West Ham winger Mohammed Kudus has given an honest appraisal of his season so far, declaring, “It hasn’t been the best.”
The Ghanaian starboy has struggled compared to his inaugural campaign for the Hammers last season. A dressing room fallout with former West Ham gaffer Julen Lopetegui and a five-game ban for a bit of handbags against Spurs didn’t help, but Kudus never really hit full stride.
I always got the impression that the former Ajax man was duped by Lopetegui’s early promises upon his arrival at West Ham. During pre-season, Kudus gave an insightful interview expressing his delight that the club now had a “coach who knows how to train right wingers.”
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That comment offered an early insight into where the attacker expected to be deployed under a new system. However, the reality was very different. Lopetegui utilised Kudus as a left winger, completely nullifying his shooting threat and rendering him a peripheral figure in games.
West Ham attacker was badly let down
There is little doubt in my mind that those tactical frustrations led to his disciplinary issues, and he has certainly benefited from the Spanish head coach’s departure. If there was indeed a promise or even an expectancy that the £34m wide-man would be played in his favourite position then he was badly let down.
Whether Graham Potter can get the very best out of him remains up for debate. Kudus was my man of the match against Arsenal but struggled to shine against Leicester City. That said, he has kept new boy Evan Ferguson out of the team despite not hitting full stride, but the player himself has admitted he’s still adjusting to the new manager’s methods.
Mohammed Kudus-Crysencio Summerville-West Ham
Kudus during a rare happy moment at West Ham this season
Kudus said yesterday: “We as players have the job to understand and adapt to fit in with our style, and that’s what we’re trying to do. I’m trying to fit in my style with how the manager sees me and how he wants me to play.”
I don’t mind his comments one bit, and his caution is understandable given that he was burned by his gushing early appraisal of Lopetegui. But if Potter can get the best out of Kudus once more, West Ham will once again have the most dangerous dribbler in the Premier League at our disposal