West Ham’s Tomas Soucek is an easy player to admire and understandably a fan favourite. His never-say-die attitude, incredible work rate, and ability to score important goals always have me willing him to do well.
Moreover, Soucek is a likable fella who has fully embraced the culture and history of West Ham and clearly loves playing for the club.
However, I couldn’t help but feel a little bit sad for the Czech midfielder as he attempted to make the case that he can perform in a possession-based, technical footballing side. In many respects, it felt like a closing statement, as if Soucek was trying to convince everybody that his skill set was something different from what we’ve witnessed at West Ham during his career.
It could be argued that Soucek is a versatile footballer, just the wrong kind. When he first moved to the London Stadium, he was a marauding, goal-scoring box-to-box midfielder who was full of relentless running and energy.
As has now been documented, his midfield role changed to accommodate the blossoming talents of Declan Rice, which required Soucek to perform a more defensive role. And he was good at it too; a brief look at his statistics shows a player with impressive numbers for defensive headers, blocks, and interceptions.
All action hero: Soucek put his body on the line
If any football manager in the world was on the lookout for a footballer who would throw themselves in front of a ball with little regard for their own safety, then Tomas Soucek would be at the top of the list.
Difficulty adapting
Unfortunately for Big Sou, despite all his obvious qualities, what he does lack are technique, vision, passing range, and the ability to move his feet quickly. It is a deficiency in these skill sets that I believe will mean he is unable to flourish under Lopetegui.
With West Ham seemingly in the market for an additional midfielder, competition will be fierce at the London Stadium next season. Edson Alvarez and Lucas Paqueta would appear to be nailed-on regular starters for the Hammers, which by my reckoning leaves one available position.
The obvious answer is, of course, James Ward-Prowse, who is far better suited to Lopetegui’s position-based football ideology. However, even JWP would have seen himself jettisoned from the team had West Ham been successful with their transfer bid for Aleix Garcia.
Factor in the emergence of new Hammers cult hero Andy Irving and the likelihood that either Lewis Orford or Freddie Potts will feature regularly in the West Ham squad this season, and it quickly becomes clear that opportunities for Tomas Soucek to start Premier League games for the Hammers next season could be limited.
Perhaps I’m wrong; maybe there is some set of circumstances or positional change that would mean the big Czech midfielder would feature under Lopetegui. But unfortunately, as things stand, I just can’t see a West Ham future for a player who has been an amazing servant to the club.
I understand the Souchek misgivings but he wins us a lot of games with his goals and who doesn’t love his wherling dervish thingy goal celebration?
Another great article Gonzo.
I see the same issues of Soucek adapting to the new style of play.
I think we may sell towards the end of the window.
Could he be converted to a Striker?
I’m not the only one, then, Benny, who sees the potential in Soucek being a better ‘Peter Crouch’ than Peter Crouch himself!
There maybe several players competing for limited spaces as regular starters.
Unfortunately it’s not the best scenario but one that needs to be accepted and some will be on sub bench.
Moyes continually run same players into the ground as he didn’t have enough good players on bench.
This situation needs to change, top 6 teams have players on bench equal to those who need to come off.
Squad of 25 means having all players that can be called on.
Versatility and doubling up is a necessity.
I do find it funny that those who don’t like big Tom beat him with the stick that he only does his stuff in both boxes and little else. Well that’s where it matters ! I live the guy – what a trooper . I wouldn’t count him out just yet . I understand the article and it has a lot of validity but I still see big Tom coming up with 8-10 goals this coming season
Deathblow your continual negative insults are very much like you, boring.
Go away and annoy other websites please.
We all look at some of these stories and don’t agree with them or feel they are meaningless but we try and express our frustration in a more constructive way.
Hi mate, thanks for making the point.
To be honest, it took me a fair while to write that piece. It’s not a news story, it’s my reasoning as to why I don’t believe Soucek will make the grade in Lopetegui’s midfield.
If Mr Deathblow wanted to make the counter argument as to why Soucek will become a regular under Lopetegui then he would have been more than welcome. But he never makes the counter argument on the topic in hand and quite frankly, I think he’s so triggered by the website that it’s gone beyond West Ham for him. Some of his comments are vile and incredibly nasty.
For the record, it was my decision alone to reopen the comments section on C&H. Hughie grew to hate them and the criticism made him very anxious and I understand why. I completely understand why so many other West Ham websites have their comments turned off.
Gonzo/Kate, we all appreciate the effort you guys put in and that we are able to respond or comment. And though sometimes we may not all agree, its great to be able to comment respectfully as if you were arguing with mates at the pub. Keep up the good work and don’t let the idiots grind you guys down.
I’ve been critical of Thomas over the years with the issues you have identified but his international performance’s are often outstanding, particularly in the recent Euro’s. It’s a question of how he is best used but if he can reproduce that form he can be a very useful attacking option but it just depends on what role the new manager see’s for him. I don’t think he’s a purely defensive midfielder which was often how Moyes used him but we’ll have to wait and see.
Long term reader but very rarely comment. Had to reply to this as I wanted to also say about his international performances as they seem to have been discounted from the article. I often watch West Ham players international games and big Tom does have good passing technique when playing for the Czechs and put in some outstanding performances. Maybe it’s his captains head or the style of play. But it did surprise me. Not sure how he played his club football before us. I like Soucek a lot and felt sorry for him when Declan got priority. If he adapts to loppy’s ways and bring some of them international performances to his game too then he can be a key player.
I’ll be delighted for him if that happens Paul, his commitment to the cause is clear for all to see.
I do wonder if he’ll handle being a substitute if that turns out to be his role next season?
soucek was a moyes player, we dont need moyes player, and it wont work in our new system, alveres does, as technically he fits the plan.
Can he replicate the days bd? (before declan), no, because he has never been aware of whats around him & more importantly, he slows the pace down. Good when you want to dictate pace, but hopefully we will use pace to dictate game.
Well that’s a bit of a silly statement! Areola was a Moyes player, Bowen was a Moyes player, Emerson Palmieri was a Moyes player, Kudus was a Moyes player, Alvarez was a Moyes player and Paqueta was a Moyes player, even Andy Irving was a Moyes player,…..so shall we just get rid of them all because they were players Moyes brought to the club? I think not, and as you don’t appear to explain what you mean very well….a lot of possession based teams that dictate the pace of the game tend to slow things down while they probe and move the opposition around, then increase the pace when they attack….so your point doesn’t really ring true! Also, well said about Deathblow too, no need for it at all!
Why do you have to be so ignorant and rude? Can you not make a point without acting like an angry child? If you don’t agree with the article then make your point, but lose the 13 year old kid attitude. Your angry response to everything is tiresome to the rest of us.
Thanks Sydney, just to let you know that we appreciate your patience and will be dealing with this incessant and continual trolling.
I believe that Lopetegui will take a serious look at him considering all of his qualities. There may be games and situations in games that he suits more than others.
I think righting all this crap is a spurs supporters winding us hammers up its never ending transfers never happens now picking on players had enough of reading all this garbage bye
Users comments have been deleted
Okay you disagree but there’s no need for your rude comments.
If you think your some expert maybe you should start writing for C&H?
Might need a spellcheck app first
Okay, this is all getting rather silly now.
We’ve had four complaints in one day about you, so you’ll have to go I’m afraid. We’re acutely aware that you’ll create yet another email account and once again run through a proxy IP address just like your previous incarnations.
But ask yourself, did you ever envisage a time that you’d be so dedicated to internet trolling that you’d go to such lengths?
You ask who cares? You do, you absolutely care.
So much so that you return daily to a website you claim to hate and abuse people. You then get banned and go through the process of registering a new email account. You are the absolute definition of an internet troll and your toxic posting is most unwelcome.
Oh well if you have to go you have to go?