James Ward-Prowse

[OldNick]

On 14/11/2023 at 12:16, Toussaint said:

• A tireless box to box midfielder
• 100% attendance record
• Incisive passing (A lot of his assists are not from corners)
• Consummate professional
• A lot of his assists are not from corners
• A ridiculously cheap acquisition in today's market

 

We rarely have different opinions but in this case we have. Incisive passing! My memory is going but I can't think of many of those. That was my bugbear with him, as he got the ball and then played it to the soft option back or sideways. He was responsible for breaking up our attacks more often than the opposition.

Personally I feel the managers were to blame, where he should have played was further forward aka Everton away where he broke into the box, Nathan did it the once then he was put back in a defensive role.

He is a slow tireless box to box midfielder.

Yes attendance record brilliant

Consummate professional I agree

Cheap yes, especially playing under a manager who knows the advantage of his crossing with his big defenders etc

[Dellyears]

1 hour ago, OldNick said:

We rarely have different opinions but in this case we have. Incisive passing! My memory is going but I can't think of many of those. That was my bugbear with him, as he got the ball and then played it to the soft option back or sideways. He was responsible for breaking up our attacks more often than the opposition.

Personally I feel the managers were to blame, where he should have played was further forward aka Everton away where he broke into the box, Nathan did it the once then he was put back in a defensive role.

He is a slow tireless box to box midfielder.

Yes attendance record brilliant

Consummate professional I agree

Cheap yes, especially playing under a manager who knows the advantage of his crossing with his big defenders etc

At last he seems to have a manager who makes the most of him. I'm pleased for him he had a hard time here with fans and mismanagement.

[Toussaint]

14 hours ago, OldNick said:

We rarely have different opinions but in this case we have. Incisive passing! My memory is going but I can't think of many of those. That was my bugbear with him, as he got the ball and then played it to the soft option back or sideways. He was responsible for breaking up our attacks more often than the opposition.

Personally I feel the managers were to blame, where he should have played was further forward aka Everton away where he broke into the box, Nathan did it the once then he was put back in a defensive role.

He is a slow tireless box to box midfielder.

Yes attendance record brilliant

Consummate professional I agree

Cheap yes, especially playing under a manager who knows the advantage of his crossing with his big defenders etc

I think the difference in our opinions here is you are possibly basing your judgement on last season, playing in a dysfunctional team with 3 appalling managers, (having said that NJ seemed to get the best out of him).

The season before his 12 goal contribution kept us up.  As I said in a post above, I watch whu regularly, just to watch him. Having decent committed players around him, and players making intelligent runs is giving him the opportunity to show of his true ability. Just my opinion of course.

Edited 16 November, 2023 by Toussaint
Grammar

[Andrew Watson]

Was in Tesco Launceston, Cornwall tonight wearing my Saints coat. A worker there came up behind me and said - Thanks for your best player,it turned out that he was a life long West Ham fan,who has watched them home and away for the past 40  years. He waxed lyrical for 2 minutes plus about how highly he and other West Ham fans rate JWP. He was very surprised that I did not think that he was our best player.  [ Lavia and KWP,for starters.]

[Noodles34]

9 hours ago, Andrew Watson said:

Was in Tesco Launceston, Cornwall tonight wearing my Saints coat. A worker there came up behind me and said - Thanks for your best player,it turned out that he was a life long West Ham fan,who has watched them home and away for the past 40  years. He waxed lyrical for 2 minutes plus about how highly he and other West Ham fans rate JWP. He was very surprised that I did not think that he was our best player.  [ Lavia and KWP,for starters.]

Lavia? 🤦🏻‍♂️🤷🏻‍♂️

[East Kent Saint]

JWP is one of those Nick Holmes players who get on with the job but because they don’t don’t do anything flash don’t stand out IMO.

[Verbal]

I sorry I laughed.

 

[S-Clarke]

As per most Premier League fans, WHU fans are a bunch of entitled pricks. Same as the Palace lot.

Not entirely sure what they expect from their club. They're not in a relegation battle, and are in and around the Europe spots after winning a European trophy last year. They've lost a few on the bounce, as every team in the PL is at risk of doing. They need to wind their necks in, they're not as 'big' as they like to believe - a pretty middling also-ran PL club, same as everyone else out side of the top 6. Take what success you can get, but if you think the grass is greener as you want 'more' then there are lots of examples to suggest that they're totally misguided.

[spyinthesky]

Most WHU fans reckoned JWP was one of their best players and a steal at £30m at the start of the season.
Cant blame him entirely for their recent poor form.
Perhaps we could buy him back at a cut price £10m next season if we go up.

[david in sweden]

1 minute ago, spyinthesky said:

Most WHU fans reckoned JWP was one of their best players and a steal at £30m at the start of the season.
Cant blame him entirely for their recent poor form.
Perhaps we could buy him back at a cut price £10m next season if we go up.

Those idiots above ...will be first to cheer when Prowsey beats Beckham's record.  He's still getting good rating every game, and maybe 

they should remember that he cost a lot less than some of the other disasters WHam have signed of late, and who have contributed much less.

[Dman]

6 minutes ago, spyinthesky said:

Most WHU fans reckoned JWP was one of their best players and a steal at £30m at the start of the season.
Cant blame him entirely for their recent poor form.
Perhaps we could buy him back at a cut price £10m next season if we go up.

When you take away free kicks and goals from corners, he becomes a slightly more agressive and polished version of Will Smallbone. 

Very, very average player - massivley overhyped by so many on here. 

[Saint Keef]

If they're saying that about JWP, what are they saying about Kalvin Phillips?

[Tom & Gerry]

I watched the Arsenal game and he hardly got a kick. They are definitely not getting the best out of him. He would do much better with our passing game under Russ.

[SaintTex]

He is having a pretty typical JWP season at West Ham, like most seasons he had with Saints, with one exception - no free kicks.

you know, 5 to 7 goals from open play, and handful of assists (mostly due to the fact he is on the pitch every minute of every match)

Edited February 19 by SaintTex

[East Kent Saint]

He was said to be better playing in a forward position on here . He started well at WH but they have lost their way , what little I have seen of him on motd these days is him jogging about . This applies to most of their team now. Moyes looks like he’s out of ideas .

[rallyboy]

It's all gone a bit Danny Ings for him.

I understand why players seek these moves but sometimes they don't realise how that greener grass is often riddled with dog shit.

 

[Lee On Solent Saint]

1 hour ago, S-Clarke said:

As per most Premier League fans, WHU fans are a bunch of entitled pricks. Same as the Palace lot.

Not entirely sure what they expect from their club. They're not in a relegation battle, and are in and around the Europe spots after winning a European trophy last year. They've lost a few on the bounce, as every team in the PL is at risk of doing. They need to wind their necks in, they're not as 'big' as they like to believe - a pretty middling also-ran PL club, same as everyone else out side of the top 6. Take what success you can get, but if you think the grass is greener as you want 'more' then there are lots of examples to suggest that they're totally misguided.

West Ham has got to be one of the most toxic atomosphere's around after you've lost a few games. The so called academy of football. 

[Toussaint]

1 hour ago, spyinthesky said:

Most WHU fans reckoned JWP was one of their best players and a steal at £30m at the start of the season.
Cant blame him entirely for their recent poor form.
Perhaps we could buy him back at a cut price £10m next season if we go up.

Seems too much of a coincidence that their form dived as soon as they signed Kelvin Phillips, who has been absolutely abysmal 

[Paulwantsapint81]

Could JWP & FD play together?

if so offer West Ham we take both of them off their hands

[Toussaint]

On 19/02/2024 at 15:43, S-Clarke said:

As per most Premier League fans, WHU fans are a bunch of entitled pricks. Same as the Palace lot.

Not entirely sure what they expect from their club. They're not in a relegation battle, and are in and around the Europe spots after winning a European trophy last year. They've lost a few on the bounce, as every team in the PL is at risk of doing. They need to wind their necks in, they're not as 'big' as they like to believe - a pretty middling also-ran PL club, same as everyone else out side of the top 6. Take what success you can get, but if you think the grass is greener as you want 'more' then there are lots of examples to suggest that they're totally misguided.

Spot on

Edited May 8 by Toussaint

[The Cat]

They won a trophy last season. What do they realistically expect? Top 6 finishes every season? They are West Ham FFS, no more entitled to anything than any other clubs who won stuff years ago. 

[Weston Super Saint]

55 minutes ago, The Cat said:

They won a trophy last season. What do they realistically expect? Top 6 finishes every season? They are West Ham FFS, no more entitled to anything than any other clubs who won stuff years ago. 

Apart from a cut price stadium and peppercorn running costs.

[Convict Colony]

2 hours ago, rallyboy said:

It's all gone a bit Danny Ings for him.

I understand why players seek these moves but sometimes they don't realise how that greener grass is often riddled with dog shit.

 

I dont buy this as i followed his progress and up until Jan he was being lauded and see as one of the better players in the team, too much recency bias with pundits.

Rated 2nd best player on whoscored and man of the match 3 times

 

Edited February 19 by Convict Colony

[Wade Garrett]

For me, he cheats a bit on the ball.  All square or backwards.

[rallyboy]

36 minutes ago, Convict Colony said:

I dont buy this as i followed his progress and up until Jan he was being lauded

It's February, he's not being lauded - now West Ham fans are saying the only way he breaks Beckham's record is by fucking TWO Spice Girls.

[SuperSAINT]

41 minutes ago, Convict Colony said:

I dont buy this as i followed his progress and up until Jan he was being lauded and see as one of the better players in the team, too much recency bias with pundits.

Rated 2nd best player on whoscored and man of the match 3 times

 

West Ham fans, though, amigo.

[S-Clarke]

1 hour ago, Convict Colony said:

I dont buy this as i followed his progress and up until Jan he was being lauded and see as one of the better players in the team, too much recency bias with pundits.

Rated 2nd best player on whoscored and man of the match 3 times

 

He's been good for them, it was only a few weeks ago some WHU fans were calling for him to be their captain.

I think most WHU fans think he's been a good buy for them and they like him, there are just a few trying to get clicks by saying something controversial. There are many worse players in their team.

[Osvaldorama]

4 hours ago, Paulwantsapint81 said:

Could JWP & FD play together?

if so offer West Ham we take both of them off their hands

Would rather sign Flynn Downes than take JWP back tbh. Proper DMs seem to be harder to find. 
 

But yes. I think they could compliment each other much like Romeu and Jwp did 

[austsaint]

6 minutes ago, Osvaldorama said:

Would rather sign Flynn Downes than take JWP back tbh. Proper DMs seem to be harder to find. 
 

But yes. I think they could compliment each other much like Romeu and Jwp did 

Agree with both your sentences.    

[John B]

6 hours ago, austsaint said:

Agree with both your sentences.    

Have you seen Downes play regularly in the PL?

[austsaint]

30 minutes ago, John B said:

Have you seen Downes play regularly in the PL?

No, but he looks to be up to standard, six years younger than JWP and probably already a better defensive midfielder - which is what we're short of.   You'll also note I agreed about a hypothetical Downes/JWP pairing being a good match.   Could happen I suppose if we don't go up and Downes goes back to the Hammers.

[Lord Duckhunter]

17 hours ago, Wade Garrett said:

For me, he cheats a bit on the ball.  All square or backwards.

A bit? 

[The Kraken]

9 hours ago, John B said:

Have you seen Downes play regularly in the PL?

When Flynn joined us I asked my West Ham supporting mate about him, think I said about it on here at the time. My mate really rated him and was very surprised they let him go.

[Hatch]

as far as I can recall,  no goals scored from direct free kicks this season.

 

Is that a first for him?

[trousers]

38 minutes ago, Hatch said:

as far as I can recall,  no goals scored from direct free kicks this season.

 

Is that a first for him?

Gotta be, surely? Out of curiosity, do we know if this is because he's not taken (m)any or if he's taken plenty but lost his touch...?

Edited May 7 by trousers

[beatlesaint]

11 minutes ago, trousers said:

Gotta be, surely? Out of curiosity, do we know if this is because he's not taken (m)any or if he's taken plenty but lost his touch...?

Everytime they've been on Sky that I've seen them he steps up to take them, usually with the commentator reminding us all of what a marvelous dead ball specialist he is !

I did notice he's been sub a bit recently however.

[St Louis]

I'd say JWP is certainly further now from the England squad, than he was when playing for us the last few years.

He didnt have a bad start, but now doesnt start games and a poor second half to the season.

[benjii]

1 hour ago, Hatch said:

as far as I can recall,  no goals scored from direct free kicks this season.

 

Is that a first for him?

Got one direct from a corner I think, so that probably counts.

He must be a bit frustrated not to have got a couple more though. 

[Saint_clark]

23 minutes ago, St Louis said:

I'd say JWP is certainly further now from the England squad, than he was when playing for us the last few years.

He didnt have a bad start, but now doesnt start games and a poor second half to the season.

Such a dick move from him really. Not about the money because he was already out highest paid player - he could have given us the season to see if we get back up and if he'd stayed we'd probably have gone up automatically. 

[Fabrice29]

2 minutes ago, Saint_clark said:

Such a dick move from him really. Not about the money because he was already out highest paid player - he could have given us the season to see if we get back up and if he'd stayed we'd probably have gone up automatically. 

Trying to better himself at the age of 28. Such a dick. 

[Wade Garrett]

Can’t see him getting much of a look in under their new manager.    

Fully understand why he went there, good luck to him.

[Gloucester Saint]

27 minutes ago, Wade Garrett said:

Can’t see him getting much of a look in under their new manager.    

Fully understand why he went there, good luck to him.

How I see it too. Didn’t mind him moving on to W Ham, had a very productive honeymoon there but since Christmas has been in and out of side with their midfield getting overpowered. Ideal CM partner would have been Rice, blend of pace and power, JWP more technical but hence the money to sign him contingent on Rice being sold.

I can see a loan to Leicester or Fulham next season. In the event SFC won the play offs, the template tactically for next season would be Saturday’s from Elland, so after signing THB, maybe Downes if their new manager needs to bring in £20m, priority is pace and especially power. Victor/Morgan/Diop MK2 and a couple of them, Charles loaned out. 

[HarvSFC]

Ran the game against Sheffield Wednesday on the opening day, so it is a shame he didn't give us a few more to see if we had sorted ourselves out and were going back on the up. Similar to how Lallana, Schneiderlin and Kelvin Davis stuck with us in League One. But, in the same breath we went from having a midfield of Wanyama, Schneiderlin and Steven Davis to JWP being our best midfielder. He wasn't as good as any of those three, aside from his set pieces, so another example of the decline of the starting eleven.

Similar to Clyne, Lallana, Lambert 🙁, Schneiderlin, Ings... And many others in that the grass isn't always greener away from Southampton apart from a bigger bank balance. Schneiderlin, Ings and Lambert pretty much finished their careers as a top level player with their moves.

[Bad Wolf]

3 hours ago, Saint_clark said:

Such a dick move from him really. Not about the money because he was already out highest paid player - he could have given us the season to see if we get back up and if he'd stayed we'd probably have gone up automatically. 

Why would he?? West Ham had just won a trophy, they're in Europe. If he'd stayed with us he'd need his head looking at.

Look at the comments he's had made about him during bad periods of form. He owed us nothing.

[S-Clarke]

4 hours ago, trousers said:

Gotta be, surely? Out of curiosity, do we know if this is because he's not taken (m)any or if he's taken plenty but lost his touch...?

He's saving himself for when we bring him back on loan as a PL team, then he'll resume his target to break the record with us. He's just paused it for the time being!

[Midfield_General]

2 hours ago, HarvSFC said:

Similar to Clyne, Lallana, Lambert 🙁, Schneiderlin, Ings... And many others in that the grass isn't always greener away from Southampton apart from a bigger bank balance. Schneiderlin, Ings and Lambert pretty much finished their careers as a top level player with their moves.

Agree with the others but not sure Lallana fits on that list. When he was fit he was a regular in the Liverpool squad that came runner-up in the Europa League and Champion's League, and won the Premier League, Club World Cup and Champion's League. 

Edited May 7 by Midfield_General

[Saint_clark]

5 hours ago, Fabrice29 said:

Trying to better himself at the age of 28. Such a dick. 

 

1 hour ago, Bad Wolf said:

Why would he?? West Ham had just won a trophy, they're in Europe. If he'd stayed with us he'd need his head looking at.

Look at the comments he's had made about him during bad periods of form. He owed us nothing.

Priorities all wrong. Would have been a club legend for the rest of his life had he stayed. Instead he'll be a player not really regarded as much by anyone. 

[S-Clarke]

1 minute ago, Saint_clark said:

 

Priorities all wrong. Would have been a club legend for the rest of his life had he stayed. Instead he'll be a player not really regarded as much by anyone. 

Speak for yourself, but I'll always remember JWP as a proper Southampton stalwart. He'll always be fondly remembered by me and I hope to see him return one day to see his career out.

He was on 100k a week, there was probably a relegation clause to reduce that slightly, but there's no way we could have sustained JWP in the Championship from a financial pov wage cut or no wage cut, and he deserved an opportunity to get back competing in Europe which WHU were going to give him.

I've got nothing against him and fully understood the move from a club and player pov.

[Fabrice29]

52 minutes ago, Saint_clark said:

 

Priorities all wrong. Would have been a club legend for the rest of his life had he stayed. Instead he'll be a player not really regarded as much by anyone. 

He'd just captained a club who got relegated, nobody is becoming a club legend from that squad. The idea he should be prioritising becoming a club legend is genuinely insane, who do you think we are ffs?   Footballers want to compete as high as they can and be successful, not become club legends for not leaving a club in the Championship. 

[Golac's Cunning Stunts]

1 hour ago, Midfield_General said:

Agree with the others but not sure Lallana fits on that list. When he was fit he was a regular in the Liverpool squad that came runner-up in the Europa League and Champion's League, and won the Premier League, Club World Cup and Champion's League. 

As much as i dislike banana, I have to agree.