Blessing in disguise

I'm not sure why we were ever interested in Pastore to be honest. He just wouldn't fit our formation.

As it stands I'm much happier with Mata who is far more versatile and consistant in my opinon.

Although I was never convinced we needed Pastore I'm reserving jusdgement on having missed a bullet until we sign a midfielder

Modric or Moutinho would suit us fine

Coentrao just looks like a more expensive Zhirkov

We haven't even signed Modric yet.
Wait until the Modric deal goes through, before you can jump to conclusions.
I have a slightly different view from yours, in the sense that; if we had tied up the Pastore deal, there wouldn't be this whole uncertainty if we'll be able to sign a playmaker before the end of the transfer window.

As it stands, no one is sure if the Modric deal would go through or not, every story about Modric @ the moment is all speculation.
What if Levy insists on not selling Modric...what next?
Do we stick with the current midfield players (while the problem of creativity persists) or do we panic buy, whereby we then go for a player who is not first choice, and may end up paying over the odds for that player, which should have been used in signing Pastore?

If it was certain that the Modric deal would go through, then I'll share the same sentiments with you, but as it is at the moment...nothing is clear, and there's a possibility we might actually end up not signing Modric.

Right now, it's like the Chelsea board are putting all eggs in one basket.
If we fail to sign Modric, we may either end up without the much needed playmaker, or we sign a player that may cost as much as Modric or Pastore, but with less quality.
The reason...the Club would take advantage of our desperate need for a playmaker, in the closing period of the transfer window, and inflate the price of the player.

Pastore would have been good. Coentrao - meh.

Pastore could turn out to be world beater but at 40 odd million I would have been very disappointed in the signing. I would have rather have spent that 40 million on getting modric or another alternative. I never said that we are signing modric but as i just said knowing the fact that 40 million could have got us modric ( which if we offered that amount, spurs would accept) who would be suited to our 433 system or even 40 million for hazard who would be much better than 40 million for pastore IMO.

I'm much happier that we've taken our time

Don't know enough about Coentrao so i can't comment, but regarding Pastore i wouldn't describe it as dodging a bullet. He would've suceeded with us i'm sure, would've done wonders for Torres in the short term. He'll dominate Ligue 1 and get a transfer to Spain within the next five years. But we definitely did the right thing not paying the 42euros needed to compete with PSG. Simply wasn't value for money. Was a shame the player didn't put up more of a stance.