🇧🇪 Thibaut Courtois

[MCM4PR3Z 411]

I laugh every time someone mentions De Gea in the same breath as Neuer, Courtois, Cech and Buffon.

Ok, he doesn't play at a super high level for a very long time, so he has to continue play like this the coming years. But if he does I think he is a great number 3 behind Neuer and Courtois. DDG is more a shotstopper than a modern goalkeeper, so he isn't at the level of the first two indeed. I can agree with that.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

Ok, he doesn't play at a super high level for a very long time, so he has to continue play like this the coming years. But if he does I think he is a great number 3 behind Neuer and Courtois. DDG is more a shotstopper than a modern goalkeeper, so he isn't at the level of the first two indeed. I can agree with that.

Think he needs to work quite a lot on his technique and consistency to be up there with the world class keepers. But football fans memory only stretches back to 2-3 matches ago.

[MCM4PR3Z 411]

Think he needs to work quite a lot on his technique and consistency to be up there with the world class keepers. But football fans memory only stretches back to 2-3 matches ago.

They even don't remember anything. They see 5 goals against Chelsea on their sportssite and say that Courtois can't be world class, and was overrated all the time.

Btw, playing when his father was in life danger and continuing games with pain what turns out to be a broken thumb. The lad is certainly mentally harder than DDG too.

[BlueLion. 21,491]

Think he needs to work quite a lot on his technique and consistency to be up there with the world class keepers. But football fans memory only stretches back to 2-3 matches ago.

Exactly, all of a sudden Courtois and shit and Cech is world-class.

Whilst the latter is true, Courtois is just as good and should be number 1.

I just think Chelsea fans would like Petr to reach 500 games, and break the PL clean sheets record. But only the former looks possible.

[DH1988 1,348]

I don't doubt that neuer is number one but his style of play is like lloris , it will catch up to him the older he gets I reckon.

Nothing wrong with number two in the world mind, at his age.

[MCM4PR3Z 411]

Thibaut Courtois was the first football player ever that became Belgian's Sportsman Of The Year. Tonight he was chosen as the best Belgian player that plays outside Belgium.

[BlueLyon 9,359]

As great he is, there will be only one Pete.

Im still unsure if Courtois is actualy the better of the two atm. I think Cech despite age can pull more of those unbelievable saves and rescues our team when everyone else is playing shit.

[MCM4PR3Z 411]

As great he is, there will be only one Pete.

Im still unsure if Courtois is actualy the better of the two atm. I think Cech despite age can pull more of those unbelievable saves and rescues our team when everyone else is playing shit.

Pete would also have conceded 5 goals in that game, get over it. Cech is Cech and Courtois is Courtois, both are among the very best in the world. If rotating goalkeepers ever had succeeded, I would do it. But it has failed every time and everywhere. So when Courtois is fully recovered, he should be back in the goal.

[Tomo 21,751]

As great he is, there will be only one Pete.

Im still unsure if Courtois is actualy the better of the two atm. I think Cech despite age can pull more of those unbelievable saves and rescues our team when everyone else is playing shit.

If goalkeepers were judged on the amount of "for the camera" saves they make, then Shay Given would be the best keeper in football history.

Im not saying Cech isn't world class, just trying to say making spectacular saves is only a fraction of what makes a good keeper and he shouldn't be judged better than Tibo on that alone

[LDN Blue 7,903]

If goalkeepers were judged on the amount of "for the camera" saves they make, then Shay Given would be the best keeper in football history.

Im not saying Cech isn't world class, just trying to say making spectacular saves is only a fraction of what makes a good keeper and he shouldn't be judged better than Tibo on that alone

Correct.

Mignolet started his Liverpool career making those hollywood saves, but was soon exposed in all other areas of his goalkeeping. Much like De Gea, great reactions but was rubbish with everything else..

[RoyalBlues 4,050]

Courtois was also chosen as the 20th best player worldwide.

Wow, that's great.

I'm not gonna say anything about Courtois season, because I missed a lot of Chelsea matches this season, so I couldn't judge him properly, nor give him the fair assesment (praise or blame him) even if I want to. So far from what I witnessed from the Chelsea match I watch live, I couldn't see any particular mistake he made.

Crazy to think all the goals we conceded until now, none are his mistake, nor he couldn't save any of them. Our defense must be so bad, that even top GK like him couldn't do anything about it.

[BlueLyon 9,359]

If goalkeepers were judged on the amount of "for the camera" saves they make, then Shay Given would be the best keeper in football history.

Im not saying Cech isn't world class, just trying to say making spectacular saves is only a fraction of what makes a good keeper and he shouldn't be judged better than Tibo on that alone

True that, but if it wasnt Cech vs Newcastle, I have feeling we would concede at least one goal in first half.

Courtois is better at handling crosses, but everywhere else, I would still pick Cech. Maybe because Im more used to him, he looks more dependable.

If things get thick, I can see Cech step up like many times, Tibo will more or less flow with how his team is playing.

[BlueLion. 21,491]

True that, but if it wasnt Cech vs Newcastle, I have feeling we would concede at least one goal in first half.

Courtois is better at handling crosses, but everywhere else, I would still pick Cech. Maybe because Im more used to him, he looks more dependable.

If things get thick, I can see Cech step up like many times, Tibo will more or less flow with how his team is playing.

Cech has 11 years' experience of doing it well at Chelsea. Courtois has less experience, but by doing it elsewhere - of course it is not reasonable to see Cech as the more dependable goalkeeper.

Courtois is our future and will one day surpass Cech (if he hasn't already in some departments). But I just love the way José, the club and the fans are treating Pete with an incredible amount of respect, and whether he manages to get to the 500 game mark and/or break the PL clean sheets record, he will leave a legend, wherever he goes, because he deserves it. Even if he goes to Arsenal, I couldn't hate on the man. He clearly loves life in London/England, he has children and a family and they are all settled here. Arsenal is a real possibility for Petr, but if he went there he would go with my respect, and he would break the clean sheets record there eventually as well.

[Jase 43,479]

They even don't remember anything. They see 5 goals against Chelsea on their sportssite and say that Courtois can't be world class, and was overrated all the time.

Btw, playing when his father was in life danger and continuing games with pain what turns out to be a broken thumb. The lad is certainly mentally harder than DDG too.

Fans tend to suffer from short term memory loss or they just have selective memory. De Gea was in goal when United lost 6-1 to City in 2011/12 season and not to mention, he conceded 4 at MK Dons! But those lots are predictably wanking over him right now.

True that, but if it wasnt Cech vs Newcastle, I have feeling we would concede at least one goal in first half.

Courtois is better at handling crosses, but everywhere else, I would still pick Cech. Maybe because Im more used to him, he looks more dependable.

If things get thick, I can see Cech step up like many times, Tibo will more or less flow with how his team is playing.

Is it just me or have people been reactive with their posts in the forum this past few days? You have some fellas going bonkers in the Bony thread because City signed him and now this.

Seems like some have been brainwashed into thinking all Courtois is good at is handling crosses and nothing else. To say he doesn't step up when we needed him and just go with the flow of how the team is playing is ludicrous.

Can easily pick out a few situations where he has saved us this season.

1. Denied Nugent in one-on-one against Leicester. Game was still 0-0 then and we weren't playing great.

2. Tipped Mirallas' (or was it Lukaku's?) effort against crossbar at Everton. Was 5-3 then (IIRC) and defensively, we were non-existent that day.

3. Prevented Campbell from scoring by closing down the space against Palace at 0-0.

4. Produced several saves to deny Van Persie and Di Maria at United at 1-0 and 0-0.

5. Helped to protect our lead at City by denying Aguero (before THAT fella scored)

6. Showed quick reflexes to block N'Zonzi's shot from going in at 1-0.

You said if it wasn't for Cech against Newcastle, we would have conceded at least one goal. I could easily turn around now and say if it wasn't for Courtois against this team, that team, we would have dropped more points than we have this season.

[LAB 1,030]

Cech has 11 years' experience of doing it well at Chelsea. Courtois has less experience, but by doing it elsewhere - of course it is not reasonable to see Cech as the more dependable goalkeeper.

Courtois is our future and will one day surpass Cech (if he hasn't already in some departments). But I just love the way José, the club and the fans are treating Pete with an incredible amount of respect, and whether he manages to get to the 500 game mark and/or break the PL clean sheets record, he will leave a legend, wherever he goes, because he deserves it. Even if he goes to Arsenal, I couldn't hate on the man. He clearly loves life in London/England, he has children and a family and they are all settled here. Arsenal is a real possibility for Petr, but if he went there he would go with my respect, and he would break the clean sheets record there eventually as well.

Are you saying that because in some way you don't feel threatened by Arsenal as far as the title race? Because I agree with everything you're saying but I keep wondering how I would feel if he ends up at City.

[BlueLion. 21,491]

Are you saying that because in some way you don't feel threatened by Arsenal as far as the title race? Because I agree with everything you're saying but I keep wondering how I would feel if he ends up at City.

I wouldn't feel threatened by Arsenal if they signed Messi, they'd still finish fourth.

[RoyalBlues 4,050]

Cech has 11 years' experience of doing it well at Chelsea. Courtois has less experience, but by doing it elsewhere - of course it is not reasonable to see Cech as the more dependable goalkeeper.

Courtois is our future and will one day surpass Cech (if he hasn't already in some departments). But I just love the way José, the club and the fans are treating Pete with an incredible amount of respect, and whether he manages to get to the 500 game mark and/or break the PL clean sheets record, he will leave a legend, wherever he goes, because he deserves it. Even if he goes to Arsenal, I couldn't hate on the man. He clearly loves life in London/England, he has children and a family and they are all settled here. Arsenal is a real possibility for Petr, but if he went there he would go with my respect, and he would break the clean sheets record there eventually as well.

Agree, just don't lying

[iseah100 5,612]

Are you saying that because in some way you don't feel threatened by Arsenal as far as the title race? Because I agree with everything you're saying but I keep wondering how I would feel if he ends up at City.

He could go to City, United or where ever. He'd go on good terms, Arsenal is realistic though cause they are London based.

[Mission 97]

Agree, just don't lying

Doubt that would happen at all. Cech seems really down to earth and transparent. Aside from that, he also has a great sense of humour:

[Hamilton 2,120]

And Thibaut won another award, he was chosen as best Belgian playing abroad at the Belgian Golden boot electian yesterday, also nominated were Eden and KDB.