Diego Costa

[manpe 10,861]

8 hours ago, Beigl said:

His link up play was absolutely atrocious again. He didn´t even win a single header today, which would have been vital in the last 20 minutes. 

I know right? It's not like he's short and weak either, his positioning and body shape is always wrong when going for headers. He may even outjump the defender though his leap is crap, but his shit positioning and shape allows the opponent to get his head on first. And passing to him is like passing to a fucking wall, nothing sticks. Just awful. It's not a coincidence that the team's form has dipped together with Costa's, a ST who can't control the ball and get the basics right is always a liability and that's why we concede so much possession and face more pressure.

[Hybrid Angel 2,130]

By god he's been fucking shite. Belotti needed in the summer. Complete striker, much better option than Lukaku imo. In fact we shouldn't aim for Lukaku as I don't believe he's good enough for us. If he is then we're not as good as we think we are.

[Unionjack 7,531]

2 minutes ago, Hybrid Angel said:

By god he's been fucking shite. Belotti needed in the summer. Complete striker, much better option than Lukaku imo. In fact we shouldn't aim for Lukaku as I don't believe he's good enough for us. If he is then we're not as good as we think we are.

Or MAYBE Roms better than some here think he is

I knew there would be a backlash after his kick out last night. Hes his oiwn worse enemy. Everyone around me in the stands had their heads in their hands just wondering WTF is going on with him.

Hes not seemed his bouncy labradour fun self in training neither from the pics/vids Ive seen. Theres got to be summet in his head thats thrown his game off so much.

But if he gets a 4 game ban just WTF doo we do? I cant see Conte do a 360 and start Bats. So it will be Willian - Eden - Pedro. That is IF Moses is fit.

Lets hope the ban doesn't woek

[Special Juan 28,141]

He was terrible, anonymous nigh on all of the game.

[kellzfresh 7,229]

Poor game, especially in the first half. He is the major reason why we are not winning games comfortably again by giving the opponent back the ball almost all the time 

[kellzfresh 7,229]

Costa was our best player in the first half of the season. But now, he's absolute dogshite. Sorry 

There was a time in the first half when we had a dangerous counter, hazard was one on one with the centerback and instead of Costa to run forward and support play, he pulls the defender down off the ball and it became a mancity freekick.  I wished I could put my hands through the TV that moment and give him a slap. 

He no longer cares about scoring. He doesn't have the hunger of a striker, it's as if he's turned on by having physical contact with defenders instead of avoiding them  and trying to score. What in the world is wrong with him?

Our gameplay heavily depends on the holdup play and runs of the striker and Costa has been shite in holding up any sort of ball. In a big match like this, when the opponent is giving our midfield pressure, he's supposed to be the outball, but he doesn't win any headers, Pedro and hazard are even better than him in winning air balls. All costa wants is to be fouled so that he can complain to the referee

Against Palace, he didn’t make a single run in the box to the near post to get to one of the numerous dangerous crosses and ended up costing us the game. 

We need another striker to replace him when he gets on his poor second half of the season form yet again next season. 

[El P. 1,354]

I'm embarrassed when our fans sings his name during game.

Guy who clearly wanted out (Altetico, China, you name it), and has average or shit season third year in a row. Yes, he was average in 2014/15 too when he missed a lot of games (mostly because of his shit suspensions - his fault), and went AWOL second part of season, like most of the guys bar Hazard and Willian.

Please, stop singing his name!!

And, Diego, it's time to move on.

[DYC. 7,542]

40 minutes ago, kellzfresh said:

Costa was our best player in the first half of the season. But now, he's absolute dogshite. Sorry 

There was a time in the first half when we had a dangerous counter, hazard was one on one with the centerback and instead of Costa to run forward and support play, he pulls the defender down off the ball and it became a mancity freekick.  I wished I could put my hands through the TV that moment and give him a slap. 

He no longer cares about scoring. He doesn't have the hunger of a striker, it's as if he's turned on by having physical contact with defenders instead of avoiding them  and trying to score. What in the world is wrong with him?

Our gameplay heavily depends on the holdup play and runs of the striker and Costa has been shite in holding up any sort of ball. In a big match like this, when the opponent is giving our midfield pressure, he's supposed to be the outball, but he doesn't win any headers, Pedro and hazard are even better than him in winning air balls. All costa wants is to be fouled so that he can complain to the referee

Against Palace, he didn’t make a single run in the box to the near post to get to one of the numerous dangerous crosses and ended up costing us the game. 

We need another striker to replace him when he gets on his poor second half of the season form yet again next season. 

Yeah, the rugby tackle. I was done with him when I saw that. He could've been sent off on another day and hurt Chelsea for absolutely no reason. The ball wasn't even in his vicinity.

I thought/hoped the Costa we saw in the first half of the season was the beginning of a new man. After having to endure niggling injuries for so many years he was finally fit, which must've been a relieve. And now he finally managed to focus on his own game and was developing a new level of maturity by channeling his aggression in a positive manner. 28 is a great age for such a change to take place. A striker entering his prime.

But nahh, it was all smoke and mirrors. He was simply in the form of his life. But when that red hot form deserted him, his vision became hazy again and he lost his zen. There's no room for excuses anymore.

I'm only for replacing players if there's an upgrade ready to join though. Costa can still be useful to Chelsea. Purchasing Sanchez makes even more sense now. Whenever Costa goes off the boil again, Sanchez can then take over in the middle. It's either that or another Drogba/Crespo (Drogba/Anelka) is created.

But Costa can not be depended on for a full season, sadly. That much is clear.

[Special Juan 28,141]

He won't be punished for the incident as the referee saw it. Just need to wrap up the title and get shot of him in the summer, hopefully to China so we can rinse them of as much as possible for him.

[Leif 6,006]

10 hours ago, the wes said:

There's sky sports at there work again trying to get Costa a ban  they have it in for him 

http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/10826810/watch-did-diego-costa-intentionally-kick-vincent-kompany-at-stamford-bridge

Strange for Sky to be tryng to help us out for once.

[Leif 6,006]

This had 'how could he ever be a long term option?' written all over it when we bought him.

[Pizy 18,902]

Kompany is an honest, genuine pro so he didn't make a meal of the little "incident." Another player may have rolled around as if they'd been shot and tried to get Diego sent off.

But, yeah, yet again he had a poor game. For a change recently his hold up play was superb yesterday but I can't remember him even getting one shot away or testing City much at all. What's strange about his long dip in form is that it doesn't appear to be due to lack of effort. He's clearly trying out there but just isn't getting the job done.

Quite the conundrum we'll have this summer. 

[Special Juan 28,141]

1 minute ago, Pizy said:

Kompany is an honest, genuine pro so he didn't make a meal of the little "incident." Another player may have rolled around as if they'd been shot and tried to get Diego sent off.

But, yeah, yet again he had a poor game. For a change recently his hold up play was superb yesterday but I can't remember him even getting one shot away or testing City much at all. What's strange about his long dip in form is that it doesn't appear to be due to lack of effort. He's clearly trying out there but just isn't getting the job done.

Quite the conundrum we'll have this summer. 

No need for a conundrum mate, sell simple as that. His heads not in it anymore, ever since China gate he's been really poor. He's counting the Yen he can make in China.

[Pizy 18,902]

4 minutes ago, Special Juan said:

No need for a conundrum mate, sell simple as that. His heads not in it anymore, ever since China gate he's been really poor. He's counting the Yen he can make in China.

The conundrum is who to replace him with I guess. With Everton's new found "ambitious project" they'll dig their heels in for Pogba money which I don't know our board will pay.

I'd love Lukaku personally, but I also wouldn't mind us going for a highly skilled, great footballing striker instead. Griezmann for example, but he's off to United almost certainly.

[Special Juan 28,141]

1 minute ago, Pizy said:

The conundrum is who to replace him with I guess. With Everton's new found "ambitious project" they'll dig their heels in for Pogba money which I don't know our board will pay.

I'd love Lukaku personally, but I also wouldn't mind us going for a highly skilled, great footballing striker instead. Griezmann for example, but he's off to United almost certainly.

Right now Belotti ticks every box and cheaper than Lukaku. Belotti is immense right now.

[Leif 6,006]

Skipper mentions Belotti quite a bit and that's who I'd go for too. He seems to remind him of a more all-rounded Costa, and he reminds me of Benzema. By Benzema I mean, a striker who'll rarely go 3 games without scoring, does all the basics right, but still unfortunately isn't bringing a leader's mentality. All 3 players strike me as unusually quiet & perhaps very modest in their aims & self-belief. I like a striker to play as-if they're captain of the team, which I think Belotti would do some games but not every game.

He's more than worth a punt regardless. He plays like he's 30 & in his prime, and worst case scenario, you end up with one of the best strikers on your bench.

*& his link up play isn't the greatest, but it's more honest than Costa's. He's looking for the right pass to make every time; his priority is not falling over. He's also got a more powerful shot than both.

[Pizy 18,902]

Belotti is a good shout, but doesn't he have an absolutely ridiculous release clause? Coming from a small Italian side I'm not sure we can risk that sort of money.

[Kieran. 6,317]

10 minutes ago, Pizy said:

Belotti is a good shout, but doesn't he have an absolutely ridiculous release clause? Coming from a small Italian side I'm not sure we can risk that sort of money.

No one will pay that 80m or whatever release clause, he'll go for half that IMO

[King11Didier 916]

I really don't get why he still plays 90 minutes of football every time. He is not contributing in any way to our team, he is not even dangerous in the opposition box as his positioning sucks also now. He actually harms the team performances with stupid fouls in dangerous positions or even when we are attacking (Delph situation in the 1st half).
I don't know what happened with him, but he is not the same player which he was a couple a months ago. The guy couldn't even win a header against Jesus Navas ffs...

It's a shame, because we are coming to very crucial games in PL and FA cup also and we are actually playing without a striker. It's clear that Conte has 0 believe in Michy, which is another thing I can't understand, because I think he will be at least better in the air and can be more dangerous in the box, but the boy is not given even a minute to perform, I feel really sorry for him, can't understand what is Conte's problem with him.

[manpe 10,861]

Drop him! If Bats is worse then play Pedro, Haz or even Lofty-Cheeks instead of him. Very low intelligence player, has by far the worst decision making in our team and no ability to pull off what he wants to pull off in his mind. Then when things aren't working out he gets frustrated very easily and does stupid dangerous shit that makes me wanna punch his face. His main attributes that brought him close to world class were his movement and finishing, take those away and you are better off ignoring him.