West Ham United haven’t had the best of luck with goalkeepers this season, have they? Neither Adrian nor Joe Hart have managed to put in consistent displays for the Hammers as they have lost points due to lazy goalkeeping. Of course, the defending has been pretty bad, but some of the goals the keepers have conceded should have been stopped.
David Moyes’ side have been ravaged by injuries and the fans have let their voices be heard this season, so it’s all up to the owners now. A lot of positions need to be strengthened and according to latest reports, West Ham are looking to sign Fulham custodian Marcus Bettinelli come summer.
Joe Hart’s loan deal will come to an end in the summer and considering his shaky performances, a permanent deal seems out of the question.
Bettenelli has had a good season with Fulham and regardless of the division he’s playing, he could be a good addition to West Ham United.
Bettenelli – stats
The 25-year old has managed to make 20 appearances so far in the Championship and mustered nine shutouts so far. He hasn’t been the best with the ball at his feet though. His passing accuracy stands at a paltry 66.6% which has a lot of room for improvement.
He has gone long quite a few times, which perhaps reflects poorly. However, he needs to improve taking the longer goal kicks if he makes the move to the Premier League.
One of his weaknesses is set-piece situations. He has often fluffed his lines and needs to be more assertive while coming out and catching crosses or deliveries from set-piece situations. Otherwise, he is an excellent shot-stopper with good hands and reflexes.
A shift to the Premier League is a challenge because there will be more pressure and every time he fails to save or misplaces a pass, he’ll be put under the spotlight. (Stats via Whoscored)
A wise choice?
It’s still unclear if he will be a hit. The change in level isn’t a big deal for a goalkeeper. He’ll just have to ensure he gets the basics right and remain calm under the bar. West Ham’s defence isn’t the best, so he’ll be expected to make quite a few saves unless they add more steel at the back.
For his age, he’d be a good buy considering keepers tend to get better with age. It’s unlikely he’ll cost a fortune either.
