Tomas Soucek’s struggles continue as questions grow over his West Ham future
It’s been a difficult start to the season for Tomas Soucek, whose once-consistent presence in West Ham United’s midfield has begun to wane. The Czech international, long valued for his work rate and reliability, appears to be feeling the effects of age and fatigue as his performances continue to dip.
Soucek has already endured a frustrating spell on the sidelines following his red card against Tottenham, serving a suspension that has kept him out of Nuno Espirito Santo’s plans. Yet even while unavailable, the midfielder reportedly impressed Nuno with his professionalism and commitment in training — fuelling hopes he might reclaim his place once his ban ended.
However, those ambitions may have taken a knock after another underwhelming display on international duty.
Soucek criticised for “clumsy” performance with Czechia
Czechia earned a 0-0 draw with Croatia on Thursday, a result that looks respectable on paper but does little to help their qualifying hopes. Croatia remain ahead on goal difference and still have a game in hand, and Czech media outlets were quick to express frustration with the team’s lack of attacking spark — with Soucek singled out among the biggest disappointments.
According to Fotbal Zpravy (10 October), Soucek’s decline has become increasingly hard to ignore:
“It is difficult not to notice the drop in his performance over the past year. He appeared clumsy and slow to react, often arriving late to challenges. Both he and Lukas Cerva lacked creativity, and the defenders rarely involved them in build-up play.”
The report also drew comparisons between Soucek and Croatia’s veteran playmaker Luka Modric, noting that the difference in technical quality and influence on the match was “stark.”
A night to forget against Croatia
Statistically, Soucek’s struggles were evident. As reported by Fotmob, he registered the fewest touches (33) of any outfield player to complete 90 minutes, a worrying sign for a midfielder who once dictated the tempo of matches through tireless energy and presence.
Both offensively and defensively, his impact was minimal — continuing a pattern that’s now stretching across club and international levels.
West Ham’s summer decision under scrutiny
West Ham chose to keep Soucek this summer despite interest from abroad, trusting that he could rediscover his form under Nuno. But as the season unfolds, that decision is beginning to look questionable. With the midfielder turning 31 later this season, signs of physical decline are becoming harder to overlook.
Soucek’s leadership and experience remain valuable, but his effectiveness in the Premier League’s high-intensity environment is increasingly in doubt.
Nuno Espirito Santo now faces a dilemma — whether to restore Soucek to the starting lineup after the international break or phase him out in favour of fresher options.
For a player once regarded as the heartbeat of West Ham’s midfield, Soucek’s current form represents a worrying downturn — and one that may soon force the club to make some difficult decisions.