Fan blogger Adam May discusses the arrival of Darren Randolph.
When the signing of goalkeeper Darren Randolph was announced it wasn’t uncommon to see comments of ‘who?’ on various media outlets. Nothing disrespectful to his qualities, of course, but perhaps more of a reflection of Birmingham City’s mid-table finish and poor start to the campaign.
Adrian received a similar reception when he joined from Real Betis – look how that one turned out.
But when one delves deeper into the two-capped Republic of Ireland international’s career, it can be deemed an impressive signing.
He joined Charlton at just 16 before having a highly regarded spell in Scotland with Motherwell and, most latterly, Birmingham in the Championship where he missed just one game in his two season spell, recording 12 clean sheets last season.
The fact that Randolph allegedly turned down a contract extension with the Blues for the upcoming season suggests he has ambition and that he won’t settle to be Adrian’s number two. That can only be healthy for the club.
One only has to look at the situation at Manchester City where Joe Hart’s performance dipped slightly when there was little competition. Manager Manuel Pellegrini took Hart out of the spotlight ‘indefinitely’, replacing him temporarily with Costel Pantilimon, a class act in his own right, and it eventually improved Hart’s performance. Evidence that constant competition is integral to success and improving player development. Otherwise, complacency so often creeps in.
Adrian had an impeccable season for the Hammers last term. With heroic performances and an outstanding penalty saving record, he propelled himself to stardom, becoming a fans’ favourite on the Boleyn Ground terraces. Maybe the throw of the gloves and the winning penalty kick over Everton in the FA Cup contributed to that.
It would be reasonable to say that Adrian, and the Hammers to some extent, were lucky that the Spanish keeper didn’t pick up too many injuries last term. Of course, Jussi Jaaskelainen was an adept back-up to Adrian and was arguably unlucky to lose his number one place to start with since Adrian’s arrival in 2013. It is therefore of paramount importance that the Hammers have an ambitious and talented keeper, which they appear to have gained in Randolph.
You only have to take a glance at Everton’s struggles last season for evidence of how a Europa League campaign can contribute to fatigue and below-par performances. With the Hammers’ campaign starting on 2 July and an intense schedule to follow should they proceed through the qualifiers, rotation will be necessary. It has to be. While it cannot be said for certain, of course, that Randolph will adapt quickly to the rigours of the Premier League and the Europa League, he is an experienced head that would be welcome to any dressing room. He has been included in the provisional international squad against England and a Euro 2016 qualifier with Scotland this month, showing that he has caught the eye of many with his impressive performances.
He will be crucial as an experienced figure since he made his debut for Motherwell in the Europa League and, with youngsters such as Player of the Year Aaron Cresswell still developing, that knowhow is invaluable. With the move to the new Olympic Stadium just around the corner it’s even more significance to have experienced personnel in the dressing room and to rely wholly on one keeper would be a dangerous approach.
The small matter of there being no transfer fee attached is also a bonus: a free hit for the Hammers and little pressure on the 28-year-old. It’s justifiable to say the Irons are in safe hands.
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of West Ham United