The cries for Adrian to return as the Irons first choice keeper grow louder and given the uncertainty we continue to see from Darren Randolph that’s hardly surprising.
There were moments in the second half on Saturday, as Swansea mounted some pressure, when he looked more at sea than an ocean going liner.
Two crosses needed no more than a touch from a striker to find the net after he had failed to get within yards of the danger – it was embarrassing and shockingly anxious stuff in almost equal parts.
Before going any further let me say here and now that I believe Adrian should return but the stats he left behind him make horrific reading.
One can only hope that as Randolph’s form slips further and further, the Spaniard would grab his chance to prove himself ahead of contract talks this summer.
However, before we all jump on the Adrian bandwagon here are those stats:
In 13 appearances he conceded 20 goals whilst Randolph has seen 37 go past him in 20 games so there’s not much between them is there?
It’s not the most encouraging scenario in the world and one recalls mid season reports that Slaven Bilic wanted a top keeper. Hardly surprising given that only Bournemouth, Hull and Swansea have conceded more goals than us.
Ok, I know it’s not all down to the keeper but the figures remains unacceptable when one stopper is an international and the other had just broken into the Spanish squad before being dropped by his club.
The fact is every player has a form slump and Adrian had been a hero until the start of this season. He should surely be given a chance over the last handful of games of trying to repair his reputation.
And of course a big goals against total does not prove they are both rubbish keepers. The whole defensive set up has been a mess this year & has been a major cause of our problems.
Not much difference ? 17 BLOODY GOALS different thats almost 100% more
NEITHER. SIGN A NEW QUALITY KEEPER LIKE FRASER FORSTER or similar. The manager needs to make surprise phone calls to potential buy targets himself. Reminding any desired aquisition about things like the London city airport being close to Stratford on matchdays. Neither Adrian or Randolph are star quality. Look, sell yourselves. London used to known as the Capitol of the world & with the London City Airport so close, our club really is the only place to be. Got it?
It might sound silly but as soon as adrian became a father I worried his great form that got him into the spanish side would be affected and yes as soon as he became a father his form went so down hill that he became dropped from the team, people sometimes forget that football players have a real life outside of work and can be affected by it. Saying all that it could still be a coincedence? and I think too much.
Randolph has lost credit, regardless of whether it is because of a shaky defence or not. I would get Adrian back between the sticks. Next season, get another keeper. I have already given a long list (Sergio Rico, Yoel, Salvatore Sirigu, Mattia Perin, Timo Horn, the young Svilar, who plays for Anderlecht). Ideally, I would like Jan Oblak, but he won’t leave Atletico Madrid for West Ham.
And as striker, GET SERGIO LEON !!! very good with both feet, knows where the goal is, and upcoming player. Scored a ton for Elche, now scoring for Osasuna, who will get relegated, and Sergio Leon has a release clause of 2.5 million Euros. A BARGAIN !!!
Only one thing worse than putting up with this season- the thought of another transfer window! ‘West Ham been linked with sensational striker X, DS promises marquee striker deal to be sealed in the next ten days..’ Yawn yawn..shame we can’t have a transfer window a week long!
I fear that the uncertainty in defence is compounded by Randolph’s lack of authority in the 6 yard area. The defenders simply cannot rely on Randolph getting to the ball. Altho Randolph is only slightly shorther than Adrian, his physical presence seems far less. Added to that is his very poor distribution skills. Randolph was responsible for the 1st goal against Leicester at home last month and for the 1st goal v Arsenal last week; his performance v Swansea was frighteningly bad and a better team than Swansea would have taken advantage.
Adrian may not be the greatest keeper (and his performance v Watford was diabolical), it’s time to give him another chance, if only to see what we need in the next window.