WHZ View: West Ham have found new Mr Dependable to replace struggling Noble
West Ham fans might have suffered as they watched their side labour to a 2-2 draw at home to Brighton, but there’s one thing they were happy to see – the sight of Tomas Soucek popping up in the box to score another crucial goal for the Hammers.
The Czech Republic international is a menace at both ends of the pitch, wreaking havoc on opposition defences at set-pieces while helping to repel anything coming the other way.
In contrast, so often West Ham’s man to rely on in the last decade, captain Mark Noble is now struggling to have any meaningful effect on the field, and the Hammers have found a new hero in Soucek, with some impressive figures showing this is a more than credible assertion.
Soucek has now scored four Premier League goals this season, with no other Hammer scoring more (Jarrod Bowen also has four).
His towering presence and attacking instincts have proved vital for West Ham this season, with his goals earning at least five points for the team.
With a winner against Fulham on November 7, combined with an equaliser in the 2-1 win at Leeds (December 7) and Sunday’s leveller against Brighton, Soucek is popping up with goals when it matters.
He also scored the opening goal against Manchester United on December 5, before the Hammers succumbed to a 3-1 defeat at the London Stadium.
Soucek has scored three goals in West Ham’s last five appearances, accounting for 50% of their total (six) in that time.
Soucek supersedes Noble once again
The form of Soucek could not be any further to that shown by Noble against Brighton on Sunday.
A surprise inclusion against the Seagulls given his struggles against Chelsea in the 3-0 defeat at Stamford Bridge on December 21, Noble once again laboured in the West Ham midfield before being withdrawn at half-time.
While Soucek recorded a WhoScored rating of 8.28 to win the accolade of star man, Noble received a 6.05, the lowest score of any outfield player to play more than five minutes.
Famed for his ice-cool penalties and hustling presence in midfield, Noble is now at a crossroads in his West Ham career, with fans dissenting his very presence in the starting XI.
While under-fire Moyes might continue to show faith in his captain, there can be no doubts now at who the Hammers look to when the chips are down and they need a goal.
Soucek is now West Ham’s Mr Dependable, and former favourite Noble might have to accept his days under the moniker are now over.
In other West Ham news, Moyes reportedly interested in Antonio back-up option.