3 West Ham players who must step up the most after the international break | OneFootball

West Ham have been dismal throughout the 2024/25 season, and while they did drop points to former manager David Moyes's Everton side, the 1-1 draw with the Toffees was actually an encouraging match for Graham Potter and Co. The Hammers were truly the better side, with Jarrod Bowen, as always, providing the majority of the high points.

But as it stands, West Ham are 16th in the Premier League and in need of something more tangible than moral victories. Although West Ham are in no risk of relegation, nor would wins bring them anywhere near European contention, there's something to be said about winning and ending the season on a high note as a morale boost.

So after the March international break, here are three individual players on West Ham, who, in particular, need to step it up for the team.

CB Konstantinos Mavropanos

There is a strong case to be made that Konstantinos Mavropanos has been the worst player on West Ham this season, which is a far cry from the quality he displayed in the Bundesliga that initially made him a Hammer.

The former Arsenal prospect has looked clueless at the back, and with Graham Potter shifting to a back three, the performances still haven't picked up for the Greek defender.

Clearly, the talent and athleticism are there, but West Ham can't afford to start a defender committing brainless blunders on a weekly basis. West Ham have other options available on the transfer market, such as Koni De Winter, and they have no need to give Mavropanos a longer leash than the final weeks of the 2024/25 season. It's do-or-die for him now.

FW Mohammed Kudus

Mohammed Kudus shouldn't be at any risk of leaving West Ham, but Potter will want to put some pressure on the young forward to start living up to the nearly 50 million euro price tag the Hammers paid in order to sign him as a raw attacking prospect from Ajax.

At times, Kudus looks like one of the best players in the Premier League. However, at least as often, he looks like he doesn't even merit being in the West Ham squad. The game-to-game inconsistency has become maddening, and it's hard to rely on a starter like that.

Kudus has to mature and be all that he can be in the Premier League. The young man can change games on their heads and is easily the most electrifying player on the team with five dribbles completed and fouls drawn per game. But with just four goal contributions, his lack of end product is holding the team back.

DM Guido Rodriguez

Speaking of holding the team back, as much as the focus has turned, yet again, to West Ham signing a striker in the summer transfer market, this team's biggest weakness has to be the midfield.

There are at least three guys who could qualify for a spot on this list, but no single player has been more profoundly disappointing than summer signing Guido Rodriguez, who looks like a shell of the rock-solid player he was for Real Betis these last few seasons in LaLiga.

Rodriguez isn't a regular starter for West Ham anymore, as he played himself well out of contention with subpar display after subpar display. However, Rodriguez remains important to the team from a depth perspective, and, like Mavropanos, he will be playing for his job in the remaining weeks of the season.