West Ham United midfielder Tomas Soucek will retain his starting spot when the Hammers host Wolverhampton Wanderers after the international break, despite finding himself in a disappointing run of form.
What’s the word?
That is according to journalist Paul Brown, who has informed GIVEMESPORT of Soucek’s urgent need to rediscover the form that saw become a star at the London Stadium.
Brown also feels the Czech Republic international is not feeling the pressure, knowing that he is by far one of the best assets at the club.
With no pressure due to a lack of quality depth in the central areas, the journalist believes that Soucek’s place in David Moyes’ starting XI is not under threat and expects to see the 6 ft 4 start once again in the crucial home clash against Wolves.
Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, Brown said: “He really needs to start producing. Because they didn’t sign a major name in his position, I don’t think his position is too under threat now at West Ham.
“Maybe that’s a bit too cosy and safe for him, but he certainly needs to start performing.”
Harsh, but true
Whilst there is certainly a world in which Soucek will play his way back into form, the usual situation would see Moyes drop the Czech international for a few games, to reinstall that desire to work harder and address the faults in his game behind the scenes.
But, in this situation, despite the Hammers spending over £160million in the summer transfer window just gone, they find themselves short of an established defensive-minded depth option.
It means that Moyes is left with a few options; either play Soucek in the hope that he can return to his best, play Flynn Downes, who is not proven at this level, or switch the system to one that makes use of a single pivot in Declan Rice.
The latter would be the best bet.
A 4-3-3 system, as seen in the dominant win against FCSB in the Europa Conference League, is exactly what the Hammers will need against a resurgent and defensively sound Wolves side.
West Ham have drastically struggled to create chances this season, having created just four, which has seen them score a measly total of three goals from their first seven games.
Something has to change, and a 4-3-3 set-up that utilises more mobile and tactically fluid players in the engine room, supported by the anchor in Rice, could work perfectly in their bid to assert more authority in possession, and create a greater number of chances.
