1 minute ago, didierforever said:

It was valid 4 years ago or 3 years ago. But he has been improving (who would think thats possible for a currently 23 year old striker). Stop talking like people's perception of him 3 years ago is not clouding their judgment currently. If they had seen lukaku this season, his back to the goal play would not be as much in question.

 

I have seen him this season. Plenty times. And as I said, it has gotten better (I hardly saw him last season apart from when he played us) but still not great. That said, Costa's back to goal game isn't great either ("great" being Drogba level) but it's still serviceable and Lukaku isn't there yet. But he does have the age advantage over Costa. Even Drogba wasn't this good at 23. No one is trying to attack the lad unnecessarily. We're stating our concerns just as we would with any possible new signing. You lot keep making it look like there's a Lukaku witch hunt.

2 hours ago, didierforever said:

We put in plenty of "decent crosses". One of the best crosses of the match was from willian. Fizzed across the 6 yard box. Costa was not no where near. Similarly another moment when Luiz, GC, Bats and DC were all in the box and someone put in a decent cross with no one gambling. The lack is not in the crosses but in the strikers' instinct.

I agree costa's movement was poor at times, and the support from midfielders arriving in the box wasn't good enough to take advantage of the balls that were put into the right areas, but there were also plenty of crosses that hit the 1st man. 

It was a frustrating game, one of those games where by a llorente type would've been a great option to have. 

What ever our striking options next season, I think we need a reliable plan b, as I don't think batshuayi has done to convince conte he can be a good alternative, he only seems to get a sniff when we are desperate for a goal. 

3 hours ago, big blue said:

I agree costa's movement was poor at times, and the support from midfielders arriving in the box wasn't good enough to take advantage of the balls that were put into the right areas, but there were also plenty of crosses that hit the 1st man. 

It was a frustrating game, one of those games where by a llorente type would've been a great option to have. 

What ever our striking options next season, I think we need a reliable plan b, as I don't think batshuayi has done to convince conte he can be a good alternative, he only seems to get a sniff when we are desperate for a goal. 

I agree. I'd rather have two players for one spot than 1 automatic selection. Now maybe it's because Bats isn't up for it but having Costa play every match makes us predictable from the opposition's pov and means we can't vary our play much from match to match. I think there's something to be said for making opponents prepare for two different types of player instead of them knowing who they'll come up against. 

 

Maybe it's being a Chelsea fan that we know who will be starting but surely Big Sam looked at that fixture midweek and said to himself, 'alright we're coming up against Costa, what can we do to stop him'.

Bats looks more patient and a little less selfish than Diego but I think we'd benefit from having two different types of player available to select than what we have now.

I've said it every chance I've had but I think we are crying out for someone with pace who can get behind a defense and push teams who try to play a high line back. It would leave so much room underneath for Hazard or Willian to exploit and if they tried to cut that off we just play balls in behind to exploit the mismatch in pace. 

He's not known for it but Lukaku has the pace and strength to get in behind and then bully 1 defender if he's not clear. It would be a dream IMO to have him and Morata next season. 

Costa seems to have the Oscar syndrome, half a good season to convince us he's good followed by absolute dross in the second half of the season. Flog to China, get Lukaku in. 

4 hours ago, RIP Mourinho said:

Costa seems to have the Oscar syndrome, half a good season to convince us he's good followed by absolute dross in the second half of the season. Flog to China, get Lukaku in. 

Half a season out of Oscar would of been a miracle lol 

52 minutes ago, Ernie_blue said:

Half a season out of Oscar would of been a miracle lol 

touché

IMO Costas been abysmal since the Liverpool penalty miss, theres something up with im anyway, before New Years he was a beast, since that penlaty miss, the team is carrying him. Its like playing with a more aggressive version of Torres, you're still playing with 10 and a half players out there and at the level we want to be at, we cant afford to carry players. I love Costa but theres certainly something up with him.

It's nice to hear him speak like this

via: http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/diego-costa-urges-chelsea-team-10150176

 

"Now is not the time to let ourselves down. We should keep our heads up and think ahead for the next game since it will be very important.

"A derby (against a big team) will always be an important game. After a loss at home and with a rival closing the gap this importance only grows.

On 03/04/2017 at 05:33, RIP Mourinho said:

Costa seems to have the Oscar syndrome, half a good season to convince us he's good followed by absolute dross in the second half of the season. Flog to China, get Lukaku in. 

You're crazy. Lukaku can feck off, hope Costa stays and signs a new deal.

Edited April 4, 20179 yr by brenobnfm

On 04/04/2017 at 01:24, Delnino said:

IMO Costas been abysmal since the Liverpool penalty miss, theres something up with im anyway, before New Years he was a beast, since that penlaty miss, the team is carrying him. Its like playing with a more aggressive version of Torres, you're still playing with 10 and a half players out there and at the level we want to be at, we cant afford to carry players. I love Costa but theres certainly something up with him.

11 and a half. Dont forget Kanté counts for two. 

Hope we get a big performance from him tonight.

Go on Diego.

3 hours ago, erskblue said:

Hope we get a big performance from him tonight.

Go on Diego.

At the very least let's hope he Aguero in the eye. 

 oops

 

Edited April 5, 20179 yr by Jackbuchanan
Wrong thread

17 minutes ago, Jackbuchanan said:

 oops

 

Oops indeed...

he's been sh*te again.

Getting a bit worried about him now. His expression/body language coming off was bad as well, especially compared to all the beaming faces.

3 minutes ago, Kentonio said:

Getting a bit worried about him now. His expression/body language coming off was bad as well, especially compared to all the beaming faces.

Yeah, his form has completely nose dived, it's like watching the Costa of the first half of last season and a bit like Torres at times. Nothing is coming off for him anymore. Can't score when he get's a chance and is terrible at everything else.

I wouldn't mind seeing us play Hazard, Pedro and Willian against Bournemouth. We did against them earlier in the season and it worked, maybe we should try it again. Persisting with Costa right now isn't helping anybody.

He cuts a frustrated and even diffident figure, in that he doesn't seem to be as involved as he was before.

A few months back he was chasing down balls, making assists, bullying defenders...now he just hangs around the penalty area, sometimes having balls bobble off him and picking fights with opposition players.

I wouldn't mind using a fluid front 3 vs Bournemouth but I expect Conte will be more conservative at this stage of the season.

Awful 1st half. Really needs to do better holding the ball up so we can up the pitch. 

Needs a kick up arse. 

What the hell was he doing wrestling with Delph in the 1st half after we had just won the ball back. 

 

Inept performance yet again.

Sad to say but just think that's him done with us, his heads not here anymore. A shame because when he actually wants to put in effort he can be sublime 

6 minutes ago, Scott Harris said:

Yeah, his form has completely nose dived, it's like watching the Costa of the first half of last season and a bit like Torres at times. Nothing is coming off for him anymore. Can't score when he get's a chance and is terrible at everything else.

I wouldn't mind seeing us play Hazard, Pedro and Willian against Bournemouth. We did against them earlier in the season and it worked, maybe we should try it again. Persisting with Costa right now isn't helping anybody.

I am not sure we saw the same game. I thought he did good to hold the ball. His shooting boots are off so that sucks but it is not like he stood there doing nothing. Also I dont know how you want to drop Costa and include Willian cos even Willian did not look that great in this game granted that he has not played much recently. 

 

IMO Costa must play and even if he cant score his presence to keep the defenders occupied and hold the ball is something we need esp against a physical team.

he improved late in the second half but yeah overall yet another poor performance from diego

9 minutes ago, brownindian said:

I am not sure we saw the same game. I thought he did good to hold the ball. His shooting boots are off so that sucks but it is not like he stood there doing nothing. Also I dont know how you want to drop Costa and include Willian cos even Willian did not look that great in this game granted that he has not played much recently. 

 

IMO Costa must play and even if he cant score his presence to keep the defenders occupied and hold the ball is something we need esp against a physical team.

I don't know how you have come to that conclusion to be honest, he was awful. He didn't hold up the ball well at all, he was easy to tackle and gave it away from poor passes and poor decision making. When it comes to the physical part of the game, Costa is poor at it. He isn't actually that strong, he get's outmuscled too often. 

If you compare Costa's first 4 months of the season to now, you would think it's a different player playing. It's starting to look more and more like he is a half a season player. This is the 4th season in a row where he has only performed well for half a season.

Edited April 5, 20179 yr by Scott Harris

I think we should try Hazard-Pedro-Willian again, they have been great the two times they have played togheter. Costa might have more luck as a substitute, when everyone else is tired.

If he does go in the summer, I wonder whether there would be a chance to sign aubemayang. He's just had a little spat with the management at dortmund over his mask celebration at the weekend, and Liverpool have been linked for a while, so maybe he would be available for a big fee. Top striker, pace to burn, I think he would take the league by storm.

12 minutes ago, big blue said:

If he does go in the summer, I wonder whether there would be a chance to sign aubemayang. He's just had a little spat with the management at dortmund over his mask celebration at the weekend, and Liverpool have been linked for a while, so maybe he would be available for a big fee. Top striker, pace to burn, I think he would take the league by storm.

He'll be Real bound I'd say, would be immense if we signed him but just can't see it I'm afraid.

 

In regard to Costa, I won't be too disappointed if he goes in the summer, he can be a lethal finisher when he's on form, but his general play is never fantastic IMO. 

 

He's also letting his really annoying habit of taking sly kicks at players ala the wee kick out on Kompany, completely unnecessary and could have cost us.