It is not often that West Ham fans appear unified over anything, after recent seasons of strife, division, disagreement and dispute with the Sullivan and Brady leadership, it feels as if ‘disharmony’ has been the default setting.
Not, it seems, about everything. There is one hot topic on which a huge majority of West Ham fans are in almost total agreement.
According to the NY Times’ fan survey, the biggest consensus was not for the approval of the new manager – although there is a pretty strong 77% majority of fans who responded who give the appointment of Scott Parker the thumbs up.
The biggest single factor on which most West Ham supporters agree is the choice of goalkeeper. According to the survey:
“Of the fans surveyed, an overwhelming 85.4 per cent believe Alphonse Areola should reclaim the No 1 jersey from Mads Hermansen.
Likeable yes, dependable no: 85% of West Ham fans want Hermansen out of the team
Interestingly, though, a sizeable 62 per cent of supporters believe the travelling contingent at Ewood Park were not right to boo Hermansen.”
Eighty five percent of fans have had enough of the Dane’s inept performances in between the sticks, with one fan driven to comment that West Ham’s goal would be better defended simply by hanging a green jersey on the cross bar rather than continuing to select the out of form Hermansen.
Of course the fly in the ointment is that Areola has been reported as ‘unfit’ – whether that means third choice Finlay Herrick comes into consideration – who can say- but it’d be a brave selection for Parker to leave his number one on the bench if Areola isn’t ready for the Preston North End fixture next weekend, however much it seems supporters want to see Hermansen out of the team.
Got to be a slow news day when you’re bigging up a poll from The Athletic… did they mention how many votes they got?
Hermansen might not be in great form but he’s also not the reason we’re leaking goals (second Blackburn goal excepted) which has more to do with the quality of chances we give to other teams which would ask a lot of most keepers – Areola included. The real issue is the lack of a CDM and some sub par defending by our full backs rather than Hermansen, but West Ham fans have always loved a scapegoat.
Areola may be a better shot stopper, but his all round game is weaker… and even whether he’s still a better shot stopper is up for debate given it’s over a year now since Nuno dropped him.
Maybe Parker will bring back Areola for the PNE game, but he’s had two chances to do that now and he hasn’t.
85.4% of some people in the Athletic might think Areola is the answer but that doesn’t mean they’re right.
Agree Keith, Herrick could be the answer right now, I’m sure Scott will tighten up the defence in front of our goalie, whoever he chooses, then not to long for a change in the window, just hope we get lots of points between now and Jan.
Sorry but I don’t agree with the Areola comment . I don’t think anyone is saying he is the future for Hammers. What we are saying is he is a better keeper than the current incumbent who hasn’t ever had a great game since the day he arrived. Areola is a good shot stopper and has a presence. Hermansen has nothing.
Better any goalie instead of Hermansen He should be 4th choice
My goodness how short their memories are. Areola played like he didn’t give a damn at times and was awful, punching when he should have saved. Refusing to kick forcing defenders to play out or kick themselves. No thank you. This high living DJ, is not for us surely. Herrick maybe young but at least he is committed.