Thibaut Courtois

[Jase 43,479]

Ah yes, the old 'right click, tutor player' argument. Courtois is an established international, a European champions and possibly a league winner (fingers crossed) who will have played about 200 first-team games and be coming off of a World Cup.

Ah yes, again you're dismissing the value of what experience can bring and what one can learn from it. Not denying that Courtois has those credentials you mentioned but even with that, that doesn't mean he is already god-like and can't learn anymore to be even better than he is right now.

Sorry if you thought I was talking about keeping Cech at the club for the next 10 years. I thought I made it quite clear that I could see very little use in keeping him for 10 days after Courtois arrived back at Cobham.

Schwarzer signed for this club knowing Cech was number one. I've seen nothing to suggest he would go elsewhere. It's another spurious argument that holds little to no water.

There is a lot of middle ground between having Blackman as back-up and the financial costs associated with keeping Cech around.

I was asking a hypothetical question. You may be right, Schwarzer may stay beyond this season but then again, there is nothing to suggest the opposite won't happen. After all, he only signed a 1 year contract when he joined. So, I don't see how this is a spurious argument and all especially when it's a hypothetical question and one that could well happen.

[Mouri_Matic 560]

Another reason is that he is into the final 2 years of his contract now and his father said he won't extend his deal if he isn't made number 1, not even a fight is up for debate atm. So either we use him or risk losing him for very small fee or eventually free in 2 years, our choice.

[johnnythefirst 1,076]

It's funny to me how some people still call Courtois inexperienced...

[Mouri_Matic 560]

It's funny to me how some people still call Courtois inexperienced...

Yeah he is not good enough for BPL, don't want a De Gea 1st season here do we... lets loan him to West Brom/West Ham

[kellzfresh 7,229]

Another reason is that he is into the final 2 years of his contract now and his father said he won't extend his deal if he isn't made number 1, not even a fight is up for debate atm. So either we use him or risk losing him for very small fee or eventually free in 2 years, our choice.

Unfortunately, this is exactly the only way I see this happening. Courtious is in control of the situation. And this summer is the decider.

[kellzfresh 7,229]

Another reason is that he is into the final 2 years of his contract now and his father said he won't extend his deal if he isn't made number 1, not even a fight is up for debate atm. So either we use him or risk losing him for very small fee or eventually free in 2 years, our choice.

Unfortunately, this is exactly the only way I see this happening. Courtious is in control of the situation. And this summer is the decider.

[BlueLion. 21,491]

Another reason is that he is into the final 2 years of his contract now and his father said he won't extend his deal if he isn't made number 1, not even a fight is up for debate atm. So either we use him or risk losing him for very small fee or eventually free in 2 years, our choice.

Sounds to me like Thibaut's afraid of the competition! He wants assurances he is going to be the definite number 1? Those assurances should not, under any circumstance, be given. He should be made to fight for his place. If Cech stays and Courtois is benched, it'll be because Cech deserves his place.

[Bir_CFC 3,455]

Sounds to me like Thibaut's afraid of the competition! He wants assurances he is going to be the definite number 1? Those assurances should not, under any circumstance, be given. He should be made to fight for his place. If Cech stays and Courtois is benched, it'll be because Cech deserves his place.

Why shouldn't he seek first choice designation? Dude is one of the best GKs in the world. He'd be stupid not to want to be first choice. And, if he can't be first choice at Chelsea then he should go to a team where he will be first choice. The only reason to not strive to be a first choice GK is if he starts performing poorly.

At the very least he should expect a first choice GK position which will be his to loose, not a second choice GK fighting for first choice position.

[BlueLion. 21,491]

Why shouldn't he seek first choice designation? Dude is one of the best GKs in the world. He'd be stupid not to want to be first choice. And, if he can't be first choice at Chelsea then he should go to a team where he will be first choice. The only reason to not strive to be a first choice GK is if he starts performing poorly.

At the very least he should expect a first choice GK position which will be his to loose, not a second choice GK fighting for first choice position.

Sure he's a great goalkeeper, but demanding the number 1 jersey without even earning it? Not for me. Seems to me like he's got ego problems; either that or he's scared he won't start because he knows he can't compete with Cech. He should come in and expect to earn the number 1 jersey the same way Cech did with Carlo. The difference is Cech supplanted a good goalkeeper; Courtois has to supplant an exceptional one. Good luck, you'll need it.

[Chelsea? 892]

Sell to barca for 2p0ounds

[Tomo 21,751]

Sounds to me like Thibaut's afraid of the competition! He wants assurances he is going to be the definite number 1? Those assurances should not, under any circumstance, be given. He should be made to fight for his place. If Cech stays and Courtois is benched, it'll be because Cech deserves his place.

Competition in goal is different from outfield, you can't make a tactical sub from the goalkeeper in the match, like you can with say attacking midfield to make sure Mata is still getting a decent amount of minutes.

Im not saying give them a free pass, yes have a good keeper like Schwarzer, Pantilimon, Lindegaard, Tremmell that would keep whoever out of Cech and Courtois on their toes, but having two world class keeper's just isn't practical.

[Pizy 18,891]

How does Courtois "fight for his place" with another top class keeper, though?

When would he get a start in order to prove himself if Cech started the season? When would you decide to pull Cech and put Courtois in? It's not like if you start the season with Cech as the #1 and he concedes a couple so you throw Courtois in. Both are far too good to be fighting for a place with anyone or be on the bench. Don't think either would agree to being resigned to the bench more often than not. A keeper needs stability. Why would either Cech or Courtois want to fight for a place when they could both start for a big club? Just makes no sense.

If Courtois is recalled next season then Cech should be sold to the highest bidder OUTSIDE of the Premier League. Should have no shortage of suitors. Maybe even Atletico.

[BlueLion. 21,491]

Competition in goal is different from outfield, you can't make a tactical sub from the goalkeeper in the match, like you can with say attacking midfield to make sure Mata is still getting a decent amount of minutes.

Im not saying give them a free pass, yes have a good keeper like Schwarzer, Pantilimon, Lindegaard, Tremmell that would keep whoever out of Cech and Courtois on their toes, but having two world class keeper's just isn't practical.

Absolutely agreed, but why should Courtois be told: "Yes, you can come here and be number 1" without even putting on a pair of gloves in a training session? THAT is what strikes me as impractical.

[Stingray 9,441]

Competition in goal is different from outfield, you can't make a tactical sub from the goalkeeper in the match, like you can with say attacking midfield to make sure Mata is still getting a decent amount of minutes.

Im not saying give them a free pass, yes have a good keeper like Schwarzer, Pantilimon, Lindegaard, Tremmell that would keep whoever out of Cech and Courtois on their toes, but having two world class keeper's just isn't practical.

Absolutely agreed, but why should Courtois be told: "Yes, you can come here and be number 1" without even putting on a pair of gloves in a training session? THAT is what strikes me as impractical.

I don't think/believe Courtois thinks/said that tbh. But he does want a fair shot - not just an a priori fixed bench role, which can happen with a legend as Cech around. That is only fair to ask, and he is right to do so imo. He did not demand a no1 role, only said he isn't coming back just to sit on the bench. Big difference that most papers do not grasp.

[Tomo 21,751]

Absolutely agreed, but why should Courtois be told: "Yes, you can come here and be number 1" without even putting on a pair of gloves in a training session? THAT is what strikes me as impractical.

True, i would hope that if or when he returns that the other keeper is good enough for Jose to do what Pellegrini did to Hart i he has a wobble.