Thibaut Courtois

[The only place to be 11,313]

How surprising of you to just jump in with comments like that...

I'm inclined to agree with you on Courtois being our No.1 keeper but even if we are to go down that road, I don't see why Cech has to be discarded just like that. Like I said previously, maybe it's just a wishful or foolish thinking, but I don't think there would be too much of a problem to have both Cech and Courtois in the same team for next (one) season at the very least. Obviously, I don't think Cech would be too happy all of a sudden if he's to play second fiddle but it happened before him and Cudicini when Mourinho first arrived in 2004 and I would like to think Mourinho would be able to persuade Cech to stay for another season at least, assuming if this all will happen, because I don't think he's just gonna sell Cech off like that.

No doubt Courtois is talented and has proved his quality to deserve a shot on being first choice but he too would have to fight for his place here and making that No.1 spot his own. Moreover, think we all would feel safer assuming if Courtois is to be our No.1 and then having the safe hands of Cech as back-up. Some might argue that we should cash-in on Cech and have Schwarzer as the No.2 but not too sure how long more he wants to be playing. Even if he still want or can do so, it will probably only be 1-2 years and after that, we would have to find an experienced head from somewhere to be backup..

The Cudicini/Cech situation was very different. Cech wasn't in Courtois's position before he joined us for a starters.

I also disagree with the notion that we would all want Cech as the back-up. Yes he's a great keeper but having someone like that can cause problems when a new young keeper is trying to establish themselves.

As for me 'jumping in with a comment like that'...what the fuck? You suggested something and I asked how it would work. No reason for you to get all snotty about it for fucks sake. It might make sense on FIFA or FM to have two great keepers in the squad but in the real world there are real issues about how it actually works. Cech earns a fair chunk of change but also has a decent amount of value. Are you seriously suggesting we spend that much on a player who makes maybe 9 appearances a season as well as taking up a non-homegrown squad place?

How exactly does he 'fight for a spot' by the way? I've seen that notion thrown around here a couple of times but how does that work in practice?

[Pizy 18,419]

I agree that we can't have both in the the same team. If Courtois struggles at all for a couple of matches the supporters would be calling for Cech and it could wreck his confidence.

Cech could go and start for just about anyone in Europe, so I don't see why he'd agree to it anyways. He'd just ask for a move I'd think.

[Jase 43,479]

The Cudicini/Cech situation was very different. Cech wasn't in Courtois's position before he joined us for a starters.

I also disagree with the notion that we would all want Cech as the back-up. Yes he's a great keeper but having someone like that can cause problems when a new young keeper is trying to establish themselves.

You speak as though Courtois is this young and fragile child that needs to be protected all the time. I don't see how that is gonna cause problems having those 2 around, unless of course Courtois can't handle the pressure despite supposedly displaying good level of confidence for one so young.

Moreover when Cech joined us, he didn't exactly have any issues of establishing himself ahead of Cudicini, did he?

As for me 'jumping in with a comment like that'...what the fuck? You suggested something and I asked how it would work. No reason for you to get all snotty about it for fucks sake. It might make sense on FIFA or FM to have two great keepers in the squad but in the real world there are real issues about how it actually works. Cech earns a fair chunk of change but also has a decent amount of value. Are you seriously suggesting we spend that much on a player who makes maybe 9 appearances a season as well as taking up a non-homegrown squad place?

Snotty? All I did was being sarcastic, which was what you did in the first place...

And again, you speak as though I have said we should keep Cech at the club for the next 10 years! I only said about possibly having those 2 for next season at the very least(!). I don't know whether we'll be having them 2 in the team after 2014/15 season but for the 2014/15 season itself, it's not exactly beyond possibility, is it? You speak of the possible issues it could bring and Cech earning big wages but yet doesn't seem to mention the benefits it can bring such as Courtois learning from Cech's experience.

How exactly does he 'fight for a spot' by the way? I've seen that notion thrown around here a couple of times but how does that work in practice?

For starters, in training and then arguably in pre-season matches. There's no guarantee he will come in and just fit into what Mourinho wants right away.

And just a question. Let's just say if Courtois does become our No.1 and Cech is sold, who do you think then can or would be our No.2? Schwarzer is a possibility but is he gonna continue playing after this season or wanna go elsewhere? Before anyone suggests Blackman, I doubt Mourinho is gonna have another young and inexperience GK as back-up.

[The only place to be 11,313]

You speak as though Courtois is this young and fragile child that needs to be protected all the time. I don't see how that is gonna cause problems having those 2 around, unless of course Courtois can't handle the pressure despite supposedly displaying good level of confidence for one so young.

Moreover when Cech joined us, he didn't exactly have any issues of establishing himself ahead of Cudicini, did he?

No, but Cudicini was injured (injured players find it hard to play because, well they're injured). He'd also become injury-prone in the season before Cech arrived, so once again different situations.

Snotty? All I did was being sarcastic, which was what you did in the first place...

And again, you speak as though I have said we should keep Cech at the club for the next 10 years! I only said about possibly having those 2 for next season at the very least(!). I don't know whether we'll be having them 2 in the team after 2014/15 season but for the 2014/15 season itself, it's not exactly beyond possibility, is it? You speak of the possible issues it could bring and Cech earning big wages but yet doesn't seem to mention the benefits it can bring such as Courtois learning from Cech's experience.

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.

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.

For starters, in training and then arguably in pre-season matches. There's no guarantee he will come in and just fit into what Mourinho wants right away.

Now this is laughable. In training, very maybe. I like how you say arguably in pre-season matches though - the only person who would argue that would be a very stupid little boy. Are you arguing that? Exactly.

Whatever was to happen in pre-season, it's still only pre-season. Goalkeepers are judged very differently from every other position on the pitch and the watchword is always stability. You want that guy in goal to be 'THE GUY', not 'THE GUY FOR TODAY, BUT MAYBE NOT NEXT WEEK'.

And just a question. Let's just say if Courtois does become our No.1 and Cech is sold, who do you think then can or would be our No.2? Schwarzer is a possibility but is he gonna continue playing after this season or wanna go elsewhere? Before anyone suggests Blackman, I doubt Mourinho is gonna have another young and inexperience GK as back-up.

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.

[Strike 7,251]

I'd sell Cech and keep Schwarzer next season

[Alan Partridge 1,124]

Has to be number 1 next season, you can't waste talent like that.

I was disappointed when Cudicini was replaced by Cech, but it was the right move

[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 21,733]

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 18,419]

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.