Pundit shares West Ham United exit verdict on Vladimir Coufal, who’s no longer smiling
We’re delighted to welcome former West Ham United striker Frank McAvennie as our exclusive columnist. Each week he’ll be giving his views on the biggest talking points at the London Stadium…
Frank McAvennie is hopeful that Vladimir Coufal won’t leave West Ham this January as he is “the best defender they’ve got”.
The Czech defender has been linked with a move to Bundesliga club Bayer Leverkusen in the winter window after struggling to hold his position as first-choice right-back in the side this season.
His form has been a rollercoaster over the last 12 months or so, but McAvennie has told David Moyes to find out what the issue with his is and fix it because he doesn’t want to see him leave the London Stadium.
“I think he’s the best defender they’ve got,” he told West Ham Zone. “I mean Johnson has played there, he’s taller and does well going forward, but Soucek and Coufal have not kicked a ball this year I don’t think.
“They’ve not been their normal selves. So you’ve got to ask, ‘what’s happening?’. David’s got to sort that out. Because there’ll be a reason for it.
“If the team is playing differently and they can’t get used to it, then they’ll have to let them go.
“But I think he’ll get used to it and get it sorted. It’s a strange one with West Ham.
“I think Coufal is a good defender, I really do. He was playing great last year, when everyone was smiling and it was going well. I don’t see that now.
“So I don’t know what it is, but he’s a good player. I wouldn’t sell him. I would want him in the team. I would want him as first-choice again.
“Because Johnson is a young boy, but he’s coming in playing centre-half, playing right-back, playing midfield. The boy is filling in for everyone. I would like to see Coufal nail down his place again because when he does that, he’s playing well.
“Maybe he doesn’t like playing three-at-the-back and moving into midfield, maybe that’s what the problem is. But David’s got to sort that out.”