Plenty has already been written about Mads Hermansen, with transfer speculation continuing to swirl. Reports suggest Newcastle’s Nick Pope could be a target when the January window opens, but for now, West Ham’s goalkeeping situation remains firmly under the spotlight.
The numbers are difficult to ignore. A goalkeeper who isn’t making enough saves and is shipping goals at an alarming rate, 23 conceded in 15 games, is becoming a problem that cannot be overlooked.
One possible solution could be Alphonse Areola, who previously worked under Scott Parker at Fulham. There is also a potential opportunity for highly-rated youngster Finlay Herrick, who may be worth a closer look.
Areola or Herrick – arguably either would be the better choice
While Areola’s statistics last season hardly inspire confidence, conceding 37 goals in 20 appearances without recording a clean sheet, there is at least some context. By comparison, Hermansen managed seven clean sheets while conceding 28 goals in 18 matches.
The pair offer very different strengths and weaknesses! Areola is arguably the better shot-stopper but struggles when asked to play out from the back. Hermansen, meanwhile, has been preferred for his distribution and comfort in possession, yet questions remain over his save percentage and ability to keep the ball out of the net when it matters most.
Ex-Goalie Nuno failed to get the best out of Hermansen
Another concern is the absence of an established senior goalkeeping coach. That said, it’s worth remembering that the club’s former manager was a goalkeeper himself, while Rui Barbosa brought years of coaching and playing experience. Neither appeared able to significantly influence Hermansen’s development.
Currently, Billy Lepine, a former Dagenham & Redbridge youth player who has worked within the academy setup since 2008, occupies the role. Lukasz Fabianski is also assisting on a part-time basis with the academy.
And perhaps that’s where the story takes an even stranger twist.
Cast your mind back to 4th December 2024, when West Ham travelled to the King Power Stadium. Leicester won 3-1, ending a six-game winless run. On that night, West Ham peppered the Leicester goal with 31 shots, the highest number they had ever recorded in a Premier League match. Ten were on target and they dominated possession with 61%.
Standing between the posts for Leicester that evening?
None other than Mads Hermansen, who produced a performance worthy of Middle-earth, adopting Gandalf’s famous stance of “You shall not pass!” as he admirably defended his goal.
The previous year in the Championship he featured in the EFL team of the season. One of the most proactive ball playing keepers in the league, and completed 13 clean sheets.
If ever there was evidence of the “West Ham goalkeeper curse”, that might just be it.
The solution feels fairly straightforward. Bring Fabianski into the senior goalkeeping coaching setup, get Areola focused solely on football rather than the DJ decks, and bring in an experienced goalkeeper on loan in January to provide competition.
The ball is now firmly in Scott Parker’s court.
Now I am not saying Hermansen shouldn’t be relieved of his duties — he should be replaced.
However, last season’s Stats shout out what problems our Goalkeepers face ….. Areloa played his matches with Dinos and Dumbo, whoops sorry, Kilman in front if him, whilst tge majority of Hermansen’s matches had Dinos and Disasi.
Replace Kilman and whichever goalkeeper is in between the Hammers sticjs, will have improved Stats
Does Fabianski still have his boots and gloves? Seriously Herrick is much better at playing out from the back than the other two, he just seems lacking in height for me. Would he dominate his area in a way we have been calling out for this season?
Our “goalkeeper curse” is nothing compared to our “striker curse”.