We’ve got our Tomas Soucek back, it’s a shame it’s taken David Moyes 18 months to play him in his correct position.
West Ham United took on Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League this afternoon, and there were much more positive signs.
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One of the players who stood out for West Ham was Soucek.
The 27-year-old Hammers midfielder looked back to somewhere near his best and was just like his old self.
Signed on a permanent £18 million deal in the summer of 2020 (WHUFC.com), Soucek enjoyed an incredible first year and a half at the London Stadium.
The Czech Republic international’s worst attribute is his passing and lack of composure in possession. Meanwhile, his strengths are getting into the opposition’s box and timing his runs in between their midfield and back line to influence proceedings in the final third.
So it’s little wonder he has struggled when playing as a deep-lying midfielder…
We’ve got our Tomas Soucek back
It seemed like today was the day when Moyes finally realised that Soucek is best when utilised as a more advanced midfielder.
And the Scot deployed Rice as the holding midfielder. We look so much more solid as a team defensively and Soucek was a real threat every time the ball went forward.
Quite why Moyes changed things at the start of the 2021/22 season, when things had worked so well the previous campaign, is anyone’s guess.
Hopefully the West Ham manager will stick to this formula now. It worked so well in the 2020/21 season and saw us finish in sixth place in the Premier League table.
If the Hammers are to stay up this season then we will need Soucek to be on his very best form. I have criticised him a lot this season but when you think about it, Moyes is the man to blame for his struggles.
From today’s game, it seems like we’ve got our Tomas Soucek back.
When the Czech ace is on form, and played in his correct position, he’s a real handful for any defence.
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