---
title: "West Ham: Fans left angered as Roberto is set to keep his place in starting XI"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/west-ham-fans-left-angered-as-roberto-is-set-to-keep-his-place-in-starting-xi/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Callum Pragnell"
section: "Premier League"
published: "2019-11-14T17:55:56Z"
modified: "2019-11-14T17:55:56Z"
---

# West Ham: Fans left angered as Roberto is set to keep his place in starting XI

**West Ham goalkeeper Roberto is set to remain in goal for the Hammers’ Premier League clash against Tottenham after the international break, according to [ClaretandHugh](https://www.claretandhugh.info/pellegrini-set-to-stick-with-roberto/).\**

The Spanish shot-stopper has started the east London club’s previous [seven matches](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/roberto/leistungsdaten/spieler/37403) due to usual first-choice keeper Lukasz Fabianski sustaining an injury against Bournemouth at the end of September, but he has looked a far from convincing figure between the sticks having conceded [16 goals](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/roberto/leistungsdaten/spieler/37403) within those games.

\[freshpress-poll id=”255723″\]

Roberto put in a terrible performance as West Ham were convincingly beaten 3-0 by Burnley last weekend, with many Hammers fans now wanting the 33-year-old to be replaced for the visit of Spurs next week.

However, it has now come to light that the reason Roberto is seeing so much consistent game-time under Manuel Pellegrini – despite a string of poor performances – is because the club simply do not have another goalkeeping option available to them.

Allegedly, David Martin is bizarrely only employed on a nominal contract, purely to be a ‘training ground keeper’ and save shots from the club’s strikers during practice (via [Claret&Hugh](https://www.claretandhugh.info/pellegrini-set-to-stick-with-roberto/)), making him unavailable for selection. Madness.

Here’s how some (extremely confused) West Ham fans reacted to the news on Twitter…

> Nah get in the bin, recall Trott ASAP
>
> — Jacob Green (@Jacobhgreen55) [November 14, 2019](https://twitter.com/Jacobhgreen55/status/1194937515305787393?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> [pic.twitter.com/ZLCikGqyNl](https://t.co/ZLCikGqyNl)
>
> — ⚒Nicola⚒ (@PrettyBubbles65) [November 14, 2019](https://twitter.com/PrettyBubbles65/status/1194933082186567680?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> Why give him a squad number then it’s a waste of a squad place. The club is so badly run.
>
> — William Field (@wilfield71) [November 14, 2019](https://twitter.com/wilfield71/status/1194933945864994816?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> Son is going to be loving this. Long shots incoming 😭😭😭
>
> — 1LoveWHUFC ⚒️ (@Jay93944265) [November 14, 2019](https://twitter.com/Jay93944265/status/1194933162884968448?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> Then no point on even turning up as we will get pummelled. So our Brilliant Premiership winning manager has not changed the one thing..that is so Obvious …it’s like a Belly Dancer standing on your chin with a megaphone screaming Roberto is the worst keeper in the League!
>
> — Gavlaar (@gavblake14) [November 14, 2019](https://twitter.com/gavblake14/status/1194963715893972992?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> You have to be kidding. He is a liability!! But given the decisions made by MP recently (no Ogbonna or Masauku) it’s not surprising. Bring back that spirit we had just 6 week ago.
>
> — Brian Smith (@NovaScotiaIrons) [November 14, 2019](https://twitter.com/NovaScotiaIrons/status/1194979525123289088?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

***West Ham fans, what do you make of this news? Let us know by commenting below!***