Duncan Alexander has featured on the latest episode of The Totally Football Show podcast to discuss all things Premier League as the 2020/21 campaign enters the business end of the season.
Alexander was speaking about Fulham’s recent revival, with the Cottagers now sitting just two points behind 17th-placed Newcastle United with only nine more games to play this season.
While discussing Scott Parker’s impressive turnaround in form at Craven Cottage in recent weeks, Alexander hailed their on-loan goalkeeper Alphonse Areola as one of the best goalkeepers in the league.
Fulham secured the Frenchman’s services for the 2020/21 season from Paris Saint-Germain after the 28-year-old returned to the Parisians from a season-long loan at Real Madrid (via Transfermarkt).
Discussing the goalkeeper’s impressive season so far, Alexander had this to say.
He said: “I think under the radar, Areola has been one of the best goalkeepers in the Premier League this season. Based on expected goals prevented, he’s the best keeper in the division.
“He’s stopped about 6.5 additional goals compared to the average goalkeeper. So I think that’s been one of the reasons why Fulham have tightened up and I’m sure, given the way Leeds will inevitably set out, that Scott Parker will try and contain them and then beat them.”
Should Fulham try to sign Areola permanently?
Yes
No
In Areola’s 28 appearances for the Whites in the league this season, the Frenchman has only conceded 33 goals and has been able to keep a clean sheet on nine occasions (via Transfermarkt).
TIF Thoughts on Alexander’s comments…
All you have to do is look at Areola’s stats to get an understanding on how impressive he has been. For a team that find themselves in the bottom three, to have nine clean sheets with nine games to go and to have only conceded 33 goals is pretty remarkable (via Transfermarkt).
If you compare Areola’s goals conceded to West Brom’s Sam Johnstone, who was recently called up to the England squad, the Englishman has conceded another 22 goals having played the same number of games.
Therefore, it could be argued that the table has undermined Areola’s performances this season.