Thibaut Courtois

[Hamilton 2,120]

We need to quit his enjoyment over there as soon as possible..

[OneMoSalah 8,885]

The way I see this, we loan him to a PL team maybe Everton or Fulham 2013-14 season maybe then take him back season 2014-15. If we don't then he will go, no doubt about it.

Hes an absolute giant of a keeper, how will he struggle with the roughness of the PL, hes what 6 ft 5? Absolute animal, handling great, great at collecting crosses etc. Shot stopping is excellent along with his decision making.

[Mufassir08 2,400]

Cech is a Chelsea legend. He's accomplished pretty much everything he can do with us. Now it's time for a new legend to be made. Simple.

Sentiment doesn't win titles.

Very much this!

[chelsea_4_eva 1,182]

Cech will always be a chelsea legend, he has won every major title here and accomplished a lot here. I feel it's time to pass the torch to a worthy prodigy.

[Strike 7,477]

Who replaced Seaman?

How long did it take United to replace Schmeichel?

When will they replace Van Der Sar (because spending £17 million doesn't seem to have done it)?

Top-class goalkeepers don't come around very often, as you've alluded to in your post. What's even rarer is for a club to transition from on top-class keeper to another, and what Chelsea have done is fairly impressive. We've got a 30 year old who won the Champions League and a 20 year old with 7 international caps, nearly 100 appearances for a top Spanish side (by the end of this season) and a Europa League winner's medal.

So it doesn't make zero sense. It actually makes long-term sense and economic sense to replace Cech, but there's also a case for keeping him and selling Cech. It's not a no-brainer as some people want to make it out to be.

The first thing to do before we jump to the conclusion of Courtois replacing Cech is to send him on loan to a Premier League club next season. We can't have another de Gea situation here. let him cope in the PL for a year and then he will be ready

as for the decision between keeping cech or keeping courtois - the answer is simple. judge courtois on a season in the PL. if he is good, sell cech and keep courtois as he will cement the GK spot for the next decade

if courtois struggles, then keep cech and move courtois on

if it's in between keep both cech and courtois for a year before taking the decision

[Greyco 143]

The first thing to do before we jump to the conclusion of Courtois replacing Cech is to send him on loan to a Premier League club next season. We can't have another de Gea situation here. let him cope in the PL for a year and then he will be ready

as for the decision between keeping cech or keeping courtois - the answer is simple. judge courtois on a season in the PL. if he is good, sell cech and keep courtois as he will cement the GK spot for the next decade

if courtois struggles, then keep cech and move courtois on

if it's in between keep both cech and courtois for a year before taking the decision

And you believe Courtois is just going to accept that?

Like I said in this thread before: Courtois is an a fierce competitive battle with Sunderlands Mignolet for the GK spot in Belgium's starting 11. Next year they look to go to the world cup with arguably their best squad in history, hoping to emulate or surpass the achievements of the 1986 side which reached the semi-finals.

At the moment he is:

- Incredibly highly rated by press, media and oppossition in Spain, thus being linked to both Real Madrid as Barcelona

- A fan favourite at Atletico

- Enjoying himself and settled extremely well with his fellow pro's

- Competing for trophies

- Playing in a side that is, imo, at the moment a better side than Chelsea

- A starter for Belgium

- Getting paid a very nice salary by Atletico

- Qualifying for Champions League next year.

And he's supposed to just give that up to go to a depressing midtable side in England with little chance of glory? Thus even risking his spot for the upcoming world cup with Belgium? The few comments he made the past weeks already indicate he prefers to stay on a 3rd year at Atletico, and none should blame him for that. Why trade all he has in?

[Strike 7,477]

And you believe Courtois is just going to accept that?

Like I said in this thread before: Courtois is an a fierce competitive battle with Sunderlands Mignolet for the GK spot in Belgium's starting 11. Next year they look to go to the world cup with arguably their best squad in history, hoping to emulate or surpass the achievements of the 1986 side which reached the semi-finals.

At the moment he is:

- Incredibly highly rated by press, media and oppossition in Spain, thus being linked to both Real Madrid as Barcelona

- A fan favourite at Atletico

- Enjoying himself and settled extremely well with his fellow pro's

- Competing for trophies

- Playing in a side that is, imo, at the moment a better side than Chelsea

- A starter for Belgium

- Getting paid a very nice salary by Atletico

- Qualifying for Champions League next year.

And he's supposed to just give that up to go to a depressing midtable side in England with little chance of glory? Thus even risking his spot for the upcoming world cup with Belgium? The few comments he made the past weeks already indicate he prefers to stay on a 3rd year at Atletico, and none should blame him for that. Why trade all he has in?

that was my opinion on what should be done. hadn't considered Courtois side of the story.

he would prefer to stay with Atletico i presume and we would be looking to keep it as a 'loan' for as long as possible. he has belgian friends here and has expressed interest in becoming Chelsea #1 in the future. the club should look to move Cech on and get Courtois in between the sticks by the start of the 2014-15 season

[mediator 2,026]

Just sell him to athletico + torres + cash for Falcao. Win-win situation for both sides and for Thibaut

[The only place to be 11,313]

I think it would be incredibly unfair on Courtois to take him from Athletico and lump him at West Ham or Stoke or even Everton. He's better than that at the moment - you're essentially asking a guy to leave the second-best team in Spain, the Champions League, a nice city and an adoring fanbase to possibly go to some northern shithole who are are beneath him in many regards.

If that's what we're expecting of him, then we should probably just sell him. As I've said previously, it's a luxury problem but it's a real toughie.

[SinineUltra 1,170]

Im just glad we are facing this 'problem' of having 2 world class keepers.

[Jack Uzzi 54]

Belgium's goalkeeper coach (also the goalkeeper coach of FC Bruges) was 'fired' or replaced last week. Because of disagreement with first team coach Wilmots apparently. One of things that transpired was that he wanted to keep Mignolet as first keeper, "technically better" in his judgment, whereas Wilmots chose to opt for Courtois (who did extremely well by the way).

I think Courtois strongest points are his reflexes and concentration. He's probably good at long balls too mostly because of his length. One thing I was not impressed with were his game relances (kicking out fast or throwing). Another that was said before is that he's a bit slow to get to the floor but I am not sure if that's still valid. Any opinion on this from people who've watched him enought at Atletico?

When I look at Courtois, I really see a copy of Van der Sar. And that's a good thing. Also, for that very reason, strange that Ferguson did not notice him and paid such a crazy sum for De Gea. Very curious to see how his career will evolve further!

[zolayes 14,489]

And you believe Courtois is just going to accept that?

Like I said in this thread before: Courtois is an a fierce competitive battle with Sunderlands Mignolet for the GK spot in Belgium's starting 11. Next year they look to go to the world cup with arguably their best squad in history, hoping to emulate or surpass the achievements of the 1986 side which reached the semi-finals.

At the moment he is:

- Incredibly highly rated by press, media and oppossition in Spain, thus being linked to both Real Madrid as Barcelona

- A fan favourite at Atletico

- Enjoying himself and settled extremely well with his fellow pro's

- Competing for trophies

- Playing in a side that is, imo, at the moment a better side than Chelsea

- A starter for Belgium

- Getting paid a very nice salary by Atletico

- Qualifying for Champions League next year.

And he's supposed to just give that up to go to a depressing midtable side in England with little chance of glory? Thus even risking his spot for the upcoming world cup with Belgium? The few comments he made the past weeks already indicate he prefers to stay on a 3rd year at Atletico, and none should blame him for that. Why trade all he has in?

you have stated much more clearly the worries I have expresses for over a year . Now people are suggesting he will come to Chelsea simply because we have other Belgium players .

I believe if we dont bring him back at the start of next season we will never see him . As to thosewho expect us to get a huge fee for him ,,,as his contract runs down so will his value

[ja1 1,166]

What is he like at rushing?

For the Swansea game first leg I think if Cech was in goal we may not have conceded those two goals as he is always on his feet, he'll stay on the edge of his box in possession, and will come running out at the first hint of danger to clear. Yes, it does sometimes backfire (Juve away), but most of the time it works. The game after Swansea 1st leg Ivanovic again had a short back pass that their striker was running onto but Cech got there before, saving another chance.

Lloris is also good at this, and as more team's start playing out the back may be important for 'keepers.

[Jype 6,398]

And you believe Courtois is just going to accept that?

Like I said in this thread before: Courtois is an a fierce competitive battle with Sunderlands Mignolet for the GK spot in Belgium's starting 11. Next year they look to go to the world cup with arguably their best squad in history, hoping to emulate or surpass the achievements of the 1986 side which reached the semi-finals.

At the moment he is:

- Incredibly highly rated by press, media and oppossition in Spain, thus being linked to both Real Madrid as Barcelona

- A fan favourite at Atletico

- Enjoying himself and settled extremely well with his fellow pro's

- Competing for trophies

- Playing in a side that is, imo, at the moment a better side than Chelsea

- A starter for Belgium

- Getting paid a very nice salary by Atletico

- Qualifying for Champions League next year.

And he's supposed to just give that up to go to a depressing midtable side in England with little chance of glory? Thus even risking his spot for the upcoming world cup with Belgium? The few comments he made the past weeks already indicate he prefers to stay on a 3rd year at Atletico, and none should blame him for that. Why trade all he has in?

Aren't you forgetting one of the most important things here? In 2011 he agreed a long term contract with Chelsea, which I'm sure gave him a nice little pay rise compared to what he earned at Genk and he had no problem accepting that and at the time he was also happy with the plan we had for his development. It was Chelsea who loaned him out to a top culb like Atletico Madrid to gain valuable experience and because of that experience he has been able to play for the Belgium national team in the first place. Before that he wasn't even considered to play ahead of Mignolet. I think it would be rather disrespectful to the club who owns him to decline a loan move to an English club just because he's so settled in Madrid, because if he is to become Chelsea's number one keeper he needs to show he's willing to work for it and if that means he need to spend a year on loan at some less glamorous city than Madrid then so be it. He has to realize that Chelsea have to make sacrifices too regarding Cech if we're just going to hand out Courtois a starting spot in the Chelsea lineup so he really shouldn't be developing an unhealthy attitude here.

And do you honestly think his place in the Belgium national team would be threatened if he played at some English top half side? Mignolet plays for fucking Sunderland and isn't even doing a very good job there...

[Greyco 143]

Aren't you forgetting one of the most important things here? In 2011 he agreed a long term contract with Chelsea, which I'm sure gave him a nice little pay rise compared to what he earned at Genk and he had no problem accepting that and at the time he was also happy with the plan we had for his development. It was Chelsea who loaned him out to a top culb like Atletico Madrid to gain valuable experience and because of that experience he has been able to play for the Belgium national team in the first place. Before that he wasn't even considered to play ahead of Mignolet. I think it would be rather disrespectful to the club who owns him to decline a loan move to an English club just because he's so settled in Madrid, because if he is to become Chelsea's number one keeper he needs to show he's willing to work for it and if that means he need to spend a year on loan at some less glamorous city than Madrid then so be it. He has to realize that Chelsea have to make sacrifices too regarding Cech if we're just going to hand out Courtois a starting spot in the Chelsea lineup so he really shouldn't be developing an unhealthy attitude here.

And do you honestly think his place in the Belgium national team would be threatened if he played at some English top half side? Mignolet plays for fucking Sunderland and isn't even doing a very good job there...

Mignolet has been doing outstanding for Sunderland. He's been one of the best goalkeepers in the EPL in 2012. He was voted best player in the northeast by the local journo's last month and if you'd check their forums they'll tell you he's been their player of the season by far. So yes, coming into a new league next season at a midtable (or worse) team is a pretty big risk to his starting position in the Belgian squad which is highly contested as it is.

Furthermore, it's been Atletico that has been paying Courtois. And it's been Atletico that has been paying Chelsea quite a huge sum for his services. The same Atletico that also bid for him when he was at Genk but was eventually blown out of the water by the higher transfer fee Chelsea paid. If Chelsea hadn't come into it, he'd be playing at Atletico just the same. His transfer rights just wouldn't be owned by Chelsea. Bit absurd to say he should be thankfull to Chelsea for loaning him out the past years as he wouldn't have signed here as they hadn't promised him that.

You've got to realise that Courtois is in a very strong bargaining position here.