(Photo by Arfa Griffiths/West Ham United FC via Getty Images)
It’s hard to find sufficient words when paying tribute to Tomas Soucek – in my book the best midfielder I have seen at this club in years.
Not for the first time this season he and Declan often dominated against Man City – particularly in the first half – as we took a precious 1-0 lead into the break with the Czech having played a major part in Michail Antonio’s goal.
He defies the Pellegrini mantra that it takes a year for new signings to settle into a club. Tomas has impacted on West Ham United since he first pulled on the claret and blue shirt.
It’s not unfair to single the guy out of a team which is producing a pretty extraordinary start to the season and had we taken, what would have been a thoroughly well deserved draw from Arsenal, tonight we’d be sitting in the top ten.
Never mind, so long as – please God – we can keep the likes of Tomas and our other big players free of injury who knows where we might be by the end of the year – for starters.
Talking at https://www.whufc.com/news/articles/2020/october/24-october/tomas-soucek-both-teams-deserved-draw Soucek declared of today’s (Sat) game: “We’re happy with the result, even though we thought we could win. Again we had chances and our defending was great.
“We’ve found a good atmosphere as a team this season, a nice spirit, and we’re confident that we ca+n play against teams like Manchester City, Tottenham and get results.
“It is a shame we could not win, but Manchester City had many chances as well so I think we both deserved the draw.”
Antonio’s goal was his third of the season, and eleventh since football resumed in June, and Souček has seen first hand how his threat has grown ever bigger over that time.
He was delighted to see him notch once again and paid tribute to the impact he has on his teammates.
“Everyone know how big a player Michail is, and he has helped us many times,” he added.
The same today – he has nice form and I hope he’s good because he had to go off in the second half.”
The point keeps West Ham above the 2019/20 runners-up in the Premier League table, and Souček is happy with how his team’s start of the season has gone.
“It’s good to be above them in the table and hopefully we can stay there as long as possible,” he smiled.
We have a team who enjoys playing together & get on. Souček has been brilliant since first game & same for Coufal who was immense today as well. Can’t see Frederick’s getting back is spot. Balbuena too who a lot wanted to sell but he didn’t get the time like Diope who struggled 2nd seaso too. At £4m £30k should Def keep another year or two bc doesn’t moan of isn’t playing either..
Wonderful to see the team clicking like this but Foden shouldn’t of been MOTM!
The difference between the £5KK and the £50KK player rarely is that clear. You do not get a De Bruyne for either amount. Clubs pay for the name, “proved” ability. Players like Jack Wishire.
The brains and the glue is Moyes. I suspect attitude is as important as ability.
Haller needs to earn his time through hard work and an attitude adjustment. Always difficult for the French, but if Pogba can change, anything is possible.