---
title: "Football Fans Laud Tomas Soucek’s Performance v Chelsea"
canonical: "https://readwestham.com/2020/12/22/tomas-soucek-praised-performance-chelsea-west-ham/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Alex Jones"
section: "Feature Writers"
published: "2020-12-22T11:00:00Z"
modified: "2020-12-22T11:00:00Z"
---

# Football Fans Laud Tomas Soucek’s Performance v Chelsea

Despite West Ham’s unfortunate 3-0 defeat in a London derby against Frank Lampard’s Chelsea side, Tomas Soucek came in for widespread praise on Twitter – and not solely from Irons fans.

The Czech defensive midfielder, who is valued at £27m by [Transfermarkt](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/tomas-soucek/leistungsdatenverein/spieler/283628), has been an integral anchor man in David Moyes’ setup since he made his switch from Slavia Praha permanent over the summer.

The 25-year-old is already a seasoned international, having scored [four times for his country](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/tomas-soucek/leistungsdatenverein/spieler/283628) in 30 appearances, but has also [featured 27 times](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/tomas-soucek/leistungsdatenverein/spieler/283628) for the Hammers in less than a full season of Premier League football.

The Czech international has also proven to be a useful source of goals for the Hammers, with [six for the club](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/tomas-soucek/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/283628/verein/379) since his arrival earlier in the year. Despite being a defensive midfielder, Soucek is [adeptly offensive](https://greenstreethammers.com/2020/10/05/soucek-elevates-west-ham-players/) in the right situations – especially where set pieces are concerned.

Despite a 3-0 defeat superficially seeming like a lacklustre loss, Soucek was a standout performer in a side which ultimately lacked a clinical edge. It was clear that the Hammers looked [reliant](https://www.football.london/west-ham-united-fc/players/chelsea-defeat-highlights-west-hams-19502103) on set pieces to create chances, of which Soucek is a specialist in making the best of them.

The 25-year-old [won eight headers](https://www.whoscored.com/Matches/1485316/LiveStatistics/England-Premier-League-2020-2021-Chelsea-West-Ham) in a display which saw him described as a “man mountain” on Twitter. Indeed, his [WhoScored](https://www.whoscored.com/Matches/1485316/LiveStatistics/England-Premier-League-2020-2021-Chelsea-West-Ham) rating far exceeded that of midfield colleague Declan Rice, who is being linked with an £80m move to Chelsea, as per the [Daily Star.](https://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/football/chelsea-declan-rice-transfer-news-23197657)

These fans across the footballing world took to Twitter to voice their praise for Soucek’s Stamford Bridge showing…

> Twitter: Honest thoughts on Tomas Soucek tonight? Man Mountain IMO (@HammersDotNews)

> Twitter: @COYIRONS Coufal, Rice and Soucek…..current form then wouldn’t swap them for anyone in the same position. (@malone\_pete)

> Twitter: @JoeWilliams\_07 @elliotwhu Maybe he was, I thought noble was better today. But, even still Soucek was better than R… https://t.co/nyEVSIfZNd (@Hcafc1904j)

> Twitter: @sfcdannnn soucek has been streets ahead of ward prowse. JWP’s set pieces are second to none but his impact on open… https://t.co/9dXbHntO71 (@mawkutd)

> Twitter: Beware of Tomas Soucek, I can’t believe I’m saying this. (@Mosaku\_tolu)

> Twitter: @Aqeel\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ @ConnCFC Not even their best midfielder. Soucek is clear. (@UtdSub)