🇧🇪 Thibaut Courtois

[The Mak 4,459]

He did something last night that I haven't really seen since Cech in his prime...not only did he make a great save (curled shot going in the top corner) but he caught the thing as well. Made it look like nothing. He knew exactly what was going to happen.

The best in the world for me. Never once have I rated Neuer, not once. He gets the plaudits for his kamikaze style (which he can often be punished for, see him Vs. Dejan Stankovic) because he has nothing to do in the Bundesliga. Tends to get found out in the CL once put under pressure. Would you see Tibo make those types of mistakes he has made? I'm not talking about coming for a punch and not getting enough on it (which is what happened the other night), I'm talking getting suck in no man's land and looking like an absolute fool. Would you fuck.

Remember our CL final? He had fuck all to do until the 90th minute and it went it at his near post (even though he got a hand to it) - while Cech save a barrage for 120mins including a penalty - those are the real moments that separate the greats. Look at him against Arsenal this year for Christ sake. Muck.

You could count Courtois mistakes last season on one hand, but Neuer? Ha, don't make me laugh. There is a reason for the amount of compilation videos of his fails.

[BlueLion. 21,491]

He did something last night that I haven't really seen since Cech in his prime...not only did he make a great save (curled shot going in the top corner) but he caught the thing as well. Made it look like nothing. He knew exactly what was going to happen.

The best in the world for me. Never once have I rated Neuer, not once. He gets the plaudits for his kamikaze style (which he can often be punished for, see him Vs. Dejan Stankovic) because he has nothing to do in the Bundesliga. Tends to get found out in the CL once put under pressure. Would you see Tibo make those types of mistakes he has made? I'm not talking about coming for a punch and not getting enough on it (which is what happened the other night), I'm talking getting suck in no man's land and looking like an absolute fool. Would you fuck.

Remember our CL final? He had fuck all to do until the 90th minute and it went it at his near post (even though he got a hand to it) - while Cech save a barrage for 120mins including a penalty - those are the real moments that separate the greats. Look at him against Arsenal this year for Christ sake. Muck.

You could count Courtois mistakes last season on one hand, but Neuer? Ha, don't make me laugh. There is a reason for the amount of compilation videos of his fails.

You can't really use the CL 2012 final as a criticism of Neuer when the goal Cech conceded was one of the softest in CL history. Football's a funny game... Cech made a penalty save in normal time and then two in the shoot-out to become a legend. If Drogba hadn't have scored and we lost 1-0, a lot of people would have blamed Cech for us losing, and quite rightly so, IMO.

The fact is Neuer has revolutionised the position of the goalkeeper to such an extent that the FA are asking people like me who deliver UK Level 1/Level 2 Goalkeeper courses to use him as a case study for almost every different technical and tactical element the position entails.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

I remember Urretaviscaya being pretty awesome on some older FIFA

But arguable best of all, Daren Bent and Tom Huddlestone become world class in FIFA 09!

[CHOULO19 24,332]

You can't really use the CL 2012 final as a criticism of Neuer when the goal Cech conceded was one of the softest in CL history. Football's a funny game... Cech made a penalty save in normal time and then two in the shoot-out to become a legend. If Drogba hadn't have scored and we lost 1-0, a lot of people would have blamed Cech for us losing, and quite rightly so, IMO.

The fact is Neuer has revolutionised the position of the goalkeeper to such an extent that the FA are asking people like me who deliver UK Level 1/Level 2 Goalkeeper courses to use him as a case study for almost every different technical and tactical element the position entails.

Neuer actually did almost as well as Petr during the shootouts as well but 3 of the pens were unstoppable and the 4th a 50-50.

Neuer get the plaudits because he technically he almost always executes everything from shot stopping, to footwork to positioning to movement to kicking to organizing...etc. almost to perfection. It's about as unanimous as it gets about him being the best in the world.

[LDN Blue 7,903]

You can't really use the CL 2012 final as a criticism of Neuer when the goal Cech conceded was one of the softest in CL history. Football's a funny game... Cech made a penalty save in normal time and then two in the shoot-out to become a legend. If Drogba hadn't have scored and we lost 1-0, a lot of people would have blamed Cech for us losing, and quite rightly so, IMO.

The fact is Neuer has revolutionised the position of the goalkeeper to such an extent that the FA are asking people like me who deliver UK Level 1/Level 2 Goalkeeper courses to use him as a case study for almost every different technical and tactical element the position entails.

You think it's something we're going to see a lot more of though? The standard being set requires goalkeepers to be a lot more technically able.. Talking about coaching an entirely different way aren't we?

[BlueLion. 21,491]

You think it's something we're going to see a lot more of though? The standard being set requires goalkeepers to be a lot more technically able.. Talking about coaching an entirely different way aren't we?

Absolutely, but the FA in particular want GKs to (arguably) be more proficient with their feet than with their hands, since 75% of a goalkeeper's workload is distributing long. Hence why Neuer is so celebrated. He's so proficient with his feet he's technically a centre midfielder. So coaches like me have to go back to the FA to be re-coached whenever a new initiative is launched. I was lucky enough to complete my UEFA B late in 2014, so after the change in the coaching syllabus, but my GK Level 1 (2011) and Level 2 (2012) are moreorless obsolete now based on their content. The courses change on a yearly basis.

[stroey 2,525]

For me, Courtois>Neuer. He makes everything look so simple, I don't need a goalkeeper to give me heart attacks with his kamikaze actions.
Tibo gives us such a secure feeling at the back.

[LDN Blue 7,903]

Absolutely, but the FA in particular want GKs to (arguably) be more proficient with their feet than with their hands, since 75% of a goalkeeper's workload is distributing long. Hence why Neuer is so celebrated. He's so proficient with his feet he's technically a centre midfielder. So coaches like me have to go back to the FA to be re-coached whenever a new initiative is launched. I was lucky enough to complete my UEFA B late in 2014, so after the change in the coaching syllabus, but my GK Level 1 (2011) and Level 2 (2012) are moreorless obsolete now based on their content. The courses change on a yearly basis.

Your commitment to football is greatly commendable. I hope you go to the highest levels in coaching!

[BlueLion. 21,491]

Your commitment to football is greatly commendable. I hope you go to the highest levels in coaching!

I've been able to juggle my commitments whilst doing my BA and MA at university - going to be harder as of the next academic year when I'm a full-time teacher, but it certainly is another string to my bow and I do really enjoy coaching my team. Can't stand managing teams though. That'll be the first commitment I drop. Love coaching, but the stress of a Saturday morning is turning me grey....

[Essien19 1,415]

For me, Courtois>Neuer. He makes everything look so simple, I don't need a goalkeeper to give me heart attacks with his kamikaze actions.

Tibo gives us such a secure feeling at the back.

I think one can say that Courtois is a better allround keeper than Neuer was at his age.

But currently Neuer is for me the number one.

During a game there were rarely any shots on target, most of the time Neuer is just unoccupied.

I have seen both play in the arena.

Sometimes Neuer's action do look a bit kamikaze, but his aura and how he handles a game, sometimes he goes to the centerline are unbelievable for me.

When he comes out, most of the time it's the perfect moment and his saves, Benzema comes into mind, just brilliant.

Furthemore the games at Schalke against Porto and United were one of the best goalkeeping games ever, imo.

Neuer could play as a midfielder, that's just how good his footballing abilities are, at least for me.

Courtois is on the fast lane, if he can keep it up, he will most likely surpass him.

Agree to disagree.

Cheers.

[Johnnyeye 7,509]

@Essien19, @stroey, we can all agree that they are both world class and it´s a joy and a previlege to watch them both play, Neuer for me is the number 1, even if his methods are sometimes crazy, he´s 29 years old, has won it all (except Euro), he is at his prime, complete GK imo and Courtois is only 23 years old mind you, he will only get better with age and he is a beast already and has been since he was at a younger age, just like Neuer, and we are so lucky to have Courtois at Chelsea, just like we were with Cech at his best. For me in this last 5 years, the 5 best GK: Neuer, Casillas, Courtois, Cech, Buffon, in no specific order and i´m only referring to the last 5 years, i had the previlege to watch many top goalkeepers play in the past ( Kahn, Schmeichel, Barthez, Toldo, Van Der Sar, Canizares, Baia, etc. ). Cheers

[Amblève. 4,995]

Neuer's "kamikaze" actions only give people headaches who don't watch him regularly. In 99% of cases he does the right thing.

[xPetrCechx 13,571]

One player Jose Mourinho certainly has no doubts over is Thibaut Courtois, who he rates as the best goalkeeper in the world. [Telegraph]

Jose Mourinho would chase Thibaut Courtois with any top European club who might be able to afford the 23-year-old goalkeeper. [Telegraph]

[MefiX19 1,092]

Fuck off Jose you are not getting Tibo to Madrid.

[sir_volrath 61]

Mourinho already trying to destabilize the club, one of us indeed.

[xPetrCechx 13,571]

Courtois: "I didn't have a problem with the manager. You'd have to ask the other players about them" #cfc [bbc]

[MCM4PR3Z 411]

Courtois is a Mourinho type of player. He always works his ass off in training, only says positive stuff in the media and supports the other goalkeepers of the team with all his heart. Courtois has always been very positive about Mourinho in interviews. Those things mean even more to Mourinho than his class quality I think. I wouldn't be surprised if Courtois truely is the number 1 player on Mourinho's list for his next team. But we don't have to sell, and Courtois is not a trouble starter.

[johnnythefirst 1,076]

Courtois is a Mourinho type of player. He always works his ass off in training, only says positive stuff in the media and supports the other goalkeepers of the team with all his heart. Courtois has always been very positive about Mourinho in interviews. Those things mean even more to Mourinho than his class quality I think. I wouldn't be surprised if Courtois truely is the number 1 player on Mourinho's list for his next team. But we don't have to sell, and Courtois is not a trouble starter.

He certainly does not only says good things in the media. He says exactly what he wants to say. He burned the entire national team down on live television once, and he told Chelsea he wouldn't leave Atletico unless he became first choice at the Bridge. ;-)

[Jase 43,479]

Courtois: "I didn't have a problem with the manager. You'd have to ask the other players about them" #cfc [bbc]

Courtois is quite blunt and honest, isn't he? Like that.

[LAM09 7,056]

He has been prone to a mistake or few since his return. I would seriously think of bring Begovic back into the starting XI if things don't improve