Tomas Soucek claims he ‘didn’t feel that motivated’ at West Ham United amid slump in performance level after Lincoln winner
Tomas Soucek has explained his poor form at West Ham last season as being because he “didn’t feel that motivate”, according to Dom Smith.
The Evening Standard journalist spoke to the Hammers midfielder after his match-winner in the Carabao Cup on 27 September, where the Czech international said he feels “great” this season, unlike the previous campaign where he “didn’t feel right”.
Soucek’s strike in the 1-0 win over Lincoln City came after he netted in the Europa League against Backa Topola last week, meaning he has already reached two thirds of his goalscoring output from the whole of last term.
Smith wrote on Twitter: “Spoke to Tomáš Souček last night. Has 2 goals in a week after only scoring 3 all season last term. ‘I didn’t feel that motivated’, he says about last season. Interesting assessment of his form.”
The 28-year-old’s future at the club has been in question for some time, and it was thought that West Ham were willing to sell him in the summer if the right offer came in.
However, a contract extension materialised last month and it appears he is looking more secure again.
Annus horribilis
It looked like Soucek’s time at the club was coming to an end through most of last season as he lumbered through a poor campaign, despite David Moyes apparently being reticent to actually drop him.
As Declan Rice’s huge-money sale this summer came to pass it felt like a changing of the guard in the midfield was upon West Ham, with Edson Alvarez and James Ward-Prowse then brought in.
But instead the incumbent has found his groove again and has even been tipped to keep his new Mexican international teammate out of the side.
It is tempting to criticise Soucek for his failure to perform in the past year, with a lack of motivation appearing to be a weak excuse.
But it is the responsibility of Moyes and the rest of the coaching staff to ensure the players are locked in as much as it is the squad itself, and when so many were struggling for most of last term it clearly wasn’t an issue exclusive to the Czech.
It looks like he has come out of the other side and the Irons are currently feeling the benefit, so if he can continue in that vein and threaten his 10 Premier League-goal year of three seasons ago it would be a huge boost to the team.
In other West Ham news, the Hammers are looking to sign a Brazilian “sensation” ahead of a rush of European interest.