Graham Potter fuels West Ham doubters with shocking Jarrod Bowen decision

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Julen Lopetegui did some utterly bizarre things during his time at West Ham but none as strange as what Graham Potter did against Brentford.

Such is the scrutiny on modern football combined with the advent of social media, most football decisions nowadays divide opinion.

Nowhere more so than at West Ham in recent times.

Be it transfers, managerial appointments, tactics or team selections, rarely are Hammers supporters in unanimous agreement about anything.

One thing that did win universal approval, though, was the sacking of Julen Lopetegui last month.

Many felt that came two months too late.

Graham Potter eventually agreed to take over once West Ham relented on their initial offer of a six-month contract to give him a two-and-a-half-year deal.

The fact the Hammers only wanted to bring Potter in on a short-term deal suggests not everyone at the club was entirely convinced he would be the right choice.

Lopetegui’s tenure was so bad that Potter was well received by most.

Potter fuels West Ham doubters with shocking Bowen decision

However, the fact he had spent 20 months out of the game since his sacking by Chelsea sewed understandable doubt in the minds of many Hammers fans too.

Bar a woeful 2-0 home defeat to Palace, Potter had impressed with his approach, team selections, tactics and the way he communicated with fans and players.

Performances on the whole have been much improved – albeit from a very low base.

The fact so many West Ham fans have continued to bemoan the decision to part company with David Moyes as he makes an instant impact at Everton, says everything about how unconvinced they are about their new manager.

Moyes kept his name trending in West Ham circles by ensuring Everton went above the 16th placed Hammers going into the Premier League clash.

And Potter fuelled his West Ham doubters with a shocking Jarrod Bowen decision.

With Evan Ferguson, James Ward-Prowse, Lucas Paqueta, Edson Alvarez and Jean-Clair Todibo all available for selection for the game against Brentford, Potter’s options were suddenly vastly improved.

There was a real feeling of hope heading into the game against the Bees.

Especially as Potter had a full two weeks to work with the team ahead of the London derby.

Not that you could tell when the game rolled around.

West Ham put in a half so poor it was at least the equal of any of the tripe served up under Lopetegui.

The Hammers were 1-0 down at the break but it could and should have been four or five.

Brentford even had two goals chalked off for marginal offsides.

What was Potter thinking with bizarre Bowen call

West Ham fans could not believe what they were watching.

Potter left the stadium scratching their heads by playing West Ham’s captain, talisman and best attacker Bowen as a wing-back.

Yes, for those who did not have the misfortune of having to sit through yet another defeat, you did just read that correctly.

Potter might say different but Bowen was essentially deployed in a right wingback role in the first half, with Mohammed Kudus playing on the right two, slightly more advanced of him.

Supporters in the ground were incredulous.

Bowen cut a frustrated figure as he struggled to have any impact whatsoever.

It was a terrible decision which smacked of a manager who was either trying to be too clever or scared to upset Kudus or Lucas Paqueta by leaving them out of the side.

Bowen at wingback a Lopetegui-esque clanger

Ultimately it was the tactical decision which cost West Ham the game as it backfired spectacularly in that costly first half.

Potter adjusted things in the second half with Evan Ferguson impressing as he came on for his debut and Bowen moved into his proper position on the right of a front three.

Kudus was shifted out of the way.

But boos rang out at half-time and full-time as Potter sees the real size of the task ahead.

The manager had doubters when he was appointed and a record of one win from his first six games won’t help in that regard.

Neither will utterly baffling decisions like playing Bowen at wingback.

Can you imagine Mohamed Salah, Bryan Mbeumo or other stars in Bowen’s position who have similar importance to their team being used as a wingback. At home. Against Brentford.

It beggars belief.