If Graham Potter hoped to see Alphonse Areola stake his claim for a return to the West Ham United XI in Mads Hermansen’s absence, a frustrating night at Molineux was certainly not what the under-fire manager was looking for.
After Hermansen started his Hammers career by conceding eight goals in just two Premier League matches – and at least a pair of those were very much his fault – Areola returned for the Carabao Cup clash with Wolves on Tuesday night.
The 32-year-old Frenchman had lost his place in the starting XI following Hermansen’s £18 million arrival from Leicester City. But the mistakes which dogged Areola throughout the 2024/25 campaign, and parts of pre-season, were in evidence once again in the Black Country.
From his position in the commentary gantry, West Ham United legend Tony Gale could not help but question Areola as Wolves’ opening goal slipped through his grasp at the near post.
There is, though, one goalkeeper with a West Ham connection who can look back on his own start to the season with a great deal more satisfaction.
After Nathan Trott won a league and cup double with Copenhagen in Denmark last term, the Chadwell Heath graduate is rapidly emerging as the posterboy of Cardiff City’s promotion push in South Wales.
Former West Ham United goalkeeper Nathan Trott makes ‘sensational’ start at Cardiff City
Nathan Trott left West Ham last summer, returning to Denmark after a previous loan spell at Vejle Boldklub.
But, after losing his place in the Copenhagen net during the final few months of a highly-successful season, Trott returned to UK soil earlier this month. The late-blooming 26-year-old joined Cardiff City on a temporary deal.
And, to quote EFL expert Ali Maxwell, ‘what a signing he’s been’ for the Bluebirds.
Not only is Trott yet to concede across four League One matches – the Golden Glove award may soon be his to lose already – the Bermuda-born former England Under-20 international has added a new dimension to Cardiff’s play with a ball-playing style bordering on the Pirlo-esque at times.
“Cardiff’s goalkeeper Nathan Trott, what a signing he’s been so far,” Maxwell tells the Not the Top 20 podcast.
“Not only does this guy pull out a ‘Cruyff turn’ in every single game, he plays mad passes that so far have gone very well. At some point, there will be an ‘Icarus Concession’. He will fly too close to the sun [and make a mistake].
“But, frankly, he’s already massively in credit because the saves are sensational. Really, really impressive. The fact that Cardiff haven’t conceded isn’t, whisper it, because they’ve been a lockdown defensive team.
“It is mostly because Trott has kept out a lot of the opportunities they have given up.”
Luton striker Nahki Wells blown away by Trott’s brilliance in League One clash
As you might expect, given that Brian Barry-Murphy spent three years in charge of Manchester City’s development side, the highly-rated Cardiff boss is one who likes his goalkeepers to act as an extra outfield player in possession.
Ironically, that is exactly what Graham Potter is looking for too, of course.
This is not to say Trott would walk into West Ham’s starting XI these days – Luton Town are not Chelsea, of course – but his fellow Bermudan Nahki Wells is not the only one who may feel that Cardiff’s new number one is playing at a much higher level than third-tier standard.
“It was one of those days where it just felt like no one was ever going to score through him,” Luton’s veteran striker Wells sighed after Cardiff took their tally to 10 points from 12 with a hard-fought 1-0 win at Kenilworth Road last weekend, speaking to the Royal Gazette.
“He made some of the best saves I’ve ever witnessed on a football pitch and just looks so confident in goal, so I have to give credit where credit is due.
“He was Man of the Match, without a doubt, and made some big saves in big moments for his team. He was brilliant and I caught up with him after the game.”
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