Jeff Stelling has made a bold claim about a West Ham star replacing Man City’s £100m man amid much controversy and criticism.
Club loyalties and tribalism are a big factor when it comes to debate over the England team and selections.
West Ham and Manchester City share a rare strong bond.
That was on show when the Hammers and Man City chanted together to goad Arsenal after Pep Guardiola’s side lifted the title in the final game of last season.
Good relations between West Ham and Manchester City fans actually date back to a specific game at Upton Park back in 1987.
West Ham used to be one of the leading clubs providing England with players.
Hence the club being referred to as The Academy of Football.
Nowadays the Premier League champions Man City and the likes of Arsenal have taken on that mantle.
West Ham have provided one player for England’s Euro 2024 effort, though, in the shape of Jarrod Bowen.
England picks cause a stir
It is often said England can’t win anything without West Ham’s influence.
That goes back to the great Hammers legend Bobby Moore captaining England to their only ever trophy – the World Cup in 1966 – while his two West Ham teammates Geoff Hurst and Martin Peters scored the four goals in the final against the Germans.
So it’s good news for England fans that Gareth Southgate has given Bowen a place in the Three Lions squad.
The way some fans, journalists and pundits have reacted, though, suggests Man City’s Jack Grealish should have been in the squad instead.
Grealish famously cost Manchester City £100m. But he was a bit-part player under Guardiola last term after shining the season before.
Observers feel Bowen was the player who got the nod over Grealish. That’s despite the two players operating on different sides of the pitch. It also ignores the fact Bowen can play as a striker if needed too.
West Ham fans have been staunchly defending Bowen’s selection while others bemoan the Grealish snub.
Not one revered Sky Sports turned talkSPORT legend, though.
Stelling’s bold claim about Bowen replacing Grealish
Jeff Stelling has made a bold claim about the West Ham star replacing Man City’s £100m man.
As far as Stelling is concerned, Bowen is fully deserving of his place in Southgate’s final England squad.
In fact he doesn’t understand how there can be an argument between Man City’s Grealish and West Ham’s top goalscorer.
“Jarrod Bowen, I was delighted to see him in the squad, by the way,” Stelling said on talkSPORT at 8.54am on Monday.
“In Premier League terms, 16 Premier League goals and six assists this season.
“And I know that some people were upset that Jack Grealish, and I am a big Jack Grealish fan, wasn’t in.
“But when you look at those stats, Bowen, you know, 16 Premier League goals, six assists, Jack – three Premier League goals, one assist. There really isn’t an argument any longer, I mean, is there?”
Forget ‘unbelievable Jeff’ that’s just straight up believable Jeff. It’s so refreshing to hear some sense being talked by a neutral.
If there is to be any debate over who should have been left out in favour of Grealish it should centre around Eberechi Eze, Anthony Gordon and Ivan Toney.
Eze, Gordon and Toney should be questioned before Bowen
All excellent players in their own right of course. And indeed Eze is an alleged Man City target while Toney is reportedly a top target for West Ham.
But Eze is not going to get much game time in his position and is unproven at international level.
Anthony Gordon looks like he may get more minutes with his pace but, like Eze, is unproven and has questionable end product.
Toney is lucky to have made the cut given his poor form and goal return since returning from his ban.
And he will barely play given Harry Kane is the undisputed number one striker.
Stelling is spot on – Bowen has had a far superior season for West Ham than Grealish has had for Manchester City.
He’s become better known for celebrating Man City’s triumphs than actually contributing to them.
And if Hammers star Lucas Paqueta was not facing a tribunal over illegal betting allegations, he’d be signing for Man City to surely spell the end of Grealish at the Etihad.
