Mohammed Kudus won’t be the first or the last to be substituted at half-time by West Ham head coach Julen Lopetegui.
While there are comparisons between the Spaniard’s style of play and that of predecessor David Moyes, the two men are night and day in terms of substitutions. To put it bluntly, if Lopetegui doesn’t like something, he’ll change it immediately, as was proven with the £35m swap of Guido Rodriguez and Tomas Soucek against Chelsea.
I’m not going to pretend to have an encyclopaedic knowledge of all his career substitutions, but I suspect he did it at Real Madrid and for the Spanish national team. Therefore, West Ham players should expect to be hooked if they’re not playing well, irrespective of status.
That being said, Mohammed Kudus is in a tricky situation because it feels like the team is missing an asset when he doesn’t play. In many respects, it feels somewhat unfair when the Ghanaian’s number comes up because he’s pretty much played every game out of position.
I’m quite sure that if Lopetegui continues to deploy Kudus on West Ham’s left flank, substitutions will become a regular occurrence. Therefore, the Irons’ gaffer needs to decide whether he’ll persist in playing him in an alien role where he’ll undoubtedly continue to underwhelm.
The alternative is to play him as an attacking midfielder or as a centre forward. Jarrod Bowen looks like he’s just starting to find his rhythm, so he should be left in place; however, Kudus is too good to just be a bit-part player.
At his best, the former Ajax man is West Ham’s biggest goal threat, but he’s looked a shadow of himself. While reports of a rift with Lopetegui have probably been exaggerated, I doubt Kudus is happy. If his situation is not fixed soon, I suspect he won’t be here in 12 months’ time.
The trouble is we have two of the best players in one position, kudus and bowen. Both would walk into most premier league teams. I don’t know the answer but that’s what our manager is payed the big bucks for, find a solution.
Moyes did the same with Paqueta pushing him into positions not best suited.
He’s lost his trickery and panache that fans loved with free flowing movement.
JLo is doing same with Kudus who has expressed his desire to play middle field.
Bowen on right, Kudus in middle and Summerville on left.
Rotation of other players shouldn’t be a problem it’s a necessity.
Needs to play young Brazilian lad, don’t think he came to play in U21’s.
Promised first team football to get his signature?
Whilst Mo possess undoubted talent and ball control, at times it feels like he is trying to do it all on his own.There are occasions when he does need to look to play others in and not shoot everytime, more often than not through a bank of players from silly angles.
Yes, I know sometimes there is no one to play to, so hold it up, not try and beat four players.
He is not the player he was last year and neither is Paqueta and this shows. It might make sense to drop Paq and play Mo there, opening up the position to Summerville
JL needs his head tested why did he sub kudus he was by far the best player on the pitch he made life extremely uncomfortable for Brentford’s defenders whatever is going on behind the scenes it needs sorting and quick we are as bad if not worse than when moyes was here JL needs to start playing players in their correct positions then maybe he would be halfway to getting the team he picks to play like a team if things don’t improve soon then the club will have to be ruthless and sack him
He’s going end of the season whatever happens. If it’s Liverpool that want him then some sort of swap deal with Nunez coming to us could work well for all parties.
Whose departure do you think would serve West Ham interests more, Kudus or Lopetegui?
I like where you’re going with this Ray!