09 Aug 2026 08:58:28
Be interesting to see how the fringe get on today, I'm guessing Penders starts in goal. A chance for him to stake his claim as our number 1.
09 Aug 2026 11:16:52
Penders being at our club is one of the reasons I can't see us signing Costa. I don't think the club wants to be seen as blocking this lad's path to the No1 spot. Having said that, I still think Sanchez will start the season as Alonso's No1.
09 Aug 2026 11:31:37
I think you are correct, Tom. If we go for Costa or another top keeper, then Penders will leave and will potentially join a very long list of youngsters the club let go. Sanchez is far better than what some people make out.
09 Aug 2026 11:44:02
In what way, K?
09 Aug 2026 11:58:17
In my opinion, Sanchez is a good shot stopper. It's when he dithers looking for the clever pass that I get anxious, but I guess that is what's required in modern football.
09 Aug 2026 14:12:53
What about commanding his box, Tom?
09 Aug 2026 14:58:55
Bill, given the current rules about rugby being allowed in the penalty box, I would suggest that most teams and keepers struggle to command their own box.
09 Aug 2026 17:24:07
People say Sanchez is a good shot stopper. He is okay but nothing special. Apart from his two left feet, he has poor positional sense and flaps around like a dying pigeon. As a PL keeper, he is a 4/10. I hope Penders lives up to the hype for our sake.
09 Aug 2026 17:33:04
No Penders hype from me. I have only seen him play twice, and he was just ok.
As I think Sanchez will start as our No1, I hope he proves some fans wrong and becomes undroppable.
09 Aug 2026 18:01:17
Tom, I wasn't suggesting hype from this site, but from the media suggesting the club believes he will be a top-class keeper, the new Courtois, blah blah. I've never seen him play, so I can't comment.
09 Aug 2026 18:02:36
I hope I win the lottery.
09 Aug 2026 18:38:54
It's not about hope, it's about wanting a player to prove us fans who may be negative towards a player wrong.
I certainly have prejudiced opinions about players, but I want to be proved wrong, not right.
Penders is 6ft 7ins and Belgian. That's about as far as any similarity to Courtois goes, as far as I'm concerned.
09 Aug 2026 18:48:39
Sanchez has had plenty of time to prove us wrong.
09 Aug 2026 18:57:16
I personally hope he proves fans wrong next season. I have zero interest in my biased opinions about players proving me right.