Vegetable

Yeah, it pretty much came from the fact, that Courtois screwed us over a little bit as people were expecting him to show more loyalty and faith to the club, although it's partly board's fault as they could see it coming but apparently didn't believe he won't renew or didn't think they need a GK, lol, hence panic sell and panic buy. Not renewing, some bad words in press and the whole 'snake' thing started + he wasn't a cool guy really. In contrast, Kepa seems like a likeable, modest lad and was happy to sign 7 year contract, so he quickly got most of fans on his side. Well, I still wish him the very best, but clearly he can't handle what he has to handle right now.

Ok, Kepa collapsed & done. Playing Willy vs Wolves is Va banque play. Not the greatest situation to be in.

On days like this I close my eyes and dream that Diego Costa magically enters the pitch in ray of light and smoke and goes like '48 - goal, '50 - goal, '54 - straight red, lol

It's minute 20 and Willian is dead, this will end bad

Of Course. I posted when we were linked to 3/4 of GKs in existence. Cakir is random for me, that's true, he seems still in development, with meh stats in meh league – may be a huge talent but I don't see him as an immediate first choice for top-flight PL club and we are talking 80-milion-sunk-+-salary-Kepa replacement here & now, not buying prospects. I didn't mean Rajkovic with my post, but he is an interesting example. Kinda reminds me of Telles situation. Being hyped on this board (and many others) for YEARS, looking very good but still, for some reason we don't and probably won't know no interest from big clubs at all. I was 100% sure some very big club will pull him from Tel Aviv (even if looking to loan him further), but it didn't happen, I'm afraid not without a reason (but damn, I'd like to see him here).

CHO is horrid, but at least Rudiger seems very engaged

Don't know if it was mentioned already, but I noticed that most of those yt compilations show some extreme saves, when He punches the ball straight and it's retained by defenders. Well, it works in Madrid, but I can already feel the heart attack the ball falling back to six yard line would cause with our CBs…

No Drinkwater either But on serious note – Cech came when Cudicini was no 1 and he had time to fight for place. Courtois spent 3 years on loan. I think it's slightly different, than buying someone from way outside top tier as immediate first choice in top team. Especially given the fact, that lately we suck in GK coaching and development; Kepa regressed massively, U23 guys are not good enough, Bulka impressed in Sarri's preseason but then went down and didn't rebuild even in PSG. So if we got some "prospect" gk, would he really develop here now? And it's not like the club can let itself experiment in this department at the moment. Marina can impress sometimes, so if club can magically pull Oblak due to covid and lucky stars, than yeah, sure, but links with anyone, who had ever stood between posts and seeing that as a salvation and improvement? Meh. Kepa is not someone, whom club found on Craigslist – he did well, even here, and I guess he didn't suddenly forgot how to catch a ball. If it's a matter of wasting another season to sort the keeper and coaching out I think it makes more sense to waste this time working with him, given the money invested and talent shown, than doing the same, with panic-but unknown. I don't want to defend him too much, as he objectively is not good enough right now, but this situation is super tricky. Especially, when one recalls, that Salah was once not good enough for Chelsea too, even if it was totally different situation <;

I wonder whether some of people who post here are fully sane; Frustration with Kepa's performances are understandable, but, let alone financial aspect, are You seriously think, that buying some random Turkish/Brazilian/Portugese 2nd division guy and expecting him to hit the ground running and become 1st choice gk in one of top PL clubs will be any better, than shabby Kepa? Like, seriously? Willy was 1st choice for a while and it changed nothing. Oblak? ok. Onana? Ok-ish. But instead of hyping some random who will fail tragically better promote Cumming or make use of Blackman finally. They will be no worse than another panic buy, count as homegrown, fit philosophy of playing academy youth and cash can be spend elsewhere. I said it before already – Kepa is part of a problem, but club needs serious improvement in gk/defence coaching and some serious sport psychologist – in last decade we've seen a handful of great players, who failed miserably in Chelsea due to mental issues. Yes, in PL pressure is high, but club itself is greatly responsible for this too – if Morata could handle playing in Real, why didn't he handle it here? If we got eg. this Turkish talent we are linked with, two bad matches and he is over, as he'll get double the stuff thrown at him by fans as Kepa. Plus, Bulka was just recently sold, so I doubt keeper change is even an option at the club in near future.

The GK issue is more of the system thing; Is Hilario still only goalkeeping coach in the team? If yes, than, with all due respect, I can't imagine Swapping 80 million Kepa for 100 Oblak only for them to play hot potato vs Hilario and Willy four times a week at Cobham…

3 Points is 3 points (hopefully), but more than a win, wich should be a formality here, I hoped for some optimism for a season's finish and I'm definetely not geting it tonight

The difference of footballing and physical levels between teams is visible even for some, who doesn't watch football yet the result is still open in 83rd minute, c'mon…

With all that unproductive passing and backheels I'm getting serious Sarriball flashbacks, minus the tempo. I can understand that last year all the top teams had lost the momentum in the end, but what is happening now is beyond me, since the lockdown was more than enough to restore the stamina.

Hello All! I've been lurking on this board for more than a year now, so maybe it's time to finally join. Been Chelsea supporter since beginning of Roman era (but found out that takeover = money way later, lol) and sitting on this rollercoaster ever since. Had a pleasure of visiting the Bridge a few times, but since now it's not an option I hope I can met You all in here.