Sadly it looks like this will always be a problem with him.

No way he will go a season without missing 10-15 games with this

He really should have had an operation on it

Jose making sure we have 3 expirenced strikers looks a wise move right now. Going in to the season with just remy as a senior striker would have been a bit worrying

He's been eating a lot of pies this summer.

"Diego felt a little thing in his hamstring. We believe it is just a feeling, no more than that, but we have to wait."

This is becoming a real concern now but let's not have a meltdown already.

agreed. concern I have is that this type of comment has been made in the past about it being a "slight feeling" only for him to play and then pull it again.

as you say this is becoming a real worry. sky sports has him as doubtful for sunday. appreciate that its only the community shield, but it would be nice to lay down a marker and trounce arsenal

still maintain our squad depth is a real issue. only 6 weeks ago mourinho was on record as saying he wanted to add 2 or 3 players for depth and competition, that has now changed to a one out one in policy.

bizarre.

still maintain our squad depth is a real issue. only 6 weeks ago mourinho was on record as saying he wanted to add 2 or 3 players for depth and competition, that has now changed to a one out one in policy.

bizarre.

 

He's arguably added Moses, Traore, RLC and we're obviously looking to buy a replacement for Luis and Stones. 

 

At present there is more depth than before

He's arguably added Moses, Traore, RLC and we're obviously looking to buy a replacement for Luis and Stones.

At present there is more depth than before

i cant accept any of those as being of the quality required (yet, in the case of rlc and traore) to mount a solid title defence. jose changed his tune from what he was saying only 6 weeks ago, going from saying that players need to come in, 2 or 3, for competition and to keep it fresh. now he's saying that's not the case and we need to move players out before any come in.

I just think back to city's first title win in 2012 under their new regime, that summer they didnt strengthen and they consequently finished around 12 points behind United.

I feel we lack in CM options if fabregas is injured or indeed plays further forward, and right wing is an issue too. with luis going we need a quality LB and also by adding stones I think we would be in a strong position. mourinho was complaining yesterday about only having 5 defenders at his disposal... im hoping that its not grumblings of discontent, but its hard to argue that this hasn't been a very very strange transfer window for us

Managers do best when they know who there best 11 us. Jose more or less knows it but what we have managed to add is depth while maintaining balance. Players who can be trusted to come in and do a job but not create a negative environment because they are on the bench

i cant accept any of those as being of the quality required (yet, in the case of rlc and traore) to mount a solid title defence. jose changed his tune from what he was saying only 6 weeks ago, going from saying that players need to come in, 2 or 3, for competition and to keep it fresh. now he's saying that's not the case and we need to move players out before any come in.

I just think back to city's first title win in 2012 under their new regime, that summer they didnt strengthen and they consequently finished around 12 points behind United.

I feel we lack in CM options if fabregas is injured or indeed plays further forward, and right wing is an issue too. with luis going we need a quality LB and also by adding stones I think we would be in a strong position. mourinho was complaining yesterday about only having 5 defenders at his disposal... im hoping that its not grumblings of discontent, but its hard to argue that this hasn't been a very very strange transfer window for us

 

I don't think we ever were going to not have the one in one out rule. 

 

What Jose was saying was that to avoid things from stagnating there was be 2 or 3 players leaving and new arrivals replacing them to ensure there was consistent competition for places. 

 

Out have gone Cech and Drogba and quality replacements signed. 

 

Luis has just left and we're (rumoured to be) looking at highly rated younger players to come in and provide cover and competition for the fullback positions. 

 

Secure the replacements left back and sign Stones (which will no doubt take time) and Jose then has the numbers he wants for defence. 

 

I don't think we're finished transfer wise but in midfield and attack we're heavy on numbers right now and someone is going to need to leave to allow us to sign someone else. 

I don't think we ever were going to not have the one in one out rule.

What Jose was saying was that to avoid things from stagnating there was be 2 or 3 players leaving and new arrivals replacing them to ensure there was consistent competition for places.

Out have gone Cech and Drogba and quality replacements signed.

Luis has just left and we're (rumoured to be) looking at highly rated younger players to come in and provide cover and competition for the fullback positions.

Secure the replacements left back and sign Stones (which will no doubt take time) and Jose then has the numbers he wants for defence.

I don't think we're finished transfer wise but in midfield and attack we're heavy on numbers right now and someone is going to need to leave to allow us to sign someone else.

yep I agree with that. I think the limitations of actually having space available in the squad is telling. I was actual a bit disappointed we didnt go for sterling though; yes he is an odious c**t but I feel he would have added an extra dimension to our game.

theres a case to argue in us not going for the likes of milner as an experienced head who can operate in a number of positions, is obviously homegrown and would add that depth which I feel we lack.

im concerned about our squad options and from where I see it we are still a distance away from being a true force in europe which comes as a direct result of our first XI having to play in every game. jose clearly didn't trust more than a core of 13 players last season and had we not started the season so strongly, and had city not capitulated with their own troubles then I think we would have come up second best - our poorer showings were clearly a consequence of burn out and our squad at times looked f**ked. we were playing our first xi against teams that should have been easily dealt with by some adequate backup players being incorporated into the starting team with some measured rotation to minimise fatigue.

arsenal will unquestionably be a different prospect this season and United will be more of a force to be reckoned with... those near guaranteed points of the last couple of seasons against them may no longer be so certain.

im not as confident as I should be as a chelsea fan.

Edited July 29, 201510 yr by CFC_RFC_TID!

yep I agree with that. I think the limitations of actually having space available in the squad is telling. I was actual a bit disappointed we didnt go for sterling though; yes he is an odious c**t but I feel he would have added an extra dimension to our game.

theres a case to argue in us not going for the likes of milner as an experienced head who can operate in a number of positions, is obviously homegrown and would add that depth which I feel we lack.

 

I think not going for Sterling was because City were determined to land him and were willing to offer him massive wages that don't fit with the wage structure at Chelsea. 

 

On top of that I think we're paying the price for buying too many sub standard wingers, we've got Salah, Cuadrado, Moses, Marin, Atsu, Piazon, Traore all on the books and even those that are out on loan I would venture we're a contribution towards the wages of a couple of them. 

 

Basically we're overstocked despite not actually using most of them and I don't know how feasible it would be to go out and sign Sterling, Griezmann, Rues or whoever without first selling Moses, Cuadrado and Salah. 

 

I think wages were a factor with Milner as well, he wouldn't have been first choice for us and paying him £120k a week to fill in wherever probably made little sense even if he was available on a free. For what it's worth though I do rate him and wouldn't have minded seeing him come to us. 

I think not going for Sterling was because City were determined to land him and were willing to offer him massive wages that don't fit with the wage structure at Chelsea.

On top of that I think we're paying the price for buying too many sub standard wingers, we've got Salah, Cuadrado, Moses, Marin, Atsu, Piazon, Traore all on the books and even those that are out on loan I would venture we're a contribution towards the wages of a couple of them.

Basically we're overstocked despite not actually using most of them and I don't know how feasible it would be to go out and sign Sterling, Griezmann, Rues or whoever without first selling Moses, Cuadrado and Salah.

I think wages were a factor with Milner as well, he wouldn't have been first choice for us and paying him £120k a week to fill in wherever probably made little sense even if he was available on a free. For what it's worth though I do rate him and wouldn't have minded seeing him come to us.

all valid. in saying that we are prepared to pay over 100k a week in wages to falcao who will most probably spend a lot of time warming the bench.

youre totally right. we are hugely overstocked in certain positions yet we dont seem to be making moves to actually sell any of the dead wood. I include moses in there - imagine we are 2-1 down against united away... we want to switch it up and make a change, and we look to our bench to see that we have moses as an option. that prospect fills me with dread mate!

theres no easy answer but if you asked me for a wishlist I'd have said:

two defenders on the back of jose moaning about only having 5 available, comprising a replacement LB, and stones

a CM - utility milner who will almost certainly relish that role at the dippers. could have gone for schneiderlin who I believe is homegrown? happy to be corrected on this one

RW - Moses out, id have loved sterling in

CF - benteke.

fantasy land bullsh*t but it gives you an idea of what I'm trying to get at. thats 5 players which is probably excessive, but given that one is a replacement LB and one is a replacement striker it would only mean 3 new squad additions.

im just worried about our options. I think we are lumbered with a few players who are not chelsea class and I believe we need upgrades to the likes of moses, salah, mikel etc

it is what it is I suppose. we will see how it goes but I feel we need a strong start to the season as I dont see us being able to cope if our nearest rivals steal a March on us

He cracks me up.....

You have to wonder why his hamstring wasn't operated on. Seems rather silly to not have taken action immediately after the season ended, poor post season medical reports?

If he's out its on Falcao to smash them in

Extract from his book Art of War:

 

http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/jul/29/diego-costa-chelsea-atletico-madrid-celta-vigo

You have to wonder why his hamstring wasn't operated on. Seems rather silly to not have taken action immediately after the season ended, poor post season medical reports?

If he's out its on Falcao to smash them in

I'd rather Remy to step in, he scores more than Falcao and performs better against English sides.

It is a strange one regarding his hamstring issue, I can only think that surgery is not seen as a viable solution which does worry me a little because rest doesn't seem to do the trick either.

Extract from his book Art of War:

http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/jul/29/diego-costa-chelsea-atletico-madrid-celta-vigo

What a brilliant article, that's made me really warm to Diego.

Here's some more from The Independant, some of the stuff there is hilarious:

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/diego-costa-biography-chelsea-strikers-route-to-the-top--from-those-who-shared-his-journey-10425620.html

Diego Costa could invade an average-sized country all by himself”: journalist Santi Gimenez.

Ha ha, that's brilliant.

I loved more that at one club, I can't remember which one, he was known for carrying out so many pranks that they used to refer to him as 'that f**king Brazilian'!

What a brilliant article, that's made me really warm to Diego.

Here's some more from The Independant, some of the stuff there is hilarious:

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/diego-costa-biography-chelsea-strikers-route-to-the-top--from-those-who-shared-his-journey-10425620.html

"I go to war, you come with me" classic.

I'd rather Remy to step in, he scores more than Falcao and performs better against English sides.

It is a strange one regarding his hamstring issue, I can only think that surgery is not seen as a viable solution which does worry me a little because rest doesn't seem to do the trick either.

I'm sure I remember Jose saying in an interview last season around the Spain Euro qualifier debate that surgery is an option but they are hopeful they can rehabilitate him without it, maybe they gave this summer a good go and it's now become clear he needs it which leaves us in a bit of a pickle because do we wait till next summer and part use him or get it done early on while we have 2 good back up strikers and try and get him back once and for all by teh end of teh season,  such a shame to see a tremendous striker in his prime unable to get a good run of games 

Edited July 30, 201510 yr by Oneclubinlondon

God I love this guy. Breaks my heart to read how he ran over his dog. I would be devastated.

In the summer of 2013, the Reds submitted a £21.8million bid to Atletico Madrid for Costa, triggering his release clause.

The Reds, however, were left disappointed as the La Liga man signed a new contract at Atletico that summer before moving to Stamford Bridge 12 months later in a £32m deal.

In Fran Gillen’s biography of the Spanish international, entitled ‘Diego Costa: The Art of War’, it emerges why Costa turned down Liverpool for Chelsea.

It reads: “Jose Mourinho, recently returned to Chelsea, had also identified Costa as a primary target, a Didier Drogba-style centre-forward around whom he could forge a new winning machine.

“However, Mourinho had yet to persuade the owner of Chelsea, Roman Abramovich, to accelerate his rebuilding plans. In both acquiring new players and moving others on, the process would be gradual.

“If Costa could not be signed [for Chelsea] now, a strategy was needed to ensure he was delayed, and not diverted.

“Chelsea and Mourinho made their case to Costa and Atletico: turn down Liverpool now and we will sign you – for more money – in 12 months.” 

 

Brilliant!

I know he scored 20 goals last season, but the jury is still out on him for me. He lacks ball control, ball retainment and just looks clumsy to me. He doesn't seem consistent enough as a striker. He will have one great game, then will go missing and look very average in the next two or three games. The chances he misses are bad considering his quality as a supposed top finisher. On top of that, his persistent hamstring injury is another negative we keep having to deal with. I hope he comes back strong this season and proves me wrong, but so far I am still expecting more from him. I personally think falcao and remy will have a larger part to play in our success this season than costa.

You forgot 'get off my lawn!'