25 Mar 2016 19:56:27
Saw an article by courtoise the other day which was the first time I had heard anyone attribute our shocking season to a particularly poor pre-season. However the more I read the more it seemed to answer a few questions. One of which was poor early form, which he seemed to put down to poor early season fitness.
I must admit I think this was the worst pre-season I had seen for years. So hopefully when Conte comes in he will address this and hopefully we can get off to a decent tart leading to a much better season.
{Ed018's Note - I was worried when the New York Red Bulls youth team beat Chelsea last summer. It was passed off as preseason amongst my friends who support Chelsea but it certainly set the tone for the season}
26 Mar 2016 08:31:30
Right you are, Ed. That game was bloody awful to watch. Our fullbacks were getting skinned by their 18 year old winger (he might've even been only 17). As you said, it set the tone for our horrible start to the season.
I don't like the fact that we're going back to the States for our preseason in the summer, as it's a short one with the Euros. Even Conte is at the Euros, so I don't like the decision to go that far. I would've preferred it if we stayed in Europe like we did before our title winning season.
{Ed018's Note - it would've been better to stay in Europe for sure. Either way there is a lot of work to do this summer}
26 Mar 2016 12:28:59
Hyperthetical question here with Courtois recents comments if he were to leave who would you like to see in his place? Could be a summer of big overhaul this year which we need in my case would love to see a new English spine of the team bought or developed from the youths as I believe the next couple of years we will be rebuilding what does anyone else think?
26 Mar 2016 13:13:46
If courtois leaves, we should go and sign butland. The boy is class.
26 Mar 2016 14:01:01
To be honest having read comments attributed to courtoise. Seems to me he needs to try a loyalty pill. He wasn't moaning when we won the league. We have a bad season and suddenly he is hinting at hitting the eject button. To be fare it's not only the defenders who have been poor, courtoise has been poor and has been to blame for goals conceded in big games.
Imo like other players, hazard and Costa who want to go, let him and them go. Instead of punting around for a keeper go with begovic, who unlike other keepers is not heading for the exit after a year as cover. He's done well so give him the shirt.
26 Mar 2016 14:14:09
Don't let Courtois leave. He's an astonishing talent. He hasn't returned to his pre-injury level, but we all know he can get there again. There's no keeper I'd rather have than him right now. He's young and already world class.
26 Mar 2016 16:05:06
Jackson even Neur? This guy is like shoulders above everyone else.
26 Mar 2016 16:52:23
Yeah but Courtois is still so so young for a keeper. Plus, I didn't consider Neuer as he's not going to leave Bayern any time soon :-P
German superstar starting for the biggest German club. He's not going anywhere.
26 Mar 2016 16:57:50
Loyalty is something extremely important when it comes to the club. Even players who are not regular starters and they're loyal to the club are important because that's one of the most important things influencing atmosphere within squad. If you have bad atmosphere in the squad you cannot succeed.
26 Mar 2016 17:01:01
Yes he is going to be like Oliver Kahn (probably best keeper ever with Lev Yashin) . But comments from Courtois aren't the ones we would like to hear from our players.
26 Mar 2016 19:44:03
Really Jackson? Better than Neuer? Better than De Gea? Dare I say, better than Cech? Possibly not even in the top 5 keepers in the Premier league this Season. I have always thought he never really wanted to come back to us and selling Cech was a mistake. I guarantee he wants out in the Summer and we should go for Butland.
26 Mar 2016 19:44:03
Really Jackson? Better than Neuer? Better than De Gea? Dare I say, better than Cech? Possibly not even in the top 5 keepers in the Premier league this Season. I have always thought he never really wanted to come back to us and selling Cech was a mistake. I guarantee he wants out in the Summer and we should go for Butland.
26 Mar 2016 21:55:35
I agree with G8 I also never felt Courtois wanted to return, he was too settled and at some stage he would want to go back. I like the fact he comes for crosses something Cech did not do BUT he is nowhere as good as Cech at shot stopping and I do not think he has been any better than Begovic who is worth a chance with a decent defence in front of him. What concerned me with Courtois comments is the fact professional footballs should be fit on their pre-season return although not match fit and both Costa and Hazard admitted and had it pointed out that they were very unfit. If we are going to draw a line under this season ANYONE not content as they should be, need to be moved on.
30 Mar 2016 14:53:05
Take the Spanish money for Courtois and spend half of it on Butland.
{Ed002's Note - Butland is not moving.}