Do we need a back-up Goal Keeper?

[Ryan Fong 2,776]

Hilario is fine to come in for a few games, as he shown in his MOTM performance against Liverpool in 2009 and when he came in against Barca in 2006 then only conceded 1 in 4 in his first games for us.

Hilario's problem however is consistency, he was first choice for a few months in 2006 but after the first few games he started to make mistake's and concede goals regularly.

If Cech is only injured for a few games then Hilario is fine but is Petr gets a long term injury then we should seriously consider a recall for Thiabut.

I agree Hilario WAS a decent backup to play few odd games, but I doubt he IS now.

[Tomo 21,733]

I agree Hilario WAS a decent backup to play few odd games, but I doubt he IS now.

He is still more than capable of coming in for one off games imo.

[chelsea maniac 40]

Hilario and Turnbull are not good enough our best back up keeper Courtios is out on loan . Less if Cech is superman he will get injured at some point this season the were f***ed

[ZanSnake 1,211]

Hilario and Turnbell are not at the level, more-so Ross then Hilario, get rid of Tunrbell, keep Hilario for a season, and then push up the ranks of the young keepers we have, Blackman/Walker/Delac. Cech has numerous more seasons in him, and i can see another loan spell yet for Thibaut after this season - who will eventually replace Petr. Maybe calling onto Gordon woulnd't be a bad idea, if we get rid of both - but hopefully Ross will be going, and i think Hilario will see out his one year extention.

[BlueLion. 21,491]

Absolutely. We should get someone like Paul Robinson as our number 2 until Courtois is ready to replace Cech. Cech is the player I fear being injured more than any other.

[EskWeston 696]

Always a hard one as a number 2 in all likelyhood is going to get very little game time. Personally i would be in favour of promoting either Jamal Blackman or Sam Walker over Hilario and Turnbull, both obviously younger but ability-wise are no different with the potential to be much better.

[SeB 1,281]

Absolutely. We should get someone like Paul Robinson as our number 2 until Courtois is ready to replace Cech. Cech is the player I fear being injured more than any other.

That's a right concern considering the weird things we could have heard sometimes about Cech's fitness, I remember when we signed Courtois I read someone who said Cech would have back problems and would struggle to play until his 40s... I don't mean that we've to trust anyone but let's not be blind either.

I wanted us to sign Begovic who is a great goalkeeper, very complete. But it would have been completely selfish considering we would have stopped his evolution. Plus he's not the kind to be part of a turnover, Sorensen managed to regain his place.

cant risk it again.. turnbull may have saved a ronaldinho free-kick in 2006 but its 6 yrs on now and we need a back-up at the level of Cudicini atleast.

Cudicini was the best imo. loved the club and just sat on the bench. won't get anyone like him but any average keeper is better than hilariobull imo

Cudicini was great but he wasn't focused anymore at the end of his spell. In fact I think it's not possible to have a talented goalkeeper at Chelsea, I mean Cech plays 60 games a season and no goalkeeper with little ability would accept a backup role. Look at Foster, he could have stayed at ManU but he chosed to go at Birmingham then West Brom and he's currently arguably the best english Goalkeeper.

Victor Valdes is a mediocre goalkeeper but he deserve credit to be ready even with just one or two interventions to make in a game. It's the same with a backup goalkeeper of someone like Cech.

Paulo Ferreira, Hilario, Turnbull cannot afford to make themselves sick about their rare appearance during the month (or more) separating their games played. They're average now but they're consistent, they havent their mind elsewhere when they're asked to play

[Strike 7,217]

That's a right concern considering the weird things we could have heard sometimes about Cech's fitness, I remember when we signed Courtois I read someone who said Cech would have back problems and would struggle to play until his 40s... I don't mean that we've to trust anyone but let's not be blind either.

I wanted us to sign Begovic who is a great goalkeeper, very complete. But it would have been completely selfish considering we would have stopped his evolution. Plus he's not the kind to be part of a turnover, Sorensen managed to regain his place.

Cudicini was great but he wasn't focused anymore at the end of his spell. In fact I think it's not possible to have a talented goalkeeper at Chelsea, I mean Cech plays 60 games a season and no goalkeeper with little ability would accept a backup role. Look at Foster, he could have stayed at ManU but he chosed to go at Birmingham then West Brom and he's currently arguably the best english Goalkeeper.

Victor Valdes is a mediocre goalkeeper but he deserve credit to be ready even with just one or two interventions to make in a game. It's the same with a backup goalkeeper of someone like Cech.

Paulo Ferreira, Hilario, Turnbull cannot afford to make themselves sick about their rare appearance during the month (or more) separating their games played. They're average now but they're consistent, they havent their mind elsewhere when they're asked to play

On the contrary it is possible.

manu - lindergaard

bolton - bogdan

fulham - stockdale

stoke - begovic/sorensen

manc - pantilimon

liverpool - jones - who had a good game in the fa cup semis btw - and doni

sunderland had westwood mignolet and gordon last year - and now they have westwood and mignolet who are both good

west ham have jaaskelainen and henderson

aston villa - guzan

spurs have gomes who was one of the best keepers in the dutch league at PSV (atleast hyped so) and has now accepted back-up role last season.

as u can see, the above keepers are much better than our pair. and most of them are from other European leagues. with decent scouts it is possible to get good keepers who agree to be backups.

But i have to concede one point. our situation is very strange because thibaut courtois is definitely seen as the guy to replace Cech. so any backup we try to sign will be wary of it and probably wont join us but if we sell hilario/turnbull it is possible to sign a good keeper who will accept a back--up role. with over 60 games in the season, cech doesn't have to play all the games then without jeopardising our chances

[SeB 1,281]

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.

[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 1,494]

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 7,217]

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 7,217]

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 11,655]

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.