2 hours ago, ForeverCarefree said:

I think Kepa has done really well in Mendy's absence.

His confidence no longer looks completely shot and it's good to see that he's providing decent competition for Mendy. 

I agree apart from the competition bit. Fair play to him for recovering from his 19/20 horror's and becoming a reliable back up but he's not displacing Edou anytime soon.

22 minutes ago, Argo said:

I agree apart from the competition bit. Fair play to him for recovering from his 19/20 horror's and becoming a reliable back up but he's not displacing Edou anytime soon.

It might get a few other clubs looking at him for the no.1 keeper though. He’s wasting his career sitting on the bench although it’s good for us!

Hes been very reliable all season, and especially done well in this month without Mendy. Long may it continue. 

 

Another important penalty kick saved by him today.

Kepa deserves praise for the way he has performed in the absence of Mendy. Maybe he has now matured a little but the time in the background has improved him. The penalty save we have come to expect but there was a good save late in the second half too.

Amazing what a bit of confidence does, and the penalty save will only add to that.  I still think he should leave to be first choice elsewhere as I can't see him displacing Mendy.  But he is more than a capable second choice for us, and its been nice to watch him recover his confidence and remind us all what he can do. 

Unlike a certain other record signing my issues with him were only ever based on the pitch.

If he decides to find a new club in the summer he'll leave with fond memories despite everything.

Edited February 5, 20224 yr by Argo

On 24/01/2022 at 11:48, Munkworth said:

It might get a few other clubs looking at him for the no.1 keeper though. He’s wasting his career sitting on the bench although it’s good for us!

 

15 minutes ago, PhilH930 said:

Amazing what a bit of confidence does, and the penalty save will only add to that.  I still think he should leave to be first choice elsewhere as I can't see him displacing Mendy.  But he is more than a capable second choice for us, and its been nice to watch him recover his confidence and remind us all what he can do. 

Agree with this, he's definitely shown improvement, but Mendy still certainly first choice, so could be good to consider a sale for Kepa in the summer - could be best for everyone, and should be more interested buyers and his price should have improved too with recent performances.

If he leaves, he'll be leaving with his head held high imo. 

He's clearly not peak football goalkeeper material but he has won trophies 99% of footballers won't even get to touch in their playing career. 

Great saves today. 

 

 

It's quite frightening that this isn't the first time this season that we've come out of a match with the reaction 'thank goodness for Kepa, he's the competent and reliable one'.

Great man management job by Tuchel though, not only has he somehow played him into form (despite being a backup to someone totally undroppable) but he's also got him to buy into the completely made-up 'good at penalties' narrative. Then either as a direct result of that (or perhaps as a total fluke) it's actually become true!

Great one v one save today and the penalty save gave us the victory.

He's done well in Mendy's absence and I no longer worry when he plays like I did before.  He'll never be a top keeper IMO though and the reason for this is he just isn't big enough.  I think he will always be suspect to a long shot.  If he was 6'4"+, he would be a top keeper....

Agree with others, when he leaves, he can indeed hold his head high...

The cup final is really a catch 22.

Any other opponent (even City) I'll say play him because he's earned it, but if there's one team that really take advantage of his long shot weakness (the one part of his game Tuchel hasn't managed to erase) it's Liverpool.

I wonder what the long term plan is for Kepa. Not doubt they would listen to offers for him but in reality, we’re going to be making a huge loss on him and I don’t imagine Kepa will sit on the bench long term. What would be the most we could get? £30m?

1 hour ago, Argo said:

The cup final is really a catch 22.

Any other opponent (even City) I'll say play him because he's earned it, but if there's one team that really take advantage of his long shot weakness (the one part of his game Tuchel hasn't managed to erase) it's Liverpool.

We lost the FA cup final last year because of the difference in class in keepers. I find it incredible that anyone considers not playing their first choice keeper in a final. 

It's not a catch 22 to me. It's suicide. 

No one considers playing any other back up player in a cup final. It's just the goalkeeper. 

 

I would go one stage further, Mendy has had a few more mistakes in him of late, I would argue Kepa is in better form. However I can’t see Kepa replacing Mendy 

Fair play to Kepa for staying and fighting for his place 

the one against Valencia is incredible, one of the best penalty saves I’ve ever seen 

Kepa is by far the better keeper for penalties. I don’t think mendy has ever saved one for us yet. 
 

 

5 hours ago, bisright1 said:

We lost the FA cup final last year because of the difference in class in keepers. I find it incredible that anyone considers not playing their first choice keeper in a final. 

It's not a catch 22 to me. It's suicide. 

No one considers playing any other back up player in a cup final. It's just the goalkeeper. 

 

While I very much understand where you're coming from this isn't a thing exclusive to us infact Klopp has already said Kelleher will be starting the final for Liverpool.

I'm far from Kepa's number 1 fan but he is probably the biggest reason we've got to this final and if it was an outfield fringe player with a similar impact in the run we'd probably all agree he deserved to play.

2 hours ago, Argo said:

While I very much understand where you're coming from this isn't a thing exclusive to us infact Klopp has already said Kelleher will be starting the final for Liverpool.

I'm far from Kepa's number 1 fan but he is probably the biggest reason we've got to this final and if it was an outfield fringe player with a similar impact in the run we'd probably all agree he deserved to play.

The league cup is no more desirable to win for me now than it was when the ran began. 

Many posters were fine if we had lost that first shoot out so we would have less games to play. Kepa is a huge part of us reaching this final so deserves to play imo. If that means we lose by long shots, we lose. 

20 minutes ago, axman2526 said:

The league cup is no more desirable to win for me now than it was when the ran began. 

Many posters were fine if we had lost that first shoot out so we would have less games to play. Kepa is a huge part of us reaching this final so deserves to play imo. If that means we lose by long shots, we lose. 

I agree. Kepa should start in the League Cup Final. There will be plenty of matches for both keepers with all the competitions that we are still involved in.

18 hours ago, axman2526 said:

The league cup is no more desirable to win for me now than it was when the ran began. 

Many posters were fine if we had lost that first shoot out so we would have less games to play. Kepa is a huge part of us reaching this final so deserves to play imo. If that means we lose by long shots, we lose. 

In truth, I agree with you, the league cup is fine for a second choice keeper to start, and we know from history how much Kepa absolutely loves playing in a League Cup final.

My bitterness remains though from the FA Cup final where we shouldn't have a second choice keeper start. No club should. It's demeaning to the fans. 

i think Kepa should play the club world cup games. He has been excellent, Mendy can come back in the league