losing the negative tag. - Free scoring team