And will for the next ~15 years?

 

Maybe not 15, but with the way goalkeepers are now he could do it for another 8-10 years easily.

 

I wouldn't mind losing Courtois if we can have Cech for another  10 years.

Maybe not 15, but with the way goalkeepers are now he could do it for another 8-10 years easily.

 

I wouldn't mind losing Courtois if we can have Cech for another  10 years.

However long we have Cech for we have Courtois for 10 years on top of that. Probably more given Cech's longstanding injury.

And will for the next ~15 years?

 

Courtois might not either. Look at the downturn Hart had after all the hype.

Edited February 19, 201412 yr by Englishman

Courtois might not either. Look at the downturn Hart had after all the hype.

 

He was the main reason Genk won their league before joining us, with utter heroics.  Then he went on to be the best goalkeeper in Spain for 3 years running.  It's not hype, the guy is consistently immense.  Cech over Courtois at this point is sentiment over reason.  As much as I love Cech, it'd be a stupid decision to let Courtois go for a few more years out of Cech.  Especially considering his head injury and knee problems.

He was the main reason Genk won their league before joining us, with utter heroics.  Then he went on to be the best goalkeeper in Spain for 3 years running.  It's not hype, the guy is consistently immense.  Cech over Courtois at this point is sentiment over reason.  As much as I love Cech, it'd be a stupid decision to let Courtois go for a few more years out of Cech.  Especially considering his head injury and knee problems.

 

I do wonder how many have reached that decision based on watching Courtois on a regular basis, as opposed to watching highlights of spectacular saves. It's not sentiment. If it was down to sentiment then I'd still have Essien and Drogba here but we were right to let both leave when they did. Cech has been consistently immense for nine years. There's no reason to think he won't continue to be until well into his 30s. Knee and head injury problems? He's barely missed a game in years...

I do understand people sticking up for cech...we all love him for what he's done...not sure they really appreciate what an asset we have in courtois though

I do understand people sticking up for cech...we all love him for what he's done...not sure they really appreciate what an asset we have in courtois though

 

I do believe Courtois is a great keeper. But i'm going with the "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" saying on this one.

Edited February 19, 201412 yr by Scott Harris

I do wonder how many have reached that decision based on watching Courtois on a regular basis, as opposed to watching highlights of spectacular saves. It's not sentiment. If it was down to sentiment then I'd still have Essien and Drogba here but we were right to let both leave when they did. Cech has been consistently immense for nine years. There's no reason to think he won't continue to be until well into his 30s. Knee and head injury problems? He's barely missed a game in years...

 

He has chronic knee problems which means he's unlikely to last as long as Van der Sar did.  I followed Atletico a lot when Falcao was there because I enjoyed watching him (and really wanted him), and by extension watched Courtois.  He isn't winning all the GK personal awards in Spain for no reason, and they've had the best defensive record in Spain for a long as he's been there.  Even up against Pep's total possession Barcelona and Mourinho's Madrid.  Honestly Courtois is probably better than Cech now.  He's enormous with the acrobatics of someone like De Gea.  

I do wonder how many have reached that decision based on watching Courtois on a regular basis, as opposed to watching highlights of spectacular saves. It's not sentiment. If it was down to sentiment then I'd still have Essien and Drogba here but we were right to let both leave when they did. Cech has been consistently immense for nine years. There's no reason to think he won't continue to be until well into his 30s. Knee and head injury problems? He's barely missed a game in years...

But you're making out cech has never made a mistake, which he has of course, every keeper does...his performance at city just a few days ago was awful...it happens...

I'll admit I haven't watched every courtois game either, but he's won award for best keeper in Spain, got clean sheet record, costa tonight says he's best keeper in the world...he's no flash in the pan...

Neither is cech, top keeper, chelsea legend, but courtois is as good as cech now and he's only 21

I do believe Courtois is a great keeper. But i'm going with the "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" saying on this one.

Not having a go, but Did you think this scott when cudicini was first choice and cech turned up

He has chronic knee problems which means he's unlikely to last as long as Van der Sar did.  I followed Atletico a lot when Falcao was there because I enjoyed watching him (and really wanted him), and by extension watched Courtois.  He isn't winning all the GK personal awards in Spain for no reason, and they've had the best defensive record in Spain for a long as he's been there.  Even up against Pep's total possession Barcelona and Mourinho's Madrid.  Honestly Courtois is probably better than Cech now.  He's enormous with the acrobatics of someone like De Gea.  

 

People always point to Cech's injuries, as if his body is somehow about to give way at any moment, yet when was the last serious injury problem he had? He's made 50+ appearances in the last three seasons.

 

But you're making out cech has never made a mistake, which he has of course, every keeper does...his performance at city just a few days ago was awful...it happens...

 

Courtois makes mistakes too, including a real howler against Zenit in the CL earlier this season. If Cech had made an error like that, it would have been put forward as more proof that he's losing it and needs to be replaced...

 

I'm not saying he's not a top keeper, just get the feeling some of this is down to a 'grass is greener' mentality. Like with Didier I think we may only appreciate just how good Cech is when he isn't there any more. We'd be mad to ditch him before we need to.

Like I asked scott, did you feel the same way re. Cudicini v cech situation? Can only speak for myself, but it's not a case of grass is greener...it's business...e.g feeling the same about Luke shaw and Ashley cole

am fully aware what cech has done for chelsea...best keeper we ever had...but if someone is 10 years younger and is just as good, a decision has to be made and not only will we lose out if we let courtois go, a rival will gain big time (I know same could be said for cech, but age, even for a keeper, is an issue)

Not one to read too much into highlight reels on YouTube and this one I found is repetitive, but I just love what I see from this guy...such a presence in the area

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=FH01LZy3IKo

I'm sure José will make the right decision. 

People always point to Cech's injuries, as if his body is somehow about to give way at any moment, yet when was the last serious injury problem he had? He's made 50+ appearances in the last three seasons.

It's not very wise to wait for the injury to happen if you can avoid it in the first place. Just because it's not happened yet doesn't mean it won't. 

We let cudicini go, when he was playing better then, than cech is at the moment.no brainer for me,welcome home courtois and thanks petr for the the memories.

Edited February 20, 201412 yr by kevin o'kane

He was the main reason Genk won their league before joining us, with utter heroics.  Then he went on to be the best goalkeeper in Spain for 3 years running.  It's not hype, the guy is consistently immense.  Cech over Courtois at this point is sentiment over reason.  As much as I love Cech, it'd be a stupid decision to let Courtois go for a few more years out of Cech.  Especially considering his head injury and knee problems.

Exactly. Cech is a great keeper, and an even nicer guy off the pitch as well...But to give up someone who people fully expect to be the worlds most dominant keeper for the next 10/15 years, for the sake of 3/4 more solid years out of Cech just seems like terrible business.

To have the attitude of 'if it ain't broke, why fix it', is worryingly short sighted.

Same can be said about Cech though. Cech has been making saves like that his whole career.

If that is save of the season then we've let our expectations of top level goalkeeping drop massively.

Courtois put in yet another man of the match performance last night. As much as I love Cech, I don't think we can afford to pass up on someone THIS good.

Out of all the threads we have on this board this one drives me the most mad. The Torres one doesnt bother me, the Mikel one doesnt bother me, even the stupid rumours that people make up dont bother me (that much) but this one drives me mental.

It's going to come down to Jose obviously.

 

Does he want to keep Cech so that we retain some leadership and experience or does he take the gamble and go with the best young goalkeeper in the world and have the foundations in place of having a team that can arguably player together for the next 10 years, much like he did in his first stint at Chelsea.

 

No question it's a big decision but in my mind there isn't a wrong decision here because either way we still have one of the worlds best goalkeepers playing for us. 

and yet Uno, this is one of the most important decisions Jose has to make, so all the more reason it should be debated

and yet Uno, this is one of the most important decisions Jose has to make, so all the more reason it should be debated

I disagree, I think it is THE most important decision, not one of. Replacing keepers at all the top clubs has been difficult due to a lack of real class young ones, and we now have possibly the bet young keeper in football on our books. We also have one of the best keepers full stop in Cech. I don't think either decision on who becomes number one will be wrong, both will be the right choice as we will still have a fantastic keeper. But the long term is something Jose has to decide on, and its a decision I wouldn't want to make.

Re-watch the penalty shoot-out against Bayern on 19/05; for me that says it all.

We would be mad to replace Cech with that arrogant upstart Courtois, no matter how amazing he is.

Re-watch the penalty shoot-out against Bayern on 19/05; for me that says it all.

We would be mad to replace Cech with that arrogant upstart Courtois, no matter how amazing he is.

I agree with Ricky on this one.

know what you're saying dkw about it being the most important, although I think there are other big issues for jose to think about...i.e what big name striker he signs this summer...

 

as for the arrogant upstart comment...remember many having the same opinion of a certain eden hazard before we signed him

Edited February 20, 201412 yr by The Brit