Former Hammer calls for the recall of David Moyes’ warrior | West Ham News

One of West Ham’s more obvious weaknesses – and there were a few-  apparent  after their 3-0 loss against Sunderland was signposted clearly by the ‘headed duels’ stats.

Apparently West Ham lost nine of the ten headed duels contested: Two resulted in goals conceded and the third – losing a heading contest in the opposition ‘box from a corner – led to the break away which created the third goal in Sunderland’s crushing win.

There is clearly a reluctance to get stuck in. Say what you like about Mavropanos and Soucek, they’ll compete in the air even at risk to their own safety. So when Stuart Pearce talking to talk sport calls for Tomas Soucek to be recalled, I suspect he’s onto something. On Soucek, the former Hammers’ defender is clear:
“He [Tomas] might look a bit of an ugly duckling’ on the football pitch at times,. but..his honesty, his work rate, he attacks and defends both boxes- he’s invaluable to the team and we’ve seen that over a number of years.” As Pearce observed, West Ham need to toughen up:” They’ve got to get an ability to be hard to beat and hard to break down..they looked as if they had a really soft underbelly”.

Soucek may be as elegant as an arthritic Gazelle but he’ll risk injury to get his head on the ball – something that was lacking from West Ham’s limp lettuce performance any the Stadium of Light.

‘Soucek the warrior’ under Moyes was seemingly forever bandaged and blood soaked: Adding the second highest goal scorer of last season back into the side revitalises the Hammers’ tepid goal threat at corners.  Surely, until better reinforcements arrive- Tornado Tom needs to come back into the side.

Whist that gives rise to the possibility of the ‘Soucek – Ward-Prowse dreaded double pivot’ of painful passing, West Ham’s head coach needs to heed the advice from one who knows. Stuart Pearce spent years at the club and at one stage was the Hammers’ defensive coach so his is an opinion to take seriously.