Key Points
- West Ham’s Jarrod Bowen has urged his teammates to be more “streetwise” in their fight against relegation.
- The Hammers currently sit 18th in the Premier League table, four points from safety.
- The club is winless in eight league matches, last celebrating victory in November against Burnley.
- Bowen emphasises that effort, desire, and mentality are critical to saving the season.
- West Ham face Wolverhampton Wanderers next, having lost five of their last seven away matches against them.
- Bowen insists players must take personal responsibility, avoid excuses, and show fighting spirit.
- The forward made his comments in an interview with West Ham TV.
West Ham United forward Jarrod Bowen has urged his teammates to be more “streetwise” and ruthless if they are to lift themselves out of the Premier League relegation zone. The Hammers, winless in eight league fixtures, now sit precariously in 18th place — four points adrift of safety — after a string of narrow defeats and frustrating draws.
Why does Jarrod Bowen think West Ham must be ‘streetwise’?
As reported by West Ham TV, Bowen asserted that the team must show more fight and tactical edge to survive the tense relegation battle, saying:
“I think in the situation that we’re in, we obviously need three points. Performances have been better, but we need points, not just good performances.”
He added that the players can no longer rely on near-misses or moral victories:
“Like I’ve always said, it’s down to us. We have to go out there and win the games ourselves. That’s it, and that’s still the same message.”
According to coverage from BBC Sport, Bowen’s words reflect a growing awareness inside the West Ham camp that resilience alone isn’t enough without results. The forward highlighted the need for a more ruthless approach on the pitch:
“The handbags and stuff, that fighting spirit is what you need — that fight, that desire to win will get you points in this league. And I think we need to show more of that week in, week out, be a proper horrible team to play against.”
What does Bowen mean by being a ‘streetwise’ team?
As reported by Sky Sports, Bowen explained the mentality he wants to see from his teammates:
“When teams come here, we need to make it horrible to come here — be a nasty team to play against, be a real streetwise side.”
This sentiment reflects the gritty, uncompromising attitude historically associated with teams fighting to retain top-flight status. In Premier League survival battles, sides that combine defensive resilience with physicality often find a way to grind out results.
Football pundit and former player Jamie Redknapp, writing in The Daily Mail, observed earlier this season that West Ham’s “inconsistency between flair and fight” has undermined their campaign, particularly against fellow relegation rivals.
Have West Ham’s performances been improving despite the results?
While results have been poor, some metrics suggest incremental improvement. As noted by The Guardian’s Jacob Steinberg, West Ham’s underlying performance data—including possession share and expected goals—have improved since December. However, he warned that “statistics don’t count for much when a team is stuck in the relegation zone.”
Bowen echoed that reality, acknowledging that good football alone won’t keep them up:
“Performances have been better, but we need points, not just performances.”
The Telegraph reported that manager David Moyes, under increasing pressure from fans and pundits alike, has also called for pragmatism over aesthetics. “Clean sheets win games,” Moyes noted in a recent press conference, suggesting a shift toward defensive solidity for the weeks ahead.
How important are the next matches for West Ham’s survival?
Speaking ahead of the upcoming fixtures, Bowen stressed urgency.
“We’ve got two more games coming up in a busy week, where we have to go and win those games, it’s as simple as that,” he told West Ham TV.
West Ham travel to face Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux on Saturday — a crucial six-pointer against direct relegation rivals. As highlighted by BBC Sport, the Hammers have lost five of their past seven league matches against Wolves, their last wins away coming in April 2021 and April 2024.
That historical record sets the stage for a pivotal challenge. A defeat would intensify pressure on Moyes, whose side risks being cut adrift before mid-season.
How is Bowen motivating his teammates amid the struggle?
Bowen emphasised accountability as a key factor in turning things around, urging teammates to look inward rather than seeking excuses.
“It’s easy to make excuses, it’s easy to point fingers, but there has to be a time where there’s a realisation that you look in the mirror individually and demand more from yourself,” he said.
The Evening Standard’s Malik Ouzia interpreted Bowen’s comments as a public call for higher standards and mental toughness within the squad. Ouzia noted that Bowen—one of West Ham’s more consistent performers—has increasingly emerged as a dressing-room leader, helping to set the tone for younger teammates.
Bowen, who has netted eight goals in all competitions this season, expressed a refusal to accept relegation as an outcome:
“Ultimately, the position that we’re in, if the Premier League ended now, we’d be down into the Championship and no-one wants that. So, ultimately, we have to look at ourselves. We have to step up. We have to keep stepping up.”
Is David Moyes under pressure amid West Ham’s slump?
Reports from The Guardian and Sky Sports News indicate growing scrutiny of manager David Moyes, whose contract expires at the end of the season. Moyes, 60, has faced criticism for a lack of attacking intent, even as some fans credit him for keeping West Ham competitive against stronger sides.
As Sky Sports’ Kaveh Solhekol reported, Moyes is determined to “fight for every point” and is adamant that his side can recover form once confidence returns. Though Moyes declined to directly respond to Bowen’s remarks, insiders quoted by The Telegraph said the manager “welcomes leadership voices within the dressing room” as the squad seeks unity.
What lies ahead for the Hammers?
With a difficult run of fixtures looming—including clashes against Aston Villa, Manchester United, and Crystal Palace—time is running out for the Irons to reverse their fortunes. Survival will demand consistency, tactical maturity, and a dose of the “streetwise” edge Bowen insists they need.
If the message resonates, West Ham still have the talent to stay afloat. Their attacking core—Bowen, Paquetá, and Kudus—remains capable of producing goals, but defensive lapses and lapses in concentration must be addressed swiftly.
As BBC pundit Garth Crooks concluded in his weekend analysis:
“West Ham are too good to go down on paper, but football is not played on paper. It’s played on instinct, discipline, and fight — and that’s exactly what Bowen is calling for.”
