Playing a starring role whilst way on international duty is not usually the best way to communicate your ‘favourite’ position to your Premier League boss: Chances are he has his own ideas. In this case, one of Hammers’ gifted ‘crown jewels’ by all accounts had a fabulous game for his national side and who knows, maybe shone a light on his best path for his future Hammers success.
Mo Kudus featured in Ghana’s 1-0 loss to Angola but apparently shone out head and shoulders above the rest – but was unable to defeat the opponents on his own.
What was exciting about this game was that Kudus appeared playing centrally, in the number 10 position. By all accounts his was a dazzling display. Through the early part of the Premier League, Mo has been deployed by Julen Lopetegui exclusively as a winger, setting up on the left and the often swapping with Jarrod Bowen to play some time on the right hand side.
He does seem to be wasted when working as a winger, and his best work would surely be centrally: Especially as West Ham have sitting on their bench one of the most gifted young left wingers – Crysencio Summerville– desperate to get on the pitch and who narrowly missed scoring against Manchester City.
Gonzo and I have on separate occasions both suggested that West Ham’s set up with Kudus on the left is not getting the best out of our teams electrifying resources. If Lopetegui can take note of how his Ghanaian counterpart Otto Addo used Kudus to get the best out of him then we at West Ham could well see Kudus playing at a new level. Maybe the two coaches need to have a chat!
Certainly against Manchester City Kudus was below par apart from one wonderful shot which smacked against the post. Redeploying him centrally would keep him in the game, lift his own spirits to get the most out of him and satisfy Bowen’s desire to be out right at the same time. And would make The Hammers a true attacking force to be reckoned with.
Writer, the name is Mohammed Kudus, not “Mo”…let mention the name in full. I am very certain he Kudus wouldn’t be happy to see his name been shortened
I think if JLO want to be winning, then he should deploy mo kudus at no. 10. That’s the position we can have the best out of him. He is being under utilized at wings
Does JLo have the balls to sit Pacqueta on the bench (who has been poor for his standards) and play Kudus at no.10 with Summerville on the left. Only time will tell
While I appreciate that JLo is actually swapping players around during matches, outright changing formation or making prompt substitutions when seeing things aren’t working, I think it’d be worth starting with Kudus central and either Pacqueta out left or trying one from Summerville or Guilherme.
Pacqueta hasn’t been “bad” this season but I think it’s fair to say he’s been pretty ineffective in the games so far. Despite the earlier allusion/dig at Moyes’ tactics/choices, when he was deploying Pacqueta out left, his link up play with Emerson was good so could be worth taking a “backwards step” and seeing how it flies…
Jesus, you started off writing fairly sensible stuff, Martin. Now you write as if you know better than JLo.
I think I do in my mind, but at the end of the day I do not. I make comments, many idiotic, but I often do that cos this site deserves it.
This is such a negative place to come and the others on here are terrible. Don’t lower yourself to their level just to fill space.
You’ll say don’t come here then, but I do because I want to see how you are riling up the fans who let us down all the time with their impatience.
I have said I’ll give JLo until Christmas and then assess our progress. That’s when the muppets will start to really moan if we’re not top 4 like they seem to think we should be in their fantasy football land.
I I see progress and promising signs, then I’ll give him until the end of the season and assess again.
W e are in a good place because the club have signed players any good coach worth his salt can work with, so let’s see what happens.
What I do this is Kudos, now matter if we incredibly did qualify for the Greedy League, he will be wanting out.
Let’s hope for us he performs in a manner than will attract a ‘bigger’ (moneybags) club as it means we have had a good season.
Well, If Kudus is happiest playing centrally AND it is to the advantage of the team, why wouldn’t we do All we can to retain him? You seem to take any opinion as being ‘riling up the fans’ It seems to be riling up very few. Maybe there is a need to learn to disagree without falling out.
Chill, nobody is fomenting negativity. We are sharing opinions. The same as we do when we are standing at the bar at LS paying crap money for crappy beer and an £8.50 hot dog.
Give it a rest Martin! You’ve made this point time & time again. Lopetegui will do what he thinks best no matter how many times you say it.
Of course if Mo is deployed “correctly” soon, you can claim the credit!