“He’s Got The Yips” Mads Hermansen’s West Ham Nightmare Goes Beyond Bad Form

There is a phenomenon in sport known as the yips. It’s a condition which seems to affect previously capable sportsmen, psychologically blocking them from performing even the simplest of tasks. In darts, it can become difficult to release the dart from the hand, while in golf it can make putting almost impossible.

In essence, you’re frozen, seemingly unable to perform a task which should have become second nature. And it was during Blackburn Rovers’ second goal against West Ham yesterday, when I watched Mads Hermansen fail to dive, that I found myself wondering whether this goalkeeper has developed the footballing equivalent of the yips.

It wasn’t just that goal, of course. The first was equally concerning, when Ezra Mayers was beaten down the flank and the ball was crossed into the penalty area. The situation required some kind of intervention from Hermansen, but there was none. No punch, no parry, no save. Just indecision and a complete lack of intervention.

West Ham Goalkeeper’s Alarming Statistics

Unfortunately, this apparent hesitation has permeated Hermansen’s game recently and it’s hard not to conclude that he’s got the yips. There have been occasions when he has looked like little more than a bystander as goals have flown past him, sometimes appearing rooted to the spot or simply falling over rather than making a convincing attempt to save the ball.

The statistics are equally worrying. Based on the match figures we’ve examined, Hermansen has saved just 20% of the shots on target he has faced over West Ham’s last three Championship matches, conceding eight goals from ten attempts on target.

That’s an extraordinary return for a goalkeeper at any level, let alone one playing for a club with West Ham’s promotion ambitions. And while defenders must accept their share of the responsibility, the goalkeeper ultimately has to provide some resistance when opponents get a shot away.

The warning signs were already there before Cardiff, and his latest performance has only increased my concerns. I don’t know whether Hermansen is suffering from anything resembling the yips, but from watching him, I do wonder whether his confidence has deteriorated to the point where instinctive reactions are being replaced by hesitation.

Scott Parker Cannot Afford To Wait

This has become a huge problem, and one Scott Parker needs to address immediately. As things stand, I would have more confidence in either Alphonse Areola or Finlay Herrick than a goalkeeper who currently appears unable to make the saves West Ham desperately need.

Areola is an experienced international goalkeeper whom Parker already knows from their time together at Fulham. I thought he deserved his opportunity against Blackburn, and nothing I witnessed yesterday has changed my mind.

Hermansen’s performance was among the biggest disappointments in our Blackburn player ratings, and continuing to select him simply because he was previously considered first choice doesn’t make much sense when his performances have deteriorated so badly.

Clearly, there is a bigger issue to address in January, when West Ham will have another opportunity to examine their goalkeeping options. But we’ve only just entered November, and there are still two months and a hell of a lot of fixtures to negotiate before the transfer window opens.

That’s an awful lot of potential points to lose while waiting for a goalkeeper to rediscover his confidence. Parker has an international break in which to make some important decisions, and I would suggest the identity of his first-choice goalkeeper should be very near the top of that list.