Thibaut Courtois

[DJames 729]

And Cech shows once again why he's one of the best!!!!

[sdrcfc 461]

Courtois is allowed to play against us in the Champions League.

.... Let Torres score and you can be first choice!

[Henrique 9,133]

Kristof Terreur ‏@HLNinEngeland 3h

Antonio Sanz, former Atlético press officer & Torres' friend, wrote in El Confidencial that Mourinho has offered Courtois the number 1 spot.

Probably bullshit. Spanish reporters are huge liars, and many of them are former players and have footballer friends. Curtois and both teams already agreed to extend his Madrid loan, according to reports in Spain.

I doubt Curtois will ever play as Chelsea GK. The new deal, if happens, is to increase his price after next season, when he will probably be sold for 20m.

[BlueLion. 21,491]

From what I know, El Confidencial is a reputable newspaper in Spain.

I read the article on Antonio Sanz's blog and he also says that Cech could go to Atletico in the summer. Simeone knows for sure that Diego Costa is the #1 target for Chelsea and he wants to take advantage of this. If he can't get Courtois on a full transfer, he'd settle for Cech and apparently Jose is happy with the idea of letting him go to Madrid. Antonio Sanz says that Jose isn't happy anymore with Cech because of his frequent mistakes.

Also he writes in his article that Hilario, who is supposed to be the 3rd GK, is actually one of Jose's most trusted people at Chelsea and he is acting as a "Courtois scouter" for Mourinho. He watches and analizes Thibaut's every game and speaks with the belgian on a regular basis, several times a week.

I suggested this to my dad the author day, with Cech going to Atletico. Wouldn't everyone be happy then? He'd be leaving the 2nd best club in England for the 2nd best club in Spain, no step down, and he'd be guaranteed UCL football for the next 2/3 seasons with that squad Simeone has. Plus he'll have a friend over there in Torres

[petre.ispirescu 4,928]

I suggested this to my dad the author day, with Cech going to Atletico. Wouldn't everyone be happy then? He'd be leaving the 2nd best club in England for the 2nd best club in Spain, no step down, and he'd be guaranteed UCL football for the next 2/3 seasons with that squad Simeone has. Plus he'll have a friend over there in Torres

Hell yeah mate, it's like swapping Courtois and Diego Costa for Cech and Torres. Now that's what I call a brilliant piece of business.

And probably you won't have to pay that release clause either because Courtois comes for free and Diego Costa will be, let's say, Torres + Cech + I don't know, £17m?

[Melanicus 5,208]

Is it just me or Thibaut has really bad handling? He never manages to catch the ball, always just blocks the shot and ball goes to opposition again.

[BlueLion. 21,491]

Hell yeah mate, it's like swapping Courtois and Diego Costa for Cech and Torres. Now that's what I call a brilliant piece of business.

And probably you won't have to pay that release clause either because Courtois comes for free and Diego Costa will be, let's say, Torres + Cech + I don't know, £17m?

What's Diego's buyout clause, £35 million? You'd argue Cech and Torres are both worth £10-12 million each in the current climate, so the pair of them plus the amount you suggested is quite realistic.

[johnnythefirst 1,076]

Is it just me or Thibaut has really bad handling? He never manages to catch the ball, always just blocks the shot and ball goes to opposition again.

Were you looking at the clips posted here? Of course he's not going to catch them, most of them were hard shots from very close by.

I can tell you I've never felt so secure about our national goalkeeper since the days of Michel Preud'homme, a European Cup winner who was one of the best of his day and was chosen as the best goalkeeper of the 94 World Cup. That's 20 years ago and I believe Courtois will prove to be better in the end.

[mediator 2,026]

What's Diego's buyout clause, £35 million? You'd argue Cech and Torres are both worth £10-12 million each in the current climate, so the pair of them plus the amount you suggested is quite realistic.

I think there are some 3th party ownerships to add

[lionsden 4,689]

Is it just me or Thibaut has really bad handling? He never manages to catch the ball, always just blocks the shot and ball goes to opposition again.

it's not just you. i made that observation before we signed him from genk. He's so overrated it's unreal. People are in for a reality check when he joins a team that exposes his weakness unlike AM that conceal his flaws with their amazing defensive system.

[yuvala 2,167]

it's not just you. i made that observation before we signed him from genk. He's so overrated it's unreal. People are in for a reality check when he joins a team that exposes his weakness unlike AM that conceal his flaws with their amazing defensive system.

I hope that you're wrong.

[The only place to be 11,313]

Is it just me or Thibaut has really bad handling? He never manages to catch the ball, always just blocks the shot and ball goes to opposition again.

It's the modern goalkeeping style. Balls are more unpredictable so there's a greater emphasis on turning the ball away from trouble. Cech has been an expert at re-directing shots and Courtois is very much in the same vein.

I hope that you're wrong.

Usually is.

[Melanicus 5,208]

Were you looking at the clips posted here? Of course he's not going to catch them, most of them were hard shots from very close by.

I can tell you I've never felt so secure about our national goalkeeper since the days of Michel Preud'homme, a European Cup winner who was one of the best of his day and was chosen as the best goalkeeper of the 94 World Cup. That's 20 years ago and I believe Courtois will prove to be better in the end.

Nope, mate. Every game I watch, even simple shots, which could easily be caught - he still decides to reflect them, not catch. I'm not saying he is bad goalkeeper, far from that, but I like when goalkeeper has secure handling, like Cech had yesterday against PSG. Imagine how many corners would PSG have, if Cech just reflect all those shots.

It's the modern goalkeeping style. Balls are more unpredictable so there's a greater emphasis on turning the ball away from trouble. Cech has been an expert at re-directing shots and Courtois is very much in the same vein.

Usually is.

Really hope so mate, because he is really the best young goalkeeper out there, but as I said, I prefer when goalkeepers safely catch the ball and 'hug' it on the floor.

[lionsden 4,689]

Were you looking at the clips posted here? Of course he's not going to catch them, most of them were hard shots from very close by.

I can tell you I've never felt so secure about our national goalkeeper since the days of Michel Preud'homme, a European Cup winner who was one of the best of his day and was chosen as the best goalkeeper of the 94 World Cup. That's 20 years ago and I believe Courtois will prove to be better in the end.

Most of the shot could/should have been handled more securely and parried out of the danger zone like real top class goalkeepers do though rather pushed back into dangerous area giving the opposition players the chance of a rebound/tap in.

[lionsden 4,689]

I hope that you're wrong.

No you should hope Courtois significantly improves his ball handling and shot stopping technique before he joins us. That should be your hope and not that I'm proven right or wrong

[johnnythefirst 1,076]

it's not just you. i made that observation before we signed him from genk. He's so overrated it's unreal. People are in for a reality check when he joins a team that exposes his weakness unlike AM that conceal his flaws with their amazing defensive system.

Tell me, if Atletico has such an amazing defensive system, why are there so many clips of him making insane saves? Was this amazing backline on holidays? Did they suffer sudden strokes? Courtois is a big part of that defense, that's why they're so anxious to keep him.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

It's the modern goalkeeping style. Balls are more unpredictable so there's a greater emphasis on turning the ball away from trouble. Cech has been an expert at re-directing shots and Courtois is very much in the same vein.

Yeah all goalkeepers nowadays are encouraged to punch instead of catch which I personally despise but understand with the balls we have nowadays. It's just that your keeper actually catching can be an important weapon for the counter especially from corners and set-pieces. Reina used to do this to perfection at Liverpool.

[iseah100 5,612]

What a save by Courtois!!! Very balldy, nearly made a grave mistake after though.