Another strong season sees Petr Cech holding firm as one of the game's top keepers. His rating may not have increased, but 85 is a fair reflection of his status in world football and the fact he's been at his peak for a while. Cech was an integral part of a truly outstanding Blues defence which conceded ten goal fewer than champions Manchester City, using all his experience to marshall John Terry and Gary Cahill in front of him while making some exceptional saves along the way. He's one of those players recognised as one of the greats in his position, yet somehow never quite given enough credit for the work he does in giving his club a sense of safety in knowing they've got a goalkeeping colossus behind them. Manuel Neuer may have taken over in so far as being many people's first choice as the top goalkeeper in the world, but Cech deserves a huge amount of credit not only for his immense talent but also his loyalty, having stuck with Chelsea through thick and thin since joining in 2004 and taking over from Carlo Cudicini. That may not have affected his FIFA rating directly, but it has allowed him to develop in a stable, positive environment under the guidance of coach Christophe Lollichon. If Cech does indeed leave this summer, as has been heavily rumoured, it will be interesting to see whether his rating holds strong for another year when he's needing to organise an unfamiliar defence and without the benefit of a decade's understanding with his captain, John Terry, in front of him.
28-year old English writer with a borderline obsessive passion for films, videogames, Chelsea FC, incomprehensible words and indefensible puns. Follow me on Twitter if you like infrequent outbursts of absolute drivel.
