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James Ward-Prowse - best crosser in the Prem?


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This link just popped up on Newsnow, and I must be tired because I've read it twice and still can't make heads or tails of it.

 

http://www.bsports.com/extratime/leaderboard-crossing-success-in-the-premier-league

 

I think it states that James Ward-Prowse is the most accurate crosser of the ball in the Premier League this season, which if true is a hell of a stat for an 18 year old that's considered more of a central midfielder than a wide player!

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This link just popped up on Newsnow, and I must be tired because I've read it twice and still can't make heads or tails of it.

 

http://www.bsports.com/extratime/leaderboard-crossing-success-in-the-premier-league

 

I think it states that James Ward-Prowse is the most accurate crosser of the ball in the Premier League this season, which if true is a hell of a stat for an 18 year old that's considered more of a central midfielder than a wide player!

 

Silva has the best cross completion rate, but because JWP attempts more crosses per game he has more successful crosses in total.

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It also seems to include corners/free kicks as there is a figure for crosses from open play (the total crosses being higher suggests this). JWP crosses more per 90 minutes than anyone else, so while his completion rate might not be highest in percentage terms, the number of completions is.

 

I have a feeling that in the years to come, JWP will be a (subjective, I know) more valuable player than LS. LS has the benefit of making starts last season, but JWP is improving so much game by game. He has already replaced AL taking corners and is getting more and more game time. MP has come out and said that he is the model young professional and has the perfect attitude. Looking at the squad and Gaston, the two players keeping him out of the team (depending on what formation we play you could also include JRod) are Davis and JWP and I think with JWP's increased stature Gaston might find it hard to replace him.

 

Gaston has skill (and no, not trying to get into an anti/pro Gaston debate or the fact that there might be a fair bit of it being a vanity signing) but so does JWP. We spent £12m on one, and the other came through the academy. Naturally when a large price tag accompanies a player, you expect great things. With JWP coming through the academy, that expectation isn't there as there is no justification of price tag. JWP is 4 years younger, and I suspect that if you compare his skill levels to Gaston's at the same age, JWP would look the better bet.

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It also seems to include corners/free kicks as there is a figure for crosses from open play (the total crosses being higher suggests this). JWP crosses more per 90 minutes than anyone else, so while his completion rate might not be highest in percentage terms, the number of completions is.

 

I have a feeling that in the years to come, JWP will be a (subjective, I know) more valuable player than LS. LS has the benefit of making starts last season, but JWP is improving so much game by game. He has already replaced AL taking corners and is getting more and more game time. MP has come out and said that he is the model young professional and has the perfect attitude. Looking at the squad and Gaston, the two players keeping him out of the team (depending on what formation we play you could also include JRod) are Davis and JWP and I think with JWP's increased stature Gaston might find it hard to replace him.

 

Gaston has skill (and no, not trying to get into an anti/pro Gaston debate or the fact that there might be a fair bit of it being a vanity signing) but so does JWP. We spent £12m on one, and the other came through the academy. Naturally when a large price tag accompanies a player, you expect great things. With JWP coming through the academy, that expectation isn't there as there is no justification of price tag. JWP is 4 years younger, and I suspect that if you compare his skill levels to Gaston's at the same age, JWP would look the better bet.

 

Interesting to compare the prices - Gaston 12m and JWP "academy". Academy isn't a price which may be the case on the balance sheets when they are sold but in reality each player through the academy who makes it or doesn't has a price and be interested to know if anyone has a good (or even terrible) idea what it costs us to produce each youngster.

 

Back to the stats - the way I read it (and can only half see it) has JWP as the best crosser from open play - his free kicks and corners lower that, not surprising as corners can be a bit of a lottery and his free kicks are often really well flighted into the area just in front of our fwds and they can easily be missed and going a tiny bit wrong means no one gets on the end of em. Hes a great little player at the moment and I love that MP is willing to let him shine on the back of his talent and hard work instead of someone on the basis of a price tag.

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Is he? He's not renowned for his heading.

Goals don't just come from headed balls. We have our taller players in the box and many goals come from knock downs or headers across the goalmouth and via poor clearances by defenders. Personally, I'd want Lallana to be in the mix to take advantage of those and Ward-Prowse to be out wide ready to track back for clearances out wide.

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The new Beckham ?

 

As part of a midfield that is better than man Uniteds I'd say that is entirely possible. What with Wanyama recently being described as the Kenyan David Batty we could soon have a team resembling the England World Cup 98 side.

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I think I'll wait until I've seen him get himself into open play positions where he can put in telling crosses for our front men before i decide whether he's the "best crosser in the prem". We are getting euphoric on the back of a few decent results.

 

Best crosser in Prem stuff is a bit OTT but check the ball in which lead to the corner we scored from vs Fulham - absolutely quality ball from open play. Also put a couple of others in like that.

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