Date: 27th June 2014 at 1:22pm
Written by:

By Clayton Beerman 

Let me start by telling you a story. On May 17 2012 I was with, amongst others, the Chelsea Historian Mr Rick Glanvill at Lords 2 days before the Champions League final. We were discussing Munich and the apparently insurmountable challenge that Chelsea faced. As always I was swept along by Rick’s positive outlook to all things Chelsea. When I looked for comfort for the challenge to come he said to me, we have got a great chance because we have Chelsea’s best ever left back , best ever midfielder , best ever centre forward and best ever goalkeeper all playing. Oh how profound Mr G.

All four had magnificent games and probably our goalkeeper ultimately won the cup with the big ears with his performance against the penalties but also during the game. He was huge that night a giant amongst men.

One thing bothered me, the greatest ever Chelsea goalkeeper? My all-time Chelsea hero is Peter Bonetti. The thought of him not being the best hurts me deeply but being dispassionate about it even I have to admit there has been no one better than Petr in terms of medals, caps and consistency and ability.

He is however one of the most unsung of our players. He goes about his business without fuss. He never complains, has to the best of my knowledge never spoken out during the huge managerial upheaval which has taken place during his time at the club and appears to be the consummate professional. So why does it appear that some are apparently so keen to see him out the door?

Let’s start at the beginning. He was purchased from Rennes close season. Not clear who bought him but he seemed to be purchased by possibly Kenyon so he together with Arjen Robben were here when Jose arrived. Quite helpful when moulding a championship winning team although we still had the magnificent Carlo Cudicini (one of the only players I can’t hate for going to “them”).  He cost a paltry £7 million which was perhaps a lot to pay for a young goalkeeper at the time. Now however it is up there in value for money with Frank Lampard.

He and the rest of the back four were magnificent in his first season. A mere 15 (yes 15) league goals conceded in that first season. His displays were calm and assured. It was the start of many great seasons.Petr Cech

In his second season however he sustained a potentially life threatening injury perpetrated by a Steven Hunt and yes that is rhyming slang. The appalling challenge, followed by the subsequent assault on Carlo meant we had John Terry in goal for the last 10 minutes that day at Reading. The loss of Petr did not cost us the title but it is difficult to know what ultimately it cost him.

Since his return he has worn his now distinctive protective head gear. How much that has affected his performances we will never know. You have to think when he first returned from the injury it had to have mentally affected him when coming for 50/50 challenges. Wearing the cap may have had some peripheral effect on his sight. It is therefore remarkable to think what he has then gone on to achieve.

Like Frank he is not flash. When the best keepers in the world are mentioned he doesn’t get lauded like others but for years, apart from perhaps Buffon there is no one else I would rather have seen between the sticks. How many keepers could have made the save that he made against Andy Carroll in the cup final or the save against Hernandez a few years back, again in the cup?  I was lucky enough to be at both games and still don’t know how he kept the ball out.

With all the other heroics of Munich people tend not to mention that in Barcelona Petr was magnificent. He did as much during our cup run to win that trophy as anyone Didier included. One final save I’d like to mention. Whilst Frank was rightly lauded for his heroics in Bolton, I had forgotten that when we were 1-0 up Petr had made a brilliant save to his right from a header from a corner to keep us in the lead, if that had gone in who knows what would have happened that day.

In addition Petr has had numerous clean sheets a club record circa 220+ and counting and he has the record for the least amount of appearances to 100 clean sheets in the Premier League. He’s won various other awards such as the Golden Glove on 3 occasions. It’s also difficult to underestimate the calm he has brought to the defence in the last 10 years

I’m not for one moment suggesting he is perfect. At the beginning of this season he was not convincing with his lowest ebb being in my opinion PSG away. Personally I think he should command his box more. It may be with the dominant centre halves we have had he has not had to come for crosses but I think we have conceded too many goals from corners because at times he has remained in his 6 yard box. That however is my only real gripe in 10 years and this may also have been a tactical requirement. I will never know.

One thing however baffles me. He’s been at Chelsea 10 years he is one of our all-time greats and yet there is no song for him and very little “recognition”. A certain number 9 has had his name sung from the rafters since he came having done very little to deserve it. Even Samuel Eto’o had a song but not Petr. It really hit home when we played Sparta Prague recently. At the home leg as Petr approached the away end to a man/woman and child they stood and applauded a national hero. A 100 plus cap man an international icon. Yet when Petr approaches the Shed or the Matthew Harding we barely look up from what we are doing. Familiarity breeds contempt?

Petr Cech (Chelsea)As you can gather from my twitter moniker, I love keepers all of them from whatever club (excluding the team that play at WHL)   Have I seen anyone better than Petr, perhaps a handful, Banks, Bouffon, Zoff, and possibly Schmeichel  but in all his time at the club I have never looked at any other keeper , worldwide and thought I wish he was our keeper instead of Petr.

Yet we see the new kid on the block and its bye Petr. I am torn, Petr has still got at least 2 to 3 top class years left in him without doubt but I do not think we can afford to lose Courtois. Ideally get Courtois to sign a contract extension and let him stay at Athletico Madrid and let Petr have one more year. That it appears is not going to happen

A final thought, just think if Courtois is as good as he appears to be potentially Chelsea may enjoy 20 years with the 2 of best goalkeepers out there.

If he does go thank you Petr, you may not be the Cat but you are Petr the great.

Clayton Beerman

Follow Clayton on Twitter: @goalie59 

 

8 responses to “Petr the Great – Cech-ing out?”

  1. eleyele says:

    jose will be mad to let cech leave.

  2. Andrew Scarr says:

    Marvellous tribute my friend

  3. willson Mwewa says:

    Thank you petr cech

  4. Biola Waris Yusuf says:

    what an awesome & wonderful comment about the one & only grate Peter cech! thumbs up

  5. Buiti Mazizas says:

    Thanks Petr !
    We think it’,s the time leting him go, for look other club for joining.

    Buiti Mazizas

  6. Chooi says:

    Great article. Indeed if Courtois was willing to remain on loan, I don’t think anyone would be more than happy to keep Cech. Indeed if he leaves, we would be very fortunate to have an amazing replacement, who I hope in time will be as Legendary Chelsea player as Cech is.

  7. Goalie59 says:

    Thanks for the feedback

  8. jackodoi says:

    Is been a wonderfull keeper but he has to give young guy chance to prove himself coz the keeper he came and meet also give him a chanc …..well done chec