Davey baby! Not seen u around these parts in a while. Good to have u back!

Good posts Davey Boy

No, I don't think that's what's going to happen at all.

I think Chelsea are in the market for a striker and that's why there are so many persistent rumours, particularly concerning Morata, but I think the reason is because Costa wants to go back to Madrid and I think Conte, despite his utterances, is quite willing to accept that.

Obviously we'll need a replacement first, and it will have to be someone of equal stature.

That's my reading of the situation.

Having Costa, Batshuayi and one of Morata/Lukaku etc would be ridiculous, not to mention the fact we already have two other strikers, which would make five.

Even if Remy were to be sold in such a scenario, we would be blocking Traore's progress and that would be criminal, because he's a major talent, it's obvious to anybody with a pair of eyes. The boy is going to be something special. For once you'd hope Chelsea actually allow a youngster to develop by giving him games, and this boy has undoubtedly shown he deserves a chance.

Costa has never really settled in England in my opinion. I'm not saying he's unhappy but he was far happier in Spain, and he'd like to return. That's the reason we keep hearing about it. I'm not saying he'd slap in a transfer request, or rock the boat, but he'd like it to happen if possible and I think he's told the relevant people. Could be wrong of course but that's how I read it.

I mean, do we really think Atletico haven't had any encouragement?

Personally, I'd be happy if he left and we brought somebody else in, so long as they were of the requisite quality. I'm not as fond of Diego as many of you and I certainly don't rate him as highly. I hear people describing him as world-class. Really? Suarez is world-class, Aguero is world-class, Costa is easily a rung below them. Costa is a good striker when his head's right, don't get me wrong, I rate him as a striker, but there are issues with him, issues which won't go away in my opinion. Firstly, he's made a rod for his own back with referees. He can feel sorry for himself all he wants but he only has himself to blame. Secondly, you just can't rely on his temperament, which you need to at the highest level. If he wants to hurt the opposition he should concentrate on scoring goals, instead he often gets involved in needless spats, to the detriment of himself and the team. We lose focus and it all gets a bit too fraught. Thirdly, his attitude towards the manager, sweetness and light when things are going well. Last season he was wretched for Jose until Jose finally dropped him at White Hart Lane, albeit belatedly. First time Costa's been dropped at Chelsea and his reaction? Did anybody see him warming up on the touchline? It was embarrassing and it was exacerbated when he threw his bib. We needed our big players to step up and get us out of a hole. Costa proved he wasn't a big player, at least to me. He tries too hard to prove he's a hard man but when push came to shove he was nowhere to be seen. I don't think he intimidates anybody, apart from perhaps Arsenal defenders. Ask yourself this, would Moussa Dembele try and gouge the eyes of a real hard man? I don't think so. Costa has lost a lot of credibility in opponents' eyes and I don't think he's getting that back. He’s become almost a figure of fun, the way he carries on, and he’s way too easy to wind up. If he were to concentrate on performing we’d have a top striker on our hands, but you just can’t trust him, and while he's good, he's not worth the aggravation, because he's not that good.

A top, top striker can turn a game on its head, even when his team aren't performing. When you need somebody to get you out of trouble, when you need a goal out of nothing, you look towards your striker. Top, top strikers do that. Your Drogba’s for example. When it all looks bleak, they produce the goods. That's why they command the big fees and the big wages. They scare the opposition. Costa is simply not in that category. I'm not saying Morata is, I'm not saying Lukaku is, I'm just saying Costa isn't as indispensable as people think.

For my money, Traore will be a top, top striker, but he needs games, or he won't progress. If we were to sign Morata or Lukaku for example, and keep Costa, I'd be truly dismayed. When would the kid get a game?

We’re hardly going to struggle with fixture congestion.

After White Hart Lane we lost to Bournemouth, at home. Costa came on as a substitute. The experiment was over. He started the next game, against Leicester, which we lost. We were in crisis. How did Costa respond? He had a pop at Zouma, on the pitch, remember? Accused him of falling asleep. Zouma, one of our only players who was showing up, and even worse, a kid at that. I don't know if any of you noticed but he was at it again the other night, in our friendly, having a pop at Traore, who was playing much better than him. Talk about killing a kid's confidence. He was right in his face, obviously displeased. I don't want to make too big a deal out of it. Maybe it was nothing. Traore scored so it obviously didn't affect him too much. He seemed happy enough. I just think Costa needs to keep it down a little bit and focus on playing. There's a line and he frequently goes over it.

If he stays he stays, I won't be too displeased, he'll be our best striker, until further notice, and he's capable of scoring goals. He's also very good in the lone striker role which we might need, that's when he's not injured, or suspended. Costa gives you great movement, he gives you knowhow, he gives you a physical presence and he gives you goals. He doesn't give you great mobility or pace, he's limited technically, often losing the ball.

If he stays I'll be very surprised if we buy another big-name striker and I'll be very disheartened, because it will smack again of short-term thinking, and I'd like to see us change our approach.

Lukaku of course is technically deficient as well, far more so than Diego. He doesn’t share Diego’s intelligence, nor his link-up play. He gives you a lot of things Diego doesn’t however, not least the fact I imagine he’d love to play for Chelsea. People can say he had his chance but I blame Jose wholly for his departure. The kid wanted to play regular football in order to develop and boy has he been vindicated. Broken all sorts of scoring records, for someone so young. He’s only four months older than Patrick Bamford.

If we were to buy a big-name striker, and keep Costa, I wouldn’t blame Traore for wanting to go, it’s the only way he’ll flourish. It would be Sturridge and Lukaku all over again, only with a better prospect.

Lukaku gives you genuine pace and genuine power. He’s great in the air and gives you guaranteed goals. He’s the sort of striker that can intimidate opponents, and he’s only going to get better.

I’m not saying I want him, I’m not saying he’s better than Diego, I’m just countering some of the arguments made against him. I think Conte’s got his heart set on Morata, but what do I know, I’m only guessing as we all are.

Anyway that's my thoughts on the subject. I hope you're all well and roll on the new season.

Forza Conte.

Great post mate!

Atleti can have Diego.....

If they give us Griezmann!

I don't think it has anything to do with Costa, I think it's to do with playing 2 strikers. If you're doing that all season you need 4 strikers, including 3 top ones. We currently have just 2, but as one is untested, only 1.....

Finally someone who thinks of DC as the way I do.. With costa, I think his impact has been somewhat minimized since after 6 months of his arrival but we're all in denial mode and keep thinking he's a world class striker because maybe we want to think that way for the sake of the club.. Having said so, I don't think both morata & lukaku are the immediate answer, moreover with their inlfated price.. we need to keep calm, I'd rather we spend smart rather than spend big just for the sake of it.. 

I agree with Davey that Diego is just one rung down from being world class, he's a very effective striker but he just isn't the top top striker we all think the club needs.

However, there is a real shortage of proper world class strikers out there, we're limited by not playing in Europe next season and the stupid money that players are going for now.

The bit that really gets me is all the rumours of Diego going back to A.Madrid and the prices quoted are around £35mil. But I thought the market was dramatically inflated? Seems to me if he wants to go back and they want him then it's £50mil plus.

Considering we're supposedly being quoted £60mil for Lukaku and £70mil for Morata (and most would agree that Diego is a level above both of these player, albeit through age and experience) it'll cost us £80mil to replace him in this market and that's before we've even got onto the subject of who might replace him...

I think if we are looking to replace costa, we will probably be looking to replace him his a big name signing, however if we are looking a striker to replace remy and potentially be a partner for costa, i would think we should go for someone a little cheaper than morata or lukaku.

Gabriel has been linked but that has gone quiet, lacazette would be a good option, as would aboubakar, milik, or fekir, who would all be available for less than half the £75m asking price for lukaku.

After signing Mitchy and Kante, I was expecting us to be linked with a lot of defenders especially a LB but it isn't happening yet we are still linked with strikers as if we don't already have 4 of them. Well it seems Conte is content with working with the little defenders we have as he wants to experiment with a 3-5-2 formation so I think we should not panic if we spend a lot to bring Lukaku here as I think Conte knows what he is doing and if we eventually win the league with Lukaku outscoring Costa and Mitchy nobody will eventually remember questioning the reason for bringing in Costa.

Just like the Barcelona team Conte wants to make attacking our strength or trade mark instead of the defensive team we are used to under Jose.

So Conte is going to play like Barca? Ok then

If Chelsea stick with the defenders they have they won't even make the top 4.

PLaying like barca requires a solid intelligence not slow defence.. Busquest, mascherano and pique alone can repel lots of offence, they definitely can stand on their own.. we only have kante, although zouma has the potential but still needs to be nurtured and guided.. Players like Kompany/Thiago silva would be superb to pair up with zouma behind kante,,

I don't think I mentioned Higuain, I don't rate him as one of the best strikers in the world either.

Aguero, Costa, Lewandowski, Aubameyang, Suarez, Greizmann, Zlatan and so on are far better forwards than Higuain.

Yup. operational word here is "I".

You dont rate lukaku and higuain. Juventus are willing to buy higuain for 79 mil pounds according to what i hear.

Any one who thinks juve (or any italian team for that matter) will spend £79m on a single player needs to get his head checked.

 

Its rare for an italian team to spend £79m in an entire transfer window. Let alone on a single player.

Any one who thinks juve (or any italian team for that matter) will spend £79m on a single player needs to get his head checked.

Its rare for an italian team to spend £79m in an entire transfer window. Let alone on a single player.

That higuian deal is but confirmed.

That higuian deal is but confirmed.

 

The price is likely much less. somewhere around £40-50m

The price is likely much less. somewhere around £40-50m

It's the stated 79 million pounds (94 million euros) paid over two installments of 47 million euros. It's pretty much all over the internet.

It's pretty much all over the internet.

 

I guess it must be true then.

I guess it must be true then.

Yea if most reliable newspapers are repeating same story.

Strong rumours up here that he is close to agreeing a new deal to stay, I'm not sure what to make of it it all (stones situation just as confusing) but no doubting that Rom is a bit of an enigma, he can be unplayable on his day, just doesn't have enough of them.

Even in today's inflated market Lukaku isn't worth £60m. I'd rather we stuck with Costa and the young attacking players we have at the moment and spent heavily at the back. Lukaku dithers under pressure. He's just too inconsistent. If we're looking for potential we should stick with Solanke and/or Traore for a season and see how they do. I think Costa, along with a few other players, will be happier this season and we'll get more out of him. I'd even give Remy another season as substitute striker. We leaked goals like a Tetley Teabag last season and if we stop that we should get top 4.

The price is likely much less. somewhere around £40-50m

Its been confirmed on sky sports for £75m

So that means Pogba to United is done, too.

Any one who thinks juve (or any italian team for that matter) will spend £79m on a single player needs to get his head checked.

Its rare for an italian team to spend £79m in an entire transfer window. Let alone on a single player.

Im guessing you feel pretty silly right about now

So that means Pogba to United is done, too.

 

Let Pogba go to united for crazy money.

 

I'll take Batshuiay, Kante, Koulibaly and Mahrez for that money plus another 10 mil.

75,3m pounds for 28yr old Higuain.... Makes no sense.

75,3m pounds for 28yr old Higuain.... Makes no sense.

Yeah it's really strange. At least with Pogba you are getting a player who can and will improve in his early 20's but Higuian is coming on 29 and isn't at the level of your Aguero's or Suarez's.

It's a safe bet in the league I suppose as he's well suited to the Italian league and the slower pace is ideal for him but I don't think He's going to take them up a level.