🇧🇪 Thibaut Courtois

[DanishBlue 426]

Hmm, that was bad.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

Cristiano Ronaldo?

Would he start if there was someone performing better than him in the same spot?

[Azpinator 2,325]

Would he start if there was someone performing better than him in the same spot?

I don't think he would have moved to RM if that was the case.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

I don't think he would have moved to RM if that was the case.

In the case of Ronaldo, he was clearly the best player, but 99% of the time it's not that black or white though. Players move to a club because they believe that they are good enough to be playing at the club and go there to prove it. And that's true to all players. All players have to go there and show the manager that they deserve to play. Even if you begin as a starter, you'll always have someone who is challenging for your position regardless of how well you've done in the past; the Mata situation this season highlights that. No player keeps getting selected despite playing badly (except for Torres of course!)

We currently have 22 players fighting for a starting spot. None of them was guaranteed a starting spot before they came here even though they're all excellent players. The notion that a player refuses to fight for a starting spot and just wants to be given one is highly unprofessional and just ridiculous at this level of football. (Just to clarify, I don't that that's what Thibaut has been saying, it's just what some people are interpreting it as).

[lucio 5,418]

soon as barca mess up so do atletico and miss out on the record start. how infuriating.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x166bva_espanyol-1-0-atletico-madrid-o-g-courtois_sport#from=embediframe

That looks very bad, but it's a very tough ball to deal with because you can't know whether or not the player will get a touch. Very unlucky for Thibaut, but it happens to the best keepers, I'm sure he'll dust himself up and get a CS next match.

[petre.ispirescu 4,928]

zubizareta is in germany and it seems barcelona have reached an agreement with gladbach for ter stegen

well, at least no more barcelona bullshit from now on when it comes to courtois.

[Sheva. 5,373]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2501392/Chelsea-keeper-Thibaut-Courtois-stalls-talks-World-Cup-bid-replace-Petr-Cech.html

Daily Mail say we've offered Courtois a 2 year extension, but he wants to wait until after the World cup, and also wants assurances he'll be no 1.

[Tomo 21,751]

Tough decision next summer it really is, Cech is still very good, but the club have to consider the long term aswell as the short. What if we sell Courtois and within 2 years Cech declines and Courtois is the undisputed no1 in the world? A lot of people refer to Van Der Sar going until he was 40, but he was the exception rather than the rule, Shay Given for example is 37 and currently Villa's 3rd choice keeper, Jens Lehmann started to decline after 35, David Seaman had a dodgy end to his career too.

Not many clubs get a chance to jump from one world class keeper to another, we have a chance to do just that, and when you think with your head instead of your heart, we have to atleast seriously consider the idea of bringing Courtois in next season. It's not like Courtois is still raw, he is one of the best in the world.

[Ze Mario 638]

its like cudicini over and over again. do we need to wait until cech injured? even if he is, he was already proved to us he's still can maintain his skill. i root for him for going until 36. and that means courtouis has to wait another 5 years. let the kid decide on his own. we already give him the best option for 2nd goalkeeper, loaned him. and if that isnt enough for him, even though decision, we should really let him go.

because imo, there's nowhere for him to replace cech in 3 years from now. he's a very good GK indeed. but cech is word class. he already with czech republic, maintain their solid form, despite their player's skill. his consistency in chelsea is no joke. even better now, developed every year.

[DDA 9,938]

Tough decision next summer it really is, Cech is still very good, but the club have to consider the long term aswell as the short. What if we sell Courtois and within 2 years Cech declines and Courtois is the undisputed no1 in the world? A lot of people refer to Van Der Sar going until he was 40, but he was the exception rather than the rule, Shay Given for example is 37 and currently Villa's 3rd choice keeper, Jens Lehmann started to decline after 35, David Seaman had a dodgy end to his career too.

Not many clubs get a chance to jump from one world class keeper to another, we have a chance to do just that, and when you think with your head instead of your heart, we have to atleast seriously consider the idea of bringing Courtois in next season. It's not like Courtois is still raw, he is one of the best in the world.

In my eyes it really isn't a tought decision to make at all. Cech is past his prime and we have the best young goalkeeper in the world waiting to take his place for next season. No problems just a simple freshen up in the goalkeeper position. No dount we will somehow find every excuse in the book to keep a past his prime Cech in goal for sentimental reasons and keep an angry Courtois at the club hanging by a thread!

[zolayes 14,489]

apparently Courtois not willing to sign a contract extension atm

[Jase 43,479]

apparently Courtois not willing to sign a contract extension atm

Indeed.

Looking after No 1! Courtois stalls Chelsea talks until after World Cup in bid to replace Cech

And I don't blame him if he wants to stall it as he wants assurance of his future, be it here or elsewhere.

[bushman 2,043]

Should Courtious sign an extension ? My feeling is NO. Unless Chelsea guarantees him a starting role. Will they ?

[zolayes 14,489]

Indeed.

Looking after No 1! Courtois stalls Chelsea talks until after World Cup in bid to replace Cech

And I don't blame him if he wants to stall it as he wants assurance of his future, be it here or elsewhere.

I really worry we could lose him

[LukakutoStamford 779]

It's really a no brainer. This difference between the two keepers is negligible at best. Courtois has 10+ years ahead of him and has a good chance to be a world #1 versus Cech who is still very good but may only have 3-5 more good years left and his skills will continue to diminish.

If you can detach the emotioanl component from Cech as a Chelsea legend then the decision is easy. It's not like there are 21 year old top 10 keepers in world just laying out there for the taking.

[Despiadado.Maleante 1,046]

"He is a good friend," Falcao is quoted as saying by Nieuwsblad. "And he is the best goalkeeper in the world."

[ja1 1,166]

http://inbedwithmaradona.com/100-2013-review/2013/11/15/thibaut-courtois

IBWM say nice things about Courtois. (IBWM is just a football blog, but genuinely very informative about the players they feature).

[Weckerz 3,781]

Probably rubbish, but anyway:

http://www.marca.com/2013/11/22/en/football/spanish_football/1385113639.html

"Mourinho is not backing down and has let Courtois know that if he doesn't accept the offer he will come back to Stamford Bridge and spend the next two years on the bench without playing."

[johnnythefirst 1,076]

Probably rubbish, but anyway:

http://www.marca.com/2013/11/22/en/football/spanish_football/1385113639.html

"Mourinho is not backing down and has let Courtois know that if he doesn't accept the offer he will come back to Stamford Bridge and spend the next two years on the bench without playing."

Sure...