Graham Potter has a very big mountain to climb at West Ham following defeat to Sunderland.
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West Ham endured a nightmare start to the Premier League season as they were blown away by newly promoted Sunderland at the Stadium of Light, the hosts romping to a 3-0 win.
While it will be the weekend’s most head-turning result, it was perhaps not too hard to predict. The Hammers have been quiet in the transfer window, even after a thoroughly underwhelming campaign last time out.
El Hadji Malick Diouf arriving from Slavia Prague for £19 million is the most exciting piece of business but he is far from proven in the Premier League. Callum Wilson in, but is famously injury prone, and Kyle Walker-Peters has all the feel of a squad player.
West Ham struggle against newly promoted Sunderland
If little changes, it’s hard to expect much to change. Potter has had a full pre-season to work with his squad but there was a worrying apathy about the showing against Sunderland.
West Ham not only need new blood in their squad fast, but they appear to need a rocket sent to them. The struggles on Saturday were made even harder to take by what was going on at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Where West Ham struggled against the newcomers, Spurs eased past Burnley and recorded their own 3-0 win. Richarlison bagged a brace with Brennan Johnson also on the scoresheet, but it was a man with two assists who also caught the eye.
That was former Hammer Mohammed Kudus. The 25-year-old set up both of Richarlison’s goals in his 85 minutes on the pitch and earned plaudits for his performance.
Assigning him an 8/10 for his showing, Football.London said: “Picked out Richarlison for an early assist on his home debut with a low cross and then did so again with the ball for his second. Another strong display from the Ghana international with some good defensive work as well.”
Mohammed Kudus rubs salt into West Ham wounds
It rubs salt into West Ham wounds. The club pocketed £55 million for selling Kudus but have spent little of that on new recruits who could have made an impact this weekend in the same way Kudus did.
What’s more, it hints at a bigger problem at the London Stadium. Kudus’ character was questioned at times last season amid disciplinary issues and barren patches. Yet, under the new management of Thomas Frank, he looked reborn.
Against Burnley, the Ghana international looked about as good as he ever has done. The bit between his teeth, his performance oozed a flair and excitement that was devoid from West Ham. Hammers fans have every right to be infuriated by the situation.
In other news, 'Here We Go': West Ham and Crystal Palace to lose £25m transfer race to Premier League rival.