Chelsea agree £32m fee with Atletico Madrid for Diego Costa

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I'll admit to not watching much Spanish football but what's with all the Drogba comparisons?

What made him such a handful was the fact he was taller, stronger and quicker than almost every defender he came up against. He was an absolute bully on the pitch. Is Costa really the same sort of physical specimen? Can't say I see it myself.
 
What's his record like this season in comparison with Soldado and Negardo at their best in Spain?
 
saivet said:
What's his record like this season in comparison with Soldado and Negardo at their best in Spain?
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His league record is similar but he's 8 in 8 in the CL which is why I'd assume Chelsea are more willing to take a punt.
 
ISSYNAZAR said:
His league record is similar but he's 8 in 8 in the CL which is why I'd assume Chelsea are more willing to take a punt.
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He's a bit younger too, Negredo and Soldado are already in their prime.
 
Im extremely skeptical that Costa would so any good what so ever at Chelsea. At the moment he is a top top striker but the team he plays in is very much based around his attributes which are being industrious and bloody pig headed.

He is no where near the quality of Drogba and can often go missing in games, people saying he is like Saurez are off their nut, he doesnt have the pace, skill or intelligence of Saurez, he is a completely different player. I would put him down as a pure finisher. Players like him need the best of deliveries which he has had consistently with Koke, Thuran and Diego all fast attacking players with killer passes in their locker.

Now Chelsea certainly have great attacking players that can find a player but they severely lack a creative number 10 type in the mould of Mata, Silva or indeed Koke.

Maybe I am being a bit harsh on him, but nothing I have seen of Costa, and ive seen him alot this season as I keep tabs on the Spanish league suggest to me he would be any better than a Ba, Torres, Eto IN THIS CHELSEA SET UP.

They would be better off sticking with Lukaku.
 
Obviously, Costa is having a far better season than Tristan had in 2001/02. More goals in La Liga and far better ratio in the CL. Shit comparison that, still better than the one with Amir Zaki though :lol:
 
We'll get an even better idea of Costa in the WC as Spain play a completely different system to Atletico. I doubt he will be as impressive with Spain as with Atletico and I doubt he will play all the time (as I am sure Del Bosque will play some parts with a false 9 again), but I am really looking forward to see how he fits in Costa and how he performs.
 
SolidState said:
Im extremely skeptical that Costa would so any good what so ever at Chelsea. At the moment he is a top top striker but the team he plays in is very much based around his attributes which are being industrious and bloody pig headed.

He is no where near the quality of Drogba and can often go missing in games, people saying he is like Saurez are off their nut, he doesnt have the pace, skill or intelligence of Saurez, he is a completely different player. I would put him down as a pure finisher. Players like him need the best of deliveries which he has had consistently with Koke, Thuran and Diego all fast attacking players with killer passes in their locker.

Now Chelsea certainly have great attacking players that can find a player but they severely lack a creative number 10 type in the mould of Mata, Silva or indeed Koke.

Maybe I am being a bit harsh on him, but nothing I have seen of Costa, and ive seen him alot this season as I keep tabs on the Spanish league suggest to me he would be any better than a Ba, Torres, Eto IN THIS CHELSEA SET UP.

They would be better off sticking with Lukaku.
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Even if they kept Lukaku, they'd need a second top quality striker. Unless you consider a strikeforce of Ba, Torres, Eto'o sufficient for a UCL/Premier League contender?

You could argue that had they signed Falcao, or Rooney, it'd probably be them winning the EPL this year rather than City.
 
Pogue Mahone said:
I'll admit to not watching much Spanish football but what's with all the Drogba comparisons?

What made him such a handful was the fact he was taller, stronger and quicker than almost every defender he came up against. He was an absolute bully on the pitch. Is Costa really the same sort of physical specimen? Can't say I see it myself.
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They're quite similar in both height and weight, actually, which surprised me a bit as Drogba looks a bit bigger. I'd agree that physically (and technically for that matter) Drogba, in his prime, was superior, but Diego Costa is a nightmare for defenders not only because of his stature, but also because of his Suarez-like aggression and dirty tricks. He's a conniving bastard.
Anyway, you're right in saying that he still has a lot to prove -- and he'll probably have a harder time bullying defenders physically in the Prem than he did in Spain. He just seems to have that typical South American gritty mentality, that both Suarez and Tevez have, which makes me think he'll succeed. He's clearly not as capable on the ball as those two, but he's imposing, and he sure does seem like he's knows how to put the ball in the back of the net.
 
Cerpin said:
They're quite similar in both height and weight, actually, which surprised me a bit as Drogba looks a bit bigger. I'd agree that physically (and technically for that matter) Drogba, in his prime, was superior, but Diego Costa is a nightmare for defenders not only because of his stature, but also because of his Suarez-like aggression and dirty tricks. He's a conniving bastard.
Anyway, you're right in saying that he still has a lot to prove -- and he'll probably have a harder time bullying defenders physically in the Prem than he did in Spain. He just seems to have that typical South American gritty mentality, that both Suarez and Tevez have, which makes me think he'll succeed. He's clearly not as capable on the ball as those two, but he's imposing, and he sure does seem like he's knows how to put the ball in the back of the net.
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I agree with much of that but I'm not sure that Costa is worse than the young Drogba technically wise. I think he is better at beating defenders than Drogba was in his pre Chelsea years. Maybe I'm wrong though, Koroux could tell us more about the young Drogba I guess. That said, Costa's behaviour on the pitch is really disgusting. Horrible cnut.
 
Wow Chelsea just seem to sign players with ease whilst we just dither about. Jose knew he needed a top striker this season and gets one when the season finishes, we have known we needed a top center midfielder for how long now and...

Good buy, physical so suits our league definitely going to be one of the best although not there yet IMO.
 
Treble said:
I agree with much of that but I'm not sure that Costa is worse than the young Drogba technically wise. I think he is better at beating defenders than Drogba was in his pre Chelsea years. Maybe I'm wrong though, Koroux could tell us more about the young Drogba I guess. That said, Costa's behaviour on the pitch is really disgusting. Horrible cnut.
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Yeah, you're probably right about his ability to take on a man. But in terms of striking the ball, Drogba's technique was outstanding. Agree about his behaviour; borderline psychopathic at times. He'll do anything to gain an advantage.
 
Costa needs service? Nah, he makes things happen and thrives off scraps. He is the most fouled player in la liga too which is a huge bonus considering he can draw in fouls in any dangerous position. He gives any defender a hard time. Players like Falcao need service, otherwise they can look a bit useless but Costa is an industrious striker who can cause problems wherever he is on the pitch, and can certainly create something from nothing and open lots of space for others. Sometimes I wonder if people have watched him that much at all, other than the CL games against a very defensive minded Chelsea side.
 
I think people saying he's a one-season wonder are wide of the mark. Last season he actually played very well in a more supportive role, with Falcao being the first choice no.9.

He's only 25 and is a big, physical striker, the type that usually develop and peak later. I think his direct style and more clinical finishing will massively improve Chelsea next year.

Provided they bring Courtois back, get a new LB to support Hazard on the left wing and a more composed CM to replace Ramires then they'll be favourites for the PL IMO. They also have players like Oscar, Willian and Schurrle who will no doubt improve with more experience.
 
quackattack said:
Didn't the same thing happen with Götze (and sort of with Lewandowski).?
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Those deals were officially announced by the clubs, though. Chelsea and Atleti haven't announced anything. This still isn't official.
 
saivet said:
What's his record like this season in comparison with Soldado and Negardo at their best in Spain?
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25 in 36 appearances was Negredo's best and that was 2012/2013 where he also missed the most clear goalscoring chances in the top 3 leagues.
Negredo had a purple patch at the start of this season and then returned to normal with his 9 goals in 32 appearances.
Negredo was a good striker in Spain, proving his goalscoring over many seasons. Being called a great striker in the first half of this season was way over the top.


Soldado is the opposite. Written off a bit too early for a very poor first season in the premier league. In Spain he scored 24 goals in 35 appearances last season very similar to Negredo but without fluffing all the clear chances Negredo did.


Diego Costa has 27 goals in 34 appearances in his best season by a mile. While his performance is way beyond anything Negredo ever managed in Spain he doesn't have that consistant 3 or 4 year period where he's a proven goalscorer in each. At the same time Costa is 3 years younger, so we're probably in that period now and its only natural for him to have had less seasons as a good goalscorer. He's also more of a team player than Soldado or Negredo, working the channels, dribbling the ball up the pitch, crossing for teammates a lot more than just being your number 9 goalgetter like the other two mostly are. He's a more physical, feisty character and more likely to take to the league than they are.
 
I think he would be a great fit for Chelsea. He just is the type who would do well for them and in the PL in comparison to many other strikers, who failed at Chelsea. I hope they don't get him, he is a dirty bastard and I don't want to see him playing against us, that said Mourinho will love him while calling Suarez a "disgusting human beeing" in the same minute.
 
Ekeke said:
25 in 36 appearances was Negredo's best and that was 2012/2013 where he also missed the most clear goalscoring chances in the top 3 leagues.
Negredo had a purple patch at the start of this season and then returned to normal with his 9 goals in 32 appearances.
Negredo was a good striker in Spain, proving his goalscoring over many seasons. Being called a great striker in the first half of this season was way over the top.


Soldado is the opposite. Written off a bit too early for a very poor first season in the premier league. In Spain he scored 24 goals in 35 appearances last season very similar to Negredo but without fluffing all the clear chances Negredo did.


Diego Costa has 27 goals in 34 appearances in his best season by a mile. While his performance is way beyond anything Negredo ever managed in Spain he doesn't have that consistant 3 or 4 year period where he's a proven goalscorer in each. At the same time Costa is 3 years younger, so we're probably in that period now and its only natural for him to have had less seasons as a good goalscorer. He's also more of a team player than Soldado or Negredo, working the channels, dribbling the ball up the pitch, crossing for teammates a lot more than just being your number 9 goalgetter like the other two mostly are. He's a more physical, feisty character and more likely to take to the league than they are.
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I've watched Atleti probably about 20 times this season, same last. I don't know what to make of Costa. One minute he looks awful, rubbing up opponents, diving, headbutting. Other times he runs his guts out, terrorizes defenders and scores great goals.

Sid Lowe memorably wrote.

Diego Costa says that he never takes his work home with him. Which is probably a good thing. If he did, the Atlético Madrid striker might walk through the door, goad the dog with a stick, surreptitiously elbow his wife out of the way on the stairs, shrug his shoulders innocently as she lay in a crumpled heap at the bottom and whisper insults to his children, look the other way and whistle when they burst into tears. He might stroll into the living room and dramatically collapse on the floor, roll around the rug holding his head and appeal for a penalty. He might even get it too.
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In previous seasons he did the above but without the goals, but the nature of the goals don't suggest a flash in the pan.

Its a Mourinho purchase and not an Abramovich purchase. He ain't good to watch but he sure is effective. I suspect he's going to be the least popular striker in the Premier League next year, but will score at least 20 goals.
 
Will spend some time in the stand due to suspensions I have no doubt. But while he's available he'll give defenders hell. Strong, aggressive, pacey, brave in the air, dirty c*nt, ticks all the boxes for Mourinho.
 
Why do Chelsea sign players so easily yet we seem to struggle? They are paying a good price for him too. That fee isn't that high at all!
 
They have activated his release clause and have been after him for at least a month (there's a story on the Telegraph about Chelsea closing in on him a month old).
 
ZDwyr said:
Why do Chelsea sign players so easily yet we seem to struggle? They are paying a good price for him too. That fee isn't that high at all!
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One word, we have the negotiator Woody.
 
ZDwyr said:
Why do Chelsea sign players so easily yet we seem to struggle? They are paying a good price for him too. That fee isn't that high at all!
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Have they signed him?

It's only Sky Sources reporting it.
 
ZDwyr said:
Why do Chelsea sign players so easily yet we seem to struggle? They are paying a good price for him too. That fee isn't that high at all!
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You pay release clause (if player has one) and club has to agree to sell. Simple really.
 
Bwuk said:
To be honest, I'm not bothered. I don't think for example, he's better than Falcao was for them. I don't think he's one of the top strikers in the world, he just plays in a system that suits him. Wouldn't surprise me to see him struggle.

Or is that just wishful thinking?
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I don't think he was better than Falcao was for Atleti - the side Falcao played in was vastly inferior, even if there were many familiar faces. They were a totally average side who relied on Falcao, & Falcao only, to deliver the goods (and he did so, every week. The difference is, he would score and they would draw or lose, whereas Diego Costa is doing the same, but he has the team around him to win games and challenge for silverware). Falcao scored goals from nothing - I think his move to Monaco has (understandably) made people forget how good he was/is. Falcao at Atletico was like a much, much more extreme version of Van Nistelrooy at United. He was the definition of world class.

Costa will fit Chelsea like a glove, he is a Jose type of striker, but I do think he is still below the 'world class' bracket. He needs to prove he can sustain this form for over a year. Atletico have probably been the best team (as in, how the players have worked together like a well-oiled machine, no superstars, & executed their manager's game plan) in the world this season - Costa has been brilliant, but any very good/quality striker will have had the season he has had when all 10 of your teammates are programmed to make you score a goal. I am not discrediting him, he is a brilliant player, but he has received some great service in a system where he is the spearhead. Any less than 25/30 over the season and one would be disappointed (with few goals from midfield), considering they are title favourites & in a CL final, i'd say. If he can prove he can do it again without Simeone, then by all means I would understand people calling him world class. He's no Falcao, though. Just my opinion, but he's miles behind Falcao. That guy was born to score goals.

Very good price, I think he's a great player & i'd be surprised to see him fail to tear it up in the league. He really suits Chelsea, too. I think he'll score over 20 in the league.
 
Atletico were average until Simeone came. They were useless before that, even with Falcao and they are even better now without him. Falcao had the same players behind him, and Costa doing all the dirty work and even outshining him in the second half of 12/13. They don't create many clear cut chances either so no, the side isn't made to just give Costa everything, I mean look at the goals Villa and Raul Garcia have scored, not to mention the amount they score from set pieces. It's like saying any striker would score loads if they are the main man and it just doesn't work like that. At the start of the season people probably thought Villa would out score Costa.
 
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