West Ham legend Phil Parkes is impressed by goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski.
Parkes joined from Queens Park Rangers on 22 February 1979 for the then-global record fee of £565,000.
Parkes went on to win the FA Cup in 1980, the Hammer of the Year award in 1981 and make 440 first-team appearances in Claret and Blue, has been distinctly impressed with the Poland international.
“When I signed for West Ham in 1979, I was 29 and the only reason the QPR let me go was because they thought I had been there for nine years, they had paid fifteen grand for me and West Ham had offered a world record £565,000, so it was good business," Parkes recalled to whufc.com. “They also thought that, at 29, I wasn't going to improve – but when I went to West Ham, I did get better over the ensuing five years!
“Lukasz is 33, which is no age for a goalkeeper and he should be in his prime right now. For a goalkeeper, there's no reason, apart from injuries, that you shouldn't still be at the top of your form at 36, so Lukasz still has plenty of time on his side.
“One of the things I most like about Lukasz is that he comes for crosses, unlike a lot of modern-day goalkeepers. In fact, from what I've seen, not many 'keepers in the Premier League come off their line at all.
“He's also keen to catch the ball when he can and again that's different to a lot of 'keepers these days, who punch most of the time. In a way, that's a bit old-fashioned but, for me, it's much better if you are confident of your catching ability."
