Diego Costa

[RoyalBlues 4,050]

Or maybe Ba is already on his way?

Probably, but I'm still think it is a little bit lame reason, if only because of that, we delay the announcement. Considering Koke and others has return to Atletico for training yesterday, I think it is mainly because of his holiday after WC.

[Madmax 9,219]

Remember when Mourinho said after the Crystal Palace game that he needed 'balls' in the team next season? Reckon he's got them now.

Welcome. Be a bad motherfucker.

[Korea 734]

What number is Costa?

[Ryan Fong 2,776]

What number is Costa?

If Ba left then he will take 19 for sure.

[Spike 12,049]

I shall name him El Torta de Carnitas. Like the tortas I eat I expect a lot from this man.

[Strike 6,989]

he is Mourinho's most expensive signing ever

[Madmax 9,219]

Okay, so I had some free time on my hands and decided to compare Costa's last season with other top forwards from England and Europe. I've used whoscored data so the usual caveats with their stats apply. I'm not sure how much you can read into the numbers but a couple of them should spark good discussion. I'll provide whoscored's definitions for some of the more disputed parameters at the end of the post.

Diego Costa vs other forwards in 2013-14 :

Diego Costa vs Chelsea forwards in 2013-14 :

(Note that the 'passes', 'key passes' and 'dribbles' are all successful passes/ key passes/ dribbles and not merely attempted.)

Whoscored glossary :

Dispossessed

- Being tackled by an opponent without attempting to dribble past them

Key Pass
- The final pass leading to a shot at goal from a teammate

Turnover
- Loss of possession due to a mistake/poor control

[rantdeville 195]

For all his virtues, and let it be known I support the isht outta this guy, I do remember him losing the ball quite a bit.

For the life of me I can't recall which game it was against Barcelona, sometime during midseason maybe, but I recall watching him and thinking to myself, "holy hell this guy cannot keep the ball with his back to goal."

In that game, there was a spell of pressure where Atletico were absorbing an attack which might have lasted a solid 2 minutes straight, and Costa might have gotten the ball 3-4 times and all he had to do was hold the ball for 5 seconds while someone ran off him, and each time he'd commit a turnover. And Barca would be back in.

Granted, a VERY limited sample size to pull from on my part, but can't help to think we'd get punished for that against a more direct team (City, Liverpool, etc).

Maybe Drogba just spoiled me. Who knows.

[MrExcalibur100 7,124]

For all his virtues, and let it be known I support the isht outta this guy, I do remember him losing the ball quite a bit.

For the life of me I can't recall which game it was against Barcelona, sometime during midseason maybe, but I recall watching him and thinking to myself, "holy hell this guy cannot keep the ball with his back to goal."

In that game, there was a spell of pressure where Atletico were absorbing an attack which might have lasted a solid 2 minutes straight, and Costa might have gotten the ball 3-4 times and all he had to do was hold the ball for 5 seconds while someone ran off him, and each time he'd commit a turnover. And Barca would be back in.

Granted, a VERY limited sample size to pull from on my part, but can't help to think we'd get punished for that against a more direct team (City, Liverpool, etc).

Maybe Drogba just spoiled me. Who knows.

You can't come to any logical conclusion based off one game. The way Atletico play means more turnovers for the striker. Besides, there were many games where Drogba consistently lost the ball, especially early in his career for us. Means absolutely nothing.

[Special Juan 27,111]

If Ba left then he will take 19 for sure.

I think Ba leaving is a certainty.

[Ryan Fong 2,776]

I think Ba leaving is a certainty.

19 it is.

[Miki-Liki 405]

I'll be happy if he scores at least 20 goals...

[Spike 12,049]

@Madmax, Your charts have made the rounds on Facebook through the Brisbane supporters club.

[Azpinator 2,325]

I hope Diego Cunta lives up to his reputation.. but he's no Rickie Lambert!

[Special Juan 27,111]

Filipe Luis now confirmed too.

[RoyalBlues 4,050]

Thats it no 19 for him.

[Special Juan 27,111]

Added to our first team list on the site.

http://www.chelseafc.com/teams/first-team/diego-costa.html

[Jype 6,398]

Added to our first team list on the site.

http://www.chelseafc.com/teams/first-team/diego-costa.html

And still no Thibaut Courtois, whoever's running the website is clueless.