#41

Welcome signing. The panic when the Costa was rumored injured underlined the need for the kind of depth Remy will provide.

It's like he's staring into my soul without even looking at me.

I have no problem with Costa shoving it up Coleman's a** after the goal, and I have no problem with Howard getting in Costa's face afterwards. They did battle between the whites, made up after the final whistle. Good football all around.

I like Courtois -- but it just feels wrong thinking about Chech in anyone else's kit.

Costa, Drogba & Torres -- that's a frighteningly thin lineup up top.

This is usually a situation where I'd say it's on the manager to convince the player of the need to buy in, but I get the sense that Jose and Lukaku don't enjoy a particularly warm relationship.

The reality is that it makes far more sense to let other clubs take the risk of putting young players into the first team -- let them figure out who can play and who cannot and then buy the finished products who emerge on the other side. It's fun to think about youth team members stepping up to the big club and being pure Chelsea products, but in most every case that means skipping a more finished/better product to let a young guy grow up on the pitch.

Jose knows what is best for Jose and the squad. His goal is to win games and trophys. He isn't looking out for Lukaku or his career. From a keyboard, it's incredibly easy to say "He needs to stay and fight it out for playing time" -- but it's an incredibly different story when you're entering the prime of your career and facing the situation he is at Chelsea. There is no way he'll beat Costa for 1st team minutes this season (Costa will be given every opportunity to prove he was worth the £32 million transfer fee, and will likely be given a pass on any poor play this year as "adjustment to the PL"). If I'm Lukaku, even if I've got every confidence in the world in my abilities, I judge this situation as one where I'll be sitting more often than not. Jose brought "his guys" in, and I'd expect they'll be the guys he turns to first before he even looks in to me. And, at the stage he's at in his career, sitting does Lukaku minimal good.

It's not a matter of attitude -- Jose and the Board paid top dollar for Costa in the market on the belief that he's the elite striker the team needs. Costa will be given ever opportunity to be the first choice striker this season, and there is absolutely nothing Lukaku can do about it. Even if Lukaku shows better form in training, it would be insane to expect Jose to drop a £32 million transfer down the depth chart in his first season with the club.

What is there to fight? Diego Costa is going to be the first choice striker. There is, quite literally, nothing Lukaku can show in training or pre-season that will unseat Costa from his position. Short of a major injury to Costa or Jose getting sacked (and replaced by a manager that favors 2 striker formations), Lukaku is going to be riding the bench most of this year. I can totally understand a young player wanting to go somewhere and actually play instead of sitting around.

He scowls when he wants... He scowls when he wants...

People are already preparing for his move away from the club and getting the hate narrative started early.

We drunkenly came up with this and started singing while watching the finale -- it could stand to be improved: (tune: Ants Go Marching) He won the cup with Germany -- Schurrle, Schurrle! He won the cup with Germany -- Schurrle, Schurrle! He won the cup with Germany And now he'll win one for Chelsea And he'll keep on scoring down at the Bridge