Mohammed Kudus must start – Three things learned in West Ham United v Newcastle
West Ham fought hard to secure a draw in their 2-2 Premier League clash with Newcastle United at the London Stadium on 8 October.
Thomas Soucek opened the scoring after just eight minutes, before a controversial moment as Bruno Guimaraes was not given a second yellow card despite a heavy challenge on James Ward-Prowse in midfield.
Newcastle came out a different team in the second half, scoring two quickfire goals to go 2-1 up before Mohammed Kudus changed the game in an inspired substitute cameo and scored the equaliser. Here are three things we learned from the draw.
Mohammed Kudus has to start in place of Michail Antonio
To put it simply, Kudus must start for David Moyes’ side. He came off the bench to provide a much-needed attacking spark and scored the equalising goal to secure a point for his team.
His 90% passing accuracy, 100% dribbling success, one key pass, and ultimate equaliser in just 14 minutes of football showed his impact, and it will be up to Moyes to make space for him in the starting team.
Michail Antonio has his benefits, but he cannot have a direct effect on the game in the way Kudus has proved he can. Another lacklustre performance in which he didn’t have a single shot before being dragged off on 75 minutes means he should be the man to drop out. [Sofascore]
The referees cannot be trusted
After all the controversy surrounding an incorrect call in the Liverpool versus Tottenham game last week, the referee today proved once again that they cannot be trusted to make the big calls.
Newcastle midfielder Bruno Guimaraes was booked for tripping Emerson Palmieri on the counter-attack, and just minutes later flew into a late challenge on James Ward-Prowse, for which the referee only gave a warning. He was probably the only man in the ground that didn’t think it was a second yellow card.
Newcastle were ultimately able to regroup at half-time and improve greatly for the second half when the red card should have killed the game for the Hammers. Sky Sports pundit Jamie O’Hara branded the decision “a disgrace”.
Nayef Aguerd needs to pick up his displays
Aguerd has put in some questionable displays for the Hammers of late, and was at fault for Newcastle’s second goal when Alexander Isak simply bullied him before tapping the ball into the empty net.
Having given the ball away 13 times, having a pass completion percentage of just 63, and failing to block a single shot, make a single tackle or interception, questions will have to be asked about his continued starting role in the team. [Sofascore]
Konstantinos Mavropanos arrived from Stuttgart in the summer transfer window to provide Moyes with greater defensive depth and now might be the time to use it. His performances when called upon have put him in with a shout at first-team football, and Aguerd hasn’t done enough to keep his place.
In other West Ham news, Jarrod Bowen has made a decision on a rumoured move to Liverpool.