Man of the Match vs Bayer Leverkusen

[LDN Blue 7,903]

You have to defend far better than that from a corner & I was surprised to see Alex get beat in the air but you have to be disappointed when a keeper doesn't save those - I said it was a mistake to loan Courtois out but my worry was our backup if he got injured not his form!!!

Not really noticed that before, good spot, will be more observant in that respect from now on.

He's adapted his game to make sure he covers it well though. Doing the basics a lot better, like making himself big. On the opposite side, he gets low very. very well. In that regard, his reflexes are still top notch.

But he doesn't fly around any more as such. You won't see the spectacular from him, especially top-corner dives. Might relate to that persistent back-injury too, though I think it's psychological.

[Wilson 358]

Sturridge.

[Naked Mole Rat 437]

Sturridge. Could've been Cech except that he ticked me off by showing no sense of urgency after Leverkusen had equalized. Playing for a draw against a side who are weaker than us both on paper and on the pitch? Unacceptable.

[BlueLion. 21,491]

He's adapted his game to make sure he covers it well though. Doing the basics a lot better, like making himself big. On the opposite side, he gets low very. very well. In that regard, his reflexes are still top notch.

But he doesn't fly around any more as such. You won't see the spectacular from him, especially top-corner dives. Might relate to that persistent back-injury too, though I think it's psychological.

As a goalkeeper myself and one of the biggest Cech fans on the site, I have this to say:

• a; no-one was saving that header. Bar-and-in, near the postage stamp. You can stick Casillas and Lloris in for good measure and no-one will be getting their sweaty mitts to it.
  
• b; Cech is still more than capable of the spectacular.
  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hD562J1O1m4

[CHOULO19 24,332]

Ballack!

[bluephoenix 1,126]

Ballack!

don't get me started

[LDN Blue 7,903]

As a goalkeeper myself and one of the biggest Cech fans on the site, I have this to say:

• a; no-one was saving that header. Bar-and-in, near the postage stamp. You can stick Casillas and Lloris in for good measure and no-one will be getting their sweaty mitts to it.
  
• b; Cech is still more than capable of the spectacular
  

Indeed, as I said, he makes up for it very well with his reactions to get down low and save those shots. However there is a difference in his approach to the top corner shots now than there was before his injury..

Though I don't dare dispute he's still world class. I'd say 3rd best keeper in the league behind Hart & Reina.

[BlueLion. 21,491]

Indeed, as I said, he makes up for it very well with his reactions to get down low and save those shots. However there is a difference in his approach to the top corner shots now than there was before his injury..

Though I don't dare dispute he's still world class. I'd say 3rd best keeper in the league behind Hart & Reina.

That's where I disagree now. I think he's slower at getting down to save low shots but he excels at saving shots other goalkeepers struggle with. Also I think Shay Given is better than Hart but that's a different debate

[LDN Blue 7,903]

That's where I disagree now. I think he's slower at getting down to save low shots but he excels at saving shots other goalkeepers struggle with. Also I think Shay Given is better than Hart but that's a different debate

Hmm, yeah disagree lol. I love Cech's ability to read when to stay big and then drop low to make such saves. He did it so well last season. Though one thing Cech's struggling now with, is distribution. I don't know if it's a tactical thing or not, but he's looking for the short ball now instead of the long ball, which I think he did well. Especially when Drogba's playing. Goal flashback of Drogba/Anelka vs. Blackburn last year, I think?

[Kostas 1,468]

LDN,regarding low shots, wasn't Johnson's shot one that could have been dealt with?

[LDN Blue 7,903]

LDN,regarding low shots, wasn't Johnson's shot one that could have been dealt with?

Agreed. By the time he was low enough, the ball had past him.

However on the whole, he's been very good in doing so over the last few years. Perhaps this back injury we heard about, from Courtois, has some truth to it..