Moyes on Kudus starting a game

[J.Riddle]

"BBC Sport after Newcastle game asked Moyes what Kudus has to do to get a Premier League start for the Hammers. Moyes answered “He (Kudus) will be in the team for years to come so we are not in a huge hurry,” Moyes said matter-of-factly. “The team is getting good results (so there’s no need to change at the moment). “But he can play a big role in the future.”"

[Eerie Descent]

"Manners, it's a West Ham football website, the same things are going to be discussed when they keep happening, you pillock. What are you expecting? You're not exactly a fountain of cutting edge new opinion, you trot out the same old bollocks yourself like everyone does. You have become WHO Police, son, or are at least attempting it. Just ignore the bits that upset you, or just keep on trotting out the same old shit about no one at West Ham reading this forum, because no one knew that before you started posting it every day. Real finger on the pulse stuff, that."

[ludo21]

Last season Soucek was a DM. This season Alvarez has taken over that role which has freed Soucek up to get forward... it's not rocket science. I don't see Moyes dropping Soucek anytime soon. Personally I think he does a good job. He offers a lot defensively when needed but also has a knack of getting in the right position. Even when he wasn't firing last season he had a lot of near misses that weren't going for him. I would continue to play Thomas in 'difficult' matches but you could definitely argue that we could be more adventurous against lesser teams and play Kudus instead. IMO I'd make Kudus a starter and then alternate between Soucek and Antonio depending upon the opposition... Soucek with Kudus as a false 9 v top teams. Antonio with Kudus as a 10 v lesser teams.

[Manuel]

"Well you would certainly know about trotting out the same old stuff, son. Not WHO police at all, my point is that the same points are getting trotted out daily by some, but nobody is listening, so what really is the point? Why keep repeating the same thing, for whose benefit? How many times now have you mentioned that you fork out good dough to go over there and that you expect better? It's just plain boring, son."

[Eerie Descent]

"""No one from the club comes on here so it doesn't matter a fuck anyway"" Why do you feel the need to keep trotting that out on every post lately? I think everyone knows this place is just a load of sad cunts talking bollocks to each other about football, you seem to be trying to convince yourself more than anything. You've become the WHO Police lately, son. Desperate stuff."

[fraser]

"Good post Jack, but I think Antonio becomes more useful with Kudus on the pitch as having him as a replacement for Antonio still only gives us the same amount of options to counter attack and break the press. It gives the opposition more to think about and they can make space for each other... Need more than two with pace who can break."

[Vexed]

"Willtell 11:33 Thu Oct 12 You've just got use your eyes with your brain to realise he isn't a defensive midfielder. Or even listen to the words that came out of his own fucking mouth. Just because I used your daughter's arsehole as a cum collecting recepticle a few times, does that mean she is a full time cum bucket?"

[jack flash]

"The way I see it is that there are only two possible places up for grabs which are Soucek and Antonio I can't see Moyes replacing Soucek in his starting eleven any time soon, especially as he's been scoring goals and looking a much better player post Rice On the other hand, Antonio works hard but looks out of sorts at present. The big boot upfield to him no longer seems to work as the ball isn't sticking any more, so the ball comes straight back for us to defend Possibly defenders have learn to deal with him better or possibly he no longer has the same will or energy to compete. He's constantly getting fouled against with minor fouls which the defender gets away with or he fouls the defender. He obviously gets frustrated and keeps falling over attempting to buy a foul I've nothing against Antonio but he's no longer up to playing the full 90 minutes. the usual tactic is for him to be subbed around the 70 minute mark I think he should be brought on around the 70 minute mark instead I don't like the idea of Bowen playing as a central striker because he's far too useful playing on the right and being able to come back to help out Coufal. It's a good partnership but when Coufal gets forward he can't cut back and cross with his left foot, he has to pass back or sideways in that instance If he's passing back to a player with all the skills of Kudus it would be very effective I would play Kudus as a false no9, which he's played very effectively for Ajax in the past and would make our attack much more fluid On the other flank, Emerson and Paqueta link up fantastically well so there's no room for Kudus to play on the left. Surprisingly, perhaps for a left footed player it's not his favoured position either and he doesn't seem to play as well on that side I have to admit that last season I was very much in the 'Moyes Out' corner but I've since changed my mind because I can now see what he's trying to do Controlled defensive football can be good to watch provided that the ball can be moved forward on the break quickly and accurately Last season that wasn't happening and it was all defensive football with no pace and relying on goals from set pieces All sideways and backward passes This season we have the players who can break forward quickly and effectively and Kudus is ideally suited to that type of football He should be starting every game in the league ."

[Willtell]

"From Wikipedia Full name

[Lee Trundle]

Soucek has said himself that he sees himself as a box to box midfielder. That's not a defensive midfielder.

[Willtell]

Vexed 2:25 How can you say Soucek is NOT a defensive midfielder? That's his stated position FFS! Or do you mean he's not a DM like you said Declan Rice wasn't a DM?

[Manuel]

"No one from the club comes on here so it doesn't matter a fuck anyway, but all this Soucek bashing is getting silly now. I've been a big critic of him also, but this season he is contributing well at both ends, no matter how you toss it up. Credit where credit is due, would be my take on the matter."

[fraser]

"Alfs - it is the point of football, but that one contribution over 75 minutes when his inclusion hampers us keeping the ball and transitioning up the pitch isn't a good trade off when we let in two goals, because while he was on the pitch we only had two shots.."

[Alfs]

"Sir Alf - ""Scoring goals recently masks his lack of contribution in games"". Get a grip man! Scoring goals is the point of football."

[Alfs]

"Sir Alf - ""Scoring goals recently masks his lack of contribution in games"". Get a grip man! Scoring goals is the point of football."

[Mex Martillo]

"Makes me smile some of the posts on here. Off course Soucek is a good defensive midfielder. It’s the best side of his game. Even if you hate Soucek and Moyes you can see Moyes selects him because he stops attacks and makes clearances that stop us conceding goals. Add to that scoring goals and that makes him a pretty handy player to have. Who to drop to make way for Kudus is a difficult one. The players most similar to Kudus are Bowen, JWP and Paqueta who are playing really well and should start. I guess Soucek and Antonio are possibilities. Depends on the opposition and game plan. Have some faith in Moyes! Ha ha ha. Coufal no good! Fucking hell. Coufal is back, Great start to the season. Brilliant assists. Good defending and tackling. Get used to it he’s playing well, give him some credit."

[BillyJenningsBoots]

"Ok then lets stop referring to Soucek as a defensive Midfielder - however he is in the side not only for his goals he might score but also for his defending of corners etc certainly not his tackling or interceptions as his stats are cr&p.. Kudus could certainly improve our ball retention, passing and probably match if not exceed Souceks goals given the chance.. So if Soucek's not in as an out and out defensive midfielder and we could be improved by utilising another player (Kudus) I can only assume he is in the team to defend corners?"

[BillyJenningsBoots]

He (Moyes) is a stubborn c*nt of a manager who would rather we underperformed rather than admit he is wrong! There I said it!

[fraser]

"I didn't say he didn't play deeper, I said he did but not all of the time."

[Ron Eff]

"If you don’t recognise that Soucek played deeper last season, you’re not watching games properly. That’s not to say he wasn’t shit, he absolutely was, and accepts it himself, but when played in a role more comfortable to him without the burden of defending, he clearly does score goals. Proof is in the pudding… He is very much a carbon copy of Fellaini, who also wasn’t a defensive midfielder"

[fraser]

"Sick of reading this about Soucek, was played in the same position loads last season, got into the box plenty.. Missed loads of good chances.. He was fucking abysmal, also not much better the season before."

[Ron Eff]

"Soucek is not a defensive midfielder. He’s only viewed as one because he’s not a flair no.10. He’s a limited box to box midfielder, who whether you like to accept or not, has a knack for getting into goal scoring positions. He proved that in his first season, his form drifted last season when he was played defensively to accommodate Rice’s ambitions of being all action. That said, is he better than Paqueta and Kudus as the attacking midfielder of the three? Of course not. I think he’s back to being a useful option again though. So that leaves you with the option of continuing with Paqueta on the left (with a certain level of free role) where he is linking exceptionally well with Emerson, or you try Kudus on the left. The only other alternative is Paqueta at 10, Kudus in for Antonio and Benrahma back in at left wing."

[Sir Alf]

"Soucek’s not good enough to start longer term. Scoring goals recently masks his lack of contribution in games albeit popping up in a position to score is a skill or ability in itself. If Soucek was a striker and just scored goals no problem and if Soucek keeps scoring every week or so again no problem he likely keeps his place. But the counter argument is that with him playing , and especially against the better / rich teams, we will struggle more to get and keep the ball? Some will point to his constant running and yes some of his closing down off the ball or clearances aerially do have value but to progress as a team and get and keep the ball better he doesn’t start for me. I don’t see him continuing his scoring streak but for now long may it continue because he’s going to be picked by Moyes. But the time is coming where Moyes will see he has to switch Soucek to the bench and start Kudus. Soucek coming on as a sub like he did with Fellani at times to change to going direct etc. Soucek not making the league first 11 will see him want to move I suspect? As mentioned a few times Soucek, Coufal, Antonio and Benrahma cannot be starters in the Premiership and in the tougher games if we want to progress and be capable of getting and keeping the ball better. We allow Paqueta to be wasteful at times as City do to a degree with De Bruyne but one player at most , who creates chances, is enough. Next Summer we will hopefully look to upgrade the above and move Cresswell and Oggy out to pasture With better technical players / passers than the above 4 and also more pace their replacements will hopefully bring, we are capable of playing better football and getting / keeping it better. Then we will see if Moyes evolves our play. I would wager he won’t but that’s when we see him depart but hopefully after some more success using the Mourinho model of low possession and fast counters"

[Vexed]

"Willtell 12:13 Wed Oct 11 He isn't a defensive midfielder. He has been used at times as one and he's not so good at it. Alvarez is a defensive midfielder, you probably haven't heard of him but he is."

[fraser]

"Yep Willtell you're completely correct an attacking midfielder playing in an attacking midfielder position rather than a player who can't pass, can't carry or dribble the ball, is slow wouldn't have improved our attacking potency before he came on.. Again you're missing the point we would have been in attacking mode earlier, more chance of winning if you try to score before the 75th minute.. Then maybe we might have been winning instead.. Or is it like Moyes you prefer to be in defensive mode for the first 75 minutes...."

[Lee Trundle]

"You didn't watch the Newcastle game, did you Willtell?"