Thibaut Courtois

[different level 1,056]

Courtois can't expect to come here and start the season as the number 1 option in front of goal ahead of Cech if both are in the team at that time.

[Xtraxion 100]

Courtois can't expect to come here and start the season as the number 1 option in front of goal ahead of Cech if both are in the team at that time.

In fact, he can. Any player who comes to Chelsea, wants to be a starter.

[different level 1,056]

In fact, he can. Any player who comes to Chelsea, wants to be a starter.

Yeah, sure. But you can't expect to immediately start in front of a legendary keeper, who bailed us out numerous times in the last 10 years and who also just had a fantastic season. You wait for opportunity to prove yourself.

[Weckerz 3,781]

Yeah, sure. But you can't expect to immediately start in front of a legendary keeper, who bailed us out numerous times in the last 10 years and who also just had a fantastic season. You wait for opportunity to prove yourself.

Absolutely not, that's why 1 of them will leave. Can't put a possible CL-winner and La Liga winner on the bench, can't sideline the best keeper in the PL 2013-2014 either.

Either that or another year on loan.

[sutro 1,026]

Yeah, sure. But you can't expect to immediately start in front of a legendary keeper, who bailed us out numerous times in the last 10 years and who also just had a fantastic season. You wait for opportunity to prove yourself.

I many situations i would agree with you, but this one is tricky simply because many see courtois as the best gk in the world .

He could be nr1 gk at almost any team in the world so its normal that he demands that spot here and tbf all sentiment apart he should get it

[SinineUltra 1,170]

Yeah, sure. But you can't expect to immediately start in front of a legendary keeper, who bailed us out numerous times in the last 10 years and who also just had a fantastic season. You wait for opportunity to prove yourself.

And there's the dilemma, when is the right time to swap them? Do and should we risk letting a young excellent GK go because of sentiment? I really hope that the club leaves feelings out of this and tries to focus on the footballing matters.

[Jype 6,398]

Courtois can't expect to come here and start the season as the number 1 option in front of goal ahead of Cech if both are in the team at that time.

Actually, he can. If both are still at the club come August and Courtois has had a good pre-season while Cech has just been recovering from his injury and not play at all, anything other than Courtois beginning the season as number one would be ridiculous.

[Rom2013 446]

I don't think Mourinho willl garantee to Courtois his place in the goal.

For me there are 4 posibilities:

- Courtois signs a new contract and fight for the spot with Cech

- Courtois signs a new contract and is loaned

- Courtois don't sign a new contract and here there are 2 possibilities: If someone want to pay 30 or 40M£ for the player we sell him, if not against his will he sits in the benxh here until he signs a new contract.

- We sell Cech and naturally Courtois signs a new contract.

I don't think Mourinho will garantee the spot for Courtois (unless the injury of Cech is really bad). And without signing a new contract he won't go in a good way.

Its Courtois choise... to a certain point...

[different level 1,056]

I many situations i would agree with you, but this one is tricky simply because many see courtois as the best gk in the world .

He could be nr1 gk at almost any team in the world so its normal that he demands that spot here and tbf all sentiment apart he should get it

And there's the dilemma, when is the right time to swap them? Do and should we risk letting a young excellent GK go because of sentiment? I really hope that the club leaves feelings out of this and tries to focus on the footballing matters.

You can't say it's just the sentiment. Cech is the best GK in the Premier League, quite possible the best in the world and still better than Courtois. I think the people at the club realize that, but they also realize Courtois is probably too good to let go and that could explain the countless loan deals. It's like they're waiting to see if Petr is going to show a sign of weakness that could possibly make a case of him being replaced. However, three seasons since Thibaut was brought in and three loan deals later, that hasn't happened, so I suspect another one might be on the cards. Atletico certainly won't be against that idea.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

http://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/thibaut-courtois-unwilling-to-play-understudy-to-petr-cech-at-chelsea-9394985.html

Courtois said that he is unwilling to play understudy to Petr Cech at Chelsea. So basically he doesn't want the rotation between GK, he only want the first choice one. Dillema for Cech. For our better future, I think we should choose Courtois, no doubt. Perhaps Jose should talk to Cech about his role next season?

I know that the quotes are probably twisted by the media, but if that is genuinely his attitude, then it's probably best he goes elsewhere.

[MrBlueGuy 1,552]

I know that the quotes are probably twisted by the media, but if that is genuinely his attitude, then it's probably best he goes elsewhere.

No shit, obviously he would want to play all the time because at any other club than Chelsea HE WILL PLAY ALL THE TIME. Yes I am looking at some of the best clubs in the world atm like Dortmund, Atletico, Barca...etc who would all love him. The only team where he might struggle to start is Real Madrid or Bayern Munich. He doesn't own the club anything, he wants to play and he should be playing considering he is probably the best GK in the world atm. If Costa comes will he have to fight with Torres(if he stays) over a starting place? or did Matic have to with Mikel?

[sutro 1,026]

You can't say it's just the sentiment. Cech is the best GK in the Premier League, quite possible the best in the world and still better than Courtois. I think the people at the club realize that, but they also realize Courtois is probably too good to let go and that could explain the countless loan deals. It's like they're waiting to see if Petr is going to show a sign of weakness that could possibly make a case of him being replaced. However, three seasons since Thibaut was brought in and three loan deals later, that hasn't happened, so I suspect another one might be on the cards. Atletico certainly won't be against that idea.

When the loan deals started 3 years ago cech was indeed the better keeper but now i wouldnt say that, perhaps Courtois is already better than cech.

You say cech doesnt show any weakness but im not even convinced about that, he had quite some faults this season

[Sheva. 5,373]

I know that the quotes are probably twisted by the media, but if that is genuinely his attitude, then it's probably best he goes elsewhere.

He's said this like 50 times now, nothing is being twisted.

Also, GK is not exactly a position where you can fight for your place "fairly". If he agrees to be 2nd choice, he will only play cup games or until Cech makes massive mistakes.

Doesn't make much sense for him, when he could start anywhere else.

[different level 1,056]

When the loan deals started 3 years ago cech was indeed the better keeper but now i wouldnt say that, perhaps Courtois is already better than cech.

You say cech doesnt show any weakness but im not even convinced about that, he had quite some faults this season

I bet you can't find a keeper who has been completely faultless through the entire season. On the top of my head I can think of two poor matches for Petr - the home draw against WBA and the first leg quarterfinal loss against PSG. I admit I haven't watched many of Atletico's matches in La Liga, but Courtois made a horrible mistake in the match against Malaga which denied the team the opportunity to triumph with the league title in the penultimate round and their championship ambitions were left hanging in the balance.

[MrBlueGuy 1,552]

When the loan deals started 3 years ago cech was indeed the better keeper but now i wouldnt say that, perhaps Courtois is already better than cech.

You say cech doesnt show any weakness but im not even convinced about that, he had quite some faults this season

Starting with getting beaten by Pastore at the near post which nearly sent us out of CL while Courtois got beaten at the same position when Sanchez scored a cracker on the edge of the box and no keeper in the world would have saved.

[robsblubot 3,498]

He's said this like 50 times now, nothing is being twisted.

Also, GK is not exactly a position where you can fight for your place "fairly". If he agrees to be 2nd choice, he will only play cup games or until Cech makes massive mistakes.

Doesn't make much sense for him, when he could start anywhere else.

All true, but I reckon the point is whether all this should be discussed in the press or behind closed doors - probably the latter.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

No shit, obviously he would want to play all the time because at any other club than Chelsea HE WILL PLAY ALL THE TIME. Yes I am looking at some of the best clubs in the world atm like Dortmund, Atletico, Barca...etc who would all love him. The only team where he might struggle to start is Real Madrid or Bayern Munich. He doesn't own the club anything, he wants to play and he should be playing considering he is probably the best GK in the world atm. If Costa comes will he have to fight with Torres(if he stays) over a starting place? or did Matic have to with Mikel?

He's said this like 50 times now, nothing is being twisted.

Also, GK is not exactly a position where you can fight for your place "fairly". If he agrees to be 2nd choice, he will only play cup games or until Cech makes massive mistakes.

Doesn't make much sense for him, when he could start anywhere else.

If he means that he wants to work hard and earn the first place spot then that is a great and an admirable attitude. But if he means that he won't agree to come back unless there is no competition for his place and that he wants Cech gone before he comes then that is not at all the attitude we want in the dressing room.

Of course Matic was not guaranteed a starting role no matter what when he came and neither will Costa if he comes. While they continue to play well, they'll be starters and when their form drops and they play badly they'll be on the bench till they start playing well again. And yes, the same applies even for goalies. Petr was dropped for a couple of games this season when his form was bad. And managers don't just judge on performances in matches, they can see what happens in training so there will be a 'fair' chance for keepers to prove they should have a starting spot.

[MrBlueGuy 1,552]

If he means that he wants to work hard and earn the first place spot then that is a great and an admirable attitude. But if he means that he won't agree to come back unless there is no competition for his place and that he wants Cech gone before he comes then that is not at all the attitude we want in the dressing room.

Of course Matic was not guaranteed a starting role no matter what when he came and neither will Costa if he comes. While they continue to play well, they'll be starters and when their form drops and they play badly they'll be on the bench till they start playing well again. And yes, the same applies even for goalies. Petr was dropped for a couple of games this season when his form was bad. And managers don't just judge on performances in matches, they can see what happens in training so there will be a 'fair' chance for keepers to prove they should have a starting spot.

He will do that, but by earning a place it doesn't mean sitting for a couple of years on the bench until Cech injured his ankle or something. Well tbf if we go on a 10 games unbeaten run with our great defence and Cech is in goal, how is Courtois going to get in? do we have to lose 3-0 suddenty? Obviously he will not agree to comeback because there are teams(some are better than us atm) who will guarantee him starting spots.

Also a GK rotation isn't really the same as player rotation, you really can't excel at training over one another. There is really not much tactic for the GK apart from coming out and collecting appropriate crosses or aims his goal kicks unlike a outfield player who might fit the manager's tactic ideas more...etc.