Summer Transfer Window 2026

[Lighthouse]

10 minutes ago, saintant said:

Well he certainly won't improve dressing room morale if he comes here on big money and fails to contribute as much as team mates on far less.

For a man who thought 34 year old, six months retired Romeu should go straight into our team and would be our fittest player, you’re sure going all in against JWP.

I don’t think we’re going to be signing anyone with a better CV than 400 PL apps. 11 England caps and still only 31 years old.

[Sergei Gotsmanov]

1 minute ago, Osvaldorama said:

He led us into relegation then fucked off as soon as he could 

 

Don’t think he’s the “leader” we need 

I don't think either of us are qualified to comment on that but I would my gut feel is that he was captain because he was a leader and that the club were relatively indifferent to him leaving but West Ham meant he could maintain his England aspirations and not have to move house....

I don't know of course!

[Suhari]

1 hour ago, hypochondriac said:

Although I'm not against jwp, if it turns out that our central midfield for this season is:

Downes 

Jander 

JWP 

Bragg 

Whilst I'd be very happy not to lose Jander I'd still feel a little underwhelmed and feel we lack some options there.

I reckon that is comfortably a top 8 set of MF options. But some way off top 2.

Not enough physicality, guile or goals. Unless we can get JWP firing from open play.

[hypochondriac]

8 minutes ago, Willo of Whiteley said:

Bit difficult when you’re injured.

That's the claim.

[hypochondriac]

7 minutes ago, Lighthouse said:

For a man who thought 34 year old, six months retired Romeu should go straight into our team and would be our fittest player, you’re sure going all in against JWP.

I don’t think we’re going to be signing anyone with a better CV than 400 PL apps. 11 England caps and still only 31 years old.

And someone we sold to the prem for 30 million just three years ago who we would pite tally be getting back for free on loan or for a small outlay.

[Dan Johnson]

The hate towards the signing of James Ward Prowse is absolutely unfounded and utterly ridiculous. I seriously think some people have short memories or skewed memories!!

People saying we need a front footed midfield, to contribute to attack not a “crab footballer”

In our relegation season he scored 9 goals from midfield, he was our top scorer.

the season before he scored 10, in the premier league

the season before that, 8, in the premier league

27 goals from midfield in 3 seasons in the premier league, for us!

the season after, at West Ham, another 7.

34 goals in 4 seasons from midfield. 

he scores goals from midfield, he works his socks off in midfield, he always covers the most distance of any player on the pitch and has more experience and love for this club than we could hope for. 
 

The kind of professional Ward Prowse is, I fully expect him to be able to maintain a standard of fitness until he’s well past his mid 30s.

he will be one of the best midfielders in the championship this season playing regularly and he will score goals!

 

Edited 1 hour ago by Dan Johnson

[saintant]

10 minutes ago, Lighthouse said:

For a man who thought 34 year old, six months retired Romeu should go straight into our team and would be our fittest player, you’re sure going all in against JWP.

I don’t think we’re going to be signing anyone with a better CV than 400 PL apps. 11 England caps and still only 31 years old.

We'll find out if and when he signs.

[Saint86]

3 minutes ago, Dan Johnson said:

The hate for James Ward Prowse is absolutely unfounded and utterly ridiculous. I seriously think some people have short memories or skewed memories!!

Agreed, almost feels like we're going to have fans wanting him to fail just at this point. Bit mad.

[saintant]

4 minutes ago, Dan Johnson said:

The hate for James Ward Prowse is absolutely unfounded and utterly ridiculous. I seriously think some people have short memories or skewed memories!!

People saying we need a front footed midfield, to contribute to attack not a “crab footballer”

In our relegation season he scored 9 goals from midfield, he was our top scorer.

the season before he scored 10, in the premier league

the season before that, 8, in the premier league

27 goals from midfield in 3 seasons in the premier league, for us!

the season after, at West Ham, another 7.

34 goals in 4 seasons from midfield. 

he scores goals from midfield, he works his socks off in midfield, he always covers the most distance of any player on the pitch and has more experience and love for this club than we could hope for. 
 

The kind of professional Ward Prowse is, I fully expect him to be able to maintain a standard of fitness until he’s well past his mid 30s.

he will be one of the best midfielders in the championship this season playing regularly and he will score goals!

 

Nobody hates him

 Who has said they hate JWP? Nobody.

[Osvaldorama]

5 minutes ago, Dan Johnson said:

The hate for James Ward Prowse is absolutely unfounded and utterly ridiculous. I seriously think some people have short memories or skewed memories!!

People saying we need a front footed midfield, to contribute to attack not a “crab footballer”

In our relegation season he scored 9 goals from midfield, he was our top scorer.

the season before he scored 10, in the premier league

the season before that, 8, in the premier league

27 goals from midfield in 3 seasons in the premier league, for us!

the season after, at West Ham, another 7.

34 goals in 4 seasons from midfield. 

he scores goals from midfield, he works his socks off in midfield, he always covers the most distance of any player on the pitch and has more experience and love for this club than we could hope for. 
 

The kind of professional Ward Prowse is, I fully expect him to be able to maintain a standard of fitness until he’s well past his mid 30s.

he will be one of the best midfielders in the championship this season playing regularly and he will score goals!

 

No one hates him. 
 

It would just be a poor signing. 
 

He was also relegated at Burnley… who didn’t take up an option to buy him for the championship. What does that tell you 

[saintant]

2 minutes ago, Saint86 said:

Agreed, almost feels like we're going to have fans wanting him to fail just at this point. Bit mad.

Nobody wants him to fail. If he comes and is a roaring success all Saints fans will be pleased including me.

[EBS1980]

So if THB goes and Schlotterbeck and another CB come in to become the starting CB pair, that’ll leave an opening for captain……

[Dan Johnson]

2 minutes ago, Osvaldorama said:

No one hates him. 

Turn of phrase, The hate towards the signing of James Ward Prowse, not hate towards him.

 

[saintant]

3 minutes ago, Dan Johnson said:

Turn of phrase, The hate towards the signing of James Ward Prowse, not hate towards him.

 

Hate is the wrong choice of word imo.

[Badger]

16 minutes ago, Osvaldorama said:

He led us into relegation then fucked off as soon as he could 

 

Don’t think he’s the “leader” we need 

Think that’s unfair. If you genuinely think that then your selective memory is misleading you. 
 

As I recall you couldn’t fault his effort on the pitch, despite whatever limits there were in his game and the shitshow around him. In our relegation season he scored twice at Everton, and I think scored the winner at Chelsea.

On the subject of Chelsea didn’t he receive a red card there a couple of seasons before ? Shows he can put his foot in occasionally and he isn’t always the angelic choir boy/‘son in law’ he’s made out to be. Put Zaha in his pocket and wound him up well.

I’m not convinced coming back is a great idea. Certainly think he could offer something but main issue is where is he in the pecking order? Jander (assuming he stays) is more of our creative spark in MF, Downes the one to harass the opposition and get things moving (but will inevitably have a couple of suspensions). We need another physical player in MF in my book.  Could JWP be an alternative toAzaz  on occasion? 

[Dan Johnson]

6 minutes ago, saintant said:

Hate is the wrong choice of word imo.

The overwhelming negative reaction, like I said, hate is a turn of phrase 

 

 

[austsaint]

2 minutes ago, Dan Johnson said:

Turn of phrase, The hate towards the signing of James Ward Prowse, not hate towards him.

 

It's not hate towards Prowsey or the signing of him.   He's not really the type of midfielder we need, if Jander stays we need the third CM to be more of a Charles, box-to-box, running mid, that's not JWP.   If he came back and competed with Bragg for the 4th spot and back up for Downes, Jander and the Charles replacement....bring it on.     Not sure we need his corners and free kicks either with Manning and Leo on board.    To be honest he wasn't much of a Captain either, adopting a passive on field demeanour.

Someone mentioned that we would never sign a midfielder with such a long, impressive CV.    While that's true, it's also about the past.  I'd rather a player with a bit of pedigree, still improving and with time on their side.

[Cuddles]

Maybe clutching at straws here, but under Still didn't we bemoan the lack of leaders? Romeu came in November time and things started to improve (OK Tonda might also be involved with that). Romeu leaves and we look short again. Perhaps his presence behind the scenes is now missing, something JWP could add? Or perhaps total bollocks lol

[Patches O Houlihan]

Part of the reason for the crab play was because we were not playing at the top of the division in PL. When crap attackers play against good defenders the passing lanes get closed off and so a forward pass isn't on.

He's a smart guy - just like Azaz. I reckon the two of them linking up down the spine could be very productive: CBs feed JWP. He feeds Azaz. Azaz puts it on a plate for Larin / Scienza / Mumba.

Do you remember the first game of the Championship season under Russell Martin? We beat Sheffield Wednesday 2:1 convincingly and they didn't get a touch in the last ten minutes. JWP ran the show that day.

Playing for a Saints team that deserved to be promoted last season, against Championship opposition is not the same as playing for Saints in the PL when we didn't have a pot to piss in (relatively) 

Walcott's game relied on pace - but it had gone when he returned. JWP's game has never relied on pace - he's about guile, intelligence and stamina. He has the potential to be a James Milner and play into his forties.

Plus when we get promoted to the PL I for one would love to see him take Beckham's record in a Saints shirt.

Edited 40 minutes ago by Patches O Houlihan

[Saint Pete]

I don't think JWP is the perfect profile of midfielder that we need to replace Charles, but neither do I think that he has nothing to offer us in the Championship. He is a quality player despite the prejudices of some on here and I don't think we can be so dismissive of quality players in the position we are in. Would be glad if he rejoined us on a loan deal. 

[sadoldgit]

44 minutes ago, Osvaldorama said:

No one hates him. 
 

It would just be a poor signing. 
 

He was also relegated at Burnley… who didn’t take up an option to buy him for the championship. What does that tell you 

That they couldn’t afford his wages?

[hypochondriac]

44 minutes ago, austsaint said:

It's not hate towards Prowsey or the signing of him.   He's not really the type of midfielder we need, if Jander stays we need the third CM to be more of a Charles, box-to-box, running mid, that's not JWP.   If he came back and competed with Bragg for the 4th spot and back up for Downes, Jander and the Charles replacement....bring it on.     Not sure we need his corners and free kicks either with Manning and Leo on board.    To be honest he wasn't much of a Captain either, adopting a passive on field demeanour.

Someone mentioned that we would never sign a midfielder with such a long, impressive CV.    While that's true, it's also about the past.  I'd rather a player with a bit of pedigree, still improving and with time on their side.

Don't we already have those midfielders with Bragg and Jander?

[austsaint]

1 minute ago, hypochondriac said:

Don't we already have those midfielders with Bragg and Jander?

I don't put Bragg in the "bit of pedigree, still improving" category; he has time on his side but I'm not sure there's much more to come from him.   Jander, yes, he's a gem, and is destined for bigger things.   As things stand, he and Downes are the best central mids we have.    We need a third, in the mould of Charles - that isn't Bragg unfortunately.   

[LaptopSaint]

I thought Akachukwu was our best player in the first half against West Ham and I hope he’ll be forcing himself into the reckoning as the season progresses. And for anyone saying  you don’t win anything with kids I reply Alan fucking Hansen.