SOU SPECIAL
DAVID MOYES is tipping Tomas Soucek to hit double figures again – and keepwest Ham’s glory charge burning bright. The Czech midfielder (below) has been far from his best since the European Championships, failing to reach the heights of last season when he rattled in 10 goals for the East Londoners.
Soucek’s strike in the
Europa League last 16 on Thursday, which helped defeat holders
Sevilla in sensational style, was only his fifth of this season.
However, Moyes is increasingly optimistic that tally will be considerably higher come the end of May.
Indeed, he predicts Soucek, having shaken off his Euro blues, could easily bag another five amid the chase for a top-four finish and Europa League silverware.
West Ham have drawn French club Lyon in the last eight of the competition.
Ahead of today’s trip to Tottenham, Moyes admitted: “Anyone who watched us regularly will know Tomas had been so good for us over the previous year to 18 months.
“Maybe, on the back of the Euros, he’s now coming up for some air.
“But he’s come up with two goals recently – one against Wolves a few weeks ago and scoring a huge one for us on Thursday.
“And he probably should’ve had another one, at the far post from a corner.
“That’s more like the Tomas we know.the levels of his play, generally, have improved greatly over the last few weeks.that’s a great sign.”
The Hammers have excellent memories of the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, stemming from last season’s incredible 3-3 draw there – after being three down with eight minutes left – an extraordinary result that, according to
Moyes, proved pivotal in them becoming an authentic top-six outfit – and securing Europa
League qualification. “Managers will tell you that sometimes there are things that completely change the outcome of a season,” added Moyes.
“That game was huge for confidence and momentum.
“The quality of the last goal and the timing of it was a big moment.”
Manuel Lanzini produced the stunning 25-yard equaliser that day as he re-emerged from a cruciate knee injury suffered a year earlier.
As with Soucek, Moyes is convinced the Argentine playmaker, 29, is now producing his best again.
He added: “He’s got more maturity and sees things better. He’s made a big difference.”