So Cech or Leno??

[KSE Comedy Club]

What’s everyone’s thought’s on this situation then?

Cech to start the season and Leno to come in gradually or will he play some cup games until next season?
(Injury to Cech not withstanding)

[Özim]

If you buy a keeper for 20 odd million then he has to play and be number 1, if he isn't you have to ask yourself why we signed him as clearly he's not good enough.

If he doesn't play, signing him would have been an odd decision to say the least.

[I am invisible]

Leno. It’s going to be a steep learning curve for everyone in the squad for the few months anyway under the new coach, so might as well get him in asap...

[KSE Comedy Club]

I must admit, I would prefer to start Leno and blood him in for the future. Cech isn’t going to be any better than the last few years imo and I would like to see a fresh face between the sticks

[GP]

Cech will start.

[I am invisible]

I must admit, I would prefer to start Leno and blood him in for the future. Cech isn’t going to be any better than the last few years imo and I would like to see a fresh face between the sticks
Cech might be a bit better, if he’s being instructed to play the ball out from the back - gives our defenders another outlet when they’re under pressure, and with a proper shield in front of them too we might see a few less forced errors in general?

But he’s clearly not a long-term option for us, and with the rest of the defence undergoing an intensive period of retraining anyway, why not include the new keeper as part of it, so they can all grow together? I don’t think we’ve really got much to lose by chucking Leno straight in.

Cech will probably get the not tomorrow, though, if that’s what you were asking originally? Not what I would personally choose, but it’s what will probably happen.

[KSE Comedy Club]

Cech might be a bit better, if he’s being instructed to play the ball out from the back - gives our defenders another outlet when they’re under pressure, and with a proper shield in front of them too we might see a few less forced errors in general?

But he’s clearly not a long-term option for us, and with the rest of the defence undergoing an intensive period of retraining anyway, why not include the new keeper as part of it, so they can all grow together? I don’t think we’ve really got much to lose by chucking Leno straight in.

Cech will probably get the not tomorrow, though, if that’s what you were asking originally? Not what I would personally choose, but it’s what will probably happen.
Yeh I think Cech will start too.

I’m not sure it’s the right choice though and certainly wouldn’t be what I would go with.

[Penguin]

If you buy a keeper for 20 odd million then he has to play and be number 1, if he isn't you have to ask yourself why we signed him as clearly he's not good enough.

If he doesn't play, signing him would have been an odd decision to say the least.

It would be very odd. If you're not confident in your signings, you're probably making the wrong signings.

I say we go with Leno and give him a chance. At the very least we'll learn if he's good enough and if we'll need to dip back in the market next summer. We already know what we'll get from Cech.

[Marc Overmars]

I’d like to see Leno given a chance. Understudy keepers don’t cost 20m.

[I am invisible]

To be fair, Emery wouldn’t be the first coach to ease a new signing in, if we don’t see Leno straightaway - I just don’t see the point in this instance. It’s not like we’d be disrupting a well-oiled machine with an unpredictable new part, or risk derailing a title challenge, or anything like that. In fact we actually have a rare opportunity here to try new things out while the fans are braced for a period of transition, and keeping their expectations in check. Perfect time to do it, if you ask me...

[I am invisible]

Guess it comes back to Emery’s targets in this first year - if he’s been told that top 4 is a must, then I guess I can understand him opting for stability and continuity in these opening games against 2 (well, 1) of our main challengers (especially as he’s new to the club and the league himself)?

[Power n Glory]

We should start with Cech. Provides motivation for both players doing it that way. Healthy competition is needed. Cech will strive to keep his place in the starting line up and Leno will strive to take his spot.

If we start with Leno before he’s ready and he has a dodgy start, we're forced into a stick or twist situation. May have to drop the Leno early, which sets back his confidence even further and have to peddle back to a secure Petr Cech that knows his replacement isn't ready.

[Penguin]

We should start with Cech. Provides motivation for both players doing it that way. Healthy competition is needed. Cech will strive to keep his place in the starting line up and Leno will strive to take his spot.

If we start with Leno before he’s ready and he has a dodgy start, we're forced into a stick or twist situation. May have to drop the Leno early, which sets back his confidence even further and have to peddle back to a secure Petr Cech that knows his replacement isn't ready.

At what point do we drop Cech if he keeps churning out 7/10 performances, which we all know he is capable of? If he doesn't make any obvious mistakes do we keep him as first choice for the whole season?

I know Leno would get cup games but I'd like to see him on a more regular basis. If he can't overcome a dodgy start he's not the keeper we've been waiting for.

[Blink 1nce Quince 2wice]

We should start with Cech. Provides motivation for both players doing it that way. Healthy competition is needed. Cech will strive to keep his place in the starting line up and Leno will strive to take his spot.

If we start with Leno before he’s ready and he has a dodgy start, we're forced into a stick or twist situation. May have to drop the Leno early, which sets back his confidence even further and have to peddle back to a secure Petr Cech that knows his replacement isn't ready.

As you know, I think we should have lumped our money on a keeper we are convinced is top quality or kept our powder dry. However, Cech has looked remarkably reborn this preseason.....

Not sure if it is general renewal around the club, the exit of Peyton and the competition we've brought in for him, or a combination of those things, but he looks really up for it this season. I'd say that he should start....and if Emery thinks he looks better on merit, then Emery should start him ahead of Leno. We're trying to foster a culture of meritocracy after all.

We also know that at his best, he is a world class keeper, so if he can roll back the years....give him a chance to.

[Power n Glory]

As you know, I think we should have lumped our money on a keeper we are convinced is top quality or kept our powder dry. However, Cech has looked remarkably reborn this preseason.....

Not sure if it is general renewal around the club, the exit of Peyton and the competition we've brought in for him, or a combination of those things, but he looks really up for it this season. I'd say that he should start....and if Emery thinks he looks better on merit, then Emery should start him ahead of Leno. We're trying to foster a culture of meritocracy after all.

We also know that at his best, he is a world class keeper, so if he can roll back the years....give him a chance to.

Agree. We need competition between the players. Cech looks like a guy that has accepted the challenge. He was never guaranteed a starting place in the line up and despite buying a new keeper, Emery hasn't shown favoritism to Leno either. I was just reading some of Jack Wilshere's comments this morning and he really could have learned something from his situation. I hope all the players still with us that feel uncertain respond like Cech and up their game.

[Özim]

This is just weird no other club would spend 20 odd million for a keeper and then not give him the number 1 spot initially, again if he doesn't start we must think he's not good enough to oust a 36 years old. It's different if he played and didn't perform but to not start with him would be odd and I'd certainly questin why we signed him.

As someone said we should have paid up for a top keeper we had faith in if we weren't convinced with this guy, Cech was a calamity last season and a few meaningless friendlies can't change that.

You generally don't have competition for the number 1 jersey, th keeper is important when it comes to continuity and playing himself into form, chopping an changing doesn't work in this case, so if that's what we do I don't get it.

[Mac76]

We should start with Cech. Provides motivation for both players doing it that way. Healthy competition is needed. Cech will strive to keep his place in the starting line up and Leno will strive to take his spot.

If we start with Leno before he’s ready and he has a dodgy start, we're forced into a stick or twist situation. May have to drop the Leno early, which sets back his confidence even further and have to peddle back to a secure Petr Cech that knows his replacement isn't ready.

I reckon this is the way it'll go, but today will set the tone, if it is Leno that's a big kick in the balls for Cech - try and laugh that one off with yer Bayern mates Petr...