Ward-Prowse's best asset is his set-piece delivery. Surely he would be more effective playing on the right wing where he can get plenty of crosses in? Should Tadic have been playing the central role against Swansea with Ward-Prowse on the right? Tadic has been way more comfortable this season on the left side. In my opinion Tadic's next best position after playing on the left is central. Giving Ward-Prowse so much freedom in an advanced central role when he doesn't score goals seems daft to me. I made a poll.
In a 4-3-3-ish setup, he (or Davis) can play central mid with a more attack-minded role. The problem I think is that he's not a true #10, second striker type as he isn't that adept at scoring. And while he is a good passer, I feel like he is more of the "keep the ball moving, change angle of attack, find open guy" kind of passer, as opposed to a guy who can play tricky one-twos and through balls. He would be a good "deep-lying playmaker" but he can't play too deep as he is a bit lightweight and not a great tackler. I'd say that is Saints' problem, really. We end up with Pelle too isolated upfront as we don't have a "in the hole" kind of guy. That would have been Ramirez's role had he panned out. I feel like our back four plus Wanyama/Schneiderlin are actually quality enough that maybe we don't need two DM's to shield the backline. If Schneiderlin were to leave, maybe we could play more of a 4-1-2-3, instead of 4-2-1-3? I don't know. I make the absolute worst FM Tactics ever, so hopefully Koeman knows what's best as I certainly don't!
To me the biggest issue that prevents him excelling as a CM is his inability to score, looking at other top CM, I would choose Erikson of Spurs as the top of the pops at the moment. The main difference is the goal threat James, sort out you shooting and late run tap ins and you will be a star
We do have a player who plays that role in a 4-3-3, or whatever you want to call it and he's been excellent this season. He does those tricky one-twos and through balls. His name is Steven Davis.
How about Liverpool for 25m, would fans be happy with that? So much critical assesssment of a 20 year old (not this thread specifically, just come off Saintsweb) but really, he's young, he's got bags of talent and a good brain. He's been very close to scoring half a dozen goals this season and is just in need of that little spark of belief that will take him out of his goal drought and to the next level. He was just behind Fabregas in minutes/assist stats. Can we really ask for a lot more? My thoughts are he's been played well and has performed reasonably well. So keep doing it and he will get the results.
He is so young, just give him time. I really think he will become a brilliant player just behind the striker
Totally agree. Just wait once he scores his foirst senior goal his confidence will soar. He was so close on Sunday.
JWP was asked this question when he signed a longer contract (obviously the bench was not an option ). He said he will play where ever he is asked to play, but Ron wants him to play more defensively. James has loads of talent...his biggest asset is his brain. The longer he plays, the more he will learn...I'm sure he has a great future ahead of him. He is not a flashy player that bursts on to the scene, but one who improves more and more with practice. Exactly how David Beckham described himself...said he didn't have the assets of other young players at United, so he practiced, practiced, practiced.
I prefer him centrally, but someone's got to draw the short straw and play on the right of our 5 left sided wingers and JWP/Davis so not that bothered when he's the unlucky one (Gives Dusan some respite from all the stick at least!), won't bother discussing his quality as it's a ridiculous to question it for me - it's clear as day. On a side note, I guarantee as soon as he's not playing we'll get 2 or 3 free kicks in great shooting positions. It's starting to feel like with Rickie and penalties the last couple seasons.
The answer is that when RonKo selects him he plays with ten other players, in the role that RonKo asks him to play.
I could be wrong? It's all a matter of opinion, he certainly isn't the finished article and is probably only playing because of the injury crisis, "Cometh the hour, cometh the man."
I think Koeman values his dead ball delivery...an area we've been sadly lacking in. I think he ranks high in Koeman's plans. Ron is now in the happy position of having midfielders coming out of his ears, but I still reckon we will see a lot of young James.
When he does find the back of the net, will this settle his confidence? A couple of goals might give him the composure he needs in front of the goal.
A goal or two would open the floodgates in my opinion. There are videos out there showing how good he is at free kicks....he needs to be able to replicate this in a match situation.
I agree that he just needs a goal. So close Sunday, I think we would have won easily if he's put it a coupe of inches either side of their keeper. Now, sadly, I think he'll find himself on the bench because of the new/reuturning players. However he is very youmg.
