I’m here for three years says Bowyer

I’m indebted to football writer Jon Arnold for publishing his interview with Lee Bowyer following his surprise appointment as Montserrat Head Coach. Most of us didn’t even know there was a vacancy until we saw the pictures of the training session.

In Jon’s blog, “Getting CONCACAFed” (which you’ll find here https://getconcacafed.substack.com/p/why-is-premier-league-veteran-lee?utm_source=profile&utm_medium=reader2) Bowyer announced that

“I’m not dreaming too far ahead. I’m literally going to take each camp at a time because I have to put this puzzle together,” he said. “I have certain pieces at the moment, and these pieces have got to learn what I demand from them.”

“I know what (Lyle Taylor) brings. He brings goals, and you need to score goals to win games,” Bowyer said. “It’s good to see him in this environment because he really cares about Montserrat.”

“He’s the captain, but he leads by example and all the players look at him and respect him. He was in a Premiership club last season – you can’t take that away from him – and that’s why the other players look up to him, especially the younger ones. He’s a good person to have around.”

I’m interested in trying to improve these players as quickly as possible in the short time we have together,” he said. “If people are confused, maybe it’s because it’s completely different from what I’ve done before.”

“There are (also) things that I’ve got to try and guide people behind the scenes on: Itinerary-type things so it’s better for players’ recovery and things like that,” he said. “I’ve been in the game so long, and I know what they need, so I’m going to try to bring a bit of that side to the organization as well.”

“But, for me, it’s a good challenge, something different for me, being a national manager. If I do well here, you don’t know what opens up in the future because there’s no reason why we couldn’t maybe qualify for the World Cup. Can you imagine if that happens? What a story that would be!”

(Sorry Lee, but the draw is rigged for the World Cup, but we’ll take Nations League Group A.)