When it became clear that Zouma was unlikely to spend much time on the pitch this season, questions started to be asked of who would be the best West Ham captain? Before he even left the club, it went without saying that it was time for somebody else to take on the captaincy, and for me, Bowen was the natural fit.
I believe there are a few factors that make somebody a successful captain; commitment, leading by example, giving 100%, understanding the club and the ability to command respect from teammates. Looking at each of these, I believe Bowen ticks more boxes than anybody else in our team. He’s committed his future to West Ham long-term, works hard, never gives up trying in games, speaks passionately about the club and is clearly respected by the players.
When we look at recent captains, Noble obviously stands out and I don’t think we’ll ever find another player that meets his standards. Something that set him aside from any other captain in the Premier League is that he lived for the club.
It’s so rare that you see a player stay faithful to a club for such long periods of time, but Bowen now appears to be the closest we have to this in terms of being loyal. Something Noble really built into the team was the mentality of working together, from the way he communicated, to getting players to sweep the changing room after games.
Bowen had the privilege of playing under Noble, which I believe can see him continue to keep this mentality alive. While Rice was the best fit of captain following Noble’s departure, there were traits that I am glad to not see in Bowen.
Rice had a tendency to become frustrated and flap arms in the air when things didn’t go our way, which I don’t think motivates players in the right way. Bowen, on the other hand, continues to work hard, support team mates and encourage them to keep going, which I think will benefit our performances more.
But Bowen wasn’t the only suitable option, there were others in contention for the role. As the Mexico team Captain, Alvarez was one option. Rumours started when he was called ‘captain’ in a video for the shirt launch, however this turned out to be meaningless.
His communication and central position on the pitch would have worked well with him as captain. Lopetegui spoke about how he loves Alvarez’s passion, but he needs to understand when to show less passion and stay focused on the game, suggesting that his hot-headed nature may have been a concern.
Soucek was another player in the running, having captained us a few times before and being captain of Czech Republic. In my opinion, while he knows the club well, there is a question mark over how much game time he should be getting makes him a less suitable choice. I wouldn’t want us to be chopping and changing captains, so it’s important that we choose somebody likely to play every game in the years to come.
And then there’s Kilman, who came over to us from being Wolves captain. Lopetegui knows how he leads a team, but being new to West Ham probably made him a less favourable option, for now, at least. Whether Bowen remains captain long-term will be interesting to see. Lopetegui spoke positively about Kilman’s leadership qualities, so now is Bowen’s time to prove himself as a leader and show that he has what it takes.
Bowen’s communication is one area which has been criticised and could impact his ability to lead a team. He speaks well in press conferences, but appears to be a little quiet. Lopetegui could look to replace him with Kilman if Jarrod’s style of leadership doesn’t get people riled up enough when needed.
That’s not to say you can’t captain a side if you’re a little more reserved, but there are definitely question marks over whether Bowen can get a team motivated mid-game when things turn against us. Another talking point has been whether a winger is in a good position on the pitch to command a side.
I don’t believe that this should be a determining factor in a choice of captain, but while a goalkeeper or striker may struggle to communicate with those further away, Bowen covers enough of the pitch to at least pass messages along effectively. We’ve already seen Bowen getting the team huddled together for team talks this season, so the signs are there that he’s bringing a sense of togetherness and perhaps his more quiet nature isn’t going to be a barrier to success.
Will he rank up there with the best captains in the club’s history, or even in the Premier League’s history? I’m not sure he has the character to stand out and make enough of a statement to be noticed outside of our fanbase, but can he do a good job? I think so and I hope to be pleasantly surprised when it comes to his leadership style.
As the season progresses, I expect Bowen’s leadership to be challenged as we will see the ways he picks the team up in difficult times, as well as supporting them through the positive times. For now, I’m delighted Bowen is our captain. He’s fully deserving of it, works hard and is a Hammer through and through. Here’s to an exciting first season with our new captain.
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