James Ward-Prowse

[hypochondriac]

Saw this on twitter today and thought it was relevant to this thread:

🎙️ Sir Alex Ferguson on Alessandro Del Piero: "After a game against Juventus, Ryan Giggs and Gary Neville asked me to do everything possible to sign Del Piero for United because he had destroyed our whole defence. So I contacted him, but he refused to listen to my proposal.

In 2006, when Italy won the World Cup and the match-fixing affair in Serie A came to light, I contacted him again, knowing that Real Madrid wanted him too. I was sure he would end up playing for us or for Real this time, so I said to him: ‘Alessandro, after so many years, I still want you. Don't go to Madrid, now is the time to come here to England. You will be the star of our team.’.

He just laughed and replied: ‘Mister, I believe we already had this conversation several years ago. I respect you a lot, but Juventus have problems at the moment (relegated to Serie B) and I can't to be a coward now’. 

He preferred to stay at Juve to bring the club back to Serie A rather than sign for United.”

[benjii]

Skate.

[Behind Enemy Lines]

21 hours ago, whelk said:

Fucking free kick record. Who gives a fuck on a stat just used by commentators that seems to now be such a thing?

Which player has won the most free kicks? Who has taken the most throw-ins? Quickest player to leave the pitch when substituted?Most goals scored  in red boots? Completed passes? 

Think he already holds this one? 😂 

[Lighthouse]

1 hour ago, hypochondriac said:

Saw this on twitter today and thought it was relevant to this thread:

🎙️ Sir Alex Ferguson on Alessandro Del Piero: "After a game against Juventus, Ryan Giggs and Gary Neville asked me to do everything possible to sign Del Piero for United because he had destroyed our whole defence. So I contacted him, but he refused to listen to my proposal.

In 2006, when Italy won the World Cup and the match-fixing affair in Serie A came to light, I contacted him again, knowing that Real Madrid wanted him too. I was sure he would end up playing for us or for Real this time, so I said to him: ‘Alessandro, after so many years, I still want you. Don't go to Madrid, now is the time to come here to England. You will be the star of our team.’.

He just laughed and replied: ‘Mister, I believe we already had this conversation several years ago. I respect you a lot, but Juventus have problems at the moment (relegated to Serie B) and I can't to be a coward now’. 

He preferred to stay at Juve to bring the club back to Serie A rather than sign for United.”

A bit different when you're one of the greatest players in the history of Italian football, have won everything domestically five times over, as well as the CL and WC. He was 32 then and had nothing else to prove.

[Fan The Flames]

So the 'one more year' song is one of our shortest featured songs only beaten by 'you look like a wotsit'. 

[waterlooville saint]

I find the negative comments about JWP really odd. He's been an amazing servant to the club and once Ralph came in and gave him some guidance, he's been one of our best players, if not the best.

Yes I'd have loved him to stay for the season to lead us back to the Premier League, or even until January if things weren't working out, but I can understand the reasons he's given for moving.

West Ham seem to have been the main club firming up interest and they are in Europe this season. I'm a little surprised Liverpool haven't gone for him, partly because of all the holes that are appearing in their midfield lineup, but mainly because Garth Crooks said he should join them every time he put JWP into his team of the week!!

[Yorkshire Saint]

19 hours ago, beatlesaint said:

I think Adam Blackmore nailed it 100% with his comments on Saturday.

 

 

What did he say ?

[CB Fry]

18 hours ago, Yorkshire Saint said:

What did he say ?

 

[rallyboy]

That was balanced comment from Blackmore I think, it is a gamble for Prowsie and he's been a great servant to Saints so I hope he breaks the free kick record, but West Ham?

It doesn't sound like there's much of a pay rise, it's a valid point about travel and family, yes it's a bigger stadium and he might get to play against the mighty Qarabag FK, Slavia Praha and Sheriff, but the second time a free kick misses the target the fans will be on his back, they want another Declan Rice, so it could all go a bit Ingsy on him.

Maybe it's a reflection on him thinking we are unprepared for a swift return and he could be right, but he has taken a gamble.

 

[VectisSaint]

JWP will be relieved, Maguire transfer off.

[SotonianWill]

Just sold my house... to super james ward prowse

[Fan The Flames]

3 hours ago, rallyboy said:

That was balanced comment from Blackmore I think, it is a gamble for Prowsie and he's been a great servant to Saints so I hope he breaks the free kick record, but West Ham?

It doesn't sound like there's much of a pay rise, it's a valid point about travel and family, yes it's a bigger stadium and he might get to play against the mighty Qarabag FK, Slavia Praha and Sheriff, but the second time a free kick misses the target the fans will be on his back, they want another Declan Rice, so it could all go a bit Ingsy on him.

Maybe it's a reflection on him thinking we are unprepared for a swift return and he could be right, but he has taken a gamble.

 

I'm sure the experience of playing the mighty Qarabag FK, Slavia Praha and Sheriff will be enjoyable to look back on when he is retired.

[AlexLaw76]

1 minute ago, Fan The Flames said:

I'm sure the experience of playing the mighty Qarabag FK, Slavia Praha and Sheriff will be enjoyable to look back on when he is retired.

as opposed to Rotherham, QPR and Plymouth?

[Fan The Flames]

1 minute ago, AlexLaw76 said:

as opposed to Rotherham, QPR and Plymouth?

I know, who'd have thought it. 

[Wade Garrett]

On 15/08/2023 at 03:22, david in sweden said:

....but you have to admit that he is more than " just a professional footballer " to Saints fans.   

He was the role model for his generation, and won't be easy to replace in the short term - no matter who we sign.

His career is / was unique in length of service to the club, as is his fitness / playing record.. missed only two games in the last 3 seasons .

and they were because of a somewhat dubious red card decision, and not to mention goals / assist stats. which is v. good for a " non-striker ".

 

As you say ...he's gone"  and in time we will get over it, but there is nothing wrong with paying respects to a loyal club servant.  I wish him well.  

So do I.  My point was the essay writing bullshit that footballers write when they move clubs.  
Not fans paying their respects to said player.

[david in sweden]

11 hours ago, Wade Garrett said:

So do I.  My point was the essay writing bullshit that footballers write when they move clubs.  
Not fans paying their respects to said player.

Whilst I agree that many players seemingly " have " to write some sort of "departure note" ; I don't believe that it's the case here.

I don't see a lot of b*ll shit in what Prowsey wrote - do you?    I think he expressed himself very well in his comments. 

Certainly those fans who have praised his service to the club on this site (and others) seemed to think so. 

He's given 20 years of his life to Saints and he's worthy of a better class of football than playing on with us in the Championship.

Whilst he has a career left... he deserves the best level of football that a club in this country can offer, and who knows.. in other 

circumstances, he may even find his way back into an England squad in the future.  

 

[Saint86]

West ham fans very pleased with jwp on KUMB 😢. 

I just hope he has a good season and makes the England squad. Was an absolutely class player for us, criminally underrated by some of the fanbase. 

Edited 21 August, 2023 by Saint86

[badgerx16]

8 minutes ago, Saint86 said:

West ham fans very pleased with jwp on KUMB 😢. 

I just hope he has a good season and makes the England squad. Was an absolutely class player for us, criminally underrated by some of the fanbase. 

It is possible for JWP to have a good season without WHU doing the same ?

[david in sweden]

8 minutes ago, badgerx16 said:

It is possible for JWP to have a good season without WHU doing the same ?

 

8 minutes ago, badgerx16 said:

It is possible for  JWP to have a good season without WHU doing the same ?

...Oh ....you mean like when he was with Saints for all those years? 

He consistently logged more mileage than any other Prem. player and  * missed only 2 games in the last 3 seasons. 

NOTE:  * for suspension after red card - and not injury.

[teamsaint]

Not sure if anybody else has mentioned this, but Liverpool might be kicking themselves for missing out on a really decent player at a sensible price.

[John Boy Saint]

18 minutes ago, teamsaint said:

Not sure if anybody else has mentioned this, but Liverpool might be kicking themselves for missing out on a really decent player at a sensible price.

Probably why those 2 Chelsea sporting directors who popped up on the screen during the match both had faces like smacked arses - "how much did this lot pay for their number 7?"............."best stay out of Todds way for a couple of days!". 

 

[Disco Stu]

Was easily a £40m player.

[redkeith]

On 21/08/2023 at 15:13, teamsaint said:

Not sure if anybody else has mentioned this, but Liverpool might be kicking themselves for missing out on a really decent player at a sensible price.

I thought JWP would be have been an obvious replacement for Milner, right footed, high work rate etc , but the scouses knew better.

[Saint Scott]

[Turkish]

His start Couldn’t have gone better. West Ham fans loving him. 

[LeBizzier69]

Really pleased for him, but it’s definitely like seeing an ex you still  hold a candle for being really happy with another bloke.

[Lee On Solent Saint]

1 hour ago, Saint Scott said:

Is that our badge on his shin pads?

[East Kent Saint]

9 hours ago, Lee On Solent Saint said:

Is that our badge on his shin pads?

And england , perhaps WH is below it ?

[AlexLaw76]

Early days, but 😞

https://www.kumb.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=186773&start=260

[Saint86]

14 minutes ago, AlexLaw76 said:

Early days, but 😞

https://www.kumb.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=186773&start=260

Some of those comments are the polar opposite of what a some of our fans said about him on here... Makes you think about that Plymouth fan that came on here saying how much our fans slate our own players. 😶

"he can certainly pass the ball well. hopefully when we get settled and get more possession he can start running the show. works hard and has a good engine. good signing . His corners are things of beauty. so dangerous. who remembers nobles little floaty ones ?"

"He always was a top 6 Footballer in a struggling poor Southampton side and top 6 Teams should have picked him up long ago for what he offers. Thankfully we can now be that top 6 Team for him.
Dead ball specialist
Leadership skills
High work rate
Excellent passer
Disciplined
High number of goals and assists from Midfield (especially in a poor side)"

"Two games, two assists one goal. Our midfield looks so much more front foot with him in it."

🤣

Edited 27 August, 2023 by Saint86

[Saint_clark]

On 16/08/2023 at 14:00, AlexLaw76 said:

as opposed to Rotherham, QPR and Plymouth?

More the fact that if he'd stayed he'd have still retired with more money than he'll ever need, and he would have been a Saints legend for all time. 

Now he'll never be a legend anywhere, remembered here in the same breath as Andrew Surman instead of Rickie Lambert and remembered at West Ham as, at best, the same level as Dimitri Payet.

[Lee On Solent Saint]

44 minutes ago, Saint86 said:

Some of those comments are the polar opposite of what a some of our fans said about him on here... Makes you think about that Plymouth fan that came on here saying how much our fans slate our own players. 😶

"he can certainly pass the ball well. hopefully when we get settled and get more possession he can start running the show. works hard and has a good engine. good signing . His corners are things of beauty. so dangerous. who remembers nobles little floaty ones ?"

"He always was a top 6 Footballer in a struggling poor Southampton side and top 6 Teams should have picked him up long ago for what he offers. Thankfully we can now be that top 6 Team for him.
Dead ball specialist
Leadership skills
High work rate
Excellent passer
Disciplined
High number of goals and assists from Midfield (especially in a poor side)"

"Two games, two assists one goal. Our midfield looks so much more front foot with him in it."

🤣

Top 6 team for him? Slightly above their station that one I think.

[Fabrice29]

1 hour ago, Saint86 said:

Some of those comments are the polar opposite of what a some of our fans said about him on here... Makes you think about that Plymouth fan that came on here saying how much our fans slate our own players. 😶

"he can certainly pass the ball well. hopefully when we get settled and get more possession he can start running the show. works hard and has a good engine. good signing . His corners are things of beauty. so dangerous. who remembers nobles little floaty ones ?"

"He always was a top 6 Footballer in a struggling poor Southampton side and top 6 Teams should have picked him up long ago for what he offers. Thankfully we can now be that top 6 Team for him.
Dead ball specialist
Leadership skills
High work rate
Excellent passer
Disciplined
High number of goals and assists from Midfield (especially in a poor side)"

"Two games, two assists one goal. Our midfield looks so much more front foot with him in it."

🤣

I don't think our fans doubted JWP was any of those things did they? That's exactly how I would describe him and I was quite happy he left.

It's a decent start on paper but it's two results against the run of play for West Ham. High conversion rates and very little possession don't last long. The moment those little things don't fall for them then the comments will be worth a revisit. 

But it's also a massive LOL moment at the likes of Blackmore who seemed hell bent on telling him he'd regret this move. 

[Mosin]

34 minutes ago, Saint_clark said:

More the fact that if he'd stayed he'd have still retired with more money than he'll ever need, and he would have been a Saints legend for all time. 

Now he'll never be a legend anywhere, remembered here in the same breath as Andrew Surman instead of Rickie Lambert and remembered at West Ham as, at best, the same level as Dimitri Payet.

Is going to west ham n not being a legend, any worse than being continually under appreciated at Southamptom fc and as most said just before he left " never good enough to be a legend "

@ saints, was never good enough dispite being our top goal score, most creative player, most hard working, most dedicated, blamed for the teams defensive errors, blamed for lack of goals, blamed for not doing every thing on his own and blamed for the club being relegated even though he was the only one actually giving 100%....

@ westham already appreciated...

If I was JWP, I would be more than happy with my decision.

[trousers]

6 minutes ago, Mosin said:

Is going to west ham n not being a legend, any worse than being continually under appreciated at Southamptom fc and as most said just before he left " never good enough to be a legend "

@ saints, was never good enough dispite being our top goal score, most creative player, most hard working, most dedicated, blamed for the teams defensive errors, blamed for lack of goals, blamed for not doing every thing on his own and blamed for the club being relegated even though he was the only one actually giving 100%....

@ westham already appreciated...

If I was JWP, I would be more than happy with my decision.

If more than 5% of Saints fans held those views on JWP I'll eat John Westwood's underpants. #vocalminority

Edited 27 August, 2023 by trousers

[trousers]

1 hour ago, Saint86 said:

Some of those comments are the polar opposite of what a some of our fans said about him on here... Makes you think about that Plymouth fan that came on here saying how much our fans slate our own players. 😶

"he can certainly pass the ball well. hopefully when we get settled and get more possession he can start running the show. works hard and has a good engine. good signing . His corners are things of beauty. so dangerous. who remembers nobles little floaty ones ?"

"He always was a top 6 Footballer in a struggling poor Southampton side and top 6 Teams should have picked him up long ago for what he offers. Thankfully we can now be that top 6 Team for him.
Dead ball specialist
Leadership skills
High work rate
Excellent passer
Disciplined
High number of goals and assists from Midfield (especially in a poor side)"

"Two games, two assists one goal. Our midfield looks so much more front foot with him in it."

🤣

Nothing about how good a son-in-law he is? Proof that they know f*** all...

[sledger]

did you here the stupid hammers fans singing champions of europe youll never win that to brighton fans after winning last years euro conference pub cup or maybe it was tongue in cheek also after watching ward prowse yesterday couldnt help but wonder if he could have done a lot more at the back end of last season.

[AlexLaw76]

1 minute ago, sledger said:

did you here the stupid hammers fans singing champions of europe youll never win that to brighton fans after winning last years euro conference pub cup or maybe it was tongue in cheek also after watching ward prowse yesterday couldnt help but wonder if he could have done a lot more at the back end of last season.

I would absolutely love it if we won a European competition, and you can guarantee that we would harp on about it all the time.

 

[Lighthouse]

54 minutes ago, Saint_clark said:

More the fact that if he'd stayed he'd have still retired with more money than he'll ever need, and he would have been a Saints legend for all time. 

Now he'll never be a legend anywhere, remembered here in the same breath as Andrew Surman instead of Rickie Lambert and remembered at West Ham as, at best, the same level as Dimitri Payet.

I don’t know why you think that’d be more important to him than playing PL and possibly international football, or why he’d really care at all. He’ll be well remembered here and generally welcome throughout the city for the rest of his life, I’m not sure what he’d really want beyond that.

I think a lot of people overestimate how important the opinions of us internet dweebs are to millionaire, PL footballers with supermodel wives.

[Osvaldorama]

1 hour ago, Saint86 said:

Some of those comments are the polar opposite of what a some of our fans said about him on here... Makes you think about that Plymouth fan that came on here saying how much our fans slate our own players. 😶

"he can certainly pass the ball well. hopefully when we get settled and get more possession he can start running the show. works hard and has a good engine. good signing . His corners are things of beauty. so dangerous. who remembers nobles little floaty ones ?"

"He always was a top 6 Footballer in a struggling poor Southampton side and top 6 Teams should have picked him up long ago for what he offers. Thankfully we can now be that top 6 Team for him.
Dead ball specialist
Leadership skills
High work rate
Excellent passer
Disciplined
High number of goals and assists from Midfield (especially in a poor side)"

"Two games, two assists one goal. Our midfield looks so much more front foot with him in it."

🤣

It’s because a lot of our fans are idiots. He was surrounded by absolute dross here for the last few years. And asked to be more defensive than his skill set allows for. 
 

Playing as a box to box midfielder with license to get forward, surrounded by better players and he was always going to shine. 

Edited 27 August, 2023 by Osvaldorama

[trousers]

Just now, Osvaldorama said:

It’s because a lot of our fans are idiots. He was surrounded by absolute dross here for the last few years. And asked to be more defensive than his skill set allows for. 
 

Playing as a box to box midfielder with license to get forward, surrounded by better players and he was always going to shine. 

Yep, in the relatively rare times he was deployed in that role here he excelled.

[S-Clarke]

5 minutes ago, Osvaldorama said:

It’s because a lot of our fans are idiots. He was surrounded by absolute dross here for the last few years. And asked to be more defensive than his skill set allows for. 
 

Playing as a box to box midfielder with license to get forward, surrounded by better players and he was always going to shine. 

I always felt that was his best role, even more of an 8 - licence to attack, not worrying about the pivot and all that stuff.

In one of the only things Nathan Jones did correctly, it was using JWP in that 8 (that goal he scored in Open Play against Everton was an example of what he can do in that position).

Our lack of numbers and quality in CM meant we had to shoehorn him elsewhere under the more cautious managers (Selles). He'll do well surrounded by Soucek and Alvarez.

[whelk]

He had some really good games for us and he will have good games for WH. Some of you massively over rate him though. I wish him well but I expect at some point you will go to WH forum and there will be posters moaning about him.

[Saint_Tony]

Great start for him, but then we know what he can do having been playing in a terrible team for a few seasons. He can still be a legend at West Ham, all this nonsense about how he should have stayed; seriously, give it up. Good luck to him, move on.

[Saint_clark]

35 minutes ago, Lighthouse said:

I don’t know why you think that’d be more important to him than playing PL and possibly international football, or why he’d really care at all. He’ll be well remembered here and generally welcome throughout the city for the rest of his life, I’m not sure what he’d really want beyond that.

I think a lot of people overestimate how important the opinions of us internet dweebs are to millionaire, PL footballers with supermodel wives.

Maybe not now, but in years to come when nobody really cares about who he used to be because he was just one of any number of faceless mercenary footballers who chased a few extra quid. 

Guess I just have different priorities to the majority of people.  

[Hodgey]

Glad it’s working out for him. For whatever reason a decent number of our fans never rated him.I think he’ll have an excellent season at West Ham - may even sneak into England squad, he’s clearly a very good Premiership player at the minimum.

[Badger]

On 21/08/2023 at 10:42, badgerx16 said:

It is possible for JWP to have a good season without WHU doing the same ?

Early days but it might be in our interests for West Ham to have a good season and decide they’ve moved on from Flynn Downes in what they need. 

[Saint_clark]

18 minutes ago, Hodgey said:

Glad it’s working out for him. For whatever reason a decent number of our fans never rated him.I think he’ll have an excellent season at West Ham - may even sneak into England squad, he’s clearly a very good Premiership player at the minimum.

I think he's nailed on for the England squad with Henderson leaving for the middle east and him now playing for one of the FAs favoured teams.

[Lighthouse]

49 minutes ago, Saint_clark said:

Maybe not now, but in years to come when nobody really cares about who he used to be because he was just one of any number of faceless mercenary footballers who chased a few extra quid. 

Guess I just have different priorities to the majority of people.  

He’ll have a family, be financially set for life and will likely be respected by both Saints and West Ham fans for the job he did. He’ll also have a hatful of England caps and be remembered as one of the best free kick takers of the modern era. I’m not sure what else you think he should want, without having some sort of narcissistic hero complex.

[trousers]

45 minutes ago, Hodgey said:

For whatever reason a decent number of our fans never rated him

I'm genuinely interested in knowing what percentage of Saints fans "never rated him". My guesstimate would be less than 10% but I suppose it will always seem more than that due to the 'vocal minority ' syndrome. 

Edited 27 August, 2023 by trousers