Lee Carsley’s tenure as interim England manager is under scrutiny, with the West Ham trio of Jarrod Bowen, Max Kilman, and Aaron Wan-Bissaka putting the spotlight on his selection choices.
Many fans are starting to question whether Carsley, tipped as a contender for the permanent England job, truly has what it takes.
His recent decisions have done little to dispel doubts, particularly among West Ham supporters, who feel that some of their top-performing players have been unjustly overlooked.
For West Ham fans, there’s an all-too-familiar feeling of déjà vu. After years of frustration under Gareth Southgate, who repeatedly overlooked or marginalised the club’s top talents, they had hoped for a fresh start.
Yet, with Carsley in charge, those hopes seem to be dashed. Despite a promise of a “clean slate” when he took over as interim boss, his selections have left many scratching their heads, especially given the form of players like Bowen, Kilman, and Wan-Bissaka.
Southgate’s reign, while achieving notable results with the national team, was often characterised by accusations of a “big six bias” – a tendency to favour players from the Premier League’s traditional powerhouses, even if their form didn’t warrant it.
While Southgate had initially pledged to select players based on merit, it didn’t take long for that rhetoric to wear thin for West Ham supporters. Jarrod Bowen, in particular, was repeatedly ignored despite stellar performances for his club.
When Bowen finally got the call-up, it often felt too little, too late. He was seldom given a proper chance to impress, even though his form merited it.
And when Declan Rice, West Ham’s former captain, made the high-profile move to Arsenal earlier this year, Southgate’s comments that Rice had “taken his game to another level” after leaving West Ham only served to further inflame tensions with the Hammers faithful.
Bowen’s form last season for West Ham made him impossible to ignore, and Southgate was left with no choice but to select him for the European Championship squad.
Yet, despite his impressive showings in limited appearances, Bowen wasn’t given a proper run in the side. Many West Ham fans felt that Bowen, by right, should have been competing with the likes of Bukayo Saka for a starting berth, particularly if Cole Palmer, another emerging talent, was to be utilised more centrally.
With Southgate stepping aside, Carsley had the chance to make a statement with his first squad selection in September.
However, his decisions only served to further frustrate West Ham fans. Bowen was included, but Kilman and Wan-Bissaka were conspicuously absent, despite both being in excellent form.
Kilman, who had joined West Ham in a £40 million move from Wolves, had been a revelation in defence, while Wan-Bissaka, arguably the best defensive right-back in the Premier League, has shown his versatility by playing at left-back for the Hammers – a position where England currently have a shortage of options.
The trio’s performances in West Ham’s 4-1 win over Ipswich Town last Saturday highlighted just how wrong Carsley’s decisions may have been.
Bowen, in particular, was outstanding, scoring a goal and providing two assists. His influence on the game was undeniable, and his form this season has been nothing short of remarkable.
In fact, Bowen’s tally of four goals and assists in the Premier League this season surpasses the combined total of several England call-ups, including Noni Madueke, Dominic Solanke, Anthony Gordon, Jack Grealish, Morgan Gibbs-White, and Phil Foden.
After the Ipswich game, Bowen was asked about being snubbed by Carsley for the recent England squad.
His response was typically blunt and measured, indicating that the omission wouldn’t affect his motivation.
“I never need any extra motivation to perform, and the England news was just one of those things,” Bowen stated on West Ham’s official website.
“But you either let these things eat you up or you go and show what you’re about. My mindset has always been the same, and for the club as well, we’ve been in a bit of a difficult situation, but to a man we’ve gone out there and got the job done today, which is great.”
His words reflected a wider sentiment among West Ham players. Kilman and Wan-Bissaka, like Bowen, have made Carsley’s choices appear baffling.
Wan-Bissaka’s omission is particularly perplexing, given that his defensive abilities are widely regarded as the best in the country. His versatility, especially his ability to cover the problematic left-back position, should make him a shoo-in for the squad.
Yet, Carsley has opted to experiment with other, less-proven options, even suggesting that Cole Palmer could be used in that role if needed.
As for Kilman, his performances have been rock-solid, and while West Ham fans may be secretly relieved that he won’t risk injury or suffer under the spotlight of international duty, his exclusion remains difficult to understand. For many, the national team’s loss is West Ham’s gain.
Ultimately, Carsley’s decisions have done little to convince West Ham supporters, and indeed fans of the “Other 14” Premier League clubs, that he is the right man for the England job.
His snubs of players like Bowen, Kilman, and Wan-Bissaka, despite their undeniable form, have only fuelled the belief that England managers continue to overlook talent from clubs outside the traditional elite. And as long as that bias persists, West Ham and their supporters will have every reason to feel aggrieved.