With three different manager inside twelve months, nobody can really blame the whole squad for finding [Graham Potter’s](https://www.claretandhugh.info/has-graham-potter-already-found-his-soucek-replacement/) coaching demands a challenge. However, the new head coach has been in situ since January so half a season on: In that same time frame, Bournemouth’s Andoni Iraola managed to bring about a transformation on the pitch and got himself crowned Manager of the Month for January.
West Ham’s season has come under review in the [nytimes](https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6352906/2025/05/28/west-ham-season-review-2024-25/) today with Roshane Thomas’ second article detailing all things wrong at West Ham in 2024/5. Of particular emphasis are his words regarding West Ham’s Ghanaian attacker Mohammed Kudus. ‘Starboy’ has endured his worst season to date, being dropped, falling out with Lopetegui and coming under huge pressure as his international side flopped. Suggesting Kudus’ ineffectiveness has been the biggest surprise this season, Thomas summarises:
_“He has been ineffective, struggling to adapt to Potter’s 3-4-2-1 system and not playing at the level which made him a sought-after talent. The 24-year-old attacker has only scored twice (in that defeat at Brighton and on Sunday at Ipswich) this calendar year._
_It is in huge contrast to his performances in 2023-24, where he showed his brilliance against Freiburg and Manchester City, ending that campaign with 14 goals and six assist_s.”
The failure to adapt to Potter’s system is, in my eyes, the biggest problem. Were it just a loss of form then you’d expect Kudus to be at London Stadium in August. However, Potter knows what he wants and players who cannot adapt will be shipped out to pay for those who will do as Potter demands.
If any were needed, this may be a timely reminder that Kudus will more than likely be heading out of the door this summer to pay for the rebuild and to find a coach with whom he can work best: Liverpool must be the favoured destination for a reunion with Kudus’ long-lost training guru John Heitinga.