27 Aug 2015 09:53:51
Whilst we wait the conclusion to the Pogba/Stones saga here is something to mull over.
We have had the second report of Diego Costa wanting to return to AM, it may not be him it may be his family but I think there is merit in the story because I believe he was coerced into joining us as AM needed cash at the time. What would the reaction be if Costa was traded for Griezmann next summer ignoring any adjustment one way or another? With Costa there is the on-going hamstring issue and the constant threat of suspension because of his temperament versus the potential for twenty goals. With Griezmann you have a totally different type of player but in the scoring form of his life from range, in the box and with his head.
27 Aug 2015 10:11:00
Griezmann scored an amazing and unexpected amount of goals last season - let's see if he can repeat it. Remember Clive Allen scoring 49 in a season - and that was that for him.
27 Aug 2015 10:26:40
Can't lose Costa
27 Aug 2015 11:04:47
Good question, if Costa has anoth injury plagued season then I would say yes. And I'm going to throw this out there putting my neck on the line. I would replace him with Lukaku, the guy is a beast and is getting better and better every season. If he continues to improve at the current rate he will be a star in the next year or so. I know he has attitude problems before, but people grow up and I'm sure he has matured somewhat. Watching Everton, he is outstanding at holding the ball up and bringing others into play and can score too. He could be a real asset for us. I would be happy to have him back.
27 Aug 2015 11:19:42
Blue: Lukaku will never happen and boy do some of you love the word 'beast' to describe a player. Personally I think he over rates himself and certainly does not score enough and that attitude he has always had has causes him so many fall outs he is probably treated by many with caution. Another injury plagued season would not help us with Costa as it would seriously impact his value.
27 Aug 2015 11:32:18
Mrs Costa: You love those old players. Not true "that was that for him". Yes, that was an exceptional season but he average marginally over a goal every 2 games throughout his 418 match career including 21 in 30 games when in France. That scoring history would be difficult to beat by any modern player.
27 Aug 2015 11:38:45
Lukaku is the focal point of a team which aims to have there striker scoring by far the majority of there goals. he averages around a goal in every other game for everton. not good enough for us if we are to compete for trophies. also, skilfully he is worse than mikel. pros - strength, pace, heading + finishing. cons - touch, link up play, Lack of a brain + attitude.
there aren't many young strikers in the league I can envisage wearing blue in the future. mitrovic? if he channels his aggression correctly and works hard at the toon.
27 Aug 2015 12:04:58
Lukaku would be second or third choice striker if he was with us currently. I don't see how he would be an adequate replacement if Costa were to leave. He may improve marginally this season but as Whoneedshistory has pointed out, he has a shocking touch, and other than pace and strength doesn't offer a whole lot. Not to mention we pulled Evertons pants down on the fee we got, and they would be looking for close to £40m in return.
I wouldn't want Greizman either. Not as a replacement. We don't play beautiful, pass amd move football. We play direct, and need a strong target man. Benzema or Lewandowski would be my choices. Both would be possible, I think. Greizman would be worth getting, but we would need to change the way we play, or have him playing off the striker as a second striker, or an advanced no.10.
27 Aug 2015 12:26:00
I think lukaku is pants
27 Aug 2015 12:39:18
I think you'll see Greizmann and Costa at Chelsea next year.
27 Aug 2015 14:03:48
Frensham, just checked the record - you're right - he even scored 7 in 16 for us - amazing record. Change the example to Robert Fleck - great goalscoring record with Rangers and Norwich. and then he came to us!
27 Aug 2015 14:31:17
Diego Costa will not leave Chelsea in next 3-4 years at least. What is the point of this conversion? Lukaku was sold and he won't be back.Was it mistake to not the time will show.
Anyway this soap opera will end on Tuesday, we can only hope that Chelsea will sign Pogba and Stones.
27 Aug 2015 14:35:28
J: Going out on a limb here, I do not think there is any chance Costa will be with us next year. If I could change anything it is the football we play, I would like us to play pass and move football at pace with a Drogba type target man, good with both feet and good in the air. I am not sure what we are trying at present as this tippy tap stuff in front of a packed defence is not getting us anywhere, lots of possession, few goals. I have always been a fan of Lewendowski and would be more than happy if we got hold of him. I was not advocating Griezmann as a replacement as such for Costa but part of a deal with AM.
27 Aug 2015 14:54:58
Lukaku is incredibly hot and cold and just happens to fall on the good side presently. Also agree that he isn't capable of playing in our system with his lack of skill on the ball. Greizman isn't capable of playing as a striker in Jose's system. Look at every one of his teams and you'll find a physically imposing centre forward. I also think next year is a long way away and that's made clear by how much could be different by this time next week.
27 Aug 2015 15:22:43
Mrs Costa: "Robert Fleck" - are you on something? I started talking about Antoine Griezmann, a player who has increased his goal tally every single year he has played and we end with Robert Fleck as a comparison!