First of all want to say, in light of the fact that Cech is most likely leaving this summer, that I wish to thank Cech for being a great servant to the club and an excellent goal keeper. His heroics in the PL and CL have been a key component to our trophy success in the last 10 years, and I feel keepers are oft overlooked in favour of outfield players....so thank you Petr for being great and I am sorry you will most likely be leaving. So....we turn to Cech's ultimate fate. Him being 33 in a few days and having only a year left on his contract means we will most likely get around £5m for him at most....but regardless, what do you think Cechs options will be and where will he end up. Personally I hope he goes abroad, as will most of us, I dont like seeing loved legends playing against us (Damn you Frank!! ) but what do you think will happen. In the PL he will most likely have a couple of suitors in Arsenal and Liverpool. Both need a new keeper and Cech will fit the bill perfectly for them, experienced, talented, plenty of PL experience, cheap. Could be he wants to stay in London so Arsenal may seem a likely candidate. He has two young children who he may want to keep at school in the UK. If he goes abroad, what clubs do we think will be in for him? I must admit I am not too savvy on European clubs which require a new keeper at this point in time...... Thoughts?
PSG perhaps abroad? Or even Real if De Gea stays. If he leaves I hope it is abroad for obvious reasons. But second the sentiment. Chelsea legend and our greatest keeper ever no question (sorry Bonetti fans!!).
Maybe United when De Gea joins Madrid? He would have to improve significantly on his foot work with all that go nowhere possession nonsense they insist on playing before humping it 70 yards.
I hadnt considered United because of De Gea, but yeah, if he leaves, then that would make signing Cech a no brainer. They would be hard pressed to find a keeper as good as Cech for that money, and would be an excellent short term replacement.
I'll always love him for his service to us. Hope he goes abroad but can see him at Arsenal as Jose will let him have his choice.
I prefer Courtouis as i think hes more commanding in the area but Cech is the better shotstopper.. However both are WC and cech has given us so much with his ability and even this year being a WC keeper and sitting out without mouthing off to the press. Seems like a real nice guy too. If he felt it was best to stay in london and switch to le arse or even the spuds i wouldnt begrudge him for being such a great servant. Mourinho is right in saying that for legends such as Cech they deserve to have an input into where they move next especially when its come to a situation where we are choosing to move a player on (in the sense that he wont get any games here)
Loved Bonetti who was one of my heroes as a kid but even I couldn't possibly argue with that. Cech simply streets ahead no debate. I recall thinking we had found the mustard with Carlo Cudicini but when the big man arrived ...... just WOW! He took goalkeeping to a whole new level at Chelsea. Did the Reading incident put him back a touch? In my opinion he did seem to lose a little composure, confidence and authority after that but was still amazing nonetheless. The concentration in his eyes throughout the Munich final penalty shootout will live with me forever.
I hope Cech is allowed to go where it is best for him, wherever that may be. He more than deserves that for his years of service and especially his loyalty. His demeanour this season is faultless in what must have been a bitter and difficult time. So if it's Arsenal, Liverpool, Utd, then so be it. Just hope he doesn't suddenly learn to kick to his own team mates from the area !!
In this day and age - that is never going to happen. Sub consciously we will root if he is sold to least indirect threat to us. That is how the professional world will also work. No gratitude or consideration for the services.
I think Mourinho has already come out and said Cech can go where he wants. If he wants to stay in England, then we should sell him. If he we dont, he will just sit out next season and go for free. That would be a very bitter end to his 10 years of great service, and I wouldnt want it to go that way. Personally i'd prefer he went to Liverpool if he is going to stay in England, but if he wants to stay here, Arsenal would be far less disruptive for him. He has, I believe, a 6 year old and an 8 year old kid, who are most likely at school in London. England will be the only home they have ever known, since they were born during his time at Chelsea. His family are settled here, so it looks like Arsenal. I may be wrong, he may choose to go abroad, I just have the feeling that he won't.
Apparantly, on the Arsenal board, they dont want Cech because Ospina AND Szceznznznznzy are "as good as Cech". Christ on a bike.......
Hopefully we can flog him to psg or monaco for a cool 10 million...if not then let him go to the arsenal , hes been great to us, has kids and plus...whats the worst that can happen?
Nah Surprisingly he called them out on it. I pointed out that even if Cech lost an arm, he would still be twice the keeper Ospina is
Jose said just recently then he doesn't want to sell to a rival and wants to keep him. I'd try and keep him for another season and let him leave on a free afterwards. Courtois seems to pick up a few minor injuries although maybe that's just playing it safe because we know how reliable Cech is to step up and play.
I think the Reading incident did effect him a little, perhaps in a commanding of his area kind of way. But off the top of my head, his 2 best saves for me were post that injury. The fa cup final v Liverpool (carroll) and the qtr final fa cup game at home to United a couple of years back (hernandez). He had no right to save those!! Also as you say, he was amazing on pens in that champions league run and final. Messi missed against him, saved Robbens and saved 2 in the shoot out (and went the right way for all 5!). His contribution in that final was just as important as Drogba's really.
