Boost for Sullivan | Hammer’s return to form could save millions

Despite the scoreline, the West Ham loss to Brentford wasn’t all desperation, gloom and doom. Not quite. You have to search for it, but the better news for West Ham is there – one formerly out of favour and out of form player is back on-song.

And that isn’t even ‘just’ my opinion. The people at onefootball.com awarded West Ham’s ‘keeper Alphonse Areola an ‘eight’ when it came to their rankings on Saturday. And that shines in the gloom of some pretty poor numbers, Emerson Palmieri and Carlos Soler flatlining with 4/10’s each.

Not so long ago I was writing articles suggesting that the Hammers needed to go into the market for two goal keepers in the summer- Fabianski being, at 40, surely past his sell-by date: Under Lopetegui, Areola had lost his form and his confidence having been sidelined and undermined in the way only Julen Lopetegui could manage.

However – it does seem that France’s number three is firmly West Hams’ number one again, as a decent performance and a string of saves kept Brentford down to one goal.  No wild cause for celebration, of course,  but if the Hammers’ summer transfer budget can be focused on overhauling the terrible midfield without having to stretch to two Premier League quality goal keepers then that is to be welcomed.

Areola at thirty one should have a good few seasons in him as West Ham’s first choice goal keeper so the return of confidence he appears to be exhibiting is welcome – although clean sheets, which are the ultimate barometer of a keeper – and a defences’ ability – aren’t likely to start any day soon with Arsenal awaiting at the Emirates.

Surely the best we can hope for is a defeat by a small margin. Which is not much to look froward to now as a West Ham supporter. Eyes already look ahead to the ‘six pointer’ with Leicester, which will do much to determine supporters’ mindsets as the last tranche of fixtures unfold.

We could certainly do with a clean sheet against the Foxes at the end of February.