it's time, he has convinced me. He should get a lot of credit. Except for the Man Utd game he has had a great season

On 01/12/2025 at 21:04, GarnachoCheese said:

This is best case as its far too soon for Penders to come back imo. He needs a couple of seasons minimum in a top league.

Penders in 2027 should be the long term plan at the earliest.

Courtois didn't join us for 3 seasons (1 at Genk + 2 at Atletico) and Penders is nowhere near that level.

6 hours ago, SydneyChelsea said:

Courtois didn't join us for 3 seasons (1 at Genk + 2 at Atletico) and Penders is nowhere near that level.

Exactly, we should be following the Courtois model with his development. Playing in goal is a lot different than outfield, there's no way a 20 year old should be starting for us.

2 hours ago, GarnachoCheese said:

Exactly, we should be following the Courtois model with his development. Playing in goal is a lot different than outfield, there's no way a 20 year old should be starting for us.

Peter chech was 21 when we signed him... we singed a 23 year old replacement in Kepa... it does happen that 20 year olds play in goal.

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2004/feb/10/newsstory.sport1

4 minutes ago, bluelightening said:

Peter chech was 21 when we signed him... we singed a 23 year old replacement in Kepa... it does happen that 20 year olds play in goal.

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2004/feb/10/newsstory.sport1

Petr Cech had 4 full seasons of experience under his belt at the time (28 apps for Blsany, 42 apps for Sparta Prague with a European campaign and 78 apps for Rennes in Ligue 1).

To date Penders is in his second full season in the mens game (43 apps).

On 01/12/2025 at 10:04, GarnachoCheese said:

This is best case as its far too soon for Penders to come back imo. He needs a couple of seasons minimum in a top league.

Penders in 2027 should be the long term plan at the earliest.

As mentioned here, he needs a couple of seasons in a top league like Cech had.

Kepa is a good example of what to avoid with a keeper.

3 minutes ago, GarnachoCheese said:

Petr Cech had 4 full seasons of experience under his belt at the time (28 apps for Blsany, 42 apps for Sparta Prague with a European campaign and 78 apps for Rennes in Ligue 1).

To date Penders is in his second full season in the mens game (43 apps).

As mentioned here, he needs a couple of seasons in a top league like Cech had.

Kepa is a good example of what to avoid with a keeper.

So it isnt about age but experience... got it.

He’s now level with Raya on clean sheets this season which is mind boggling because we have been pants defensively.

Edited December 14, 2025Dec 14 by El regreso

He’s developed into a very steady goalkeeper. He’ll never be in the world class bracket but certainly better than the likes of Kepa that we’ve put up with over the years.

I've always maintained, with a competent back line in front of him, and the licence to hoof it when needed, he is a good goalie. The pressure of a sh*t back line, and being told under no circumstances to go long, put undue pressure on him. I prefer my goalies to be first and foremost, good shot stoppers, if they're good with their feet that's a Brucie bonus.

We don't play out of the back near as much as we did earlier in the season. That alone has improved Bobby's performance a good amount.

On 03/12/2025 at 11:09, bluelightening said:

So it isnt about age but experience... got it.

The norm though in a single position competition is often the two go hand in hand

I still think he needs massive credit for getting his head down and sorting out his play! A lot of players would have taken the criticism and then got out asap or continued to meltdown even more! Big Rob got his sh*t together off the back of it and deserves praise where it's due!

1 hour ago, GarnachoCheese said:

He’s developed into a very steady goalkeeper. He’ll never be in the world class bracket but certainly better than the likes of Kepa that we’ve put up with over the years.

Very few are and there are more than enough world cup winners and European champions that are solid enough. This keeper is a really good shot stopper, has presence from corners, organises well and has a good log distance range with his feet. That's more than enough in the right system.

46 minutes ago, Scott said:

We don't play out of the back near as much as we did earlier in the season. That alone has improved Bobby's performance a good amount.

He will generally roll or throw out now to get us moving quickly, which is the opposite of what Maresca previously had him doing.

17 hours ago, WhiteWall said:

He will generally roll or throw out now to get us moving quickly, which is the opposite of what Maresca previously had him doing.

This. Plus it has to be hell for a GK playing behind constantly rotating CBs.

Hes been promoted to "the least of our worries, currently"....done well.

4 hours ago, dermott said:

This. Plus it has to be hell for a GK playing behind constantly rotating CBs.

Exactly give him a settled back four and he’s one of the best shot stoppers and commanders of the box in my opinion.

He’s got some of the best reflexes I have seen from our recent keepers.

Ask him like £land Pep did to play short even if the sky is falling and he would be easily one of the worst keepers across Europe.

Incredible that he is the least of our problems defensively. After these first two years with him never would have expected that...

That back 4 were dreadful. Let us down badly.

If Rosenior is going to insist that we play out from the back all the time, we would be better off recalling Penders and sending Jorgensen to Strasbourg

No matter how much he improves, he will always have games like today. He's fine for where we are now I guess, but he can't be in a team that is competing for the title.

Mind you that could very well mean that he's exactly where he should be, unfortunately.

1 hour ago, timetowaste said:

If Rosenior is going to insist that we play out from the back all the time, we would be better off recalling Penders and sending Jorgensen to Strasbourg

You'll regret saying that once you see Penders in goal for us. The guy is nowhere near ready. He won't get the time on the ball that he gets in France and in the Conference League. He's closer to a Jorgensen level goalkeeper than he is a Sanchez one.

33 minutes ago, Scott Harris said:

You'll regret saying that once you see Penders in goal for us. The guy is nowhere near ready. He won't get the time on the ball that he gets in France and in the Conference League. He's closer to a Jorgensen level goalkeeper than he is a Sanchez one.

If he is suspect, we can"t have him. No need for Sus Penders.

He has been great this season because he stopped playing out from the back. Not sure If Liam watched us before at all because if he did he should know this can’t work with Rob

1 hour ago, Scott Harris said:

You'll regret saying that once you see Penders in goal for us. The guy is nowhere near ready. He won't get the time on the ball that he gets in France and in the Conference League. He's closer to a Jorgensen level goalkeeper than he is a Sanchez one.

I'd say Teddy Sharman-Lowe from the academy is as good as any of the other young keepers on current form. He's enjoyed a decent loan with Bolton this season and is apparently being recalled. The academy has produced just as many decent players as we have signed since Clearlake took over. Thank goodness Roman left that in good shape, although Clearlake are probably going to destroy that too.

Should've kept Kepa!