2014/2015 Goalkeeper

[Strike 7,492]

timing of this thread gives courtois the big margin

[Jambo 231]

If you watch some of his performances though he is starting to climb to an incredible peak. Cech has reached and passed his.

[BlueLion. 21,491]

We all have to realise Cech is a phenomenal keeper. However we can't let sentiment disguise the fact that he's made a number of high profile howlers this season, or at least a greater number than he or any keeper usually would. His form has dipped before and he has always come back stronger, and I fully expect him to do the same once more here. However, rather than oscillating between good and sub-par like Cech, Courtois is going from strength to strength to strength. Even I, one of Cech's biggest fans, thinks it is stupid to keep a 32 year old whose form isn't great (is Cech suffering a crisis of confidence? I see no conviction in what he does...) when waiting in the wings you have an absolute freak of a 21 year old who is probably already almost as good as Cech is! The way we have to see it is Cech would be able to keep goal for us for another 2-3 years. We'd get the best out of 10 years with Courtois and it won't cost a penny.

[Henrique 9,133]

We should sell Curtois to cash in. Peter Cech still has more 6 years as a top GK, or even more. We can easily see him playing until his 38.

In 6 years we will have more good young GKs around.

GK is a very sensitive position, and is the most difficult one to replace. Sometimes he has his flaws, but at the end of the day you just realize he is one the best GK of the last decade.

90% of people that voted want Curtois to be our 1st GK next season. Fools.

[The only place to be 11,313]

GK is a very sensitive position, and is the most difficult one to replace.

Which is weird because

In 6 years we will have more good young GKs around.

which suggests that it wouldn't be a difficult one to replace.

[didierforever 7,349]

one game does not change much. the point is cech is slipping. he has had some mistakes creeping into his game.

[BlueLion. 21,491]

Cech had a very good game yesterday, but the point I made on the previous page is that his form oscillates. He can make a terrible mistake and then a magnificent save in every game. Courtois' best, in my mind, isn't as good as Cech's best, but Courtois has 10 years to improve and reach that level. One can argue Thibaut is the more consistent.

Cech, on his day, such as against Bayern in the Super Cup, can be a 90-rated goalkeeper. There are days where he looks more like an 80. Courtois is a solid 85 season-long.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

Cech had a very good game yesterday, but the point I made on the previous page is that his form oscillates. He can make a terrible mistake and then a magnificent save in every game. Courtois' best, in my mind, isn't as good as Cech's best, but Courtois has 10 years to improve and reach that level. One can argue Thibaut is the more consistent.

Cech, on his day, such as against Bayern in the Super Cup, can be a 90-rated goalkeeper. There are days where he looks more like an 80. Courtois is a solid 85 season-long.

Thibaut has had some "below 80" matches this season as well. He's not made as many mistakes as Petr has this season but he's a rough patch of a few consecutive games where he looked very shaky and error prone. That's why from the start I did not want Petr sold even if we do recall Thibaut. He's the best young keeper in the world and I have no doubt that he will be one of the best if not the best keeper in the world but he's still just a kid, we don't know how he will react to the transition to the EPL and he might need time to settle.

[The Skipper 20,609]

Thibaut has had some "below 80" matches this season as well. He's not made as many mistakes as Petr has this season but he's a rough patch of a few consecutive games where he looked very shaky and error prone. That's why from the start I did not want Petr sold even if we do recall Thibaut. He's the best young keeper in the world and I have no doubt that he will be one of the best if not the best keeper in the world but he's still just a kid, we don't know how he will react to the transition to the EPL and he might need time to settle.

This "kid" is one of the main reasons Atletico are where they are right now, in the CL semis and top of La Liga.

He's experienced enough already at Atletico, the "kid" reason is void and irrelevant now.

[BloodIsBlue 291]

Courtois isn't going anywhere.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

This "kid" is one of the main reasons Atletico are where they are right now, in the CL semis and top of La Liga.

He's experienced enough already at Atletico, the "kid" reason is void and irrelevant now.

So what? The fact that he's still kid does not take away from his talent. We wouldn't be where we are now without Hazard but that doesn't mean that he isn't still a kid who sometimes goes missing and other times lacks consistency. It doesn't make him any less of a talent it just means he needs more experience which is perfectly normal for a kid his age.

[MetsajCFC 1,255]

I voted for Cech at the moment but I'd like to explain why. Petr Cech is 31 years old, which is not even old for a goalkeeper. He is at his best years theoretically. So he has had some off-days, any player has them, even Courtois if you look through all that media hype. I'm not saying anything negative about Courtois but I think it has been a little too black and white here. Cech's mistakes are examined under the microscope while his heroics (he was one of the main factors who won us the Champions League - penalty saves just to name something) are laregly overlooked. Cech's influence on players in the dressing room can't be underestimated. Anyone who has ever played any competetive team sport knows the psychological benefit of having a more experiened team-mate alongside you, Courtois won't have that effect, not in Chelsea, YET.

If anything Cech needs competition (let's be fair, his position has been an one man show for ages now) and like mentioned before by someone Courtois should come back here for pre-season and line up against Cech to see who deserves the number one position, let Mourinho decide but under no circumstances should Courtois be sold or traded.

I still can't see why we couldn't keep Cech if Courtois is to become Chelsea's main goalkeeper. Look at Real Madrid - Lopez and Casillas, who would have thought any goalkeeper would bench Casillas a few years back? And look at Barcelona - with Valdes out for 7 months, they're stuck with Pinto who has been shaky and rubbish.

[Rubber bullets 1,183]

Are people really still using age to argue that Courtois should not get the no.1 position becuase of thisand a so called lack of expeience? Despite what he has done in the 3 years at Madrid.

Its that kind of thinking that results in our youth academy being nothing but a shambles.

[Weckerz 3,781]

.

[The Skipper 20,609]

So what? The fact that he's still kid does not take away from his talent. We wouldn't be where we are now without Hazard but that doesn't mean that he isn't still a kid who sometimes goes missing and other times lacks consistency. It doesn't make him any less of a talent it just means he needs more experience which is perfectly normal for a kid his age.

So let's send out Hazard out on loan because he's still a kid and he still needs experience then.

Courtois has experienced a lot at Atletico already, his age is irrelevant. He's mature beyond his years.

[sdrcfc 461]

Courtois will be on loan for another season, not sure where. Will come back next again season, Cech off to Juventus to replace Buffon like on FIFA every career.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

So let's send out Hazard out on loan because he's still a kid and he still needs experience then.

Courtois has experienced a lot at Atletico already, his age is irrelevant. He's mature beyond his years.

I'm sure you realize what a silly comparison that is. Outfield players are different than keepers. But if we had Ronaldo in our team and for some reason could only play either Hazard or Ronaldo then yes, loaning out Hazard would be an option to consider On any account, though I believe that loaning him back to Athletico this season was the right decision, I don't Courtois loaned again next season.

From the beginning I wanted both Cech and Courtois here next season. If he's better than Cech let him come here and win the starting spot. My point is that Thibaut is young and we have no idea how he will respond to moving to a new league and a new team with different teammates and different system. Due to his age and inexperience he could need time to settle. Hence why if I were the manager, I would not sell Petr until Thibaut has had at least a season with the club.

[The Skipper 20,609]

I'm sure you realize what a silly comparison that is. Outfield players are different than keepers. But if we had Ronaldo in our team and for some reason could only play either Hazard or Ronaldo then yes, loaning out Hazard would be an option to consider On any account, though I believe that loaning him back to Athletico this season was the right decision, I don't Courtois loaned again next season.

From the beginning I wanted both Cech and Courtois here next season. If he's better than Cech let him come here and win the starting spot. My point is that Thibaut is young and we have no idea how he will respond to moving to a new league and a new team with different teammates and different system. Due to his age and inexperience he could need time to settle. Hence why if I were the manager, I would not sell Petr until Thibaut has had at least a season with the club.

You can say that he might need time to adjust to the PL, that's different, but he's not inexperienced any more and as I've said already, he's already mature beyond his years. He doesn't think or play like a 21 year old keeper so this age and experience argument is completely irrelevant now.

Besides, how is he going to adjust to the PL if he doesn't play in it? He's definitely ready to be number 1 here if he's number 1 (and the best GK in Spain) at a club that are challenging for the La Liga ahead of two juggernauts in Real and Barcelona, and are also in the CL semi final.

[Viper22 2,418]

It largely depends if either (or ideally, both) are man enough to accept the other at the club & to fight for their place.

Cech is a blue legend, but he has to remember that he wasn't our first choice keeper when he was around, but had a chance and took it with both hands. So he as much as anyone should understand that Courtios deserves that chance to prove himself.

Courtios needs to understand you can't demand to be no. 1 for a team that you've never played for, especially considering they have such a legend in goal for them at the present time.

If they both accept this then I would gladly see them compete throughout pre-season & next season for the no. 1 jersey at the club, hopefully have 1 solidified by mid October or so. If the other one can't accept being 2nd choice then fine, cash in. No-one is bigger than the club. But hopefully they'll both be decent enough about it; Cech could do with the competition & Courtios could learn a lot from Petr.

If we HAD to choose between them it would depend on the situation. If Courtios demands to be 1st choice then i'd ditch him. No-one is above the club, and no-one makes demands to the club. However, if it's a straight up choice on both ability and potential then i'd have to go with Courtios. He's at least as good as Cech right now and will only get better.

[Bosnian Blue 2,471]

It largely depends if either (or ideally, both) are man enough to accept the other at the club & to fight for their place.

Cech is a blue legend, but he has to remember that he wasn't our first choice keeper when he was around, but had a chance and took it with both hands. So he as much as anyone should understand that Courtios deserves that chance to prove himself.

Courtios needs to understand you can't demand to be no. 1 for a team that you've never played for, especially considering they have such a legend in goal for them at the present time.

If they both accept this then I would gladly see them compete throughout pre-season & next season for the no. 1 jersey at the club, hopefully have 1 solidified by mid October or so. If the other one can't accept being 2nd choice then fine, cash in. No-one is bigger than the club. But hopefully they'll both be decent enough about it; Cech could do with the competition & Courtios could learn a lot from Petr.

If we HAD to choose between them it would depend on the situation. If Courtios demands to be 1st choice then i'd ditch him. No-one is above the club, and no-one makes demands to the club. However, if it's a straight up choice on both ability and potential then i'd have to go with Courtios. He's at least as good as Cech right now and will only get better.

Very sensible post coming from a man with one of the two on his avatar. This is probably the best way to decide, maybe the only way actually.