As West Ham were busy winning the BoyleSports Cup against Lille at the London Stadium, the Hammers’ newest signing was settling in to assess his new team.
Mads Hermansen was announced shortly before the game, completing his £18m move from Leicester City. The 25-year-old joins on a five-year deal with an option for a further year, and if West Ham have judged this one right, the goalkeeper conundrum could be solved for the foreseeable future.
This is precisely why Hermansen was the better choice ahead of 29-year-old John Victor. The Danish stopper brings strong shot-stopping qualities but, crucially, is comfortable with the ball at his feet.
While I was delighted for Alphonse Areola to be the hero in West Ham’s penalty shoot-out win, the moment did feel symbolic—like a final showcase of what the Frenchman can do before Hermansen takes over.
Hermansen signs but Areola showed Potter what he can do
Because as good as Areola’s two saves were, his tendency to hoof the ball long was evident again against Lille—a costly habit for a side aiming to be possession-based.
It will be fascinating to see how quickly Graham Potter installs his new keeper into the starting XI, but most think it’s inevitable. As for Areola, he’s an outstanding No.2 to have—though I’m not sure he’ll see it that way.
Can’t help feeling a bit sorry for Areola since he spent all that time as no2 to Fabianski. He did at least get to play all the European games where we had a fantastic record but still couldn’t usurp fabianski in the league despite our poor league form. I think if he plays no2 this year he will be looking to move on at the end of the season.
Our biggest problem is the lack of pace in our midfield, we need 2 midfielders with energy and pace who can pick a pass, Rodriguez, ward prowse have to go they just aren’t Premier league quality, either aguerd or mavropanud or kilman have to go 1st 2 are error prone and kilman lacks pace, stop farting about get fernandez in and the young striker from metz and onyedika and we will be a, decent team.