{"id":427980,"date":"2025-09-16T04:24:13","date_gmt":"2025-09-16T04:24:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/427980\/"},"modified":"2025-09-16T04:24:13","modified_gmt":"2025-09-16T04:24:13","slug":"do-west-ham-really-have-a-big-problem-with-a-little-goalkeeper-in-mads-hermansen","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/427980\/","title":{"rendered":"Do West Ham really have a big problem with a little goalkeeper in Mads Hermansen?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

No West Ham player is in the spotlight more than goalkeeper Mads Hermansen so far this season and many feel the \u00a315.5m new boy is simply too small.<\/strong><\/p>\n

If one person is laughing to himself about West Ham\u2019s<\/a> goalkeeper predicament right now it will be John Victor<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The Hammers left the Brazilian twiddling his thumbs at the airport as they used him in order to force Leicester into a agreeing a deal for Mads Hermansen<\/a>.<\/p>\n

After Graham Potter<\/a> elected to release Lukasz Fabianski<\/a>, West Ham needed a new goalkeeper.<\/p>\n

With Alphonse Areola<\/a> inconsistent, Potter wanted a new number one.<\/p>\n

Hermansen was his pick on the advice of West Ham\u2019s new goalkeeper coach Casper Angergren, who oversaw the 25-year-old\u2019s development at Brondby.<\/p>\n

The Hammers had walked away from the deal with Leicester reportedly demanding over \u00a330m for Hermansen initially.<\/p>\n

But the Victor ploy worked and a deal was agreed for just over half that figure.<\/p>\n

Hermansen\u2019s horror start for Hammers<\/p>\n

That makes Hermansen the most expensive goalkeeper signing in West Ham\u2019s 130-year history.<\/p>\n

On the evidence so far, it is safe to say the jury is well and truly out on whether that has been a disastrous use of limited funds.<\/p>\n

Hermansen has struggled so badly in his first four games as West Ham\u2019s number one that some fans have nicknamed him \u2018the new Roberto\u2019.<\/p>\n

There have been flashes that Hermansen is a capable shot stopper. <\/p>\n

And he is clearly good on the ball with quality distribution. Leicester fans raved about him when West Ham completed the deal, with many feeling he was worth double the amount.<\/p>\n

The biggest concern at West Ham is that Hermansen seems simply too small.<\/p>\n

\"MadsPhoto by Catherine Ivill \u2013 AMA\/Getty Images<\/p>\n

After being at fault for a number of goals in his first two games, Spurs targeted Hermansen on every single set-piece and throw-in.<\/p>\n

Hermansen has struggled badly to command his box, not helped by Potter blindly sticking to zonal marking.<\/p>\n

West Ham have conceded 32 corners in their four Premier League<\/a> games, a new record.<\/p>\n

Shipping six goals from them already is another unwelcome new record too.<\/p>\n

Tottenham\u2019s first and second goals in the rout of West Ham were not explicitly Hermansen\u2019s fault.<\/p>\n

But they are the result of his lack of presence, command, reach and ability to fill the goal.<\/p>\n

Hermansen was in no man\u2019s land for the killer second goal and as Lucas Bergvall\u2019s header looped over him and evaded his reach, West Ham fans had seen enough.<\/p>\n

Do West Ham really have a big problem with a little goalkeeper?<\/p>\n

Almost in unison the entire fanbase was cursing the fact their goalkeeper is too small.<\/p>\n

Many have also asked was Areola really that bad to be dropped in favour of the Denmark international. <\/p>\n

And with Fabianski returning to replace Wes Foderingham, some have even predicted it won\u2019t be long until the Pole is in pole once again as the club\u2019s number one.<\/p>\n

But do West Ham really have a big problem with little Hermansen, or is it just a theory born of frustration and the need for a scapegoat?<\/p>\n

The Danish goalkeeper\u2019s lack of height has come under scrutiny, with fans and pundits questioning whether his size is proving a weakness for the Hammers.<\/p>\n

One Spurs star made it clear Hermansen is a big problem for West Ham<\/a> in a rather embarrassing admission for Potter.<\/p>\n

They say size isn\u2019t everything and that good things come in small packages.<\/p>\n

But there is a reason Pep Guardiola, the man regarded as one of \u2013 if not the \u2013 best managers in world football has just gone out and signed one of the biggest goalkeepers in the Premier League.<\/p>\n

\"MadsPhoto by IAN KINGTON\/AFP via Getty ImagesIs Hermansen small for a Premier League goalkeeper?<\/p>\n

And it comes at a time when the ball is in play less than it\u2019s ever been as clubs look to take advantage of long throws and complex set-pieces.<\/p>\n

The fact Guardiola has opted for a huge goalkeeper like Gianluigi Donnarumma, who is not the most comfortable with the ball at his feet, speaks volumes.<\/p>\n

Potter has gone the other way by signing a stopper who has far less stature but is decent on the ball.<\/p>\n

But is Hermansen really that small?<\/p>\n

Well the answer is a resounding yes, by Premier League standards.<\/p>\n

In fact there are only two first choice goalkeepers in the entire Premier League who are smaller than West Ham\u2019s number one Hermansen.<\/p>\n

The Hammers\u2019 new boy is 187cm tall, that\u2019s just over 6ft 1in.<\/p>\n

For context, Donnarumma is a full 9cm bigger at 196cm, or over 6ft 4in.<\/p>\n

Hermansen is 8cm smaller than 6ft 4in Areola and is even 3cm shorter than 6ft 2in Fabianski. <\/p>\n

He\u2019s also nearly 10cm shorter than Victor, who would be in the top five biggest Premier League \u2018keepers if he was number one at Forest.<\/p>\n

The only number ones in the Premier League who are smaller than Hermansen are Everton\u2019s Jordan Pickford \u2013 often noted for his lack of stature, not that it has held him back as England\u2019s number one \u2013 and, rather surprisingly, Arsenal\u2019s David Raya.<\/p>\n

Pickford is 2cm smaller than Hermansen at 185cm.<\/p>\n

Spaniard Raya is 183cm, 4cm smaller than Hermansen at 6ft.<\/p>\n

Raya does not seem to have issues from set-plays and being targeted, though.<\/p>\n

And that is because Mikel Arteta\u2019s defence are clearly far superior to West Ham\u2019s and offer Raya more protection.<\/p>\n

Raya also has more command of his area than Hermansen, probably for the same reason.<\/p>\n

So if you have been looking at Hermansen and thinking he looks small for a goalkeeper, you would be right.<\/p>\n

Whether he is too<\/strong> small, time will tell.<\/p>\n

But if Potter persists with him \u2013 and zonal marking \u2013 and Hermansen continues to struggle, this \u201csmall\u201d issue will become a big problem for the manager because it will cost him his job.<\/p>\n

Every number one Premier League goalkeeper in height order:<\/p>\nPlayerClubHeightDiff. to Hermansen<\/tr>\n\nAltay Bay\u0131nd\u0131r<\/td>\nMan United<\/td>\n6ft 5in<\/td>\n+11cm<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nNick Pope<\/td>\nNewcastle United<\/td>\n6ft 5in<\/td>\n+11cm<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nLucas Perri<\/td>\nLeeds United<\/td>\n6ft 4.6in<\/td>\n+10cm<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nRobert Sanchez<\/td>\nChelsea<\/td>\n6ft 4.6in<\/td>\n+10cm<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nGianluigi Donnarumma<\/td>\nMan City<\/td>\n6ft 4in<\/td>\n+9cm<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nEmiliano Mart\u00ednez<\/td>\nAston Villa<\/td>\n6ft 3.9in<\/td>\n+8cm<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nDjorde Petrovic<\/td>\nBournemouth<\/td>\n6ft 3.6in<\/td>\n+7cm<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nGuglielmo Vicario<\/td>\nSpurs<\/td>\n6ft 3.6in<\/td>\n+7cm<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nAlisson Becker<\/td>\nLiverpool<\/td>\n6ft 3.3in<\/td>\n+6cm<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nRobin Roefs<\/td>\nSunderland<\/td>\n6ft 3.3in<\/td>\n+6cm<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nBart Verbruggen<\/td>\nBrighton<\/td>\n6ft 3.3in<\/td>\n+6cm<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nJose Sa<\/td>\nWolves<\/td>\n6ft 2.9in<\/td>\n+5cm<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nMartin Dubravka<\/td>\nBurnley<\/td>\n6ft 2.6in<\/td>\n+4cm<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nBernd Leno<\/td>\nFulham<\/td>\n6ft 2.3in<\/td>\n+3cm<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nDean Henderson<\/td>\nCrystal Palace<\/td>\n6ft 1.6in<\/td>\n+1cm<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nCaoimh\u00edn Kelleher<\/td>\nBrentford<\/td>\n6ft 1.6in<\/td>\n+1cm<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nMatz Sels<\/td>\nNottingham Forest<\/td>\n6ft 1.6in<\/td>\n+1cm<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nMads Hermansen<\/strong><\/td>\nWest Ham<\/strong><\/td>\n6ft 1.3in<\/strong><\/td>\nN\/A<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nJordan Pickford<\/td>\nEverton<\/td>\n6ft 0.6in<\/td>\n-2cm<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n\nDavid Raya<\/td>\nArsenal<\/td>\n6ft<\/td>\n-4cm<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"No West Ham player is in the spotlight more than goalkeeper Mads Hermansen so far this season and…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":427981,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4100],"tags":[94,782,85498,120749,101,79,16,15],"class_list":{"0":"post-427980","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-football","8":"tag-football","9":"tag-graham-potter","10":"tag-john-victor","11":"tag-mads-hermansen","12":"tag-premier-league","13":"tag-sports","14":"tag-uk","15":"tag-united-kingdom"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/115212076081330657","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/427980","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=427980"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/427980\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/427981"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=427980"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=427980"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=427980"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}