Petr Cech

[The only place to be 11,313]

For me cech is still better than courtois you only have to look at our supercup cup game vs bayern last season to see so. The problem is in the long term where courtois naturally has more years and courtois will loose his spot on belgium NT if he doesn't start unlike cech. The thing is we don't have a goal keeper problem so there is really nothing to fix there but we also have courtois who is really good. Mourinho is a fair coach as he showed with ashley cole and postively for john terry so i based on professional counsel from the goal keeping coach he will select who he feels is better because courtois is both present and more future while cech is also present but with less future though. If I were jose, courtois will be understudy for this season and if he proves to be better based on training and in games then he becomes first choice. But it should be done fairly because cech represents a history and is still very reasonably young, I hope he helps us win more trophies like van der sar did for united but if he underperforms or if he is outperformed by courtois then fair game and courtois should be No. 1.

Why look at that game and not the others where Cech made mistakes?

Cech was dropped last season because of poor form. Everyone seems to ignore this, but Schwarzer got his first start in the CL not out of some sense of sentimentality, but because Cech was losing us points.

Courtois has exceeded every expectation we had for him and right now he's the better keeper.

[johnnythefirst 1,076]

Both keepers should be able to play the entire season due to their talent and class. Benching Cech is an insult to his career and achievements and benching the best young keeper in the world is an insult to football.

This is what happens when only ten teams worldwide have all the serious money. As I said before, European football is being impoverished if you take a step away from the two main leagues and the 10 main CL contenders...

20 years ago, Ajax was one of the major forces in World Football. Today they still have just as many fans and a sold-out stadium of 50.000 seats, but they have to buy crap players and every time they actually find a world class talent it's gone in two years.

Top football is getting boring, that's why every neutral fan was rooting for Atletico to win the CL last year, at least it was something fresh.

Not an insult to any club btw, it's not your fault, but it's the reality.

Look at the Madrid Squad. They now have Bale, Khedira, Di Maria, Kroos, Isco, Benzema, Xabi Alonso; Modric and Rodriguez. They can't all play, some will rarely do so, and they would all be the absolute star in other teams. Now they have to play second fiddle to Ronaldo. That actually makes me sad.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

So if Courtois makes mistakes, we drop him?

This idea that Cech can teach things to Courtois is somewhat patronising to be honest. Courtois is a better goalkeeper than Cech is right now.

There's the old cliche about players coming to this league and having to do it 'on a cold night in Stoke'. The truth is that on a mild afternoon in Stoke Petr Cech cost us points with his errors. Right now I'd trust Courtois more, but that's because I've got a soft spot for talent and form.

If Courtois goes through a rough patch of course we bench him. The results are above everything else for us.

Regardless of who is currently better (for me it's still Petr), of course Thibaut can learn A LOT from Petr. We're talking about the man who has the most clean sheets in the history of our club! His experience is invaluable.

Again, if Thibaut is performing consistently better than Petr, then he has nothing to worry about.

Let's just wait to see how Jose plans on handling the situation.

[meetdoscar 335]

Why look at that game and not the others where Cech made mistakes?

Cech was dropped last season because of poor form. Everyone seems to ignore this, but Schwarzer got his first start in the CL not out of some sense of sentimentality, but because Cech was losing us points.

Courtois has exceeded every expectation we had for him and right now he's the better keeper.

Courtois isn't better than cech for now until he proves so in the Epl and if he proves so to Jose then fine he becomes no. 1. Looking at errors courtois had his mistakes too in the champions league final. Cech is still a great keeper and still young too. Coutois has to prove he is better all this future shit doesn't cut it for me. Just as costa says he will fight with torres so also courtois with cech.

[The only place to be 11,313]

If Courtois goes through a rough patch of course we bench him. The results are above everything else for us.

Regardless of who is currently better (for me it's still Petr), of course Thibaut can learn A LOT from Petr. We're talking about the man who has the most clean sheets in the history of our club! His experience is invaluable.

Here's what Cech can teach Courtois....play for a great team with a great manager. Cech's clean sheet record is at much to do with Carvalho, Terry, Makelele, Essien, Ferreira, Cole and Mourinho as it is to do with him.

That's not to say Cech isn't a great keeper, but he's also been one of the best protected keepers in Premier League history.

Courtois isn't better than cech for now until he proves so in the Epl and if he proves so to Jose then fine he becomes no. 1. Looking at errors courtois had his mistakes too in the champions league final. Cech is still a great keeper and still young too. Coutois has to prove he is better all this future shit doesn't cut it for me. Just as costa says he will fight with torres so also courtois with cech.

Cech was dropped last year. His form has steadily declined over the last two years.

Fuck all the future shit then. In the present, Courtois is the better keeper.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

Here's what Cech can teach Courtois....play for a great team with a great manager. Cech's clean sheet record is at much to do with Carvalho, Terry, Makelele, Essien, Ferreira, Cole and Mourinho as it is to do with him.

That's not to say Cech isn't a great keeper, but he's also been one of the best protected keepers in Premier League history.

Not really my point, but it's kind of a cheap shot trying to take away from Petr's achievements.

Anyway, my point was experience (that's why I bolded it) at the top the level and experience for playing at Chelsea and experience of playing in the PL. Petr is one of the best best of his generation and one of the legends of the game, no matter how talented a youngster is, and even when Thibaut becomes clearly better than him, he can always learn from his experience.

[Pizy 18,856]

If you were Courtois and were told that Cech is going to be the #1 keeper this season and that you're going to be sat on the bench after being the best keeper in La Liga for the title winning, CL finalists would you sign a new contract?

I probably wouldn't.

[The only place to be 11,313]

Not really my point, but it's kind of a cheap shot trying to take away from Petr's achievements.

Anyway, my point was experience (that's why I bolded it) at the top the level and experience for playing at Chelsea and experience of playing in the PL. Petr is one of the best best of his generation and one of the legends of the game, no matter how talented a youngster is, and even when Thibaut becomes clearly better than him, he can always learn from his experience.

Wasn't a cheap shot in the slightest. It was a fact. He's played in strong teams, but he's still a great keeper.

[Madmax 9,219]

I wrote this before the CL final and my opinion hasn't changed so I'll just leave this here as my 0.02$ on the matter:

We're now at that point where Cech's experience and familiarity no longer offset Courtois' raw promise. The Belgian is no longer a greenhorn honing his trade, we're talking about someone who at 22 years old is one game away from having won every trophy he's ever competed for in club colours.

Which then makes the decision boil down to pure footballing ability. In that department, even if Cech performs at 100% for 2 more years, would you take that over Courtois (for argument's sake) performing at, say 85% over that period, knowing he could then go on and give you a dozen more years as possibly the best in his position in the world?

[The Mak 4,459]

Cech before his head injury was best keeper in the world. No question. The thing that astonished me most about Cech then was that not only would he make a fantastic save, but sometimes he would also somehow managed to hold onto the ball even against some the most difficult of shots.

Cech after his injury was still WC, but became nervous in certain situations regarding physical contact; less willing to deal with corners and less rushing out (especially this). Gradually, he started recovering in these aspects but he was never the same. When Cudicini eventually left and Cech made a mistake, we questioned if he was complacent because he wasn't being adequately challenged for his position. He also started picking up more injuries.

Cech in 2012 during the CL run was at his absolute best, as good as he ever was in the past.

However, he is still prone to the odd injury. I think it was up until the season before last where he was out for a lengthy enough period almost every season; we then had to rely on the likes of Hilario and Turnbull who let in very soft goals. At the beginning of last season he missed a small amount of games due to poor form and missed the end due to injury. 2012 was his absolute peak in my eyes and the downhill slope has already begun, albeit very very slowly, but it'll only worsen.

Cech knows this himself. I remember his very aggressive interview at the end of last season about displacing Cudicini, being no. 1 for nearly 10 years and not giving his place up lightly (I can't find the article atm). He never said anything like it before, but he said it because he feels very threatened for the first time ever.

So, when we think of this and think of Courtois' meteoric rise, do we stick with what we know is going to gradually decline or do we continue the development of already one of the best goalkeepers in the world? Cech will never be the Cech of 2005 again, I don't even think he'll be the Cech of 2012 again.

I think the answer to this problem is a very simple one and, because he is a winner above all else (including sentimentally, e.g. Ashley), I think Mourinho knows the answer as well.

[The only place to be 11,313]

I think the answer is clear when you ask yourselves what you want each player to do next year.

With Courtois we want him to continue his form.

With Cech you're hoping he gets back to his form of a couple of years ago.

Which is more likely?

[MrBlueGuy 1,552]

He is as certain as a sub or going to be sold now after Mou's latest comments. From 'one of the best in the world' to now just '3-5 experience GK' is quite an downgrade. Also I doubt Courtois would agree to stay unless he was guaranteed that he would play, now Mou just confirmed that himself without mentioning it specifically and be disrespect to Cech.

This coming season could be his last in a Chelsea shirt, and even then it will likely be similar to Terry situation under Rafa. Real shame that it would end this way for the club's greatest ever GK

[Tomo 21,751]

Cech has the edge for me. Why? Because Mourinho is sentimental, it's his one weak point as a manager.

Maybe on a personal level but professionally he is the most ruthless man in sport.

Carvalho who followed him to three clubs was told to leave or face the reserves in 2012. Then he came back here Cole gets replaced by a RB, Essien barely plays then is sold, as soon as Matic came Lamps hit the bench.

Mou will do what it takes to win, he will happily drop players he loves as well as sign player's he didn't have great history with prior, ala Eto'o and Cesc.

I would say Mourinho controls the emotional and professional side of football very well, especially with his own.

[Special Juan 28,100]

He is as certain as a sub or going to be sold now after Mou's latest comments. From 'one of the best in the world' to now just '3-5 experience GK' is quite an downgrade. Also I doubt Courtois would agree to stay unless he was guaranteed that he would play, now Mou just confirmed that himself without mentioning it specifically and be disrespect to Cech.

This coming season could be his last in a Chelsea shirt, and even then it will likely be similar to Terry situation under Rafa. Real shame that it would end this way for the club's greatest ever GK

Has to end somehow and some way though. I don't think under any circumstances that if Cech is playing second fiddle that he will be disrespected in any way shape or form by Mourinho. Cech on the other hand strikes me as a guy that wouldn't be bothered by competition and would welcome it. We will be in a great position if these two are our keepers between the sticks this season, the two best keepers around for me and fighting for that one spot.

[Tomo 21,751]

Has to end somehow and some way though. I don't think under any circumstances that if Cech is playing second fiddle that he will be disrespected in any way shape or form by Mourinho. Cech on the other hand strikes me as a guy that wouldn't be bothered by competition and would welcome it. We will be in a great position if these two are our keepers between the sticks this season, the two best keepers around for me and fighting for that one spot.

Not to mention Schwarzer as numero tres.

I have had my concerns on how it would work in terms of keeping them happy but if any one can its Mourinho, if we had someone like Rafa who isn't known for man management it could have been a problem.