Thibaut Courtois

[LDN Blue 7,903]

1 hour ago, BlueLion said:

Buffon is the GOAT, let's be fair. Bit unfair to compare a 23 year old to an absolute veteran. 

Absolutely, in a league of his own. There won't be another like him, so it's very harsh to compare the two. Like Hazard and Ronaldo almost.. Have to be judged on their own merits.

[Blue_Fox_ 2,086]

While we are at it.

 

[LDN Blue 7,903]

9 minutes ago, Blue_Fox_ said:

While we are at it.

Well that.. Was beautiful. 

[lucio 5,418]

8 hours ago, CHOULO19 said:

I really like Thibaut and I think he has a great future ahead of him, but for those who say that he is already one of the best in the world, did any of you watch Buffon against Milan yesterday? Because THAT is what the best keepers in the world are capable of, and I'm sorry, but Thibaut simply is not just yet. 

Possibly could have saved the Milan goal though

[CHOULO19 24,332]

2 hours ago, BlueLion said:

Buffon is the GOAT, let's be fair. Bit unfair to compare a 23 year old to an absolute veteran. 

Many here last season were claiming that Thibaut is already better than the likes of Buffon, Cech and even Neuer for some. I'm not AT ALL saying that he should already better than Buffon. 

[Weckerz 3,781]

1 hour ago, CHOULO19 said:

Many here last season were claiming that Thibaut is already better than the likes of Buffon, Cech and even Neuer for some. I'm not AT ALL saying that he should already better than Buffon. 

Based on this season. His previous 4 seasons were stellar and those claims weren't far-fetched whatsoever. In current form he's nowhere near the likes of Neuer and Buffon but let's keep some perspective =)

[Melanicus 5,208]

If Courtois leaves, I'd really really dislike him.

We sold our legend who can still play at the top level for another 4years because we put our faith in him. And now he’s willing to leave because we can’t offer him CL for one season? How soon did we have him back as first choice goalkeeper after his injury? I’m already against the attitude of Belgian players, him asking to leave will just fuel the fire.

 

[pHaRaOn 2,131]

10 hours ago, Melanicus said:

If Courtois leaves, I'd really really dislike him.

We sold our legend who can still play at the top level for another 4years because we put our faith in him. And now he’s willing to leave because we can’t offer him CL for one season? How soon did we have him back as first choice goalkeeper after his injury? I’m already against the attitude of Belgian players, him asking to leave will just fuel the fire.

 

The obvious fear for Chelsea supporters is the club’s top players, such as Courtois, could be tempted away from Stamford Bridge if they miss out on qualification for next season’s Champions League.

But Courtois suggested that what happens next season will be more decisive by saying: “The Champions League is the highest competition you can play in at club level, so, obviously, you want to play in it.

“But Manchester United missed it as well and they stayed the same, so it depends how the club copes. When you have a bad year, the next year is most important and we have to try to fight back and gain that spot again at the top.”

[Telegraph]

 

It doesn't sound like he's desperate to leave because "we can't offer him CL for one season".

[Fernando 6,585]

4 hours ago, pHaRaOn said:

The obvious fear for Chelsea supporters is the club’s top players, such as Courtois, could be tempted away from Stamford Bridge if they miss out on qualification for next season’s Champions League.

But Courtois suggested that what happens next season will be more decisive by saying: “The Champions League is the highest competition you can play in at club level, so, obviously, you want to play in it.

“But Manchester United missed it as well and they stayed the same, so it depends how the club copes. When you have a bad year, the next year is most important and we have to try to fight back and gain that spot again at the top.”

[Telegraph]

 

It doesn't sound like he's desperate to leave because "we can't offer him CL for one season".

Great point. 

One bad season is just a blip. 

But if we continue then no top players will want to come. 

Let's hope we can regain lost ground next season. 

If we keep Courtois, Hazard, Costa, Fabregas, Willian we will be good next season. 

Just get us some better midfield, as who knows matic might come back too but that's not enough. 

Oh and obviously defense, but that's a no brainer. 

[BlueLion. 21,491]

On 10/04/2016 at 8:51 PM, CHOULO19 said:

Many here last season were claiming that Thibaut is already better than the likes of Buffon, Cech and even Neuer for some. I'm not AT ALL saying that he should already better than Buffon. 

I think those people are very premature. This season has been a blip but he certainly has the potential to be considered amongst those names. I'd say that last season he was actually performing better than Buffon, but this season, Gigi has been the best by some distance. Looks totally unperturbed with everything he does. 

[BlueLion. 21,491]

On 10/04/2016 at 10:02 PM, Weckerz said:

Based on this season. His previous 4 seasons were stellar and those claims weren't far-fetched whatsoever. In current form he's nowhere near the likes of Neuer and Buffon but let's keep some perspective =)

I agree with this, one poor season doesn't make Thibaut a bad goalkeeper - look at Cech, in 08/09 he was frankly horrendous at times (ironically he was outstanding under Scolari but dropped off under Hiddink first time around), but then in 09/10 he had what was actually, IMO, his best season for us from a technical, not statistical, point of view* and won the Golden Gloves, too.

 

*As a goalkeeper from a technical view, he was almost perfect for much of that season. It was the best I've seen him distribute and command his box, his shot-stopping was always excellent, but it was that year he was by far and away the best in the world without comparison.

[lucio 5,418]

5 minutes ago, BlueLion said:

I agree with this, one poor season doesn't make Thibaut a bad goalkeeper - look at Cech, in 08/09 he was frankly horrendous at times (ironically he was outstanding under Scolari but dropped off under Hiddink first time around), but then in 09/10 he had what was actually, IMO, his best season for us from a technical, not statistical, point of view* and won the Golden Gloves, too.

 

*As a goalkeeper from a technical view, he was almost perfect for much of that season. It was the best I've seen him distribute and command his box, his shot-stopping was always excellent, but it was that year he was by far and away the best in the world without comparison.

cech was fairly rubbish in 13/14 too imo.

[BlueLion. 21,491]

2 minutes ago, lucio said:

cech was fairly rubbish in 13/14 too imo.

He wasn't rubbish but he made a number of high profile errors, most notably vs City at home with the Aguero goal, vs PSG with the Pastore goal, for instance. He struggled with his near post positioning, which is exactly the same boat Tbo is currently in,

[lucio 5,418]

1 minute ago, BlueLion said:

He wasn't rubbish but he made a number of high profile errors, most notably vs City at home with the Aguero goal, vs PSG with the Pastore goal, for instance. He struggled with his near post positioning, which is exactly the same boat Tbo is currently in,

also big blunders vs newcastle, stoke and palace. performed much better as courtois understudy the following season

[manpe 10,861]

Damn people, how can you remember so specifically what happened 3-4 years ago?