Pundit: Alphonse Areola won’t be West Ham United number 1 unless Lukasz Fabianski gets injured
We’re delighted to welcome former West Ham United striker Frank McAvennie as our exclusive columnist. Each week he’ll be giving his views on the biggest talking points at the London Stadium…
Alphonse Areola’s best chance of becoming West Ham number one in the Premier League is if Lukasz Fabianski gets hurt, according to Frank McAvennie.
The French stopper signed on a permanent deal in the summer after spending last season on loan at the London Stadium, but remains the number two and has only played 61 minutes in the Premier League, with all his starts coming in cup competitions so far this season.
Despite the team struggling for results recently, Fabianski has retained his place as number one in the Premier League, and McAvennie says barring an injury that’s unlikely to change any time soon.
“He’ll have to injure the other goalkeeper [laughs],” he told West Ham Zone. “I think, listen, he’ll get cup games and all that kind of stuff.
“It doesn’t matter when people say, ‘he’s alright’, once you’re in you’ve got to stay in, if you play well. That’s the nature of the beast. Everyone knows that.
“If you go and do it, no matter what position it is. If you go and do it, you’re not going to get dropped. Not just for favouritism. It’s not going to happen. So the manager is going to, if he comes in and does so well, the manager is going to say, ‘well I can’t drop him’.
“That’s what he’s got to do. It’s not just goalkeeper, it’s every position. That’s what you’ve got to do.
“When I got in at West Ham it’s because Paul Goddard got injured and I went in up front, and he never got a game again. It’s ruthless but that’s the way it is.
“Me and Tony Cottee formed a partnership and I feel sorry for him but that’s what goalkeepers do as well. When you get in you’ve got to take it.
“Make sure that the manager, don’t give him a choice. Make sure you play that much better that you’ve got to play.”