ALL MANAGERS LIKE TO BUY PLAYERS they have worked with, but few are desperate to sign the player who heralded the end of their own playing career. However, as soon as Alan Pardew took charge of West Ham United in 2003, he wanted to sign Lee Bowyer. This summer he succeeded, signing him on a free transfer from Newcastle United.
“When I was at Charlton [1991-95] I like to think I was a good player and he [Bowyer] came along and just blew me away. I had to sit on the bench because of him,” Pardew said after seeing Bowyer dominate West Ham’s opening match of the Premiership campaign against their former club on Saturday.
For the fans it must have been like watching an embarrassing relative who not only behaves himself at a family wedding but gives an entertaining and mature speech. Three years ago, Bowyer played for West Ham while not fully fit. He performed poorly and the club were relegated. His appearances served only to underline his bad-boy reputation. The supporters were hardly clamouring for him to return and the West Ham board, too, was reluctant to sign him.
“I didn’t have to sit down and persuade him to come here, even though he knew he would be starting on a negative,” Pardew said. “It was more difficult persuading the board. There were a few apprehensions about him because of what happened the last time he was here. That is understandable. But I have always got on well with him and was always a bit disappointed how things have gone for him and some of the paths of his career.”
Bowyer set up all three West Ham goals, hit a post with a strike that would have been the goal of the match and was involved in the sending-off of Djimi Traoré.
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“You’ve got to remember you’re talking about a player who got to the semi-finals of the Champions League [with Leeds United, in 2001], a player of immense quality who has lost his way at times,” Pardew said. “He’s a lot quieter now. I’ve made it very, very clear he must not put our team in jeopardy and he’s very aware of that.”
Pardew’s team opened with attacking verve. They went a goal behind, however, after Danny Gabbidon handled the ball inside the area and Darren Bent scored from the spot. Any chance Charlton Athletic may have had to defend their early lead diminished when Traoré was sent off. He was booked for a foul on Bowyer and, after conceding another free kick, the former Liverpool defender stuck out a leg as Bowyer tried to take the free kick. Howard Webb, the referee, showed a second yellow card and then a red.
West Ham underlined a reputation for resilience with two goals from Bobby Zamora and a third in the final moments by Carlton Cole, the £2 million summer signing from Chelsea, who scored within seconds of coming off the bench.
“I really want to make an impact in the team,” Cole said. “We set records here. I’ve got the fastest debut goal and Ted [Sheringham] is now the oldest outfield player in the Premiership. I’ll take any goal, any time, any place, anywhere. You can call me the Martini striker.”
HOW WILL THEY DO?
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It might be unrealistic to expect West Ham to repeat their FA Cup achievements, but with a stronger squad they would fancy a mid-table finish. Charlton have enough firepower up front, but there are questions about whether their lack of defensive ability will drag them into a relegation dogfight