Thibaut Courtois

[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 10,857]

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.

[Azpinator 2,325]

[sutro 1,026]

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.

Look i understand that some people wanne defend a true Chelsea legend like Cech and rightfully so, but saying that Cech was miles better than courtois when he had the same age is not true , i would even say that Courtois is better because of the experience he have right now compared to a 22 year old Cech.

[Weckerz 3,781]

Got a feeling the keeper's threads are gonna get quite toxic this season, shame

[zolayes 14,489]

Got a feeling the keeper's threads are gonna get quite toxic this season, shame

agree ..think I will ignore them till things get settled.

think I will start a new thread " Is Lampard still better than Gerrard?"

[TheIceMan 596]

Got a feeling the keeper's threads are gonna get quite toxic this season, shame

expecting perfomance mode this evening around 20:00 Uk time!

[mannyfreshh 164]

Easy fix, play petr first half. Play thibaut 2nd half. Problem solved

[kellzfresh 7,226]

It's official, skysports news. Courtois starts

[We Hate Scouse 10,261]

Imagine the reaction if he makes a mistake....

[sutro 1,026]

expecting perfomance mode this evening around 20:00 Uk time!

im expecting it 1 hour earlier when we know the starting 11