Pepe Reina again

[bobbyfallon]

shouldnt winning the golden glove award ?? or whatever it is called for the last three years automatically put him above cech ???

[El Jefecito]

shouldnt winning the golden glove award ?? or whatever it is called for the last three years automatically put him above cech ???

The fact is that because of the way we play, Reina faces far far less shots than anyone else. That counts against him. You gotta think Reina's highlights clip is crap compared to for example James and Carson.

[Robbie-9-Fowler]

watched a game last night when Dudek was in goal.. the improvement we have made with Pepe is unreal. Took guts for Rafa to replace Jerzy after Istanbul too.

[bobbyfallon]

The fact is that because of the way we play, Reina faces far far less shots than anyone else. That counts against him. You gotta think Reina's highlights clip is crap compared to for example James and Carson.

i understand what you mean - my problem with this is that on top of having a good defense in front we dont see spectacular saves etc.

but pepe always seems to have such a good position on the edge of the box and is lightening quick that he is out like a shot too helping the defense and in turn imporving our goals conceded record.

positional sense and reading of the game is surely as important as shots saved ???

[Pablo]

This quote from Pepe yesterday said it all for me:

"This is what we look for - to defend properly and not concede too many chances."

He's talking about not even conceding chances let alone goals. Had a massive grin on my face whe I read that because its true, we are so well organised he barely even has to save a shot most games, and he is key to that organisation for me. He has developed into a beast of a keeper.

[El Jefecito]

i understand what you mean - my problem with this is that on top of having a good defense in front we dont see spectacular saves etc.

but pepe always seems to have such a good position on the edge of the box and is lightening quick that he is out like a shot too helping the defense and in turn imporving our goals conceded record.

positional sense and reading of the game is surely as important as shots saved ???

You are absolutely right, but the neanderthals in the press, who control the agenda, can only understand highlight clips. The 'ooohh, it's shiny' kind of mentality if you like.

[RedReet]

Barca must be kicking themselves. They could have dominated Europe for years with some of their recent teams if they Kept Pepe instead of that onion Valdes.

[bobbyfallon]

the other keepers i can concede on but the one that annoys me is cech - played in the same league against the same teams and pepe still gets called second best by the media.

they should watch a little closer at cech since his injury - he doesnt have the same command in the box that he used to.

if it were on saves alone then yes there are better 'shot stoppers' even given james should be mentioned also

but id love to know what boxes they tick when making decisions on best 'goal keeper'

great quote above pablo

[Tee]

Wouldn't swap Pepe with any other keeper in the world. Says it all for me really. A class act.

[pondus]

He has a beautiful hair cut as well.

Agree with everything said in this thread, he is ****ing ace our Pepe!

Met him at the hotel in Oslo where the team stayed this summer, and he is built like a rock I tell you, when he passed by us I grabbed him (no, no you dirty ones), it was his shoulder, and let's just say I'm glad I'm not an attacker when he comes rushing out!

Brick. Wall. Pepe. Destroys. Easy.

[Pablo]

He's put on most of that muscle since joining us and getting pushed about in his first few games. He is now extremely strong and takes no **** from anyone. Just one of the many improvements he has made since joining us.

[JonesLegend02]

Clemence was before my time so, for me, Pepe is the greatest.

Another thing that often gets ignored is his fantastic distribution, either from the hands or those trademark sideways kicks. He's the (near) perfect modern-day keeper.

[dww]

the other keepers i can concede on but the one that annoys me is cech - played in the same league against the same teams and pepe still gets called second best by the media.

they should watch a little closer at cech since his injury - he doesnt have the same command in the box that he used to.

if it were on saves alone then yes there are better 'shot stoppers' even given james should be mentioned also

but id love to know what boxes they tick when making decisions on best 'goal keeper'

great quote above pablo

To be fair the main thing is that Cech came in at a time when Chelsea were transformed into league winners and was superb. You will always be thought of more highly if you win the league. At the time he was a totally dominant keeper (albeit behind an exceptional team). Reina came in and was possibly as good but we weren't as good a team so he got less credit. Cech's reputation has continued despite the fact in the last year or so he has regressed and Reina has IMO improved. If we won a big tournament CL or PL I think he would become more widely heralded.

It also hasn't helped him that we have a reputation as a defensive team who it would be easy to be in goal for. Also the fact he doesn't make TV saves makes people go 'Wow' less.

[Pablo]

great quote above pablo

Only took me 2,600 and odd posts to manage one that met your high levels of expectation!

[bobbyfallon]

Only took me 2,600 and odd posts to manage one that met your high levels of expectation!

plagerism <-- right there