West Ham Online

Despised by many on here.

Man of the match, player of the season and should be captain.

legend. 

I dont think we can afford to let Soucek go for 20m. That does not get you much these days.

Although, I think Moyres would offer 20m and more to get him.

He will likely be one of the first players to receive a bid but think we need to see how recruitment goes in midfield and attacking areas before we let him go. The club need to be confident the goals will be coming from elsewhere otherwise we go down. 

Just a qustion here then.
Would swap Josh Brownhill for Soucek ?
Scores more goals and is quicker across midfield.
never really rated him in the PL but....

Agree with Alf - were it not for his healthy goal scoring contribution he'd long be gone as we almost have to carry him as a player in midfield at times. Problem is we are so light on goals and we have been so reliant on this source of them that he IS almost first name on the team sheet.  If we can get 20M then obviously we should take it, we just need to replace adequately, and we are not so good at that.

Yesterday was one of the 3 in 4 games in which Soucek is largely anonymous. He did a couple of very good blocks and was generally tidy with his passimg but his lack of pace across the ground yet again meant he was restricted in terms of touches if the ball.  Its why it feels like we are playing with 10 or one light in midfield at times. He did still ghost into the box to get on the end of things and 1 in 4 or 5 games he will come up with a valuable goal or contribute to a fine deep defensive display ( typically away from home).  Is the trade off good enough? Not for me and at 30 I cannot see him performing better from here on?  I do get there is some value in marking space and trying to block passing lanes for the opposition but not enough to justify starting him most weeks.   As mentioned a few times before, if he is happy to be a bench player most weeks no issue, keep him as he provides a goal threat if we switch to going more direct and of course from set pieces. But a bid of 15-20 million? It would be good business over the slightly longer term imo

I think a shit team like us need to get rid of the players making us shit. If we can get 20m for Soucek, it would be a robbery

Can a shit team like us afford to let ten goals a season walk out the door to another side that will be scrapping with us at the bottom end next season? For fucking peanuts?

Can the alleged football manager Graham Potter, a manager who couldn't win a one ticket raffle, whose teams dont score any fucking goals, afford to lose ten goals a season? 

I'm gonna say no. 

While we're at it, why the fucking hell are the club allowing this fucking dreary geography teacher to dismantle the squad when he only has a fucking year left on his contract? Cunts got no skin in the game, nor any fucking experience of rebuilding a squad. Ridiculous fucking club. 

This season was diabolical. Next season might make it seem like a right laugh. 

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He's not the player he once was when he joined us.

He's never (NEVER) going to go back to being that player, no matter how hard certain posters wish and click their heels together three times.

He deserves thanks for what he gave us over the years, but everybody peaks and then declines.

Probably best in everybody's interest to let him move on so he can keep enjoying the game somewhere that suits his current level and we bring in a replacement who can help take us to the level to which we aspire.

He's just a shit anorexic Kevin Nolan. Sell.

What separates them two is Fellaini was a thug on a pitch who was a right dirty cսnt. That's never been Souceks game who actually plays with honesty and not looking to hurt anyone, instead often he would be the one on the end of bad challenges.

Far Cough UKunt" wrote: ↑24 May 2025, 15:52

southbankbornnbred wrote: ↑24 May 2025, 15:40 I'll be sorry to see Tom go, if he goes. Been an extremely effective player for us, even if he can't pass the ball 20 yards.

His first couple of seasons alongside Rice in central midfield, it was like having the dogs of war on your side. All energy, effort and tackling. Less good with the ball, unless it was as a threat in the opponent's box or in the air.

He's been the classic Moyes player: not stylish to watch, but very effective. He's not a player Partridge will keep if he gets a chance to move him on, though. We need more pace in midfield.

Soucek is Moyes' Fellaini MK II

southbankbornnbred wrote: ↑24 May 2025, 15:40 I'll be sorry to see Tom go, if he goes. Been an extremely effective player for us, even if he can't pass the ball 20 yards.

His first couple of seasons alongside Rice in central midfield, it was like having the dogs of war on your side. All energy, effort and tackling. Less good with the ball, unless it was as a threat in the opponent's box or in the air.

He's been the classic Moyes player: not stylish to watch, but very effective. He's not a player Partridge will keep if he gets a chance to move him on, though. We need more pace in midfield.

I'll be sorry to see Tom go, if he goes. Been an extremely effective player for us, even if he can't pass the ball 20 yards.

His first couple of seasons alongside Rice in central midfield, it was like having the dogs of war on your side. All energy, effort and tackling. Less good with the ball, unless it was as a threat in the opponent's box or in the air.

He's been the classic Moyes player: not stylish to watch, but very effective. He's not a player Partridge will keep if he gets a chance to move him on, though. We need more pace in midfield.

Interesting that in the site poll, Soucek is the players that the incumbent fan base would be most disappointed to see leave.

Exactly that, Scott. We'd also sooner give all our unequivocal support to our Academy lads trying their very best for the Club than for some of the half arsed players who have 1 eye on the exit door. 

Considering how shit we've been this season, how anyone can say that the youth players aren't ready is beyond me.

I'd get it if we had a solid season, with decent performances and players acquitting themselves admirably, giving us some hope for next season.  Maybe that's not the time to put them in.

But I have 100% more faith in promoting in the likes of Potts, Scarles, Earthy, then I do in the manager and owners of this club bringing in adequate players.

For me, if I was the manager, it's a no brainer putting a few of the youngsters in the first team for pre-season, let alone in the squad.

But Potters recent actions suggest he doesn't give a shit about our academy.

Actually Mike having looked at it, the last time Partridge selected any other Academy player other than Scarles for the Matchday Squad, it was 14 matches ago at Chelsea.

Many people were hoodwinked in to believing this wanker would take playing the Academy players seriously and yet has continued to overlook them during a period that would have been ideal with next to no pressure on their shoulders. What a sad wasted opportunity. 

It comes across like he only chucked some of them in to matchday Squads to begin with just so he could get the gig pandering to calls to include them and now, nowhere to be seen. Funny that..

Takashi Miike" wrote: ↑22 May 2025, 21:14

Massive Attack" wrote: ↑22 May 2025, 19:35 I wouldn't be against promoting him to the Seniors as I like him, I just don't see the harm in loaning him out to a Championship side either. Jumping up to the Premier League is a big leap where he hasn't shown enough yet to warrant a place from what he did in League One, even as Huddersfields player of the year. 

If he rips it up in Pre-season then maybe but if not, a Championship loan wouldn't do him any harm at all.

I wouldn't trust potter anyway with these young players, all I saw of them as they won the youth cup and progressed was on the front foot. I don't think his passive, bus parking, slow approach would suit any of them
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Massive Attack" wrote: ↑22 May 2025, 19:35 I wouldn't be against promoting him to the Seniors as I like him, I just don't see the harm in loaning him out to a Championship side either. Jumping up to the Premier League is a big leap where he hasn't shown enough yet to warrant a place from what he did in League One, even as Huddersfields player of the year. 

If he rips it up in Pre-season then maybe but if not, a Championship loan wouldn't do him any harm at all.

I wouldn't be against promoting him to the Seniors as I like him, I just don't see the harm in loaning him out to a Championship side either. Jumping up to the Premier League is a big leap where he hasn't shown enough yet to warrant a place from what he did in League One, even as Huddersfields player of the year. 

If he rips it up in Pre-season then maybe but if not, a Championship loan wouldn't do him any harm at all.

totally disagree about marshall (who just won player of the year with huddersfield, don't give a fuck it was league one), he should be back. like young gideon can play either wing, but also through the middle. at this stage I'd rather rely on these promising kids than another round of salthouse/silkman dogshit that will yet again rinse the club of money. of course they'll be loaned out or given away on the cheap because they stand in the way of the agent fee gravy train
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Scarles, Earthy and Potts are the 3 that I'd like to see us include in matchday Squads now. Scarles definitely with his 2 Man of the Match performances against quality opposition away against Villa and Arsenal, amongst some other decent performances. Liverpool Away was bad but more an exception compared to the rest of his excellent work when called upon. Don't want to see him loaned out at all now he made his successful breakthrough. 

Orford, Marshall, Kodua, Casey however do I think need to go out on Loan preferably to Teams in the Championship. 

Takashi Miike" wrote: ↑21 May 2025, 18:27 kodua, marshall, potts. all should be getting integrated, but will probably be given away on the cheap or loaned out again. can't stop those agent fees rolling in
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I doubt Potter wants to trim the squad. He is saying that he 'wants' what the Poison Dwarf has told him he must have...

Deja vu, fellas... 
 

kodua, marshall, potts. all should be getting integrated, but will probably be given away on the cheap or loaned out again. can't stop those agent fees rolling in
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scott_d wrote: ↑21 May 2025, 13:33

Rossal wrote: ↑21 May 2025, 12:34 we'll get rid of 10-12 and sign 5-6.  At least 2/3 of the signings will be after the season starts to limit wage bill and 1 will be a deadline day desperation punt. 

Potter has said he wants to trim the squad. He will look at some of the youngsters. 

I'd be amazed if we have more than 3 new signings by time first ball kicked unless we get a few freebies in 

I get this and I agree with using the youngsters.
But if that were really true, why the fuck has he not had a single academy player in the last 4 games and instead gone with players are are not going to be here.
I really hope he is looking at the youth but despite the early positive signs, he's no different to Moyes and Loppy in his willingness to bed them in.