{"id":10002,"date":"2026-05-18T09:13:03","date_gmt":"2026-05-18T09:13:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/?p=10002"},"modified":"2026-05-18T09:13:03","modified_gmt":"2026-05-18T09:13:03","slug":"ex-west-ham-hero-vladimir-coufal-puts-jarrod-bowen-to-shame-with-rallying-cry","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/?p=10002","title":{"rendered":"Ex-West Ham hero Vladimir Coufal puts Jarrod Bowen to shame with rallying cry"},"content":{"rendered":"


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It was another huge game for West Ham at Newcastle and another woeful performance from Jarrod Bowen \u2013 both as a player and captain.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Jarrod Bowen has been West Ham\u2019s most consistent and best player since signing for the club back in January 2020.<\/p>\n

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At times the forward has carried the Hammers on his back.<\/p>\n

But this season \u2013 and particularly the last few months when West Ham have had real hope of staying in the Premier League \u2013 Bowen has failed to step up.<\/p>\n

Coufal shows Bowen what a real West Ham captain looks like<\/h2>\n

In fact he has been among the Hammers\u2019 worst performers and that continued in the dismal 3-1 defeat to Newcastle which leaves the club all but officially relegated.<\/p>\n

Now ex-West Ham hero Vladimir Coufal has put Bowen to shame with a rallying cry.<\/p>\n

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We are all but relegated \u2014 how would you feel about keeping Nuno in the Championship? \ud83e\uddd1\u200d\ud83d\udcbc<\/h3>\n

Or was that performance the last straw? \ud83d\ude21<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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\"Nuno<\/div>
Photo by Ian MacNicol\/Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n

There have always been question marks over the decision to make Bowen West Ham captain.<\/p>\n

A nice guy and quiet character, Bowen would fit into the category of those who lead by example.<\/p>\n

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Photo by Rob Newell \u2013 CameraSport via Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Except the example he has been setting with his performances of late has been a bad one.<\/p>\n

Bowen does not get his teammates going and is rarely seen barking orders on the pitch.<\/p>\n

In fact last week, Arsenal skipper Martin Odegaard showed Bowen what leadership looks like when he stepped in to stop Mateus Fernandes talking himself into a possible red card.<\/p>\n

Bowen stood by and watched Lucas Paqueta do just that in a game against Liverpool earlier this season.<\/p>\n

Coufal issues West Ham survival rallying cry<\/h2>\n

And at Newcastle, his performance as a player was as bad as it has been all season while his display as captain was nothing short of a disgrace.<\/p>\n

Bowen received a 2\/10 rating for his efforts in West Ham\u2019s latest defeat, a third on the bounce which puts them on the brink of the drop.<\/p>\n

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Which West Ham player was the most infuriating against Newcastle United?<\/h3>\n

The Hammers were shambolic at St. James’ Park\u2026<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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As skipper he did nothing to try and inspire the Hammers in their hour of need.<\/p>\n

Every time Newcastle scored Bowen had his head down and could be seen moaning at other players. <\/p>\n

Instead of taking responsibility as captain and encouraging his teammates, Bowen went into his shell.<\/p>\n

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\"Vladimir<\/div>
Photo by Charlotte Wilson\/Offside\/Offside via Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

It puts the spotlight back on Graham Potter\u2019s ludicrous decision to release a host of experienced senior West Ham leaders at the same time last summer.<\/p>\n

Over 30 combined years of West Ham experience was allowed to walk out of the door when Potter let Aaron Cresswell, Michail Antonio, Lukasz Fabianski and Coufal go.<\/p>\n

Coufal has gone on to make Potter look ridiculous, being statistically the best right-back in the Bundesliga as he helped Hoffenheim finish fifth and qualify for Europe.<\/p>\n

The Czech warrior is sorely missed in east London.<\/p>\n

After the game, Bowen cut a beaten figure both on camera and in post-match interviews.<\/p>\n

But Coufal has shown Bowen what a real captain looks like with a rallying cry on social media.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is not over till it is over,\u201d Coufal said on X following West Ham\u2019s defeat at St James\u2019 Park.<\/p>\n

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It is not over till it is over \ud83d\udcaa\ud83c\udffc\ud83d\ude4c\ud83c\udffd<\/p>\n

\u2014 Vladimir Coufal (@Coufi5) May 17, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

Even if Coufal doesn\u2019t actually believe what he is saying, that is the attitude the players should have, especially Bowen as captain.<\/p>\n

In reality, as far as most West Ham fans and data experts Opta are concerned, it basically is over.<\/p>\n

Opta give the Hammers a six per cent chance of survival from this point.<\/p>\n

It would require Spurs to lose against Chelsea and Everton in their last two games and West Ham to beat Leeds on the final day to stay up.<\/p>\n

A point for Tottenham unofficially relegates West Ham due to the huge gulf in goal difference.<\/p>\n

However, Coufal is right to tell West Ham\u2019s players to fight until the end because Spurs could easily lose at Chelsea, where they have a terrible record, and that brings it down to the final day \u2013 where anything could happen.<\/p>\n

West Ham would have to take care of business at home to Leeds, which is far from a foregone conclusion given their form.<\/p>\n

But Tottenham losing at Stamford Bridge would naturally have the Hammers dreaming of a final day miracle.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s what Bowen should be getting his teammates to buy into.<\/p>\n

Except he has shown an alarming lack of leadership when it has mattered most.<\/p>\n

Bowen will always be remembered for being the hero in Prague but he will now unfortunately be remembered as one of the worst captains the club has had too.<\/p>\n

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