A few more outlets are now starting to report that new manager Mauricio Pochettino, or more his goalkeeper coach, are willing to keep Kepa Arrizabalaga as the Chelsea number one going into next season.
For me, when you see that sentence, it really is beyond belief that anyone is even thinking that is a good idea. I always try to be as balanced as possible, but there is no way I can back a decision like that which to me, is quite frankly just stupid. That’s the bottom line. Whilst I can understand why this might happen or is being considered, because I always try and see things from both sides if I can, I still cannot hide my thoughts here that this would be a ludicrous decision.
If Chelsea want to start pushing towards the top of the league again, then I am afraid that a goalkeeper of Kepa’s standard can simply NOT be number one. Do people realise just how important the goalkeeper position really is? It’s essential that you get this right, as essential as a defensive midfielder, and as essential as a striker. It’s the spine of the team. Get this wrong, and it could all go downhill again. I’m very passionate about that fact, especially as we are still seemingly buying all young players once again without any experience (so far at least based on links).
I’m not even a Kepa hater, and I’ve actually been a defender of Kepa last season. I think he’s made some pretty big saves and hasn’t even been that bad – I also appreciate that he’s never moaned about not playing and has just kept his head down and worked. But, the amount of long-range shots that he has let in that any other goalkeeper with a better reach would have saved, is where he falls down.
I don’t need any stats to tell me this, I’ve literally seen it numerous times with my own eyes. And the fact is, if we had a taller goalkeeper, they would have been able to reach many of those shots. Yes Kepa has also made some good saves from close range, but we need a keeper who is making those saves from close range, AND from far out.
Kepa for me, I’ve always been open to him staying for backup, but there is no way we should be contemplating going into another season with him as our number one stopper. We want to improve, right? So then improve in our KEY positions.
Now the debate I’ve seen with people defending this, IF it happens, is some fans are understanding of it if it means we are either spending more on our outfield priorities, or that there simply isn’t a suitable number one available on the market this summer – probably a bit of both. I get that, but I really don’t agree. I’m never going to be accepting of this decision IF it happens, It would be a backward step and not a forward step.
Surely, SURELY we can find a suitable number one this summer? That’s what we have scouts, data, and recruitment guys for, no?
Final word, go and get me a taller goalkeeper, PLEASE!
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