Stingray

Lol, in belgium we all start as defenders. That is a remeniscent of the 80's I am afraid :-)

He started out as a defender in Bilzerse VV. A year later he played in Genk (1998) where they made a goalie out of him :-) Genk has a superb youth academy ...

To be fair: Thibault Courtois was a regular in the first team since he was 18, while making his debut in april 2009. He was 16 at the time. He made his international debut in november 2011. Meanwhile he won 1 title, 1 cup, 1 europa league, 1 eufa super cup and won belgian goalie of the year in 2011. All in all +90 first league matches under his belt and 18 european games. So - without being belgian n biased - I do rate him a level higher than Marc-André ter Stegen - at leat development wise. This kid is ready for us and I really think we will keep him, considering Cech' injury proneness + isn't he due or surgery in the summer? We would be tremendously foolish to sell him imo.

Rip ...

I truly think Courtois is further in his development at this time (experience : winning titles, european football, national team, ... ) Talentwise .... Nobody knows. It is mere speculation.

I can not even start to grasp the possibility of two backstreet fanboys ... Must be a freak of nature .... Some sort of strange genetic macromutation ...

A 3-0 trashing is what we will give them. I refuse all doomsday thinking. The Arse is going down.

And Torres was 50m. So that would make Courtois surely 150m :-)

Oh, Ye of little faith, why are you so afraid?" Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm (after he said the Sun is full of Shit) I think the Belgian Pull will be strong. Hazard, Lukaku, KDB and Courtois. I really do see them ending up here together. No sweat.

Good we have you to enlighten our spirits, you wise guide, source of true wisdom. Let's see how the pudding about our young talents (also Oscar) tastes. It will become clear in the future. Agree?

Strange. I relate to your views :-)

Ok, controversial maybe. I think this is a season everyone knows was going to be a transition season. We switched managers, played half of the season - and yes Henrique, we played it all with a U23 team practically- You are correct-they can not be expected to be consistent, As a dutch trainer - I can't by God remember his name - said: nobody has ever won any prices with a youth team. this does not mean some haven't been exciting :-) Also and perhaps even most important: we went into the new season without any striker what so ever. there was really nobody that could hold the line consistently. The stability in the entire team was gone. Above that, this happened in the middle of a chance process designed to give us a different kind of football. Some of the team, just being the World Champions try to overcompensate. I really think this happened. conclusion: An extra imbalance in essentially a superb team. that Now we also come to the conclusion that we are too thin a team (what was really self evident - check our posts even in the summer). Is the recipe to get new 'force' so incredibly good tasting actually, considering our situation? Maybe we should consider the dangers of a short term vision, even as fans. I really like some of Bushmans posts, because there is no denying them. We need a vision. Everyone knows that. This is what makes people mock us sometimes (not that I care), we need to be for real. We got a striker that is doing well on loan, we got a CM that is kicking it in Germany, we got english talent doing great as well. We do need our youth, they can be great. We need experience too. Actually: to get a youth that loves actually really Chelsea, we need a mix of both being played in the season. Without a long term plan/vision, all the wrong managers will be knocking on our door. How did we even consider a PR disaster as Rafa. He could be ok as a trainer, but just see what happens atmosphere-wise at the Bridge. If we want quality, also in a manager, he has to know he will end up in 'an ecology' that supports a long term view. But: if they panick too much now and buy too much or the wrong players with a gazillion of pounds, we might not get any of it all: stability, growth as a club, silverware and an atmosphere that lifts youngster to new heights. By wise, I'd say and bring back some of the young ones. Think of the long term. Also, buy very strategically and sensible (eg: Ba was super sensible I think). If it is a big buy, make it count. No in betweens, but world class. Hey It's friday and I'm baked :-) sorry for the rant :-)

Well, well, well. Interesting discussion. I am curious how this all will develop.

Damned. Just come back KDB

I love it!!

Yeaaaaaaaaaah :-) :-) IN IN IN

Hell Yes!!!! God, I am so happy right now :-)

Torres doesn't deserve a spot after the last game he played. The diarrea-excuse blonde non-striker. What kind of a message would be given to the team n fans ... Lets hope Rafa has some sense. Get Ba in. No screwin around tonight.

For real

this says a lot ...

. Signed, Newton (with a cameo from Galileo). Ps Aristotle was sooo wrong here.

True.

Semantics, all but semantics :-) Semantics, all but semantics :-) Ps: can't wait though till tomorrow evening.

Sounds sensible to me. Drogs still in, young Lukaku with a fair shot at playing times. Torres will anyway be sold at a loss and i fear it will be the only way. Lampard and Cole (especiall hm I see gong about for a good amount of time). In addition: lets get this deep playmaker by having Kdb back. Let him learn here. I know I am biased as a Belgian, but he is the genuine article. Plus: he is already ours.