West Ham United shipped a whopping 74 goals in the Premier League last season, and goalkeeper Alphonse Areola received praise for being one of the better performers in the rearguard.
They are on course to record similarly egregious numbers this term. However, the France international is one of the main culprits this time around.
Areola’s goals-prevented number sits at an abysmal -4.56 – by far the worst among goalkeepers in the Premier League.
This advanced metric quantifies a goalkeeper’s ability to stop shots on target, and Areola’s negative score suggests he’s letting in more goals than expected.
It is hard to escape how shaky he has looked between the sticks. He was directly responsible for two goals against Tottenham Hotspur. There is a glaring need for a goalkeeping upgrade at West Ham.
While Lukasz Fabianski isn’t perfect either, his age-defying reflexes during West Ham’s recent wins speak volumes, and he should retain the starting berth for now.
The 39-year-old may not possess Areola’s raw athleticism, but his positioning and shot-stopping are a better fit for Julen Lopetegui’s possession-based style.
Fabianski’s heroics against Nottingham Forest further solidified his claim for the starting spot.
Beyond shot-stopping, Areola is uncomfortable playing out from the back, creating tactical headaches. Lopetegui’s system demands confident ball distribution from the goalkeeper, a skill Areola lacks.
His indecisiveness in the Spurs match, where he repeatedly opted for risky long balls instead of short passes to defenders, exposed the team.
Let’s not forget Fabianski’s experience. He served as West Ham’s reliable number one for years, fending off competition. His current contract expires at the end of the season, but his recent performances warrant an extension.
West Ham can’t afford to gamble on Areola regaining form. With a crucial season unfolding, they need a goalkeeper who can consistently inspire confidence.
Liverpool’s Caoimhin Kelleher has long been regarded as the best number two goalkeeper in the world, and many people feel he deserves to start at another club.
The Hammers can snap him up after Giorgi Mamardashvili joins Liverpool next summer.
Nice giant Marcin Bulka has also been turning heads in France. The former Chelsea man has saved around 83 percent of the shots he has faced this season.
Meanwhile, Las Palmas star Alvaro Valles was arguably the best goalkeeper in La Liga last season but has been benched over a contract dispute. The Hammers could nab him for cheap.
