If Jarrod Bowen was wondering whether being West Ham captain would bring extra pressure he has his answer after just one game.
Julen Lopetegui made a big decision to name Jarrod Bowen as West Ham’s new captain.
And with that comes big pressure.
Bowen was arguably the standout candidate to take the West Ham armband from the departing Kurt Zouma.
The England man signed a new seven-year deal last season and has stated – on multiple occasions – his desire to retire at West Ham.
Bowen’s soon-to-be father-in-law Danny Dyer and the family are all Hammers fanatics.
But above all else, last season’s top scorer Bowen is a certified West Ham legend having netted the goal which ended the club’s 43-year trophy drought last summer.
Agbonlahor tears into West Ham captain Bowen
Being the skipper to lead the Irons into a new era, under a new manager with a dressing room full of new players is no easy task for a first time captain.
Not least because of raised expectations around the club – particularly among the wider football press.
Many Hammers fans have questioned whether the captaincy might be a distraction Bowen could do without.
Some fans were also bemused when their new captain was substituted with West Ham looking for a winner against Villa – only for the visitors to get it instead.
That was clearly more down to the fact Bowen has hardly had a pre-season having only played 25 minutes of England’s Euro 2024 campaign.
But it still raised eyebrows.
‘Still on holiday’
And one talkSPORT pundit is not holding back in his assessment.
Gabby Agbonlahor has torn into West Ham captain Bowen after what he saw against Aston Villa.
Agbonlahor said it looked like Bowen was still on holiday.
“I felt that Bowen looked like he was still on holiday,” Agbonlahor said on talkSPORT.
“He was that quiet.”
It may seem an extremely harsh take from Agbonlahor.
Price on the ticket now for West Ham’s main man
But those are the standard Bowen has set for himself at West Ham.
And he will come under the microscope now not only for being captain but also because he is an England player.
That’s the price on the ticket now for West Ham’s main man.
He will know that too. And Lopetegui will be hoping he uses criticism like this to fuel an improved performance next time out.
Bowen may not have had his best game against Villa but he has been known to start seasons slowly and grow into them.
There was no hiding from the attacker after the game, he came straight out and addressed the defeat.
Bowen called on West Ham fans to give Lopetegui time.
Bowen also insisted there are already signs the style of play is changing for the better.
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