West Ham face a major sweat over goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski after he was pulled from the starting XI that faced Hertha Berlin last night.
West Ham initially announced an unchanged line-up from the side that had beaten Fulham at the weekend. However, 10 minutes before kick-off Fabianski was replaced by summer signing Roberto.
West Ham went on to win an eventful game 5-3 and after the final whistle Football.London journalist Sam Inkersole delivered the official line from the West Ham camp. He said that Fabianski had suffered a “minor muscular problem” and that the player would be evaluated over the next few days.
Understand Lukasz Fabianski had a minor muscular problem prior to kick off and as a result, he wasn’t risked for the friendly victory over Hertha Berlin earlier today. Better to be safe than sorry. The stopper will be evaluated over the coming days. #WHUFC
— Sam Inkersole (@Sam_InkersoleTM) July 31, 2019
A tweet from ExWHUEemployee, an account with impeccable sources inside West Ham was a little more specific. He tweeted that the West Ham physios had said that Fabianski had “felt his groin” in the warm-up but that it wasn’t seen as serious. They said he should be okay for the season opener against Man City.
Initial feedback from the physios is that Fabianski felt his groin and will get it checked out but apparently it is not considered serious at this point and he should be ok for Man City (thank the lord and fingers crossed it isn’t and the initial verdict is correct)
— ExWHUEmployee (@ExWHUEmployee) July 31, 2019
How did Roberto do?
West Ham think that Fabianski will be okay for the first game of the season against Man City a week on Saturday. In the meantime, the Hammers play Athletic Bilbao in their final pre-season friendly on Saturday. Fabianski is unlikely to be risked then which will give fans another chance to see Roberto in action.
The 33-year-old arrived on a free transfer this summer from Espanyol and played 76 minutes in the friendly against Rheindorf Altach, where he looked comfortable and showed some good distribution. He let in two goals in the 3-2 win but he wasn’t to blame for either of them.
By contrast, he didn’t look so good last night – admittedly in a game he wasn’t expected to play in. His distribution was poor and he looked nervy throughout, flapping at a corner late on.
In his defence, the central pairing of Diop and Balbuena also looked off their games and he couldn’t do much about the three goals his side conceded.
Terrace Talk
The reaction from the West Ham fans show how important Fabianski is to the side, with one fan saying, “If Fabianski is out for a period then help us. Somebody help us.”
And Roberto hasn’t endeared himself to the fan base yet with one fan saying he’s as useful as a chocolate teapot.
Whoever is in goal for the first game of the season is going to have his work cut out as West Ham face champions Man City at the London Stadium on August 10.
If Fabianski is out for a period then help us. Someone help us.
— West Ham (C)entral ? (@WestHam_Central) July 31, 2019
I was atheist, now I’m Praying like mad To God he’ll be fit!!!! ????
— DEPtones (@DEPtones) July 31, 2019
I called this as soon as we let Adrian go, Ill never be Fabianski’s biggest fan but admit he was good last year HOWEVER his 34 now and will get injuries and having replaced Adrian with 2 handless keepers is going to cost us this season as I predicted it would. Hope I am wrong
— ???????????????????????????????????????????? (@Steve_V84) August 1, 2019
Good because his understudy is about as useful as a ????teapot
— Dave Delbecq (@Dave_delbecq) August 1, 2019