He was really good for them and many clubs were in for him. I don't see your point..
Douglas Costa
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He was really good for them and many clubs were in for him. I don't see your point..
My point is that people shouldn't jump the gun on his quality. He's had some awesome performances for Shakhtar as well, but generally been quite inconsistent. Let's wait a couple of month before going nuts about him...
The hype is a bit premature. So far he has played one competitive game against a very weak opponent. What we could see is that he has tremendous speed and is a brilliant footballer with his left foot. Better defending wouldn't have allowed him that outside-footed cross against HSV, for example, he would have had to use his right then. A Ribery at full power is -today- head and shoulders above him tn terms of understanding with the teammates, decision making and both-footedness.
He definitely shows some promise, but it is a long way still to world-beater.
He definitely shows some promise, but it is a long way still to world-beater.
A Ribery at full power would be the best Bayern player and the third best player in the world. That shouldn´t be the reference point for a new player.
you should see what the local media are writing
Also, Ribery hasn't been at full power for ages now. It's not preposterous to suggest his time at the very top is over.
local media is...well... local media. I don´t read any of those papers; not even when I am in Munich. 
Anyway. He has to prove that he can help to unlock deep sitting oppositions. That is his litmus test.
Anyway. He has to prove that he can help to unlock deep sitting oppositions. That is his litmus test.indeed - not many wingers stay at the top at 32 - even those that do tend to re-invent their game a lot to compensate for the ageing process
Seems like everyone's missed a real trick by not taking him on. His name was floating around with many English clubs for seasons and none took a gamble on him.
Looks absolutely class at the moment.
Always had a stereotype in my mind that he was just another Nani... But he may be the real fecking deal.
Looks absolutely class at the moment.
Always had a stereotype in my mind that he was just another Nani... But he may be the real fecking deal.
I seriously misjudged him. He is absolutely tearing up everyone in front of him so far.
I didn't know he was this good
Worldbeater atm. Absolutely ridiculous.
Ribery at his prime has thrived from his lightning quick first moves. Even without them, he is a very valuable player because of his experience, his technique and his view.
@pocco said we should have signed him last season instead of Di Maria iirc.
He has been the best signing of the summer so far. Would have been great here at United.
He has been the best signing of the summer so far. Would have been great here at United.
As much as I love Ribery, I just can't picture him as a starter for this Bayern team anymore, at least not if Costa remains healthy and keeps performing like this. If Ribery ever recovers (that "if" is growing each passing week) I think he'd be more valuable as an impact sub in tight games against a RB tired out by Costa.
He didn't look anywhere near that quick on the Youtube vids 6-7 years ago.
his acceleration is just
He really is special at the moment. No matter who is in front of him, the guy just delievrs at will. Didnt think he was that good before the move, but he looks a bargain.
He's fecking awesome. I've no clue how such a brilliant player could fly under the radar for so long. Can't believe how critical I was of his signing.
Would've been a much cheaper alternative to di Maria, would've been great on our right hand side and he's young. Not quite sure how good his work ethic is in tracking back though, that might have put LvG off if it's poor. Saying that, Woodward wanted a superstar signing at the time, he just couldn't get to grips with how aggressive the PL is.
Just imagine this running at you..
Martial/Wilson
Memphis--Januzaj/Pereira---Costa
Is he dreaming of Madrid yet?
He was holding back in Ukraine. The guy is ridiculous right now. He's on fire and I simply did not see this coming.
Good to see him getting the recognition. He's always been really talented, just can't believe how he slipped through our net so many times. Would have been a great replacement for Ronaldo at the time in terms of the excitement he brings. Surprised Fergie wasn't super keen on a flying winger with his technical ability.
Him and Lewandowski are on fire this season
He's been incredible.
Still though, I'd wait and see what happens when a good opponent team figures out a way to stop his usual trick (push the ball ahead and outrun his defender), when he's doubled etc.
Still though, I'd wait and see what happens when a good opponent team figures out a way to stop his usual trick (push the ball ahead and outrun his defender), when he's doubled etc.
he was also very good for shakhtar, he's just not that much of a goal scorer
when shakhtar had willian, fernandinho and him they outplayed juventus and chelsea in their group, ultimately eliminating the european champions
when shakhtar had willian, fernandinho and him they outplayed juventus and chelsea in their group, ultimately eliminating the european champions
Think he's a step ahead, he's already attempting to go through the double quite a few times, just like Ribery likes to do. He's not quite there yet, but he's young and when he figures out how to go through an opponent, he'll be just as unstoppable as Ribery in his prime.
Playing ridiculous football at the moment. He seems to be relishing the big stage.
Reckon a player like Coutinho should look at him and think wow, what could I be capable of playing under such a manager.
Oh - Lewy is on fire in the last week. Before it was Müller with 8 goals in 5 matches.
It has to do with the setup, too. It does not help you when you pass your markers on the left if in the middle a single striker has to fight against all defenders.
http://www.espnfc.com/german-bundes...ski-exclusive-interview-credits-bayern-revamp
That is from an ESPN-phone-interview with Lewy from this days where he credited it to the current setup. But you can do the same for Costa's work.
I have not watched Costa at Shaktar - but on the right he might not be as successful as he then is an inverted winger and he is not as good with his own shootings. And if he works from the left the success depends a lot on the type of strikers atleast when the opponents aren't that weak.
The problem will arise when Robben is coming back. All talk was often about Robbery - but if you look into the seasons since 2009/10 they were seldom shining at the same type apart from single games - often not against the toughest opponents. The van Gaal years were more about Robben - during Heynckes reign it was Ribery (apart from the Wembley goal). During Pep's time they seldom were on the pitch together. Ribery (and now Costa) are good for the striker.
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I think that Ribery in good form is still ahead of Costa. Ribery is a playmaker from the wing - Costa is not. And Costa often just puts his cross in without his head up (and it just works not directly but with the help of defenders etc.) whereas Ribery still can adress his crosses appropriately.
They found out recently that Ribery's problems were caused by a bad nerve. He is on his way back even if it still might take awhile after being out such a long time. But there is still hope.
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That was a confusing read
Gutted we missed out on him, he's amazing and showing his class right now.
Let's do it in short.
- I think that Costa - and both strikers (Müller with his run before, Lewy now) profit a lot from each other (classic winger on the left and two strikers in the middle). It was the same with Ribery and Gomez/Müller or Mandzu/Müller before.
- Robbery seldom had their best times together. During LvG Robben shined and Ribery did not, with Heynckes it was Ribery. Peptime has seen seldom both on the pitch together. When I think about real good matches from both of them together it was more thrashings of small teams - against the bigger opponents it was often just one of them that shone.
- I still think a fit Ribery (in form) is better than Costa as Ribery is a playmaker from the wings - Costa is not. And Costa's crosses are often unprecise but hard (and lucky) - whereas Ribery has his head up and looks for the recipient.
He also wasn't hyped up like Oscar or Coutinho. Bayern got a relatively free run at him. Fair play to their scouts/transfer team. Gem of a player.
I was at the match last night - feck me he's quick. Not only that though, what skill!
He's turning into bargain of the season, in world football, not just Bundesliga.
He's turning into bargain of the season, in world football, not just Bundesliga.
I really try to keep my excitement at bay, because I expect him to drop to a normal level, but he's outrageously brilliant so far. With every passing game it makes less and less sense that he stayed at Donetsk for so long.
One or two weeks ago, I wrote that he's way better on the left as a creator and not that great at cutting in from the right. On Tuesday, Pep decided different in another brilliant tactical decision, swapping both wingers from the start and Costa rewarded it by scoring the opening goal in a Robben-esque move:
His acceleration is exceptional, it's insane how much space he can create for himself with just a few steps.
He didn't really play as a right winger, but more as a slightly right sided attacking midfielder, who often dropped really deep and carried the ball forward, while Müller provided the width as a right winger and Lahm stayed deeper to help protect the defense against counterattacks. Our third goal sums it up perfectly. Costa with the pass to Coman, Alaba with the overlap and the cross to Müller, who sneaked inside to finish.
One or two weeks ago, I wrote that he's way better on the left as a creator and not that great at cutting in from the right. On Tuesday, Pep decided different in another brilliant tactical decision, swapping both wingers from the start and Costa rewarded it by scoring the opening goal in a Robben-esque move:
His acceleration is exceptional, it's insane how much space he can create for himself with just a few steps.
He didn't really play as a right winger, but more as a slightly right sided attacking midfielder, who often dropped really deep and carried the ball forward, while Müller provided the width as a right winger and Lahm stayed deeper to help protect the defense against counterattacks. Our third goal sums it up perfectly. Costa with the pass to Coman, Alaba with the overlap and the cross to Müller, who sneaked inside to finish.
Well that's depressing.
In my view, this guy is the transfer of the year. Every scouting and transfer department must pose the question why they didn't try to sign him or why they didn't succeed to sign him. Chelsea were close in 2012. United scouted him even before but didn't go for him since our chief scout Jim Lawlor told Ferguson Costa is too slow for the Premier League. That's at least what fourfourtwo.com reported back then.