Nuno Espirito Santo must snatch captain’s armband off Jarrod Bowen after West Ham scenes
Jarrod Bowen is quickly running out of chances to prove himself worthy as West Ham captain following the post-match scenes against Fulham.
West Ham are involved in the Premier League relegation battle this season, with Nuno Espirito Santo‘s side currently circling the drain, five points from safety after 18 matches.
Losing 1-0 to Fulham on Saturday, 27 December, Raul Jimenez scored the only goal of the game, with Harry Wilson grabbing an assist to continue his fine form, netting a header just five minutes from time.
It was a major suckerpunch for the Hammers, who have won none of their last seven Premier League games, with the pressure now building on Nuno after just three months in the job.
Jarrod Bowen is slowly losing fans’ confidence at West Ham
One of the manager’s only consistent performers is Bowen, and he always will be. Despite the team’s struggles, the forward still has five goals and two assists across all competitions.
However, even the captain is not safe from frustrated supporters at the London Stadium, having now only scored twice in his last 12 appearances.
Not only that, but some feel that he lost touch with his captaincy role while on the pitch, and that was especially evident during the Hammers’ defeat to Liverpool last month.
Lucas Paqueta talked himself into a red card, with the referee given very little option but to produce two successive yellow cards, and many put the blame on Bowen’s shoulders for not pushing the player away.
Ollie Scarles left heartbroken after key mistake vs Fulham
On this occasion, Ollie Scarles was left in tears at the full-time whistle after his mistake gifted the Cottagers their winning goal, apologising to the fans left in the stadium.
While Bowen was near the academy graduate during the lap of applause, Kyle Walker-Peters was the only player who stuck next to the heartbroken full-back right until they returned to the dressing room.
Sticking together is the only thing that will get the Irons through this rough patch, and if they want to emerge out of the dropzone, Nuno may have to consider changing captains.
Paqueta is the closest player in terms of minutes on the pitch to Bowen, with Max Kilman narrowly behind, and the latter could crave the authority that comes with the armband this season.