Diego Costa

[The Skipper 20,593]

Yes, he scores some important goals in the earlier games of the season, but from the process he scores most of it, it is couple of rebounds balls and perfect passes (Fabregas being the important part). He is not a type of striker who will dribbling passed one or two defender and score the goal when teams are under perform and struggling, especially against big teams. He needs someone to 'serves' him the perfect pass, and he will finish it.

Dribbling past defenders isn't the only way a striker can make a difference... And no, Costa doesn't need the perfect pass to score either.

Costa has already scored plenty of times when the team has needed someone to grab a goal, I really don't know what you're trying to get at.

[The Skipper 20,593]

And also to follow up on Barbara's post - we all know Costa isn't Messi like technically but that doesn't mean his technique is bad. As I've said before, his style is very unorthodox. Yeah, he can have a bad few moments when it comes to linking up play but he can also be excellent at it. The game yesterday is the perfect example. His hold up play was trash in the first half but he really turned it around in the second and made some great lay offs and passes.

His technique is quite reliant on how confident he feels. He's a clever footballer.

[Barbara 15,149]

And also to follow up on Barbara's post - we all know Costa isn't Messi like technically but that doesn't mean his technique is bad. As I've said before, his style is very unorthodox. Yeah, he can have a bad few moments when it comes to linking up play but he can also be excellent at it. The game yesterday is the perfest example. His hold up play was trash in the first half but he really turned it around in the second and made some great lay offs and passes.

His technique is quite reliant on how confident he feels. He's a clever footballer.

That's something he's not given enough credit for. He's very clever. He reads things well, but when you don't have sky rocket confidence and you try the kind of play that isn't your best - although you can execute it 5-6 times out of 10, chances are you'll fail.

How many times have we've seen he pass by opponents outside the box? How many times have we've seen him linking up with other players outside the box? We haven't been feeding him as we did earlier the season and he was going through a blip of confidence. Seriously, what are four matches? Especially because he wasn't missing chance after chance. He struggled a bit and then the frustration started to show, but he worked it around. If anything we should be applauding him instead of judging him.

I can never fault a player that will leave his comfort zone - whether it's running or receiving the ball inside the box - to help the team, to make things happen, to take matters into his hands when we struggle to create. He's awkward when trying to hold up, to link up or even dribble passed opponents. You look at him and you don't understand what he's doing something - unorthodox as you say - but earlier the season he would make it work 5 out of 10 attempts - at least. And for someone that isn't that kind of player, I think it's B for result and A for effort. I can't fault or complain about Costa, not even in this attempt of a drought - because seriously, four matches isn't a drought at all.

[Madmax 9,219]

If you were watching his performances earlier in the season you would completely know that you're being false.

Everton game is the perfect example. If it wasn't for Diego we wouldn't have won that game, simple. He was excellent. Diego in top form is a difference maker, easily. You're just mentioning this because he's been off it for the last few games.

It's no surprise though, this forum is incredibly reactionary. Now Costa's just a poacher, during his 'drought' he was just someone who looks to pick fights with CBs, eariler in the season he was Drogba, Greaves and Osgood rolled into one, etc.

[Barbara 15,149]

Also another thing people don't know or forget. Costa started playing football at very late age (16). That's when he STARTED, like the first time he's ever been to a football training session of any sorts, when he went to a football academy. Kids start way earlier and they learn a lot of things about the sport from being there longer. At this age Costa was punching people around because he had no idea what meant to be a team. I know it seems like a crazy notion that he didn't even know how to behave, but we don't know about his upbringing. He was very, very raw when he started and that wasn't even technically. Normally players aren't technical at that age, but they've already learned a lot of things.

What I meant with all this is that despite being 26 he isn't at his peak yet. He still has some ceiling and I have no doubts he will improve. He started late, so of course he'll peak later. While other players have been playing football for most of their lives, starting in academies at age 10, 11 - if nor earlier - Costa has been playing football for only 10 years. I think when he's 28 we'll see his best football, and I believe he'll improve a lot in those two years and will polish considerably his technique.

[Gilvorak 3,734]

His hold up play is exceptional but he's yet to link up with any player on this team. Our two best players, Cesc and especially Hazard thrive on 1 touch football so that's something he has to improve on.

I've seen Drogba in his short amount of gametime link up with Hazard far more than Costa has.

[MrBlueGuy 1,552]

Equaliser against Burnley, hat trick against Swansea, game killing goal against Arsenal...etc he is not just a add on goal scorer, he score crucial goals as well. Off the top of my head last year he scored the winner against Real Madrid at Bernabeu, 80+ mins winner against Milan in the CL 1st leg last 16, countless other goals when Atletico struggled to 1-0 wins, equaliser against Real Madrid in Mourinho's last game in charge.

He is not a luxurious striker, he can be a game changer too.

[RoyalBlues 4,050]

Dribbling past defenders isn't the only way a striker can make a difference... And no, Costa doesn't need the perfect pass to score either.

Costa has already scored plenty of times when the team has needed someone to grab a goal, I really don't know what you're trying to get at.

Well I am trying to talk about what type of striker Costa is, as I said until now, I am not seeing him as a striker, who could create chances and score out of nothing single handedly, especially when team are struggling.

And maybe you don't pay attention at the last part of my post earlier, I really wrote actually he is the type of striker we need in our team, so I don't have any problem with it.

[Polo7 3,496]

Lol we do have fickle fans dont we. Bunch of glory hunters. People saying his technique is shit? Do you remember how we scored against City? Pretty sure his involvement was crucial in the build up. The guy has more goals than Eto, Torres and Ba did last season. How the fuck do you still complain?

[Stats 7,054]

I am not saying his technique is perfect but it is not poor. You don't get goals like the one he did against Everton (2nd goal) unless you have some form of technique. That was a brilliant finish, with his left foot as well. Some of his goals for Atletico were quality as well.

[The Skipper 20,593]

Well I am trying to talk about what type of striker Costa is, as I said until now, I am not seeing him as a striker, who could create chances and score out of nothing single handedly, especially when team are struggling.

And maybe you don't pay attention at the last part of my post earlier, I really wrote actually he is the type of striker we need in our team, so I don't have any problem with it.

Disagree. He's already done it for us (scored goals when we really needed one) and he's done it countless of times for Atletico last season too, hence why they finished as champions. Each to their own though I guess.

[RoyalBlues 4,050]

Disagree. He's already done it for us (scored goals when we really needed one) and he's done it countless of times for Atletico last season too, hence why they finished as champions. Each to their own though I guess.

Actually I'm not really interested to compare with Costa's time at Atletico, different case imo, and it is in the past.

At Chelsea, yes maybe in one or two match, I could agree with you. But we have play around 24-25 matches already. If he done that in two out of 24-25 (maybe around 18-19 matches involving Costa), that doesn't make him automatically that 'type' of striker you keep insisting about. I make a general assessment from his overall performance in every game he is involved so far, with special mention when we face big teams or bus parking teams. When team struggling, usually I looks he is struggling too, and couldn't create any chances alone.

I don't want to throw this comparison actually, but maybe to make it clear, I better say this. He is not Aguero or Suarez type of striker. Both are capable and proven consistently to break the deadlock when the rest of their team mates were struggling.

[The Skipper 20,593]

When team struggling, usually I looks he is struggling too, and couldn't create any chances alone.

This is bollocks sorry. Have you not noticed that we've played our best football when Costa has been in top form? Do you think that's a coincidence or not?

I don't want to throw this comparison actually, but maybe to make it clear, I better say this. He is not Aguero or Suarez type of striker. Both are capable and proven consistently to break the deadlock when the rest of their team mates were struggling.

Again, I'm struggling to understand this point of your argument specifically. Yeah, we all know Costa isn't a pure technical striker like Aguero or Suarez but you don't need to be that to be able to break the deadlock which Costa has done consistently for us this year, just go through all of his goals this year and the times they were scored at and you'll see that they were scored at crucial moments this season.

Again, you don't need to be Aguero or Suarez to be able to break the dead lock for your team when they're struggling.

Unless you've completely missed/blanked out Costa's early season form and his past seasons (sorry, if you're comparing a player's overall body of work you can't ignore his season last year at Atletico), your argument really doesn't have a strong basis IMO, because you weren't saying this before his goal drought.

[Barbara 15,149]

Actually I'm not really interested to compare with Costa's time at Atletico, different case imo, and it is in the past.

At Chelsea, yes maybe in one or two match, I could agree with you. But we have play around 24-25 matches already. If he done that in two out of 24-25 (maybe around 18-19 matches involving Costa), that doesn't make him automatically that 'type' of striker you keep insisting about. I make a general assessment from his overall performance in every game he is involved so far, with special mention when we face big teams or bus parking teams. When team struggling, usually I looks he is struggling too, and couldn't create any chances alone.

I don't want to throw this comparison actually, but maybe to make it clear, I better say this. He is not Aguero or Suarez type of striker. Both are capable and proven consistently to break the deadlock when the rest of their team mates were struggling.

You have aguero and Suarez in mind... so everyone has to be like them? How much has Suarez been scoring btw? Aguero has amazing service for him and he's a different kind of striker. Sorry but you sound awfully ungrateful, unappreciative and even a bit spoiled. Costa has 12 goals in 13 or 14 matches in the league. Yep, definitely ungrateful and spoiled no matter what afterthought comment you add at the end of your post saying you're happy to have him. You prefer the cunt or the cheater, clearly. But as Thomas said to each their own...

[RoyalBlues 4,050]

This is bollocks sorry. Have you not noticed that we've played our best football when Costa has been in top form? Do you think that's a coincidence or not?

Again, I'm struggling to understand this point of your argument specifically. Yeah, we all know Costa isn't a pure technical striker like Aguero or Suarez but you don't need to be that to be able to break the deadlock which Costa has done consistently for us this year, just go through all of his goals this year and the times they were scored at and you'll see that they were scored at crucial moments this season.

Again, you don't need to be Aguero or Suarez to be able to break the dead lock for your team when they're struggling.

Unless you've completely missed/blanked out Costa's early season form and his past seasons (sorry, if you're comparing a player's overall body of work you can't ignore his season last year at Atletico), your argument really doesn't have a strong basis IMO, because you weren't saying this before his goal drought.

You have aguero and Suarez in mind... so everyone has to be like them? How much has Suarez been scoring btw? Aguero has amazing service for him and he's a different kind of striker. Sorry but you sound awfully ungrateful, unappreciative and even a bit spoiled. Costa has 12 goals in 13 or 14 matches in the league. Yep, definitely ungrateful and spoiled no matter what afterthought comment you add at the end of your post saying you're happy to have him. You prefer the cunt or the cheater, clearly. But as Thomas said to each their own...

I think some of you missed my point at my first post. Of course Costa has scored an amount of important goals, but almost all of them come when teams are playing well. Yes, there might be one or two moment of rebounds balls, but generally that is what happened until now, at Chelsea. This is my basic point, if you guys couldn't understand or accept this, we're better agree to disagree then because we have a different basic perception of it.

If you understand that point, then go on. What I really mean with not a 'deadlock breaker' striker is that, he is more like a clinical finisher category striker. He needs someone to serve him with a good pass or cross, then he will finish it without problem. Of course some of them might come at the crucial time, or when we're in deadlock situation, I never denied it. And I never said he is shit and try to be ungrateful, unappreciative or something, I just pointed out his style of play, what kind of striker he is. I don't get why people 'furious' with this tbh.

And based on that, after last match, I fully realized and conclude that he is not a 'game changer' striker, because he is so far never stand out when team are struggling (don't asked me why I came out with conclusion only after recent match, I want to making sure of it first, and I think I have enough of assessment from the beginning of season until our last match). When the score are draw and we're struggling, he is barely couldn't create good chances to score, leave alone to found the back of the net suddenly, by his effort alone so far. This is my point, that he is not a 'game changer', 'deadlock breaker' striker or whatever you called it. If after that he then scored, almost sure, it is coming from Fabregas or Hazard or Oscar or Matic brilliant link up of play first, and then send or pass or cross the ball to Costa to finish the job.

Well if some of you still couldn't get it or disagree with it, we're agree to disagree then.

[Sheva. 5,373]

I think some of you missed my point at my first post. Of course Costa has scored an amount of important goals, but almost all of them come when teams are playing well. Yes, there might be one or two moment of rebounds balls, but generally that is what happened until now, at Chelsea. This is my basic point, if you guys couldn't understand or accept this, we're better agree to disagree then because we have a different basic perception of it.

If you understand that point, then go on. What I really mean with not a 'deadlock breaker' striker is that, he is more like a clinical finisher category striker. He needs someone to serve him with a good pass or cross, then he will finish it without problem. Of course some of them might come at the crucial time, or when we're in deadlock situation, I never denied it. And I never said he is shit and try to be ungrateful, unappreciative or something, I just pointed out his style of play, what kind of striker he is.

And based on that, after last match, I fully realized and conclude that he is not a 'game changer' striker, because he is so far never stand out when team are struggling (don't asked me why I came out with conclusion only after recent match, I want to making sure of it first, and I think I have enough of assessment from the beginning of season until our last match). When the score are draw and we're struggling, he is barely couldn't create good chances to score, leave alone to found the back of the net suddenly, by his effort alone. This is my point, that he is not a 'game changer', 'deadlock breaker' striker or whatever you called it. If after that he then scored, almost sure, it is coming from Fabregas or Hazard or Oscar or Matic brilliant of play first, and pass or cross the ball to Costa.

Well if some of you still disagree, we're agree to disagree then.

I agree with you. Costa is a beast, but he needs the right passes to score. This is what he wasn't getting much of during his dry spell.

He was he getting the ball in positions where he needed to dribble past a few players to get a shot off.

If he's on form, he can score some special goals, but it's not his typical game.

[Jase 43,479]

Jose Mourinho believes Diego Costa is unfairly being booked because referees have a 'certain image' of Chelsea striker

Hard to disagree..

[MrBlueGuy 1,552]

10 cards are 2 games ban, does 15 means 3? At this rate we can be looking at that sort of stuff unless Costa stop doing the dirty work.