Debate has raged over who is to blame for the underwhelming form of West Ham’s best player Mohammed Kudus this season.
It is no coincidence Mohammed Kudus has been heavily linked with a move away from West Ham this season.
The Hammers star boy has cut a frustrated figure playing under Julen Lopetegui.
Those frustrations boiled over when the pair had an altercation at half-time of the game at Brentford.
Kudus has twice been seen reacting angrily to being substituted by Lopetegui since then.
Not to mention the head loss at Spurs which saw the Ghanaian banned for five games.
Who is to blame for Kudus performance levels?
Kudus has three goals from his 14 appearances this season.
For a player of his immense, unplayable talent that is nowhere near the return West Ham fans were expecting under a new manager who was tasked with playing a more attacking style of football.
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West Ham have won just five Premier League games from 17 this season.
Bar one or two exceptions, performances have been unconvincing and nowhere near the level required.
That’s reflected in the lowly league position of 14th – miles off the European spots.
Kudus has been heavily linked with a London Stadium exit.
That seems an inevitability rather than a possibility.
Mohammed Kudus of West Ham United and Julen Lopetegui West Ham Head Coach during the Premier League match between West Ham United FC and Ipswich To...
Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty Images
Lopetegui failing to get the best out of West Ham’s best player
Kudus has an £85m release clause active in the summer with the likes of Arsenal and Liverpool interested.
He is West Ham’s most valuable asset. That is highlighted by the fact the club has admitted they would only consider selling Kudus in January if someone offered over £100m.
So why is a £100m player not producing the performances, goals and assists he should be?
West Ham fans have blamed Lopetegui.
The Spaniard has infuriated supporters by playing Kudus out of position on the left hand side.
The world and its wife knows that Kudus is much more effective off the right or centrally.
He also made it clear to Lopetegui when the manager first arrived that he wanted to play through the middle.
In that position, the 24-year-old only has to beat one or two players before he can get a shot off at goal or play a killer pass.
On the left he is cutting in on his lesser foot. It has made no sense to anyone who watches West Ham.
But Lopetegui continues to do it, which also means no place in the team for Crysencio Summerville as a result.
Kudus actually scored West Ham’s equaliser in the fortunate 1-1 draw with Brighton.
But his performances have come in for criticism since his return from a five-game ban.
So who is to blame?
Well frustrated West Ham star Kudus has told Lopetegui he’s getting him all wrong.
Mohammed Kudus of West Ham United looks on during the Premier League match between West Ham United FC and Wolverhampton Wanderers FC at London Stad...
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Frustrated Kudus tells Lopetegui he’s getting him all wrong
There has been plenty to choose from, but not getting the best out of Kudus is arguably Lopetegui’s biggest failing.
Kudus was largely ineffective as he once again started on the left against the Seagulls.
His goal, a header after Jarrod Bowen’s shot was saved, notably came after Kudus was moved over to the right.
And Kudus has chosen to send a clear message to the manager that playing on the right is where he is at his natural best and happiest.
He insists he will always play where needed most for the good of the team.
But Kudus has made it clear he doesn’t think that is on the left.
“It was good to score, and the goal came from where I’m most natural, on the right,” brutally honest Kudus told West Ham’s official site.
“It’s all about the team though, and I’ll keep learning and improving to adapt to wherever I’m asked to play.”
Kudus tried to be positive and suggest the team are slowly understanding what the manager wants.
But there is little actual evidence that is the case with the Hammers jeered off after another fortunate result and underwhelming display.
The fact he has chosen to say he wants to play on the right in an interview with the club’s own official site says everything. Kudus clearly wants to make sure the manager gets the message. And that the rest of the world knows who is to blame for his below par return.
Can you imagine Enzo Maresca playing Cole Palmer out of position week in, week out?
Or Arne Slot sticking Mo Salah on the left?
Everyone can see Kudus on the left simply does not work. Well everyone except the man who matters most, Lopetegui.
West Ham United's Mohammed Kudus celebrates scoring his side's first goal with Crysencio Summerville during the Premier League match between West H...
Photo by Rob Newell – CameraSport via Getty Images
Misuse of Kudus is Lopetegui’s biggest failing at West Ham
The fact Kudus has spoken out and made it clear once again he prefers to play off the right sums up what he thinks of the manager’s tactics.
Some will argue Kudus can’t play there because of Bowen.
But the Hammers skipper can play up top to make that happen.
And if not then Kudus can and should be playing more centrally in support of the striker.
He can even play as the striker himself. He would certainly provide more pace, mobility and skill than Niclas Fullkrug or Danny Ings.
You are cutting off your nose to spite your face by shoving Kudus out on the left.
Kudus is the officially the best dribbler in all of Europe.
But his goal return does not correlate with those stats.
And that is all the proof needed that he’s not getting the kind of end product he should be with his huge dribbling numbers.
That’s because, more often than not, he’ll beat players and end up on his weaker right foot for the crucial final action – be that a shot, pass or cross.
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