Three Thin Attacking Options Left For West Ham

The most logical choice for West Ham could be shifting Jarrod Bowen to striker.

The star man playing on the right for West Ham could and probably should be the player shifted atop a striker-based formation if Michail Antonio has to miss any substantial time. Jarrod Bowen has the pace and creativity to create space for himself to create and finish goals, but can he do it as a solo striker?

Without height or muscular physicality, he’ll need to play a Jamie Vardy type game – plenty of offsides as he would need to live on the shoulder of his marking defenders to burn them with pace to get in behind. I say he can do it.

As it stands now, Bowen has statistically had an underwhelming and inconsistent season. He has been a key factor in the terrific season so far with exceptional work rate and wonderful delivery on corner kicks, but his goal production has been down a bit.

The cause to this? Probably his overwhelming defensive duties as a right-wingback even when playing in a flat-back four formation. Should Bowen shift centrally, he can leave this duty to Ryan Fredericks and Vladimir Coufal to handle. This would free him up to stay central off the ball and then move across the front line where he pleases when West Ham holds possession.

There needs to be an unorthodox answer to the problem, ‘of who is going to play striker?’ when the team doesn’t have one. It seemingly makes the most sense for David Moyes to craft his attack around his best players.

If that means change formations to a false nine with Lingard, so be it. If that means keep the status quo and rely on Odubeko, so be it. If that means shift tactics and deploy Bowen at striker, that works. Moyes has his players buying in and that commitment can make any of these strategies work for West Ham.