West Ham banter 3

23 Jan 2026 23:31:03
I'm going to raise an issue I have, which is just my opinion, but I think is going to be unpopular with some on here and it relates to Areola. I think a lot of our problems stem from him. I know he has made some fantastic saves in recent months and kept us in games but for me that's his job and minimum requirement. let's look at what he doesn't do well. He flaps at corners and rarely catches the ball. He flaps at crosses and panics his back 4 to the point that they then head or scramble it out for a corner in relief which we then generally concede from. His communication with his back 4, particularly his CB's is poor. His command of his area in general is poor. His lack of ability to sweeper keep, a commodity in the modern game is stark.

Because of this our CB's sit far too deep creating a gap between the midfield and defence that most opponents exploit. Wolves did it the other week. Far to often he looks to clear his lines by kicking the ball long which almost always falls to an opposition player and turns possession into defence. Our Centre Backs over the last 10 years have not been much better than what we have now but I think they had better keepers behind them in Fabianski and even Adrian. I know Brooking for one thinks he's our POTY but for me it's like somebody pushing someone In a pool and then diving in to save them . just food for thought

24 Jan 2026 00:54:26
DH2, very fair points you raise. I think Areola has been unfortunate because the defence has been SO BAD. I also believe the team has been
unsettled. To be the French no. 2 and then find you are dropped to be replaced by a gk from a relegated side must have been hard to swallow. Interestingly, I do believe Hernansen will become a good keeper, against QPR he had a good game. Regards to Areola, his defence has been awful. One thing centre backs do is head a ball - ours don’t, or can’t. Our greatest keeper ever, Parkes, would’ve struggled this year. Areola is a shot stopper, he’s not a flicks n tricks play the ball out gk.

Pre Guadiola, everyone would’ve said, ‘Areola is amazing.’ Managers have to know their gk. Howe said on MOTD recently, ‘Pope is his No.1 because he is shotstopper.’ Areola comes under the same heading, and I honestly believe he so far ahead of everyone on POTY because our defence has not helped him. I go all home and most away matches. Last week, Spurs could’ve won that game 4-2, but Areola saved us again. It’s becoming a usual ritual. Today, I believe we’ll win by the odd goal, but I also believe Areola will again have a good game.

24 Jan 2026 01:14:11
Our CBs this season and last have been Abysmal. No way near the quality of previous seasons.
We have no leader at the back GK included.

I agree Areola doesn’t help his self with poor decision making on high crosses. But I wouldn’t suggest for 1 moment the blame lies with him solely for our poor performances so far.

The defence most games this season have been lost at sea when we go a goal down early 1st half.

24 Jan 2026 09:44:37
All valid points but are the defence poor because of the keeper or keeper poor because of the defence? It depends on which way you look at it. Brooking the point you make on pre-Pep is also valid but most teams are now playing to the blueprint he devised because of its success.

I think there is a reason Hermandsen was bought and why GK seems to again be a priority this window. Nuno was a goalkeeper and maybe he’s spotted something he doesn’t like about Areola? I don’t know, it’s just an itch I can’t seem to scratch ?

24 Jan 2026 10:56:53
I like Areola. He has his faults, but who doesn’t? And Brooking, I agree about Parkes, but don’t forget Jim Standen and Mervyn Day. Both great goalkeepers in their day.

24 Jan 2026 11:11:21
Areola is the best we have at present, No question about that, , but he needs more protection for sure

We have a poor squad, fact, is, is it enough to get out of trouble? we will soon find out

Truth of the matter is, we need a better back up GK, and two better Cbs, are we likely to get them, doesn’t look like it?

25 Jan 2026 10:49:28
Areola had a good game yesterday. Shame he didn’t get a clean sheet, but their good goal was the fault of the defence.

23 Jan 2026 18:03:08
Somebody please tell me why we always have deals during transfer windows which end up being a farce and here we go again with Paqueta.

He don't want to be here, he doesn't want to play so why drag it out

24 Jan 2026 07:37:34
I wouldn't call it dragging it out, more like getting what the player is worth. If Paqueta wants to leave, fair enough, but the board shouldn't give in to him and let him have his own way. If Flamenco don't want to pay what he's worth then he shouldn't be allowed to leave. If they're serious then they'll come back with the right offer

24 Jan 2026 11:16:44
Flamengo are the richest club in Brazil BUT, they are nowhere against European clubs, full stop

Paqueta can be held up, but doesn’t want to stay in Europe, so what do you do

Further, although Flamengos offer was better, the installments are too spread

TBH, if they offer a bit more. With tighter payments, I’d let him go

23 Jan 2026 07:39:08
{Ed's Note - Ed001 has posted a new article entitled, Matchday 22 - Quick Round Up

22 Jan 2026 16:53:38
17th richest club only two places behind Newcastle

22 Jan 2026 16:50:15
With 11 days left Its looking like Sullivan is probably waiting to see what money comes from sales before any further moves are made. On that subject the paqueta saga rolls on! Lamadrid not fit to play

22 Jan 2026 09:23:45
{Ed's Note - Ed001 has posted a new article entitled, Matchday 22 - Quick Round Up

21 Jan 2026 07:39:08
{Ed's Note - MK Scouser has posted a new article entitled, Liverpool's Pre-Season Concerns Overblown Despite World Cup Disruption

20 Jan 2026 09:31:19
Paqueta obviously doesn't want to be here anymore so just let the guy go for gods sake.

Whats the point of hanging on to a player that doesn't want to play for us anymore?

Seemingly we've identified ilan kabbal as his replacement, however, I suspect sullivan is now waiting for the paqueta money before getting a replacement, at which time all the other premier league teams will be alerted and have already made moves to sign him up lol ?

20 Jan 2026 11:03:53
Morning Mac, I’m with you, Paqueta has fallen out of love (if he was ever in it which I doubt) with WH and the premier league and the sooner he leaves the better, another player trying to force a move away from the club whose paid him and kept him in work for 3 years ….Joyful might have more knowledge on this but personally I wouldn’t have thought getting in Kebbal is dependant on receiving the cash for Paqueta, its more likely to be waiting to see if we need him in case Paqueta ends up (reluctantly) staying

20 Jan 2026 13:03:26
Paqueta wants to go fair enough, i don't think he has/would refuse to play if he stayed. Personally i think its Sulli trying to justify selling him, would it surprise you if he waited right until the end of the window to sell him so there isn't time to spend the money?

20 Jan 2026 15:04:58
Whilst Paqueta has gone down in my estimation especially as the club stood by him because of his alleged betting issues. But I still feel the work of Sullivan and his propaganda machine trying to get the fans to hate the player like he did with Kudus

20 Jan 2026 15:07:19
It’s not complicated as far as Paqueta is concerned, the player wants to go back to Brazil
WH. maybe.

could get a I bit more from Premier league, but he doesn’t want to change clubs in England
This has been on the cards for along time, if not now when? Although seriously talented, he’s been off the boil for us for months now, time to go, he will be missed, WH need to move on

20 Jan 2026 07:39:09
{Ed's Note - thefutureisoldgold3 has posted a new article entitled, Wolverhampton Wanderers Player Ratings v Newcastle United

20 Jan 2026 04:34:19
Great news that Wilson is staying. It was ridiculous letting your second top goal scorer leave, when 1. He'd hardly played 2. We're in a relegation dog fight.

20 Jan 2026 08:10:21
Let's hope Nuno doesn't carry on not playing him