Diego Costa

[BlueLyon 9,359]

12 hours ago, Leif said:

Lewandowski is out for Bayern in the CL tie tonight - worrying, yes, but not the end of the world, and you'd still consider Bayern to be at least equal to Madrid.

If Messi or Neymar is out, worrying yes, but you still expect Barcelona to win.

If Dybala is out, you still expect Juve to win.

But when Costa is out? (even with his form this year.) Shambles. The walls would crumble down around us, and whoever we're against would instantly be favourites, in a CL tie at least.

Why oh why are we the ONLY top club winning league titles, that try and get by with only ONE top striker? Juve, Man City, United, Barcelona, Madrid, PSG, even Benfica, Monaco, Atletico Madrid...They all have options when their main striker is out for whatever reason. Yet we wonder why our striker ends up mentally exhausted? We wonder why our striker stops fighting? Rocket science...

We're never in that boat which has OPTIONS. For years now, we never have a rotation strategy for our striker(s). It sickens me. The exact same goes for Hazard too, and Luiz, and Kante. 1 single main player being out is terrible for us, but not nearly as terrible for any other team, even Arsenal & Liverpool. I'm all for romance and not just buying big names to excite fans, but you need quality on the bench, big name or not. Only twice under Abramovich have we had a better scenario (so is it HIS order?); Anelka + Drogba; Eto'o + Ba. That's it. The only time we've had strikers as good as eachother; the only time we wouldn't pull our hair out after finding out our striker's ruled out the day or night before a game. 

Costa isn't quite as troublesome as the way we're still being managed. This is why I see the likes of Silva & Mbappe as BENCH players, not damn automatic starters like most would have them. It absolutely ruins their mentality. No player can resist decreasing in quality if their place in the lineup is a given.

Because three things

1.) We dont have youth/players with national identity. 

Bayern, Real, Barca etc have players like Nacho, Kimmich...who are either a product of youth or players who identify with club. They are either super talented players ready to be on bench because they dreamed of playing for this club or they are youth products who are very reliable when called. And very loyal. 

We dont have such players. Actualy we do, but we dont trust them. Last season was a shit seaso and we could easily play RLC for remaining of season. Easily. Everyone was so bad, we werent in any race for trophy and should play RLC and Kenedy. But we didnt, because SHORT SIGHT. Hiddink was "cowardly" enough to inisist on Iva, Matic etc because they are safe options, to show he is doing good job, when in reality he should show some balls, realize we need to build for future and throw kids in fire, even if we lost even more games. At least they would gain experience. Usualy in title chasing seasons we cant do it, but last season was crap, no excuse and we still didnt give them a fucking chance.

2.) We make wrong purchases/lack of faith in them

We paid 35m for Bats and we dont even use him. What else is there to say? For that money we could definately get someone at least good enough to replace Costa if needed. 

3.) We are not as attractive club for better players

Bayern has Costa, Boateng, Muller,...on bench and they are happy. Same for Real with Isco, Morata,...

And even so Bayern was poor today because Lewa and Hummels didnt start. Very poor. You cant say they are equaly good.

You are wrong about Barca and Juve. Both have very average bench too, no better than ours. If Msn is out, who they play? Arda or Rafinha? Neither is better than Willian or Pedro. Iniesta replacement is Gomes who is garbage. They dont even have proper RB. 

Juve without Dybala is much lesser team. They dont have quality replacement for him.

If we pay 80m for Silva or Mbappe, they will be starters. They would be in any team. Sure if they underperform they would get dropped like Torres, James did. 

The problem is that we need a very strong bench. But we cant bring top players there because they wont join to sit. We cant bring top talents either because they will be useless because we dont have any faith. We cant bring there any youth for same reason. And we cant bring there any "utility" players; those who are not realy top, but would give 110% for club to help, because we are not big insitution.

----

Bottom line the best we can do, is bring some new players for our first 11 and KEEP our current players like Matic, Cesc, Pedro, Willian,...and obviously rotate enough so everyone has their play time. 

But you have to know one thing. What you talk about is team chemistry. Real can throw Nacho, Asensio,...whoever and they will perform because atm they are well drilled unit. Bayern, Juve are not as drilled, but close. Barca is far from it. One missing player and they play like crap. 

Last year we couldnt play well with our strongest 11. Because chemistry was shite. With Conte, we improved it massively. Just trust him.

But one thing is certain. We will always be the dogs against Real, Barca, Bayern...they will always dominate. Its our dna to let them play their game and punish them. We will be masters of that if we create top team for such football. But we will also not lose 3:0 4:0 5:0 against them either. 

Yes we might not play fancy, we might be underdogs, but in the end, we have at least 50% chance to win everytime we will play them. Because we can grind out results. Because they can attack us all night. And we can play as shitty and ugly as possible. But we dont care. We care only about win. We need one shot and we beat them. And they know it. 

As long our players, whoever plays; give 110% those nights, I dont care about result or about how we play. I dont care if we dont have Galacticos in squad. If we dont have stars on bench. 

As long we do it our way, the Chelsea way. 

[OneMoSalah 8,778]

5 hours ago, BlueLyon said:

Because three things

1.) We dont have youth/players with national identity. 

Bayern, Real, Barca etc have players like Nacho, Kimmich...who are either a product of youth or players who identify with club. They are either super talented players ready to be on bench because they dreamed of playing for this club or they are youth products who are very reliable when called. And very loyal. 

We dont have such players. Actualy we do, but we dont trust them. Last season was a shit seaso and we could easily play RLC for remaining of season. Easily. Everyone was so bad, we werent in any race for trophy and should play RLC and Kenedy. But we didnt, because SHORT SIGHT. Hiddink was "cowardly" enough to inisist on Iva, Matic etc because they are safe options, to show he is doing good job, when in reality he should show some balls, realize we need to build for future and throw kids in fire, even if we lost even more games. At least they would gain experience. Usualy in title chasing seasons we cant do it, but last season was crap, no excuse and we still didnt give them a fucking chance.

2.) We make wrong purchases/lack of faith in them

We paid 35m for Bats and we dont even use him. What else is there to say? For that money we could definately get someone at least good enough to replace Costa if needed. 

3.) We are not as attractive club for better players

Bayern has Costa, Boateng, Muller,...on bench and they are happy. Same for Real with Isco, Morata,...

And even so Bayern was poor today because Lewa and Hummels didnt start. Very poor. You cant say they are equaly good.

You are wrong about Barca and Juve. Both have very average bench too, no better than ours. If Msn is out, who they play? Arda or Rafinha? Neither is better than Willian or Pedro. Iniesta replacement is Gomes who is garbage. They dont even have proper RB. 

Juve without Dybala is much lesser team. They dont have quality replacement for him.

If we pay 80m for Silva or Mbappe, they will be starters. They would be in any team. Sure if they underperform they would get dropped like Torres, James did. 

The problem is that we need a very strong bench. But we cant bring top players there because they wont join to sit. We cant bring top talents either because they will be useless because we dont have any faith. We cant bring there any youth for same reason. And we cant bring there any "utility" players; those who are not realy top, but would give 110% for club to help, because we are not big insitution.

----

Bottom line the best we can do, is bring some new players for our first 11 and KEEP our current players like Matic, Cesc, Pedro, Willian,...and obviously rotate enough so everyone has their play time. 

But you have to know one thing. What you talk about is team chemistry. Real can throw Nacho, Asensio,...whoever and they will perform because atm they are well drilled unit. Bayern, Juve are not as drilled, but close. Barca is far from it. One missing player and they play like crap. 

Last year we couldnt play well with our strongest 11. Because chemistry was shite. With Conte, we improved it massively. Just trust him.

But one thing is certain. We will always be the dogs against Real, Barca, Bayern...they will always dominate. Its our dna to let them play their game and punish them. We will be masters of that if we create top team for such football. But we will also not lose 3:0 4:0 5:0 against them either. 

Yes we might not play fancy, we might be underdogs, but in the end, we have at least 50% chance to win everytime we will play them. Because we can grind out results. Because they can attack us all night. And we can play as shitty and ugly as possible. But we dont care. We care only about win. We need one shot and we beat them. And they know it. 

As long our players, whoever plays; give 110% those nights, I dont care about result or about how we play. I dont care if we dont have Galacticos in squad. If we dont have stars on bench. 

As long we do it our way, the Chelsea way. 

 

I am glad Guus didn't go absolutely radical and change everything up because who knows what could of happened if he did, we could of got relegated for all we know we were that poor last season. Theres no way Kenedy and Ruben would have changed anything. Kenedy played under Mourinho and did virtually nothing bar one goal against Norwich, ironically he played against PSG under Guus and looked better. The experience in those senior players (although they were terrible under Mourinho and even Guus) helped us stabilize a bit and probably made sure we didn't fall any further down the table. 

We talk about identities and national/homegrown players with other clubs but Ruben Loftus-Cheek? Cmon hes an extremely overrated, overpaid average footballer who will go on to have an average career, Dom Solanke is probably the same... these guys Nacho, Asensio, Kimmich, Morata whoever are a totally different level to these guys, all have senior caps for some of the best international teams in Europe (Nacho is pretty average but hes made some sort of career out of being a 3rd/4th/5th choice player who can play RB/CB/LB). If Ruben Loftus-Cheek ever makes a name for himself here and becomes a senior international I think we'd all be shocked. 

Batshuayi will be better next season because he has suffered this year. Suffering because of the lack of playing time, while having to adapt to a new league isn't easy, hes gone from playing 90 minutes every week for a year solid at Marseille to literally playing like a combined total of 300-400 minutes for Chelsea (mostly in cup games). I don't think its fair to write him off, hes not been the player I hoped we would be getting but hes still scored goals in limited minutes and I dont think its as easy for us to just sell him and sign Morata like some people would think lol.

Isco, Morata, Costa, Muller, Boateng whoever else is on the bench for those teams I promise you, will not be happy. Isco has been on the bench ever since he went to Real and its known hes not happy to the point hes been repeatedly talked about leaving even now as a part of a deal to take Hazard to Madrid. Douglas Costa is the same, struggled to displace Ribery and Robben this season, unhappy with playing time wants more money as well. Morata probably isn't even who Zidane wanted at Real but he was signed regardless and despite scoring 11 goals for Madrid this season has struggled to get minutes. No football player is happy to sit on the bench, that is some sort of myth. We need improvements in some areas but its not easy to just sign 4 players to replace Cesc/Matic, Cahill, Pedro and Moses/Alonso and except those guys to be content with being rotated... 

Those teams, Bayern, Barca, Real, Juventus all have one advantage over us, they have a group of players who have played the same system with the same spine for 4-5 years at least. Conte needs to build his team in his own way, but keep Courtois, Azpilicueta, Kante, Eden, Diego in that team at all costs, bend his system/tactics to incorporate those guys. 

[the wes 7,212]

DIEGO COSTA has dropped a massive hint he will stay at Chelsea this summer.

http://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/football/605343/Diego-Costa-Chelsea-transfer-hint-Eden-Hazard-Premier-League-Antonio-Conte-Gossip-CFC

[Socur Toxanarosa 145]

3 hours ago, the wes said:

DIEGO COSTA has dropped a massive hint he will stay at Chelsea this summer.

http://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/football/605343/Diego-Costa-Chelsea-transfer-hint-Eden-Hazard-Premier-League-Antonio-Conte-Gossip-CFC

Thank god, we just need a good substitute, Llorente would do it for me, and should be ultra cheap. Let's spend the money on Sanchez.

[BlueLyon 9,359]

7 hours ago, Socur Toxanarosa said:

Thank god, we just need a good substitute, Llorente would do it for me, and should be ultra cheap. Let's spend the money on Sanchez.

If Costa stays (hopefuly) my choice for backup striker would be Morata without a doubt. 

He would be expensive, but we would sell Bats who Conte obviously doesnt trust. CM, wingback or two and RW are priorities tho.

[Socur Toxanarosa 145]

4 hours ago, BlueLyon said:

If Costa stays (hopefuly) my choice for backup striker would be Morata without a doubt. 

He would be expensive, but we would sell Bats who Conte obviously doesnt trust. CM, wingback or two and RW are priorities tho.

Morata won't come if Costa stays, he's already bitching about playing time in Madrid.

[BlueLion. 21,491]

Let's be absolutely honest here - and we don't need to refer to statistics - he's been a liability since the will-he-or-won't-he-go-to-China rumours in January. I think his performance against Bournemouth was one of the most hapless I've ever seen. 

[OneMoSalah 8,778]

Hes not going to leave Chelsea for China. Seriously. Hes having a poor run but don't forget the performances he had put in when he was 100% fit and focused at start of his career here and this season. I still think he has fitness issues. Not severe ones but he always seemed to be in about niggling little injuries at Atletico and even here so dont be surprised. If not a loss of form is normal for any player. Hes still doing stuff, winning free kicks etc, hes not exactly a burden like Torres.

[It's too big 625]

That's a bit of a downer to hear Costa could stay. It means we will continue to have a inconsistent striker with poor technical abilities. I think he may be a liability when we go up against the big sides in Europe next season. 

[DYC. 7,542]

I remember all those 'best striker in the world' and 'better and more important than Hazard' posts so it's funny to see how the general perception has turned so viciously.

While his performances of late are concerning and frustrating, people need to get a grip. Chels are still winning games with him in the team. Chels are still on top with a strong lead. Chels are still in the FA Cup. He's been bad but it's not that deep.

His current form does not erase what he did in the first half of the season. Costa has been key to Chelsea's probable title win.

[Socur Toxanarosa 145]

6 hours ago, It's too big said:

That's a bit of a downer to hear Costa could stay. It means we will continue to have a inconsistent striker with poor technical abilities. I think he may be a liability when we go up against the big sides in Europe next season. 

 

[The Skipper 20,593]

2 minutes ago, Socur Toxanarosa said:

 

Ahhhh, on form Diego. Miss that guy.

[Socur Toxanarosa 145]

1 hour ago, The Skipper said:

Ahhhh, on form Diego. Miss that guy.

The amazing goal against PSG was last season tho.

[OhForAGreavsie 5,892]

On 14/04/2017 at 0:06 PM, BlueLion. said:

Let's be absolutely honest here - and we don't need to refer to statistics - he's been a liability since the will-he-or-won't-he-go-to-China rumours in January. I think his performance against Bournemouth was one of the most hapless I've ever seen. 

We'd all love to rail against this post and explain why we think it's wrong. My guess is that @BlueLion. would like that as much as any of us but, sadly, we can't because it isn't wrong.

On 14/04/2017 at 0:27 PM, OneMoSalah said:

Hes not going to leave Chelsea for China. Seriously. Hes having a poor run but don't forget the performances he had put in when he was 100% fit and focused at start of his career here and this season. I still think he has fitness issues. Not severe ones but he always seemed to be in about niggling little injuries at Atletico and even here so dont be surprised. If not a loss of form is normal for any player. Hes still doing stuff, winning free kicks etc, hes not exactly a burden like Torres.

No one is complaining about a loss of form. A loss of form is a run of the mill occurance we all recognise when we see it. What people are suspicious is happening here is a lack of commitment and a lack of effort. That's an entirely different kettle of fish.

Let's hope that facing Jose's team later today will motivate Diego to demonstrate his desire again.

[BlueLion. 21,491]

9 hours ago, OhForAGreavsie said:

We'd all love to rail against this post and explain why we think it's wrong. My guess is that @BlueLion. would like that as much as any of us but, sadly, we can't because it isn't wrong.

 

Nah, never really been a fan of people trying to offer counter-arguments... especially when there isn't one, it pains me to say. I love Diego, but he is utter garbage at the moment. He's been pants the last couple of months and sadly his slump in form is alarmingly getting gradually worse. His performance last weekend was laughable... he looked drunk at the best of times. His turn for the first goal was excellent, but everything else he tried to do suggested he was under the influence of some pretty heavy narcotics. Useless.

[PANDOOBIE 1]

Get this man OFF THE FIELD.

It is getting ridiculous how bad he plays and is still in favour of Bat.

Loses every fucking ball, breaks up play all the time. Soooo frustrating to watch.

And now with yellow behind his name he should be taken off ASAP.

 

[Roquila 1,335]

Somewhere, far away, in an alternate universe, Costa is still a useless cuntish version of Gervinho.

[Mufassir08 2,400]

Today he was literally Torres at his worst in disguise. Need to sell him asap.