James Ward-Prowse

[Mosin]

JWP just isn’t good enough. He is neither quick, nor strong nor tall, nor is he an aggressive ball winner. He looks comfortable in possession and delivers a half decent set piece but that’s about all.

 

A succession of managers from Adkins onwards have decided, over more than 6 years, that he doesn’t really fit into the team and has been a bit part, in/out sort of player. If he was named Antonio Romano and Cortese had signed him from Chievo, he’d have been gone years ago.

 

I have never seen enough of him to ever say how good he is / going to be, every one on the team plays ahead to apparently offer us pace and dribbling ability to cause problems for defenders and score and create goals that we are still yet to see after 2 seasons + 10 games of trying to play with dedicated wingers.

 

Before Puel can you even say any of the current team would have got any mins let alone game time with Mana, Tadic at his best, Pelle would not have got dropped for Ings, Lallana, Morgan, Wanyama. no way any one on the current team starts ahead of the team Koeman had. but yet he still managed to play a decent amount of games, got a goal in the league, and 6 assists, as a 19 year old, pretty good if you ask me, his following season was better, and the season after and after, only thing that has changed, is that he creates more and scores more goals each season, but is apparently not good enough to replace are wingers who have not done any thing of note as of yet and one has had 3 seasons and been beaten performance wise by JWP every time with 3 times the apps and mins as JWP, JWP has far more quality about his overall play than both Moi and Redmond even if he lacks the ability to dribble and lacks a bit of pace and I still cant believe people think this is mandatory for a player whos game does not evolve around running past people and taking players on.

 

Never seen MLT getting stick cause he didn't have pace, getting him to run at all was an issue and yet here we are when he is retired still remembering the days we had the greatest footballer ever at Saints who probs never even tried to run in his life while playing football and this is a player who played every attacking position for us and is a legend. ( I do admit MLT was an amazing dribbler some times, but most of the time it was his passing and shooting )

 

I am not sure about every one else, but I am sick of watching this none scoring amazing wingers we have run up and down doing bugger all. it has done nothing for us for 2 seasons, we have learnt nothing since as we are still trying to score goals the same way and wonder why we cant score.

 

 

He is no star player, agreed, but his passing and deliveries are miles better than what we are currently seeing game after game from are wingers.

[notnowcato]

So Chelsea should sign JWP. Sorted.

[Lord Duckhunter]

Fabregas shows you don't need to be quick, tall, or a ball winner that contributes defensively if you're good enough in attack. Fabregas was allowed to play that playmaking CM with no defensive duties because he's always been in top teams with players better than the opposition. JWP doesn't have that luxury and a team like ours can't afford a CM to not play both ways.

 

Dear god.

 

He’s not good enough, end of. Stock making excuses for the guy & making ridiculous comparisons with players that are. Comparing him to Fabregas is like comparing Forster to Ederson. It’s nothing to do with his role, our formation or even a personality clash with the manager. Old fashioned as it seems, he’s not playing because he’s not good enough to get into the side.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[mrfahaji]

Fabregas shows you don't need to be quick, tall, or a ball winner that contributes defensively if you're good enough in attack. Fabregas was allowed to play that playmaking CM with no defensive duties because he's always been in top teams with players better than the opposition. JWP doesn't have that luxury and a team like ours can't afford a CM to not play both ways.

 

Cesc Fabregas is also one of the best 'playmakers' around - certainly at his peak he was. Several other players have superb vision and passing range and can get away without being brilliant in other respects. Even someone like Jonjo Shelvey is an example of this.

 

Ward-Prowse has not demonstrated being excellent in this area either though. I'd like to see him given more opportunity to show it, but for someone capable of striking such an good dead ball, I have often been disappointed with how that translates to his passing range and technique in open play.

 

I would, however, question why he isn't given a go on the right in a 4-4-2. Because Elyounoussi isn't currently showing much, and JWP's 'all round' game might give the side some balance. Some of his best performances were playing right side under Puel (admittedly in a 4-3-3).

[disconnect]

Although I've never been his biggest fan in the past, I think the treatment of JWP has been a bit out of order. When he's played I think we've genuinely looked more likely to score, as he's one of the few players who looks like he wants to play a forward pass. He's also seemed to add a bit more bite to his game - previously he seemed pretty lightweight and a bit too 'nice' - I've seen him make some good and bit more tasty challenges over the past season or two too.

[mrfahaji]

hes the best penalty taker we have

 

That's irrelevant because we never get into the opposition box

[VectisSaint]

If he wants a career then he should consider a move to La Liga or the Bundeslige. He will never be suited to the PL.

[verlaine1979]

If he wants a career then he should consider a move to La Liga or the Bundeslige. He will never be suited to the PL.

 

Bundesliga not a bad shout for him - quite a few playmakers have come over from the German league and not shown anything like the same creativity in the PL.

[Nordic Saint]

IMO if he's going to be half decent anywhere its RB where he can deliver from far out.

 

He can't tackle so he wouldn't be half decent there.

 

He probably looks good in training, where the pace is slower and the games are less competitive.

 

I'm certainly in favour of our Academy products being given a chance and persevering with Stephens, for example, finally seems to have paid off but I'd rather see Hesketh or Sims in our team ahead of Ward-Prowse. He's had his chance and they offer a bit more in terms of pace, skill and competitiveness.

[Dusic]

He is a decent PL squad player who probably needs a move to be put out of his Saints bubble and revitalise his career.

 

All IMHO of course,

Morph

[Dangermouth]

Judging by how Hesketh seems to have adapted to League Two, I'd keep him and get rid of JWP.

[qwertyell]

What do you do with a midfielder who can't play a defensive role because he can't tackle, can't play an attacking role because he isn't creative, and can't play out wide because he hasn't got any pace?

 

Pochettino, Koeman, Puel, Pellegrino and now Hughes have all struggled to find a way to successfully accommodate to Ward-Prowse's limitations.

 

Perhaps it's simply the case that he's not a very good player.

 

 

Sent from my F3311 using Tapatalk

[John Boy Saint]

He would need to be good at tackling to play that role.

 

He isn't.

You obviously weren't watching on Saturday afternoon (although Saturday afternoon was the cure for insomnia) within seconds of coming on he put one of the Newcastle players up in the air leaving him in a heap on the floor, ref signaled that he had won the ball, Shelvey didnt like that and went after him with a misplaced stamp that JWP just skipped out of the way of.

 

Aside from that its a myth he can't tackle.

Edited 2 November, 2018 by John Boy Saint

[Sergei Gotsmanov]

Comes across as a great guy to have around the club. He is not top notch but nor are we. I thought he had an impact when he came on against Newcastle. It is players like him that make me support Saints. Wish he would get a run in the team.

[Mosin]

What do you do with a midfielder who can't play a defensive role because he can't tackle, can't play an attacking role because he isn't creative, and can't play out wide because he hasn't got any pace?

 

Pochettino, Koeman, Puel, Pellegrino and now Hughes have all struggled to find a way to successfully accommodate to Ward-Prowse's limitations.

 

Perhaps it's simply the case that he's not a very good player.

 

 

Sent from my F3311 using Tapatalk

 

He was only 18 when we had Poch, 19 when we had Koeman ( and he had arguably a top 6 side at this point too but still got a decent amount of mins with a goal and 8 assists at 19 years old and was 2nd most creative mid for us this season too in all comps even had more assists than Mane!), played a quite a few games under Puel and was are best assisting mid and 3rd on goals scored for this season, same with MP2, only thing he has had that's been consistent is that others who are performing worse are getting more mins while he does not. 14 goals 29 assists so far for us and has never been a first team starter has more mins from the bench and more apps from the bench than starts yet beats every one in the team on goals and assists ( but Tadic ) since Koeman left and was 2nd most creative player when Koeman was here in his first season and 3rd in Koemans 2nd. look at the players he has had to fight positions with and look at how well he has done during these times, He should be starting for us. how is he ever going to prove peeps wrong if he never plays consistently and never has, yet performed well every season since he had his first game under Poch.

[Ultimatt]

Dear god.

 

He’s not good enough, end of. Stock making excuses for the guy & making ridiculous comparisons with players that are. Comparing him to Fabregas is like comparing Forster to Ederson. It’s nothing to do with his role, our formation or even a personality clash with the manager. Old fashioned as it seems, he’s not playing because he’s not good enough to get into the side.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

What? At what point did I say JWP = Fabregas? The comparison is merely in physical attributes and style. Fabregas has been criticised throughout his career for being weak defensively, as has JWP. Fabregas could do that because he was in teams that dominated games. JWP is not at that level and imo doesn't get a game because he can't play 2 ways.

[austsaint]

You obviously weren't watching on Saturday afternoon (although Saturday afternoon was the cure for insomnia) within second of coming on he put one of the Newcastle players up in the air leaving him in a heap on the floor, ref signaled that he had one the ball, Shelvey didnt like that and went after him with a misplaced stamp that JWP just skipped out of the way of.

 

Aside from that its a myth he can't tackle.

 

He really cannot tackle - nor does he often try to. It's no myth.

[larry12]

He really cannot tackle - nor does he often try to. It's no myth.

 

He is hit and myth. I have watched him for years. Every single appearance, he zone marks in his own half and VIRTUALLY never gets near an opponent and therefore virtually never tackles anyone. You might see the odd one. Yes.

But overall he doesn't get near a tackle. If you add that to being very slow, unable to literally jump up in the air, unable to ever run past anybody, unable to win a header challenge, unable to demonstrate any ball "trickery",

unable to fend off players, unable to shoot with pace, unable to make good use of corners and free kicks(given the absolutely huge number of opportunities), there is nothing there. Yes he specializes in spot kicks when he is on the pitch. Do they go in? Answers on a postcard!!

[mrfahaji]

What? At what point did I say JWP = Fabregas? The comparison is merely in physical attributes and style. Fabregas has been criticised throughout his career for being weak defensively, as has JWP. Fabregas could do that because he was in teams that dominated games. JWP is not at that level and imo doesn't get a game because he can't play 2 ways.

 

I think it's more that Fabregas could do it because he is a brilliant passer, has fantastic vision and an eye for goal. In the same way that Michael Carrick might not have been the most robust defensive midfielder but his ability in possession meant he was often a key player. Ward-Prowse has not demonstrated anywhere near that level of ability.

 

Yes, that will be partly due to being in a team that isn't constantly in possession or on the attack, but it's more to do with him being poor at some things and only 'decent' at others.

[Kenilworthy]

JWP would actually look great in a top six team like Manchester City where they can utilize his strengths and have other players to compensate for his weaknesses. It is not such a wild idea - who would have thought such a very poor player as Fabian Delph would have got a move to the Etihad?

[the saint in winchester]

Bundesliga not a bad shout for him - quite a few playmakers have come over from the German league and not shown anything like the same creativity in the PL.

 

Southampton midfielder James Ward-Prowse could make a shock move to Bundesliga side RB Leipzig in January. (Daily Express)

 

Sorted!

[Cabbage_Face]

24, the amount of corners he needs per game to put in one decent one. FACT

[Saint86]

24, the amount of corners he needs per game to put in one decent one. FACT

 

Pure BS... and you know it.

[Cabbage_Face]

Pure BS... and you know it.

 

You are right.

 

24, the amount of set pieces he needs per game to put in a decent one.

[Dusic]

JWP would actually look great in a top six team like Manchester City where they can utilize his strengths and have other players to compensate for his weaknesses. It is not such a wild idea - who would have thought such a very poor player as Fabian Delph would have got a move to the Etihad?

He wouldn't get anywhere near their team!

 

Ridiculous post.

 

Which other slow, non goal threat, non creative midfielders do they have? Its not a type they want.

[Lighthouse]

JWP would actually look great in a top six team like Manchester City where they can utilize his strengths and have other players to compensate for his weaknesses. It is not such a wild idea - who would have thought such a very poor player as Fabian Delph would have got a move to the Etihad?

 

Delph who was comfortably Villa’s best player at the time but looks rather mediocre amongst City’s elites? JWP would struggle to get into their ladies team.

[davefoggy]

He needs to be in the starting line up every week, I have always rated James. Tell me who else in our current squad is better than him? The last few games we have been utter dross at set pieces, who else was with me at Wolves and witnessed the dreadful corners? At this level it is completely unacceptable. Last week against Newcastle as soon as James came on things starting happening, key passes, and 2 brilliant corners that we really should have scored from. Useless Redmond OUT - James Ward-Prowse IN

 

It's a no brainer for a manager that had a single brain cell

[doggface]

I don't think he is a world beater, but he is better than most of the **** players that we have to watch week in week out. Deserves a run imo

[Badger]

H. Useless Redmond OUT - James Ward-Prowse IN

 

It's a no brainer for a manager that had a single brain cell

 

I'm not a great fan of Redmond by any means but he does offer us some pace, not a particular strength of JWP. Question is, can we afford the luxury of a player who offers something from deadballs, but very little else.

[Badger]

JWP linked in this article with RB Leipzig (where Paul Mitchell is head of scouting).

 

https://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2018/11/02/do-report-southampton-midfielder-james-ward-prowse-could-leave-f/

[Lord Duckhunter]

JWP linked in this article with RB Leipzig (where Paul Mitchell is head of scouting).

 

 

**** me, he won’t be much longer if that’s the standard of his signings.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[saint1977]

Southampton midfielder James Ward-Prowse could make a shock move to Bundesliga side RB Leipzig in January. (Daily Express)

 

Sorted!

 

Do the rest of the Bundesliga want to look at the rest of the squad bar the keepers? We’ve got about 23 more s hit players they can have.

[AussieDog]

I’ve always thought he was under-rated. If he is so bad, why has he been picked 50 times by various England teams - including 30 appearances for the under 21’s?

[Batman]

I’ve always thought he was under-rated. If he is so bad, why has he been picked 50 times by various England teams - including 30 appearances for the under 21’s?

 

david prutton was quite similar

[rooney]

david prutton was quite similar

and I believe he was England under 21 Captain when we signed him too.

[Crab Lungs]

I’ve always thought he was under-rated. If he is so bad, why has he been picked 50 times by various England teams - including 30 appearances for the under 21’s?

 

Because he was over hyped at a young age because he could bend a free kick a bit.

[OttawaSaint]

Still only 24? Free kick specialist, but how many has he actually scored? 2?

 

Beattie and Lambert’s bagged plenty of free kicks and were never lauded about their free kick ability.

[davefoggy]

I'm not a great fan of Redmond by any means but he does offer us some pace, not a particular strength of JWP. Question is, can we afford the luxury of a player who offers something from deadballs, but very little else.

 

He doesn't do anything with his pace though does he, can't beat a man, no assists and no goals. Brings nothing, absolutely nothing to the team

[Matthew Le God]

Still only 24? Free kick specialist, but how many has he actually scored? 2?

 

Beattie and Lambert’s bagged plenty of free kicks and were never lauded about their free kick ability.

 

Beattie and Lambert didn't tend to take the free kicks that weren't likely to be direct attempts on goal, for those they'd both be in the box looking to be on the end of them. Ward-Prowse puts in extremely dangerous crosses from free kicks, he can't get an assist for a great free kick because the rest of the team is useless at finishing.

[Cabbage_Face]

Given a chance today, and took it by the scruff of the neck. Get rid of him, or actually might do well in championship.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[LGTL]

He's a skate, ***** should have been booted out years ago.

[SuperSAINT]

Pep called him the best corner taker in the Prem.

[simo]

Our best midfielder by a distance yesterday

[SuperSAINT]

Our best midfielder by a distance yesterday

 

I posted last week how I'd start him over Moi & give him a run of games.

[jamesfp1]

It's worth starting him just for his dead ball delivery. Anything that helps us create decent chances at this point.

[Saint Benali]

Was awful yesterday. ****ed up for the 1st goal. Kicked ball away for a silly yellow. Tried to be cocky and do a back heel which went straight to their player allowing them to break away and almost scoring. Took an horrific corner that went straight to their player again which they almost scored from the break away. Gave the ball away countless times. One or two decent free kicks in 90mins doesn't make up for the poor overall performance.

[Cabbage_Face]

Horrid player, has no attribute that is worth while. One good set piece every 20 is not worth it when during open play you give the ball away and don’t track. Get rid.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[austsaint]

Our best midfielder by a distance yesterday

 

In the first half, by my count, he had five possessions - one of which was failing to control the ball, leading to their first goal. How you can say he was better than Hojbjerg is hard to work out. He weakened our midfield, and Romeu would have been a much better option.

[Cabbage_Face]

Another TOP TOP TOP performance from him.

[S-Clarke]

He's 24 years old now, still no mark on the england side and still not impacting games at any level.

 

At least he's a good lad. Doesn't drink, did all his homework on time.