What a difference a month makes. Back in January, Alphonse Areola had the Hammers’ goal keeping starting berth and Mads Hermansen was condemned to virtually a practise-goal keeper role, saving shots in training sessions the closest he came to live action.
The Dane looked drained, seemingly banished from the starting line up and with the expectations being that West Ham would be loaning him out in the January window and bringing in a replacement.
In short, his West Ham career seemed over before it had begun.
Credit to Nuno for deciding that Hermansen’s attitude and hard work, despite his terrible start meant that he deserved another look: The Head Coach would have had volleys of abuse if Hermansen had flopped again.
But he brought the Dane back against Burnley: The nytimes.com described his recall as a ‘bold call” and Hermansen overcame a shaky start to reward Nuno with a clean sheet.
West Ham’s number one described yesterday’s clean sheet from his vantage point behind the defence and made it clear where he sees the improvement over last year:
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“I actually asked Axel after the Burnley game when he last played, and when he said it was April I was a bit shocked! He’s brought a lot of stability to the defence, and on the ball as well he is really good. Together with Dinos [Mavropanos], I think he’s been amazing.”
Indeed, a solid 96 minutes of focus and concentration with no lapses from West Ham’s centre back pairing – compared with August, that might well be ‘amazing’.
Achieving the same clean sheet next week against the defending Champions at Anfield would indeed be something remarkable.
Notes celebrates the Anfield victory of 2015
The Hammers have a poor record not having won at Liverpool’s home since 2015 but must hope to replicate the heroics of Lanzini, Payet, Sakho, Noble and Co, who on that August day enjoyed just 37% possession yet came away with a three goal win and three points.
Never since have Liverpool looked more ‘beatable’ as their form has stuttered: However nobody is underestimating the task that lies ahead next weekend. Hermansen in particular will face probably his sternest test yet in a West Ham shirt.