Ruthless Graham Potter puts sulky Mohammed Kudus in his place after West Ham no-show. Graham Potter showed his ruthless streak in dealing with sulky West Ham star Mohammed Kudus head on during and after the win over Fulham.
Graham Potter isn’t just impressing with his tactics but his handling of a major Hammers elephant in the room too. There is no denying Mohammed Kudus is nowhere near the levels he was at last season for West Ham.
The Hammers’ star boy was a revelation in his debut season with 14 goals, six assists and the best dribbling stats of any player in any European league.
Only one Premier League player won the ball back for their team more times than Kudus last term too – Newcastle’s defensive midfielder Bruno Guimaraes.
This season Kudus has cut a frustrated figure and has just three goals and two assists to his name in all competitions. And that relentless defensive workrate and appetite to win the ball back is missing too.
When the red mist descended for the Ghanaian at Spurs, many felt it had been coming. West Ham’s supremely talented attacker had been a ticking timebomb all season.
The blame was laid at the feet of Julen Lopetegui.
He infuriated fans – and evidently Kudus himself – by playing the attacker out of position on the left.
The world and its wife knows that Kudus is much more effective off the right or centrally.
The player himself had also made that clear to Lopetegui when he arrived that he wanted to play through the middle.
Hammers fans convinced themselves Kudus’ poor form was solely down to Lopetegui. Ruthless Potter puts sulky Kudus in his place
Especially after the pair had a furious bust-up with one another at Brentford.
Lopetegui singled Kudus out for criticism, accusing him of playing for himself and not the team. Since then he had been seen showing public disgust towards Lopetegui when substituted.
But maybe the curious case of Kudus wasn’t all on Lopetegui after all. Ruthless Potter has put sulky Kudus in his place after his West Ham no-show.
Lopetegui has been and gone and Potter has got an instant reaction in his first two games.
Kudus was instantly moved to a central role at Villa and was excellent – as was the team – during the first half. He was ineffective in the second, though, as injuries handed Villa the impetus.
Many Hammers fans were critical of Kudus’ second half performance at Villa Park. But Potter defended him saying the game became difficult for the 24-year-old because Villa were able to push West Ham back.
Last night in the home game against Fulham, Kudus started on the right as Potter tinkered with his formation given the Hammers’ injury crisis.
The Hammers boss had hinted he or Lucas Paqueta could get the nod to play up front.
In the end he went with Paqueta. Kudus did ok in patches in the first half, playing a part in West Ham’s second goal. But supporters noted he looked disinterested as Fulham doubled up on him everytime he had the ball.
Tactile Potter makes it clear Kudus no-show won’t be accepted. The second half was a complete non-event as far as West Ham’s most naturally gifted star goes.
Time and again Kudus left Aaron Wan-Bissaka isolated by failing to track back. That actually resulted in Fulham’s first goal, which came from an overload down West Ham’s right side.
At the other end, Kudus was struggling to keep hold of the ball or do anything of note and many supporters were questioning his body language.
But with Potter’s forward options seriously limited, Kudus and West Ham fans fully expected to him finish the game.
Think again.
Potter has been talking about togetherness and teamwork being central to everything he wants to put in place in east London.
And the Hammers boss showed he will do what is right for the team when he rather shockingly substituted Kudus on 63 minutes.
Much to the surprise of fans and the player who was visibly disgusted and muttering to himself as he came off.
The bold move was questioned in the stadium and on social media. But there Was instant vindication for Potter within four minutes.
