As Julen Lopetegui sack talk ramps up, Mohammed Kudus throws a big spanner in the works. Julen Lopetegui and Mohammed Kudus have hardly been a match made in heaven have they.
West Ham head coach Julen Lopetegui took over from David Moyes at the London Stadium in the summer. However, the Spaniard has seriously underwhelmed in his role so far, and his failure to get the best out of Mohammed Kudus has been the cornerstone of his struggles.
Three months ago, Lopetegui hauled Kudus off at half-time during our clash with Brentford.
After the game Lopetegui told reporters that he subbed Kudus off for tactical reasons, but we all smelled a rat. It then emerged that the Spaniard and the Ghanaian had a bust-up during the half-time interval.
However, the Hammers owners made contact with Kudus’s representatives after the game regarding the alleged bust-up, and made it clear that there was no issue between the player and manager.
Kudus then caused a stir once again after he was sent-off during our 4-1 defeat to Tottenham in October when he stormed passed Lopetegui without even acknowledging him.
The two clearly don’t see eye to eye, whatever the club, player or manager says.
And now Kudus is throwing a real spanner in the works for the Spaniard.
Julen Lopetegui sack talk ramps up
Lopetegui may well be clinging to the feint hope that he can turn things around at the London Stadium.
However, it’s clear to see that he’s a dead man walking right now. The Spaniard has no future at West Ham. He was the wrong appointment in the first place, and it’s only a matter of time before he’s moved on in my opinion.
https://twitter.com/HammersDotNews/status/1875442687081639997
View Tweet
It was claimed before the clash with Manchester City that a heavy defeat could see Lopetegui lose his job.
He obviously hasn’t been sacked yet, but rumours of the Hammers owners parting ways with the Spaniard are refusing to go away.
Graham Potter is allegedly being lined up to replace Lopetegui (talkSPORT), and a defeat to Aston Villa on Friday night could spell the end for the 58-year-old at the London Stadium.
Now is the time for West Ham to sack Lopetegui. Keeping him at the club any longer will do far more harm than good. And one of his star players could well end up being the architect of his downfall at West Ham.
Mohammed Kudus throws a spanner in the works for Lopetegui
Jarrod Bowen is currently out for around six-eight weeks with a fractured ankle.
With the skipper out injured, the onus is very much on Kudus to step up and fill the void. However, the Ghana international’s display against Manchester City put paid to the idea that we might not miss Bowen.
If Julen Lopetegui is hanging his hopes on Mohammed Kudus sparking a West Ham revival in the absence of Bowen, he will be set for serious disappointment in my opinion.
The 24-year-old was so far off the pace against Manchester City it was scray. He was incredibly selfish and was played for no one other than himself. It was a disgraceful display of greed and the lack of team ethic he showed is really bad news for Lopetegui.
Kudus is not the type of person you would want on a sinking ship, I’m starting to see that now.
And his poor form combined with his lack of interest in doing what’s best for the team will end up being Lopetegui’s death knell, I’m convinced of it.
