Thibaut Courtois

[Fernando 6,453]

Mourinho said this on Courtois last time:

"We control the situation, not Barcelona, Atletico or another team interested in our goalkeepers. We control the situation, so that's fine."

I have to say that's fine and all, but what if the dude does not want to sign a new contract? He does have a short time left, so he can run down his contract and then we will be force to sell him like we did with Sturridge.

Unless he comes and be our number one keeper next season he is a goner.

[Tomo 21,733]

Sign him up on a big ass new contract... keep him as for next season to compete with Petr then re-evaluate, he won't walk into the Chelsea team, if he thinks that hes stupid.

Then he will be leaving to walk into Barca's.

Our hand is forced with this issue, someone who has a free pass into Barca's team if he wants it, is not going to come back to 'compete' with anyone.

It's decision time, we have to play him or sell him. We cannot have two world class keepers at the club, it just isn't practical.

[OneMoSalah 8,776]

Do you ever read what he says ?

Let me help you.

I WILL NOT SIT ON THE BENCH.

How is that his choice? Does he think hes going to just waltz in and play every game? He will have to sit on the bench at some point. Players don't have as much of a say as their managers do.

[Jase 43,479]

Though it will be tough but ideally, would like us to have both Courtois and Cech for next season at least. The former may well be the No.1 but at least we would then have an insurance policy in Cech should things go wrong with Courtois. Otherwise if we sell Cech, we would then likely have to find another experienced keeper as a backup. Schwarzer's contract might be extended, who knows, but yeah..

[CHOULO19 24,332]

No player in the world can be guaranteed a starting spot at a top team before he has played a single match for that club. You don't just "get" a starting spot at this level, you fight for it. Even if Cech is sold, Thibaut will have to come here and battel with Mark for the starting spot.

[Azpinator 2,325]

No player in the world can be guaranteed a starting spot at a top team before he has played a single match for that club. You don't just "get" a starting spot at this level, you fight for it.

Cristiano Ronaldo?

[lucio 5,418]

nooooo own goal

[didierforever 7,349]

now THAT was just weird!!!

[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 21,733]

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.