James Ward-Prowse

Is JWP better than Davis and should he play over him? How about Clasie? Hojbjerg? Reed? Hesketh? Isgrove?

How do we find time for everyone and still win the games we need to? Or if we can't, which of these people should we be looking to get rid?

 

At present l would pick him over Clasie and Davis; the former has never done enough, yet, to warrant the hype when he joined. I am not saying Clasie is poor; but some of the criticism applied in these posts to JWP easily applies to Clasie and l think JWP still has a lot of potential, whereas I think Clasie is about as good as he is going to get; so l would pick JWP over Clasie for the long term benefit of JWP and us. As for Davis; he is not the force he was last year; l have always appreciated his work ethic and commitment, but maybe the system we now play does not quite suit him, either way, in open play they are currently on a par but JWP gets the nod simply because he seems the only player we have who can deliver from a corner or free kick.

 

We'll need everyone this season...those cups won't win themselves. On Sky yesterday it was mentioned how well Puel's rotation was working and how he has such a strong integrated squad that he can switch 5 around without the team appearing any different.

He may want changes in the summer when he has had a whole season to study the team, but that is when the best usually leave and the stalwarts remain. The good but unstarry players provide the frame to which new purchases seamlessly attach themselves.

Isn't that the strength of our team?

 

The strength and weakness of our midfield is that they are all very similar and therefore can be rotated without effecting the way we play.
JWP had his best ever game against Inter and would have him and Davis as our first choice left/right players. Added to that his dead ball delivery is exceptional and would have him on penalty duties if Austin isn't on the pitch too.

 

I'm not saying we should or we shouldn't play him over any one. I was questioning the criticism of a young player who is doing well and can still have lots to give. I don't get why people like doing that.

Equally, I don't understand the criticism and in some cases, writing off, of Davis. Sure he hasn't been as excellent as before, but anyone remember a lad called mane? Didn't he have a poor patch for a few months and then suddenly people are saying we undersold him.

Too many fans live in a narrow football window and don't take a step back and look at bigger pictures.

 

Totally agree with this. What's more, his delivery of a football from free kicks and corners is worth a place alone. His desire and effort on Thursday was fantastic. If we had a little more penetration up front, his delivery would be getting the assists he deserves. The multiple competitions demands on the team this year is really good for James to bring him on even more as he is more than good enough to command a place.

 

Aside from the fact they're different types of player I'm not sure that's true.

22 year old Schneiderlin was primarily playing in the Championship, getting rotated in and out of the side when competing with Cork, Hammond and Chaplow for a place in the side and had never played in the top division.

22 year old JWP is on the fringes of a Premier League first team, competing for a place with established international players and has made over 100 Premier League appearances.

 

Spot on, to say Morgan was great at 22 is re-writing history. A lot of fans were slating him back then.
I remember also telling people to be patient then!

 

How good a player is does also depend on who he plays with and the team style....otherwise Morgan would look great wherever he was. Saints seem to make players look good. Perhaps JWP will develop further with more opportunity and support from the manager. Puel said that Yoshida was more confident in himself now that he was playing more. There are often other factors involved than just talent alone.

 

There is one thing no one had mentioned about James and to me it is the most vital. He was born in Portsmouth and all his family are Pompey fans. When he joined us at 8 in 2002, they may have raised an eyebrow, then through their 'glory year' of 2008 laughed at us.

Well Mr & Mrs Ward Prowse. WTFILN

(Sorry for being so childish )

To say something constructive, I would say that JWP at 22 is still growing and the fact that he can hold his own against seasoned internationals says something. His dead ball play is second to none and he has got tougher over the last few years. The fact that a youth hating Koeman played him says a lot. He has more to learn and is not the finished article by any stretch of the imagination...but he is 22 years old. THIS season I would start him in front of Davis at the moment as I feel Davis has not reached the heights of his previous years. With Davis, I always know when he is doing well as I don't notice he is on the pitch if you see what I mean. This year, unfortunately a few times I have noticed he is there. I think though a good comparison for JWP would be against Jordy - Full Dutch international and brought here to replace Morgan. I think JWP edges it at the moment. He needs more goals, but to be fair I think he has just been unlucky with a few - he could have had a couple against Milan, though for some reason people only mentioned the one he skied, not the two that brought out good saves.

 

I pointed out on another site that JWP had made 65 completed passes in the Inter game, the response came back that they had all been sideways or backwards, was that true?

 

No.....a good number of 30-40m diagonal balls to the full back and quickly switching play. By far his best game in a Saints shirt. As FLT has said before, don't know what people actually watch but it certainly isn't the quality football we are playing at the moment.
Still hearing fans moaning about too much possession, not hoofing it front, crossing even when no one is in the box........too many living in the 80's sadly

 

If JWP plays the way he has recently, he'll end up as a consistent starter. He's more willing to fight for the ball now than he was. He's unleashing shots that are testing keepers and he's just so much more combative than he was.

I suspect someone's taken him aside and worked on his attitude to help him tone down (while on the pitch) what I suspect is a high degree of "niceness" about the lad.

Vin