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Tomas Soucek offered David Moyes cause for concern as the West Ham United midfielder lost 72% of his duels while representing the Czech Republic at home to Israel in the UEFA Nations League on Sunday night.

Soucek has been a key aspect of Moyes’ plans at the London Stadium this term, with the 25-year-old just one of three outfield players to have featured for all 720 minutes of available Premier League action since the Hammers turned his loan move permanent for £19.1million this summer.

The former Slavia Prague ace’s game-winning goal at home to rivals Fulham prior to the November international break also saw Soucek become one of just seven players to have scored a top-flight goal in claret and blue this term, ending a nine-game drought.

Moyes would have hoped to see Soucek carry his east London form through the international break in order to return at his best for this weekend’s trip to Sheffield United, but was instead left with cause for concern after a stilted display at home to Israel.

Moyes has been full of praise for Soucek since the midfielder’s initial arrival on loan in January, with the West Ham boss noting earlier in the year how the 29-cap international’s initial form ensured he was never in a position to consider not pursuing a permanent deal.

The only way the Hammers chief felt Soucek would not return to the London Stadium would have been had West Ham suffered relegation, noting via quotes by football.london: “He was always sticking around.

“The only way he wouldn’t be was if we went down, but we always had him in our plans to be with us and he is a West Ham player. Simple as that. Tomas is really starting to blossom.

“To join a club in the Premier League and to make an impact so quickly is not easy, it takes time. Tomas has certainly helped us. Without him, I am not too sure we would have definitely remained a Premier League club.”

Soucek has maintained his importance at the London Stadium with West Ham’s most aerial duels attempted (87), won (48) and successful tackles (16), joint-most shots (18), third-most interceptions (11), fourth-most clearances (18) and fifth-most total passes (256) so far this term, per WhoScored.

He could not replicate those levels for the Czech Republic as a sole goal from Vladimir Darida assisted by Vladimir Coufal in the seventh-minute decided the Nations League tie, with Soucek struggling on-route to SofaScore’s joint-lowest match rating by a home player.

Soucek earned just a 6.7 out of 10 for his efforts, thanks to losing three of his four ground duels, two of his three aerial duels, turning over possession nine times, committing two fouls and seeing his only shot of the game blocked.

Furthermore, Czech Republic boss Jaroslav Silhavy only saw Soucek make one interception and three clearances as he failed to register a successful tackle while misplacing 17% of his 46 attempted passes.

Moyes will be hoping that it was only an off night from Soucek and not a sign of things to come, as he prepares to lead West Ham into Bramall Lane this Sunday.

AND in other news, West Ham’s “real magician” has just six weeks to prove David Moyes does not need his £17m “complete” target.

Crystal Palace will be determined to return to winning ways when they travel to West Bromwich Albion to take on Slaven Bilic’s side in the Premier League on Sunday.

The Eagles face a tough trip to the Premier League strugglers having won just one game out of their last four to lie just three points above Brighton towards the bottom of the table.

After narrowly being beaten by Manchester United, the Baggies bounced back with a 1-0 win over Sheffield United at home.

Roy Hodgson faces one of the toughest challenges of his managerial career as he bids to get the Eagles fully firing on all cylinders, but he should have an easy choice to make over who should lead the line at the Hawthorns.

The former England manager has made some pretty questionable decisions in the past but this is a selection call he literally cannot afford to get wrong. Losing to a newly-promoted side who already find themselves struggling for Premier League survival would cast doubt over his future at the club.

Hodgson has options aplenty in the striking department but that doesn’t make his job any easier as it’s fair to say that some are more viable than others.

The Palace boss has heavily relied on Michy Batshuayi to shoulder the burden so far this season but he hasn’t reaped the rewards – no goals and just two assists in total in seven appearances in the Premier League, via Transfermarkt.

There’s a very real possibility he’ll give Christian Benteke a run of games but he ought to hedge his bets and stick with Jeffrey Schlupp instead.

Schlupp started upfront as Palace were beaten by Newcastle United at Selhurst Park. But, whilst we were well within our rights to lampoon his disastrous display, that doesn’t mean that anyone should write him off almost entirely.

Let’s face it, anything is better than Batshuayi or Benteke, so why not give it another go?

Valued at £9m via Transfermarkt, the 27-year-old has often been used as a left winger since he first arrived at the club, but he is yet to taste defeat against West Brom, which will no doubt be giving Bilic sleepless nights.

Last season, Schlupp enjoyed his most prolific spell in the top flight, having scored three goals and supplied two assists in 17 appearances, which is a pretty decent return when you consider the fact that he has mostly played as a left-back or central midfielder. That’s one more goal than Benteke, who played 24 games in the Premier League last term.

It surely makes most sense to give the speed demon a fair crack of the whip upfront alongside Jordan Ayew whilst Wilfried Zaha works his way back to fitness after testing positive for coronavirus. This means that Eberechi Eze could start on the left wing and allows Andros Townsend to line up on the opposite flank.

AND in other news, Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish should reward Jairo Riedewald with a new contract…

Tottenham Hotspur suffered their first defeat in the Premier League since the opening day as they relinquished their place at the top of the table.

Jose Mourinho’s side were beaten by defending champions Liverpool at Anfield on Wednesday evening after Roberto Firmino headed home the match-winner in injury time.

Heung-min Son had cancelled out Mo Salah’s deflected opening strike all before half-time, but Spurs attackers Harry Kane and Steven Bergwijn squandered at least four chances between them whilst the game was still all-square.

The Reds have now gone three points clear of the north Londoners going into the weekend’s fixtures.

Whilst Mourinho will undoubtedly be fuming with his side’s inability to convert chances on the night, he could well be even more embarrassed by the display from Ben Davies at left-back.

It was a mighty call to start the Welshman over usual first-choice Sergio Reguilon, one that we also backed prior to kick-off but it evidently didn’t pay off whatsoever.

The £18m-rated full-back was abysmal with the ball at his feet, making just 32% of his 19 passing attempts whilst also losing possession 14 times and failing to record a single accurate cross or long ball (seven attempts), via SofaScore.

Davies did do his defensive duties somewhat, managing four clearances, two interceptions and one tackle, though he hardly offered Son much respite in the attack, something that perhaps the snubbed Spaniard would’ve done.

The Express graded the 27-year-old a disappointing five out of ten in their post-match ratings, and summed up his performance by saying: “Much like Aurier on the other side, was restricted by the amount of attacking fervour on display from the home side.”

With Leicester City on Sunday, Mourinho may need to think again before selecting the £65k-per-week calamity – the Foxes will be looking to bounce back themselves having lost at home to Everton last night too.

AND in other news, Worse than Bergwijn: £108m-rated Spurs star who won only 33% duels cost Mourinho badly…

According to a report by the Daily Mirror, West Ham United are eyeing a move for Chelsea forward Olivier Giroud in the January window as manager David Moyes seeks to bolster his attacking options – with Irons begging GSB to land the Frenchman in response to this ‘incredible’ potential move.

Giroud, who has spoke candidly over his future at Chelsea in recent months, could be on the way out next month as he seeks a guaranteed starting place.

As the postponed Euro 2020 Championships linger around the corner, Giroud is apparently open to sealing a move away in order to cement his contention for the national team.

The Mirror now claim West Ham are eyeing a move for the ‘no-brainer’ addition, with plenty of Irons now keen to see him make a London Stadium switch – find all of their best comments down below.

West Ham fans want Giroud

“Giroud has a first touch and moves” 

Credit: @MartynHobbs12

“Pleeeease a striker who knows how to make runs, where to be, takes defenders away, hits the target, links up play and holds up the ball etc.” 

Credit: @SS1Mac

“100% would take on loan”

Credit: @Michael766TN

“Giroud would get you top 6. Haller wouldn’t get a sniff” 

Credit: @IngiHrafn

“Yes please”

Credit: @StiltonBargains

“this could be incredible if he stayed fit” 

Credit: @Charlie24777883

In other news: West Ham are eyeing a move for this ‘magnificent’ defender, find out more here.

According to Calcio Mercato, Aston Villa have made an offer to Matias Vecino ahead of a potential move in the January transfer window.

What’s the story?

Dean Smith recently delivered an update on the club’s potential transfer plans next week, saying: “We are looking at it in general in terms of whether there is anything we need to do. We are certainly not desperate in terms of players we need to bring in or go out. We have our finger on the pulse but I don’t envisage us doing an awful lot, to be honest.”

And now, Calcio Mercato claim that Inter midfielder Vecino appears to be in their sights, and that despite him currently recovering from injury, his days at the Serie A giants are numbered.

Lange can find a huge Nakamba upgrade

With Douglas Luiz and John McGinn holding down the fort in central midfield, the likes of Marvelous Nakamba hasn’t had much of a look-in this season.

The 26-year-old has played just four times in the Premier League, and even that has only totaled a measly 103 minutes of football. In Vecino however, Smith could find a huge upgrade on the Zimbabwe international, and someone who could legitimately stake a claim to breaking up his favoured central midfield duo.

A profile from ESPN said: “Part of Vecino’s charm is the fact that he tends to bring a little bit of everything to the table — something modern midfielders are increasingly asked to do. He can pass well, he can tackle, and is both physical and graceful: the former Empoli man has, in short, the toolkit needed to shine not just in Italy, but (hopefully) also among Europe’s elite.”

With his years of experience playing in Serie A and for a top side like Inter, who have of course been competing in European football’s elite competitions, Vecino could bring some real quality and know-how to this Villa side. Johan Lange’s capture of the Uruguay international would prove to be another major blow to Nakamba’s chances of featuring under Smith.

Manchester City highlighted their title credentials as they eased to a 3-1 win against Chelsea on Sunday afternoon, despite several first-team players missing after an outbreak of the virus in their camp.

The Citizens were without the likes of Ederson, Kyle Walker and Gabriel Jesus for the game against Frank Lampard’s side after they tested positive for the virus, whilst Aymeric Laporte and Nathan Ake both missed out through injury, leaving Oleksandr Zinchenko to start at left-back.

However, Pep Guardiola’s side blew Chelsea away in a 20-minute spell which saw Ilkay Gundogan, Phil Foden and Kevin De Bruyne score to effectively seal the three points, before Callum Hudson-Odoi’s late consolation goal.

Although both De Bruyne and Foden will get a lot of plaudits for their superb displays, which earned them 8.3 and 8.2 match ratings from SofaScore respectively, it was perhaps the performance of Gundogan which will have pleased Guardiola the most.

As per SofaScore, the former Borussia Dortmund man picked up a 7.7 match rating for his display, which was joint-third with Ruben Dias as the highest of any player who started the game.

During his time on the pitch, the 30-year-old midfielder would complete 34/38 of his passes, resulting in an impressive success rate of 89%, emphasising that it was not just his goal that marked him out as one of the better performers at Stamford Bridge.

The German international, who reportedly earns £140,000-a-week, was also successful in all three of his dribble attempts during the game, whilst he impressively won six out of eight duels, which demonstrates that he was just a class above the Chelsea midfield on Sunday afternoon.

Back in 2019, Guardiola heaped praise on the midfielder, saying:

“Definitely, but he gets the credit from all of us, not just myself. He’s an exceptional player. Also, he knows how good he has to play, as there are many others in that position.”

It is clear that the Spanish manager is a huge fan of Gundogan, having urged the Manchester City board to sign him in 2016 despite his injury issues with Dortmund and he will no doubt be delighted that his decision paid off, after what was another superb display from the midfielder against Chelsea.

And, in other news, Guardiola can sign Mendy upgrade in PL beast with a taste for goals…

Some West Ham United fans were left slamming the display of Tomas Soucek, despite their club’s 1-0 win over Burnley in the Premier League yesterday afternoon.

Considering the high standards that he has set so far for himself in the 2020/21 term, the Czech Republic international did not have the best of games against Sean Dyche’s team and perhaps had his blushes spared as Michail Antonio grabbed the only goal of the match within the first 10 minutes of the first half thanks to a lovely cross from Pablo Fornals.

The 25-year-old lost out on no fewer than 10 of his duels in the clash, which was the most lost out of any member of the West Ham team on the pitch, and he also lost possession of the ball 17 times, as well as getting himself a yellow card in the 73rd minute of the clash (Sofascore).

West Ham fan reaction to Soucek display

These Hammers fans slammed his performance on Twitter, with one Iron claiming that the central midfield player was ‘clumsy’:

“Soucek has been pretty clumsy today”

Credit: @Tony19753514

“Tbh a poor game from Soucek (with his high standards) this far.”

Credit: @folkestoneiron

“Would like to see us control the game more. Not a great first half from Soucek looks tired”

Credit: @Jamin_78

“Fornals playing well and works with 3 other pacey players up there with him, he doesn’t give the ball away or waste possession that often. Soucek hasn’t stopped giving the ball away annoyingly. Final ball against for us hasn’t been good enough #COYI”

Credit: @Tonker37

“Soucek has been very not himself today must be the effect of not winning POTM. Happened to Fornals too. #WHUBUR”

Credit: @westham_mo

“Only real negatives for me personally, Soucek not having a great game.”

Credit: @IrishIron32

In other news, find out who else was slammed for his display versus the Clarets here!

Leeds did a great deal in the summer transfer window but aside from welcoming club-record signing Rodrigo to the club, they did some fascinating business in improving the academy.Sam Greenwood arrived from Arsenal while impressive young talents Crysencio Summerville and Cody Drameh also walked through the door.Yet, their most eye-catching acquisition from an academy point of view was former Wigan youngster Joe Gelhardt.The striker has already played over 20 games at senior level and is a budding prodigy who could well take on the mantle from Patrick Bamford in a few years.You only need to look at one specific goal he scored for Wigan. The teenager turned his man close to the edge of the area with unrelenting confidence before sticking the ball in the back of the net.

Judging by the 18-year-old’s reputation, he is probably one of the first names in the academy who will be given a senior-team opportunity.

Yet, a player two years his junior should also be considered as an option for Bielsa going forward. Just a month shy of his 17th birthday, Max Dean has been a brilliant capture since signing from Everton.

The poacher loves scoring goals and has been more prolific at U23 level than Gelhardt has this term. Dean has scored four goals in just five games, bagging twice against League Two Barrow.

Bizarrely, that’s a higher tally than any Leeds player managed when they played fellow League Two opposition Crawley in the FA Cup.

That speaks volumes about what he can do against senior professionals and considering he’s just 16, it’s incredible that he’s already pulling up so many trees.

Dean epitomises the classic poacher, scoring from a matter of yards out against both Crystal Palace U23s and Reading U23s. He is always in the right area, picking up pockets of space that terrify defenders. For such a young player, his movement inside the box is enthralling.

Gelhardt might be the more senior player at the moment but it’s arguably Dean who has caught the eye the most in Leeds’ development squads this term.

The 16-year-old is prolific and even finished as Everton’s top goal scorer for his age group in the 2018/19 season. He knows where the net is and that quality cannot be underestimated. After all, Leeds have failed to score in 2021.

Throwing in a player of his age at Premier League level would be foolish but it shouldn’t be too long before Marcelo Bielsa considers handing the teenager his first-team debut. He deserves an outing just as much as Greenwood and Gelhardt do.

After all, Dean has already proven what he can do when unleashed against Football League opposition. He could be a real wildcard for the Leeds boss.

AND in other news, Shades of Pablo: Orta can save millions if Leeds unleash rarely-seen “great talent”…

Liverpool are reportedly considering including Marko Grujic in a swap deal next summer, which would see him leave Liverpool after five years with the Merseyside club.

The Serbian was Jurgen Klopp’s first signing as Liverpool boss when he joined in January 2016, although he stayed with Red Star Belgrade on loan until the end of the season.

In the time since, the midfielder has failed to ever really establish himself as a first-team player with the Reds, having made just 16 appearances for the first-team, in which he has contributed one goal and one assist.

In an interview with Anfield Watch, Sky Sports reporter Fabrizio Romano has suggested that:

“Marko Grujic, I’m told, could be involved in some possible swap deals next summer if Liverpool have some good opportunities to add in midfield or in defence.

“He could be an interesting player to offer so they will try to do something smart again, as they have previously with the Diogo Jota deal for example.”

Therefore, it seems likely that the 24-year-old could depart Anfield in the summer, after what has been an extremely underwhelming spell with the Merseyside club.

Grujic has spent each of the last four seasons on loan, spending time with Cardiff City, Hertha Berlin and FC Porto in that time, suggesting that his five years with Liverpool have been something of a nightmare for the young midfielder, as he has never really been able to settle and force his way into the starting XI.

He is currently with the Portuguese side and has endured a pretty poor season so far, averaging a disappointing 6.46 rating for his performances in the Liga NOS, with the majority of his appearances for Sérgio Conceição’s side coming from the bench.

Therefore, it seems unlikely that the Serbian international is going to return and become a first-team regular under Klopp, so offering him out in a swap deal could be the ideal way for Michael Edwards to get rid of the midfielder, who reportedly earns £25k per week at Anfield, in a decision that would bring an end to his five-year nightmare stay with the Reds.

And, in other news… Time is running out for FSG: Liverpool development on £100k-p/w beast is bad news for Klopp

Many Liverpool fans showered sporting director Michael Edwards with praise as details were revealed relating to Ozan Kabak’s squad registration.

According to the Liverpool Echo, the 20-year-old will not be registered to play Premier League football for the second half of the season.

However, it was added that the Turkey international is still young enough to be classed as one of Jurgen Klopp’s U21 players, meaning that enrollment is not required for his participation, meaning he will not be taking up a place in the 25-man squad.

Kabak made a dramatic deadline day move to Anfield from Bundesliga side Schalke on loan until the end of the season – on the back of The Reds’ catastrophic injury crisis.

This detail sparked huge applause for Edwards, who has been credited in recent years for his impeccable transfer proceedings that have helped bring some big-name stars to the club.

Another Michael Edwards masterstroke

“Michael Edwards, the loophole king”

Credit: @VirgSZN

“Michael Edwards screamer from outside the box. Masterclass!”

Credit: @TundeTresh

“The guy is a genius”

Credit: @NarenRathan

“Edwards masterclass”

Credit: @Lemii

“Shrewd! BUSINESS!”

Credit: @ndoteverything

“4D chess”

Credit: @ElayePeter

In other news, Star left gutted as dream move on Deadline Day to Liverpool failed to materialise.