Thibaut Courtois

[johnnythefirst 1,076]

Those sums are weird. A keeper can be more important than a striker. An importance that is most clearly seen if you happen to own one that sucks. ^^

[Tomo 21,733]

I think people care way too much about this. Courtois looks like an excellent young keeper, but keepers are easily the easiest and cheapest position to find. It's not as if we sold Courtois, we'd have nobody, we'd just go out and buy another quality keeper. .

If that was so easy, i think Fergie would have took quicker than 6 years to find an adequate replacement for Schmeichel.

[English Freak 456]

@Tomo,

There are more quality keepers out there now..in comparison to 1999 when Schmeichel left for Sporting..

[TorontoChelsea 4,064]

If that was so easy, i think Fergie would have took quicker than 6 years to find an adequate replacement for Schmeichel.

You're using an outlier and acting as if that is the norm. Most teams have no trouble finding replacements. Not to mention, as English Freak does, that this was 15 years ago. My other point is this. In those 6 years after Schmeichel, ManU won 3 Premier League titles. So while they struggled to replace Schmeichel, they were still the best team in England over that period. That's hardly struggling. You can win in football with a less than elite goalie.

[The only place to be 11,313]

You can win in football with a less than elite goalie.

True, although I think you said it best when you suggested...

You're using an outlier and acting as if that is the norm.

Cech was the key player in our greatest ever success. Conversely Arsenal's failure to sufficiently replace David Seaman led to them starting with Lehmann in goal in the CL Final with Barca....an extreme example perhaps but I think we've become a little spoilt with having someone like Cech between the sticks for so long.

Not only is Courtois technically very good, he's also had an excellent (perhaps perfect?) education at such a young age. Already a European champion and an international keeper, he's also faced Barcelona and Real Madrid on numerous occasions.

Compare that to the other 'bright young thing' whose name is floated about - Ter Stegen. Very much back-up for Germany, he has won fuck all and never even competed on the European stage. Courtois has the talent, the pedigree and we already own him. Finding someone else similar in the next decade is not going to be an easy task.

[bushman 2,043]

Every team needs reliable goalie. No team can win many games with an average one.

Those who think that, should look at Cech´s performances, asap.

[johnnythefirst 1,076]

Every team needs reliable goalie. No team can win many games with an average one.

Those who think that, should look at Cech´s performances, asap.

Although Valdez is decent, he's not world class in my eyes. Barca might be the only exception to this rule.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

Thibaut and Cech are both excellent keepers. The difference is that Cech is our "Get out of jail free" card now, while Courtois, may not be that good at the moment, can be our keeper for more than 10 years.

So it's never going to be an easy decision. It's a choice between short-term success and long term-success.

[bushman 2,043]

Although Valdez is decent, he's not world class in my eyes. Barca might be the only exception to this rule.

Still, he is good enough. Those who think, as I read here, any team may win CL, PL the top competitions ought to give up on football, I feel.

[English Freak 456]

Although Valdez is decent, he's not world class in my eyes. Barca might be the only exception to this rule.

To be fair, any solid keeper would look good playing for Barcelona.

Valdes is decent...but if he was playing for a weaker club with no world-class players, would he be capable of making constant saves?

[Bosnian Blue 2,471]

I don't see a reason why Cech couldn't go on for 10 more years. He's that good. Injury can happen to Courtois, just like it can happen to Petr.

I'm not worried at all, even if he goes to Barca we can cash in and go for Begovic who is one of the best in the best league in the world.

[bushman 2,043]

To be fair, any solid keeper would look good playing for Barcelona.

Valdes is decent...but if he was playing for a weaker club with no world-class players, would he be capable of making constant saves?

If...?

That´s why Barca wants Courtois, next season.

[Korea 734]

To be fair, any solid keeper would look good playing for Barcelona.

Valdes is decent...but if he was playing for a weaker club with no world-class players, would he be capable of making constant saves?

This I disagree....

Whoever becomes Barca number1, will have to live with being the least heralded player in the media's eyes and have all the blame placed on their shoulders for defensive errors.

[Robbe Vh 2]

Although Valdez is decent, he's not world class in my eyes. Barca might be the only exception to this rule.

Valdes is the best keeper for barcelona, because he is so quick of his line and his distribution is great. He also stopped with the blundering from a couple of years ago. As for Courtois, I think he will probably stay in spain, since he is been living there for 3 years now. He also has a girlfriend there and thats a big incentive to stay put probably. Real shame for CFC tho

[zolayes 14,489]

This I disagree....

Whoever becomes Barca number1, will have to live with being the least heralded player in the media's eyes and have all the blame placed on their shoulders for defensive errors.

AGREE and he will have the problem of keeping a high level of concentration for long periods of inactivity .. not as easy as it sounds

[different level 1,056]

Can't see why so many people are so eager to move Cech out. He's just 31. That's a great football age for a keeper and the way I see it he has at least 5 more years at the very top level and why not even more - look at what Van der Sar did in United.

Not underestimating Courtois, he's a great young keeper, but I don't expect our GK situation to change anytime soon. By loaning him every year his stock keeps rising and and we should cash in on him at some point IMO.

[BlueLyon 9,359]

Selling him would be dumbest thing in world. We finaly bought good talent who filled potential. But considering our situation, we might need to sell. There are many quality gks now like ter stegen. But I have some feeling that Courtois might be Messi among goalkeepers, next legendary GK. Too soon, but whoever we sell turns to be even better (Danny, Johnson,...) so I think Courtois will be no exception.

[Magic Lamps 11,653]

Can't see why so many people are so eager to move Cech out. He's just 31. That's a great football age for a keeper and the way I see it he has at least 5 more years at the very top level and why not even more - look at what Van der Sar did in United.

Not underestimating Courtois, he's a great young keeper, but I don't expect our GK situation to change anytime soon. By loaning him every year his stock keeps rising and and we should cash in on him at some point IMO.

He only got two years left on his contract next summer, we won't get full price for him. Atm Cech is only marginally better than Courtois. When Cech has 5 years to give, Courtois has 15. No difficult choice then.

Thing is rather Courtois seems not very inclined to come back to us. Real shame he will be the best goalie in the world within the next two years.