Not for the first time, Tomas Soucek has popped up with an important goal to help West Ham, and on this occasion, his boss, Julen Lopetegui.
The big Czech might not be everyone’s cup of tea, and he certainly isn’t a silky footballer in the mould of Lucas Paquetá, but he has the sort of qualities that managers love.
If I’m being honest, I thought Soucek would be surplus to requirements once David Moyes left the club. Like many, I believed he would not have the passing game to thrive in a possession-based team. However, Julen Lopetegui is something of a pragmatist and rightly focused on what Soucek can do rather than what he can’t.
While he may not possess Paquetá’s skills, Lopetegui knows that he can trust Big Sou to deliver when it counts. Understandably, Soucek was in high demand for interviews following his equaliser against Brentford, and his words will be music to the ears of West Ham fans.
“I’m happy the manager trusts me; the fans sing my name, and I’m happy about that. The Czech media wrote that West Ham fans don’t need me and don’t like me anymore, so I appreciate the connections and what it means for me and what it means for them.
I have been here for almost five years now, so hopefully, I can have a few more.”
Soucek is an impressive individual. His will to win, work rate, and ability to find space in the box mean he will always be an option when a manager is under pressure and in need of a goal.
Therefore, I guess none of us should be shocked that while the likes of Kudus, Paquetá, and Emerson got their marching orders, Big old Tomas Soucek was left on the pitch by his manager because when the big moments arrive, he knows precisely what he’ll get.
This blokes got the heart of a lion when the going gets tough as they say he’s saved us on many occasions keep it up Tomas.
You wouldn’t win a game with 11 Paqueta’s or 11 Soucek’s, but all good teams need a mixture of different skills to flourish
NOOOOOOO – The guy gives his all and is very decent, nice, charming, polite, etc etc but he ain’t a Premier League standard footballer end of.
Names and what you earn and star player if you don’t deliver on the day you are nothing..
Soucek plays for the team not for himself.
That says a lot about a player.
Soucek is a thorough professional and all round decent person in the way footballers used to be. He is worth his transfer just for his first half season and he keeps on doing what he does. He deserves a lot of respect.
Absolutely agree, yes we need the flair players, but we also need the grafters to cover and put in the hard yards.
Well done Soucek.
On holiday in corfu, watched the game and it was hard work! Soucek is not the most skilful but I love the bloke, always gives 100%!!! I think we’ve got the players but not the team at the moment. Now back to the sunbed. COYI’S!!!