Diego Costa

[Chelsea Legend 11 4,062]

Not true. Chelsea create a shitload of chances that aren't taken.

Squawka(whether you deem it credible is up to you) have Chelsea ranked 2nd to Man City on chances created of the course of the season. Its broken down into two categories Key Pass / Assists

Man City generated 468 key passes and from them got 65 assisted goals.

Chelsea generated 465 key passes and from them got 41 assisted goals.

Liverpool generated 425 key passes and from them got 63 assisted goals.

By contrast Atletico generated 319 key passes and from them got 54 assisted goals. That is an astounding return from Atletico who I agree do not generate a lot of chances but are INCREDIBLY clinical when they are presented.

For me Diego doesn't have to be Suarez for us to be successful, all he has to do is score 20-25 goals and bury the opportunities created for him at a ratio of 3:1 I'd be elated if he can do that. We were 4 points shy of the title with possibly the worst strike force of all the top squads in Europe, we're not that far off and Costa will definitely help us get over the hump.

Chances created definition (i.e. the most misleading stat ever):

Any pass that leads to a shot (no matter how speculative). That stat does certainly not mean we're creative enough. We've taken the most shots in the league on average - a lot of them are speculative long shots and not real quality chances.

You've got to be kidding yourself if you think that our play in general has been great this season and that we've created bucket loads of quality chances and that the only reason we haven't scored more is because we're missing someone clinical up front.

Obviously. But regardless it puts everyone on an even playing field. In Chelsea's case the numbers may be skewed but what isn't is the fact that we've missed a shit ton of easy opportunities and when you look at Atletico those opportunities are being finished with less creation.

[RoyalBlues 4,050]

Lukaku.

Yup, but I mean played with strong man in front line weeks in weeks out. Lukaku barely get a chance back then.

[Special Juan 27,538]

Rumours are, that we have offered Lukaku in part exchange for Costa. I am hoping that is just paper talk.

More inclined to think it is seeing as Costa has a buy out clause, and that has to be activated. If Lukaku was to go he wouldn't be used as a bargaining chip in this deal, he fetches good money on his own.

[The Skipper 20,593]

Obviously. But regardless it puts everyone on an even playing field. In Chelsea's case the numbers may be skewed but what isn't is the fact that we've missed a shit ton of easy opportunities and when you look at Atletico those opportunities are being finished with less creation.

Diego Costa is just a freak, he has scored 29% of his chances this year (in the league) which is just very, very clinical, I don't think any striker or player around Europe comes anywhere close to him when it comes to taking chances (statistically wise).

[RoyalBlues 4,050]

Rumours are, that we have offered Lukaku in part exchange for Costa. I am hoping that is just paper talk.

Its Daily Fail all over it.

[LAM09 6,840]

More inclined to think it is seeing as Costa has a buy out clause, and that has to be activated. If Lukaku was to go he wouldn't be used as a bargaining chip in this deal, he fetches good money on his own.

I feel the same, but you never know.

[LAM09 6,840]

Its Daily Fail all over it.

LOL!

[Chelsea Legend 11 4,062]

Diego Costa is just a freak, he has scored 29% of his chances this year (in the league) which is just very, very clinical, I don't think any striker or player around Europe comes anywhere close to him when it comes to taking chances (statistically wise).

This is the type of thing I was angling at in my post. Loads of box presence and absolutely no finishing. Costa hopefully will aid in games like this. In the big matches I have no problem playing counter attacking football.

[The Skipper 20,593]

This is the type of thing I was angling at in my post. Loads of box presence and absolutely no finishing. Costa hopefully will aid in games like this. In the big matches I have no problem playing counter attacking football.

Yeah, the West Ham game definitely was down to the lack of clinical finishing, we created lots of quality chances in that game. Someone like Costa (or even someone like Lukaku) definitely would've bagged the points for us in that game.

[Chelsea Legend 11 4,062]

Yeah, the West Ham game definitely was down to the lack of clinical finishing, we created lots of quality chances in that game. Someone like Costa (or even someone like Lukaku) definitely would've bagged the points for us in that game.

So many games this year were like this. Fewer chances but the same deal

[The Mak 4,459]

Diego Costa is just a freak, he has scored 29% of his chances this year (in the league) which is just very, very clinical, I don't think any striker or player around Europe comes anywhere close to him when it comes to taking chances (statistically wise).

I'm 99% certain that I read last night that he does indeed have the highest chance conversion in Europe.

So I laugh at some comments I've seen on some of the articles like 'he's not a clean striker of the ball' or he has a lot of 'scruffy shots'. I couldn't give a shit. He puts the ball in the net; how it gets there is irrelevant.

[iseah100 5,612]

I'm 99% certain that I read last night that he does indeed have the highest chance conversion in Europe.

So I laugh at some comments I've seen on some of the articles like 'he's not a clean striker of the ball' or he has a lot of 'scruffy shots'. I couldn't give a shit. He puts the ball in the net; how it gets there is irrelevant.

Lol exactly. Chicharito scores for Mexico, whether it's with his groin, face, hip, knee, whatever, it doesn't matter. As long as it bulges the net.

[Chelsea Legend 11 4,062]

I'm 99% certain that I read last night that he does indeed have the highest chance conversion in Europe.

So I laugh at some comments I've seen on some of the articles like 'he's not a clean striker of the ball' or he has a lot of 'scruffy shots'. I couldn't give a shit. He puts the ball in the net; how it gets there is irrelevant.

The key to me is he can score a variety of ways, left foot, right foot, header. Watching his goals this year I couldn't really tell if he was left footed or right footed. Thats a good thing.

[bababoom 4,478]

Spanish football expert Begona Perez: Costa will be transferred for around €35m, with the extension of Courtois’ loan part of the deal. #CFC

[MrBlueGuy 1,552]

Header, post breaker, bicycle kick, left foot, right foot, pen...He does them all

[The Skipper 20,593]

So many games this year were like this. Fewer chances but the same deal

I don't think they're comparable because we had a lot fewer chances in the other games. I don't think you can say we've created as many quality chances as we did in the West Ham game against other teams - the Norwich, Sunderland, Crystal Palace, Aston Villa and West Brom (away) games; games where we dropped points - come to mind. Sure, maybe we created 1 or 2 decent chances against these teams but you need more than 1 or 2 decent chances to dispatch teams away.

The West Ham game - maybe even the Everton game where I thought we created enough quality chances but just failed to dispatch them - are the only games where we've dropped points where I can fully say that we should've gone on and won it but we failed to do so because of lack of good finishing. The other games however I don't think I can fully say the same.

Costa's clinical goal scoring record will definitely help us dispatch more of these teams away but we still need to create more quality chances. We can't expect Costa to score 1 in every 2 shots. Can't expect that from anyone.

[Pizy 18,537]

Spanish football expert Begona Perez: Costa will be transferred for around €35m, with the extension of Courtois’ loan part of the deal. #CFC

No! FFS, bring him back!

[MrBlueGuy 1,552]

I don't think they're comparable because we had a lot fewer chances in the other games. I don't think you can say we've created as many quality chances as we did in the West Ham game against other teams - the Norwich, Sunderland, Crystal Palace, Aston Villa and West Brom (away) games; games where we dropped points - come to mind. Sure, maybe we created 1 or 2 decent chances against these teams but you need more than 1 or 2 decent chances to dispatch teams away.

The West Ham game - maybe even the Everton game where I thought we created enough quality chances but just failed to dispatch them - are the only games where we've dropped points where I can fully say that we should've gone on and won it but we failed to do so because of lack of good finishing. The other games however I don't think I can fully say the same.

Costa's clinical goal scoring record will definitely help us dispatch more of these teams away but we still need to create more quality chances. We can't expect Costa to score 1 in every 2 shots. Can't expect that from anyone.

It is just not as simple as replacing a man with a man and expecting him to score though, it is also the build up. I can count soo many times where Torres/Ba ended up messing up our counter attacks, fluid movement by being sluggish and slow. Costa will also help us to improve that, he is quite good at holding the ball up for team mates. For example the 0-0 vs Arsenal where Torres virtually spent every second on the pitch being outside their box, Costa will get in there and helping us having that target man.

He will score as well as create, he is not exactly the type to go all for himself ala Sturridge either. If he sees someone in a better position he will pass and lastly, he can actually run and not good pace(not Walcott, OX lightning but quick for a striker) to be able to be through on goal a lot of the time, something we don't see a single striker of our doing this season. Eto'o is really only good as a fox in the box now, same with Ba and Torres.