This week should never have become a narrative of two tough away fixtures becoming ‘must win’, but with West Ham United kissing goodbye to six points at London Stadium in the last seven days, there’s now an urgency to try and claw them back.
Cardiff City on Wednesday and Blackburn Rovers on Saturday will offer stern tests once again, with opponents now emboldened and egged on by the Hammers’ very well known first half frailties.
Both teams will more than likely launch a Millwall-style opening half hour storm which the Irons will have to withstand. They cannot say they haven’t been warned.
Hermansen’s numbers put him at the bottom of the Championship’s keepers – yet Nuno keeps selecting him regardless
And some of the numbers suggest there’s a very definite change required in West Ham’s choice of goal keeper to help them withstand the home team first half surges. Thanks towesthamworldfor the numbers that make grim reading:
“Across 13 Championship appearances this season, FBref records Hermansen as having faced 43 shots on target, conceding 18 goals and saving 58.1% of the efforts he has faced. Other data paints a similarly uncomfortable picture.
FotMob currently records Hermansen at -2.23 goals prevented, meaning its post-shot model estimates he has conceded more than two goals above what would ordinarily be expected from the quality of shots he has faced. His save percentage also compares poorly with much of the division.
Statz currently places him 22nd among 26 qualifying Championship goalkeepers, with its own calculation putting him fractionally below 60%.”
The alternative, Alphonse Areola, hardly offers a perfect option but those numbers speak of a goal keeper not fit for the Championship, let alone the Premier League whence he came as West Ham were relegated with the Dane in possession of the shirt.
Doing nothing, and simply accepting poor performance, is not something Nuno seems to accept elsewhere on the pitch with his endless chopping and changing meaning he’s not fielded the same line up once this season: Apart from the goal keeping position, in which Nuno appears to have developed something of a blind spot.
From the old Bobby Moore Upper to the Billy Bonds' stand these days - I've been watching since '03 and a supporter since about 1970..
Favourite player - Dean Ashton: Curse you Shaun Wright-Phillips.
I still watch YouTube repeats of the Cup Final of 2006 hoping in vain that Shaka Hislop grows another six inches and stops Steven Gerrard's injury time equaliser.
Can tell I'm getting old knowing I watched both Mark Noble's debut and his last game at West Ham.
Pulling on a Claret and Blue replica shirt still makes me feel the same butterflies as when I was seven years old.
Magic.
Why have no choice playing Hermansen. Areola isn’t match fit and hasn’t played a game for what feels like an eternity. As for Kilman, face the facts he has been our best defender this season so I can’t see either Nuno or any incoming manager wanting to drop him.
Hermansen and Kilman must go now . Both not good enough . Gonambeckis hasn’t put a foot wrong and he is a much more mobile and quicker than Kilman who is a liability. Hermansen is poor . Why we bought him is a mystery. Areola is a far superior shot stopper .
Nuno is too stubborn to admit he has got it wrong and must also be shown the door.COYI
Why have no choice playing Hermansen. Areola isn’t match fit and hasn’t played a game for what feels like an eternity. As for Kilman, face the facts he has been our best defender this season so I can’t see either Nuno or any incoming manager wanting to drop him.
First stop on the numbers situation should be to force a reset. Turn Mads off, leave for 10 seconds, then turn him on again.
Easy. Always works for me.
Hermansen and Kilman must go now . Both not good enough . Gonambeckis hasn’t put a foot wrong and he is a much more mobile and quicker than Kilman who is a liability. Hermansen is poor . Why we bought him is a mystery. Areola is a far superior shot stopper .
Nuno is too stubborn to admit he has got it wrong and must also be shown the door.COYI