When considering a favourite player, I do my best to mentally weigh up both the tangibles and intangibles. When posed with this particular question, usually the inevitable first one we all get after disclosing our team of choice, a series of frantic questions rush through my head. Is it the objectively most talented footballer? The highest scorer? The one who displays the most relentless enthusiasm and unbridled passion? As West Ham fans, we tend to have a strong predisposition towards the latter. Caring about the club, the values and the ethos—and proving it—goes a long way with us. That being said, I feel the need to defend my choices with statistics. My favourite player from the current squad, luckily enough, does both. This is in defence of Tomáš Souček.
The Uncanny Instinct for Clutch Moments
Tomáš occupies the same category of footballer for me as another namesake, Thomas Müller. Technically gifted with a silky touch? Hardly. A pinpoint passer with effortless Pirlo-esque vision that can cut through an entire opposition with one perfectly placed punt? Definitely not. A formidable defensive rock making last ditch tackles and dominating every duel? Rarely. Somehow always in the right place at the right time? Always. He occupies an uncanny knack for making the right interception, the clutch header, the decisive goal at pivotal moments in games. His impact is felt beyond just stats and metrics, in ways that are hard to explain but easy to feel. If you’re a Hammer, you will sympathise with the begrudging moan after another clunky touch being immediately followed by jubilant cheers.
Unwavering Consistency and Match Availability
The unwavering consistency of big Tom cannot be overstated. No matter the situation, manager, tactics or predicament—he can win you a game. This has been obvious through all the tumultuousness in the manager department over the last few seasons. Even if he did not always take a main role at the beginning of each manager’s career, he became a vital component for all of them eventually. His match availability cannot be ignored, placing in the top five of matches played in each full season he has been at the club, bar this season. Despite a relatively underwhelming season by his standards, he has managed as many goal contributions domestically as he did during the Conference League-winning season. This stat is made even more impressive by the fact that this season has been his lowest percentage of starts to matches played since joining the club. The number has decreased by six, totalling just 24 starts out of 35 matches played compared to last season’s 30. It is easy to wonder if his lack of selection as a starter has played a contributing factor in our disastrous relegation.
A Leader Who Lives and Dies for the Badge
Tomáš cares about West Ham, that is a quality that, despite some aggravating flaws, can never be questioned. We are all well aware of his immense popularity behind the scenes, the staying late after training and the quiet leadership qualities he brings to a dressing room that has been quite publicly touted as having a lack of leaders. You feel it on the pitch, you hear it in his candid interviews. So when I come to think of my favourite players, players that live and die for the badge, that understand the privilege of representing our historic club, our West Ham Way, one man immediately comes to mind – and that man is spinning in a circle.
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