Kepa Arrizabalaga

[Tomo 21,733]

7 hours ago, Vybz Kartel said:

I feel like Frank's defence left him out to dry, he has his flaws but overall his a decent human and a decent keeper. Apparently he has only conceded 2 goals in his last 10 games with the 2 goals being the Jorginho own goal and FA Cup screamer. Hopefully he continues on this redemption path, if he doesn't get a career here at least he will be able to have a decent career elsewhere with confidence

He conceded at Villa Park aswell.

I disagree, while I'll accept Frank's system isn't the biggest help for keepers Edou played in the same system and still did well.

I don't really want to go any further into it at this moment as he deserves his moment so I'll leave it there.

[Jase 43,479]

13 hours ago, Vybz Kartel said:

if he doesn't get a career here at least he will be able to have a decent career elsewhere with confidence

The irony is that he could do so by forcing a move and taking a pay cut but I guess he's okay with being the second choice and hoping to collect trophies along the way, despite being the most expensive keeper in history (not that that is his fault).

[Vesper 28,769]

12 hours ago, Jase said:

The irony is that he could do so by forcing a move and taking a pay cut but I guess he's okay with being the second choice and hoping to collect trophies along the way, despite being the most expensive keeper in history (not that that is his fault).

 

AFCON

😰

[NikkiCFC 7,942]

We won 5m just for Super Cup. Kepa repaying some transfer fee 😄

[Clockwork 1,794]

Obviously Mendy is far better, I think Kepa will be fine in Mendy absence in January. As long as our defense plays to their usual standard.

[Vesper 28,769]

On 12/08/2021 at 03:23, Vesper said:

he seems to have his confidence back a lot more

his huge issue is something that cannot be fixed

his bloody too short arms

If Kepa just had an armspan that was increased by only HALF of the difference between Mendy and his, he would be SO much better, especially with his confidence back. I daresay he might actually end up being world class for real if he just had long arms (and not even freakishly long like Mendy).

It is bizarre that we never took his abnormally short (for a a 6-1, 6-2 GK) armspan into account. It so fucks him on shots to his sides.

Btw, I was right about Mendy. I said that he was NOT 1.97m, that he was 3 or 4cms shorter, based off comparison pics.

Well, the official website now lists him at 1.94m, despite T-Markt and others sticking to 1.97m. Also, 1.94 is basically 6-4 and half, not 6-4 on the nose. Half inches matter at times, ask a 5-6 and a half or even better a 5-7 and a half model. Runway bookers are notorious for not going with girls who are even a half inch under a 5-7 or more common, 5-8 cut off. Sale goes for too tall. Even a half inch over 6-1 or sometimes 6-2, and you are fucked. Of course there are exceptions. The sweet spot is the magic 10 (cms) 1.73m to 1.83m. 5-8 to 6 feet.

https://www.chelseafc.com/en/teams/first-team/edouard-mendy?pageTab=biography

SHOP NOW

• BIOGRAPHY
• STATISTICS

BIOGRAPHY

PERSONAL INFORMATION

• Name

  Edouard Mendy

• DATE OF BIRTH

  March 1, 1992 (age 29)

• Birthplace

  Montivilliers, France

• Height

  1.94m (6 ft 4 in)

• Weight

  93 kg

• Position

  Goalkeeper

• Number

  16

 

 

[Tomo 21,733]

7 hours ago, Clockwork said:

Obviously Mendy is far better, I think Kepa will be fine in Mendy absence in January. As long as our defense plays to their usual standard.

I'm not sure. He does seem to have got over his destructive form (thankfully) but his core weaknesses won't go away.

Take the second half at Anfield for example, history suggests no way would Kepa have held out against all those long shots Edou faced (Liverpool were silly for using that as a stragedy, most teams don't even bother trying those with him in nets) and that point could ultimately win us the title.

[Magic Lamps 11,653]

15 minutes ago, Vesper said:

If Kepa just had an armspan that was increased by only HALF of the difference between Mendy and his, he would be SO much better, especially with his confidence back. I daresay he might actually end up being world class for real if he just had long arms (and not even freakishly long like Mendy).

It is bizarre that we never took his abnormally short (for a a 6-1, 6-2 GK) armspan into account. It so fucks him on shots to his sides.

Btw, I was right about Mendy. I said that he was NOT 1.97m, that he was 3 or 4cms shorter, based off comparison pics.

Well, the official website now lists him at 1.94m, despite T-Markt and others sticking to 1.97m. Also, 1.94 is basically 6-4 and half, not 6-4 on the nose. Half inches matter at times, ask a 5-6 and a half or even better a 5-7 and a half model. Runway bookers are notorious for not going with girls who are even a half inch under a 5-7 or more common, 5-8 cut off. Sale goes for too tall. Even a half inch over 6-1 or sometimes 6-2, and you are fucked. Of course there are exceptions. The sweet spot is the magic 10 (cms) 1.73m to 1.83m. 5-8 to 6 feet.

https://www.chelseafc.com/en/teams/first-team/edouard-mendy?pageTab=biography

SHOP NOW

• BIOGRAPHY
• STATISTICS

BIOGRAPHY

PERSONAL INFORMATION

• Name

  Edouard Mendy

• DATE OF BIRTH

  March 1, 1992 (age 29)

• Birthplace

  Montivilliers, France

• Height

  1.94m (6 ft 4 in)

• Weight

  93 kg

• Position

  Goalkeeper

• Number

  16

 

 

You are right, Mendy never looked like 1,97 but player heights and weights used to be completely fked on the website overall.

I see they re-measured/fixed this to some extent now, also uploaded new pics.

Chilwell is now listed as 1,80 instead of 1,78. Looks accurate to me. 

Mount the same, now 1,80. Even though chilly always seem to be a bit taller than Mase.

RJ who was listed at a completely bonkers 1,75 before (which would have looked ridiculous with his then listed weight 90kg) now got 1,79 which still looks a bit short to me but his posture is terrible.

Pulisic got upgraded a good 4cm as well to 1,77 which seems excessive. Looks 1,75 to me.

Werner, Ziyech and Kovacic appear to have shrunk a cm.

Alonso and Havertz each got an extra cm out of it as well.

Other than that no changes of note. Overall, the mean height of the squad has increased a few mm over night, good stuff

[NikkiCFC 7,942]

ballon d or material. 

[Vybz Kartel 1,613]

Every week I am more convinced Kepa's downfall was due to Lampard and his system. He looks like a totally different player

[NikkiCFC 7,942]

27 minutes ago, Vybz Kartel said:

Every week I am more convinced Kepa's downfall was due to Lampard and his system. He looks like a totally different player

Breakup with girl also played big part 💔

[Magic Lamps 11,653]

Lampard was ruthless with him when Kepa clearly is a guy who needs to feel appreciated not pressurized

But i think blamign the coach for all those stupid errors is a bridge too far. Perosnal reasons probably played a bigger part

Glad he is back to form. Maybe we can still recover some of his value. But no way in hell the long term plan can be having the most expensive keeper in the world riding the bench on 150kpw for the remainder of his contract.

[NikkiCFC 7,942]

5 minutes ago, Magic Lamps said:

Maybe we can still recover some of his value. But no way in hell the long term plan can be having the most expensive keeper in the world riding the bench on 150kpw for the remainder of his contract.

He is already in 4th year of 7 years contract. If Kepa is ok with that I would be happy with him staying as backup for 10+ years... But 2nd contract would have to be much smaller. 

Him leaving before his contract ends means he would play for less money somewhere else which is not going to happen. He would be starter is some CL quality teams...

Look at Bakayoko, always was lost case for Chelsea but we still extended his contract with big salary. 

[Tomo 21,733]

I still wouldn't be comfortable with him back as number 1 for a prolonged period but I must admit he's certainly starting to make me feel a lot less uneasy about the ACON next year.

Hooefully he keeps this momentum up because I remember everytime I thought Hilario was starting to become a reliable back up he'd ruin it and have an absolute disasterclass, really hope this is different.

[Milan 17,853]

KEPA BREAKS Chelsea PENALTY SHOOT-OUT RECORD

With his vital save in last night’s penalty shoot-out victory over Aston Villa, Kepa Arrizabalaga etched his name into the Chelsea history books.

The Spaniard now has seven such saves, and with it the record for the most penalty stops by a Chelsea goalkeeper in shoot-outs. Kepa’s strong right hand to palm Marvelous Nakamba’s spot-kick away moved him clear of Petr Cech in the all-time rankings.

Kepa was involved in three important shoot-outs in his very first season at Stamford Bridge. He made the difference in the semi-final success over Tottenham, in the Carabao Cup, and Eintracht Frankfurt, in the Europa League. Against Spurs he denied Lucas Moura, while the European tie was going the Germans’ way after Cesar Azpilicueta’s effort was saved, but Kepa kept out back-to-back spot-kicks to allow Eden Hazard to score the winner.

In the 2019 Carabao Cup final he denied Leroy Sane, and then this season he made two stops in the Super Cup before last night’s heroics against Villa. Video with all his shoot-out saves in the link.

https://www.chelseafc.com/en/news/2021/09/23/kepa-breaks-Chelsea-penalty-shoot-out-record

[nyikolajevics 2,573]

On 23/09/2021 at 00:54, Tomo said:

I still wouldn't be comfortable with him back as number 1 for a prolonged period but I must admit he's certainly starting to make me feel a lot less uneasy about the ACON next year.

Hooefully he keeps this momentum up because I remember everytime I thought Hilario was starting to become a reliable back up he'd ruin it and have an absolute disasterclass, really hope this is different.

 

Sorry but who would you comfortable with? Oblak, Donnarumma?

Kepa gained his confidence back, haven't had a bad game under Tuchel. Obviously, Méndy is better and undoubtly he is the first choice but we cannot really keep better backup because of AFCON. ~15 years ago we had AFCONs when key players like Drogba, Mikel, Kalou or Essien were absent. Without Mendy and Mahrez we should be fine.

[robsblubot 3,502]

17 hours ago, nyikolajevics said:

 

Sorry but who would you comfortable with? Oblak, Donnarumma?

Kepa gained his confidence back, haven't had a bad game under Tuchel. Obviously, Méndy is better and undoubtly he is the first choice but we cannot really keep better backup because of AFCON. ~15 years ago we had AFCONs when key players like Drogba, Mikel, Kalou or Essien were absent. Without Mendy and Mahrez we should be fine.

The problem here is exactly with the bolded part above. We are challenging for silverware, and having a lesser option in goal for a significant amount of time can negatively affect our title challenges.

I'm a big fan of Mendy. For me he's even better the Petr, but the fact that he will keep on vanishing to attend AFCON does make him a lesser option the other *top keepers* you've mentioned.

[nyikolajevics 2,573]

3 hours ago, robsblubot said:

The problem here is exactly with the bolded part above. We are challenging for silverware, and having a lesser option in goal for a significant amount of time can negatively affect our title challenges.

I'm a big fan of Mendy. For me he's even better the Petr, but the fact that he will keep on vanishing to attend AFCON does make him a lesser option the other *top keepers* you've mentioned.

This is something every top club have to deal with. At least this situation is predictable. Any player can get injured and be sidelined for long time.. Look at Van Dijk.. Of course Liverpool didn’t have a back up as good as him. 
 

If our def keeps performing well we should be fine with Kepa.