Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp has issued his concern over Tomas Soucek’s partnership with Declan Rice at West Ham United and has called for the Czech Republic international to be dropped despite calling him an “important” player who has been ever-present in the Premier League this season.
What’s the word?
Speaking on Sky Sports (via Caught Offside), the pundit and former England midfielder believes that the two players’ skill sets don’t complement one another.
Redknapp said: “I look at West Ham, when you talk about midfields and how that works right now, I’m not convinced by Soucek and Rice as a partnership.
“Now of course Soucek will offer you, he’s great in the air, set pieces for and against. He’s important. But when I’m looking at someone, I look at Declan and he wants to pop a little pass around the corner he’s not quite there, because it’s not Soucek’s game.”
Redknapp latterly called for a more attack-minded player to take Soucek’s place in the team.
Soucek the sacrificial lamb?
Redknapp’s latest admission regarding the Irons’ double-pivot partnership makes for an interesting one, as there is a lot of truth to his words.
Last season, Rice and Soucek made just 45 chances between them. For comparison, James Ward-Prowse created 71 chances on his own last season in a conservative Southampton side, where he is also required to perform defensive duties in a double-six partnership.
It was a poor return from both West Ham players, but the complexion has changed a little since the 2021/22 campaign.
This season, Rice has jumped ahead and shown major progress in this area, already creating 17 chances in the league (second-highest at the London Stadium) at a rate of 1.3 chances per 90 minutes.
Unfortunately, his eagerness to burst forward and create opportunities for the forwards means that Soucek is left to cover the space, essentially rendering him a full-time defensive midfielder.
The 27-year-old’s game is selfless and there are arguments to be made that he has aided Rice in his attacking development this season.
However, in order for Soucek to be more involved in and around the final third, Moyes should look to use an asymmetrical full-back system with Thilo Kehrer at right-back, essentially sitting in a back-three in possession.
That would enable the Czech colossus to push on equally with Rice, which would also grant even more freedom for full-back Aaron Cresswell to roam along the left flank.
