11 Aug 2026 21:10:34
Don't want to sound like a stuck record but I'm very surprised and disappointed that it looks like we won't be strengthening the goalkeeper position.
I get the Penders argument but he's 19 years old and unproven in the Premier League and will be back up for Sanchez anyway.
My gut feeling is Sanchez will start the season, give it 3 or 4 games and we will be wondering why he wasn't replaced.
11 Aug 2026 21:45:51
I agree, I think Sanchez will start as Alonso's No1. I hope he has a good season and proves a lot of supporters wrong.
11 Aug 2026 21:56:07
Swcfc, nothing wrong with being a stuck record if you're right. I just find it hard to believe that Alonso is comfortable with Sanchez as first choice. Thinking about it, over the last 20 years or so, when was the last time a club won the title with a dodgy keeper? Answers on a postcard.
11 Aug 2026 22:14:55
Let's hope it's 2027.
12 Aug 2026 08:03:33
Swcfc
The league has not started and I'm wondering why Sanchez has not been replaced, never mind 3 or 4 games in.
12 Aug 2026 08:19:27
I assume the reason we haven't signed a keeper is because the club believes Penders is the real deal and doesn't want to block his path to eventually becoming our No1.
Having said that, I still think Sanchez will start as Alonso's No1.
12 Aug 2026 10:17:41
Had thought that an interim solution would be to bring in a not young but v experienced keeper, so that Penders could be an understudy to him before taking over. But the problem is that keepers may reach the height of their powers in their mid-30s. Reminds me just how fortunate, or how well Chelsea had chosen, to have had Peter Cech until he was 33, having loaned out Courtois aged 20 to Atletico, then bringing him back after he had gained the nickname The Wall there to take over from Petr.
If we could get an early to mid-30s keeper for a couple of v seasons and loan Penders to a top club, that might be one way forward.
Otherwise, we will have to hope Penders becomes the real deal as early as Cech and Courtois did. Cech was only 21 when we signed him, of course, but he was already a Czechoslovakian international and had broken the Czech Premier League record for clean sheets.
Expect, though, that Tom is right and that Sanchez will start the season unless there is a last minute Costa arrival!
12 Aug 2026 10:59:14
JBS, I would Costa, but I gave up on that some time ago.
I only rate two Premiership keepers, and I can't say I have seen any experienced keeper (over 30) in Europe that I rate and who is available.
12 Aug 2026 13:08:20
Personally, I would have got rid of Sanchez and brought in Ter Stegen on loan, and kept Penders to alternate. Ter Stegen has gone on loan to Ajax for the season.
12 Aug 2026 13:24:56
Omg, no. Once upon a time, he looked ok, but now he is bang average, and, in my opinion, a lot worse than Sanchez.
12 Aug 2026 19:19:08
Tom, you are entitled to your opinion, but there are very few keepers who are worse than Sanchez.
12 Aug 2026 20:19:16
Jimbo, as are you. In my opinion, the form of TS dropped off a cliff. I would be astonished if he has played more than a dozen games in the last two seasons.
Some might want someone different to Sanchez, but if TS was ever considered as his replacement, it just reinforces my opinion of the vast majority of European GKs.
12 Aug 2026 20:45:51
Tom, I was suggesting a stop gap for Penders. I don't know enough about European keepers, but I've seen enough of Sanchez to want to see the back of him - he is a liability.
12 Aug 2026 20:54:01
I'm not sure he could stop a gap, but I'm sure he couldn't stop a ball.
Stop gaps have to be given contracts and paid wages. If Sanchez doesn't step up to the plate, then put Penders in and give him a long run.
I'm sure Sanchez would be a better No2 than some of the rubbish keeps I've seen in the Premiership and Europe. I can't ever remember a worse batch of keepers in Europe. You have the good and then the crap!!
13 Aug 2026 07:52:31
Tom, I was suggesting a loan. You are right about keepers: all the best ones are nearing the end of their careers. I would just like to see a solid keeper, who suits Alonso's style and gives the defence confidence. That ain't Sanchez. Some of the looks Trev gave Sanchez last season say it all.
13 Aug 2026 08:05:01
I will let Alonso decide what keeper suits his so-called style, and my guess is he will start with the keeper you hate.
A loan for a keeper who is crap still makes him a crap keeper.
13 Aug 2026 09:25:50
Tom, I don't hate Sanchez; I don't know him. It's just that he is a crap keeper who will hold us back from reaching a higher level.
13 Aug 2026 10:09:47
I hope you are wrong.
13 Aug 2026 17:37:02
tbf with Sanchez hes not crap - he just seems to lack concentration. Just does some really stupid things randomly, and has done for his entire career - fine as a back up but shouldnt be number 1.
Penders, whilst I get the hype, is still very young to be a Premier League number 1. If he was to start, Id expect him to be similar to Trafford at the start of last season for City.