Official: Diego Costa Departs.

[Bob Singleton]

41 minutes ago, Droy was my hero said:

What has that got to do with how he played in February - who is ignoring what?
Do you have a point to make?  Other than about me and my ego?

When did I say anything about how Costa was playing, in February or at any other time?
You said Conte was getting rid of Costa. I pointed out that it was only because Costa had been hinting at wanting to leave for sometime, so 'blaming' Conte was actually blaming the wrong man... so, as you always do when you are losing an argument, you make it about something else entirely; in this case a subject I hadn't raised (Costa's level of performance) and yourself.

Allow your pea-sized brain and supernova sized ego to consider this a victory, but I'm done attempting to have a rational discussion with you.
 

[Droy was my hero]

6 minutes ago, Bob Singleton said:

Allow your pea-sized brain 

Resorting to language like that says it all - no wonder no one else wants to discuss this.

[Ham]

4 hours ago, Mark Kelly said:

No one knows you're discussing Costa because 90% of the regular posters have you on ignore . 

Well played sir. 

[Michael Tucker]

On 7/26/2017 at 1:22 AM, Droy was my hero said:

no wonder no one else wants to discuss this.

That isn't the reason. Seriously.

[NoblyBobly]

So what do we do with him?

[Sleeping Dave]

You're the man with the Kit Kats. 

Oh...

He's already having a break? 

Edited August 14, 2017 by Sleeping Dave

[NoblyBobly]

Boom boom! 

I wonder if he's partial to a kit kat? He's probably stuffing them down his face right now. 

[Michael Tucker]

Diego Costa: Chelsea forward's behaviour is disgraceful, says Ian Wright

 

 

• 3 minutes ago
• From the sectionFootball

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Diego Costa scored 20 goals in 35 Premier League games for champions Chelsea last season

Chelsea forward Diego Costa's refusal to return to training is "disgraceful", says former Arsenal striker Ian Wright.

The 28-year-old, who is currently in his native Brazil, said he has been treated like a "criminal" and wants to join former club Atletico Madrid.

Chelsea boss Antonio Conte texted Costa in June to say he was not in his plans, but Costa says he has been told to return and train with the reserves. 

"I don't understand how players can get away with that behaviour," said Wright.

Spain striker Costa was given extra time off by Chelsea last month, but now claims he is being fined for his absence and is considering legal action or seeing out the remaining year of his contract unpaid in Brazil.

The Blues expect Costa to return immediately, resume training, get himself match fit and put himself in contention for selection, because he is still contracted to the club.

"It's disgraceful the way he is behaving," Wright told BBC Radio 5 live's The Monday Night Club.

"Surely he's got to come back here, so if the manager changes his mind he's there. He's earning a fortune at Chelsea. Can Atletico Madrid even afford him?" 

• Podcast: Costa situation discussed on Monday Night Club
• Why Conte should be fearing for his job
• Costa told he could leave in January, says Conte

Costa, who last played for Chelsea in the FA Cup final in May, joined the Blues from Atletico Madrid in 2014 and has won two Premier League titles and the League Cup with the London club.

In January, he was left out of the side for an away match at Leicester after he was involved in a dispute with a fitness coach.

It followed reports of an offer from China that would have been worth £30m a year in salary.

"Why won't they let me go if they don't want me?" he told the Daily Mailon Monday.

"In January, things happened with the coach. I was on the brink of renewing my contract and they put the brakes on it. I suspect the manager was behind it. He asked for that to happen.

"His ideas are very fixed and clear. I have seen the sort of person he is. He has his own opinion and that will not change."

'Show us the text'

Costa scored Chelsea's goal in the 2-1 FA Cup final defeat by Arsenal in May

"Antonio Conte has told me by message that I do not follow at Chelsea and that's it. Conte said he did not count on me for next season," said Costa in June.

That came after the Italian manager had sent a text to his players wishing them a good holiday and telling them to stay fit and Costa replied in a jokey way.

But Wright says he cannot understand why Chelsea would want to get rid of a forward who scored 20 goals in 35 Premier League games to help the Blues win the Premier League last season.

"Something has happened," added Wright, who played 33 times for England. 

"For them to want to get rid of that kind of player, I can't understand how that's come about. I can't understand why you would get rid of definitely 20 goals? It doesn't make sense to me."

Following the text message exchange with Conte, Costa said "I love to live in Madrid", despite Atletico being banned from signing players until the January transfer window. 

"Why does it seem he is holding all the cards? He genuinely wants to go, but only wants to go to Atletico Madrid," added Wright.

"If Chelsea want to get rid of him and get bids for a player they don't want, they're not going to take them?

"I would like to see the text. Show us the text. Then I don't blame him, because I would have the hump over that." 

Costa said: "I have not deleted the message. If people accuse me of lying, I can show them. It was clear, saying that he didn't count on me and wishing me the best for the future. Full stop." 

Former Chelsea and Republic of Ireland midfielder Andy Townsend says Conte telling Costa he is not wanted at the club is like Manchester United, Arsenal and Tottenham telling their star forwards not to return.

"Something else is going on," he said. "There's no logic from Chelsea's point of view to get rid of him.

"You don't send him a text and say 'off you pop, we don't want you to come back'. They don't do that. They don't just turn round with one of their main components and say 'go and find a new club'.

"It's like Jose Mourinho saying to Zlatan Ibrahimovic before he was injured, Arsene Wenger saying to Alexis Sanchez, Tottenham saying to Harry Kane 'don't come back'. It's the hardest thing to do, score goals, and you cannot afford to be that flippant with players like that."

[xCELERYx]

Quote

 

"Something has happened," added Wright, who played 33 times for England. 

"For them to want to get rid of that kind of player, I can't understand how that's come about. I can't understand why you would get rid of definitely 20 goals? It doesn't make sense to me."

 

No **** something has happened. I mean, take your pick from the array of incidents that have taken place last season alone;

• Pressed for a move last summer before being told he was to stay.
• Threw a sook mid game and signaled at Conte to be substituted while he took a seat on the pitch. Request was promptly rejected and told to get on with it.
• Once again pressed for a move in January and was told he had to stay. Was subsequently suspended by the club for a game for his behavior. 
• Essentially downed tools for the second half of the season and looked a complete shadow of the player he was during the first half. 6 league goals was the result from Jan to end of the season. Had 14 in the first half.
• Fire extinguisher incident..
• Was apart of a group who dragged Conte out of an interview. 
• Was warned about his public reaction to how Conte shouts at his players from the touchline and the "constant heckling" and "hands on treatment".  

That's a lot of baggage to deal each season and an understandable disruption. 

[Droy was my hero]

6 hours ago, xCELERYx said:

No **** something has happened. I mean, take your pick from the array of incidents that have taken place last season alone;

• Pressed for a move last summer before being told he was to stay.
• Threw a sook mid game and signaled at Conte to be substituted while he took a seat on the pitch. Request was promptly rejected and told to get on with it.
• Once again pressed for a move in January and was told he had to stay. Was subsequently suspended by the club for a game for his behavior. 
• Essentially downed tools for the second half of the season and looked a complete shadow of the player he was during the first half. 6 league goals was the result from Jan to end of the season. Had 14 in the first half.
• Fire extinguisher incident..
• Was apart of a group who dragged Conte out of an interview. 
• Was warned about his public reaction to how Conte shouts at his players from the touchline and the "constant heckling" and "hands on treatment".  

That's a lot of baggage to deal each season and an understandable disruption. 

Essentially none of that is particularly significant, and half is as much Conte's fault/over sensitivity (if true) as Costa's.
The exception in italics is just bollox - a made up story to justify peoples change in attitude to Costa.  14-6 is not a statistically significant split for goal scoring.