Diego Costa

[Madmax 9,219]

Honestly, this is better than "HE'LL SCORE 40 GOALS AND WIN US THE LEAGUE!!!"

The less pressure on him the better.

The less pressure on him? So you telling me Diego surfs TalkChelsea?

"Shit, man. This Choulo fella doesn't want to pressure me. Thanks, Choulo19. Have a like!"

[ulsterchelsea 3,221]

Piece by a fella on twitter. Really good read http://plainsofalmeria.co.uk/2014/07/02/diego-costa-walk-the-line/

[Fulham Broadway 16,928]

Piece by a fella on twitter. Really good read http://plainsofalmeria.co.uk/2014/07/02/diego-costa-walk-the-line/

Yup good read. He is not the finished article, and Jose will tame him. probably going to be the goalscoring machine thats been lacking.

Worst case scenario, his borderline mental illness becomes full blown, and we have to offload him to Barca for £80m in a couple of seasons

[CHOULO19 24,332]

The less pressure on him? So you telling me Diego surfs TalkChelsea?

"Shit, man. This Choulo fella doesn't want to pressure me. Thanks, Choulo19. Have a like!"

No, the fans and the media can't put any pressure whatsoever on players

[MrExcalibur100 7,124]

Piece by a fella on twitter. Really good read http://plainsofalmeria.co.uk/2014/07/02/diego-costa-walk-the-line/

I love that site. Their stuff is always very comprehensive.

[Madmax 9,219]

No, the fans and the media can't put any pressure whatsoever on players

I see, because users on an internet forum posting "he'll score 40 next season!" = 'fans and the media'

[The only place to be 11,313]

Piece by a fella on twitter. Really good read http://plainsofalmeria.co.uk/2014/07/02/diego-costa-walk-the-line/

Interesting aspect that he brings up is Costa's relentless and tenaciousness. Even in Spain's poor games, he still worked the channels well making intelligent runs that simply weren't picked up on by the midfielders most of the time.

What typified Torres's decline, and even Sheva's, was that their heads' dropped. They'd look like shells of their former selves, almost like little boys at times. Hopefully Costa isn't like that. He doesn't look like the type of guy to lose that fire, although the worry is that he goes the other way and the frustration leads to him lashing out....a bit like Drogba could.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

I see, because users on an internet forum posting "he'll score 40 next season!" = 'fans and the media'

TalkChelsea is part of the general consensus that sets what most of the fans think and what ultimately decides what journos write. Of course, one user can't make a difference, or even probably the whole forum, but it's a part.

[Madmax 9,219]

TalkChelsea is part of the general consensus that sets what most of the fans think and what ultimately decides what journos write. Of course, one user can't make a difference, or even probably the whole forum, but it's a part.

Sorry but that's ridiculous. I think you're vastly overestimating the impact internet forums have on actual football and actual footballers, especially at a club like Chelsea and especially when we're talking about a bullheaded fucker like Costa.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

Sorry but that's ridiculous. I think you're vastly overestimating the impact internet forums have on actual football and actual footballers, especially at a club like Chelsea and especially when we're talking about a bullheaded fucker like Costa.

I'm vastly overestimating the impact of the forum when I said it probably makes no difference?

I'm saying it's part of the general consensus and the general consensus makes a difference. In fact, my original comment was not about the particular user or the whole forum, it was about how most Chelsea fans seem to have low expectations of him.

[Madmax 9,219]

I'm vastly overestimating the impact of the forum when I said it probably makes no difference?

I'm saying it's part of the general consensus and the general consensus makes a difference. In fact, my original comment was not about the particular user or the whole forum, it was about how most Chelsea fans seem to have low expectations of him.

No, you're overestimating when you say journalists write stuff based on the general consensus of which the forum is a part. Journalists don't give a fuck about the general consensus, otherwise they wouldn't have been praising Benitez to high heaven when most Chelsea fans (paying and virtual) couldn't stand the sight of him. They write stuff entirely based on their biases and observations - good and bad.

[The only place to be 11,313]

No, you're overestimating when you say journalists write stuff based on the general consensus of which the forum is a part. Journalists don't give a fuck about the general consensus, otherwise they wouldn't have been praising Benitez to high heaven when most Chelsea fans (paying and virtual) couldn't stand the sight of him. They write stuff entirely based on their biases and observations - good and bad.

Not true actually. Reporters do pay attention to the general consensus and write accordingly.

[Madmax 9,219]

Not true actually. Reporters do pay attention to the general consensus and write accordingly.

In my experience it's the reporters who influence general consensus, not the other way round.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

No, you're overestimating when you say journalists write stuff based on the general consensus of which the forum is a part. Journalists don't give a fuck about the general consensus, otherwise they wouldn't have been praising Benitez to high heaven when most Chelsea fans (paying and virtual) couldn't stand the sight of him. They write stuff entirely based on their biases and observations - good and bad.

Of course the general consensus plays a HUGE part in what journos write and in turn the media influences the general consensus. That's why 90% of the whats written in the papers and said by the 'experts' on TV are the same crap being repeated over and over again. Of course, there are variations based on personal opinion and biases, but that seems to be very smal. There are also variations based on what would be considered "shocking" and get more clicks, but that's the state of the media in the world right now.

Regarding Rafa, while most Chelsea fans hated his guts, the majority of football fans in the country were on his side and thought that he was being mistreated by the Chelsea fans. It was even said publicly by some opposition managers. So, the general consensus in football was very sympathetic with him.

You really can't argue that the general consensus does not influence opinions. That's ridiculous!

[Madmax 9,219]

Of course the general consensus plays a HUGE part in what journos write and in turn the media influences the general consensus. That's why 90% of the whats written in the papers and said by the 'experts' on TV are the same crap being repeated over and over again. Of course, there are variations based on personal opinion and biases, but that seems to be very smal. There are also variations based on what would be considered "shocking" and get more clicks, but that's the state of the media in the world right now.

Basically what I said a post above - reporters influence general consensus more than it being the other way around.

Regarding Rafa, while most Chelsea fans hated his guts, the majority of football fans in the country were on his side and thought that he was being mistreated by the Chelsea fans. It was even said publicly by some opposition managers. So, the general consensus in football was very sympathetic with him.

The same fans who snickered and laughed their heads off when the guy was at Liverpool. Anything to make CFC look bad.

[The only place to be 11,313]

In my experience it's the reporters who influence general consensus, not the other way round.

Very, very rarely. You're suggesting that people read informed, articulate articles and make judgments accordingly based on reason. They don't.

People tend to read newspapers to reconfirm their pre-existing biases. Sports journos tend to just write around narratives that are already out there so people will read their articles and nod along. Occasionally you get journos who write contrary pieces to be different and gain attention that way.

[Madmax 9,219]

Very, very rarely. You're suggesting that people read informed, articulate articles and make judgments accordingly based on reason. They don't.

People tend to read newspapers to reconfirm their pre-existing biases. Sports journos tend to just write around narratives that are already out there so people will read their articles and nod along. Occasionally you get journos who write contrary pieces to be different and gain attention that way.

Nope, not suggesting that. In a dynamic, extremely competitive industry like sports journalism what you get is 90% of the baying crowds fed by biased pieces and rhetoric (especially in this age of twitter and the like) drowning out 'informed, articulated' opinions. This 90% then becomes the general consensus.

[Kezza 1,965]

So does Diego Costa-lot?..

Sorry, just wanted to say that