Imposter syndrome strikes | West Ham team member falling short

This was the start of the post-Fabianski era at West Ham. The forty year old had given seven years of great service to West Ham and we have all got used to him taking part in preseason: This was the first time since 2018 that West Ham had become a Fab-free zone.

The First half against Grasshoppers saw Areola complete with flowing locks patrol between the sticks. I realised I sounded like my Dad when I found myself harrumphing “I’m surprised he can see through that mop of hair”.( Main image) However, goal intact and no huge alarms in the first half.

Wes Foderingham however is second choice ‘keeper at the moment and if he gets onto the pitch in the Premier League, West Ham are in trouble. Only one goal conceded today but ‘clean sheet Wes’ isn’t fooling anyone: He’s a ‘training keeper’ who stepped back onto the pitch today and is not going to be a serious Premier League option: West Ham need a ‘keeper, an dthey need one in the next four weeks.

Which made todays news from Leicester City doubly relevant: West Ham have been on the trail of Leicester’s superb Mads Hermansen for weeks and the fact that the Foxes are linked with the signing of veteran keeper Asmir Begovic, more suited to the Championship and a likely replacement for Hermansen should a deal with West Ham or many of the other suitors materialise.

Leicester are strapped for cash following relegation and will be looking to cash in on Hermansen: Whether West Ham can negotiate a Todibo style loan-to-buy deal to delay paying most of the £20 million likely required is now looking more important than ever with just four weeks of preseason remaining.

Let us hope the deal comes off – heading into the Premier League with just Alphonse Areola as a front line keeper means the Hammers are one back strain away from disaster.