The rigours of international football at the end of a difficult season – especially in tournaments – can show up fatigue or creeping age related fall-off in performance. However to hear comments at the start of a season when just a few weeks of competitive football has been completed might be more worrying.
From the Czech media come voices of discontent regarding their skipper, long-time Hammers servant Tomas Soucek. Seemingly those critics who claim his already barely moderate speed around the pitch at West Ham should relegate him to the bench are now joined by observers on the International stage. Sportwitness.co.uk this morning relay the comments from the Czech media following Captain Soucek’s performance in his sides 2-0 win against Montenegro:
“They say that over time, the West ham midfielder’s contribution to the national team continues to decline and, now is the time for someone else to take the captaincy. His latest performance is labelled as ‘unsatisfactory’, and it’s claimed he was ‘practically invisible’ throughout as other players in the squad stood up to be counted in Friday’s win.”
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Which appears to be echoing critics domestically. It could well be that ‘Tornado Tom’ becomes increasingly an impact substitute when Potter needs a goal or a rearguard blood-and-guts defence for the last quarter of a game.
Fickle football: Last year’s Czech player of the year Tomas Soucek
With the recruitment of faster, younger Fernandes and Magassa at West Ham, plus the pressure from youngsters Earthy and Potts, Soucek’s days as an automatic selection may be numbered.
However the same was said last year, and the season before that – each time Soucek confounds his critics.