On 27/02/2023 at 05:39, nonotnowjim said:

I have been very critical of Mendy - and stand by that criticism.

But only fair and balanced to also call out Kepa. With him, I don’t feel like it is a list of explicit errors (like we saw Mendy constantly giving the ball away for example) - but instead, a general lack of ability. 

He simply doesn’t garner confidence, is too small and his hands/wrists are weak.

Agree that Enzo and Felix all contributed to the first goal conceded yesterday - but the shot was right at Kepa, and despite errors of others, he should have saved it. Weak hands meant he didn’t. 
 

After going some way to repair his confidence and reputation, it does feel like it will start getting knocked back again. 

It's interesting that we always say Kepa is too small (he's 189cm according to our club website, although elsewhere on internet you can find 186cm) and yet many are touting Brentford's David Raya as a replacement, and Raya is 183cm ! 

1 hour ago, Sexyfootball said:

It's interesting that we always say Kepa is too small (he's 189cm according to our club website, although elsewhere on internet you can find 186cm) and yet many are touting Brentford's David Raya as a replacement, and Raya is 183cm ! 

Sanchez is perfect, 6'6 and does everything Kepa does but better.

Fantastic performance yesterday 

Been really good this season, GK shouldn't be a priority for a while.

Kepa has really improved this season, so much as to say he is probably one of our key players, Many have commented on his improved anticipation, movement and positioning this season. However, I think it's time we moved on and cash on a saleable asset.

Another way to look at it is that Kepa needs to be at his absolute peak of confidence, positioning and mental ability just to be reasonably successful. The thing he can't change (his size) is far too big an obstacle for him to be a consistently good player.

An example of this is his excellent save from Marco Reus yesterday. Because of the above limitations, were Kepa even an inch off in his positioning, Reus scores with that free-kick. Those margins are way too fine for a player to be consistently at the top level. Some of the saves he's made this season have been spectacular, but some of the goals we've conceded equally would have been stopped by a larger presence.

Kepa isn't going to be practically perfect every game of every season, and his form will dip and trough. The problem is that those dips are much lower than other players in his position because of an issue he can't change. The same issues plague keepers like Iker Casillas and now Ederson, but both of whom had other parts to their game that make them exceptional (penalty saving and passing).

 

8 hours ago, RIP Mourinho said:

Been really good this season, GK shouldn't be a priority for a while.

I absolutely disagree. My opinion is the same as @SydneyChelsea.

Hopefully this purple patch can drum up interest from other team so we can sell him. 

Is Mendy still injured? He hasn't even made the bench lately.

2 minutes ago, Valerie said:

Is Mendy still injured? He hasn't even made the bench lately.

The Premier League injuries web site has a potential return date of 1st April for Mendy, although that might be optimistic.

https://www.premierinjuries.com/injury-table.php 

Weird thing is...Kepa is pretty good... Has anyone else noticed?

I thought all along he is a good keeper. When his confidence is down he can become a flapper.

He had some problems and his confidence was shot to pieces, this affected the defences confidence in the keeper behind them. Which further added to his loss of form and confidence, which did the same to the defence, a downward spiral.

The keeper and defence need to be a coherent unit, if defenders have confidence in the keeper, they are slightly more aggresive in tackling, as if they fail the keeper will stop it. Likewise this boosts the keepers confidence as less gets through and he trusts his mates. And playing REGULARLY together they learn each others thought and playing patterns. 

Kepa has grown into a proper keeper who now realises the 18 yard box is HIS territory. He commands his troops, this boosts their confidence as they know they can trust him. He is so obviously more vocal nowadays.

He has decent games .. but no where near an elite keeper.. he has cost us so many times even this season.. spurs and city immediately spring to mind and I am sure there are a couple of others too.

he has done well as a deputy but mendy iknfirm is a much better bet.

12 hours ago, Jangz said:

He has decent games .. but no where near an elite keeper.. he has cost us so many times even this season.. spurs and city immediately spring to mind and I am sure there are a couple of others too.

he has done well as a deputy but mendy iknfirm is a much better bet.

Mendy has let us down more trying to play out from the back. Single handedly lost us the CL tie against Madrid.

Kepa costs far fewer chances and goals than Mendy did towards the end of his run in the team. With mendy, there was routinely once or twice per game that he gave the ball away, and cost us a chance against (at best).

Kepa isnt perfect - but his leadership has been good, and he is a better fit, and all around gk than Mendy.

Crosses: Mendy

Leadership: Kepa

Distribution: Kepa

Shot stopping: Kepa

Penalties: Kepa

Long shots: Anyone but Kepa

7 minutes ago, Zeta said:

Long shots: Anyone but Kepa

Agreed - Mendy better at long shots. But still worse overall

25 minutes ago, nonotnowjim said:

Agreed - Mendy better at long shots. But still worse overall

You're saying that based on a subset of the worst of Mendy, and then comparing to the best of Kepa. Suits your argument I guess, but it's hardly objective, or free of revisionism on how good Mendy was for his first 60 odd games (including breaking the record for fewest goals conceded in a 13-match Champions League campaign and most clean sheets recorded in a single UCL campaign), plus over-reaction to a couple of bad Mendy mistakes. Arrizabalaga has been pretty average for most of his Chelsea career though, which is why both Lampard and Tuchel went with Mendy ahead of him.

No debate that Kepa is currently enjoying a purple patch of great form, and that it is quite heart-warming to see him resurrect his career. He's the right choice at the moment, and has probably done enough in Potter's eyes to retain his place even when Mendy has recovered from his recent injury.

1 minute ago, Sexyfootball said:

You're saying that based on a subset of the worst of Mendy, and then comparing to the best of Kepa. Suits your argument I guess, but it's hardly objective, or free of revisionism on how good Mendy was for his first 60 odd games (including breaking the record for fewest goals conceded in a 13-match Champions League campaign and most clean sheets recorded in a single UCL campaign), plus over-reaction to a couple of bad Mendy mistakes. Arrizabalaga has been pretty average for most of his Chelsea career though, which is why both Lampard and Tuchel went with Mendy ahead of him.

No debate that Kepa is currently enjoying a purple patch of great form, and that it is quite heart-warming to see him resurrect his career. He's the right choice at the moment, and has probably done enough in Potter's eyes to retain his place even when Mendy has recovered from his recent injury.

Mendy played a brilliant role as part of the wider defence first approach implemented by Tuchel and in the champions league run.

He has been mediocre (at best) for almost the entire 2nd season and cost us huge games.

we need a new goalkeeper and I think this his the best chance to sell him for a fair price 

36 minutes ago, nonotnowjim said:

Mendy played a brilliant role as part of the wider defence first approach implemented by Tuchel and in the champions league run.

He has been mediocre (at best) for almost the entire 2nd season and cost us huge games.

His save percentage was 4th best in the league last season ... not bad at all for a mediocre (at best) keeper !

 

He dropped off quick though didn’t he on the second part, so am guessing that was scored on what he did earlier?

Much like our current league position!

Anyway .. as this is the Kepa thread, I think we can praise Kepa without the need to denigrate Mendy.

Kepa was literally last in save percentage in 2019/20 (54.5%), and for him to turn that around to the extent that he is currently 1st in the PL in that metric (79.4%) for 22/23 is to his huge credit, and also that of the goalkeeping coaching staff.

If he can keep this level of performance up then we won't need a new keeper.

 

1 hour ago, nonotnowjim said:

Mendy played a brilliant role as part of the wider defence first approach

And in Lampard's back 4 and vibes. I don't think I need to bring up how Kepa did in the same system.

1 hour ago, Sexyfootball said:

Anyway .. as this is the Kepa thread, I think we can praise Kepa without the need to denigrate Mendy.

Kepa was literally last in save percentage in 2019/20 (54.5%), and for him to turn that around to the extent that he is currently 1st in the PL in that metric (79.4%) for 22/23 is to his huge credit, and also that of the goalkeeping coaching staff.

If he can keep this level of performance up then we won't need a new keeper.

 

We already paid his fee which is 3 great keepers in a normal world. 

Kepa is a good personality. And a great shot stopper.

Although I think Kepa has in fact improved the past few years, I think we shouldn't pass on Raya who has been the best keeper in the league past couple of seasons. 

Tbh GK is probably my least concern atm. Credit where its due for Kepa. 

On 10/03/2023 at 13:21, RIP Mourinho said:

Mendy has let us down more trying to play out from the back. Single handedly lost us the CL tie against Madrid.

Not quite true .. how about the save in the UCL win against Madrid in Madrid that ensured we take a one goal lead..

people have made mistakes in UCL final before .. terry got a stupid red and missed a crucial penalty...I talk about these because if this is Kepa’s best I am not impressed.. this is bare minimum Chelsea standard. there was no way in hell that spurs goal should have gotten in .. it was straight at him .. but if you compare Mendy’s best to Leap’s it’s a no contest..

I think Kepa is the best back-up keeper in the league .. but that’s about it for me.