There are some who doubt Jarrod Bowen’s style as the captain of West Ham United – but the forward himself will change nothing about it.
Earlier this season, Hammers News readers and subscribers on TalkingPoints vented their frustrations with the way in which Bowen acts as a captain for West Ham United.
For some, the added responsibility has had a negative impact on his form. Still, while not every performance has been perfect, this is still a player who has scored eight goals while registering as many assists this season.
What changes would you make to this team? Feel free to tell me how wrong I’ve got it 😂
Bowen is a leader at West Ham, there’s little doubt about that. Perhaps he will never be a captain in the Roy Keane mould, but that is not a concern for him.
Bowen will not change the way in which he captains West Ham
The England international was asked about life as skipper while sitting alongside Crysencio Summerville and Callum Wilson on West Ham United’s official YouTube channel.
Bowen said: “For me, it’s a huge honour to be a captain of a football club this size, with the captains that we’ve had.
“Has it gone the way that I’ve wanted it to in terms of what we’ve achieved in the league? Absolutely not. The pressure comes on you, the fingers get pointed at you, the questions come to you.
“But I think, for me, the way I am, I don’t want to change nothing. You know, it’s about being me, it’s about being what got me into this position in the first place. What got me to be the captain of this club.
How should David Moyes be remembered at West Ham? 💭
European trophy winner? Boring football? Or something else? 🤔
“For me, I just try and go out there every single week and play my A game. Off the pitch, be the best teammate I can be, be the best captain I can be and just try and set an example and show an example every single day to everyone watching.”
Bowen replaced Kurt Zouma as captain back in the summer of 2024 and things on the pitch have declined since. That, however, is more of a criticism of the club’s wider failings, rather than anything the 29-year-old has done on the pitch.
Without him, the Irons would surely have been relegated a long time ago now.
Bowen’s brand of captaincy has been hailed by Nuno Espirito Santo
The forward recently got a seal of approval from Nuno Espirito Santo.
Indeed, Nuno hailed Bowen’s leadership, talking up the trust his teammates show in him when the going gets tough.
The statistics certainly back that up, too. All of Bowen’s 16 goal contributions this season have come when West Ham were in the bottom three.
Bowen’s leadership comes through his performances, as well as whatever happens behind the scenes.
He is exactly the player a club should want to lead them into a relegation battle. Nothing feels performative, it’s all very much genuine.
Clearly, he’s got deep roots here in east London, and he’s right to continue to do what has served him so well while clad in claret and blue.
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