OPINION
For many West Ham United supporters, last Saturday’s 3-0 defeat to Burnley was the last straw in regards to goalkeeper Roberto.
The Spaniard put in one of the single worst goalkeeping performances many of us have ever seen against the Clarets. He threw the ball out to an obviously under pressure Fabian Balbuena, which led to the second goal, while the less said about his own goal for the third strike in the 3-0 defeat the better.
You’d think, then, that Hammers manager Manuel Pellegrini would be seriously considering making a change between the sticks. However, it doesn’t seem like that is the case.
Reliable Irons news source Claret & Hugh reported on Thursday that the 33-year-old is very likely to remain the starter heading into the clash with Tottenham Hotspur after the international break.
The report states that current back up ‘keeper David Martin was brought to the club last summer purely as a ‘training ground’ shot-stopper, someone to keep Roberto and (now injured) first choice Lukasz Fabianski sharp and help around during the week.
With that said, it doesn’t seem particularly plausible that the Englishman will be usurping the former Espanyol man any time soon. That, it’s obvious, is not what the West Ham fans wanted to hear after the Burnley defeat.
It’s strange with Roberto, because plenty of the saves he’s had to make have been from long-range, so seemingly easier to stop. As per WhoScored.com, 1.8 of the five saves he makes on average per game are from outside of the box. In theory, that should make his ability to keep clean sheets better.
However, that has very much not been the case. Yet Pellegrini appears determined to keep faith with the beleaguered Spaniard. The West Ham fans will surely be tearing their hair out as a result.
