🇧🇪 Thibaut Courtois

[Bosnian Blue 2,471]

Courtois is a good goalie, but I believe if Cech can stay fit and healthy then hes got at least 5 more years at this level. Some decisions to be made there. Belgium fans needn't worry though, they have another gem in their team, whether he is at Chelsea or any other top European club.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

Imho he's better then Cech already. There, i said it.

Smh....

[The only place to be 11,313]

Imho he's better then Cech already. There, i said it.

People often criticize his Atletico performances, because supposedly his clean sheets are because of Atleticos defence.

Not so yesterday. MOTM. Belgium have only conceded 1 goal this campaign.

It's an interesting point. Would we notice the difference in performance if Courtois replaced Cech?

[Mundaka 243]

Well lets say he's comming close,we are comparing La Liga's best vs PL best goalie of this season... Courtois is already one of the best goalies around tho, and will prolly be the best in 5 years, it would be a shame to not see him play here at Chelsea then.

As for belgium, we can be really happy with him so far imo, we only conceded one so far this campaign and thats solely down to Courtois, with almost any other goalie we wouldve had some more in at least...

[Santiago. 1,500]

But Courtois was amazing. Cech better watch out if he comes back next year :-)

He'll probably be the only leader left on our club with experience performing consistently so no, his position really isn't threatened. Easily has 5 years of world class ability in him

[Muzchap 8,966]

It's an interesting point. Would we notice the difference in performance if Courtois replaced Cech?

Yup! A couple of times this season Cech has made some huge blunders, but he's also kept us in matches

I think Coutious has the 'experience' now and could get better and better, where unfortunately I think Cech has peaked and it could be a downward trend for him...

But thank fuck we have a great keeper to replace him! No more Hilarious

[Santiago. 1,500]

Yup! A couple of times this season Cech has made some huge blunders, but he's also kept us in matches

I think Coutious has the 'experience' now and could get better and better, where unfortunately I think Cech has peaked and it could be a downward trend for him...

But thank fuck we have a great keeper to replace him! No more Hilarious

Assumptions.

VDS was absolutely world class even at 40. Cech has always been a big game player. Don't think we should recall Courtois until 2015 IMHO .

But dear god no Hilario or Turnbull as replacements. Would rather call up Blackman

[The only place to be 11,313]

Assumptions.

VDS was absolutely world class even at 40. Cech has always been a big game player. Don't think we should recall Courtois until 2015 IMHO .

But dear god no Hilario or Turnbull as replacements. Would rather call up Blackman

Schmeichel was a Champions League winner at 36 - it took 5 years for United to find a replacement. Passing up this type of transition is a big choice to make especially as Cech still has transfer value and a big contract.

[Santiago. 1,500]

Schmeichel was a Champions League winner at 36 - it took 5 years for United to find a replacement. Passing up this type of transition is a big choice to make especially as Cech still has transfer value and a big contract.

We have a suitable replacement potentially to become the best in the world whilst we still have a keeper who has delivered on the biggest stages and provides a moral sense of leadership who has a good 5 years left of him.

Cech's services are still valuable to the highest amount for 2 more years with us or after the world cup.

[SykikJV 146]

In Belgian papers today : Chelsea want to keep Courtois. They will offer him an extension and upgrade to his current contract.

[DanishBlue 426]

Cool, I hope it's going to happen. More money to the player and some more years on his contract will make sure he won't go to another club.

[GodZola 630]

In Belgian papers today : Chelsea want to keep Courtois. They will offer him an extension and upgrade to his current contract.

I said this had to happen a few weeks back, whilst my belief is that Courtois should be brought back to the club next season to challenge Cech for the jersey & to keep him on his toes, I believe this would be the ideal solution that can be beneficial for both Courtois & the club.

One more year away should be the absolute maximum though & if we are to sustain a title challenge, it still worries me that we do not have a quality back up to cover Cech, so definitely something the club need to consider.

[SykikJV 146]

He gets even more praise in Belgian press today :

- Toby Alderweireld (rightback for Ajax) describes him as "abnormally good for his age".

- Paul van Himst (one Belgian's finest football-players ever, aged 70) compares him to Lev Yashin, legendary goalkeeper, due to his charisma and stature in goal.

Hopefully he keeps both feet on the ground.

[SykikJV 146]

I said this had to happen a few weeks back, whilst my belief is that Courtois should be brought back to the club next season to challenge Cech for the jersey & to keep him on his toes, I believe this would be the ideal solution that can be beneficial for both Courtois & the club.

One more year away should be the absolute maximum though & if we are to sustain a title challenge, it still worries me that we do not have a quality back up to cover Cech, so definitely something the club need to consider.

Courtois won't risk losing the challenge to Cech down to experience and losing his place in the national team for WC14.

[ja1 1,166]

Blog post from Spanish journalist who rates Courtois as the best in the world:

http://laligauk.com/laligauk_yii_blog/index.php/BlogPosts/view/id/178/title/Courtois+-+The+Current+Best+in+the+World%3F

[The only place to be 11,313]

Courtois won't risk losing the challenge to Cech down to experience and losing his place in the national team for WC14.

Indeed - it would be massively unfair to bring this kid back only to sit him on the bench. How exactly does he get a fair shot at the number one spot anyway? Do they take it in turns? Does he have to impress against Wolves in the League Cup? Do we give them a half each?

When the change happens, it needs to be swift and decisive for the good of the team and for both keepers.

[Mundaka 243]

When the change happens, it needs to be swift and decisive for the good of the team and for both keepers.

Yeh wouldn't do any good for either Cechs or Courtois confidence, but the plan was/is to loan Courtois till 2015 and then take over... unless that changed.

[zolayes 14,489]

He gets even more praise in Belgian press today :

- Toby Alderweireld (rightback for Ajax) describes him as "abnormally good for his age".

- Paul van Himst (one Belgian's finest football-players ever, aged 70) compares him to Lev Yashin, legendary goalkeeper, due to his charisma and stature in goal.

Hopefully he keeps both feet on the ground.

except when dealing with crosses

[GodZola 630]

Courtois won't risk losing the challenge to Cech down to experience and losing his place in the national team for WC14.

Fair comment but purely a selfish one on the part of Courtois, unfortunately this won't be his decision to make, if the club decide to be selfish too then he will be brought back - whether that is ahead of Cech remains to be seen, its a fact that the ball is in clubs court I'm afraid.

Obviously with talks then an amicable agreement could be met from both parties.

[GodZola 630]

Indeed - it would be massively unfair to bring this kid back only to sit him on the bench. How exactly does he get a fair shot at the number one spot anyway? Do they take it in turns? Does he have to impress against Wolves in the League Cup? Do we give them a half each?

When the change happens, it needs to be swift and decisive for the good of the team and for both keepers.

So we continue to have 1 decent keeper who could get injured or experience a loss of form & then we are saddled with err.....mediocrity as back up & yet another season of battling for a CL place instead of winning the title. As I've already said many times if Jose returns he won't care less if he has to bench Cech in favour of Courtois or if he has to play Courtois on a wet Wednesday night at Scunthorpe, remember he made that decision before with a virtually unknown Cech in favour of our former No1 keeper Cudicini & arguably the best keeper in the Prem at the time & the detractors say he doesn't give youth a chance?

The decision has to favour this club moving forward & challenging again - as has been said before sentiment doesn't play a part in success that's part of why top managers become successful & their teams with it, also why Jose will want 2 keepers of quality but all positions covered this way.

Imo I would start Courtois ahead of Cech next season, big Pete is a great professional & won't sulk but support Courtois as Carlo did whilst being ready when the time comes. For those that think Courtois needs another year at A Madrid...........oh & then he hasn't got enough PL experience so let's loan him to West Ham for another year by which time he has little or nothing left on his contract & then won't sign another deal so we end up losing potentially the best keeper in the world through our own piss poor decisions whilst Cech is on his last legs - yeah great management that.