‘Pop’ goes the boy Bowen as Robson’s reborn

By CandH blogger Allen Cummings

Jarrod Bowen’s home debut for West Ham could hardly have gone any better – a vital first goal for him personally and a crucial first league win since the beginning of the year for the team.

Saturday was certainly a reason to be a Happy Hammer. Just over 49 years ago, on 24^th February 1971 to be exact, a certain Bryan ‘Pop’ Robson also made a goal scoring home debut for West Ham in a 2-0 victory over Nottingham Forest.

I’m indebted to C&H forum member Joe Harvey for suggesting, for those of us who remember first hand, the similarity in the two players.

Robson went on to score 104 goals in 254 appearances for the Hammers, spanning two spells at the club. If we get that sort of return from our new kid on the block we’d be delighted.

Bowen looks to be what they call a ‘natural goal scorer’. The way he took his goal on Saturday underlined that. A brilliant first touch on the run, perfect control, then 100% concentration on putting his shot away.

It’s an old football saying ‘the goals don’t move’. Bowen knew exactly where his target was – no need to look up – just make sure the ball hits the back of the net. Similar to Robson in stature,

Bowen is likewise full of energy, never still, always on the move. He looks as though he actually enjoys playing football –  and with a smile on his face. Pop’s trademark beaming smile was legendary.

David Moyes was widely quoted in his pre match presser as saying we can’t expect a lad from the Championship to be our saviour. It was a quote that attracted predictable criticism.

But to be fair to the manager I believe he was simply trying to play down the expectation that was growing around Jarrod. Employing a game of smoke and mirrors. Moyes is well aware Bowen can be the spark that reignites our season, but he was trying to shield him from any unwanted pressure.

I think it was always the manager’s intention to start Jarrod in the Southampton game, a match he knew he had to go for and we had to win. He was aware the big home crowd would be right behind the new boy and that would give him an added boost to shine. That’s exactly the way it played out. It worked a treat!

As well as an excellent performance from Bowen, we also saw the re-invigoration of Sebastien Haller, who benefited massively from the presence of Bowen and Michail Antonio around him, with the pair able to feed off the big man to great effect.

Pop Robson of course had a certain Geoff Hurst to act as his foil and provider in his first spell with us. Just maybe a Haller/Bowen partnership can offer the same rewards.

This time of course we also have Antonio around to join in the party. One swallow doesn’t make a summer – and with 11 games still to go there is plenty of work to be done yet.

But the London Stadium at 16.55 last Saturday was a far happier place to be than we’ve seen in a long time. Let’s hope that’s the way it stays – home and away – for the rest of the season.