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Wils 3:40 Tue Nov 14
Is it a 'huge risk' to convert Bowen?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/articles/c8v843r9yg1o

It's a relief to go into the international break with a win - our first in the Premier League in five games, but also our third win in four outings.

David Moyes' recent experiment of using Jarrod Bowen as a striker, instead of in his more effective right-wing role, has paid dividends so far, although it still makes me uncomfortable that we are experimenting with our best and most prolific attacking outlet.

Bowen has nine goals this season, eight in the league, and all but two of those have come from the right wing. Moyes has hinted that he sees Bowen as a potential striker long term, but there is a concern that this will come at the cost of not investing in a player who can naturally play in that position and in the system Moyes prefers.

It's no secret that West Ham have struggled to recruit successfully in that position for many years, but is the answer really to convert an existing player?

Moyes has previous here, though, having done the very same thing with Marko Arnautovic during his first spell at the club. That said, Arnautovic wasn't effective in his wide position before being converted, so there was good reason to experiment.

Bowen has scored 49 goals for West Ham since signing four years ago and the vast majority have come as winger, so it's a huge risk to take him out of that position and try him somewhere else.

If it works, great, but how long before the club has to stop converting players into strikers (just look at Michail Antonio and Arnautovic as prime examples) before they're forced to finally get it right in the transfer market?

BRANDED 11:33 Thu Nov 16
Re: Is it a 'huge risk' to convert Bowen?

Look at what you could have won

chim chim cha boo 3:27 Thu Nov 16
Re: Is it a 'huge risk' to convert Bowen?

I think Jarred is a fantastic player though. We're very lucky to have him wherever he plays. A proper British footballer in the sense that he'll fight like a dog for every ball and is amazing when he's crowded out but somehow, even after a foul where he is falling to the ground somehow manages to play a great pass.

Forrest had a bunch of giants in their team and it's a testament to both himself and JWP that he scored his headed goal.

chim chim cha boo 4:15 Wed Nov 15
Re: Is it a 'huge risk' to convert Bowen?

Moyes's job is to keep Moyes in a job.

Buy a decent centre forward and have him fail in our strange system in the hardest league in the world= Moyes sack.

Promote one of our own players and have him fail in our strange system= everyone thinks the player is shit (even though he's been here for eight seasons and he's given his all in every single game)= Moyes stays.

My God I hope German Tim has a better idea come Christmas.

Russ of the BML 12:49 Wed Nov 15
Re: Is it a 'huge risk' to convert Bowen?

Moyes is only pushing Bowen into centre so he can play Kudus wide and keep Soucek in the team.....

Probably.

J.Riddle 12:05 Wed Nov 15
Re: Is it a 'huge risk' to convert Bowen?

It worked well with Arnatovic, Antonio not so much. Bowen will probably do quite well but I'm not convinced it will happen as he does so well as right winger now for England, if it ain't broke....
I would give Kudus a go as striker and if that doesn't work move kudus to left wing and give Callum Marshall a go or buy a striker, rumours of Broja again in Jan. Another Chelsea crock to keep Zouma company.

Vexed 9:16 Tue Nov 14
Re: Is it a 'huge risk' to convert Bowen?

Nah. Base jumping is a huge risk. Letting your kids stay round 'uncle Willtell's' house is a huge risk. But playing a professional footballer ten yards further up the pitch is not.

Jaan Kenbrovin 7:13 Tue Nov 14
Re: Is it a 'huge risk' to convert Bowen?

Sure counter attacks and set piece success amounts to just under 40% of our goals, but they are a regular source for our best chances and characteristic of our style of play.

We had 16 chances against Forest, half of which were from counter attacks and set pieces.

Arsenal and Man City are successful in all areas of the game, and our style of play doesn’t compare.

We are a direct and physical side, however you read into our statistics.

Nick QQQ 7:11 Tue Nov 14
Re: Is it a 'huge risk' to convert Bowen?

Bowen's biggest strengths are running at defenders, beating players and general directness when on the ball.
the biggest challenge in trying to convert him is the way we play football. Yes it worked ok against forrest, but it didn't against Brentford and others because we kept lumping long balls up to him.
In my opinion, it's like doing the same with Salah or Saka. Yes they can play there because they are good at football, but they lose their superpowers.
we need a striker, not convert one. Then i guess Moyes is playing multiple players out of position. He see's it as some sort of managerial masterclass when in reality it's reckless.

Westside 6:46 Tue Nov 14
Re: Is it a 'huge risk' to convert Bowen?

We are top for headed goals

With 7.

4 of which, have come from corners.

Westside 6:28 Tue Nov 14
Re: Is it a 'huge risk' to convert Bowen?

I think most people consider us a counter attacking side that are a danger at set pieces.

I would be surprised if anyone considers us a patient passing side that carves open lots of chances.

What people consider and what happens in the real world, are two different things.

I suspect most folks think that Arsenal are a "progressive," side, yet nearly a third of their league goals this season, have come from set pieces and nearly another fifth from penalties. Or don't think that Manchester City, are the second highest scorers from set pieces (over a 5th of their goals).

We are joint second for counter attack goals.

Yet, they make up less than 15% of our league goals

Jaan Kenbrovin 6:10 Tue Nov 14
Re: Is it a 'huge risk' to convert Bowen?

Westside

I think most people consider us a counter attacking side that are a danger at set pieces.

I would be surprised if anyone considers us a patient passing side that carves open lots of chances.

We are joint second for counter attack goals.
We are 15th for amount of passes
We are 14th for amount of shots
We are 6th for long balls
We are top for headed goals

Westside 5:54 Tue Nov 14
Re: Is it a 'huge risk' to convert Bowen?

Baring in mind our main goal threat is a counter attack or set piece,

More drivel. We have scored 21 league goals. 4 from set pieces, one penalty, 3 from counter attacks, 13 from open play. So precisely one third of our goals come from set pieces and counter attacks. Hardly our main goal threat.

dealcanvey 5:47 Tue Nov 14
Re: Is it a 'huge risk' to convert Bowen?

Great he is scoring goals. Not the first time Moyes has done this.

I still think despite his goal, we missed him on the right. Some of our best play was when Bowen came in from the right beating his man.

I wonder if Moyes will be capable of signing a natural striker that suits his system to play with Bowen back in his preferred position?

Jaan Kenbrovin 5:38 Tue Nov 14
Re: Is it a 'huge risk' to convert Bowen?

I think Bowen has the attributes to continue his scoring rate as a striker. Baring in mind our main goal threat is a counter attack or set piece, it shouldn’t matter whether he starts wide right or through the centre.

He may prefer to be on the ball more though, so it’s possible he might not enjoy playing the centre role as much.

zico 4:13 Tue Nov 14
Re: Is it a 'huge risk' to convert Bowen?

El Scorchio 4:01 Tue Nov 14

Agree with a lot of that. Bowen needs to stay where he is as he is perfect at the role. Kudus probably a better fit to turn into a striker which would certainly fix the quandary of having tow good right sided forwards. The only problem is Kudus runs with the ball well with added strength and as a striker starved of the ball you would lose that. At the same time his determination to close down could work very well stopping centre backs or defensive midfielders getting on the ball. I do wonder if the club expected to lose Bowen as well as Rice hence getting Kudus in.

El Scorchio 4:01 Tue Nov 14
Re: Is it a 'huge risk' to convert Bowen?

Yes and No. Of the players we have on the books (Kudus TBD at the moment) he's unquestionably the best goalscorer/finisher we have and the one player you want in that one on one situation with a goalkeeper a la the UCL final. It's smartest to have him in those positions.
He's got pace and can time runs well.

However, it's a different skill battling with a full back or two central defenders. Time will tell but I'm not sure he's got the presence to do it week in week out. It also means we cannot play anything aerially for him to compete for or give him the ball with his back to goal and expect him to hold players off. We have to basically make him our Jamie Vardy and set up to facilitate that. He can't be a direct plug in Antonio replacement because he can't do that.

It's a worthwhile experiment but I think maybe Kudus is better suited to be that frontman in lieu of an out and out striker. He's just stronger and more physical and Bowen can run off him.

RBshorty 3:47 Tue Nov 14
Re: Is it a 'huge risk' to convert Bowen?

If you succeed your a genius. If it doesn’t. Your’e a Cunt.!