✍ Welcome Alphonse Areola

[hammerman11]

Areola or pope as number one next season with fabianski as no 2 .

[S-H]

Looks like we are sorted for the next 5 years.

Fabianski has probably been the best keeper we have had in the Premier League era, but, I'm looking forward to seeing what Alphonse can offer as our new No1, with Fab taking over cup duties.

We are certainly well stocked.

[Colours never run]

Likewise give him the League games now. That way I'd feel more confident winning a cup with Fabianski in goal and less games and his experience.

[S-H]

I don't think we've seen the best of him yet, Sevilla save aside.

Looking back though, you have to say £10m or there about's looks like a superb piece of business.

[bubbles1966]

The only doubt I have about the Fonz is his tendency to catch the ball on the drop - i.e not at the top of it's flight, he waits for it to drop into his stomach/chest area.

He was fantastic as a shot stopper at Fulham, and he looks pretty comfortable with the ball at feet.

[Colours never run]

1 of the things I picked up on was him tending to stay on his line too much. I want to see him come out more to the ball either in the air or on the ground. Decent shot stopper though.

[funky chicken]

It’s only his decision making from crosses I want to see an improvement on from Areola. Up until the last 2-3 months of last season that was 1 area I especially thought Fab always had the upper hand over Alphonse. And it’s the one thing I have always liked about Fab during his spell at the club. For me Fab was arguably one of the best goalkeepers in the League at dealing with crosses. Otherwise, on the whole I thought Areola had the edge over Fab across last season.

There were a few goals last season we conceded that I questioned whether they wouldn’t have gone in if Areola was in goal. But hindsight’s a wonderful thing! That’s not to say Alphonse didn’t have his moments. In my opinion he was poor for Genk’s 1st goal in the 2-2 draw. And I’m convinced if Fab was in goal against Kidderminster their opening goal wouldn’t have happened. He had a few shaky moments in his first few games. But I really thought Alphonse grew as a player the further we got into the season.

You’d like to think having a goalkeeper who is quicker of his line, with the added bonus of being good with the ball at his feet will make us a bit stronger from the back. Whether Moyes isn’t too stubborn to drop Fab from the League’s starting 11 after his poor form towards the end of last season is another matter! I have my doubts.

[jammys78]

As it been done yet?

[Up the Junction]

As it been done yet?

Expected to be confirmed within the next 24(ish) hours.

[hammerman11]

Surely they won't drag it out anymore !

[Bubbles Fortuna]

https://www.whufc.com/news/alphonse-are ... d-transfer

Here to stay

[simonpaulthomas]

Happy days.

[S-H]

Second official player statement in a row, to reference Youssef En-Nesyri...

[westlondonhammer]

Welcome home

Areola is a very very good signing

An astute bit of business too at the prices quoted

[smuts]

Yep, chuffed with that.

Glad he's joined on a perm.

[prophet:marginal]

Another signing to go into the first team and I hope another component in an all round more robust defence next season.

I am looking at the Kidderminster performance as a one off.

Very pleased with this.

[Ironing Board]

The start of the Areola era!

[Bubbles Fortuna]

Second official player statement in a row, to reference Youssef En-Nesyri...

Feels an odd thing for someone to be doing accidentally :lol: maybe they're just teasing us.

[norse]

Hope the negotiations weren't too much of a nipple twister, welcome (again)!

[westlondonhammer]

Sky reporting 7.75 million

That's just ludicrous as modern day transfers go