By Hughie Southon
Jarrod Bowen reckons he is now back to his very best…and few would argue given his recent form.
The attacking midfielder scored a magnificent equaliser against Arsenal at the weekend to take his goal tally for the season to 11 five of which have come in the Premier League.
His goal against the Gooners may have been the most important as it should well and truly have inspired huge confidence as the team go into games against Gent tomorrow evening (Thurs) and Bournemouth at the weekend.
Honest Bowen is fully aware and admits that he wasn’t at this best before the World Cup but is delighted to now be back to where we all saw him for most of last season, Long may it continue.
He will be among the favourites to score for the Irons this evening as we look for a place in the semi final of the Conference.
And speaking to www.whufc.com he said: “Since after the World Cup, I feel I’ve been back to my best “People might say it’s not my best because I’m not scoring goals, but my general play and assists have been there and I’ve always said goals will come, as long as I’m doing my bit for the team, whether that be sprinting and not letting the ball go in or slide tackling someone to block a shot, assisting or scoring, I’ll always do what I can for the team.
“I think there has been a proper weight lifted off my shoulders. I’ve spoken about it before that I wasn’t happy with my performances before the World Cup when there was a lot riding on them, and now I feel free again.
“It’s about how I deal with those situations differently and I feel good since we’ve been back and today, to get the goal, I was over the moon.”
Talking about handling situations, Bowen handled the situation of volleying in Kehrer’s lofted ball into the box with aplomb, resulting in one of his finest moments in a West Ham shirt.
“It was nice!” he confirmed. “I think I’m always trying to make the runs to get in the box and nine times out of ten it might not come for you, but that one time it might if you keep making the runs.
“I knew that was the only place Thilo could put it and I knew I was onside because they were running out and I was looking across at the far defender. Then you’re waiting for it to come down and to get a good connection it, so seeing it hit the ‘keeper and the post and go in, the roar was special.
“I booted the advertising board and I could have done it ten times harder. The feeling that came over me when we got back into the game and the joy of scoring that goal was top.”
He hae been very poor this season. He should have been dropped as his performances cost the club points, but Moyes for some inexplicably reason keeps picking players no matter how they play especially if your name happens to be Soucek or Bowen. We have ended up in the position we are now because of these type of decisions by Moyes. Another clear example of why he will be sacked. Hus job is to manage players, if they are not playing well give them a break bring in players who are fresh and playing well. He has not done this well in my opinion and there are other examples of this.
I think Bowen has been our best player all season whether he’s scoring or not he always puts a shift in without fail. If we had another nine like him in the team we’d be top of the league.
Well done Jarrod! You’ve still been working hard even when things weren’t quite going for you so you deserve your time in the sun. But please carry on as you are for a few more weeks before you jet off somewhere to find it!
I always felt that the World Cup didn’t do us any favours and now there is real proof directly from one of the players himself. Pre & post World Cup Jarrod (and a few others I guess) weren’t really at the races and their focus wasn’t totally on giving 100% for West Ham.
Sadly this does happen, but it is good all the same to see him getting back to the levels of performance that we know he can play at.