January 16, 20179 yr 5 minutes ago, Andy North said: If your talking about the Spanish league they have two possibly three good teams and the depth of quality in their whole league is nowhere near as good as PL. Overall the Spanish League cannot compete with the quantity of games generating good entertaining football in the PL. It is the most watched for a reason. Spot on. A lot of people tend to look at how Madrid and Barca dominate in Europe then presume it's the best league, the drop off from them is massive to the next tier of clubs there. I'd say 5 teams could probably win the EPL next season, can Spain say the same?
January 16, 20179 yr If Costa was dying to leave, why would he post that 'Come on Chelsea' post on instagram, with a little blue heart? He would keep shtum, wouldn't he? Perhaps he will go in the summer, but I think this could be yet another media invention, who knows? Maybe the press made it up all along and the Chinese will hear about this and actually make an offer? Either way, the way its been handled, the press are dying for it to be true, they want us derailed so they can write more crap in their columns. I was wary of the way Conte answered post match questions, I do absolutely believe Costa was injured in training, but I found Conte to be a little bit coy and careful about what he said. Bottom line, I think Costa got injured, lost his cool with coaches and went home angry.
January 16, 20179 yr My problem is even if you convince him to stay till the summer, can he be trusted to keep a cool head and still deliver? Will we see a return of the bib throwing incident if he is subbed mid-game? He just doesn't seem the type to keep his head if he doesn't have his way.
January 16, 20179 yr 2 hours ago, Andy North said: It is really insulting that you refer to our country as " Precious Little England". You obviously have some hidden issues here. Get over it mate and start contributing some balanced and considered arguments. Your thinking may be influenced by the amount China investment subsidises the Australian economy. We all know China is a growing economy but that doesn't mean they will or should take all the best footballers. In fact they themselves have just announced they are limiting the number of foreign players to three. The best players generally want to play at the best clubs and in the best league so there is an "implied right" for the best players to come to the EPL. Are you really saying the EPL isn't the best league in the world. My understanding is that it has the biggest TV deal in football and is watched more than any other league in the world. The MLS has been trying to break into football for decades and is still nowhere near being able to compete with the premier league in terms of attracting top players so why should China be any different? Again your comments about people not liking non-Europeans being major players in football is just wrong. It seems to me that it's you that has a chip on your shoulder. I agree that Sydney Chelsea wasn't very polite about what he wanted to communicate and Xenophobia may sound like a big generalization and over reaction but he does make some points. Using words like 'Chink' with derision when referring to the Chinese league is Xenophobic and bordering on racist. Unfortunately only one poster said that this was wrong, and in the most polite way possible. We really shouldn't condone such posts (by DrogbaIsKing I think). Perhaps many of you did not read this post. I also agree that clubs in every rich league have been conceptually doing this for a long time now. When good players from the other European leagues join the likes of West Ham, Swansea or Stoke City, is it ambition that drives them? How else do you attract players to a team that is never really going to win anything. I see nothing wrong with that and nothing wrong with what China is doing. I really don't understand the need to label EPL as the best league in Europe or the world. Why not just enjoy the league and not try to make undoubtedly subjective judgement calls? We (I) enjoy watching it more than others but that's it.
January 16, 20179 yr 1 hour ago, Blue Exile said: Spot on. A lot of people tend to look at how Madrid and Barca dominate in Europe then presume it's the best league, the drop off from them is massive to the next tier of clubs there. I'd say 5 teams could probably win the EPL next season, can Spain say the same? WHY does any league have to be the "best league"? I really struggle to understand the motivation behind this argument. What makes a league the best?
January 16, 20179 yr 1 hour ago, Ballack & Blu said: If we get a phenomenal offer for him, throw that money at a Griezman, lewandowski or Aubameyang, it will better better spent than Yooniteds 90 million on that useless Pogba.... it's highly unlikely we would get either of those 3. griezemann will go to utd, lewandowski won't leave, and if aubamayang goes anywhere it will be to spain. unfortunately, unless a striker emerges in the next few months who proves to have a ton of potential and is attainable, we will have to settle for what we have or do a utd and sign an experienced striker for a season or two.
January 16, 20179 yr i hope this isn't costa who wants to leave, because it would be very disappointing for him to decide to down tools in the middle of the season and have a hissy fit when our title chances are on the line. you are employed by the club, on a fantastic salary, getting regular football, living in a great city, how can you possibly not give 100% and decide on your future in the summer? it's just not professional at all.
January 16, 20179 yr 10 minutes ago, ashwin said: WHY does any league have to be the "best league"? I really struggle to understand the motivation behind this argument. What makes a league the best? It's different to everyone which is why some say England and other say Spain. In terms of excitement, unpredictability and competitiveness I'd say the EPL is the best for me. In terms of skill, technically sound footballers and easy on the eye football I'd say La Liga.
January 16, 20179 yr 3 minutes ago, Chelsbear said: It's different to everyone which is why some say England and other say Spain. In terms of excitement, unpredictability and competitiveness I'd say the EPL is the best for me. In terms of skill, technically sound footballers and easy on the eye football I'd say La Liga. Exactly, it becomes a matter of subjective personal choice as to how an individual defines the best league.
January 16, 20179 yr 15 minutes ago, enigma said: it's highly unlikely we would get either of those 3. griezemann will go to utd, lewandowski won't leave, and if aubamayang goes anywhere it will be to spain. unfortunately, unless a striker emerges in the next few months who proves to have a ton of potential and is attainable, we will have to settle for what we have or do a utd and sign an experienced striker for a season or two. Icardi, Belotti, Werner & Dembele (Dor) off my head.
January 16, 20179 yr 1 minute ago, ducavis said: Icardi, Belotti, Werner & Dembele (Dor) off my head. Have any of those ever scored 20 odd goals in a season? Dembele usually plays out wide does he not? never thought of him as a outright striker.
January 16, 20179 yr 1 hour ago, kiwi1691 said: Premier league is the most watched but is far from the best. It's the most competitive which makes it the best.
January 16, 20179 yr Tbh Costa is irreplaceable this season. No striker in the world can match what he's doing now. We must keep him at all costs, if he wants 250k per week give him it. He's going to be the world's best striker for next 2 or 3 years. I hate reading this, I agree the media has definitely blown it out of proportion but something has happened. Why does it have to be our most crucial player? It wouldn't have been so bad if it was someone like Pedro or Fabregas they're replaceable. Really hope Costa is back in starting line up next game and continues to give 100%.
January 16, 20179 yr People should remember that Drogba often did things like saying he wants to leave etc and we held on to him.
January 16, 20179 yr 25 minutes ago, Chelsbear said: Have any of those ever scored 20 odd goals in a season? Dembele usually plays out wide does he not? never thought of him as a outright striker. Icardi once & on course to hit it again this season (72goals in 143 games), Belotti should hit 20+ also. They are also both 23, so not even close to their peak. You are right about Dembele but he is potentially a world class RW.
January 16, 20179 yr i have heard a lot about belotti, but never seen him play. i believe if we lost costa then conte would have the best idea on who to get, and i would just trust in him to bring the right man in
January 16, 20179 yr 55 minutes ago, ashwin said: I agree that Sydney Chelsea wasn't very polite about what he wanted to communicate and Xenophobia may sound like a big generalization and over reaction but he does make some points. Using words like 'Chink' with derision when referring to the Chinese league is Xenophobic and bordering on racist. Unfortunately only one poster said that this was wrong, and in the most polite way possible. We really shouldn't condone such posts (by DrogbaIsKing I think). Perhaps many of you did not read this post. I also agree that clubs in every rich league have been conceptually doing this for a long time now. When good players from the other European leagues join the likes of West Ham, Swansea or Stoke City, is it ambition that drives them? How else do you attract players to a team that is never really going to win anything. I see nothing wrong with that and nothing wrong with what China is doing. I really don't understand the need to label EPL as the best league in Europe or the world. Why not just enjoy the league and not try to make undoubtedly subjective judgement calls? We (I) enjoy watching it more than others but that's it. I didn't see the "Ch**K" quote and if that was said it is unacceptable. This doesn't give Sydney Chelsea the right to refer to us as "Precious Little England". I also see nothing wrong with what China is currently doing but I'm not convinced it will escalate. I think culturally it may be difficult for European players to live there and aside from that the Chinese only yesterday adopted a 3 player per team policy. Perhaps we should do the same. I don't feel the need to label the EPL as the best league although there's nothing wrong in doing so. Sydney Chelsea said us little Englanders had no "implied right" to the best players and that the EPL wasn't the Holy Grail of football and I thought I might put my view. I was responding to a point he or she had made.
January 16, 20179 yr Sadly it looks like Costa could very well be on his way in the Summer and if this is the case, we should squeeze as much money out of the Chinese as possible; if Oscar was £60m, then £80m for Costa just doesn't cut it. As for replacing Costa, this makes my head spin, I just can't see who could possibly fill his boots and whoever we target will shoot up in price. We have European prices, we have PL prices and we have Chelsea prices. Pains me to say it but wouldn't we just love a Kane, Dele, Wanyama, Dembele, Rose, Walker and Erikson situation, all put together organically or on the cheap. Rather than chasing shadows and overpriced marquee signings, I dream of one day procuring a reasonably priced virtual unknown, or bringing through one of our youth, who turns out to be a truly world class talent, remains with us for years and has a very successful career. We did it with Terry and Lampard, so dreams can come true.
January 16, 20179 yr Author I'm not sure I could cope without my boy Diego. This whole thing has made me a very sad panda. Only a league title will be able to cheer me up *ahem*
January 16, 20179 yr Monaco have rejected a £45m bid for Radamel Falcao from Tianjin Quanjian, days after the Chinese Super League club made an offer to Diego Costa. Monaco's vice-president Vadim Vasilyev has admitted it would be difficult to resist multi-million euro deals for his players, and sources in France claim Tianjin Quanjian may need to increase their offer for Falcao by as much as 30 per cent for the club to sell their star striker. Speaking to French broadcaster Canal+, Vasilyev said: "I have to think like a leader. Obviously I want to win titles and trophies, but there are special situations. There are very few clubs in the world that can refuse any offer." http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11816/10730880/monaco-reject-45m-offer-for-radamel-falcao-from-chinese-club sheesh do china sports channels only have the rights to broadcast chelsea matches there? only a matter of time until they remember djilobodji and sunderland becomes the richest club in the world looks like they're moving on from diego, it will be interesting if they got falcao who knows diego might concede defeat and signs a new contract (or he got pissed off angry and do a payet on us)
January 16, 20179 yr 3 minutes ago, Van Butsen said: He (and that whole Monaco team) have been really good this season Oh right. Strange he's started scoring again now, maybe he just couldn't hack Premier League?
January 16, 20179 yr Think it's clear from his Falcao's spells in England that he's done at top level. Even Balotelli is tearing up the French league this season. Don't care what anyone says it's a poor league. If Costa does go in the Summer which I think is likely as I can't see him signing a new contract. Then I reckon we'll go back in for Lukaku which would be a big step down IMO. Edited January 16, 20179 yr by Bobbywoodhogan
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