James Ward-Prowse

[S-Clarke]

I can't see any scenario in which he stays if we go down. The guy is on 100k p/w for starters, he's the player with the highest sale value we have - we're going to need that income to sort ourselves out for the Championship, so I think JWP will see it as a way to repay us by enabling us to get a decent $$$ for him.

There is no way this guy plays in the NPC. He could rock up at any of the top 10 clubs.

It feels like the right time for a clean break and a fresh look at the on-field captaincy as well. Don't get me wrong, JWP has been amazing for us over the last few years, one of our only shining lights really, but his on field leadership will always leave me wanting more. Never seeing any galvanising from him when things go bad.

Edited 28 February, 2023 by S-Clarke

[The Cat]

No way he stays. Someone will offer a decent wedge to us and him and he'll be off.

Will be weird watching us play without him as he's been almost ever present in the recent past and played in a huge percentage of games since we got promoted back to the top flight.

[CB Fry]

I think the people looking at the money in this scenario will be SR more than JWP.

Even if JWP was minded to stay for one season to help us back up, he's too much of a valuable asset to hold on to once some decent bids come in.

I dont think JWP will be forced out but once (say) Tottenham come in with fifty mil or whatever, SR will take it and JWP will take on the challenge.

[Guest]

4 minutes ago, CB Fry said:

I think the people looking at the money in this scenario will be SR more than JWP.

Even if JWP was minded to stay for one season to help us back up, he's too much of a valuable asset to hold on to once some decent bids come in.

I dont think JWP will be forced out but once (say) Tottenham come in with fifty mil or whatever, SR will take it and JWP will take on the challenge.

This. He won't actively try to leave but SR being SR, a business (shrewd businessman, allegedly) will take whatever money they can get.

I don't think he will leave though, like I say, just a feeling.

There's a lot of deadwood around the club that will free up wages, I mean I imagine Armstrong, Elyounoussi etc are on a shit ton of money. I imagine they'll try and clear those players first. Those with expiring contracts, those with a year left, and those that are just squad players and will never be more than that (James Bree).

[Weston Super Saint]

9 hours ago, CB Fry said:

I think the people looking at the money in this scenario will be SR more than JWP.

Even if JWP was minded to stay for one season to help us back up, he's too much of a valuable asset to hold on to once some decent bids come in.

I dont think JWP will be forced out but once (say) Tottenham come in with fifty mil or whatever, SR will take it and JWP will take on the challenge.

We'll haggle.  We'll lose the haggle battle.  He will have to stay.

[Dark Munster]

By my count that's 0-4 for last 4 free kicks in JWP territory. I wonder if being one away from equalling Beckham's record is on his mind?

Hopefully his excellent penalty today will relax him to bury his next free kick.

[The Cat]

5 hours ago, Dark Munster said:

By my count that's 0-4 for last 4 free kicks in JWP territory. I wonder if being one away from equalling Beckham's record is on his mind?

Hopefully his excellent penalty today will relax him to bury his next free kick.

I thought he was going to go over the wall and dip it low towards the bottom left corner yesterday. Surprised he tried to hit top right corner as Forster was covering that side.

I'm sure I read his conversion rate from free kicks is around 12% which is insanely good but goes to show that not scoring from the last 4 isn't at all unusual.

His penalty yesterday was absolutely perfect. 

[Wade Garrett]

Thought he was excellent yesterday.

[miserableoldgit]

I really liked the fact that he called the players over for a "huddle" when the third Spuds goal went in. Not sure that I have ever seen that before.....

 

[Whitey Grandad]

4 minutes ago, miserableoldgit said:

I really liked the fact that he called the players over for a "huddle" when the third Spuds goal went in. Not sure that I have ever seen that before.....

 

That was remarkable and seemed to have the right effect. I wonder what was said?

[John Boy Saint]

1 hour ago, The Cat said:

I thought he was going to go over the wall and dip it low towards the bottom left corner yesterday. Surprised he tried to hit top right corner as Forster was covering that side.

I'm sure I read his conversion rate from free kicks is around 12% which is insanely good but goes to show that not scoring from the last 4 isn't at all unusual.

His penalty yesterday was absolutely perfect. 

I think Simon Hooper on the whistle interfered with his set up process as Kane and his chums were shithousing at the ball positioning - you could see James getting pissed off, then added to this the wall to a man was stood in front of the magic spray line 

[Whitey Grandad]

2 minutes ago, John Boy Saint said:

I think Simon Hooper on the whistle interfered with his set up process as Kane and his chums were shithousing at the ball positioning - you could see James getting pissed off, then added to this the wall to a man was stood in front of the magic spray line 

I couldn’t see that line from my position in the Kingsland. Is this a new tactic? Delay the kick so long that the line disappears and then you can stand in front of it.

[Saint Billy]

Next we'll see a ref running about with a fire extinguisher to spray the lines just to make sure they don't dissappear. 

[John Boy Saint]

1 hour ago, Whitey Grandad said:

I couldn’t see that line from my position in the Kingsland. Is this a new tactic? Delay the kick so long that the line disappears and then you can stand in front of it.

Line was still there clear as day behind all their heels - trouble was the only player of ours who is always up for getting in the refs ear was on his way to hospital 

[Whitey Grandad]

21 minutes ago, John Boy Saint said:

Line was still there clear as day behind all their heels - trouble was the only player of ours who is always up for getting in the refs ear was on his way to hospital 

Ah, ok. Maybe I couldn’t see it because their players were standing in the way.

[Guest]

Cristiano Ronaldo smashed a free kick through the wall yesterday and Sky keep raving about him like he’s done it every week, despite not doing it for years and the fact that the fucking wall lept apart. 😂

On a side note anyone else noticed Skys media love in for Al Nassr since his transfer? 
 

Back to JWP, England's loss is our gain. Still baffles me how he doesn’t get in against the likes of Gallagher and Phillips who seemingly don’t play for their clubs.

[Mr Nimbus]

He was excellent Saturday I thought. On the FK's I think the ones at United were on the right side of the box (keepers left)

From memory his goals on that side are much lower. The one on Saturday is what I would consider "ideal" for him.

[LiberalCommunist]

Get Involved

#bbcfootball, via WhatsApp on 03301 231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply)

Paul: I wish Liverpool would sign Ward-Prowse. For his corners if nothing else.

 

LOL must be a chelsea fan.........

[gio1saints]

My only ambition from the remaining games we have left is that JWP equals- and then breaks- the Beckham record for direct free kick goals. Whilst a Saints player. 
JWP beating the record next season in any other shirt is still a great achievement and I’d be proud. But it’s not the same. James knows it, we all do, please do it for the long term Saints fans who deserve a tiny little bit of happiness from this awful season…

[Guest]

I still don’t think he’ll leave, regardless of what division we’re in.

Everyone else will be sacrificed first before Prowsy.

[Maggie May]

2 hours ago, gio1saints said:

My only ambition from the remaining games we have left is that JWP equals- and then breaks- the Beckham record for direct free kick goals. Whilst a Saints player. 
JWP beating the record next season in any other shirt is still a great achievement and I’d be proud. But it’s not the same. James knows it, we all do, please do it for the long term Saints fans who deserve a tiny little bit of happiness from this awful season…

He’ll probably do it when we are mathematically relegated and the pressure is off everyone. 

[harvey]

Tbh I look forward to his departure, apart from his free kicks I think he's massively overrated and one of the reasons where we are where we are.

[Saint Garrett]

Absolutely Superb tonight. 

[Saint_clark]

Thought he was brilliant tonight. If the ref had been less biased we'd have had a freekick on the edge of the box and we might be talking about him equalling Beckham's record. 

His freekick ability is a double edged sword for him personally as if he isn't scoring them he gets written off as having played badly.

[harvey]

Just now, Saint Garrett said:

Absolutely Superb tonight. 

I disagree, not a captain or leader on the pitch at all.

[Dusic]

Lol.

The gap between our best players (JWP, Lavia, KWP, ABK) and our worst (Armstrong, Moi, Perraud) tonight was stark. I can't really recall a Saints team where this was the case as much as in the current team. I mean Lavia to Diallo is like comparing Ings to Lee Barnard.

JWP has carried this team for 18 months and deserves better.

 

Edited 21 April, 2023 by Dusic

[harvey]

2 minutes ago, Saint_clark said:

Thought he was brilliant tonight. If the ref had been less biased we'd have had a freekick on the edge of the box and we might be talking about him equalling Beckham's record. 

His freekick ability is a double edged sword for him personally as if he isn't scoring them he gets written off as having played badly.

I can never understand why we don't utilise his abilities like rugby...get the ball in to areas to draw fouls?

[harvey]

1 minute ago, Dusic said:

Lol.

The gap between our best players (JWP, Lavia, KWP, ABK) and our worst (Armstrong, Moi, Perraud) tonight was stark.

JWP has carried this team for 18 months and deserves better.

 

A matter of opinions.

[bugenhagen]

3 minutes ago, harvey said:

I can never understand why we don't utilise his abilities like rugby...get the ball in to areas to draw fouls?

Nah, we are way smarter than that. Our statistics and analyses shows that...

[Nemi]

He barely gave the ball away because every pass he did was back to the CBs

[The Kraken]

35 minutes ago, Saint Garrett said:

Absolutely Superb tonight. 

I thought so too, but I don’t think it’s the majority opinion.  BBC does a “rate the players” features every game and JWP got the lowest rating of any Saints player.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/65271717

Personally I think we’re quite lucky to have him and we’ll struggle to replace him.

[Saint Garrett]

1 minute ago, The Kraken said:

I thought so too, but I don’t think it’s the majority opinion.  BBC does a “rate the players” features every game and JWP got the lowest rating of any Saints player.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/65271717

Personally I think we’re quite lucky to have him and we’ll struggle to replace him.

I’ve seen that before, I’m not sure I’ve ever understood the point in it as it’s bollocks. Better off looking at whoscored who at least rate players of statistical analysis. 
 

 

[austsaint]

40 minutes ago, Saint_clark said:

Thought he was brilliant tonight. If the ref had been less biased we'd have had a freekick on the edge of the box and we might be talking about him equalling Beckham's record. 

His freekick ability is a double edged sword for him personally as if he isn't scoring them he gets written off as having played badly.

Not really a double edged sword.   I think it's more he has a world class free kick technique but in open play he's a hard working, average midfielder.    It will be interesting to see what sort of fee the Club gets for him in the Summer.    

[Turkish]

36 minutes ago, The Kraken said:

I thought so too, but I don’t think it’s the majority opinion.  BBC does a “rate the players” features every game and JWP got the lowest rating of any Saints player.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/65271717

Personally I think we’re quite lucky to have him and we’ll struggle to replace him.

Said the same on the other thread. I thought he was excellent 

[harvey]

32 minutes ago, Turkish said:

Said the same on the other thread. I thought he was excellent 

I disagree, but it's all a matter of opinions.

[Sir Ralph]

Other than free kicks can someone explain what he offers

[Master Bates]

2 hours ago, harvey said:

I disagree, not a captain or leader on the pitch at all.

I only hit like because my OCD interfered and wanted to see all 4 emojis. I personally think you're nuts.

[Master Bates]

2 hours ago, Saint Garrett said:

I’ve seen that before, I’m not sure I’ve ever understood the point in it as it’s bollocks. Better off looking at whoscored who at least rate players of statistical analysis. 
 

 

I agree.

 

No matter what, I always give all our players and subs a 10, whilst giving all the players on the other team a 1.

[egg]

9 hours ago, Dusic said:

JWP has carried this team for 18 months and deserves better.

 

Apparently JWP has been told that he can go this summer. 

I've historically not been his biggest fan, but I agree with your point that he's carried us. He's been superb.  

[Mosin]

20 minutes ago, egg said:

Apparently JWP has been told that he can go this summer. 

I've historically not been his biggest fan, but I agree with your point that he's carried us. He's been superb.  

I hope he beats Becks record before he moves....

[Saint86]

He rallied the team numerous times on the pitch yesterday, he was everywhere in midfield, and he made numerous goal saving tackles or blocks... 2 of which were certain goals prevented... 

Queue fans wishing for him to leave... Hard to make it up. 

Edited 23 April, 2023 by Saint86

[austsaint]

1 minute ago, Saint86 said:

He rallied the team numerous times on the pitch yesterday, be was everywhere in midfield, and he made numerous goal saving tackles or blocks... 2 of which were certain goals prevented... 

Queue fans wishing for him to leave... Hard to make it up. 

I don't think fans want him to leave - but we're going to be in the Championship next season.   Can you see JWP wanting to stay around for that at 28 or 29 years of age?    The fee we get for him is the interesting part.

[SotonianWill]

2 minutes ago, Saint86 said:

He rallied the team numerous times on the pitch yesterday, be was everywhere in midfield, and he made numerous goal saving tackles or blocks... 2 of which were certain goals prevented... 

Queue fans wishing for him to leave... Hard to make it up. 

I thought he played quite well. However if he is to stay captain (or stay at all) we should bring in a more senior experienced player alongside him who is a known leader.

We also need a tough tackling lower league player to replace lavia / JWP next season so maybe someone in that position. Someone who no one wants to get near in case he breaks their legs would be ideal. 

[jasonbenali]

There’s this guy Romeu playing in Spain who would be ideal

[Nemi]

He’s been captain of a team who consistently collapses and bottles it when we’re leading and it basically sums up his style of play.

No control, no composure on the ball, always panics under pressure, never takes a risk, doesn’t like showing for the ball in tight spaces, always vacates the midfield in possession to drop into the back line. He’s a mentally weak player and despite his technical ability he’ll never be a great midfielder because unlike the best, he has no idea how to control a game and dictate our tempo.

And just because he rallies the players or shouts a bit after conceding it doesn’t really do us much good.

[Charlie Wayman]

JWP certainly divides opinion. My reading of the lad is that he is a very average footballer with a special talent at free kicks. That in itself doesn't make him a good footballer. He is more consistent now than when he broke in to the first team as a regular but not by that much, perhaps a little braver now but not by much and risk averse he certainly is while his leadership qualities leave much to be desired. 

I would like to see him leave, there's not much more he can do here and it is even doubtful we'd miss him at all. I'd love to see a Saints team that does not feel compelled to always recycle the ball to him.

[Scottie]

Consistently one of our best players over the last few seasons. Given the size of our club and our funding it’s highly unlikely we will get better regardless of what league we are in.

[ErwinK1961]

14 hours ago, Dusic said:

Lol.

The gap between our best players (JWP, Lavia, KWP, ABK) and our worst (Armstrong, Moi, Perraud) tonight was stark. I can't really recall a Saints team where this was the case as much as in the current team. I mean Lavia to Diallo is like comparing Ings to Lee Barnard.

JWP has carried this team for 18 months and deserves better.

 

I will miss him when he goes and he’s been decent, but that’s hardly an accolade when it’s probably been our worst 18 months ever in the Prem.

[Tamesaint]

This thread is a bit fishy. Anyone else smell fish??            

[skintsaint]

6 hours ago, jasonbenali said:

There’s this guy Romeu playing in Spain who would be ideal

Shame he requested to move back to Spain and one last decent contract.