In a little-noticed post back in the summer, as the transfer window was getting into top gear, West Ham United’s Ghanaian ‘starboy’ Mohammed Kudus was reported to have made a significant change following in the footsteps of some other previous West Ham United players including, most recently, Marco Arnautovic (and as C and H reader Sir Alfred reminds me, Reece Oxford too).
Kudus had long been represented by Football Agent Jennifer Mendelewitsch, who handled the player’s rise to stardom through the ranks to Ajax and then onto London stadium.
However back in July Fabrizio Romano reported via his twitter page that everything had changed for the Ghanaian:
““Mohammed Kudus will be now represented by relatives and legal team after decision to part ways with his former agents”
Whilst this is commonplace in Sport, for family to represent players, -Harry Kane’s brother is his Agent – it often signals a crossroads in player-club relations when family gets involved.
Kudus’ form is certainly nowhere near last seasons’ excellence. How much of this is to do with having new family advisors around him, we can only hazard a guess. Both club and country have seen the slump in his game and now he has been the subject of criticism and scrutiny for the first time in his short career which must be very unsettling for him.
In Arnautovic’s case it led to his relentless desire to crash his contract and move on from West Ham after only two years, with his brother constantly briefing against the club and engineering subsequent move after move for ‘Arnie’, presumably to keep the cash coming in.
The involvement of Kudus’ family in his career may be at best, diverting his attention away from his performances , but at worse getting in his head, firing up his ego and convincing him that ‘his way is the only way’. A public falling out with a head coach mid-game cannot be good PR for the player’s future reputation or his club’s team spirit.
You may be putting 2 and 2 together and making 5 there. Being played out of position in a team that is trying to cope with a high turnaround of players is probably nearer the truth
His International form – where he plays in his more favoured central / wide right position has been just as bad and subject to even more criticism across Ghana.
Maybe he is just off form then? Surely his financial advisers would have little to do with his international remuneration
This may be poor memory but I thought Kudus’ form started to wain a little (and only a little) after the African Nations tournament at the beginning of this year. He certainly got a lot of stick for his recent international appearances, so I’m not convinced his drop in form is to do with JLo nor changing to the left side, albeit the latter may not help his frame of mind.
So, the family agent issue is an interesting thought and could well hold a lot of truth in it. It certainly seemed to see the end for Arnie.
The family agent thing always worries me with players, especially half way through their careers.
I’m sure they must be, but are his family members registered under fifa ? Or are they just doing what many african nation’s players find happen? Emotional Blackmail from family taking their privileged thinking way for someone else’s success?
I’m sure 99% of players will help their families out. But how many are forced to do so?
Was it sado mane who said something publicly about family members and blackmail ? (Not necessarily him or his)
He’s been rumbled. Teams are now aware of his dribbling prowess so they double and treble up on him. His reaction to that has been head down and just keep going isn’t effective.
He needs to be cleverer, draw the markers in then pass, in that way he’s created space elsewhere as his markers cannot be in two places.
Once he’s done that for a while and the other teams haven’t turned the ball over but it’s gone to someone in space they will be less inclined to focus resources on him. They will continue to double and treble up only while it pays off.
I personally don’t understand why West ham brought this coach in. Everything in the team is not working even the winning spirit of the boys is no more. All the blame should be on coach nothing good to offer the club. Exit is awaiting
It’s clear that kudus wasn’t happy about being subbed at Brentford and he is not the player he was last season but that is JL fault play him is correct position and he will make mugs out of any competition defenders won’t know what hit them if they blink he will be up the pitch and getting a shot off before they realise he’s gone moyes was always playing players out of position which probably explains why the second half of last season was so poor if he continues to play kudus and certain other players out of positions then he won’t make it to Xmas come on JL get it right and you will be amazed at the difference it will make to certain players
Really Martin? I know you’re better than this , maybe just stirring the pot a bit to stoke a reaction. I hope so.
It is bad form to act like you have intimate knowledge regarding anyones financial situation or representation thereof. Let us not suppose we know the degree in which private decisions about private affairs will ultimately effect a peripheral avocation or vocation.
Kudus is arguably our best player right now. The current misuse and bordering on abuse of this jewel of the club is perplexing at best.
Let’s not cloud our minds and obfuscate the obvious detriment to this team, POOR LEADERSHIP!!!!
Dopetegui OUT!!!!!
What have I done to deserve your childish out bursts?
Oh sir, the list, she is a long one!
; )
Right grrrrr your boy Kudus is DROPPED Saturday.
Now, that would be a childish reaction that will hasten your inevitable departure. Do as you wish, you’re the “boss”
; )
The way to fix Kudus is by playing him as a striker much like Moyes did with Arnoutavic, Antonio and Bowen. Reason being, Kudus is the kind of selfish player who likes to go all the way on his own, score the goal on his own, even celebrate on his own. Not so much a team player so stick him up front on his own. I think he’ll be happy there.
That would be worth a try Hmm.
I am right handed , you can’t ask me to write
with my left and criticise me for bad hand writing
He has put in a lot of successful crosses which hasn’t been converted
He is criticised in Ghana for not putting a good work ethic as the fans see him put at west ham , perhaps it’s the fear of injuries.
Aptly put!
If he put in half as much effort at international duties as he does at Westham, Ghanaian fans wouldn’t have much to complain about. Obviously he is afraid of injury whilst playing fo Ghana.
His real drop in form is at West Ham and is a result of being played out of position and an attempt to stifle his style of play (by Lopetugui).
Exactly, the manager is the problem
Exactly, so. It was a mistake for Kudus to change his agent. I wish he could go back. His recent form is nowhere near last season’s. We all can see it. In Africa families are most player’s nemesis. They never leave you free. Time for Kudus to make the necessary change. A word to the wise is enough.
The manager is not good and doesn’t know how to use him, fire him
Succinct and accurate TK.
when amateur and egotistical relations get involved the players trajectory changes quite dramatically still in the up but no where as good as it should be, infringing on everything from efficiency to wellbeing and frankly a heck if a lot else in between. Which is absolutely bloody annoying really, especially to a professional club who spent money and time and everything else providing the player with his next platform, in future I am sure and very surprised that shortsighted people don’t already insist that fir the duration of the contract nothing qith the player changes including his agents if they have already done a superb job thus far. I would insist on it. buy a product then it changes? sod that for £38 million.
Yep, but if it means he ‘moves on’ for £85 million (we know there is that release clause next July) then it means the aggravation is worthwhile.