I think it's that word "potential" again. As Don says, Lukaku has proved himself in the EPL. People tend to forget that he's still only 23, but he's had four full seasons of Premiership football already ! He scored 17 for WBA, then 16, 20 and 25 for Everton (in all competitions ). That's impressive by any standards.
I'd agree, he doesn't look like a £75m player to me either, even in the current inflated market. But given his age, I think there's a fair chance that he is still capable of moving to a level higher. If you look around Europe at players of around that age, Lukaku must be right up there in terms of potential, and he's probably ahead of most with what he has achieved already.
So, not the perfect buy for me. But by no means the worst either. Do we need him while we have Costa though, he surely wouldn't be happy as a back-up ?

No club in the world can have a 75m player on the bench, Lukaku would have to play every pl game.

What would that mean for Costa, who is a better player?

If Lukaku is out of form we would still have to make him first choice, like Torres.

I see Conte speak of a couple of signings and I think its essential. I watched Liverpool last weekend and Man Utd yesterday and you can see the difference the extra squad depth gives.

I tend to agree with Codeblue above that you dont bring in Lukaku to sit on the bench but you want the quality of player that offers you genuine options and competition for places. The ultimate goal is to be able to replace a player with another and not significantly weaken the side.

I remain optimistic though. I think we will have a much improved season. I think there are clear threats from United, City and Liverpool in terms of improvement. Spurs and Arsenal will have a major challenge to maintain their threats IMO and Leicester will sink like a stone relatively speaking.

We need to set a marker against watford today. They will park the bus, but we need to and should smash them to bits - and let the manchester clubs it will not be all their own way this season.

Lukaku has come out and said that he will not leave everton, but really its more like CFC have decided not to waste 75 million and lukaku will waste a year there, just like stones did last year.

I think spurs and arsenal are the ones in trouble this season, and leicester will finish mid table.

We really need to get a couple of defenders in to bolster the squad and maybe get one more out, that being Cuadrado. He's not going to crack it so lets offload.
That would leave Hazard, Willian as first choices with Pedro and Moses as back up.
Not convinced about Moses either but I doubt he will be needed too much.

moses will be on almost every game!

Yes, 5 mins is fine.

Well, he will need to have improved a lot from previous seasons. But good luck to him, maybe he's just a bit late in making his breakthrough.

Pedro in for Willian. Chalobah on the bench.

pedro needs to start doing something, he was very poor last year

Let's face it, the whole team was poor. I can remember him having a few decent games. If you go by stats (which I don't) Pedro has a very good goals per game record over his career, at a high level of football as well.

watford parking the bus, fouling, the ref not being consistant with the yellows watford deserve.

Tricky game, we should be thrashing these.

Dreadful so far. This is the kind of match that needs Fabregas. He'd better be on at h/t.

No creativity. Relying on Hazard too much. A familiar story.

As well as bringing in a couple of defenders, another AM wouldn't be a bad idea either.

Yes, poor first half. Very similar so far to last season. Lacking some dynamism. All very predictable.

Watford ahead now. Quelle surprise.

ivan and pedro, what a great defensive combination

Costa looking isolated.

Brilliant.

I hope Conte doesn't leave it as late as the West Ham game for making subs.

bring moses on!

costa should be off with a second yellow.

what is this idiot thinking of?



looking at a replay , the ref missed a clear pen for chelsea, cathcart haldling it above his head!

Batshuayi scores!

Costa!

great changes conte!

we looked awful for 85 minutes

cesc changes the game