James Ward-Prowse

[Roger]

Tbh I think he's overhyped on what I've seen from him.

[hypochondriac]

Was a load of rubbish today. Outmuscled and kept giving the ball away.

[melmacian_saint]

JWP not, and never will be an no 10 player.

 

No point shoe horning him in just because he is the last remaining Academy player good enough to start.

 

He cant play with his back to goal, doesn't go past a man and hasnt got a goalscoring instinct.

 

Play him in his proper position, or not at all.

 

Trouble is, he is doesn't defend all that well either. It's always Davis, Morgan or Wanyama who press on and chase players. He has no intensity to his game and even less so when he is off the ball.

 

I never quite understood why he broke into the first team when he did, especially when soon after Chambers and Shaw broke in with much more ease. To break through you must have at least one stand-out characteristic. I don't think he has one, and a very high number of players can take set pieces.

[Saint Charlie]

Trouble is, he is doesn't defend all that well either. It's always Davis, Morgan or Wanyama who press on and chase players. He has no intensity to his game and even less so when he is off the ball.

 

I never quite understood why he broke into the first team when he did, especially when soon after Chambers and Shaw broke in with much more ease. To break through you must have at least one stand-out characteristic. I don't think he has one, and a very high number of players can take set pieces.

 

His stand out is his technical ability. In the Brighton friendly he hit some lovely crossfield balls to Clyne.

 

But Morgan can also do that and is far better off the ball.

 

But no team with JWP playing off Pelle will score many goals so hopefully they sort it out.

 

If anything Davis and JWP swapped over would play to both strengths a little more.

 

He was bullied today and isnt a creative player but a tidy one. Tidy players dont open up PL defences.

[Saint Charlie]

Trouble is, he is doesn't defend all that well either. It's always Davis, Morgan or Wanyama who press on and chase players. He has no intensity to his game and even less so when he is off the ball.

 

I never quite understood why he broke into the first team when he did, especially when soon after Chambers and Shaw broke in with much more ease. To break through you must have at least one stand-out characteristic. I don't think he has one, and a very high number of players can take set pieces.

 

His stand out is his technical ability. In the Brighton friendly he hit some lovely crossfield balls to Clyne.

 

But Morgan can also do that and is far better off the ball.

 

But no team with JWP playing off Pelle will score many goals so hopefully they sort it out.

 

If anything Davis and JWP swapped over would play to both strengths a little more.

 

He was bullied today and isnt a creative player but a tidy one. Tidy players dont open up PL defences.

 

Centre midfield is an area that hasnt got any worse since end of last year when he couldnt get a game. Not sure why Schneiderlin, Wanyama, Davis and JWP all start at home?

[Fitzhugh Fella]

Sorry I don't take much notice of performances in friendlies.

[Saint Charlie]

Sorry I don't take much notice of performances in friendlies.

 

But you would say his best position is as a deep lying playmaker not a number 10, yes?

[Roger]

But you would say his best position is as a deep lying playmaker not a number 10, yes?

 

I would but even it that role I haven't seen much from him since last November.

[saintant]

Still don't understand all the plaudits that go JWP's way I'm afraid. He's young with much to learn but right now I don't think he is anywhere near ready to play regularly in the first team. He is certainly not a number 10 and as mentioned elsewhere he is not strong in the tackle and does not cover the ground quickly. He has a fairly adequate dead ball delivery but apart from that I don't see much else.

[Batman]

I think we saw today why MP did not play him in the middle of the park. Way too lightweight

[farawaysaint]

I think we saw today why MP did not play him in the middle of the park. Way too lightweight

 

I think his problem is he lacks a yard of pace, he doesn't get in to the dangerous areas. I still think he's a talent though.

[Saint_Tony]

He's well overhyped on here. I've never rated him, he's a championship player at best. All I hear about is his dead ball delivery, yet I'm sure his goal and assist stats make for poor reading. He is far too lightweight and doesn't have the ability to mix it at this level. I

[Saint Garrett]

Yet he was inches away from winning us the game today, fine margins....I do agree that Im not sure what his proper position is, he came on out wide a lot last season and he did well out there. I certainly would have started JWP out wide rather than Davis, I think at home we don't need one of those two. Morgan, Wanyama and one of those is probably enough, just out of interest, where does Taider play? Because I originally thought he was an attacking player but surely he would have come on instead of Cork when he came on if he was?

[The Cat]

Taider is a central midfielder. I'd play Ward-Prowse on the right and have him whipping balls into the box from deep or playing Clyne in on the overlap.

[Ed Rooney]

Massively over rated and not a player to play in the hole. Ray crab Wilkins at best

[shurlock]

Taider is a central midfielder. I'd play Ward-Prowse on the right and have him whipping balls into the box from deep or playing Clyne in on the overlap.

 

Which is what we did under MP for a period of time (around last October); that said, we rarely played JWP and Davis together (along with Victor/Morgan which is just overkill). When JWP was operating on the right, Lallana was in the hole. And ultimately JWP was dislodged by Davis.

 

If we stick with 4-3-3, hopefully we bring in a right winger to partner with Clyne -and either Davis or possibly Taider play in the hole -note that's where Taider featured in the WC. Even Gaston could go there depending on the opposition.

[Bridge]

I just don’t see what he has to offer other than free kicks and corners. He can certainly put a ball right into the danger zone, but on the ball he has no strength, pace and doesn’t drive forward enough. He doesn’t seem to have that vision to put in a killer pass either.

I’m not sure what position he would suit really. But I guess we are going to have to get use to him being in the team as Koeman rates him highly.

[Leicestersaint]

He is a very talented player and nearly scored from the free kick but generally he looked as poor as the rest of them today.

[melmacian_saint]

I thought Taider was a box-to-box CM, or even a DM.

 

Which reads to me as Schneiderlin is actually moving away.

[Saint_Tony]

Quite simply, we need another wide player. We're not going to create a lot with Morgan, Wanyama, Davis and JWP all in the same starting 11, hopefully RoKo will have already noticed this.

[Chez]

I think his problem is he lacks a yard of pace, he doesn't get in to the dangerous areas. I still think he's a talent though.

 

I thought mentioning lack of pace was banned on here? But I agree with you. Defensively he doesn't put opposing players under pressure because he is too slow to get close to hither. He does make interceptions or tackles. That is my only criticism of him though and I suspect if the rest of his game keeps progressing then this element may become less important as it will be all about what he can do rather than what he can't. Right now though I'm not convinced he should start games.

[musesaint]

The irony of the last 10 hours posts on here is that if his stunning free kick had gone in and not hit the post the bed wetters and critics would be singing his praises

[St.JonB]

I think he could do a job on the right wing (i.e. Beckham). He needs to show more more energy, but he could link up with Clyne and put in crosses to Pelle. Needs time playing in the same position.

[Graffito]

He passes well and his delivery is excellent. Two qualities that suggest he'll create goals. It's not his lack of pace that bothers me so much as that he's slow off the mark and slow to turn. There have been examples in every game I've seen him play, including yesterday when someone went past him as if he wasn't there. It's a flaw in his game but surely something that could be improved through coaching positional play.

[ALWAYS_SFC]

The irony of the last 10 hours posts on here is that if his stunning free kick had gone in and not hit the post the bed wetters and critics would be singing his praises

 

This

[Whitey Grandad]

He still has a lot to learn. Despite all his appearances he still gets caught out at times by the speed of the game, he waits for the ball to come to him and then finds it nicked of his feet.

[Crab Lungs]

A class footballer who deserves better from mongboard officianados. He's 19. Jesus.

[Whitey Grandad]

A class footballer who deserves better from mongboard officianados. He's 19. Jesus.

 

Very promising but not fully developed yet, as you would expect. If he were he would already have been sold for £40m.

[ALWAYS_SFC]

Very promising but not fully developed yet, as you would expect. If he were he would already have Benn sold for £40m.

 

 

Been..

[Whitey Grandad]

Been..

 

Thanks, already corrected. Bloody Ipad, I swear it changes things after I've submitted the post

[Faz]

A class footballer who deserves better from mongboard officianados. He's 19. Jesus.

 

Yep. I'm saving some of these posts for posterity.

 

And the rest of you can save this one: Future England Captain.

[Saint Charlie]

Its not his ability that people are questioning, but where he plays in the team.

 

The two games so far he has been played too far forward which doesnt suit his attributes.

 

Would be like Man Utd playing Carrick just off Rooney, and asking him to receive the ball with his back to goal.

 

JWP lost the ball too many times with his back to goal because its not his game.

[Whitey Grandad]

Its not his ability that people are questioning, but where he plays in the team.

 

The two games so far he has been played too far forward which doesnt suit his attributes.

 

Would be like Man Utd playing Carrick just off Rooney, and asking him to receive the ball with his back to goal.

 

JWP lost the ball too many times with his back to goal because its not his game.

 

Fair point.

[dubai_phil]

Thank God he had a bad game yesterday and that his FK didn't go in.

 

With England decimated by retirements & Injuries there was a very real chance he could have been called up for the games against Norway & Switzerland. We all know what happens to our lads when they go off with England!

 

Luckily he was crap in front of Ray Lewington so they'll pick Fabian Delph instead and screw up Villa's season.

[Dellman]

JWP for England? Not yet, but Clyne compared with that World Cup clown rb should be a shoe in, I doubt we will hold him then. Can't we ban Roy's lot from the ground or make them pay or something

[Saint Charlie]

Thank God he had a bad game yesterday and that his FK didn't go in.

 

With England decimated by retirements & Injuries there was a very real chance he could have been called up for the games against Norway & Switzerland. We all know what happens to our lads when they go off with England!

 

Luckily he was crap in front of Ray Lewington so they'll pick Fabian Delph instead and screw up Villa's season.

 

JWP is miles off being a senior England Intl.

[Wiggles31]

A class footballer who deserves better from mongboard officianados. He's 19. Jesus.

 

This.

 

He had a poor game like most of the team. He's a young player adapting still to the hardest league in the world.

[dubai_phil]

JWP is miles off being a senior England Intl.

 

Whatever...

 

As I said, due to the INJURY crisis facing England

 

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2732795/Frank-Lampard-set-surprise-England-call-Roy-Hodgson-facing-midfield-injury-crisis.html

 

Frank Lampard is in the frame for a surprise place in the England squad despite not having played this season.Roy Hodgson will name his England squad this week and is seriously considering the former Chelsea star because of an injury crisis in his midfield.

Lampard is likely to be joined by Aston Villa’s Fabian Delph or Southampton’s James Ward-Prowse, both inexperienced players.

 

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2732795/Frank-Lampard-set-surprise-England-call-Roy-Hodgson-facing-midfield-injury-crisis.html#ixzz3BK18G7ve

Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook

 

Like I said, thank God he was crap Saturday. If he had played a Worldy then he would have been in "the frame".

 

The article also mentions how Lewington watched both him and Berahino.

[simo]

Before you shoot me down I know he's not quite in the same class but Beckham did ok with just being able to hit a ball well and he is still only 19 I don't think we'll see his best until towards the end of this season !

[mitch01]

JWP didn't have a good game yesterday - Mulumbu bullied him out of it. However, he's got loads and loads of ability and is steadily improving physically. Not unusual for a player his size in his position to struggle at times, but I fully expect him to have more effect on games as he becomes stronger and quicker. I think sometimes a talent like JWP is wrongly dismissed as powderpuff or lightweight after a string of ineffectual games when he is still young - he has something special and the more comfortable he feels at this level the more we will see of his fantastic ability on the ball. Most teams in this league would love to have a young English CM with his kind of potential.

[saintbob40]

Millwall and then West Ham away. No space for flimsiness there. Needs to toughen up quick.

[Fitzhugh Fella]

But you would say his best position is as a deep lying playmaker not a number 10, yes?

 

Yes I guess so. I am a little bit underwhelmed by him though, he talks the talk alright but don't think he has an actual position. He's a bit of a jack of all trades master of none.

[saintsmike25]

He'll get bigger and better and stronger. Personally would prefer him in the team over S Davis, who deserves to be dropped after the last game.

Once again, players improve with age, experience and great coaching.

What JWP has which is clear is a mature head, a good attitude and he wants to improve constantly. He lives the life a footballer should, judging by how he's trying to better himself constantly.

He has bundles of potential that we should tap into, so lets support him like our newcomers like Pelle who have had two games.

I expect he'll come on leaps and bounds by the end of the season.

[JackanorySFC]

JWP is miles off being a senior England Intl.

 

Eh? He's captain of the U21's, scored "Goal of the Tournament" and was voted one of the top 3 players of the U21 Tournament this summer. He's the FA's poster boy for emerging talent and gets wheeled out to do interviews in their behalf at any opportunity.

 

There's a very strong argument he's closer than any other Englishman in terms of being a senior International. But that's based on facts not the opinion that he didn't play any better than the rest of our side against West Brom in one game.

 

I genuinely despair of our fans, soft as ****. Staying off here until October.

[SNSUN]

Is it a coincidence that we've got better at set pieces since we've had JWP back? I think not. Great technique. Even if we struggle to create in open play it's always great to have a player good at set piece deliveries in the team.

[mitch01]

His set-pieces are going to earn us plenty of goals every season. Just waiting for the next central free-kick within 25 yards - matter of time before JWP puts one in I'd have thought.

[Saint Charlie]

His set plays are great but its still hard to see from open play what sort of player he is trying to be.

 

Don't get me wrong, he is a good player with great technique but he does none of the above overly well in open play: score, assist, beat a man, break forward to link up with the striker, tackle, win headers, dictate the tempo of a game.

 

Still not sure what role gets the best out him, certainly he isnt a number 10 or as effective as Davis in that advanced position and he is too lightweight to do the Wanayama or Schneiderlin (or Reed) role in the PL where those players need to be able to put a foot in to protect the defence.

 

With everyone fit he would be a sub for me at the moment.

 

Big 18 months for him IMO as by then will have played well over 100 PL games and can't be considered a "prospect" any longer so will be great to see how he develops as could be a really good midfielder if he works out what his best role is within the team.

Edited 22 December, 2014 by Saint Charlie

[Saint Garrett]

His set plays are great but its still hard to see from open play what sort of player he is trying to be.

 

Don't get me wrong, he is a good player with great technique but he does none of the above overly well in open play: score, assist, beat a man, break forward to link up with the striker, tackle, win headers, dictate the tempo of a game.

 

Still not sure what role gets the best out him, certainly he isnt a number 10 or as effective as Davis in that advanced position and he is too lightweight to do the Wanayama or Schneiderlin (or Reed) role in the PL where those players need to be able to put a foot in to protect the defence.

 

With everyone fit he would be a sub for me at the moment.

 

Big 18 months for him IMO as by then will have played well over 100 PL games and can't be considered a "prospect" any longer so will be great to see how he develops as could be a really good midfielder if he works out what his best role is within the team.

 

Problem is we need him in there for the set pieces, because they are appalling without him.

[JackanorySFC]

As I said here earlier, his corners are as good as any player I've ever seen. Seriously, it's like having a free kick on the edge of the box in terms of creating a goal scorning chance.

 

His technique is unreal, the fact he can do as much damage with an outswinging corner as an inswinger is a huge asset.

[Hodgey]

I think he is going to be a fantastic player. I agree at the moment it isn't obvious what his best position is, but he has great technique and temperament and is clearly a grafter with a great attitude. Midfielders take a while to blossom so we need to be patient, he'll have some stinkers as he learns but I think we'll end up with a hell of a player, and assists and goals will improve along with his experience (he already sets up plenty of chances). Very glad we have him (and it seems Adkins, Poch, RK, southgate and Woy all agree).