West Ham Online

". ........... V London Stadium Sat 16 Sept 15:00 GMT VAR Darren Bond Andy Madley: (3) - 20 1 Areola, Coufal, Zouma ¬©, Aguerd, Emerson, ?Ålvarez, Ward-Prowse, Souƒçek, Paquet?°, Bowen, Antonio Subs: Fabia?Ñski (GK), Cresswell, Ogbonna, Mavropanos, Kehrer, Fornals, Kudus, Benrahma, Ings Ederson, Walker ¬©, Dias, Akanji, Gvardiol, Rodri, Silva, Foden, Doku, ?Ålvarez, Haaland Subs: Ortega (GK), Carson (GK), Lewis, Ak?©, G??mez, Phillips, Nunes, Bobb West Ham 9/2 : Draw 7/2: Man City 19/40 ."

"Sir Alf I’m not a fan of Soucek. However last night I watched our Chelsea win again. I watched for Soucek and he was absolutely everywhere making blocks, tackles, interceptions and headers. He made some weird non-passes but also made some very good ones too. I had to rethink my attitude to him because his defensive and attacking commitment was incredible. I doubt anyone covered more ground. I last night saw why he excites Moyes but would not interest Guardiola at all. When we fight to stay in games which is often, he can be superb. Unfortunately when we want to play positive football he gets exposed as weak…"

0-3

We’ve got as good-a-chance as anyone else of beating them these days - so why not.

"Ok you peasants, it’s prediction time. Im going for a 1-1 draw. If there’s a winner I’ll be us. COYI’s"

"his obsession with a certain type of player isn't new. he behaved the same way at everton with felaini, where it got so bad at times that he'd dispense with a striker and have the team punting balls up to him. what other manager would take over from alex ferguson, and the reigning champions, and make that fucking carthorse his main signing? soucek is a great person but we have better players now and it's time he selected on merit, rather than favouritism"

"I understand Sir Alf’s question on Soucek’s attributes. I think that there are some players - some positions- which are difficult to appreciate. A goalkeeper, a goal scorer, a pacey winger ripping it up, a player with a wand-like foot, a centre back making those crunching tackles - they’re easy to spot and applaud. Maybe some of Soucek’s good work is off the ball, closing players down, denying space, blocking, harrying and pressing, providing an option for a team-mate….A bit like Southgate and Maguire, I can’t see the logic why Moyes would persist with Soucek if he didn’t feel he was offering some value to the team. Critics of Soucek would argue, I’m sure, that all this may be so, but his overall performances last season were below par. I’m sure we’ll get clarity in the weeks to come."

"I understand Sir Alf’s question on Soucek’s attributes. I think that there are some players - some positions- which are difficult to appreciate. A goalkeeper, a goal scorer, a pacey winger ripping it up, a player with a wand-like foot, a centre back making those crunching tackles - they’re easy to spot and applaud. Maybe some of Soucek’s good work is off the ball, closing players down, denying space, blocking, harrying and pressing, providing an option for a team-mate….A bit like Southgate and Maguire, I can’t see the logic why Moyes would persist with Soucek if he didn’t feel he was offering some value to the team. Critics of Soucek would argue, I’m sure, that all this may be so, but his overall performances last season were below par. I’m sure we’ll get clarity in the weeks to come."

"Antonio must play as we will need to play to zones, we won’t play through their mid/def."

"Sir Alf there is no question how good he was when we first bought him, pundits describing him and Dec the best midfield pairing in the PL. Then after the world cup his form dipped, speculation also with Dec getting forward he couldn't play his normal game. I remember a period when Nobes seemed to have a very poor period, then Moyes moved him to a more forward role and he was a revelation so I would say lets see how he performs now, from last year Souček is the third-highest scoring midfielder in the Premier League and has won more aerial challenges than any other top-flight player, while Rice ranks third in interceptions and has captained the Irons to 13 impressive wins."

"At the risk of being obtuse ( famous quote from Andy Dufrain in Shawshank Redemption :-). ) can someone describe the qualities that are being appreciated in Soucek ? Sorry I really am not trying to be a smartarse (I’m definitely not smart anyway ;-) ) but aside from aerial ability which has value defensively without doubt is it his general positioning and discipline to keep running and trying to close that are the things that are being referred to? Let’s call tgat “screening” of the back 4 or 3? See fir me he is just too slow and relies on those long legs if his with last ditch tackles or simply chase the proverbial shadows? I am open to being convinced otherwise but given the options we have now ( Alvarez, Paqueta, JWP, Kudus) how will he ever make that first 11? Great to bring in for some Europa qualifier's, cup games etc. but his lack of speed and poor passing accuracy by Premiership standards ) must surely see him as a backup / sun for league games if not this Saturday then just a matter of a few games time?"

Nips Bubble Zouma (C) Aguerd Coufal ?Ålvarez Paqueta JWP Emerson Bowen Kudus

eswing hammer 6:24 Thu Sep 14 HaHa

"This tweeted from Carlton Cole ""Dec was a great player but there are other players as well that did help him as well be who he is. Soucek goes underrated. He took a lot of flak last season and Declan was the golden child but Soucek had to sit to accommodate Rice which wasn’t actually his game."""

"Good to read some warmth towards Soucek on here at last. A player we need in matches like this one - maybe less so against less potent opponents. Following the Maguire-esque criticisms of him last season (some warranted, some ott) maybe some of us are starting to appreciate what Moyes sees. That said, I hope Moyes uses Soucek more strategically as the season pans out and is less reliant on him game in, game out."

"Playing the current European champions will be tough, Man City will just have to cope with it though!"

"Alvarez will play I'm sure. He played in Atlanta, Georgia in the early hours of Wednesday and will have had a good sleep on his 1st class flight back to London arriving this morning probably. Two good nights sleep and training on Friday he'll be fine. I expect Moyes will play Soucek as well though. I don't mind that... Soucek had a good international break, has been playing well... keep it tight for 89 mins and unleash Kudus for 5 mins of injury time LOL. Repeat v Liverpool"

"From the latest reported Moyes comments about Saturdays take, it would seem that Alvarez will be making way for Soucek. Moyes saying Alvarez not back from international duty until this evening and how it will be hard to get him ready for Saturday. I suspected he was looking for a way to get Tommy back in. No one has really made a strong case for why he would start with the current squad options and it was, to me, always a mystery last season and much of the previous season to how Soucek was never rested or substituted as he was really struggling. Defensive heading ability seems to be the facet of his play that gets him picked? I recognise his work rate and running and discipline positionally screening the back 4. But his severe lack of pace and inability to pass accurately at speed ( caused by high and constant pressing by most teams in the Premiership these days ) severely impacts the effectiveness of his defensive covering. He gets bypassed too easily on the floor imo. I may well be missing something obvious that he brings to the team and would be delighted to be put straight on it. Anyone have a “scooby”’what it is that makes Moyes such a fan of Tommy ?"

"He's a terrible passer for someone so talented, even Moyes come out and commented on how often he gives it away after Luton. Give the ball to City and it will be a while to get it back."

"But can’t pass 10 yards most of the time, but I forgive him, for that final Bowen pass!"

"""He’s primarily a defensive midfielder..."" You reckon?"

Paqueta is and always was the upgrade from Rice. He’s primarily a defensive midfielder with silky skills.

"We all know it will be same team as Brighton away, unless there are any injuries. The plan will be to keep it tight and bring on Kudos for last couple of mins."

"Barry (Bazza to his mates) is a good bloke, decent grub in there too. Have a good one."

"Austrian Irons Fan Club! THE TUBE STATION home to the „Austrian Irons“ our mutual allegiance has resulted in the group watching West Ham games in his bar, which proudly displays the „Austrian Irons“ flag. Thank very much Manuel"

Mex - There is a West Ham pub in Vienna. https://www.thetubestation.at/public/aboutthebar/