Peks
Looking at the circumstances, he certainly isn't! Mourinho dropped him for a reason obviously and I am suspecting form was a factor. Don't tell me how much of a legend and institution he is at Madrid as none of that matters to us.


So you have a player whose form that is 32 years old, getting on if Jose is to believed and is poisonous in the dressing room when not playing and you get a 13m offer. I'd take it.

ioag, as I alluded to on the Courtois article, I don't think it actually is a blessing have two keepers of that calibre.

I feel it causes more problems that it appears to solve. I know Adan is crap but you wouldn't have this problem if he was number 2.

Think about it, how many team actually have two keepers that are class? The backup keeper is always far far worse than the first choice.

Look what Liverpool have done with Riena.

Sounds silly to say really but I'd always have a backup keeper that is merely solid and nothing more.

Darren
It's like the Arsenal fans that think having a quality keeper provide competition for Chez would help him

wum, I've seen that mentioned and for me it depends on the quality of the keeper.

If the keeper is of the same or better standard then for Chez it can go two ways - it will give him a kick up the backside or completely knock his confidence.

If it gives him a boost then great, but then you have the issue of the other keeper wanting to play games. If it doesn't then it's detrimental to the team if he stays in goal or he's dropped and then you've got issues with one of your big players in the squad.

Who'd be a manager, eh?

wumpatrol - To me, this season is Szczesny's make or break season. His development has gone sideways somewhat over the last year. If he doesn't improve this season, i can see us making a move for Iker next summer

I like our new feeder club

Tell you what Darren, you probably wouldn't think that way if you had your starting keeper was injured and you had Iker to come off the bench in the CL final.

But tbh what concerns me most about the situation is what it means for the Spain team. There isn't a single keeper I'd trust over Iker to produce the goods when the stakes are as high as they can possibly get. Valdés has been in fantastic form, but I simply cannot bring myself round to trusting him and would be very edgy if I saw him starting for Spain next year in Brazil - presuming he doesn't fúck up against Finland, Georgia or the likes and we don't even make it!

I still believe that not keeping cleansheets by conceding poor goals and letting your team down is motivation enough for a keeper. It's either we replace him or we stick with him and I trust Arsene's judgement. I am disappointed with his progress though, his kicking and shot stopping have always been a problem for me and he hasn't grown in those aspects.

Yeah I know what you mean. I was talking more from a club perspective. That's just me, though.

For United we've always done better when we've had an undisputed number one and a solid backup.


You should just call up De Gea then, problem solved.

Right now I suppose I'd take De Gea, Lopez & Valdés.

And Almunia for England.

I may be biased but I think De Gea is currently the best Spanish keeper.

Not to say he deserves to start for Spain but he should at the very least be in the squad ahead of Reina.

Afternoon

Wumpatrol, Studied at Med School a while back now.

If Casillas is still 2nd choice in January, do you think a loan would be on the cards?

Not to say he deserves to start for Spain but he should at the very least be in the squad ahead of Reina.
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Fully agreed.


Uppy, yes I certainly do. I don't think he'll be ready to sit around because it would likely mean his not starting at the World Cup.

Ozil is relatively guilty for holding onto the ball for too long at times yeh?

As opposed to Bale who can't wait to get rid of it *cough* shoots on sight *cough*.

No Edin, I wouldn't say that.

Well what flaw does he have that I can use in ambitious hope that he will flop?

Lets be honest though Edin, Ozil would put any of your creative/midfielder players in his wake and just let them watch his alluring performances whilst he runs the show.

You can sign all these players worth £105M, but none of them are coming close to the quality Ozil has for less than half of that amount (£42.3M). He is a class above the rest at Spurs.

I actually hate Arsenal, they keep signing all the players I really like.

I like Arteta for years and then they signed him. Same with Cazorla. Now Ozil.

If they sign Banega next then I've had it!

No

Edin, he's knackered after 60 mins.

My no was directed to LRF.

I do agree in part DTKF, I loved Arteta.

His famed vision is a myth. He's actually blind as a bat and wouldn't even see the ball if it wasn't for his contact lenses.

Ozil and his sheit fitness will never make it in the PL

I actually hate Arsenal, they keep signing all the players I really like.
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More of a reason to hate United than Arsenal...