Do we need a back-up Goal Keeper?

[Naked Mole Rat 437]

Both Hilario and Turnbull will see their contracts out at Chelsea. We're stuck with the duo, basically. Better keep our fingers crossed Cech doesn't get injured.

[Amblève. 4,995]

I think Hilario is pretty underrated.

He's good on the line as he has got nice reflexes, but his composure in the box is below average, and, at times, more than shocking. Tho, he can pull off a good save from time to time which gives your team momentum, but aside from this I don't think that he has anything to offer that would differ him from any other back-up gk.

[BlueLion. 21,491]

I think I've been misunderstood. My point wasn't that you cannot have two good goalkeepers (though I've never been convinced by signings in order to create a concurrence btw but that's not the subject). My point is that you cannot ask a quite good goalkeeper to sit on the bench 60 games a season considering Cech is one of the best in the world and even if he has two or three bad games in a row, nobody would habe the idea to replace Cech for a little while.

We're in the particular situation where we need homegrown players, so then we have to pick british players. We know that GK is a specific role in english football (compared to the french or continental way to produce young GK) and that the decent/good british goalkeepers don't hesitate to look lower on the table in order to sign in "smaller" clubs where they would play week and week.

Your list is right, but in fact you can see that there are no world class goalkeeper as starters in there and so then the concurrence notion isn't killed in the egg.

I absolutely agree with you. The allure of playing for a big club is something that would attract many players, but the thought of being understudy to Petr Cech is a massive deterrent. Cech was at his best when he was being pushed in training by Cudicini and a younger Hilario, but right now he has little competition. Even so, he maintains his consistency and is an untouchable in our squad. No-one could hope to knock him off his perch, not even Courtois, which is why I think it would be beneficial for him to remain on loan for another two seasons or so.

[Duppy Conqueror 1,526]

i think if i was a veteran goalkeeper who had played my share of career games then i`d be interested in coming to be Cech`s number 2. i`d think along the lines of one injury or suspension and i could play in the European Cup final,Fa Cup final etc..

there are lots of good goalkeepers in Germany at clubs who aren`t able to compete with Dortmund and Bayern.the whole country is like one big factory for good goalkeepers. that would be my first place to look for one.

i voted yes in the poll by the way if you hadn`t guessed.. give Turnbull`s place to Walker/Blackmon filling the homegrown place vacated by turnbull. then sign a new experienced goalkeeper to replace Hilario.

[Strike 7,474]

I think I've been misunderstood. My point wasn't that you cannot have two good goalkeepers (though I've never been convinced by signings in order to create a concurrence btw but that's not the subject). My point is that you cannot ask a quite good goalkeeper to sit on the bench 60 games a season.

Your list is right, but in fact you can see that there are no world class goalkeeper as starters in there and so then the concurrence notion isn't killed in the egg.

even if the first choice gk's are not world class, those are keepers who "accepted" back up roles. i agree that cech will play majority of the games but i feel we can easily get in a better backup from other leagues

[SeB 1,281]

even if the first choice gk's are not world class, those are keepers who "accepted" back up roles. i agree that cech will play majority of the games but i feel we can easily get in a better backup from other leagues

We won't get better than Turnbull. British goalkeepers are poor technically, the only thing looked at during their formation is if they are brave to come out from their goal. That's the opposite from the continental way which precisely asks the opposite

In fact that creates a "transfer barrier" that makes that few English goalkeepers play in Europe (Carson in Turkey is rather the best opportunity available after WBA didn't renew his contract, he wanted to escape from media pressure) and the opposite (I mean there's a time of adaptation... you can only get by playing)

We can check lower leagues for a "world class backup" but just think about it:

If he's good as an home grown goalkeepers, there're many club who would pay him to be 1st choice

If he accepts the idea of concurrence it has consequences on his wages or his state of mind

I assume Turnbull is not earning a lot, he's homegrown, he doesn't seem to have a lot of personnal ambition as everytime I read rare interviews from him he seems the kind son of mummy and daddy even at 27.

Courtois is coming, to be honest Cech is going to play every game for at least 2 or 3 seasons. There's no need to splash the cash, I think the club will extend Turnbull's contract during the season

[Hutcho 8,443]

We are not looking for a world class keeper to be number 2 but one that can just do a job... Hilario used to be good, but for me he isn't good enough... I have never really been a big fan of ross turnbull, and he was better 4 years ago... Courtois is our best back up keeper atm, but at his age i don't think he wants to be waiting around for cech to retire, because as Cech is only just 30, he can have another 5 years at the top if he keeps fit and injury free. So he can be recalled, though i doubt he will be too happy to wait for cech... Blackman is someone who i really like and has a lot of potential, so i would put him ahead of Ross and Hilario, and give him a chance, knowing if its just a one game injury or suspnsion he can come in or if its long term we can recall him... Would love to see Sam walker do really well and given a chance but then i am slightly biased there...

If we can get a cheap good quality 2nd choice keeper then that would be fine, but really don't think we need to be splashing out on a world class keeper to sit on the bench...

[Strike 7,474]

We won't get better than Turnbull. British goalkeepers are poor technically, the only thing looked at during their formation is if they are brave to come out from their goal. That's the opposite from the continental way which precisely asks the opposite

In fact that creates a "transfer barrier" that makes that few English goalkeepers play in Europe (Carson in Turkey is rather the best opportunity available after WBA didn't renew his contract, he wanted to escape from media pressure) and the opposite (I mean there's a time of adaptation... you can only get by playing)

We can check lower leagues for a "world class backup" but just think about it:

If he's good as an home grown goalkeepers, there're many club who would pay him to be 1st choice

If he accepts the idea of concurrence it has consequences on his wages or his state of mind

I assume Turnbull is not earning a lot, he's homegrown, he doesn't seem to have a lot of personnal ambition as everytime I read rare interviews from him he seems the kind son of mummy and daddy even at 27.

Courtois is coming, to be honest Cech is going to play every game for at least 2 or 3 seasons. There's no need to splash the cash, I think the club will extend Turnbull's contract during the season

the keeper doesn't have to be home-grown as well. just sell hilario and sign a proper backup with ross as 3rd choice so that the Home-grown quota isn't disturbed.

and also, there's no need to splash the cash. gk's generally don't cost a lot and something like a "Lindergaard" or a "Kusczczak" signing will do. Arsenal signed Szczesny when Almunia and Fabianski were ahead of him for the GK slot. Aston Villa got Brad Guzan who was MLS goalkeeper of the year and he was second-choice to Friedel. Bolton - Bogdan , City signed Pantilimon in similar fashion - nicking him from an inferior league.

we can sign better quality back-ups ,who will have no qualms about sitting on the bench, from an inferior league. it's time we rectified this situation because as of now, if cech gets injured for even 1 game, we are well and truly screwed

[Magic Lamps 11,692]

Courtois is - even though only 20 - by now one of of the best goalkeepers in the world. He would be absolutely wasted as only a back-up, he will challenge Cech next yyear.

Anyway, the problem with Turnbull and Hilario is not they are average or not so good, its they are utter BS. How Hilario dances in the box, being always 5m off his line, when a shoot comes on target u already know its going in as was the case against Seattle lately. As poor as his positioning and bad ballhandling is Hilarios kicking, he misjudges about any backpass, can't kick a moving ball, we conceded numerous times because of that. Turnbull is simply a classic British goalkeeper, strong and good on the line but awful by judging shots, always good for an error and a joke as a footballer. U simply cant have back-up goalies as these adn it does not get any better when u have 2 of these. Any Bundesliga and most 2nd buLi side has a better back-up goalie. Even if its a short-term solution turnbull or hilario will cost us titles when cech is injured.

[Ryan Fong 2,776]

Courtois is - even though only 20 - by now one of of the best goalkeepers in the world. He would be absolutely wasted as only a back-up, he will challenge Cech next yyear.

Anyway, the problem with Turnbull and Hilario is not they are average or not so good, its they are utter BS. How Hilario dances in the box, being always 5m off his line, when a shoot comes on target u already know its going in as was the case against Seattle lately. As poor as his positioning and bad ballhandling is Hilarios kicking, he misjudges about any backpass, can't kick a moving ball, we conceded numerous times because of that. Turnbull is simply a classic British goalkeeper, strong and good on the line but awful by judging shots, always good for an error and a joke as a footballer. U simply cant have back-up goalies as these adn it does not get any better when u have 2 of these. Any Bundesliga and most 2nd buLi side has a better back-up goalie. Even if its a short-term solution turnbull or hilario will cost us titles when cech is injured.

Spot on mate, exactly my point and the reason why I create this topic.

I have ZERO confidence in those two, if we don't get rid of them and sign a proper backup, I would rather promote Jamal to be the second GK.

Goal keeper, unlike a RB for example, it's irreplaceable on the pitch. CB, DM or even winger can cover RB/LB's mistakes, but no one can cover for a GK. A simple mistake by GK could easily cost a whole match. If something goes wrong with Cech we will be in deep shit and it's not funny.

Yes Courtois can be recalled but that's not a right move unless Cech is out for an very long time.

[BlueLion. 21,491]

We won't get better than Turnbull. British goalkeepers are poor technically, the only thing looked at during their formation is if they are brave to come out from their goal. That's the opposite from the continental way which precisely asks the opposite

The Premier League's two best shotstoppers (obviously in my opinion only) are English - Joe Hart and John Ruddy. So I disagree heartily with that statement. However you will not get better than Turnbull in terms of a youngish British goalkeeper, so I see your point there.

[LDN Blue 7,903]

Julio Cesar said he's leaving inter.. though his wage demand will probably be too much.

[SeB 1,281]

The Premier League's two best shotstoppers (obviously in my opinion only) are English - Joe Hart and John Ruddy. So I disagree heartily with that statement. However you will not get better than Turnbull in terms of a youngish British goalkeeper, so I see your point there.

I exagerate as much as I can, of course things aren't that manichean. But as a goalkeeper and youth coach you may confirm me that you don't search the same ability we use to search in France (by example) when we form young goalkeepers ?

[OneMoSalah 8,883]

Julio Cesar? Great shout. The fact is, on his day he is probably equal to or even better than Petr Cech. Unsure whether he'd sit on the bench for us though.

[Kajo 176]

Hilario is too old, Turnbull is not good enough I can't even remeber one game when didn't concede a goal.