Its always mikels fault, even when he hardly plays.

 

Cahill and Baba got a mention in there too. I think some people want Mikel to be a scapegoat so bad (because that explains why he's been divisive for so long, because we always blame defensive midfielders except for every other one in the last 10-15 years including Maka, Essien, Deschamps, Wisey and Spackers although Matic is rightly getting stick for this season) that they immediately leap on any mention of him.

 

The problem is that the protection we've offered him (and Begovic today) hasn't been very good. Now Courtois should have done better in some instance but he was brilliant for much of last season and deserves another shot under Conte because he's one of the few players in the squad who has the potential to be world class. 

Cahill and Baba got a mention in there too. 

 

They aren't the ones whose name gets thrown in during every single discussion.

Replace with whom?

Last season he had 12 clean sheets, just 2 less than the highest. And it was more than Lloris and DeGea last season.

He deserves a season with top defenders in front of him, not average players like Cahill, Baba and Mikel.

I think Begovic is better so there you go.

Last season we had defenders in excellent form but did you see some of the mistakes he made?

This season proved he's not top GK.

On top of that he has sh*tty addittude and that may be a huge problem when it comes to Conte.

I think Begovic is better so there you go.

Last season we had defenders in excellent form but did you see some of the mistakes he made?

This season proved he's not top GK.

On top of that he has sh*tty addittude and that may be a huge problem when it comes to Conte.

 

And if it is a problem with Conte then we should all back whatever decision he makes, but is Begovic really better than Courtois? Of course you're free to believe that but hasn't it been the case that in the wider footballing world, Courtois has been acclaimed as being one of the top goalkeepers around? That includes coaches, players and pundits.

 

Of course they might all be wrong but should we really be ditching someone like Courtois after a mediocre season, when De Gea went through something very similar before coming out the other side?

 

I know what you're likely to say because you've made your position clear but is there a possibility that at the age of 23 and in only his second season in the league that he goes on to become a great keeper? Is there even a sliver of a chance? And if there is shouldn't we give him one more season?

I think it would be a little risky to keep him for another season but that up to Conte to decide. I'm sure he already knows what players he wants at CFC.

The think with Tebo is his addittude. He looks like he doesn't care and if you don't care you probably won't improve dramatically. Remember Tebo reaction after Adams scored from the middle of the pitch last season? His reaction was "I don't care".

I think people rate him high because of excellent seasons he has at Atletico. Let's see if Conte will keep him. If he does and Tebo continue being mediocre then I believe we should sell him next season. And no more talk I want to be 1st choice or else.

I think it would be a little risky to keep him for another season but that up to Conte to decide. I'm sure he already knows what players he wants at CFC.

The think with Tebo is his addittude. He looks like he doesn't care and if you don't care you probably won't improve dramatically. Remember Tebo reaction after Adams scored from the middle of the pitch last season? His reaction was "I don't care".

I think people rate him high because of excellent seasons he has at Atletico. Let's see if Conte will keep him. If he does and Tebo continue being mediocre then I believe we should sell him next season. And no more talk I want to be 1st choice or else.

 

I thought his reaction to that goal was 'oh, sh*t' but we can each interpret that to our biases.

 

Clearly he does care about his career though because he wanted to be first-choice here. To me, that shows ambition and that's something this club lacks at the moment. 

 

But you're right, we should back Conte's decision and if that means sticking with Thibaut then hopefully he can get back to the level of those excellent seasons he had at Atletico. We both agree that he can be that good so fingers crossed he gets there.

I think Begovic is better so there you go.

Last season we had defenders in excellent form but did you see some of the mistakes he made?

This season proved he's not top GK.

On top of that he has sh*tty addittude and that may be a huge problem when it comes to Conte.

 

Yes, I know he made a few blunders last season but he also showed occasional brilliance. It was a season where he was adjusting to the pace of the PL. His first season was better than DeGea's first season.

 

Our defence was not excellent as usual last season. JT and Azpi were brilliant but Cahill was average and so was Ivanovic (although he made it up in attack).

 

I do feel that Cech was still better than him when sold but, Cech constantly had a solid defense in front of him till atleast 2011 season.

 

I know, he is arrogant as feck but thats not really a bad thing. Begovic although very good is not better than Courtois.

I think it would be a little risky to keep him for another season but that up to Conte to decide. I'm sure he already knows what players he wants at CFC.

The think with Tebo is his addittude. He looks like he doesn't care and if you don't care you probably won't improve dramatically. Remember Tebo reaction after Adams scored from the middle of the pitch last season? His reaction was "I don't care".

I think people rate him high because of excellent seasons he has at Atletico. Let's see if Conte will keep him. If he does and Tebo continue being mediocre then I believe we should sell him next season. And no more talk I want to be 1st choice or else.

I think that the fact that his Spanish girlfriend recently had a baby has made him distracted and care less and prefer to return to Spain. If so, I can definitely understand. Becoming a parent changes so many things. If he wants to return to Spain so that his daughter can be close to her grandparents and grow up in her mother's native country, I hope he's honest with the club and that the club doesn't force him to stay. I would be disappointed if he feels that way but still insists on telling the club that he's their future so they better make him their first choice even if he isn't performing at expectations.

I didn't know about his newborn child but there should be no ultimatums from him anymore. He can't be 1st choice if he makes ridiculus mistakes. He should grow some balls are fight for the spot on the team if not I believe we should sell him.

who is this young keeper from milan (?) we were looking at? donnarumma i think his name is. any good? 

who is this young keeper from milan (?) we were looking at? donnarumma i think his name is. any good?

this guy will be world class GK. He's 17 at 6'6", has huge potential. We should get him as soon as possible!

this guy will be world class GK. He's 17 at 6'6", has huge potential. We should get him as soon as possible!

 

He is already at his dream team, why would he leave?

A 17 year old  (6'6 or 12'6) as first choice GK for Chelsea? That's not happening, even at Villa.

Edited April 11, 201610 yr by icecoolguy22

this guy will be world class GK. He's 17 at 6'6", has huge potential. We should get him as soon as possible!

 

So a top class keeper who has been nothing short of spectacular for all of his career apart from this one season should be rid off, but we should instead rely on a 17 year old who has done nothing in his career and that too from an inferior league.

Edited April 11, 201610 yr by Orpington_Blue

this guy will be world class GK. He's 17 at 6'6", has huge potential. We should get him as soon as possible!

 

Weren't people saying the same about Courtois though? Hasn't he fulfilled those predictions too?

 

Is there a possibility that Donnarumma could have a poor season in his early-20s?

Agree. Begovic quite happily left a mid-table team to sit on the Champions bench behind one of the top goalkeepers in Europe. That's not the attitude you want in key players.

Courtois has had a bad season, just like De Gea did at the same point but United stuck with him.

You can see it that way but you can also say he wants to reach more and proof himself that he can be the number GK at Chelsea.

For me he cares more whats happening on the pitch than Tibo.

You can see it that way but you can also say he wants to reach more and proof himself that he can be the number GK at Chelsea.

For me he cares more whats happening on the pitch than Tibo.

 

That's a possibility, but he was dropped by Stoke at the end of last season and Butland came in for him so there's also the possibility that he saw the writing on the wall there. He joined a club where he was viewed as the back-up and immediately got matches due to injury and suspension.

 

The thing is that Courtois has done it at the very highest level and he has the potential to be the best in the world. Begovic simply doesn't and I don't quite get this feeling he cares more to be honest, but I've not really taken either to my heart yet like I did with other keepers. 

Near enough every player to a man in our first team has had a poor season so I'm not sure why the focus seems to be on Courtios to the extent it is on here.

If we are going to sell him on the basis of it (He done just fine last season so the nonsense that he had a poor season is ridiculous.) then we will need to sell about 10 players in the first team.

The boy is in his early years, has played at all levels and is regarded as one of the best goalkeepers in Europe at the mere age of 23/24.

If we do sell then we need to replace because Begovic while being a very good number 2 is not at the level a club wanting to be the best in Europe is not going to be enough. You would then need to go out and spend another 20 odd million to bring in a top GK and who would that be?

If he actually wants to go then that's another kettle of fish, however if he isn't actually pushing for a move we shouldn't be pushing him out the door.

Edited April 11, 201610 yr by Chelsbear

That's a possibility, but he was dropped by Stoke at the end of last season and Butland came in for him so there's also the possibility that he saw the writing on the wall there. He joined a club where he was viewed as the back-up and immediately got matches due to injury and suspension.

The thing is that Courtois has done it at the very highest level and he has the potential to be the best in the world. Begovic simply doesn't and I don't quite get this feeling he cares more to be honest, but I've not really taken either to my heart yet like I did with other keepers.

Ok, thats also a point. Didn't know that with Butland.

Edited April 11, 201610 yr by Nevamind

Could get donnarumma as our 2nd choice. Plenty of games through the season for him to get good game time.

Could get donnarumma as our 2nd choice. Plenty of games through the season for him to get good game time.

 

He's played more matches than Begovic has this season. And that's during a season when our 1st choice keeper was out for about three months.

Near enough every player to a man in our first team has had a poor season so I'm not sure why the focus seems to be on Courtios to the extent it is on here.

If we are going to sell him on the basis of it (He done just fine last season so the nonsense that he had a poor season is ridiculous.) then we will need to sell about 10 players in the first team.

The boy is in his early years, has played at all levels and is regarded as one of the best goalkeepers in Europe at the mere age of 23/24.

If we do sell then we need to replace because Begovic while being a very good number 2 is not at the level a club wanting to be the best in Europe is not going to be enough. You would then need to go out and spend another 20 odd million to bring in a top GK and who would that be?

If he actually wants to go then that's another kettle of fish, however if he isn't actually pushing for a move we shouldn't be pushing him out the door.

Agree with this 100% and it's the same reason I'm hoping we keep hazard. If we were going to sell all the underperformed players from this season, we may as well kept mourinho. If conte can motivate courtois, Costa, and hazard to play at their best we will be challenging for trophies again next season. We would all love to have a squad of players that are all chelsea fans, never say a word wrong in the press, and give 100% every minute of every game, but those type of players are fast becoming a dying breed. I wouldn't want us to lower the quality of our squad, just to have 11 try hards on the pitch. We have some very good players in the squad, conte needs to find the right balance and get everyone pushing in the right direction, rather than try and replace every player that has underperformed this season.

What do you think about next game, Courtois or Begovic? Begovic was massive against them earlier this season, but that doesn't mean he'll be massive again, nor does that mean Courtois won't be as good as Begovic was earlier.

What do you think about next game, Courtois or Begovic? Begovic was massive against them earlier this season, but that doesn't mean he'll be massive again, nor does that mean Courtois won't be as good as Begovic was earlier.

I'd play courtois.

He is already at his dream team, why would he leave?

Conte.