Hitting the ground running and problem solving on the hoof had better be two of Nuno Espírito Santo’s core skills: He’s certainly going to be tested as his new, largely unknown squad (to him, anyway) gets ready to travel to Everton for the televised Monday night game. Amongst the many issues in his ‘in tray’ which need attention is the thorny issue of who wears the West Ham armband.
Not for one minute can any body criticise Jarrod Bowen as West Ham’s captain. He’s lead the line with dignity and by example and is the Hammers’ hardest working, most productive and quite probably most universally loved player of recent times. But – best suited to lead from the front- another matter.
West Ham’s defence and midfield have been truly desperate at times under both Lopetegui and Potter. If there were natural leader in the back four or midfield then there might be an argument for that candidate to take on the armband.
The only likely candidate has been shipped off on a season long loan to Fenerbahce : Edson Alvarez as Mexican skipper could perhaps have brought his talents to bear at club level.
Tomas Soucek is still suspended – another candidate- as plain speaking Tornado Tom has, on occasion read the riot act to his Czech team when their performances have been sub standard.
How, I wonder, could Espírito Santo handle appointing a different captain without seriously upsetting West Ham’s blue eyed boy Bowen. Surely not time to change before Monday night in any case, but many Hammers fans have commented that Bowen has been weighed down by the captaincy and his best form might return if he were unburdened and able to concentrate solely on his own game.
A thorny issue for West Ham’s new head coach – one of about three hundred shouting for attention on his second day at work.
Sometimes good Captains come from the most unlikely raw material. I don’t think it should be Bowen, he does his best work just be a bloody good example. Nuno will figure it out I’m sure, but it might take a few games.
Bowen isn’t a leader in the mould of Rice, Noble or Nolan, we could certainly do with one of them, maybe it’s Soucek or Paqueta though in fairness he has led with his performances though that hasn’t translated to others doing the same.
I suspect unless there is a clear choice he will remain in that position until a new leader emerges from the group.
Kilman was captain at wolves, Soucek at Slavia and nationally, JWP at Saints so there are strong characters even if we would rather some weren’t in the starting line up, fairly sure Fab if he was first choice could lead.
Bobby Moore wasn’t a leader in the role of Rice or Noble. He was a quiet man who led by example. Scot Parker was a similar character and many assumed he was Captain even though he wasn’t. Billy Bonds was also a similar character. These players get stuck in and lead by example. You do not have to be gobby to be a great leader. Normally a narrative put out there by gobby people who often do not lead by example but spend their time trying to tell other people what to do and do nothing themselves.
Anyone watching today’s Newcastle vs Arsenal game will have seen why West Ham’s demise through an incredibly poor midfield has missed Declan Rice – an incredible performance and an indictment of the Hammers ownership for selling our best player of the last 20 years and then wasting the money gained on second rate and past it players!
Take the captaincy from Bowen? Don’t be rediculous.
You say Bowen has been weighed down by the captaincy, his goals, assists and work rate would say otherwise. On what evidence do you base this theory?
So far (in the Prem), after 5 games, he has scored TWO goals and ZERO assists. Meanwhile, we have allowed THIRTEEN goals.
He is a brilliant player who is trying to pull the cart by himself- to no one’s advantage.
Take off his shackles and watch what happens!
I agree totally.but you need someone who is not afraid to have a go when things are not going to plan and Bowen is not that talisman, we need Jared to fire with all his cylinders like he is capable of.
Hope Nunez finds a way to alleviate these players, I don’t have much hope pl prove me wrong.
It’s a no-brainer, Bowen has to stay as captain. Not because he is a good captain (he’s too quiet and doesn’t have the temperament), but because, of the only 3 or 4 others in the squad who are guaranteed a place, none is any better. Leadership on the field has been a major issue for several years, since Noble retired. The absence of leaders is one weakness of past transfer policy that has not been highlighted as much as it should have.
Don’t laugh – what about Kilman ?
Nuno knows him and was at Wolves with him.
Yes, I know he’s been abject for us but I remember he was decent at Wolves.
Maybe Captain under Nuno might see a different Kilman. Always think a Captain needs to be Centre Back or Centtal Midfield.
No abuse on a Sunday, please 😁
Good luck with that one, Nuno. It’s a case of damned if you do and damned if you don’t change the captain. For a start, who the hell can you appoint from the regular starters? Tomas Soucek could be a good captain but he hasn’t had so much game time lately and we don’t know if that will change under Nuno. The biggest concern would be trying to tell Jarrod Bowen that maybe he should step aside. Whatever you do, DO NOT upset Jarrod! He is like royalty within our club and if it weren’t for him we would be in a much worse position right now. There is nobody at West Ham United who has earned more respect than him. Jarrod Bowen has claret and blue blood in his veins!