FROM Graham Potter’s disastrous team selections, the squad that started at Old Trafford looked a far cry from those dim distant days of dullness. No side-side-back passing from a midfield composed of Rodriguez, James Ward Prowse and Tomas Soucek: The pacy combination offered by Freddie Potts, Mateus Fernandes and Soungoutou Magassa shows the route Nuno has travelled and the results have energised both team and supporters.
Whilst Rodriguez put in a surprise appearance against Brighton, there’s clearly no going back to the bad old ways of the midfield that cannot run. James Ward Prowse has been exiled and it would seem that Tomas Soucek is destined to be a bit-part player from now on.
Filling in as – of all positions – a right winger at Old Trafford and appearing as a late substitute against Brighton, Tornado Tom’s days of being in the starting eleven appear to be over, barring injury crises.
The old warhorse deserves a few months of occasional appearances, he’s an absolute gem and has an attitude this club probably doesn’t deserve but his days as a Hammer are surely numbered.
It’s probably premature to suggest Soucek will be sold in January.
There’s still the odd goal in his beaten – up frame – but Nuno’s youth revolution will have its inevitable casualties. Caughtoffside.com evidently believe the end is nigh:
“Soucek has been a fine player for West Ham since joining back in 2020 from Czech side Slavia Prague. He has racked up 245 [250 actually, MT] appearances for the club, although he may struggle to make much more, given that his future looks bleak. The match against Brighton has appeared to make it clear that he is not counted upon by Nuno, so the obvious next step would be for player and club to seek a transfer in January.”
Definitely the direction of travel, but probably January is too soon: Besides, Soucek’s ‘whatever it takes’ mindset is perfect for a relegation battle and he may have a couple more warrior-like performances in his locker before he’s put out to grass.
Clearly he won’t be a regular starter going forward but why sell him. We are unlikely to get 10 million for him. Better to keep him in the squad.
Also if the worst happens and we do go down I would want him as Captain next season
Soucek is to pedestrian for the premiership now. He has been a good servant, but he needs to move on now.
I’ve not been backwards in coming forwards in my criticisms of Soucek’s role in this team over the past 18 months, and I’m delighted to see a manager finally waking up to his ineptitude when playing in the middle of the park.
But you’re right that he is a stalwart with a never-say-die attitude, and deserves our respect and appreciation for his earlier efforts in a Hammers shirt. As I’ve been calling for, I would have no problem seeing him come on for the last 5/10 minutes when we need a goal, as long as he doesn’t meander back into midfield, where he causes us problems.
Agree Martin. Moved on in the summer would be ideal. A great and loyal servant to the club.