I disagree. he is a decent striker, but if we are going to replace Costa we need someone who is out and out world class, and Higuain doesnt fit that bracket for me. Good, yes. World class, no. And if we're going to spend the 30 mil it would cost to get higuain, we might as well stick another 10 or 20 in and get a world class striker

No world class striker is available. The 3 or 4 who fit into that category are not going to be sold.

We need someone better than Costa, that's obvious to see.

He's done it once before and he's going to do it again. 

 

Diego's going to prove the doubters wrong. 

Whisper it gently; Aubameyang. Issue is with the whole tracking back & defensive side of things, he won't just work under Mourinho.

http://www.espnfc.co.uk/blog/the-toe-poke/65/post/2706084/shawcross-responds-to-costa-jibe?

Thats one mug I'd love to meet just so I can slap that ugly and stupid looking face.  Quick to put a forearm in the oppositions face, quick to cry like a bitch to the ref when something softer happens to him or a teammate after.  Seems to be the modern football hard man who can dish it out but runs to the ref when there's a chance he might have to pay the bill.

 

PS.  Is that deodorant?  Because it looks like ladies antiperspirant,..... 

Edited November 10, 201510 yr by Barry Bridges

Thats one mug I'd love to meet just so I can slap that ugly and stupid looking face.  Quick to put a forearm in the oppositions face, quick to cry like a bitch to the ref when something softer happens to him or a teammate after. 

 

You are literally describing Costa as well.

Well, our current spell of doom certainly sets up for some revenge ladden encounters later in the season. Stoke at home, mmm! Liverpool away, yes please! Newcastle at home, bring it on etc etc. 

Interesting interview with del Bosque which includes his thoughts on Diego.

http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/nov/10/vicente-del-bosque-spain-english-football-style-ronaldo-messi

You are literally describing Costa as well.

I didnt mention scoring a bunch of goals and helping win the double for Chelsea, did I?

 

I know I'm biased with Costa 

 

 

 

 

When you are banging in goals, we'll stand behind you in the face of some behaviour we wouldn't accept from less influential players. I mean there are obvious lines no amount of goals will let you cross, but a sly dig here or a ban there we can accept if you are banging em in for fun.

Just want to give notice to Costa that if he wants to play this way, he'll have to start scoring again asap because his goal credit has just about run dry.

 

Edited November 10, 201510 yr by Barry Bridges

Sorry but can't agree Coxy

apology accepted 

I'm not suggesting we move Costa on, but this is just a thought for having better striking options to assist with or replace Costa, if it comes to that.

If I can use Drogba as an example;

When he first arrived he had certainly hit a few goals in across the channel, but I don't think anyone was calling him World Class at that stage.  I also know it's pretty easy to say, why not sign 1 or 2 of the next big things and have them long term..However maybe the answer isn't someone who is an established world beater?

Perhaps if we had a number of options that all knew their career lay ahead of them, rather than living off their reputation and what they had achieved in the past, we might have more stability and success up front for a longer period of time.

A number of options with good promise, different game styles, all looking to impress and build a career, happy to compete for their place in the side and understanding they may not always start, might be a better option.  I'm not suggesting a raw 18 year old, and I'm also not suggesting signing anyone that needs constant time on the pitch to develop.  Rather, a couple of strikers who look like and want to take their game to the next level.

Pelle would be an example, he may be a few years past the prime for this theory, but something like him 2-3 years ago?

apology accepted

I'm not suggesting we move Costa on, but this is just a thought for having better striking options to assist with or replace Costa, if it comes to that.

If I can use Drogba as an example;

When he first arrived he had certainly hit a few goals in across the channel, but I don't think anyone was calling him World Class at that stage. I also know it's pretty easy to say, why not sign 1 or 2 of the next big things and have them long term..However maybe the answer isn't someone who is an established world beater?

Perhaps if we had a number of options that all knew their career lay ahead of them, rather than living off their reputation and what they had achieved in the past, we might have more stability and success up front for a longer period of time.

A number of options with good promise, different game styles, all looking to impress and build a career, happy to compete for their place in the side and understanding they may not always start, might be a better option. I'm not suggesting a raw 18 year old, and I'm also not suggesting signing anyone that needs constant time on the pitch to develop. Rather, a couple of strikers who look like and want to take their game to the next level.

Pelle would be an example, he may be a few years past the prime for this theory, but something like him 2-3 years ago?

The problem there is there is a serious lack of quality strikers just now.

I mean who is there we would look at? The likes of Benteke and Bony have moved when we were linked with both and players of a higher class would look to be starting every week like Benzema.

I like the boy from Dortmund, Aubameyang. He’s 26, lightning quick and is one of the inform strikers in Europe just now. He would cost a small fortune though and I doubt he’d fit into Jose’s defensive set up but he is different to what we have.

The problem there is there is a serious lack of quality strikers just now.

I mean who is there we would look at? The likes of Benteke and Bony have moved when we were linked with both and players of a higher class would look to be starting every week like Benzema.

I like the boy from Dortmund, Aubameyang. He’s 26, lightning quick and is one of the inform strikers in Europe just now. He would cost a small fortune though and I doubt he’d fit into Jose’s defensive set up but he is different to what we have.

I think even Benteke and Bony are one step ahead of the strikers I'm talking about though.  They would both expect to start if signed to Chelsea, i don't think it's all that healthy.  I want players to know they are good enough to start and play well, but to never expect it and to always try to improve.

So who then, Charlie Austin?

Benteke would have been perfect for us..

Benteke would have been perfect for us..

True but I guess having one 32mill striker was enough, we did not want to spend that on a second one.

So who then, Charlie Austin?

Yeah I'm not sure, my level of knowledge only goes so far, it could be CA but then again it could someone from anywhere else in the world.

I just think there seem to be a lot of success stories in signing a player that had performed well and was on the improve and then joined another club in a tougher league and got even better...

We seem to going down the path of.. Okay, this blokes been putting in goals for Juve, Inter, Napoli, Bayern, Dortmund, PSG, Barca or Whoever.. so they are clearly world class and we should sign them to our world class club.

The whole signing of a world class striker thing just doesn't always work and may not be our answer.

I've no idea why, but I find this funny.

 

 

A weekend clash with Stoke's Ryan Shawcross saw Costa's behaviour scrutinised again but Rooney, who has been forced to defend his own aggressive style over the years, says it is pointless asking Costa to change.

"I actually voted for him as player of the year last season because I think he was a huge player for Chelsea," said Rooney, one of only two players sent off twice in England games.

He's a fighter and I think that's part of his game, and it's going to be very difficult for anyone to ask him not to do that.

Rooney on Costa

"I think what Chelsea missed the season before was that fight up front and he gave them that and I strongly believe that's why they became champions. Obviously it hasn't gone as well as it did last season for him but I think he is a fantastic player.

"He's a fighter and I think that's part of his game, and it's going to be very difficult for anyone to ask him not to do that. I feel that's in him - that fight. He thrives on that and that gets his team-mates going as well."

Diego Costa and his Spain team-mates pose for a photo after training in Alicante on Thursday evening

Roy Hodgson says telling his players to watch out for Costa would be "teaching my grandmother how to suck eggs", and has backed England's defenders to stand up to the challenge.

He said: "We give the players information about the opponents and their strengths, but we don't go into that sort of detail where we say: 'Be careful here' because that would be teaching my grandmother how to suck eggs. Furthermore I'd be vilifying a player I have no reason to vilify.

"Costa for me is a good player, especially last year, he was very, very important to Chelsea. He is a very combative player, but we have combative centre-halves and they will just have to deal with that situation.

"I wouldn't dream of suggesting he's going to try underhand methods. Let's hope he doesn't and if he does, we're just going to have to deal with it and hope the referee deals with it like they do every week in the Premier League."

This is how Rooney and Hogdson see Costa. Not exactly how the media sees it.

I think the fact is that Costa has lost some pace and that is really the cause of his woes. Now is the lack of pace due to him putting some extra bulk in the offseason or his hamstring niggling at him still or other reason - I do not know. 

 

The fact is that now that he has lost the pace that once troubled defenders he is more or less useless as a one man striker. We need to reconsider our formation to play more folks up front in order to give him more a bit less to chew on.

I'm keeping the faith.

He needs a goal for his confidence, he looked really sharp against Stoke in the league cup before going off with the rib injury.

No doubt the performance midweek was his worst in Chelsea shirt.

It's been such a bad start to the season, Hazard, Fabregas, Oscar and even Pedro haven't been creating enough chances in open play it makes me reluctant to signal out a striker who thrives on good service.

I said this recently.

Diego's been the target for a lot of fan frustration of late on this forum.

Personally I think some of the things being said have been very hyperbolic, it's been a rough start to the season but me personally, I think Diego's a very talented striker.

I'm hoping his goal can be the start of him returning to the lethal striker we saw last season.

I said this recently.

Diego's been the target for a lot of fan frustration of late on this forum.

Personally I think some of the things being said have been very hyperbolic, it's been a rough start to the season but me personally, I think Diego's a very talented striker.

I'm hoping his goal can be the start of him returning to the lethal striker we saw last season.

Just like hazard has been the target of your frustrations

So who then, Charlie Austin?

I think he would actually be an intelligent signing, he, and Jamie Vardy, prove that you don't have to be a massive name to score goals in the premiership, they're both just clinical finishers, and are pretty decent in the link up. I'd take either of them to be honest, but I still think Remy is seriously hard done by not to get games for us, he was prolific at both of his previous premier league clubs and has scored a decent number of important goals for us in his relatively small number of games.

Well taken goal but frustrating overall day. Must attack the 6 yard box more. He is holding our attack back.

You would think the coaching staff/manager would drilled it into him by now