Diego Costa

[kellzfresh 7,229]

Chances created in the penalty area this season (up or down on last season).

Man City 11.8 (up 0.1)

Arsenal 9.2 (up 0.5)

Chelsea 9.2 (down 0.7)

West Ham 8.7 (up 2.0)

Southampton 8.4 (up 0.5)

Liverpool 8.3 (down 1.5)

Man Utd 7.5 (down 1.4)

QPR 7.4 (promoted)

Stoke 7.3 (up 1.4)

Newcastle 7.0 (down 0.1)

Credit to fabregas for making our chances more clear-cut, and Costa for providing finishing of the highest level.

[BlueLion. 21,491]

We're making less chances because we can actually fucking take them now.

Like all strikers, Diego will blow hot and cold and whilst he will have little streaks like now (four goals in three games) and when he first joined (seven in four), he will also go weeks without goals. However you'd back him four times in five to stick the ball in the back of the net. With Torres, I would normally put money on him missing. Him scoring used to come as a surprise.

Diego is the best possible striker we could have bought. Well done to Mourinho and the boys who made this transfer come to fruition. We have our striker for the next 5/6 years and he will easily score more than 100 goals for this club. He already has 17 in 25 games, ffs.

[Madmax 9,219]

Don't ask!

The bear looks like it's fearing for it's life.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

The bear looks like it's fearing for it's life.

As it should be. The bunny is trying to look too cute to be elbowed!

[Madmax 9,219]

@Pizy just complained about the media not giving him enough recognition. I don't care much about biased media that is basically United and Liverpool ex players or fans.

Using this to once again post the footballing brain that is His Highness Didi Hamann's pronouncements back in August :

"Costa is overrated. He had a couple of good years for Atlético Madrid, but his biggest asset is his physicality and while he could bully defenders in Spain, in England they will not be scared of him; as we saw at the World Cup, he is not a ball-playing striker. He was badly found out for Spain. They should have kept Samuel Eto'o for another season and I do not see Diego Costa offering them much."

That's not all ...

"Cesc Fábregas is obviously a very good signing. I played against him a few times and he is gifted. But is he dominant enough to change Chelsea's style? Can he do that on his own? Has he got the players around him to bring out the best in him? I am not so sure."

But wait, there's more ...

"Forget about Chelsea, I have a feeling that Van Gaal's United will be the biggest threat to City."

Fascinating. Go on, Didi ...

"I am happy with the players Liverpool have signed, although they still need a centre-forward. Lambert and Adam Lallana have shown they can play in the Premier League; Emre Can and Lazar Markovic still have to do that but they are very exciting. Dejan Lovren will also improve the Liverpool defence, although the criticism of them was too harsh last season. They have moved to strengthen the full-back positions and are better defensively than people make out."

Okay, one more ...

"Arsenal look like the best London team"

[BlueLion. 21,491]

Using this to once again post the footballing brain that is His Highness Didi Hamann's pronouncements back in August :

"Costa is overrated. He had a couple of good years for Atlético Madrid, but his biggest asset is his physicality and while he could bully defenders in Spain, in England they will not be scared of him; as we saw at the World Cup, he is not a ball-playing striker. He was badly found out for Spain. They should have kept Samuel Eto'o for another season and I do not see Diego Costa offering them much."

That's not all ...

"Cesc Fábregas is obviously a very good signing. I played against him a few times and he is gifted. But is he dominant enough to change Chelsea's style? Can he do that on his own? Has he got the players around him to bring out the best in him? I am not so sure."

But wait, there's more ...

"Forget about Chelsea, I have a feeling that Van Gaal's United will be the biggest threat to City."

Fascinating. Go on, Didi ...

"I am happy with the players Liverpool have signed, although they still need a centre-forward. Lambert and Adam Lallana have shown they can play in the Premier League; Emre Can and Lazar Markovic still have to do that but they are very exciting. Dejan Lovren will also improve the Liverpool defence, although the criticism of them was too harsh last season. They have moved to strengthen the full-back positions and are better defensively than people make out."

Okay, one more ...

"Arsenal look like the best London team"

He was an average footballer at best and an even worse pundit, but this is comedy gold, like something ripped from a thread off RAWK.

[Thendo 1,088]

Using this to once again post the footballing brain that is His Highness Didi Hamann's pronouncements back in August :

"Costa is overrated. He had a couple of good years for Atlético Madrid, but his biggest asset is his physicality and while he could bully defenders in Spain, in England they will not be scared of him; as we saw at the World Cup, he is not a ball-playing striker. He was badly found out for Spain. They should have kept Samuel Eto'o for another season and I do not see Diego Costa offering them much."

That's not all ...

"Cesc Fábregas is obviously a very good signing. I played against him a few times and he is gifted. But is he dominant enough to change Chelsea's style? Can he do that on his own? Has he got the players around him to bring out the best in him? I am not so sure."

But wait, there's more ...

"Forget about Chelsea, I have a feeling that Van Gaal's United will be the biggest threat to City."

Fascinating. Go on, Didi ...

"I am happy with the players Liverpool have signed, although they still need a centre-forward. Lambert and Adam Lallana have shown they can play in the Premier League; Emre Can and Lazar Markovic still have to do that but they are very exciting. Dejan Lovren will also improve the Liverpool defence, although the criticism of them was too harsh last season. They have moved to strengthen the full-back positions and are better defensively than people make out."

Okay, one more ...

"Arsenal look like the best London team"

Shocking stuff!

[Barbara 15,149]

Using this to once again post the footballing brain that is His Highness Didi Hamann's pronouncements back in August :

"Costa is overrated. He had a couple of good years for Atlético Madrid, but his biggest asset is his physicality and while he could bully defenders in Spain, in England they will not be scared of him; as we saw at the World Cup, he is not a ball-playing striker. He was badly found out for Spain. They should have kept Samuel Eto'o for another season and I do not see Diego Costa offering them much."

That's not all ...

"Cesc Fábregas is obviously a very good signing. I played against him a few times and he is gifted. But is he dominant enough to change Chelsea's style? Can he do that on his own? Has he got the players around him to bring out the best in him? I am not so sure."

But wait, there's more ...

"Forget about Chelsea, I have a feeling that Van Gaal's United will be the biggest threat to City."

Fascinating. Go on, Didi ...

"I am happy with the players Liverpool have signed, although they still need a centre-forward. Lambert and Adam Lallana have shown they can play in the Premier League; Emre Can and Lazar Markovic still have to do that but they are very exciting. Dejan Lovren will also improve the Liverpool defence, although the criticism of them was too harsh last season. They have moved to strengthen the full-back positions and are better defensively than people make out."

Okay, one more ...

"Arsenal look like the best London team"

that's some outstanding football knowledge. It rivals a few things we read here (not necessarily this thread). But no one here is a paid pundit so we at least have an excuse to say all kind of BS we want. Sort of.

[Dion 2,476]

Using this to once again post the footballing brain that is His Highness Didi Hamann's pronouncements back in August :

"Costa is overrated. He had a couple of good years for Atlético Madrid, but his biggest asset is his physicality and while he could bully defenders in Spain, in England they will not be scared of him; as we saw at the World Cup, he is not a ball-playing striker. He was badly found out for Spain. They should have kept Samuel Eto'o for another season and I do not see Diego Costa offering them much."

That's not all ...

"Cesc Fábregas is obviously a very good signing. I played against him a few times and he is gifted. But is he dominant enough to change Chelsea's style? Can he do that on his own? Has he got the players around him to bring out the best in him? I am not so sure."

But wait, there's more ...

"Forget about Chelsea, I have a feeling that Van Gaal's United will be the biggest threat to City."

Fascinating. Go on, Didi ...

"I am happy with the players Liverpool have signed, although they still need a centre-forward. Lambert and Adam Lallana have shown they can play in the Premier League; Emre Can and Lazar Markovic still have to do that but they are very exciting. Dejan Lovren will also improve the Liverpool defence, although the criticism of them was too harsh last season. They have moved to strengthen the full-back positions and are better defensively than people make out."

Okay, one more ...

"Arsenal look like the best London team"

That's some next level fail. The only thing he didn't predict completely wrong was City being a strong contender but that was the easiest one to predict and I bet he thought they would be #1 in the EPL right now ("will be the biggest threat to City"), and not playing the catch up game with us

[BlueLion. 21,491]

But wait, there's more ...

"Forget about Chelsea, I have a feeling that Van Gaal's United will be the biggest threat to City."

To be fair, he was spot on with this.

The biggest threat to City for second place

[Nero 1,838]

Using this to once again post the footballing brain that is His Highness Didi Hamann's pronouncements back in August :

"Costa is overrated. He had a couple of good years for Atlético Madrid, but his biggest asset is his physicality and while he could bully defenders in Spain, in England they will not be scared of him; as we saw at the World Cup, he is not a ball-playing striker. He was badly found out for Spain. They should have kept Samuel Eto'o for another season and I do not see Diego Costa offering them much."

That's not all ...

"Cesc Fábregas is obviously a very good signing. I played against him a few times and he is gifted. But is he dominant enough to change Chelsea's style? Can he do that on his own? Has he got the players around him to bring out the best in him? I am not so sure."

But wait, there's more ...

"Forget about Chelsea, I have a feeling that Van Gaal's United will be the biggest threat to City."

Fascinating. Go on, Didi ...

"I am happy with the players Liverpool have signed, although they still need a centre-forward. Lambert and Adam Lallana have shown they can play in the Premier League; Emre Can and Lazar Markovic still have to do that but they are very exciting. Dejan Lovren will also improve the Liverpool defence, although the criticism of them was too harsh last season. They have moved to strengthen the full-back positions and are better defensively than people make out."

Okay, one more ...

"Arsenal look like the best London team"

well, this is awkward

[rantdeville 195]

Using this to once again post the footballing brain that is His Highness Didi Hamann's pronouncements back in August :

"Costa is overrated. He had a couple of good years for Atlético Madrid, but his biggest asset is his physicality and while he could bully defenders in Spain, in England they will not be scared of him; as we saw at the World Cup, he is not a ball-playing striker. He was badly found out for Spain. They should have kept Samuel Eto'o for another season and I do not see Diego Costa offering them much."

That's not all ...

"Cesc Fábregas is obviously a very good signing. I played against him a few times and he is gifted. But is he dominant enough to change Chelsea's style? Can he do that on his own? Has he got the players around him to bring out the best in him? I am not so sure."

But wait, there's more ...

"Forget about Chelsea, I have a feeling that Van Gaal's United will be the biggest threat to City."

Fascinating. Go on, Didi ...

"I am happy with the players Liverpool have signed, although they still need a centre-forward. Lambert and Adam Lallana have shown they can play in the Premier League; Emre Can and Lazar Markovic still have to do that but they are very exciting. Dejan Lovren will also improve the Liverpool defence, although the criticism of them was too harsh last season. They have moved to strengthen the full-back positions and are better defensively than people make out."

Okay, one more ...

"Arsenal look like the best London team"

Hope he's not a gambling man.

[bababoom 4,478]

Hope he's not a gambling man.

Hamann in trouble over £600,000 gambling debt

[CHOULO19 24,332]

Worst part is that I used to really like Hamman as a player #TCConfessions

[LDN Blue 7,903]

Worst part is that I used to really like Hamman as a player #TCConfessions

As did I xD

I loved when he took Joey Barton apart on Twitter

[the wes 7,212]

147 - Diego Costa has now scored five and assisted one in 147 minutes of Premier League football against Swansea. The former Atletico striker scored more goals (16) in his 19 domestic appearances this season than any Chelsea player managed throughout the entirety of last season.

[DH1988 1,273]

Had his faults this year, bookings and hold up/link up play wasn't the best and was actually frustrating at one point but he's sorted that sharpish and its now much much much better.

Not sure how else this guy improves? Except gain height/weight he's tiny!

[Barbara 15,149]

Had his faults this year, bookings and hold up/link up play wasn't the best and was actually frustrating at one point but he's sorted that sharpish and its now much much much better.

Not sure how else this guy improves? Except gain height/weight he's tiny!

Tiny? He's no Hulk but far from tiny