The huge concern is that we're in the 'anybody but Torres' situation, for the money being spoken about we HAVE to get it right!

I was really hoping he was going to give me a confidence boost tonight, but I'm even less convinced than I was before.

Costa was injured. Just recently got to play again. He hardly ever had any support for the past two games. His price is a bargain in these days. He gets plenty of rest now & he will be ready by August.

Look at the positives, he STAYS CENTRAL - Spain work through the middle whilst Costa thrives on crosses. He is a box player and Hazard and Co. will whip in crosses and he will bury more than he misses. Makes me think Torres is nailed on to stay as he is the opposite and plays off the shoulder so when we need plan B we have it. Still would add Balotelli to the squad though and sell Lukaku for the reported 32 million abroad to fund it.

well he will have something to prove if and when he arrives here - hopefully he'll have the hunger for success that we need

Didn't see him moan or show the passion he usually does either, blessing in disquise he and Fabregas home early and our fitness centre the best there is.

Balotelli to Chelsea? Are you looking for turmoil on the team? He is a mental case that should be avoided at any rate.

Strange. Spain play much better with a false 9 and Brazil really could do with a decent striker up front.

Seems like if Costa had chosen to represent his country of birth then both countries would probably be better off.

Balotelli to Chelsea? Are you looking for turmoil on the team? He is a mental case that should be avoided at any rate.

Have you seen Costa like?

balotelli hasnt been acting like a nutter for ages. looked really composed against England the other night.

when he nearly caught hart off his line with that chip though.. sensational.

http://hereisthecity.com/en-gb/2014/06/18/clarence-seedorf-says-32m-chelsea-bound-star-not-very-skilled/

Edited June 18, 201412 yr by Zola

This is a massive gamble in my eyes! Just feels like deja vu all over again.

 

He has had a hamstring injury for a while now and he keeps being rushed back and when he does play he doesn't look impressive at all. Slow and laboured were the words to sum him up tonight. Had a chance to let of a shot a couple of times but chose to take 2 or 3 touches to many. That has nothing to do with fitness it just shows a striker who has no confidence. Remind you of anyone?

 

Going to be a big pre season to get him up to the level required and let's hope there are no setbacks injury wise otherwise it could turn out to be a complete disaster.I don't know what happens now but I'll guess he will get a month or so of until the beginning of august. Hopefully the break does him some good but then he only has a couple of friendlies to get up to speed.

 

Add to that the stupid things he likes to get involved in and it makes for a very worrying signing. Premier league defenders are going to be at him all game winding him up. Has he showed anything to suggest he can keep his cool?

 

As you can tell my glass is half empty on costa so if there anyone out there that can give me some confidence speak now!  Jose are you there?

Edited June 18, 201412 yr by Bluehatter

Look at the positives, he STAYS CENTRAL - Spain work through the middle whilst Costa thrives on crosses. He is a box player and Hazard and Co. will whip in crosses and he will bury more than he misses. Makes me think Torres is nailed on to stay as he is the opposite and plays off the shoulder so when we need plan B we have it. Still would add Balotelli to the squad though and sell Lukaku for the reported 32 million abroad to fund it.

Don't want to see lukaku go, but if it meant super MARIO coming in I could deal with it, selling one talented youngster to replace him with an even more talented youngster is good business. If we get the wrong MARIO on the other hand I would not be quite so happy.

Yes forget the class season he has had and the numerous big performances he had in tight games for Atleti. These games for a woefully underachieving Spain, featuring Del Bosque's dinosaur tactics, is where he should be judged. On the flip side, Mexico's Ochoa is now the best GK in the world. Fact.

Anyone else think Mandzukic would be the better signing

Could it be that in an average season for la liga, that Costa has 'punched' above his weight?

And this is a truer reflection of his abilty?

 

 

How was it an average season for La Liga?

 

Real Madrid have nearly a quarter of a billion dollars worth of talent and Atletico still trumped them. It was one of the strongest La Liga seasons in years. 

Costa is a good player, a big improvement on what we got. He showed glimpses of what we are missing even in two lacklustre defeats.

He's not a movement striker by any means. Will be fine for us in a more counter attacking system where the ball is coming through and across goal faster. The Spainish build up is just far too slow for him. Trust the club - this guy had an outstanding season in a system more similar to our own than Spains.

Thierry Henry's record at the 2002 world cup was 2 games played (Senegal and Uruguay), 0 goals scored and 1 red card as France went out in the group stages as previous champions.

 

I can't fully recall but from my limited memory he played in the PL and was dogsh*te, thank god we never tried to get him, look how badly he played in 2 matches!!!!

Edited June 19, 201412 yr by Jonty

Big question is if he was so off pace and injured why did Del Bosque pick him on both occasions? They have fit Villa and Torres on the bench. I don't buy it.

I am willing to give him the benefit of the doubt, especially that Jose is on record about him. With that said, fingers and toes are crossed with this guy. I think Spain just really sucked and Del Bosque did not use Costa to his strengths. I hope so anyway! Tough to take away any player on that squad, they were all pretty much shyte apart from Azi...

Mandzukic looks much better for us than Costa from what I've seen. Better positioning and work rate. I prefer the German ethic as well. Much closer to what works in the Premier.

Big question is if he was so off pace and injured why did Del Bosque pick him on both occasions? They have fit Villa and Torres on the bench. I don't buy it.

Because they wanted to get the far and away superior striker going. Even a half fit off the pace Costa is better then Torres

Big question is if he was so off pace and injured why did Del Bosque pick him on both occasions? They have fit Villa and Torres on the bench. I don't buy it.

Same reason Del Bosque picked and persisted with Casillas in goal, he's got tunnel vision with his selections. Costa went into the World Cup off the back of a hamstring injury and who knows if he was match fit.

De Gea should have been playing in goal but Del Bosque's mind was already made up.

Spain decided not to take Negredo and Llorente despite both playing well this season and picked Torres (enough said) and Villa who looks like he's better days are behind him (hence moving to the MLS).

Del Bosque's stubbornness with his team/squad selection and even stubbornness has cost Spain big time.

How was it an average season for La Liga?

 

Real Madrid have nearly a quarter of a billion dollars worth of talent and Atletico still trumped them. It was one of the strongest La Liga seasons in years. 

Costa is a good player, a big improvement on what we got. He showed glimpses of what we are missing even in two lacklustre defeats.

Just the same as it was an average season in the Premier league.

When the big clubs don't really perform over the course of a season & an unexpected club does really well.

You say he's better than we have, I say that's not hard!

We're paying £30 odd million to replace someone who is considered by most to be the worst piece of transfer business ever (not my view)

I personally don't think we're getting much of an upgrade! That's not based on 2 games at the world cup its based on so much more.

As for those saying he needs a rest & full pre season, weren't people saying that about Torres a few years back? That's worked out well hasn't it.

I think we are lacking options. We could do with a player like Costa and Balotelli. Mario is the perfect player for the system we are trying to do. The problem is he is mental. But the style of play is what we need. Rooney is another type that would be perfect but he is past it now.

I'm still in favor of this transfer. Fans tend to change their views based on WC performances, which is understandable because it's the biggest stage, but what a player does over the course of a season for his club says much more about his ability than a couple of matches for the national team.

 

I think he wasn't completely fit and was still suffering from the long season at Atletico. I like his physicality and directness, and I believe we could certainly use a striker like him.