West Ham star panned for performance against Blades is named in team of the week

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A West Ham star panned for his performance against the Blades has been named in a Premier League team of the week.

West Ham’s 2-2 draw with Sheffield United had just about everything.

Four goals, two penalties, two red cards, refereeing controversy, a stonewall last gasp penalty turned down and even post-match conspiracy theories about West Ham bias from Sheffield United’s captain.

Well now this particular soap opera has something of a plot twist too.

David Moyes described his team’s performance as ‘probably the worst’ of his Hammers tenure.

Several Hammers players failed to cover themselves in glory with the likes of Pablo Fornals, Maxwel Cornet and James Ward-Prowse unimpressive.

Panned Soucek named in team of week

Another player who came in for more criticism after the game is Tomas Soucek.

The midfielder has become something of a scapegoat for some West Ham fans.

Soucek is clearly limited on the ball. And when he’s not contributing goals, many question how many he offers the West Ham side.

Well plenty according to the official statistics.

Because the West Ham star panned for his performance against the Blades has been named in a team of the week.

WhoScored are the world’s biggest football analytics powered by Opta data.

They have released their Premier League team of the week and that man Soucek takes his place in central midfield.

Super Tom but no sign of Dec

The team is dominated by Arsenal and Liverpool players, who take up EIGHT of the 11 spots in the side.

But West Ham’s Soucek is in there with a near 8/10 rating (7.91) alongside Alexis Mac Allister.

Notably in a team which does not include his former Hammers midfield partner Declan Rice, despite the dominance of Arsenal and Liverpool.

Debate to rage over new-look midfield

Soucek’s place in this West Ham team has been the subject of much debate.

And that is sure to intensify as the Hammers close in on signing Kalvin Phillips too.

The selfless, dogged and disciplined work Soucek does for the team often goes unnoticed or at least under appreciated nowadays. It was one of the reasons many supporters fell in love with Soucek when he first joined. But some now take it for granted – as is human nature.

It now very much seems that Moyes will be sacrificing either Soucek or Ward-Prowse in his first choice XI with everyone fit.

But when either of them does play in that new-look midfield, they will at least be in their preferred positions further forward.

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