One of the big talking points of last season was the lack of leaders on the pitch wearing Claret and Blue.
Even during last years’ pre-season, former Hammers skipper Nigel Red-Coker remarked on it during the Florida trip, suggesting that the dressing room lacked leadership -“my biggest worry is the lack of characters that I saw there, especially with how things are going.” he commented at the start of the season.
Bowen’s less vocal leadership style came under fire from many quarters, but he received staunch support yesterday from the player who at one stage – before Lopetegui sent him on loan – was tipped as a future Hammers captain.
Speaking to skysports.com, James Ward Prowse alluded to Bowen’s more understated style:
“I think everybody leads in different ways,” said the midfielder. “I don’t think you need to be this stereotypical shouter and sort of aggressor. You can be more of a subtle leader.”
And suggesting that there are plenty of loud voices in the dressing room, the Hammers midfielder believes that ‘leadership’ is not just one style, nor solely the captain’s responsibility:
“Try and lead by example, try and drive the standards in a sort of a secretive way, if you like. But then again, you do have more vocal leaders in the changing room. So it’s about finding that balance and making sure that we lead by example.”
It has to be emphasised that virtually the whole defence and midfield last season was imported: Now that all four of the back line have had a season to gel, the ‘newbies’ – Kilman, Wan Bissaka, Todibo – should now more ready to step up to leading by their own, and a collective example. Ward-Prowse certainly believes Jarrod Bowen should not be the only one responsible for pulling the side forward. And in that he is surely correct.
Yes the captain should be geeing everyone up if it’s not going well and asking all the right questions of the ref. and his decisions. This still does not get away from the fact the manger should be letting players know they are not pulling their weight and sub them if nothing changes. A private conversation the following week would also needed at this point. It’s called man management!
For Bowen read Joe Root. The greatest English batsman of all time. But NOT a captain. Mike Brearley was a captain. An average player but a brilliant captain. Botham, our best player at the time, wasn’t. Soucek, if he stays, has the personality and presence to be a captain. Bowen is a laser-focused forward of the highest calibre. Brilliant but not a captain.
unfashionable but I think correct: when each of the examples you mention were ‘freed’ from the captaincy role they became absolute world beaters.
Why is he saying this? Every single player on the pitch should be the maximum effort lead by example type, the captain needs to be different.
He needs to be the manager on the pitch telling people what to do and calling out those not doing it.
Every good team has one.
Bowen is a great player but not a captain and being captain limits some players because they can’t concentrate on their own game. JWP I presume is trying to support a good guy but captain he isn’t.
I remember a podcast by that goalkeeper when they were playing Liverpool and they got trounced but the whole team was blown away by Henderson and how the whole team looked to him to direct them – Salah everyone.
It’s a real skill and worth big money and even a team place above a bit of ability.
Make JWP the captain, he led Southampton from the front and scored many goals.