Thibaut Courtois

[Hutcho 8,443]

Tbh, the more Iook at this situation the less likely I think we will keep courtois. There is NO WAY a keeper of his quality at his age should be sitting on the bench for 5 years waiting for a shot. Let's be honest Cech is an amazing keeper and if I had to pick 1 GK for a 1 off match I would probably pick him. The only way we will keep courtois is if we decide either at the end of this season or the next to get rid of Cech who is still world class and being a GK in great shape I see no reason why he can't still be world class in 5 years time.

I hope he stays as he has a great chance to become a GK legend like the likes of Cech and Schmeichel etc. We will probably end up selling him somewhere for something stupid like 10 mil. Then when Cech retires in 5 years buying him back for 50 mil... It wouldn't surprise me tbh.

[Hutcho 8,443]

If we look logically then in the long term courtois should be more beneficial to the team but I have a hard time saying we just get rid of Cech who is undoubtedly world class because we want to try and keep a youngster who is/can be as good/better than him... It's a tough decision whatever. But I don't think we can loan him for 5 years to atletico... Though they would probably love that.

[TorontoChelsea 4,064]

Tbh, the more Iook at this situation the less likely I think we will keep courtois. There is NO WAY a keeper of his quality at his age should be sitting on the bench for 5 years waiting for a shot. Let's be honest Cech is an amazing keeper and if I had to pick 1 GK for a 1 off match I would probably pick him. The only way we will keep courtois is if we decide either at the end of this season or the next to get rid of Cech who is still world class and being a GK in great shape I see no reason why he can't still be world class in 5 years time.

I hope he stays as he has a great chance to become a GK legend like the likes of Cech and Schmeichel etc. We will probably end up selling him somewhere for something stupid like 10 mil. Then when Cech retires in 5 years buying him back for 50 mil... It wouldn't surprise me tbh.

It makes zero sense to get rid of Cech. Top goalies like Seaman, Schmeichel and van der Sar were all top class into their late 30's (van Der Sar was still excellent at 41). Cech could be an elite keeper for 5-10 more years. This is not a like Drogba or Cole or Lampard where we're talking about if someone will be good enough for Chelsea next season or the one after.

[JDY 1,290]

Courtois told Spanish radio station Onda Cero: "Cech is one of the best goalkeepers in the world. I know that he has problems with his knees and his back. The goalkeeping coach at Chelsea told me that he does not know how much more time he can play at the very top.

Quote from last season, whether it is true or not I don't know.

[LDN Blue 7,903]

Courtois told Spanish radio station Onda Cero: "Cech is one of the best goalkeepers in the world. I know that he has problems with his knees and his back. The goalkeeping coach at Chelsea told me that he does not know how much more time he can play at the very top.

Quote from last season, whether it is true or not I don't know.

Yea he made that after he went on loan, Chelsea released some presser dismissing those or somethin' like that.

[The only place to be 11,313]

It makes zero sense to get rid of Cech. Top goalies like Seaman, Schmeichel and van der Sar were all top class into their late 30's (van Der Sar was still excellent at 41). Cech could be an elite keeper for 5-10 more years. This is not a like Drogba or Cole or Lampard where we're talking about if someone will be good enough for Chelsea next season or the one after.

Who replaced Seaman?

How long did it take United to replace Schmeichel?

When will they replace Van Der Sar (because spending £17 million doesn't seem to have done it)?

Top-class goalkeepers don't come around very often, as you've alluded to in your post. What's even rarer is for a club to transition from on top-class keeper to another, and what Chelsea have done is fairly impressive. We've got a 30 year old who won the Champions League and a 20 year old with 7 international caps, nearly 100 appearances for a top Spanish side (by the end of this season) and a Europa League winner's medal.

So it doesn't make zero sense. It actually makes long-term sense and economic sense to replace Cech, but there's also a case for keeping him and selling Cech. It's not a no-brainer as some people want to make it out to be.

[Hutcho 8,443]

It makes zero sense to get rid of Cech. Top goalies like Seaman, Schmeichel and van der Sar were all top class into their late 30's (van Der Sar was still excellent at 41). Cech could be an elite keeper for 5-10 more years. This is not a like Drogba or Cole or Lampard where we're talking about if someone will be good enough for Chelsea next season or the one after.

I know, because cech is still world class and i can't see that changing any time soon. Which is why i said i can't see us keeping thibaut because he cannot be a number 2 for at least 5 years. So we wither get rid of Cech in another season or 2, or lose courtois. And it will be an extremely tough decision to get rid of cech when he is still world class.

[TorontoChelsea 4,064]

Who replaced Seaman?

How long did it take United to replace Schmeichel?

When will they replace Van Der Sar (because spending £17 million doesn't seem to have done it)?

Top-class goalkeepers don't come around very often, as you've alluded to in your post. What's even rarer is for a club to transition from on top-class keeper to another, and what Chelsea have done is fairly impressive. We've got a 30 year old who won the Champions League and a 20 year old with 7 international caps, nearly 100 appearances for a top Spanish side (by the end of this season) and a Europa League winner's medal.

So it doesn't make zero sense. It actually makes long-term sense and economic sense to replace Cech, but there's also a case for keeping him and selling Cech. It's not a no-brainer as some people want to make it out to be.

I've gone through all this before. You're trying to make it out as if teams are always struggling for keepers and it's just not true. Maybe a top team will take a year or two to find the right guy and even then, they could still win..Brazil's #1 keeper is the goalie for the worst team in the Premier League. There are more top goalies than there are top teams and unlike say, striker, you can win fine with just good goalies. Arsenal had their invincibles season with Lehman in goal. ManU is going to win with De Gea in goal. Besides, It makes no sense to sell Cech and keep Courtois. Cech would bring in maybe around 7M pounds in a sale if we're lucky. Courtois would bring in probably 20M. Courtois is an impressive keeper but people on here are overrating how good he is right now. Right now, Cech is a better keeper. Courtois plays in front of the stingiest defence in Spain. They allow the fewest shots on goal of any team in the league. He saves 2 shots a game. (by comparison, Cech saves 3, De Gea saves 3.2) He's playing very well and again, I like his future very much, but who's to say he wouldn't have problems adapting to the English game? (Which is different even for keepers) It's just a pointless risk to satisfy peoples' obsession with potential. We have ,RIGHT NOW and for the next few years at least, one of the best keepers in the world. A player who has captained our side, who is well-liked, who has never caused a problem and we're going to get rid of him, Why? Because it might cost us in 5 years. You don't make decisions for five years down the road at a top club or you will always be rebuilding.

What's the worst thing that happens if we sold Courtois? We have to spend 15-20M pounds on another world class goalie in 5 years? So what? We'll just buy Ter Stagen or whatever new keepers have emerged or maybe we could even buy a keeper who is 25 or 29. We got Cech for 7M pounds. He's been utterly amazing for us. We got Cudicini for 160K. He was our player of the year and one of the best keepers in the Premier League (always felt sorry for him that he got stuck behind Cech when he could have been starting almost anywhere). I'm sick of this masturbation to prospect porn, drooling over our potential players in five years. I'm tired of sacrificing the present for the theoretical future. While we're thinking about what could be, ManU are very likely going to win the league and are still in the CL because they are thinking about what actually is. We're talking about how we can work in our youth into the starting XI next season, and they're talking about whether to start Kagawa or Rooney or Valencia or Nani.

[KonohasOrangeFlash 2,607]

I personally find it baffling that some would keep Cech ahead of Courtois. I'm not saying people don't have the right to that opinion but it doesn't mean I have to understand or find the sense in it.

Cech is already a Chelsea legend, it's not like he has unfinished business here. He can be great for another 5 years maybe but here we have a goalkeeper that is arguably already just as good who has 10+ years ahead of him with the potential to be the best.

It's a no brainer really, if we had to choose between the two. Try to move Cech on (If Courtois is in danger of being snatched from us) as smoothly and respectfully as possible.

[The only place to be 11,313]

I've gone through all this before. You're trying to make it out as if teams are always struggling for keepers and it's just not true. Maybe a top team will take a year or two to find the right guy and even then, they could still win..Brazil's #1 keeper is the goalie for the worst team in the Premier League. There are more top goalies than there are top teams and unlike say, striker, you can win fine with just good goalies. Arsenal had their invincibles season with Lehman in goal. ManU is going to win with De Gea in goal

You and I have completely different views over keepers. I think they're the foundation of a good team and can make the difference between a win and a loss. Last year, how important was Cech to our season? You think they're just lying around and they're not, which is why I asked those questions.

Besides, It makes no sense to sell Cech and keep Courtois. Cech would bring in maybe around 7M pounds in a sale if we're lucky. Courtois would bring in probably 20M. Courtois is an impressive keeper but people on here are overrating how good he is right now. Right now, Cech is a better keeper. Courtois plays in front of the stingiest defence in Spain. They allow the fewest shots on goal of any team in the league. He saves 2 shots a game. (by comparison, Cech saves 3, De Gea saves 3.2) He's playing very well and again, I like his future very much, but who's to say he wouldn't have problems adapting to the English game? (Which is different even for keepers) It's just a pointless risk to satisfy peoples' obsession with potential. We have ,RIGHT NOW and for the next few years at least, one of the best keepers in the world. A player who has captained our side, who is well-liked, who has never caused a problem and we're going to get rid of him, Why? Because it might cost us in 5 years. You don't make decisions for five years down the road at a top club or you will always be rebuilding.

And that's a fair point, but your last point - You don't make decisions for five years down the road at a top club or you will always be rebuilding - is part of the reason we're in a mess now. When Roman took over we didn't think about the long-term. Now we are which is why we have these problems (which are luxury problems). Cech could be around for the next 10 years, Courtois WILL be around for the next 10 years. Cech is a top keeper, Courtois is on his way to being a top keeper.

Again, it's not anywhere near as simple as you're making it.

What's the worst thing that happens if we sold Courtois? We have to spend 15-20M pounds on another world class goalie in 5 years? So what? We'll just buy Ter Stagen or whatever new keepers have emerged or maybe we could even buy a keeper who is 25 or 29. We got Cech for 7M pounds. He's been utterly amazing for us. We got Cudicini for 160K. He was our player of the year and one of the best keepers in the Premier League (always felt sorry for him that he got stuck behind Cech when he could have been starting almost anywhere). I'm sick of this masturbation to prospect porn, drooling over our potential players in five years. I'm tired of sacrificing the present for the theoretical future. While we're thinking about what could be, ManU are very likely going to win the league and are still in the CL because they are thinking about what actually is. We're talking about how we can work in our youth into the starting XI next season, and they're talking about whether to start Kagawa or Rooney or Valencia or Nani.

I'm sick of people who think having to 'just' spend £15 million on a player because we fucked up is the way to run a football club. I'm suck of people who think because we got lucky with Cech, we'll get lucky again. I'm sick of people thinking short-term and then acting surprised when we end up in the situation we're in at the moment.

United are also talking about whether to start Cleverley or Welbeck or Jones or Smalling or Rafael. Most United fans are wondering who their number one is as well.

Here's the difference between us and United - they think about the long term (look at who they just signed today - Zaha. He's nothing but potential) as well as the here and now because they put the leg work in on the youth side of the team. We didn't do that which is why we're suffering now, but we're looking to do it and quite frankly it's fucking annoying to see people like you constantly disregarding it and saying we should just spend, spend, spend completely recklessly. Think about the now, not the future.

Well I care about this club. I want it to have a future and that means a bit of masterbating over the potential of players. It goes hand in hand (pun intended) with masterbating over the finances and looking at boring stuff like FFP and profit and loss sheets because this isn't FIFA. There isn't an infinite money cheat and tough, informed choices need to be made.

[The only place to be 11,313]

I personally find it baffling that some would keep Cech ahead of Courtois. I'm not saying people don't have the right to that opinion but it doesn't mean I have to understand or find the sense in it.

Cech is already a Chelsea legend, it's not like he has unfinished business here. He can be great for another 5 years maybe but here we have a goalkeeper that is arguably already just as good who has 10+ years ahead of him with the potential to be the best.

It's a no brainer really, if we had to choose between the two. Try to move Cech on (If Courtois is in danger of being snatched from us) as smoothly and respectfully as possible.

just as it's not a 'no-brainer' to keep Courtois ahead of Cech, you raise some valid points. Courtois could be a an option for 10-15 years, whereas Cech is realistically only going to be around for 5-10. Cech has transfer value that I'd put at maybe £12 million, Courtois's has to be double that. But the most important point is that we already own this guy and yet he's managed to prove himself in a top league. We don't have to hope that another guy of his quality just comes along and that no other team needs him. Off the top of my head, United, Barca, Real Madrid and Juventus could all be in the market for this imaginary Wunderkind, so even if he did exist there's no guarantee we'd get him.

Plus we're in a season of transition now - I'd argue this summer is as good a time as any to put him in. But it's a toughie.

[Atholy 1,293]

Very difficult decision IMO.

Petr is simply a CFC Legend that have done so many things for the club! On top of that he's still able to act of few more years on top level. Why would you ever want to change that?

On the other hand with Thibaut we truly have an absolute gem! At age 20 he already has a stunning professional career:

• becoming 1st keeper in his first year as professional at Genk
• playing a massively important part in winning the Title that year!
• Transfered to Chelsea and being loaned out to Atletico Madrid
• Incredibly strong 1st season (in a new league, new country) ending in a climax by winning the European League
• In this second season he continues his good form (almost reaching the record of longest clean sheet in home stadium) and is probably the best keeper in the Spanish Liga!

Don't forget he's only 20 and there have been a lot of changes in his life the last 3 years. It all went SO fast but clearly Courtois shows to be a master in dealing with the pressure. Winning the title in Belgium, winning the Europa League, being voted in the TOP 3 young players in Europe and now on a second place in the Spanish Liga!

There is only one conclusion... This kid really really is an exceptional talent! In Belgium he's already been seen as maybe the most talented keeper ever (with Michel Preud'homme and Jean Marie Pfaff on the same list... you know this means a lot)!!

Let put one thing straight. Courtois will never ever come to Chelsea to be on the bench for 2-3 seasons. If some of you guys were thinking about this scenario... think again! This guy needs to play... and he needs to play at top level => because he simply is that good already!

And there is the catch... If he needs to play top level... he will need to play for a top team. If we don't make room here at Chelsea... He will find another top team to play for. Simple as that.

So the question we have to ask ourselves is: will we go for the money (his price has really increased a lot since we bought him) OR will we go for THE new Chelsea goalkeeper.

Very though one if you ask me! But I would always go for the second option! If we sell him... I think we will knock ourselves for the head a million times in the future!!!

Also we as fans will not see any of the £££££££ we will get for him => so we should always go for the pleasure of seeing (another) truly amazing young keeper between our posts!

[SykikJV 146]

I personally find it baffling that some would keep Cech ahead of Courtois. I'm not saying people don't have the right to that opinion but it doesn't mean I have to understand or find the sense in it.

Cech is already a Chelsea legend, it's not like he has unfinished business here. He can be great for another 5 years maybe but here we have a goalkeeper that is arguably already just as good who has 10+ years ahead of him with the potential to be the best.

It's a no brainer really, if we had to choose between the two. Try to move Cech on (If Courtois is in danger of being snatched from us) as smoothly and respectfully as possible.

Courtois is top quality and will be world class, but don't underestimate the step from Primera Division to Premier League. The PL is a completely different type of league for a goalkeeper. If Courtois wants to end up in the Premier League as goalkeeper for Chelsea, I would recommend he is loaned to another Premier League-side next season.

Selling Cech to make Courtois number 1 could be a costly decision if he has some trouble in his first season in the PL, both for Chelsea and Courtois.

[Kieran. 6,317]

I think we should keep Cech for 3 more years, with Courtois going out on loan for 2 more years and in the third year, bring Courtois back to Chelsea and either rotate him or make him #1.

By then Cech will be 33, and I don't think we should keep him past 35 anyway.

[Leif 6,006]

Cech is a Chelsea legend. He's accomplished pretty much everything he can do with us. Now it's time for a new legend to be made. Simple.

Sentiment doesn't win titles.

[Rubber bullets 1,183]

I think we should keep Cech for 3 more years, with Courtois going out on loan for 2 more years and in the third year, bring Courtois back to Chelsea and either rotate him or make him #1.

By then Cech will be 33, and I don't think we should keep him past 35 anyway.

But will he want that?

Bearing in mind that after this loan he will have 2 years left on his contract. Making him go on loan for another 2 years puts us in an extremely vulnerable position of losing him and him agreeing to stay with Madrid permanently..

[Leif 6,006]

1 more game and he'll have already equalled the amount of La Liga games De Gea played for them. I'm not sure what Atletico fans think, but after a brief look at their history, it looks like Courtois could be the best goalkeeper they've ever had. We. must. get. him back.

[Kieran. 6,317]

But will he want that?

Bearing in mind that after this loan he will have 2 years left on his contract. Making him go on loan for another 2 years puts us in an extremely vulnerable position of losing him and him agreeing to stay with Madrid permanently..

Good point, but I think with the plan I laid out (and hypothetically sticking to said plan), Courtois would be okay with coming back to Chelsea after 4 years on loan with the club slowly bleeding out Cech.