The Goalkeeper Problem at Chelsea

Chelsea brought Martínez in to solve a problem, but in doing so, they created another one. 

So far, he simply hasn’t convinced. His reactions look slow, he seems slow getting down to shots, his distribution has been poor, and worst of all, his command of crosses has been abysmal. For Hull’s second goal, he has to take the blame. That is exactly the sort of situation you expect an experienced Chelsea goalkeeper to deal with.

We’ve already seen that Penders has enormous potential and can make outstanding saves. But we’ve also seen one obvious weakness in his game: dealing with crosses and commanding his area. So who is he supposed to learn from? I thought the whole point of bringing in an experienced goalkeeper was to give Chelsea a reliable number one for a few years while Penders develops behind him. The senior keeper plays, brings stability and experience, and helps Penders learn the finer details of the position. Then, when the time is right, Penders takes over. But if Martínez himself looks uncomfortable under crosses, how is he supposed to help Penders improve in exactly the area where the youngster needs the most guidance?

Martínez is, in my opinion, doing no better than a Robert Sánchez in form. Maybe Martínez is more experienced; maybe he’s better suited to help Penders, but he isn’t showing it right now.