Thibaut Courtois

[lionsden 4,689]

I just hope if the rumour turns out to be true and we are favoring the younger, flavor of the month over the veteran that Cech doesn't take a secondary role sitting on the bench. He should find another club because he deserves much much better. a true legend and utter class act.

[Styles 9,790]

I just hope if the rumour turns out to be true and we are favoring the younger, flavor of the month over the veteran that Cech doesn't take a secondary role sitting on the bench. He should find another club because he deserves much much better. a true legend and utter class act.

He deserves so much more. Legend.

[The only place to be 11,313]

I just hope if the rumour turns out to be true and we are favoring the younger, flavor of the month over the veteran that Cech doesn't take a secondary role sitting on the bench. He should find another club because he deserves much much better. a true legend and utter class act.

I don't get you. You moan about us not supporting young players, then when one of our's proves himself to be truly world class you deride him as 'flavor of the month' (sic).

What type of football supporter are you? Most of us have been respectful towards both keepers because we recognise they're both great players, yet you call one that?

[The Rising Sun 710]

This is precisely the reason one of them has to go.

We cant have this constant speculation and unrest that follows having both these guys in our squad.

In goalkeeping , there simply has to be an undisputed no. 1, and then another quality keeper who can just about challenge, not usurp.

i really hope we deal with this quickly.

Its like playing only 1 striker up front, and then having Costa and Cavani in our squad, telling them that only 1 will start the game while the other sits out, Both will get games through rotation. Just doesnt work. You could sometimes go 2 upfront with strikers, but with goalkeepers that isnt happening..

[The only place to be 11,313]

He deserves so much more. Legend.

Sorry he deserves so much more than what? Isn't the best thing at a football club that players are selected on merit?

So you're saying that Petr Cech deserves more than £100k p/w and the opportunity to play for this club? What exactly would that be?

[Styles 9,790]

Sorry he deserves so much more than what? Isn't the best thing at a football club that players are selected on merit?

So you're saying that Petr Cech deserves more than £100k p/w and the opportunity to play for this club? What exactly would that be?

Deserves more sitting on the bench. Cech is 32 - relatively good age for a keeper - and still has a lot to offer at the highest level. Did you read the post I was responding to?

[The only place to be 11,313]

Deserves more sitting on the bench. Cech is 32 - relatively good age for a keeper - and still has a lot to offer at the highest level. Did you read the post I was responding to?

Sorry I read it along with lionsden's post and thought you were suggesting we were being disrespectful to Cech in some way.

I agree that if he's not going to be used then he should be allowed to leave, not least because he also occupies a non-hg spot, costs about £5 million per year and would fetch in a decent fee.

[Spike 12,049]

'Premier League proven' is one of the funniest idioms.

[robsblubot 3,504]

This is precisely the reason one of them has to go.

We cant have this constant speculation and unrest that follows having both these guys in our squad.

In goalkeeping , there simply has to be an undisputed no. 1, and then another quality keeper who can just about challenge, not usurp.

i really hope we deal with this quickly.

Its like playing only 1 striker up front, and then having Costa and Cavani in our squad, telling them that only 1 will start the game while the other sits out, Both will get games through rotation. Just doesnt work. You could sometimes go 2 upfront with strikers, but with goalkeepers that isnt happening..

agreed.

It's actually worse than that though, as strikers actually do get "minutes" whereas GK can only get full matches - not to mention each game has its own peculiarities. Plus tons of other variables we've been through, such as gelling with the defenders, confidence, etc.

Competition does not work for goalkeepers. How do you replace the goalie after 2 clean sheets? Just because?

As much as I like Cech, I'll be sick if we manage to lose Courtois.

Courtois is an experienced world class youngster - it does not get any better than that.

[Gilvorak 3,734]

When did this myth of Cech flapping at crosses begin lol? And when was he dropped for Schwarzer da fak?

Cech at Courtois' age was miles better. At 32 it's much closer though, the only major difference between the two is people will favour Courtois because he's the younger more exciting player at the moment.

It's why you keep hearing the "he's never been the same since the head injury" line time after time despite the fact he was far and away the best keeper in the World as early as 2012.

[The only place to be 11,313]

When did this myth of Cech flapping at crosses begin lol? And when was he dropped for Schwarzer da fak?

Probably away to Stoke last season and continued throughout the season. Not really flapping, but being hesitant on indecisive and he was dropped for the Steaua match after that.

Cech at Courtois' age was miles better. At 32 it's much closer though, the only major difference between the two is people will favour Courtois because he's the younger more exciting player at the moment.

Miles better? Think that's a mild exaggeration but wasn't Cech still playing in Rennes at Courtois's age?

How many Champions League Finals matches had he appeared in to that point? Did you see him play much at Rennes?

It's weird that people like you and lionsden who tend to moan quite a lot about us not giving youth players a chance are now criticising us giving a truly world-class young player a chance. There's some god-level cognitive dissonance going on there.

Is it possible he's more exciting because he's a better player at this point in time?

[Chelsea Legend 11 4,062]

So because it worked out perfectly 10 years ago means history will repeat itself again? only if football was that predictable.

anyway let's wait and see but from what I have seen of Courtois since his last season at genk to this point I remain unconvinced and underwhelmed. Cech remains Chelsea undisputed no1 goalkeeper in my eye until Courtois is able to prove otherwise.

I'd argue you need to watch him play a LOT more! He's has been nothing short of fantastic since he left Genk. Excellent command of the area, great reactionary reflexes and immense upside... All this for a guy who backstopped Atleti to the title and Champs league final and won back to back Zamora trophies as well as a keeper of the year win at the age of 21....

I love Cech too but lets not get carried away here Courtois is CLEARLY the future of this club and rightfully so.

[manpe 10,861]

Have a gut feeling Cech will start. He's the safer option.

[Chelsea Legend 11 4,062]

No because Cech is quite frankly a better goalkeeper and one of the very best the league as ever seen and he only gets to displace Cech by actually earning it through outperforming Cech in a chelsea uniform in an ideal world.

So how exactly does he 'outperform' Cech without playing in games? A little hard to outperform someone on the bench wouldn't you agree?

[burrogol 16]

La liga does not have big tall extremely physical players like the EPl. He's not going to have a free roam in the box to pick up flighted balls like he did over there. We have huge players like Kompany, Lescott, Jones,Ager, Etc etc., who will challenge and block you from all that. Plus players like Kevin nolan, Lambert, etcc are very hard and taller than average Joes in Spain. So its not going to be that easy. He will be successful, but not what some are thinking like its going to be a cakewalk.

I think your ideas on La Liga / EPL are a bit outdated... Nowadays, all top leagues have become quite "physical" with an emphasis on set-pieces.

Don't know if you ever watched La Liga games but they DO attack crosses/corners quite intensively and I wouldn't call Pepe / Puyol / Llorente / Ronaldo / etc. "pushovers" in the box?

He has -IMO- proven to be successful in these situations, both internationally, in Spain and in the CL (when confronted with Luiz, Terry, Cahill, Ivanovic, Ramires?)

So I'm sure he has all the qualities (1.99 m!) to do so in EPL as well...

PS/ Interesting read on # of aerial duels / league: http://footballthoughtsfromsweden.wordpress.com/2012/08/12/aerial-duels-in-england-france-germany-italy-and-spain/

"I was surprised by the high numbers from Spanish La Liga, last season La Liga actually had the largest mean of the AADW for the five leagues"

[Daniel1980 1,425]

Having to fight for the position would only make both of them nervous and they would make more mistakes. Confidence is one of the most important things for goalkeepers. We should have started the season with one undisputed #1.

[The only place to be 11,313]

Cech usually has to do alot actually. a whole lot more than Thibaut.. . .The presence of David Luiz alone makes that impossible.

David Luiz played in defence about 3 times after November. His presence is not really a factor, in reality anyway.

[The only place to be 11,313]

I think your ideas on La Liga / EPL are a bit outdated... Nowadays, all top leagues have become quite "physical" with an emphasis on set-pieces.

Don't know if you ever watched La Liga games but they DO attack crosses/corners quite intensively and I wouldn't call Pepe / Puyol / Llorente / Ronaldo / etc. "pushovers" in the box?

He has -IMO- proven to be successful in these situations, both internationally, in Spain and in the CL (when confronted with Luiz, Terry, Cahill, Ivanovic, Ramires?)

So I'm sure he has all the qualities (1.99 m!) to do so in EPL as well...

PS/ Interesting read on # of aerial duels / league: http://footballthoughtsfromsweden.wordpress.com/2012/08/12/aerial-duels-in-england-france-germany-italy-and-spain/

"I was surprised by the high numbers from Spanish La Liga, last season La Liga actually had the largest mean of the AADW for the five leagues"

I think he's talking about the proverbial 'cold night in Stoke' which Cech is proven to be comfortable with...

except 58 seconds into this video.