James Ward-Prowse

[S-Clarke]

15 minutes ago, TWar said:

When I saw the line up I was very concerned that we'd be dominated. What I didn't realise is that if you have a strong midfield then you will always have a good chance. JWP was so good in that midfield that he massively carried the team, Diallo was good too.

And it wasn't like they were up against average players, they won the midfield battle against Rice and Soucek, one of the best midfields in the league. 

Jwp is absolutely class, it's getting towards the point where he is irreplaceable for us even if we got like £80m.

If he does go I think he'll end up being another who realises the grass isn't greener.

He's part of a 'team' here and has bought into a collective, he is the key pivot in this tactic under this manager and a captain to the players around him. Take him out of that and throw him in Man Utd's midfield and he'd look a much different player in my opinion and he'd show his limitations. It's taken him quite some time to convince the fan base of his importance to us, he would get 5-10 games top at a big club before being cast aside if he doesn't look amazing. I don't think he's the sort of player who'd go into a big club and immediately make a difference.

He reminds me of Noble, but a slightly better quality Noble. Never quite has enough to make the top, top level moves but an absolutely critical player for the club he plays for.

Edited 3 March, 2022 by S-Clarke

[TWar]

1 minute ago, S-Clarke said:

If he does go I think he'll end up being another who realises the grass isn't greener.

He's part of a 'team' here and has bought into a collective, he is the key pivot in this tactic under this manager and a captain to the players around him. Take him out of that and throw him in Man Utd's midfield and he'd look a much different player in my opinion and he'd show his limitations.

He reminds me of Noble, but a slightly better quality Noble. Never quite has enough to make the top, top level moves but an absolutely critical player for the club he plays for.

I think he'd walk into basically any team in the league outside Chelsea and City and improve it immediately. All opinions though. He's just so good at so many aspects of being a midfielder I think he'd fit into most systems. His only weakness is dribbling but his passing more  than makes up for it.

[S-Clarke]

7 minutes ago, TWar said:

I think he'd walk into basically any team in the league outside Chelsea and City and improve it immediately. All opinions though. He's just so good at so many aspects of being a midfielder I think he'd fit into most systems. His only weakness is dribbling but his passing more  than makes up for it.

I've always described JWP as a tactical managers dream. You need to be a certain type of coach/manager to appreciate what JWP brings to the side and to then make the most of him. There are many managers out there like Mark Hugues who'd look for the glamour of a Lemina before the reliability of JWP, same as most fans at the big clubs in my opinion. I hate the saying but he's not 'sexy' enough for a big club to be spending £80m plus on.

Rice is the player the big clubs will probably go after, he has those physical attributes that just put him a little bit above. Most managers could benefit from that.

Edited 3 March, 2022 by S-Clarke

[Singapore Saint]

Who was it who said "he plays like two players, one called Ward and one called Prowse"?

Edited 3 March, 2022 by Singapore Saint

[Toadhall Saint]

Kind of agree with both of you. Could JWP walk into any prem team - yes of course. Would he be utilised correctly in that team - it’s doubtful.

[Saint86]

Right now we play to his strengths as a team. He's an absolute engine, a great wind up merchant, he gets to sit deep (pick passes and arrive late to the box), and we're creating space for him to whip in crosses out wide. He wouldn't look this good in another side.

Given his quotes last season (and Romeu's recently), i don't necessarily think he'll move. But i certainly wouldn't begrudge him a move to a top 3 team, the chance to win trophies, and a guaranteed england spot.

[Uncle Albert]

He’s already a legend in my eyes.

[Toadhall Saint]

Don’t normally do this but every now and again esp with threads that’s have lasted a while.
 

Love the comments about him here (not calling anyone out either).

 

[jawillwill]

His white shirt appears to be by far and away the most valued one currently up for auction. 

I love the guy, but nearly £8,000 for a sweaty, unwashed shirt?! (presumably rising over the next 9 days). Who the fudge is this bidder within our fanbase? 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/sfcfoundation/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_ipg=&_from=

[SuperSAINT]

 

[FarehamSaintJames]

Not sure if there has been a thread on him, apologies if so. I’ve noticed comments on other threads about him but couldn’t find an actual thread. 

His form has been far from good this season, I know you could say that of any player in this squad but for someone that has been front and centre the past few years his form drop-off is very noticeable.

He has gone from young back-up under Koeman to captain and main-stay of this side under Ralph. 

His free kicks have given us a lot of points in the past but given his form this season is it time for a spell out the side for a few games given he’s missed only a couple in the past few seasons. Or so we just keep pushing him through to the World Cup break now that it’s upon us?

Some other things I noticed these past few seasons:
- Yes, he can get the ball over the wall for a free-kick but his corners have been utter garbage for years. They rarely beat the first man now. How difficult is it to whip a ball into the box?
- His form, continuously dropping off for months whether that is down to form, injuries, tactics or burn out. Any other player would’ve been dropped by now. It probably isn’t helping that he’s missing a hard man next to him in midfield. That muscle-man that can do all the dirty work for him.
- And finally, his leadership, or lack of. I don’t know what other people think but he isn’t a captain. I want a captain to be laying into his team mates if they misplace a pass, miss an open goal, concede a goal. There is none of that from him. If we concede his head drops and he trudges back to the halfway line, no rallying cry to his team, no encouragement. That isn’t leadership material.

He is a good player and because of his loyalty to the club, will probably hinder some people’s judgments of him.

For me though he’s more a poster boy than a captain. He’s been a main stay for Ralph since he came to the club, but I think if a new manager came in it wouldn’t hurt to strip him of captaincy.

I’m hoping his form picks up, if he gets a goal/assist or two, I think he’ll start to get a few. I would be very shocked if he went to the World Cup. He was unfortunate not to be part of the Euros; but his form had completely yanked the other way since. Maybe this break will be good for him.

Just wondered what everyone else thought.

Up The Saints!

[Harry_SFC]

Not having Lavia/Romeu next to him has probably affected his game to a degree but overall I agree. 

He doesn't drive the team forward, isn't a progressive passer and is very slow for a central midfielder. I don't see him pulling the team together when we concede - as you say, he just drops his head like nothing has happened. 

Edited 6 November, 2022 by Harry_SFC

[Pilchards]

Hey trust me his form will pick up once Ralph goes.

James is not happy at the club and I’m hoping a new manager will make him want to stay.

[Hodgey]

His form isn’t good, and our midfield is currently losing most battles. Is that because of him or because of the tactics / players around him ?. 
he doesn’t deserve to go to the World Cup, but we’ve seen how good he can be, if he has played to a high standard in the Prem before consistently then clearly he can do it again, our manager / coaching team have to solve that as a priority. With such a young team it’s madness that we suddenly can’t get a tune out of an experienced players.

The captaincy - I’m not sure - is he a great captain ? Probably not, can I see a preferable candidate - not now Rom has gone. Giving it to someone else might improve his form removing that burden , but equally might further damage his morale.

On corners - I think as fans we tend to overestimate how dangerous they can be. Every fan I talk to bemoans corner routines - i don’t see much wrong with JWPs execution, more that tactically we are not there (not helped by the constant cb changes and having a pretty small team).

Finally the square / backwards pass accusations. This is a really tough one - when you lose control of midfield there is more pressure on retaining the ball to reduce pressure / build. Also if you are struggling to play a simple pass you are less likely to play a fwd one as the risk of losing the ball is higher. But I do think as a team we overdo possession and JWP is certainly currently a part of that.

 

[Lighthouse]

22 minutes ago, Pilchards said:

Hey trust me his form will pick up once Ralph goes.

James is not happy at the club and I’m hoping a new manager will make him want to stay.

So we just need to get rid of the only manager he's actually player consistently well for?

[JRM]

He's going to miss out on the world Cup which is going to be hard for him to take I think 

[FarehamSaintJames]

1 minute ago, JRM said:

He's going to miss out on the world Cup which is going to be hard for him to take I think 

It shouldn’t be though. He has been extremely poor. If he doesn’t know that he’s deluded. 🤷🏻‍♂️

[CB Fry]

He would have known that he needed to have banged in a couple of free kick goals this side of Christmas to get on that plane. Instead he's probably had his worst run of form for four years.

He ain't getting in that squad now.

Edited 6 November, 2022 by CB Fry

[Saint Garrett]

20 minutes ago, FarehamSaintJames said:

It shouldn’t be though. He has been extremely poor. If he doesn’t know that he’s deluded. 🤷🏻‍♂️

He hasn’t been “extremely poor”. He just hasn’t been as good as last season, but neither has the team. I’m sure his form will pick up, once Lavia is back fit, and having a striker up front would help him too. 

[FarehamSaintJames]

9 minutes ago, Saint Garrett said:

He hasn’t been “extremely poor”. He just hasn’t been as good as last season, but neither has the team. I’m sure his form will pick up, once Lavia is back fit, and having a striker up front would help him too. 

I suppose it’s a matter of opinions. I’m sure he’ll be more comfortable when Lavia is back next to him, most would agree with that.

I think he misses that “leader” alongside him. Lavia may like to get stuck in but he’s still a different player to Romeu. Romeu had that leadership and over ten years playing experience where he has built up such a reputation. 
I think having him is what made JWP so comfortable.

He’s now being found out. We all know on his day JWP can be deadly with his free-kicks but is he much different to Henderson, Winks etc? Exceptionally good at passing sideways and backwards, not much else.

He needs a rock next to him.

[Saint Billy]

Rather than being an asset I think he is part of the problem. 

Without his dead ball ability what does he actually add to the team. 

A captain and kingpin of the side who does neither. 

[Charlie Wayman]

46 minutes ago, JRM said:

He's going to miss out on the world Cup which is going to be hard for him to take I think 

He has done nothing this season to even half justify selection for the England Squad. HIs whole career in fact has been more promise than manifestation. A few bright spells in an otherwise disappointing journey from Academy hopeful to team captain. I love his flawless character and good nature but he has never lived up to the hype as a footballer.

Unquestionably he has benefitted from being the Club's poster boy, local (almost) lad who made good and burnished the image of the Academy in an age of rootless, badge kissing mercenaries, thus guaranteeing his place in the team whatever his level of performance.

Edited 6 November, 2022 by Charlie Wayman

[FarehamSaintJames]

I’m glad someone sees the same as me. 👆🏻

He was brilliant as poster boy, but not a leader. 

If I was JWP the bit I’d be miffed about if missing out on England selection, would be the likes of Henderson, Phillips etc getting in ahead despite playing very few minutes this season.

[egg]

He's hugely overrated by many. He's hardworking, committed, neat, tidy and takes a good free kick. Apart from the free kicks, none of that is spectacular. He has no other stand out attributes - no real pace, he's not a great tackler, he's just decent without being great. 

In open play he offers very little in an attacking or creative sense. Someone has questioned if he offers more than Henderson or Winks. He doesn't imo. Henderson is no less creative, but he offers more physically, a bit more guile and much more drive imo. Winks is similar to JWP.

I feel for the lad that he won't make the world cup squad, but so many more players deserve to be on the plane. 

 

[Saint Martini]

16 minutes ago, FarehamSaintJames said:

I suppose it’s a matter of opinions. I’m sure he’ll be more comfortable when Lavia is back next to him, most would agree with that.

I think he misses that “leader” alongside him. Lavia may like to get stuck in but he’s still a different player to Romeu. Romeu had that leadership and over ten years playing experience where he has built up such a reputation. 
I think having him is what made JWP so comfortable.

He’s now being found out. We all know on his day JWP can be deadly with his free-kicks but is he much different to Henderson, Winks etc? Exceptionally good at passing sideways and backwards, not much else.

He needs a rock next to him.

Nah, its not about having a leader next to him its about having a proper sitting DM next to him. Since Lavias injury he's been asked to be the positionally sound player off the two central midfielders because neither AMN or Diallo are very disciplined positionally. Last season he more often then not played next to Romeu which gave him license to make forward runs and get on the ball further forward. He is just a lot more suited to that roll (more box-to-box then DM). I'm am absolutely positive he'll show an uptick in form as soon as Lavia is back in the team. 

But this does highlight a problem in the team. When Romeu wasn't available last year we played shit because we didn't have a replacement for him. This year we get Lavia in but let Romeu go so the problem is the same. We tried to solve this with AMN but he's all over the place and more of a replacement for Ward-Prowse then Lavia. The same goes for Diallo which makes three players for two positions and one for the other. 

[Nemi]

A Premier League midfielder should be able to pick the ball up in this position, with that amount of space, turn and play it forward. The fact that he goes back to Lyanco who is under pressure from Zaha - who then gets tackled and they score the winner - is pretty incredible.

 

The thing I find surprising is people are just saying this is something from just this season. I’ve been saying for ages now that for all his ability he was no composure whatsoever. If he’s put under pressure, or he’s facing backwards he panics. And he’s always playing it safe.

 

For someone with all that ability, he can only get assists in the same manner, and that’s swinging in balls for the right handside - or set-pieces. 
 

In my opinion if he plays, he plays in a position where he can pick up the ball facing forwards. That’s why Lavia has papered over the cracks so far because he can play on the half-turn so JWP doesn’t have to. But he’s never got over that problem that’s hung over him as a youth - he’s not a DM and he’s not an AM. For me, if he plays, he plays on the right of a midfield three with Lavia as the pivot. Unfortunately for JWP, we have a manager who plays him in a position which exposes his weaknesses.

Edited 6 November, 2022 by Nemi

[MarkSFC]

1 hour ago, Lighthouse said:

So we just need to get rid of the only manager he's actually player consistently well for?

Yes. 

[egg]

4 minutes ago, Nemi said:

A Premier League midfielder should be able to pick the ball up in this position, with that amount of space, turn and play it forward. The fact that he goes back to Lyanco who is under pressure from Zaha - who then gets tackled and they score the winner - is pretty incredible.

 

The thing I find surprising is people are just saying this is something from just this season. I’ve been saying for ages now that for all his ability he was no composure whatsoever. If he’s put under pressure, or he’s facing backwards he panics. And he’s always playing it safe.

 

For someone with all that ability, he can only get assists in the same manner, and that’s swinging in balls for the right handside - or set-pieces. 
 

In my opinion if he plays, he plays in a position where he can pick up the ball facing forwards. That’s why Lavia has papered over the cracks so far because he can play on the half-turn so JWP doesn’t have to. But he’s never got over that problem that’s hung over him as a youth - he’s not a DM and he’s not an AM. For me, if he plays, he plays on the right of a midfield three with Lavia as the pivot. Unfortunately for JWP, we have a manager who plays him I’ma position which exposes his weaknesses.

Good post, and it highlights that JWP has never been a DM or AM. He also lacks pace to play out wide. To be effective he needs to be accommodated, but he's not good enough to build a team around. Personally, I'd play a 433 with Lavia holding, JWP on the right of the 3, AMN or Diallo or SA on the left. That gives him the ability to be as productive as he's capable of. 

[egg]

1 hour ago, Lighthouse said:

So we just need to get rid of the only manager he's actually player consistently well for?

You're getting there mate, just keep repeating "Ralph must go" 🤣

[saintant]

1 hour ago, Pilchards said:

Hey trust me his form will pick up once Ralph goes.

James is not happy at the club and I’m hoping a new manager will make him want to stay.

People laugh at this but I think there is a fair amount of truth in it. Normally he comes across as happy go lucky and is always smiling but that has gone and he looks very troubled lately. I'm convinced he's had it with Ralph and his daft tactics and JWP will improve under a new manager.

[saintant]

1 hour ago, Hodgey said:

His form isn’t good, and our midfield is currently losing most battles. Is that because of him or because of the tactics / players around him ?. 
he doesn’t deserve to go to the World Cup, but we’ve seen how good he can be, if he has played to a high standard in the Prem before consistently then clearly he can do it again, our manager / coaching team have to solve that as a priority. With such a young team it’s madness that we suddenly can’t get a tune out of an experienced players.

The captaincy - I’m not sure - is he a great captain ? Probably not, can I see a preferable candidate - not now Rom has gone. Giving it to someone else might improve his form removing that burden , but equally might further damage his morale.

On corners - I think as fans we tend to overestimate how dangerous they can be. Every fan I talk to bemoans corner routines - i don’t see much wrong with JWPs execution, more that tactically we are not there (not helped by the constant cb changes and having a pretty small team).

Finally the square / backwards pass accusations. This is a really tough one - when you lose control of midfield there is more pressure on retaining the ball to reduce pressure / build. Also if you are struggling to play a simple pass you are less likely to play a fwd one as the risk of losing the ball is higher. But I do think as a team we overdo possession and JWP is certainly currently a part of that.

 

Play crisp, quick passes with movement off the ball and between the lines and JWP thrives, that is his game. Play the turgid rubbish Ralph coaches and JWP will struggle to impose himself on games.

[Harry_SFC]

19 minutes ago, Nemi said:

A Premier League midfielder should be able to pick the ball up in this position, with that amount of space, turn and play it forward. The fact that he goes back to Lyanco who is under pressure from Zaha - who then gets tackled and they score the winner - is pretty incredible.

 

The thing I find surprising is people are just saying this is something from just this season. I’ve been saying for ages now that for all his ability he was no composure whatsoever. If he’s put under pressure, or he’s facing backwards he panics. And he’s always playing it safe.

 

For someone with all that ability, he can only get assists in the same manner, and that’s swinging in balls for the right handside - or set-pieces. 
 

In my opinion if he plays, he plays in a position where he can pick up the ball facing forwards. That’s why Lavia has papered over the cracks so far because he can play on the half-turn so JWP doesn’t have to. But he’s never got over that problem that’s hung over him as a youth - he’s not a DM and he’s not an AM. For me, if he plays, he plays on the right of a midfield three with Lavia as the pivot. Unfortunately for JWP, we have a manager who plays him I’ma position which exposes his weaknesses.

Didn't actually realise how much space JWP had at the time. That is really poor for a professional midfield player. He should have been scanning the space around him before he receives the ball then he'd be able to turn and play the ball forwards.

[Hodgey]

What I do find a bit odd - is the amount of fans who don’t rate him at all - and see him as a sub par player who we could easily do better than. 
I’m not sure where this comes from, we have a proven 10 goal a season midfielder in our midst in a goal shy team, and previously right up there in term of interceptions / challenges / ground covered and yet some want rid !. He’s also undeniably been our best player not just for 3 or 4 games, but entire seasons. 

obviously people see things differently - and I agree his form thus far hasn’t been good enough and maybe I give JWP too much credit. But I’m interested in what fans want - sell and try and buy another midfielder ? (our success rate isn’t great here) or try Lavia / someone else in our squad ??

 

[Harry_SFC]

1 minute ago, Hodgey said:

What I do find a bit odd - is the amount of fans who don’t rate him at all - and see him as a sub par player who we could easily do better than. 
I’m not sure where this comes from, we have a proven 10 goal a season midfielder in our midst in a goal shy team, and previously right up there in term of interceptions / challenges / ground covered and yet some want rid !. He’s also undeniably been our best player not just for 3 or 4 games, but entire seasons. 

obviously people see things differently - and I agree his form thus far hasn’t been good enough and maybe I give JWP too much credit. But I’m interested in what fans want - sell and try and buy another midfielder ? (our success rate isn’t great here) or try Lavia / someone else in our squad ??

 

I think in the right position/set up he is at our level and I do agree that if we signed anyone better (Lavia etc) they would be off in a season or two. So we should be happy with that. 

His set pieces have been decent this season to be fair, we just don't seem to be attacking them properly. 

[cloggy saint]

It wasn't so long ago people were saying that if JWP was to be sold we shouldn't take anything less than £100m  😂

[Toadhall Saint]

Think he is suffering the most by not having OR beside him. He seems to be taking all of that on his shoulders and in effect spreading himself to thinly. Apart from anything else football is about partnerships* throughout the team - he’s lost his so is suffering a little.
 

* Another thing that RH doesn’t seem to want as he keeps chopping and changing things. ☹️

[egg]

9 minutes ago, Hodgey said:

What I do find a bit odd - is the amount of fans who don’t rate him at all - and see him as a sub par player who we could easily do better than. 
I’m not sure where this comes from, we have a proven 10 goal a season midfielder in our midst in a goal shy team, and previously right up there in term of interceptions / challenges / ground covered and yet some want rid !. He’s also undeniably been our best player not just for 3 or 4 games, but entire seasons. 

obviously people see things differently - and I agree his form thus far hasn’t been good enough and maybe I give JWP too much credit. But I’m interested in what fans want - sell and try and buy another midfielder ? (our success rate isn’t great here) or try Lavia / someone else in our squad ??

 

Who wants rid of him? Having the opinion that he ain't all that, is not wanting rid. 

[Dman]

1 hour ago, CB Fry said:

He would have known that he needed to have banged in a couple of free kick goals this side of Christmas to get on that plane. Instead he's probably had his worst run of form for four years.

He ain't getting in that squad now.

You’ll still have a few idiots claiming that he’s better than Rice, Bellingham or whoever starts CM in the WC. 
 

Extremely average and limited player. Very much our level. Should have sold in the summer whilst he had a degree of value. 

[CB Fry]

Just now, Dman said:

You’ll still have a few idiots claiming that he’s better than Rice, Bellingham or whoever starts CM in the WC. 
 

Extremely average and limited player. Very much our level. Should have sold in the summer whilst he had a degree of value. 

Oh, we're all waiting for it to come.

JWP the miracle magic man can't do the business against bog standard league dross like Crystal Palace or Leeds or Everton but stick him in against world class elite level France or Spain or Argentina on the biggest stage in football and the World Cup us ours no problem.

Henderson is a league and Champions League winning captain but apart from that shit shit shit. Not a patch on JWP.

[Ed Rooney]

Works hard, can pass as long as it’s a straightforward one, good at free kicks…

Thats about it really, just your average player and has never really been anything but….had a lot of assists from corners when Vestergaard was here and had a good season for free kicks last season.

I often wonder if he didn’t come through the academy, whether there would have been such love for him 

[Mallagroth]

Football fans are notorious for having short memories and living moment to moment. It’s still surprising that many have become revisionists and now say JWP has never been any good when he has frequently been our standout player and easily most consistent player for multiple seasons in a row, playing more games than any other player and has been touted for Champions league clubs interest prior to this one.

If your looking for signs of trouble at the club, JWP is the dead canary in the coal mine. His professionalism and his loyalty to the club has never been lacking but right now he looks like he is giving up. So It’s not a case that all of our players that have become shit, it’s quite clearly the managers long term vision and motivational skills that are lacking  and many of the experienced playing staff have now had enough, become disillusioned or simply frustrated at the stagnation. They are human and no matter how much you get paid, if you are struggling to enjoy something you once did or carrying negativity you will perform at a lower level than you are capable of.

Go read the Redmond piece it’s telling.

Freshening the manager will reinvigorate some of our better players, but it’s got to happen soon or it will be too late. 

[trousers]

29 minutes ago, Mallagroth said:

Football fans are notorious for having short memories and living moment to moment

Yup... https://www.saintsweb.co.uk/topic/58792-james-ward-prowse/page/56/

 

Edited 6 November, 2022 by trousers

[saintant]

28 minutes ago, Mallagroth said:

Football fans are notorious for having short memories and living moment to moment. It’s still surprising that many have become revisionists and now say JWP has never been any good when he has frequently been our standout player and easily most consistent player for multiple seasons in a row, playing more games than any other player and has been touted for Champions league clubs interest prior to this one.

If your looking for signs of trouble at the club, JWP is the dead canary in the coal mine. His professionalism and his loyalty to the club has never been lacking but right now he looks like he is giving up. So It’s not a case that all of our players that have become shit, it’s quite clearly the managers long term vision and motivational skills that are lacking  and many of the experienced playing staff have now had enough, become disillusioned or simply frustrated at the stagnation. They are human and no matter how much you get paid, if you are struggling to enjoy something you once did or carrying negativity you will perform at a lower level than you are capable of.

Go read the Redmond piece it’s telling.

Freshening the manager will reinvigorate some of our better players, but it’s got to happen soon or it will be too late. 

Good post and particularly  like the bit about JWP being our canary in the coalmine - if he's unhappy then something is seriously wrong at the club. It speaks volumes. 

[skintsaint]

Newcastle's last goal almost a spitting image of Rice's goal against us, JWP ball watches and doesn't go with the runner who then has all the time to place a shot into the corner.

Edited 7 November, 2022 by skintsaint

[Mosin]

36 minutes ago, skintsaint said:

Newcastle's last goal almost a spitting image of Rice's goal against us, JWP ball watches and doesn't go with the runner who then has all the time to place a shot into the corner.

JWP is the only one closing down at that point, every body else is flat footed, Kotchap, Niles and Larios hardly move, Kotchap misses a tackle and Niles barely moves to cover the space JWP left to close down. to pin it all on one player is just nit picking. blame the result on the poor forwards who cant score or even hit the target from 5 yards out, needed our left back to show them how its done.

[skintsaint]

13 minutes ago, Mosin said:

JWP is the only one closing down at that point, every body else is flat footed, Kotchap, Niles and Larios hardly move, Kotchap misses a tackle and Niles barely moves to cover the space JWP left to close down. to pin it all on one player is just nit picking. blame the result on the poor forwards who cant score or even hit the target from 5 yards out, needed our left back to show them how its done.

Must be watching a different game to me, JWP is on the goal scorer, pass is made, JWP switches off and the goal scorer runs in behind JWP.

Larrios or Kotchap are not even on the pitch at this point.

 

Seems a weak part of his game.

Edited 7 November, 2022 by skintsaint

[Saint Garrett]

Should also be covered by his other DM, AMN was in the box and didn’t close Rice down against West Ham, and Lavia is nowhere for that goal yesterday. It’s also a great finish. He can’t do it all himself. 

[Mosin]

Look at your 1st picture, look at your 3rd picture, how many yards has player 45 moved to fill the gap JWP left when closing down after the short freekick? 1 yard? 2 yards? You specifically show Kotchap missing complately his tackle, thats 2 errors. JWP covered what? 15 - 20 yards in 10 secs, Niles barely moves, doesnt see the big open hole in the center of the field...... because he is to busy ball watching and strolling.

[skintsaint]

To me its classic ball watching and not staying with the man but its fine we disagree. Just observed two very similar goals against us recently involving him.😇

[Mosin]

1 hour ago, skintsaint said:

To me its classic ball watching and not staying with the man but its fine we disagree. Just observed two very similar goals against us recently involving him.😇

So even though JWP is the one who is the only one closing down, the only one trying to apply pressure, its his fault Kotchap misses a tackle Lavia does not move  more than 5 yards  ( Like 20 yards between Lavia and JWP at one point ) and Salisu and Carr dont get in front of him ( Ill be fair, it was a wonderfully struck goal though ) But JWP is the one who is ball watching and not staying with his man......

Seems more picking fault and deflecting blame than pointing at the real offenders.

3rd picture sums it up, JWP arms out wondering WTF Lavia is..

P.S i thought it waas Niles at first my bad.