West Ham fans are loving a new rumour doing the rounds about star man and captain Jarrod Bowen following the vital win over Newcastle United.
For someone who has been head and shoulders West Ham’s best and most consistent player over the last five-and-a-half years, it seems somewhat strange that Jarrod Bowen continues to divide opinion among some supporters.
Bowen is a certified Hammers legend already and will cement his status as one of the club’s best ever players when he takes Michail Antonio’s crown as the club’s all-time leading Premier League goalscorer.
There was football before 1992 of course and the Hammers have had goalscorers with far superior numbers than both.
But Bowen’s impact with his tireless running and workrate, brilliant consistency, professionalism and superb assist and goal stats mark him out as one of the best players to grace West Ham United.
After Noble and Rice, Bowen is the new Mr West Ham
Not to mention his goal which won the Hammers a first major trophy in nearly half a century.
Yet still some question the man, who cost West Ham a bargain £20m from Hull in January 2020, over his leadership.
Julen Lopetegui made Bowen captain as Kurt Zouma was shown the door when the Spaniard took over from David Moyes last year.
Some have questioned Bowen as a leader, though.
Not least former Hammers boss Graham Potter.
After he was sacked as the worst West Ham manager in history, it was revealed Potter did not feel Bowen was captain material.
Sources in Potter’s camp revealed to a leading West Ham reporter that he had serious concerns over ‘Bowen’s inability to captain the team’.
Potter acknowledged Bowen was the club’s best player but did not feel he naturally suited the leadership role.
Bowen responded with a West Ham celebration aimed at Potter after he scored Nuno Espirito Santo’s first game as boss up at Everton.
‘Keep talking’ was the message from Bowen as he kissed the badge and pointed to his captain’s armband.
Some fans have been vocal in their criticism of a lack of leadership in the side, especially following defeats to Brentford and Leeds.
West Ham fans loving new rumour going around about Bowen
But West Ham breathed new life and hope into their season with a shock 3-1 win over Newcastle at the weekend.
And Bowen led the way with one of five 10/10 performances for West Ham as Nuno’s side edge themselves to within three points of safety.
The surprise but fully deserved victory has West Ham fans filled with renewed optimism they can beat the drop.
Bowen was like a man possessed in the game, running himself into the ground to get the three points while essentially getting an assist for Tomas Soucek.
In the wake of the vital victory, rumours have been circulating around the club that Bowen had reached the end of his tether at West Ham’s situation and had started calling players out in the dressing room.
Word around the club, which has been neither confirmed or denied by the top source close to West Ham’s owners at the time of writing, is that Bowen has been more vocal than usual and dishing out some brutally honest home truths to certain individuals.
While some Hammers fans have stated that is what they would expect from their captain, many have understandably been lapping up the claim.
One West Ham fan said he was relieved to hear Bowen is starting to call players out having heard previously he is ‘too quiet’.
“I mean, that’s what being captain is? Accountability, leading by example and from the front,” the fan said on X.
“Honestly, relieved to hear this because I’ve heard contrary things that he’s been too quiet. So, good. We need accountability. Bring everyone up to the level needed.”
West Ham account Green Street Hammers revealed they have heard Bowen is more vocal than ever under Nuno.
“He’s a captain he’s supposed to do that. No dust ups reported. But I hear Bowen is more vocal than people think, especially under Nuno,” Green Street Hammers said on X.
Fans react to claims Bowen has started calling out teammates
West Ham Hour praised Bowen for ensuring his teammates start to stand up and be counted.
“Well done to him. Whole team needs to grow a pair of b——- and stand up and be counted,” West Ham Hour said.
“We know we won’t win all the games but we must always show 100% fight. They’re hugely overpaid, so must show why.”
Billy Boy added: “Well if he did, it worked.”
Hammers fan Paul Turner said: “Who cares? Had the right effect!”
Another West Ham supporter pointed out that if any of the players have a problem with Bowen’s comments they need to ‘fix up’.
“As he should be, that is a captains job, if the other players can’t handle that they need to fix up.”
Hammers fan Suze hopes the rumours are true: “If there is a grain of truth in this then good on him.”
Tezza the West Ham fan says Bowen has proved he is the right man to be skipper.
“And that’s what you call a captain, call them out and call for improvement,” he said.
Final word to another Hammer who remembers Bobby Moore leading by example too.
“No shouting, no belittling, Bowen was doing the same,” he said.
“Our best captains never went over the top Billy Bonds another example, I believe Moore and Bonds would have lost it with the rabble we’ve had this season, When Bowen shouts listen
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