Sorry but that is baloney.
You CANNOT have two No.1 GK's at your club.
Keepers are a different breed to outfield players. Both keepers have to be comfortable in their role(s) at the club. This is because more than any set of players at the club they work together the most in training, day in and day out.
The No.2 GK is such a difficult role at that you need a player that has the characteristics and attributes to fit in, provide good back up to the No.1, be able to work with him on a daily basis and to know and understand their role in the squad.
They also have to be reliable and dependable to come in if necessary and Jones has proven in big match situations (FA Cup semi against Everton) that he is more than capable of fulfilling this role.
You think Cech is going to stay at Chelsea? Chelsea made their decision in Courtois and will allow Cech to leave. They have Schwarzer then to back up Courtois.
Do Arsenal, City, Spurs, Man U have No.1's as back up? Do Barca or Real? Real had to sell Alves because they knew they couldn't have the same situation as last season with two No.1 GK's on their books. Bayern signed Reina as a No.2 because Reina ACCEPTED this unlike were he to remain here he wouldn't accept it.
Bascially what I am saying is that clubs have their No.1 and No.2 set in stone and have a No.2 that understands the nature of that role.
The No.2 should complement the No.1 at the club.
A friend of a friend is a goalkeeping coach at professional level (not in england) and when I ask him about having two No.1's instead of a No.1 and a No. 2 GK he told in detail why and I basically just wrote the jist of what he told me.
If you want to discuss Mignolet then that is another matter and certainly something I'd like to discuss however buying another No.1 - to compete and not replace him - will not work.
Where's 2 x No1s come from? Look at the amount of clubs this Summer who have strengthened their goalkeeping department by improving on, shall we call it, the challenger for the No1 shirt.
So because goalkeepers train together there has to be a clear hierarchy, absolutely no threat from one on the other's position and they have to be bridge partners to boot.
Why can't their be
real competition? It shouldn't hurt, if it does, then one of the keepers is at the wrong club.
Is Mignolet being pushed to perform? Hardly. Is that benefiting him or us? If it is, I'm not seeing it.
Yet again you oversimplify a point in order to offer the contrary viewpoint. You've no need to do it, mate. You can put together a perfectly good counter opinion without needing to oversimplify the original point you're arguing against.
You'd be happy with Jones coming in for a run of games? What about an extended period of injury? It happens. Straight red for upending someone for a penalty? 3 games. 9 points. Jones fills you with confidence?
Some of the examples you give are actually very good at illustrating my original concern. The gulf between Neuer and Reina isn't the same as between Mignolet and Jones, and the standards of the two in their respective hierarchical positions is higher than our pair.
Look at the new keeper at Real, alongside the existing one. Likewise Barca. Ditto Arsenal. All clubs that have purchased keepers this Summer. Add City to the list also.
We barely have 2 exactly equally matched players in any position, nevermind goalkeeper.
What's wrong with a goalkeeper having to maintain the required standard to keep his place? Why shouldn't he be looking over his shoulder. I accept your point about a number 2 understanding his role to a degree, but do you honestly think they have no desire to be no 1? That they're happy to be permanently below a glass ceiling irrespective of anything? If they were so accepting and meek they wouldn't have made it into the world of professional sport.
Apologies if I've distorted anything you said Edward, it was not my intention. As for your point about discussing whether Mignolet is the problem or the solution, it's a discussion that would be very interesting.
