Jarrod Bowen reacted to jeers from West Ham fans by going all Ange Postecoglou and it is totally out of order.
If there is one player at West Ham who is somewhat untouchable then it is probably Jarrod Bowen.
West Ham’s captain has – by a country mile – been the club’s most consistent and best performer since arriving in 2020.
The Prague hero is already a Hammers legend and will, with any luck, go on to become the club’s top Premier League goalscorer of all time.
If anyone has the standing to take on disgruntled supporters then it is Bowen.
But he crossed a line in the 2-2 draw with Bournemouth and it shows how much the mentality at West Ham must change.
Bowen does a Postecoglou to West Ham fans
Because Bowen did an Ange Postecoglou to West Ham fans and it is totally out of order.
For those Hammers who may have missed it, Spurs boss Postecoglou reacted to be jeered by his own fans in the defeat to Chelsea in midweek.
Tottenham were losing 1-0 to their fierce rivals and Postecoglou was booed and subjected to chants of ‘you don’t know what you’re doing’ when he made some substitutions.
One of the players coming on was midfielder Pape Matar Sarr, who West Ham fans will remember from the incident which saw Mohammed Kudus banned for five games earlier this season.
Sarr went on to score a few moments later and Postecoglou cupped his ear at the Tottenham fans.
But in an embarrassing twist, the goal was ruled out by VAR, leading to Spurs fans mocking their manager – who then tried to claim he wasn’t aiming the gesture at them out of spite.
The relationship looks set to be ended this summer with speculation Tottenham will sack Postecoglou.
Graham Potter has been talking about the importance of West Ham building a connection with the fans with their performances at home.
But, after defeat to Wolves in midweek, the Hammers put in another woeful first half performance to trail Bournemouth 1-0 at the London Stadium on Saturday.
Potter’s side were booed off at half-time by fed up fans.
West Ham improved in the second half with the arrival of striker Niclas Fullkrug.
Bowen response to West Ham jeers is out of order
The big German got the Hammers back level with a bullet header before Bowen scored and even better headed effort to give his side the lead.
As Bowen wheeled away and did his usual DJ Spiderman celebration.
But he broke off to then cup both his ears to the West Ham fans and then gestured with his hands for them to create a better atmosphere.
Make no mistake, if anyone can get away with something like that at West Ham, it is Bowen.
But in this instance, the skipper has got it badly wrong.
The harsh reality of the situation is that West Ham have been terrible to watch for the best part of three seasons now.
Under David Moyes, the Hammers flirted with relegation before pulling clear and ending the campaign by memorably winning the Europa Conference League.
The first half of the following season was enjoyable until the wheels fell off. And neither Julen Lopetegui or Potter has been able to get them back on since.
There have been glimpses under Potter but three wins from 12 games tells its own story.
With Spurs playing Southampton, West Ham will likely end the weekend back in 16th place.
Only four teams have conceded more goals than the Hammers this season.
And no club has conceded more than West Ham in the Premier League over the last two campaigns combined.
The club has been in a malaise for far too long with woeful and boring performances making West Ham a hard watch.
The Hammers went out of both domestic cups at the third round stage and have had nothing to play for since January.
Hammers have been woeful, fans are entitled to be unhappy
So is it any wonder supporters are angry with what they are seeing from the team?
Bowen should realise more than anyone that fans are deeply frustrated.
To cup his ears to supporters is not on after what they have sat through this season alone.
If West Ham were challenging for Europe and Bowen was taking exception to the jeers and lack of atmosphere then that would be justified.
But to have a pop at supporters who have continued to turn up week in, week out despite there being zero jeopardy to the club’s season for months is unwise.
Bowen should understands the frustrations and be holding his teammates accountable for the unacceptable standards at West Ham this season. Not having a dig at the supporters.
He is one of a handful of players who have been performing consistently well.
However, West Ham fans are entitled to make their feelings clear about how far standards have slipped at the club without being taunted by their best player.
Every single Hammers supporter loves Bowen and this won’t damage relations in any way.
But the captain has got that one all wrong.
Receive a digest of our best West Ham content each week direct to your mailbox
