James Ward-Prowse

[tunit]

Most obvious candidate for skipper should JWP leave is Bednarek for me (if he stays). Which is absolutely mental considering how myself and others viewed him just 3 months ago.

[Weston Super Saint]

Just now, tunit said:

Most obvious candidate for skipper should JWP leave is Bednarek for me (if he stays). Which is absolutely mental considering how myself and others viewed him just 3 months ago.

Surely this is a joke?

Every single time something goes wrong (whether it's his fault or not), he throws his hands in the air and looks around for someone to blame.  Not exactly the greatest leadership trait!

[Hodgey]

15 minutes ago, S-Clarke said:

My issue with JWP's statement, outside the generic media coached nature of it, was the acceptance that standards dropped, we haven't done it right since the first day of pre-season etc. Well James, you're the captain, why the fuck have you not be tearing shit up to raise those standards? As club captain he sets the standards for others to follow, if they're not following those then he needs to call them out. But he won't as he's too meek, he sums up our entire team and fan base.

I can't criticise him for the effort he's given us over the years, the free kicks and such, but as a leader - in my opinion - he has been our worst ever PL captain and has been captain of our WORST ever team (going by defeats in a league season). 

I don't have much time for him saying standards dropped after the event, where the fuck was he in September and October? Where the fuck was he galvanising the group when we were 3-1 up against Arsenal on 88 mins? Where was he against Wolves when we were 1-0 up, against 10 min, on 77 mins? Where was he when we lost 9-0 - not once, but twice.

And where the fuck was he yesterday?

This is fair question, but how do you know ? How do you know what he has or hasn’t done to try and raise standards ? Who in our squad would you have replaced him with as captain to do these things you talk of ?, do you honestly believe if we had a different captain we would have performed any better ? Again who ? I’m looking at the other 10 players who have played every week - just because they are not captain doesn’t mean they can’t call others out etc, why was it just JWPs job ?.

He cannot be the manager, coach, psychologist. Motivator, creator, organiser, Captain, mentor etc. I agree JWP has failed miserably if his job is to do all these things for the 30 odd useless lumps we have.

Is he really any worse than Hoijberg was as captain ? And this is what is making me angry - his legacy to some is the worst captain playing in the worst team in our PL history who could only play the ball backwards and sideways. Never mind the context, never mind all the fantastic moments he provided, never mind the 400 appearances where he gave it his all, never mind the c 50 goals scored, never mind all the chances created, never mind all the stats which put him as one of the most effective midfielders in the top flight, never mind the fact he pretty much single handedly kept us up last year.

Like I say - emotions are raw, but does JWP really deserve all this criticism in the cold light of day ?.

 

 

 

 

[Verbal Kint]

13 minutes ago, tunit said:

Most obvious candidate for skipper should JWP leave is Bednarek for me (if he stays). Which is absolutely mental considering how myself and others viewed him just 3 months ago.

He should be one of the first out the door this summer. The thought of him being made captain makes me want to vomit.

Awful, awful player

Edited 14 May, 2023 by Verbal Kint

[tunit]

10 minutes ago, Weston Super Saint said:

Surely this is a joke?

Every single time something goes wrong (whether it's his fault or not), he throws his hands in the air and looks around for someone to blame.  Not exactly the greatest leadership trait!

So people don't think JWP isn't a good captain because he doesn't show passion enough and he isn't a loud enough leader. But Bednarek is also not good for captain because he shows passion, is loud and is visibly frustrated when something goes wrong. Got it.

[Weston Super Saint]

1 hour ago, tunit said:

So people don't think JWP isn't a good captain because he doesn't show passion enough and he isn't a loud enough leader. But Bednarek is also not good for captain because he shows passion, is loud and is visibly frustrated when something goes wrong. Got it.

Not sure you have 'got it' to be fair.  Leaders don't instantly look to apportion blame when something goes wrong.  That's not 'passion' that's 'passing the buck'.

[Appy]

1 hour ago, tunit said:

Most obvious candidate for skipper should JWP leave is Bednarek for me (if he stays). Which is absolutely mental considering how myself and others viewed him just 3 months ago.

Are you fucking serious? 

[whelk]

3 hours ago, Chez said:

that is what a manager is there for. 

Take it you have never captained a side?

[david in sweden]

Prowsey... Like him or not, we had the privilege,( previously granted only to Man Utd. fans) of seeing so many excellent free-kicks from one player 

along with a number of well-taken penalties.     A player who really has given service to our club over a period of 20 years, he deserves better. 

It is also seemed somewhat ironic, that JWP played in our first Prem. game after promotion back in 2012, and will now leave after our last, before 

we return to the Championship.    We may not see his like again in the near future.  

Edited 15 May, 2023 by david in sweden

[skintsaint]

Will probably stay with us till the Jan transfer window. If we are struggling I think that's when he will jump ship.

[AlexLaw76]

2 hours ago, skintsaint said:

Will probably stay with us till the Jan transfer window. If we are struggling I think that's when he will jump ship.

You mad?

Edited 15 May, 2023 by AlexLaw76

[niceandfriendly]

On 14/05/2023 at 16:36, east-stand-nic said:

Alcaraz for captain. Great player, seems to want to stay, so this might seal the deal for him. Plus he is South American and they are very passionate.

Next season, build the team around him.

Has he indicated somewhere that he’d like to stay? I haven’t seen that but would like to. Cheers

[S-Clarke]

3 minutes ago, niceandfriendly said:

Has he indicated somewhere that he’d like to stay? I haven’t seen that but would like to. Cheers

Yeah, came out a few weeks ago. He's settled here after uprooting in January and isn't looking to move this summer.

[niceandfriendly]

He’ll be very handy in the Championship that’s for sure. Good lad

[Dusic]

1 minute ago, S-Clarke said:

Yeah, came out a few weeks ago. He's settled here after uprooting in January and isn't looking to move this summer.

Not sure it was anywhere near that certain. Seemed more of a case of him recognising that moving again may not be ideal so he may not push to leave like some will.

If he were to get an offer from a PL side on PL wages he is hardly going to say no, same as all the squad.

[thornhill_saints]

1 hour ago, niceandfriendly said:

He’ll be very handy in the Championship that’s for sure. Good lad

Just not the fecking Captain 

[bangkoksaint]

Maybe I’m way off the mark with this. I think sentiment needs to be taken out of all these who stays and who goes guesses. The bottom line is that if the club believe it’s for the best for them (the club not the player) and it makes financial sense, then they’ll go. We may wish to keep Elly, Walcott, Diallo, AA and AMN etc but if the big boys come in then they’ll go 😉

[ErwinK1961]

4 hours ago, Dusic said:

Not sure it was anywhere near that certain. Seemed more of a case of him recognising that moving again may not be ideal so he may not push to leave like some will.

If he were to get an offer from a PL side on PL wages he is hardly going to say no, same as all the squad.

He may get an offer, but we don’t have to accept it. Not every saleable asset gets sold by every relegated club - Joao Pedro, Sarr, Mitrovic, Berge etc. 

[The Kraken]

4 hours ago, S-Clarke said:

Yeah, came out a few weeks ago. He's settled here after uprooting in January and isn't looking to move this summer.

He’s a professional footballer. He basically doesn’t lift a finger in terms of moving house, his agency will sort it all out. He may not be looking to move but offers will come in, and having to move around England is going to be the very least of his troubles. I hope he stays but him being ‘settled’ is hardly any sort of factor.

[harvey]

So this afternoon, and I admit the game is lost.......in the last minute of extra time he passes back when we had the opportunity to go forwards. I really can't wait to see the back of this loser.

[aintforever]

He does pass sideways and backwards too much. It will be interesting to see what clubs come in for him.

[Saint Fan CaM]

1 minute ago, aintforever said:

He does pass sideways and backwards too much. It will be interesting to see what clubs come in for him.

To be honest I’m past caring - just want him and a few other players who dawdle along pretending to have passion to bugger off asap. 

[bangkoksaint]

Feel sorry for him. He’s been a victim of the awful tactics and coaching. Like a good soldier he’s followed orders, gone over the top and has been left taking the flak. Good leadership would have avoided this but likewise maybe if JWP has more backbone he may have ignored those orders and tried to change things during the games.

[harvey]

25 minutes ago, FarehamSaintJames said:

Fool.

I'd expect no less response from you.

[Jeremy Corbyn]

33 minutes ago, bangkoksaint said:

Feel sorry for him. He’s been a victim of the awful tactics and coaching. Like a good soldier he’s followed orders, gone over the top and has been left taking the flak. Good leadership would have avoided this but likewise maybe if JWP has more backbone he may have ignored those orders and tried to change things during the games.

I agree. Sometimes I get frustrated with his "limitations", but then I see enough to know he's an excellent footballer being mis-managed. Could do well at a mid-table club or abroad.

[qwertyell]

41 minutes ago, aintforever said:

He does pass sideways and backwards too much. It will be interesting to see what clubs come in for him.

The modern midfielder has to be press resistant, and Ward-Prowse just isn't. He doesn't have any pace and can't dribble, so when receiving the ball under any amount of pressure all he can really do is play the way he's facing - which is usually backwards, as he's never on the half turn. 

Any attempt to turn and wriggle away from challenges usually results in him losing the ball. 

He's not alone: former partner in crime Hojbjerg has been driving Spurs fans nuts with his backwards and sideways passing, as he's another that just can't move the ball progressively under stress. 

These are a still good players, but probably too limited for sides that aspire to be among the best.

I'd be very surprised if Prowse moved to a top 6-8 side. Even more so if he's successful there. 

But good luck to him regardless. He's done his absolute best for us, and you can't ask for much more than that.

[Nemi]

11 minutes ago, qwertyell said:

The modern midfielder has to be press resistant, and Ward-Prowse just isn't. He doesn't have any pace and can't dribble, so when receiving the ball under any amount of pressure all he can really do is play the way he's facing - which is usually backwards, as he's never on the half turn. 

Any attempt to turn and wriggle away from challenges usually results in him losing the ball. 

He's not alone: former partner in crime Hojbjerg has been driving Spurs fans nuts with his backwards and sideways passing, as he's another that just can't move the ball progressively under stress. 

These are a still good players, but probably too limited for sides that aspire to be among the best.

I'd be very surprised if Prowse moved to a top 6-8 side. Even more so if he's successful there. 

But good luck to him regardless. He's done his absolute best for us, and you can't ask for much more than that.

Nail on the head. It’s all well and good he gets a goal or assist from a set-piece (though not enough from open play for me) but if he can’t handle what is such an essential part of the game now, these one per cent specials moment don’t make up for the other 99 per cent which are subpar for the PL. It really does become a drag on the team and unfortunately it has showed the past few seasons.

Equally the other players have been a drag on him, I will admit, but I personally saw these problems even during the pandemic when we were doing well.

[Mosin]

4 hours ago, harvey said:

So this afternoon, and I admit the game is lost.......in the last minute of extra time he passes back when we had the opportunity to go forwards. I really can't wait to see the back of this loser.

3-1 down and you want to go forward? for the last 60 secs to do what exactly? you hoping he sets up a goal ( to attackers who cant finish ), and hope Brighton quickly take kick off and another team member sets us up for a 3rd and 4th? Was JWP and Theo not the only two players on the pitch to even create any chances in the first place? Alcaraz missed a sitter, Aribo was invisible, like Ely was too, Lavia was not at his normal standard, Theo was Theo, Least he got the ball in the net, shame it was offside mind.

If every mid / forward / striker we have got hit just half of JWP's numbers, we wouldnt even be in the situation we are in.

Next Saints player is 91st, so only two Saints players top 100, in fact only two saints players in the top 130

Passes backwards and sideways so much he still sits in the top 6 of most chances created in the league ( Was he not top 6 end of last season too? ) how he manages to create so many chances when he only passes backwards and sideways ill never know......

Cue the " but he takes all the free kicks and corners", I cant remeber the last time KDB didnt take one, or Bruno, Or Maddison, Or Trent,or Trippier, or Mount, its also fair to say, these all take far more than him too.





 

Edited 21 May, 2023 by Mosin

[Guest]

He is still an exceptionally good player. He has been let down by poor management and poor teammates.

He’s had a crap season like everyone else in our squad. But he is not the root cause of any of our problems this season.

[Lee On Solent Saint]

Based on no particular theory or knowledge, I think he is going to stay, 

[Guest]

1 minute ago, Lee On Solent Saint said:

Based on no particular theory or knowledge, I think he is going to stay, 

Agreed.

I said the same this time last year, and was laughed at for it. 😂

Honestly, I still think he’ll stay. I don’t think he’ll leave.

If he does he’d end up at a West Ham, no bigger than that. 

[Saintscummer]

16 minutes ago, Mosin said:

3-1 down and you want to go forward? for the last 60 secs to do what exactly? you hoping he sets up a goal ( to attackers who cant finish ), and hope Brighton quickly take kick off and another team member sets us up for a 3rd and 4th? Was JWP and Theo not the only two players on the pitch to even create any chances in the first place? Alcaraz missed a sitter, Aribo was invisible, like Ely was too, Lavia was not at his normal standard, Theo was Theo, Least he got the ball in the net, shame it was offside mind.

If every mid / forward / striker we have got hit just half of JWP's numbers, we wouldnt even be in the situation we are in.

Next Saints player is 91st, so only two Saints players top 100, in fact only two saints players in the top 130

Passes backwards and sideways so much he still sits in the top 6 of most chances created in the league ( Was he not top 6 end of last season too? ) how he manages to create so many chances when he only passes backwards and sideways ill never know......

Cue the " but he takes all the free kicks and corners", I cant remeber the last time KDB didnt take one, or Bruno, Or Maddison, Or Trent,or Trippier, or Mount, its also fair to say, these all take far more than him too.





 

Him and Eriksen are the top two goal creators from set pieces in the last 10 years in the premiership. 
 

He looks to me like he has just been numbed by three managers talking shite to him this year. Is he holding, attacking or ball playing ??? Poor guy looks confused. He rarely makes mistakes, sets up chances and scores. I don’t think he should be captain but who else ??
 

 

[Saint_clark]

1 hour ago, Lee On Solent Saint said:

Based on no particular theory or knowledge, I think he is going to stay, 

I agree. Hopefully whoever we bring in will get him playing further forward again.

[harvey]

1 hour ago, Mosin said:

3-1 down and you want to go forward? for the last 60 secs to do what exactly? you hoping he sets up a goal ( to attackers who cant finish ), and hope Brighton quickly take kick off and another team member sets us up for a 3rd and 4th? Was JWP and Theo not the only two players on the pitch to even create any chances in the first place? Alcaraz missed a sitter, Aribo was invisible, like Ely was too, Lavia was not at his normal standard, Theo was Theo, Least he got the ball in the net, shame it was offside mind.

If every mid / forward / striker we have got hit just half of JWP's numbers, we wouldnt even be in the situation we are in.

Next Saints player is 91st, so only two Saints players top 100, in fact only two saints players in the top 130

Passes backwards and sideways so much he still sits in the top 6 of most chances created in the league ( Was he not top 6 end of last season too? ) how he manages to create so many chances when he only passes backwards and sideways ill never know......

Cue the " but he takes all the free kicks and corners", I cant remeber the last time KDB didnt take one, or Bruno, Or Maddison, Or Trent,or Trippier, or Mount, its also fair to say, these all take far more than him too.

Forward?, yes you moron to show some fucking spirit, not to to just roll over and die......is that too much to ask?

I don't care less how many sideways/backpasses he makes, they're pointless and we get nowhere.



 

 

[SaveloyMush]

2 hours ago, Mosin said:

3-1 down and you want to go forward? for the last 60 secs to do what exactly? you hoping he sets up a goal ( to attackers who cant finish ), and hope Brighton quickly take kick off and another team member sets us up for a 3rd and 4th? Was JWP and Theo not the only two players on the pitch to even create any chances in the first place? Alcaraz missed a sitter, Aribo was invisible, like Ely was too, Lavia was not at his normal standard, Theo was Theo, Least he got the ball in the net, shame it was offside mind.

If every mid / forward / striker we have got hit just half of JWP's numbers, we wouldnt even be in the situation we are in.

Next Saints player is 91st, so only two Saints players top 100, in fact only two saints players in the top 130

Passes backwards and sideways so much he still sits in the top 6 of most chances created in the league ( Was he not top 6 end of last season too? ) how he manages to create so many chances when he only passes backwards and sideways ill never know......

Cue the " but he takes all the free kicks and corners", I cant remeber the last time KDB didnt take one, or Bruno, Or Maddison, Or Trent,or Trippier, or Mount, its also fair to say, these all take far more than him too.





 

He's mediocre, Mr. WP. 

Accept it.

[SaveloyMush]

1 hour ago, Lee On Solent Saint said:

Based on no particular theory or knowledge, I think he is going to stay, 

I truly hope you are wrong.

[harvey]

2 hours ago, Lee On Solent Saint said:

Based on no particular theory or knowledge, I think he is going to stay, 

I hope not.

[Lighthouse]

13 minutes ago, SaveloyMush said:

I truly hope you are wrong.

 

6 minutes ago, harvey said:

I hope not.

If you think we’re getting anyone in this summer who’s anywhere near as good as JWP, you’re in for a very nasty shock.

[Mosin]

22 minutes ago, harvey said:

 

And as i already said, to what purpose? If it didnt work in the first 100 mins of football, and the only time you do score is when you put the ball on a platter 3 yards from goal, and you have on your own created more than half of all your teams chancs to score, in this game, and throughout the season, having watched just under 80 chances be wasted, for what purpose do you want him to pass it forward for? so he can chase after it again to win it back for the 5000000000000th time this season? ( you know because not one Saints player covers the ground JWP does )  or fish it out his own net? get in a last ditch block? tell every body what to do for the 10000000000000000000000000000th time?

PS. JWP has made twice the progressive passes than his nearest team mate, has made nearly half of all our teams chances to score, so many he sits comfy in the top 6 most creative players in the LEAGUE, while all our players apart from Che are out side the top 130.....

 

[harvey]

6 hours ago, Lighthouse said:

 

If you think we’re getting anyone in this summer who’s anywhere near as good as JWP, you’re in for a very nasty shock.

Someone with a different mindset would be an improvement.

[AlexLaw76]

4 minutes ago, harvey said:

Someone with a different mindset would be an improvement.

what is wrong with his mindset?

[harvey]

6 hours ago, Mosin said:

And as i already said, to what purpose? If it didnt work in the first 100 mins of football, and the only time you do score is when you put the ball on a platter 3 yards from goal, and you have on your own created more than half of all your teams chancs to score, in this game, and throughout the season, having watched just under 80 chances be wasted, for what purpose do you want him to pass it forward for? so he can chase after it again to win it back for the 5000000000000th time this season? ( you know because not one Saints player covers the ground JWP does )  or fish it out his own net? get in a last ditch block? tell every body what to do for the 10000000000000000000000000000th time?

PS. JWP has made twice the progressive passes than his nearest team mate, has made nearly half of all our teams chances to score, so many he sits comfy in the top 6 most creative players in the LEAGUE, while all our players apart from Che are out side the top 130.....

 

Hey thanks for the reply, just rather frustrated with our style of play and do think JWP could be more progressive.... apologies for the name calling also.

[SotonianWill]

11 hours ago, AlexLaw76 said:

what is wrong with his mindset?

Mr negative, we won’t get a similar player ability wise however we’ll hopefully get 1) a greater leader (not hard) 2) someone who is positive on the ball. 

In the stands vs fulham it actually became a bit of a joke with ward-prowse passing backwards. people kept calling it before it happened and placing fake bets, and guess what 9/10 he passed backwards. he’s boring, it achieves nothing. 

He was probably really good against brighton as I didn’t watch that game. 

Edited 22 May, 2023 by SotonianWill

[Lighthouse]

3 hours ago, harvey said:

Someone with a different mindset would be an improvement.

We know nothing of his mindset. Collectively this team is awful; the players are substandard and the tactics are hopeless. Passing it sideways and backwards is simply a sign of how poor all the options are around him and how ineffective we are at mounting an incisive attack.

[AlexLaw76]

2 hours ago, SotonianWill said:

Mr negative, we won’t get a similar player ability wise however we’ll hopefully get 1) a greater leader (not hard) 2) someone who is positive on the ball. 

In the stands vs fulham it actually became a bit of a joke with ward-prowse passing backwards. people kept calling it before it happened and placing fake bets, and guess what 9/10 he passed backwards. he’s boring, it achieves nothing. 

He was probably really good against brighton as I didn’t watch that game. 

how is he Mr Negative?

[pimpin4rizeal]

I don’t think playing in a centre midfield 2 really suits jwp tbh I think this is a huge huge part of the problem where we look so slow and ponderous and just end up playing negative slow back passes until we lose the ball .. we don’t have a dynamic midfielder to get us up the pitch so it ends up like this ..

on the other hand in 433 I think having that extra body in the centre would give us more options and space on the ball and would have suited us much better .. jones playing jwp more as a acm was also a experiment that could have worked .. but this crap 442 we have been using just really gives so many problems with the personel we we using with it 

[Guest]

I mean if he does have a “negative mindset” now I’m not surprised. 

I would if I had to play with any of those teammates for the past nine months. I’d be pissed right off.

[Lord Duckhunter]

He’s bang average, which is why he’s one of our better players. 

[Dman]

12 minutes ago, Lord Duckhunter said:

He’s bang average, which is why he’s one of our better players. 

Agreed - I don't see him going anywhere other than a West Ham / Villa type (maybe Brighton). He's a bulk standard top 10 player at best. Up until this season, we were his level, he was our level. I can't see him ending his career with a ton of medals wherever he goes. 

it'll be sad from a sentimental point of view and he is one of the limited ones who care, but I wouldn't be too arsed if he goes. Free kicks aside (who everyone has now cottoned onto the fact its better to let us shoot then give away a free kick), he's not a match winner and doesn't dictate games. 

Do we miss him when he's not there? Of course, that's because anyone coming in to fill his spot is fucking useless. could we replace him or more so what he offers (again free kicks aside).. imo easily.

We will of course miss his free kick ability. That would get you 10 goals in the championship. 

 

[SotonianWill]

1 hour ago, FarehamSaintJames said:

I mean if he does have a “negative mindset” now I’m not surprised. 

I would if I had to play with any of those teammates for the past nine months. I’d be pissed right off.

well yes, but you still expect him to do something. anything. he says low standards were apparent in pre season, and so it was obvious we’d struggle. Well why, as captain, did he not try to change it instead of us consistently being below standard (according to the athletic)? This is also the fault of coaching staff. 

On the pitch he can be a good player when played more attacking (under jones), but his negative mentality of passing for the majority of the season as with most our players doesn't make him stand out.

He runs around a lot, but that should be a bare minimum for a fit box to box midfielder. It may up his completed passes stat or his distance covered stats, which fans somehow use to show how good he is. they don’t show how good he is, it’s what he can do on the ball which shows him as a player with ability. Sadly this season he hasn’t fully utilised this ability due to poor players around him and a negative mindset. 

Edited 22 May, 2023 by SotonianWill