Paul Konchesky believes that a first-team West Ham United player is not feeling quite like himself currently.
The former West Ham right-back has urged the London outfit to take a page from Arsenal’s playbook to deal with him.
Konchesky played for the Hammers for two years from 2005 to 2007, before leaving for Fulham.
A combined XI of stars who played for BOTH West Ham and Aston Villa!
How many of these players would get into Nuno's current XI?
Paul Konchesky claims Jarrod Bowen appears lost at West Ham United
Konchesky believes that Jarrod Bowen is not comfortable currently due to the constant change in his position.
Due to the presence of a quality number nine, the England international has often had to play down the middle or even as a number 10.
Bowen is at his best and most prolific when he is deployed on the right and that is undoubtedly his favourite position to play.
Was Jarrod Bowen simply unlucky? Or is there ANOTHER reason why his form had dipped under Nuno?
He likes receiving the ball out wide and then cuts in with his left foot to either combine with players around him or dribble into the box himself.
The 28-year-old has a low centre of gravity but is still extremely strong on the ball and manages to win fouls pretty well.
Konchesky surely has noticed this, which is why he has given the example of how Bukayo Saka is deployed at Arsenal, where he only plays on the right wing.
He told the From My Left podcast: “I think he’s been lost a little bit at West Ham at the minute because they don’t know if they play him on the right, they play him up front, they play him as a 10. I think he’s better on the right. I think he makes things happen.
“You see, Saka, he plays on the right and the right only and you know what you’re going to get and he’s just so comfortable doing it.”
Nuno Espirito Santo now has major Bowen decision to make
Nuno Espirito Santo must keep Bowen on the right once a new striker joins.
While he is a good goal-scorer, his primary responsibility should be to draw defenders towards and make life as easy as possible for the number nine.
While he is not the best in the air, he wins his fair share of headers, but that cannot be his job if the Hammers do bring in a towering forward.
Bowen is best when there is a focal point to play off of rather than being that focal point himself.
Hopefully, West Ham succeed in signing a striker who will have an immediate impact and give them the best chance of staying in the Premier League.
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