WHZ View: Rice & Soucek the main force behing success at West Ham this season
West Ham duo Declan Rice and Tomas Soucek have developed a formidable partnership this season in the Premier League.
After 25 matches played, the Hammers find themselves in fourth position. It’s been a remarkable turnaround, they’ve nearly doubled the points they had this time last season.
David Moyes’ side have gone from relegation battlers to European football hopefuls in the space of just 14 months. They made a huge statement on the weekend, defeating Jose Mourinho’s Tottenham 2-1 at the London Stadium.
A huge factor in the success is undoubtedly West Ham’s midfield pairing of Rice and Soucek. Bar the overturned red card at Fulham, the skipper and our top goalscorer have played every minute of every Premier League match together.
Ahead of the rest
Rice and Soucek have formed an excellent partnership. The differences in their abilities compliment each other perfectly.
According to a report by The Athletic, Soucek has won more aerial duels than any other player in the top-flight. As of now, he’s won 145 which puts him 23 clear of second-placed Oliver McBurnie.
The Czech international also has the record for most fouls committed in the league. Not a title you’d want, admittedly, but it highlights Soucek’s aggression and tenacity which no doubt spurs his side on.
If you removed penalties, only ten players have scored more goals than our number 28 this season. It’s remarkable when you consider he’s only played in the Premier League for a year.
Rice, on the other hand, has made more interceptions that anyone in the top-flight during the 2020/21 campaign. It highlights how good he is at reading the game and positioning himself.
His leadership skills, despite being just 22-years-old, are showing this season also as he’s been captaining the side. Whilst we tend to sit deep, when we gain possession we charge up the pitch. Only 12 players have carried the ball further than Rice’s 6,277 yards this season.
These stats are highly impressive from two very young players, who a year ago hadn’t played together. The sky is the limit for Moyes and West Ham whilst we have this pairing in the middle of the park.
In other West Ham news, today marks 28 years since the passing of the iconic Bobby Moore.