1. Kepa Arrizabalaga

[Pizy 15,869]

Pretty much been the ideal start to the season for Kepa. Other than maybe one of the Arse goals he got a hand to, he hasn't really been forced into much action. He's been able to quietly settle in.

[bigbluewillie 1,503]

Give the lad a chance it a position that needs a lot of getting used to especially in a new league.

might take a season or even 2.

[Stats 6,768]

6 hours ago, Mana said:

You're not the only one who thought about this, trust me.

But Courtois screwed us, forcing his leave in the last minute. The board had little time to find a replacement and Athletic Bilbao knew how desperate we are. That's why every Chelsea fan should hate Courtois for what he had done. On the other hand, you can also say it's slightly the board's fault too, for not picking Courtois' s***ty behaviour earlier and get rid ASAP.

To be fair to Courtois, it was obvious he wanted to leave months ago. It is not as if it looked like he was going to sign a contract then decided against it. His contract ran out no year and it was clear he wanted to go back to Madrid to be closer to his family. Courtois even said that he already decided in March he wanted to leave. We just wanted a certain offer from Madrid and was not willing to let him go until a replacement was signed.

[Thor 1,532]

Hilarious to me how under the microscope he is with some on here. Let him keep. He is doing more than a reasonable job. 

 

Can't blame him outright for a single goal. That is the job of a keeper. To be at a consistent level, and occasionally win you games. We haven't even been close to being in that tight a situation. The main thing is, he isn't losing us games. 

[bluesman2610 891]

On 9/20/2018 at 5:05 AM, Thor said:

Hilarious to me how under the microscope he is with some on here. Let him keep. He is doing more than a reasonable job. 

 

Can't blame him outright for a single goal. That is the job of a keeper. To be at a consistent level, and occasionally win you games. We haven't even been close to being in that tight a situation. The main thing is, he isn't losing us games. 

its the price tag - in our 15/16 season Tibo had a wobble year as well at the same age Kepa is - only difference is he played behind more solid back lines.. When our defensive synergy gets there he will shine as well he is only 23.. I have faith in him

[Vesper 23,834]

2 hours ago, bluesman2610 said:

its the price tag - in our 15/16 season Tibo had a wobble year as well at the same age Kepa is - only difference is he played behind more solid back lines.. When our defensive synergy gets there he will shine as well he is only 23.. I have faith in him

Try to buy any of the 6 or 7 above him for less than £100m. It isnt going to happen. We had £92m turned down by AM for Oblak. Real offered same as what we paid (his release clause price) for Kepa and he turned them down. If Courtois had 3 or 4 years left on his contract and we still agreed to sell him, we would have gotten £100m from Real if they didn't have Navas. The board fucked it all up, but paying only £4.5m more at the window death than the scouser twats paid mid-window for Alisson is not anything I worry about.

Everton was talking about £80m FOR PICKFORD. PFFFFT.

We probably could have bought Strakosha for £50m from Lazio, but the board didnt even enquire. 21yo Alex Meret would have cost us around £30m (with the non Serie A pricing.)  But he is far from Kepa in terms of game time. PSG was talking £50m for Areola. Kepa is better than Areola, atm far better than Meret and Meret is going already REALLY good. Real wanted Kepa for years, more than De Gea or Courtois.

That should tell you something right there. 

Shitty spent, with add-ons and fees over £150m on 3 FULLBACKS, one of whom barely plays, the other was badly injured, and the 3rd will be 30yo before next season ends.

We offered roughly £120m for SMS to Lazio and they laughed in our face. Welcome (2 years early) to the new 2020's transfer paradigm in terms of vastly increased cost basis.

Kepa is going to be a monster someday soon. Top 3 to 5 for sure as several above him will slow down whilst he will be just entering his peak years when that occurs.

[Unionjack 7,530]

1 hour ago, Vesper said:

Kepa is going to be a monster someday soon. Top 3 to 5 for sure as several above him will slow down whilst he will be just entering his peak years when that occurs.

I'm with you mate. I have no qualms whatsoever in paying out for Harry. Hes going to be with us for a very long time and be great.

[Vesper 23,834]

For all those who wanted Pickford (hopefully not a lot)

one stat for you

last 6 games v Goonas, he has let in 21 goals, (and counting)

 

[manpe 10,624]

40 minutes ago, Vesper said:

For all those who wanted Pickford (hopefully not a lot)

one stat for you

last 6 games v Goonas, he has let in 21 goals, (and counting)

 

That says more about his team than him unless majority of them were his bloopers.

[Vesper 23,834]

21 minutes ago, manpe said:

That says more about his team than him unless majority of them were his bloopers.

Not true howlers, but multiple soft ones were mixed in

[manpe 10,624]

24 minutes ago, Vesper said:

Not true howlers, but multiple soft ones were mixed in

Vesper why do you think the best goalkeepers are left footed? Kepa is right-footed  

[Vesper 23,834]

Of the top ten keepers in the world, only Courtois and Ederson are left footed,  and Ederson is actually ambipedal.

Pickford is so nowhere near top ten. There are at least 25 I would take over him in a flash. He is so overrated because he is English.

[Jase 43,476]

Good save against Antonio (?) today. Courtois would have conceded that shot at his near post.

[Thor 1,532]

His best game for us, probably because he had the most to do. Actually kept us in the game a few times due to his timely saves. That one point had a lot to do with him. 

[bigbluewillie 1,503]

And poor Petr Cech being made to look a complete fuck up by Emery with this play out from the back.

So what is this now, keepers are only allowed the use their hands for shot stopping lol

[Artandur 749]

Surprised nobody is talking about him after yesterday. Think he had his most impressive game for us so far.

[robsblubot 2,715]

12 hours ago, Artandur said:

Surprised nobody is talking about him after yesterday. Think he had his most impressive game for us so far.

He did have an impressive game. At the same time a taller gk, like tibo, migh have stopped the equalizer.

Well he’s our gk now with strengths and weaknesses.

[coolhead23 1,116]

24 minutes ago, Robguima said:

At the same time a taller gk, like tibo, migh have stopped the equalizer.

Not really ... how many such saves has Tibo made while he was here (I cant remember even one) ... it comes down to the timing of the leap, Kepa could have done it if it was a second quicker ... but wouldnt criticize Kepa on this. It was a near perfect shot and he still managed a touch.  

[Cosmin 2,347]

To be fair, I think he didn't get the chance to prove his qualities. Even if our defence was shaky at times, the opponents didn't get too many scoring oportunites. And the goals that Kepa conceded were mostly impossible to avoid. I think he was a bit at fault against Arsenal, but cannot think of anything other than that.

Regarding the game against Liverpool, I don't think he could've saved that shot, yet I would like to point out the good job that he did with closing Salah's angle in the first half, when Rudiger got that goal line clearance. Kepa's contribution was essential, as he made it very difficult for the Egyptian to get a powerful and precise shot.

He's a good keeper and I am sure he will get even better as time passes. 

[Yeboii 1,844]

Also, the save against Mané is a save that if De Gea made it there would be hundreds of news articles about how he is the best in the world with that save showing it...

Great passes as well bar one pass that went out!