🇧🇪 Thibaut Courtois

[LukakutoStamford 779]

^{The key point is that Courtois was better than De Gea in La Liga. He's better than him now. The other point to notice is that Courtois is also loading up on international caps whith Belgium whereas De Gea wasn't showcasing with Spain. It's not like there was no one else for Belgium either. Mignolet has been excellent for Sunderland this year in spite of their poor record.}

^{I think Courtois is a generational talent and as I mentioned previously he's already well past where other legendary Belgian goalkeepers (Pfaff, Preud'Homme) were at age 20.}

[Rekin 835]

Sending him on loan in a Premier League club would be baffling, if I were to be honest.

Atletico is a club that finished in the league 5th, last year, and is currently 3rd. Last year they won the Europa League, and this year the European Supercup ; while they have reached, this year, the final of the Copa del Rey. And they are set to play in the Champions League, next year. They ain't no major club in Europe ; they are a competitive club, though. I don't see how a mid-table team from the Premier League would be more relevant than a loan to Atletico. If he were to be loaned in England, only an upper-table side would make sens — but are we to strengthen a potential rival ?

A down-step... That's how I would picture this move if it were to occur. Being in a competitive side which will be able to be in CL is more valuable, for him (in order to gain experience and improve his game), than being in a team which floats between the 15th and 6th position in the league. More challenge - more expectations - more pressure.

And regarding the point be to place only the raised, that's kinda true. He is one of the reasons why Atletico is set to play in the Champions League, next year. He deserves to pursue this experience. It's not as if sending him to the Fulhams of this world would be a promotion. And it's not about him being unable to take missing out the CL, as you @Rekin implied. That's more like a reward. He's done very good over the past two years — it would only be rewarding his good work. Moreover, letting him stay at Atletico might instil confidence toward us in him, he would see that the club pays attention to him.

And I don't see any reason for which he shall be loaned to an English team before being considered as ready to be the first GK for Chelsea, really. If the were fundamental differences between the two leagues, regarding the way of goalkeeping... But at they end of the day, the ball is round in both places.

Yes, CL would be a great experience for him, I could not agree more. If he was to be loaned out for two more seasons, then I would absolutely agree that he should stay in Atletico for another year.

We do not know if that is the case though, if he is being prepared for being first choice in the 2014-15 season then he needs to be prepared for what is coming. Did you see De Gea's first season? He is an excellent goalkeeper but he was struggling during that time, Utd's defense saved him on a number of occasions.

Regarding the last point you are making, there is a large difference between being a goalkeeper in the two places, De Gea said so himself after arriving.

I am not saying that Courtois should be sent to Reading, but a loan to a club such as Everton, WBA or similar would certainly prepare him for the league.

Did he not say himself in a recent interview that he is expecting that development? Surely he and the people at Chelsea would know what steps to take better than anyone else?

[5354 204]

stay at atletico.

PERIOD!

[BlueLion. 21,491]

Sending him on loan in a Premier League club would be baffling, if I were to be honest.

Atletico is a club that finished in the league 5th, last year, and is currently 3rd. Last year they won the Europa League, and this year the European Supercup ; while they have reached, this year, the final of the Copa del Rey. And they are set to play in the Champions League, next year. They ain't no major club in Europe ; they are a competitive club, though. I don't see how a mid-table team from the Premier League would be more relevant than a loan to Atletico. If he were to be loaned in England, only an upper-table side would make sens — but are we to strengthen a potential rival ?

A down-step... That's how I would picture this move if it were to occur. Being in a competitive side which will be able to be in CL is more valuable, for him (in order to gain experience and improve his game), than being in a team which floats between the 15th and 6th position in the league. More challenge - more expectations - more pressure.

And regarding the point be to place only the raised, that's kinda true. He is one of the reasons why Atletico is set to play in the Champions League, next year. He deserves to pursue this experience. It's not as if sending him to the Fulhams of this world would be a promotion. And it's not about him being unable to take missing out the CL, as you @Rekin implied. That's more like a reward. He's done very good over the past two years — it would only be rewarding his good work. Moreover, letting him stay at Atletico might instil confidence toward us in him, he would see that the club pays attention to him.

And I don't see any reason for which he shall be loaned to an English team before being considered as ready to be the first GK for Chelsea, really. If the were fundamental differences between the two leagues, regarding the way of goalkeeping... But at they end of the day, the ball is round in both places.

I respect your opinion and you offer a very good argument but I disagree. Goalkeeping on the continent is entirely - nay, "fundamentally" - different to goalkeeping in the Premier League. In Europe, the goalkeeper effectively acts as a utility defender and as a sweeper for the back four; in the Premier League he very, very rarely leaves his penalty area.

The style is totally different; there are no Stokes or Boltons in Spain that will pump long ball after long ball into the box and send burly big centre forwards like Lukaku and Grant Holt to stand on the goalkeeper, because in Spain to even touch the goalkeeper is an instant foul. In the English game he will have to learn to be far more physical and stay on his line more often. A prime example is Hugo Lloris - look at how often he races out of his box to come and punch a cross, only to get blocked off from it and then be stranded in No Man's Land. In France, this is acceptable as like as not, the referee will give a free-kick for the goalkeeper being impeded.

Most important however is the ideology. Flying around making camera-saves and punching all the time might be the bread and butter for La Liga goalkeepers, but you'll be laughed at in the Premier League. You have to catch the ball. Thankfully Thibaut has very good handling, but my point here is he will have to adapt parts of his game to this new league. Look at these goalkeepers who have come from Spanish clubs; the like of De Gea and Reina may be magnificent shot-stoppers but they seriously lack in strength compared to the likes of Cech and Begovic, who are not only taller but physically far bigger. Thibaut will no to undergo a serious training regime to improve his strength before tackling Premier League sides.

The English Premier League may not be the best league in European football any longer, but the style of play does not suit those who are not used to physical play. The ball may indeed be round in both countries, but the average defender for a Premier League side is half a foot taller and substantially more physical than those in Spain, Portgual, France, etc.

People underestimate goalkeeping. It's far more difficult than you would think. Why should we allow foreign outfield players to adapt to our league, but not our goalkeepers, when they face a far more difficult series of obstacles? If your new star midfielder fails to make the grade instantly, you give him the benefit of the doubt. If a goalkeeper fucks up in his first game, he's on the bench for the next few matches. Thibaut needs to be blooded into this league, especially when you consider our defence itself isn't as physical and tall as it was with Carvalho and Alex in it. There is a reliance now on Cech to come and claim crosses, and that is one strength of his game that puts him ahead of Courtois. Thibaut is a good goalkeeper in Spain, but goalkeeping there is an altogether different beast.

[petr.breu 1,618]

What a two fantastic saves in a few seconds now

[juko 19]

he's the tallest man on earth. he should do basket ball. when i 've seen him for the first time for our NT oh my god i was shocked by his talent and his size. Thibault in 2014 we win the fuc.ing world cup my bro

[Christacinto 137]

The nr.1 sports news paper from Catalunya, SPORT, today featured Courtois on its front page with the official message:

PRIORITY NR. 1 ! They claim Barcelona is officially making Thibault their main target to follow in the wake of Victor Valdez.

Now, I generally don't tend to trust in news paper articles such as this, but SPORT has had a number of scoops about Barca

that turned out to be right after a few months. So, I'm a bit concerned... After all, which 20 year old player on loan would turn

down the opportunity to join Barça?

Respecting and often agreeing with much that has been said in previous pages (in favour of letting Coutrois stay out on loan)

I implore you all now to start praying to our beloved Tsaar: BRING OUR STAR BACK HOME - NOW!

[OneMoSalah 8,886]

Article floating about twitter and Facebook that Thibaut 'is slightly unhappy' at the uncertainty around his future and we have apparently asked for more time to get back to him . Fuck sake if you cunts (the board) fuck this guy up and he wants to leave I will go ape shit........ if we lose him to ANYONE, not just Barca or Madrid ANYONE then we are fucking stupid.

[Atholy 1,293]

The nr.1 sports news paper from Catalunya, SPORT, today featured Courtois on its front page with the official message:

PRIORITY NR. 1 ! They claim Barcelona is officially making Thibault their main target to follow in the wake of Victor Valdez.

Now, I generally don't tend to trust in news paper articles such as this, but SPORT has had a number of scoops about Barca

that turned out to be right after a few months. So, I'm a bit concerned... After all, which 20 year old player on loan would turn

down the opportunity to join Barça?

Respecting and often agreeing with much that has been said in previous pages (in favour of letting Coutrois stay out on loan)

I implore you all now to start praying to our beloved Tsaar: BRING OUR STAR BACK HOME - NOW!

Furthermore Marca is reporting that there is still no news about Thibauts Chelsea future (source)

Courtois himself hoped to have an answer by this time.... but still has to wait for the club to reveal their plans are (probably due to the new manager situation).

This rather concerns tbh! Courtois is getting sick of being asked what his future plans are (in madrid, in belgium, on twitter, his friends, ...) and he himself cannot even give an answer because he has no clue what the club wants! If there is one thing a 20 year old boy wants... it's an ambition and a goal on short term. He's clearly making the best of his loan period... but I'm afraid that if the club doesn't give him the feeling of being really wanted between our post at the bridge... unpleasant things might happen.

You never know he gets attached to the spanish sun, way of life... or even get a spanish girlfriend. And if Barcelona comes knocking on the door... pfffff though call!

So a message to the board: Please set things straight and give Courtois a clear message about his future!!! Don't lose him because of postponing a difficult choice!

[Christacinto 137]

@Valdez: Courtois would have stopped that ball in the 93d minute, Victor.

[Eggman 118]

@Valdez: Courtois would have stopped that ball in the 93d minute, Victor.

Of course he would have. He would have stopped it blindfolded. Drugged. With his hands tied around his back.

[Stingray 9,441]

And we will see that the lack of vision and policy plaguing Chelsea will lead to the loss of young talent: Courtois and KDB. Enter another failure. If they fuck this up - Roman and the ones responsible can just fuck off. Period.

[mediator 2,026]

They are welcome elsewhere, just like sturridge...

[Ainsley Harriott 2,732]

he's the tallest man on earth. he should do basket ball. when i 've seen him for the first time for our NT oh my god i was shocked by his talent and his size. Thibault in 2014 we win the fuc.ing world cup my bro

Thank god this guy got banned, he was the Fernando Torres of this forum

[Eggman 118]

Thank god this guy got banned, he was the Fernando Torres of this forum

the ultimate insult

[Weckerz 3,781]

They are welcome elsewhere, just like sturridge...

Was browsing a liverpool forum earlier, they were saying what an attack we would have with Hazard, Sturridge, Mata. O wait we had it.

[BlueLion. 21,491]

Seems like the club share my views:

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/4873672/Thibaut-Courtois-courted-by-Chelseas-Prem-rivals.html

FULHAM, Southampton and Wigan are battling to take Chelsea keeper Thibaut Courtois on loan next season.

Belgian international Courtois is seen as Petr Cech’s eventual replacement at Stamford Bridge.

[The only place to be 11,313]

Seems like the club share my views:

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/4873672/Thibaut-Courtois-courted-by-Chelseas-Prem-rivals.html

So he plays an integral part in getting Atletico into the CL and we bring him back to play for a mid-table/relegation-fighting team.

That seems massively unfair to the young lad.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

So he plays an integral part in getting Atletico into the CL and we bring him back to play for a mid-table/relegation-fighting team.

That seems massively unfair to the young lad.

If he's okay with it, why aren't you?

[BlueLion. 21,491]

So he plays an integral part in getting Atletico into the CL and we bring him back to play for a mid-table/relegation-fighting team.

That seems massively unfair to the young lad.

And sending him out on loan for three consecutive seasons without giving him the chance to even meet Cech, let alone challenge him for the shirt, is?