It would be fair to say that it's not exactly the best time to be a West Ham United fan at the moment.
Nuno Espírito Santo's side have lost their last three games and currently look on track to be relegated from the Premier League.
However, it's not all doom and gloom as it's still early in the season and the Hammers do have a number of very talented players in their squad.
West Ham United manager Nuno Espirito Santo reacts
Moreover, while they sold one of their star players, Mohammed Kudus, in the summer, the manager has another player who is far better than he'll ever be, and it could even be said that it was the right decision to sell the Ghanaian.
Why selling Kudus was the right decision
Now, the first thing to say is that on his day, Kudus can be a real game-changer, and during his first campaign for West Ham, he was exactly that.
For example, across 45 appearances for the Irons in 23/24, he racked up an impressive tally of 14 goals and nine assists, which works out to a goal involvement every 1.95 games.
However, as many a West Ham fan will report, the former Ajax star was only a useful player to have when the going was good, as in challenging moments he'd often go missing entirely.
mohammed-kudus-tottenham-premier-league
This is exactly what happened in his second season at the club.
For example, in 35 appearances across all competitions last season, the Accra-born international was only able to score five goals and provide four assists.
Kudus' West Ham Record
Season
Appearances
Goals
Assists
Goal Involvements per Match
All Stats via Transfermarkt
That means his average dropped from a goal involvement every 1.95 games to one every 3.88 games, and worse yet, his fifth goal of the season came in the final league game against an already relegated Ipswich Town, when nothing was on the line.
Moreover, his underlying numbers were just as unimpressive, so he wasn't just getting unlucky.
Kudus-1
According to FBref, he only ranked in the top 32% of attacking midfielders and wingers in the league for shot-creating actions, the top 37% for non-penalty expected goals and progressive carries, the top 43% for touches in the opposition's penalty area and more, all per 90.
In short, while he might have been useful this season, West Ham were probably smart to sell him for £55m, especially as Nuno has another more talented star who will give his all for the badge when things get tough.
The West Ham star miles better than Kudus
Now, West Ham do have a few players who could help them get out of trouble by the end of the season, including Lucas Paqueta, El Hadji Malick Diouf, and Mateus Fernandes.
However, when it comes to the most important star of all, and the one who is still comfortably better than Kudus, it's obviously Jarrod Bowen.
The modern legend has already cemented his name in club folklore with that Conference League Final-winning goal, but he continues to be the most dangerous attacker in the squad.
Bowen
For example, since joining the Hammers in January 2020, the former Hull City ace has racked up a sensational tally of 77 goals and 53 assists in 248 games, averaging a goal involvement every 1.90 games.
Moreover, while Kudus was letting the fans down with his performances and output last season, the Englishman was picking up the slack and consistently delivering, scoring 14 goals and providing ten assists in 36 games, which is a goal involvement every 1.5 games.
What about this year, though? How does the Leominster-born star's output stack up to the Ghanaian international's?
Well, in 13 appearances for his new side, the former Hammer has scored one goal and provided five assists.
jarrod-bowen-west-ham-premier-league
That comes out to a reasonably impressive average of a goal involvement every 2.16 games.
For his efforts, the Irons' "unplayable" talisman, as dubbed by Thomas Frank, has scored three goals and provided two assists in ten appearances.
Bown vs Kudus in 25/26
Player
Appearances
Goals
Assists
Goal Involvements per Match
All Stats via Transfermarkt
Amazingly, that means that, despite playing for a team threatened with relegation, Bowen has maintained a better average of a goal involvement every other game.
Therefore, while Nuno might have been able to tune out of Kudus at West Ham, he already has a far better player at his disposal, and one that will fight to the end for him and the team.