West Ham’s analysts have been stunned to discover that loan signing Tomas Soucek covered more ground than any Hammer in six years against Manchester City.
Their stats show that the midfielder, 24, ran 13.1km — just over eight miles.
“I think his numbers were just so big. I had a feeling when we signed him that it was one of his strengths.
“We had talked about needing some legs, a bit more energy, running, covering the ground more.
“And he’s a goal threat. Against Brighton he had a couple of chances and the other night was nearly on the end of one.”
Soucek made six appearances for the Czech side in the group stages of the Champions League this season — up against Barcelona, Borussia Dortmund and Inter Milan.
The manager added: “We’re in a tough period and we’re trying to gather some positives from it.
“Hopefully one or two of the young players can have an impact.
“Tomas is young. But if we can get goals — plus the energy he has got — it’s been shown he’s bringing something to the table.”
ClaretandHugh says: In a word Soucek’s Running Man stats are simply incredible. It’s been mentioned at various times that he has the ability to make long raking runs from defensive midfield and into the opposition area and that it appears to be one of the features of his game. But nobody could surely have imagined that the guy was covering such an extraordinary amount of ground and that is precisely what the Premier League demands. Our survival is imperative if we are to keep Soucek. The loan deal dictates that unless we stay up he will be gone. And these figures show he can provide the dynamic for all the others in the team who PERHAPS haven’t been putting it in to the level required. I said soon after his first game that he looked captain material to me and now his work rate, determination and effort more than back that up
We have analysts?!
What is most shocking is that not one player has put that much effort in, in over 6 years
I think that has said it all about the lacklustre effort most of the players have been putting in for the past few years at the so called “holiday camp”.
Soucek certainly has come in and made it look like we have some legs in midfield but sadly cannot do it on his own. Think Declan took a leaf out of his book versus City and looked like he did have some legs too, maybe let him and soucek have more of a free reign in midfield.
This is the point where Noble, as great a servant as he has been, is dropped from the starting line up and we have Rice and Soucek in the middle with an attacking option in front of them, Fornals or Anderson.
Moyes will likely change for the formation after Liverpool and IMO opinion he should go 4-2-3-1.
Fab
Zab, Diop, Oggy, Cresswell
Soucek, Rice
Antonio, Anderson, Bowen
Haller
If he stick to his 3-5-2 then he should change the wingbacks to attacking options
Fab
Diop Oggy, Cresswell
Fornals left WB, Rice and Soucek holding, Anderson ahead, Bowen right WB
Haller and Antonio up top.
For that to work Bowen and Fornals have to be given a licence to play higher up the pitch
“I had a feeling when we signed him that it was one of his strengths.”
Thats the scariest thing I’ve read in long. Manager had a FEELING this was a strength??? Who signed him?
All this shows is that noble has been part of the problem.
The box to box midfielder should be racking up these numbers.
No other outfield position is going to do as much running.
The fact we’ve had a player who doesn’t cover the ground, or indeed with any speed, has hurt us more than Mr nobles undoubted commitment to the cause has helped us.
In fact, we need another like soucek.