West Ham United’s return to Championship action after the international break was a time of both excitement and sadness for the Hammers faithful. A Friday night game against fellow Londoners Queens Park Rangers was a chance to get back into the flow of things, especially since West Ham had a productive September.
The claret and blue supporters had been anticipating the long-awaited return of Czech midfielder Tomáš Souček from injury, and it was a pleasure to see his name in the starting eleven. It was also a day of paying respects to former Hammers goalkeeper and Souček’s compatriot, Luděk Mikloško, who passed away last month at the age of 64. Once the sentiment and emotion had passed, the game started – and so did the major talking points.
Czech Yourself First
Tomáš Souček’s name has been circulating around the news in East London, albeit for the right reasons. The 31-year-old is back from injury, back in the team, and he is expected to sign a new contract. There is also belief that he plans to retire at West Ham. Seriously, what’s not to like about that?
Souček was placed straight into Nuno’s team selection for Friday’s game, but any thought that he was going to be like a proverbial new signing were soon nullified. He did not appear to be back to his usual self, being slow to react to passes and appearing to be less focused than normal. The decision was made to substitute him at half-time due to his lack of sharpness. Many fans started to criticize the manager’s starting line-up, saying that the Czech international needed some time to readjust and that an immediate return to action was not beneficial.
Souček conceded a controversial penalty after he allegedly committed a foul in the penalty area. Replays showed that he had won the ball and that the QPR player had gone to ground after the fact, but referee Ruebyn Ricardo pointed to the spot without any hesitation. Further analysis showed that the foul may have occurred outside of the area, which would have resulted in a free kick. After the game, Souček admitted that the referee had made a “massive mistake” and that he was wrong to have given the penalty.
Ludo’s Legacy Lives On
West Ham United had made major plans to honour the life and legacy of former goalkeeper Luděk Mikloško, who passed away in September following a five-year battle with cancer.
Both sets of fans were asked to arrive at the London Stadium for 7:45 P.M. to watch the tribute, which paid homage to a man who plied his trade in East and West London. A tifo was displayed, and the iconic “My Name Is Ludo” chant was sung in perfect chorus. A minute’s applause also took place shortly before kick-off.
Ludo’s legacy at West Ham United will forever live on. For many supporters, he became the reason why they chose to support West Ham following his arrival from Baník Ostrava in 1990. His brick-wall approach to goalkeeping, combined with his commanding presence and solidity, made him the true embodiment of everything West Ham – grit, honour, and aptitude.
He won Hammer of the Year in 1991, made 373 appearances for the Hammers, and later became the club’s goalkeeping coach. He moved to QPR in 1998 and retired from playing in 2001.
Attackers Just Aren’t Attacking
This season has highlighted a problem that has long burdened West Ham – the forward line’s lack of productivity in the finals moments and limited cohesion.
Although the squad has more depth on the front line than it had in recent years, the chopping and changing of players is not helping. Manor Solomon has not been consistent enough to warrant further starts in Nuno Espírito Santo’s starting line-up, and Taty Castellanos has looked hesitant in front of the opposition goal. Jöel Piroe and Edvin Austbø may start calling for more starts in the team, especially since Piroe has been able to find the goal more than Castellanos this season. Austbø could be seen as the best option to fill in for Solomon.
Pablo’s name has once again circulated on West Ham social media. The striker has faced scrutiny over his poor goal record and inability to find the back of the net, but goals have been just one part of his impact. His high-pressing ability, build-up and link play have given the West Ham attack some presence. It is also worth mentioning that he got an assist in the game against Millwall, and he also won the penalty in Friday’s game. It was just a shame that Jarrod Bowen could not convert.
The ability to mix and match players is a blessing for some coaches, but too much change has led to some confusion and instability. The message to Nuno has to be made clear: find your best attacking combination and stick with it.
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