Does clueless Gareth Southgate actually watch Jarrod Bowen play for West Ham after his tactical disaster-class in England snooze-fest?
That’s the question most West Ham fans would have been asking themselves as their heads hit the pillow last night.
And getting off to sleep wouldn’t have been difficult following one of the most boring England displays for some time against Australia.
West Ham fans, pundits and journalists have rightly been banging the drum for Bowen – and Hammers teammate James Ward-Prowse – to be in the England setup.
Opinion: Does clueless Gareth Southgate actually watch Jarrod Bowen play for West Ham after tactical disaster-class in England snooze-fest?
Gareth Southgate finally relented on Bowen at least when he called up West Ham’s top scorer for the October internationals but inexplicably ignored Ward-Prowse.
Although the Hammers midfield ace may not mind too much after watching England’s fortunate 1-0 win over the Aussies as it only served to enhance his reputation.
One of the big questions for Southgate of late has been how and why has he overlooked Ward-Prowse – who has eight goals and assists in nine games for West Ham.
But now we’re left asking another: Does clueless Southgate actually watch Bowen play for West Ham after his tactical disaster-class in this England snooze-fest?
If he does it certainly didn’t show.
Bowen was completely hamstrung playing in a second string Three Lions side containing the likes of Jordan Henderson and Conor Gallagher.
Bowen completely hamstrung by playing in England second string as Southgate ticks some boxes
Not to mention playing in front of a Trent Alexander-Arnold who was more interested in trying to prove why he should be in midfield instead of doing the normal job of a right-back behind Bowen.
Anyone who watches West Ham knows Bowen is at his best when the team works the play to isolate the full-back so he can attack him one-on-one.
Then all it takes is basic support and overlaps from the right-back – like Bowen has with Vladimir Coufal – to make use of his talent.
Instead Southgate had a midfield two who barely passed the ball forwards let alone progress it up the pitch with any intent. There has been a lot of hype over Gallagher’s performances for Chelsea. West Ham chased the midfielder in the summer and saw a £40m bid rejected. But on this evidence they dodged a bullet – he would not get anywhere near West Ham’s current starting XI.
Messi may even have struggled in that England setup
And Alexander-Arnold, as good as he is on the ball, clearly has no interest being a right-back anymore judging on this showing. He did not make any support runs for Bowen all night, leaving the West Ham man constantly with his back to his marker and having to drop to the halfway line to receive the ball.
The galling thing is Bowen would likely shine in a full strength England side in Bukayo Saka’s absence.
But he probably won’t get a chance in the competitive game against Italy because this looked like an exercise in box-ticking from Southgate as he chucked out players who either needed game time they’re not getting at their clubs or had been championed to get the call.
He may be a Scot but Hammers boss David Moyes probably watched that England game with a huge sense of frustration at how Southgate used – or rather misused – Bowen.
It was not his fault he failed to shine. Lionel Messi may even have struggled in that England setup last night.
Now we just have to hope this England experience doesn’t have the same impact on Bowen and his excellent club form that the last one – by his own admission – did.
READ ALSO
Exclusive: Truth from senior West Ham source after Paqueta contract claims.
Antonio reveals who now has sole control of West Ham’s set pieces after departure.
Do West Ham want to replace ageing star with free agent who’s 6 years younger?
Receive a digest of our best West Ham content each week direct to your mailbox
