No worries SP, I'm not certain either but we 100% have to make a change up front and, having watched him quite a bit this season, I think Costa is the best option available at the moment. Costa and Lukaku is what I hope to see for the start of the season.

Such an over-reaction

It was easy to see he wasn't fully fit. In all honestly he didn't even play that bad but he is so much better than that

Yep, I agree. Such an over reaction, and dare I say it plenty of people very keen to make a negative definitive judgement.

On the need for change I 100% agree.

I think we missed the boat last year when there were 2 outstanding strikers on the market. This year tgere seems to be a few strikers available, but they're all a level down. IMO

balotelli will be at the bridge  next season

I said from the very start that Costa was not the right player for us, his temperament and fitness suspect and re the former we saw exactly that already, he will be a flamin' liability, please don't sign him Chelsea!

balotelli will be at the bridge  next season

 

pls no.

 

Thankfully Jose knows what a mistake this guy is already.

Balltelli is a lazy bar steward, no thank you, if he actually put some effort in he could be as good as he thinks he is

I'm with SP On this one, I don't belive costa is anything special and think he Will struggle over here.

Just, your requirements could also be met by Kevin Davis and Paul dickov. That's Not a dig, those two gave everything for there team and got right in defenders faces but I wouldn't have said they where good enough for us.

I just don't see that something in Costa that is going to elevate us

I'm with SP On this one, I don't belive costa is anything special and think he Will struggle over here.

Just, your requirements could also be met by Kevin Davis and Paul dickov. That's Not a dig, those two gave everything for there team and got right in defenders faces but I wouldn't have said they where good enough for us.

I just don't see that something in Costa that is going to elevate us

How's about the fact he isn't called Fernando Torres?!

Instant upgrade right there.

Costa will elevate us in my opinion, just seeing some of the runs he made had me believing that

How's about the fact he isn't called Fernando Torres?!

Instant upgrade right there.

I'm not called Fernando Torres either, hell just give me £5m & I'll be the upgrade then!

There's no point just bringing in anyone as a replacement, it has to be the right player, especially at tge money being quoted.

If Jose & the board have decided that's Costa then so be it, ultimately the buck stops with them.

All you Costa bashers will be eating your words come the end of the season and just ask Gary Cahill ( who was brilliant last night ) if Balotelli didn't give him the hardest 90 mins he has faced for a long time. I would take both at a heartbeat to be honest. Costa's movement against Holland was top top drawer and looking at him in La Liga he gets behind defenders, winds them up and above all stays central ! Costa will score 20 goals plus for us and Balotelli would make us Champions before a ball is kicked.

http://www.marca.com/2014/06/15/en/football/international_football/1402817389.html

 

One of the first summer transfer stories to break was Tiago Mendes's move to Chelsea, which was announced right after the Champions League final. The Portuguese midfielder won't be the only Atlético de Madrid man swapping the Calderón for Stamford Bridge over the next couple of months. In particular, Diego Costa, who is currently away on World Cup duty with Spain, is widely expected to join the Londoners.

José Mourinho admitted his interest in the Spain international during an interview with MARCA: "Costa is a player I want in my team. I've asked the club to bring him in and I am extremely confident that we are going to get him and he'll end up signing for Chelsea".

One issue Mou considers settled is the future of Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, who is on Chelsea's books, despite having spent the last three seasons on loan at Atlético: "When the World Cup in Brazil is over, Courtois will be coming straight back to Stamford Bridge - end of story".

The Portuguese coach is also interested in recruiting a defender to complete his squad for next season. Several names have been linked with Chelsea in recent weeks, including Atlético's Brazilian full-back Filipe Luis, who had a fantastic last campaign, but Mourinho was coy on this subject.

 

I'm not called Fernando Torres either, hell just give me £5m & I'll be the upgrade then!

.

And I have no doubt you will be dangerous than our 'Nando'.

And I have no doubt you will be dangerous than our 'Nando'.

If you can stump up the £5m I'll be happy to prove you wrong!

My knees are more shot than his! Lol

Balotelli is 23, has years to mature and has played at the very highest level throughout his career. A natural finisher who worries defences. He has pace, strength and incredible technical ability. Let's look at his upbringing a troubled lad who went into foster care. People forget things too easily. It seems he has been around for ages but the comparisons on and off the pitch mirror Eric Cantona before Alex Ferguson gave him the big stage and the responsibility to show what a great player he was. He stood by him even after the infamous bicycle kick at a fan at Selhurst Park. We could be talking about the best striker in the world in 3 years time and he will be only 26 !

I'd splash out 30 million on him if the Costa deal hits any hitches ( ie injury in the World Cup )

Balotelli didn't really do anything outside of that header last night. He's vastly overrated by some and his attitude is shocking. The amount of times he was stood around last night not moving.

Balotelli is 23, has years to mature and has played at the very highest level throughout his career. A natural finisher who worries defences. He has pace, strength and incredible technical ability. Let's look at his upbringing a troubled lad who went into foster care. People forget things too easily. It seems he has been around for ages but the comparisons on and off the pitch mirror Eric Cantona before Alex Ferguson gave him the big stage and the responsibility to show what a great player he was. He stood by him even after the infamous bicycle kick at a fan at Selhurst Park. We could be talking about the best striker in the world in 3 years time and he will be only 26 !

I'd splash out 30 million on him if the Costa deal hits any hitches ( ie injury in the World Cup )

Difference there for me is Cantona was consistent, he was a Drogba type stepped up on the big occasions, Balotelli disappears far too often for me and is a mood player.

Each to their own of course but I'd rather have Costa than Balotelli anyday

Edited June 15, 201412 yr by Bobbywoodhogan

If he isn't mature at 23 whats going to suddenly make him mature?

 

Balotelli has been on the big stage at both milans and city and so far all have or are trying to get rid of him.

If he isn't mature at 23 whats going to suddenly make him mature?

Balotelli has been on the big stage at both milans and city and so far all have or are trying to get rid of him.

Exactly and let us not forget at one time Jose Mourinho dubbed Balotelli unmanageable.

Balotelli is 23, has years to mature and has played at the very highest level throughout his career. A natural finisher who worries defences. He has pace, strength and incredible technical ability. Let's look at his upbringing a troubled lad who went into foster care. People forget things too easily. It seems he has been around for ages but the comparisons on and off the pitch mirror Eric Cantona before Alex Ferguson gave him the big stage and the responsibility to show what a great player he was. He stood by him even after the infamous bicycle kick at a fan at Selhurst Park. We could be talking about the best striker in the world in 3 years time and he will be only 26 !

I'd splash out 30 million on him if the Costa deal hits any hitches ( ie injury in the World Cup )

 

If he has had such a troubled upbringing you would think he would be a little more grateful for how it's turned out. He's a footballer who is earning thousands of Euro's a week, there is no need for his babyish attitude.

http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/20876/9349714/transfer-news-chelsea-boss-jose-mourinho-expects-to-sign-diego-costa

Marca isn't the most reliable paper and Jose isn't really a liked person over there so I'd take that story with a pinch of salt.

Marcia would falsify quotes and risk litigation?

Why not? Isn't that what half of English papers do..?

Why not? Isn't that what half of English papers do..?

Not usually with quotes though