West Ham managed to salvage a draw at Fulham, and one person familiar with both teams is Tony Gale.
Excitement surrounded West Ham as the Premier League resumed following the two-week international break. Fans were eager to see their nine new summer signings in action and to observe what new head coach Julen Lopetegui had been working on with his team.
However, that enthusiasm turned into disappointment when the West Ham lineup was revealed. Michail Antonio continued to lead the attack, frustrating supporters. Lucas Paqueta was benched in favor of Tomas Soucek—rather than Carlos Soler or Crysencio Summerville—which surprised many. Konstantinos Mavropanos kept his spot despite calls for star summer signing Jean-Clair Todibo to start, and Mohammed Kudus, arguably West Ham’s most talented player, was again positioned on the left wing, where he is less effective.
The first half was dreadful, with Antonio and Soucek underperforming and Mavropanos responsible for Fulham’s goal. Kudus also struggled, and West Ham trailed 1-0 at halftime.
Tony Gale, who initially praised Kudus’ potential, shifted his stance in the second half. Despite describing Kudus as a £100 million player, Gale criticized him for his apparent frustration and poor body language. Kudus, who had begun the game with promising runs, seemed disheartened and less involved as the match progressed, leading Gale to note his lack of effort defensively.
While Kudus’ frustration is understandable given his preferred central attacking midfield role, he could benefit from following Jarrod Bowen’s example. Bowen, despite a challenging game, continued to push and ultimately assisted Danny Ings in securing a last-minute equalizer.
Although Gale overestimated Kudus’ current value, as West Ham fans know, he has an £85 million release clause in his contract, which will be active next summer. There are already hints that he might be sold if a club meets the clause. For now, West Ham supporters should appreciate Kudus while he’s still with the team and hope he maintains a positive attitude and form.
