How much was Mads Hermansen really to blame for West Ham United’s 5-2 defeat by Arne Slot’s Liverpool in their most recent Premier League outing?
That is the debate raging on social media, and Hammers News‘ very own Facebook page, ahead of that midweek trip to Craven Cottage.
Should Alphonse Areola return to the XI after Mads Hermansen conceded five goals for the second time as a West Ham United player?
How do you feel about Mads Hermansen NOW? 🇩🇰 🧤
Has he won you over? Or are there still doubts?
On the other hand, as Nuno Espirito Santo alluded to when explaining the sudden switch between the sticks, Hermansen opens up a more possession-based avenue to West Ham.
The question is; do these modern-day qualities on the ball make up for those perceived weaknesses in the more traditional sense?
West Ham United fans debate Mads Hermansen v Alphonse Areola
As Hermansen holds behind-the-scenes discussions with Axel Disasi and Konstantinos Mavropanos – The Athletic report that the Hammers trio are determined to get to the bottom of that Anfield collapse – the Dane remains a very divisive figure.
For every West Ham fan and Talking Points user who believes he should stay between the sticks, there are others who feel that Alphonse Areola’s superior shot-stopping and greater physicality would come in more handy for a side with the second-worst defensive record in the division.
“If you put the two together, you would just about get a half-decent keeper,” one fan writes dryly on our Facebook page.
As it is, this is the dilemma Nuno faces. The experience and height of Areola versus the passing range of Hermansen.
“He let in five [against Liverpool]. Three deflections, an own goal, and from a corner where two centre halves and Tommy [Soucek] couldn’t deal with it. And yet, people think he should be dropped,” another supporter argues; feeling that Hermansen was largely blameless for that Merseyside mauling.
“His hands are better, his calmness is better, his communication is better, his distribution is 100 per cent better [than Areola’s]. The angles he gives his defenders to receive the ball are better, and he plays far higher up the pitch, forcing the back 3/4/5 up as well.
“Stick [with Hermansen]. He’s a vital part of how we’re trying to play going forward.”
“All these comments [saying] he let in five; Three were defections, one own goal, and the other went through Mavropanos’ legs. Not at fault for any of the goals, bad defending and lucky deflections.”
“Areola can’t catch a cross, doesn’t hold the ball, is terrible with his feet, doesn’t command the defence…
“Mads. You hear him shouting at the defence, organising.”
Fulham will pose a test for Hermansen even without Harry Wilson
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Fulham could be without Harry Wilson at Craven Cottage. That should make life a little easier for Hermansen in theory, if Marco Silva is denied the use of one of the division’s great ‘XG’ overperformers.
Still, a team boasting Raul Jimenez, Oscar Bobb, Alex Iwobi and Samu Chukwueze are not lacking in attacking threat and unpredictability.
“[Hermansen] is miles better kicking and receiving the ball. He lures in the attackers and starts off our moves.”
“Mads for me. Far superior at distributing the ball. He may have had five past him against Liverpool but you forget the ball had to get past 10 others first…”
“Why all the sudden love for Areola? I think Hermansen has been great in his last few games. A bit shaky against Liverpool but the defence heaps pressure on him constantly. Against Burnley and Bournemouth and [Manchester] United, he looked really calm confident and did the things Areola can’t do, such as catching the ball and claiming crosses and passing the ball five yards…
“Areola is a great shot-stopper but nothing more than that.”
“[Hermansen’s] distribution and play with his feet is far beyond ‘Fonz’. Love Fonz, but I would be scared to see him with the ball at his feet.”
“I don’t think we get enough in terms of shot-stopping from Areola to offset how important Hermansen is for our attacking build-up play. Two good keepers who both have flaws in their game.”
It’s not perfect. Nuno will have to make do.
While the jury remains out on Hermansen for thousands more West Ham supporters, Nuno appears ready and willing to take the rough with the smooth. Or, to put it another way, the line-breaking distribution with the odd flap.
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