This is the part I really don't understand. Why is that not a fair comparison?? This seems to be the base of your argument - that he isn't going to recognise the same rate of improvement as others, but I am really struggling to understand why you'd suggest that. I'd have thought that comparing him to a similar styled player at the same age was entirely fair.
I didn't realise every players attributes had to be entirely different. There is of course some overlap, because it is natural and required. It's about options. Not every player being entirely different and bringing entirely different attributes to the table. I like JWP. He's reliable, dependable, hardworking and has a good eye for a pass. His crossing and set pieces are also impressive and add a new dimension. It's not about him having to be a wholly different prospect to what we have, it's the fact he's doing what he is having not long signed a professional contract and being 18. It's his age what makes it exciting. Not only is he solid and good enough to play in the Premier League (my opinion), his age and persona (he is clearly intelligent and willing to learn and take advice) will see him develop into a top player. I can't help but feel that you're overlooking James.
By that logic no youth player would ever get a game. And I didn't say he was a better option than Lallana and Ramirez, I said he was as good. And yes he has better set pieces and crosses than anyone else in the squad with the exception maybe of Fox, and he has other attributes which make him a viable option in comparison to Ramirez or Lallana for example, or anyone else frankly, as they have other attributes that make them viable options. It's not about finding a player who is better at everything than everyone else, but finding a mix of abilities that works (you wouldn't win anything with 11 Lamberts, though one is obviously very useful) and I think he has a lot to offer.
Why compare a player who's only 18 to older experienced players ffs? It's meaningless, as you're comparing potential to proven ability. What was obvious last Saturday though, is that the guy's improved massively on what ability he was able to show last season, and that he's growing in confidence. In other words, there's every chance JWP will continue to get better, just as Shaw did last season. And thank god for a manager who's prepared to give him, and Chambers, and presumably any other 18 year old who impresses him sufficiently, a chance to take the step up.
Sorry for misreading what you said I hate being misinterpreted. SO fair enough for thinking he is as good an option. By my logic a youth player would get a game when they are better than the current option by virtue of performances in the u21s, cup competitions, and training, not to mention coming on as a sub and impressing which is more important than the previous 3. They don't need favouritism to get a chance, i'm not suggesting he is receiving favouritism. "He is much younger and much more inexperienced but as i already said this shouldn't factor into whether he plays or not," is actually an advocation of playing on ability not age something that pochettino has already expressed. I don't want to keep repeating myself but I strongly feel that jwp, while playing well individually, doesn't suit our system or players. In fact he limits the attacking potential of the team.
I'm comparing him to his team mates because it is him and his team mates who comprise the team. Fairly simple concept I would have thought. Can someone please explain to me why him being 18 should factor into his selection? He should recevie no leniency if he isn't good enough he doesn't play. I'm not talking about his long term future which is a pointless exercise I'm talking about his current ability based on recent performances.
I said that he would struggle for game time this year and should go out on loan before the season started I was very wrong. Now that we have real football matches to talk about instead of pointless speculation I would prefer to talk about the football. I also pointlessly speculated that I didn't think he would make it at southampton it looks more likely that he could but I still doubt that he has the ability to surpass wanyama or schneiderlin and if he's got serious ambition he will probably look to a team that will start him.
That's cool. I'm pleased that you're able to adjust your opinion of him. I do sort of get what you're saying in other points, but was mistaken in thinking that it was feeling like an agenda to support those earlier assertions. Glad it's not.
About half my posts are about either him or gaston, which is probably because these are the two players that I disagree with a lot of people most strongly, I don't think it's because I've got an agenda just a polite disagreement. Last year I thought Gaston was going to do huge things this year but I'm having to doubt this, but like jwp he needs a string of games to prove his worth to the team. Both of them look like they might struggle to play in their preferred position although both gaston and jwp played centrally against sunderland which is where I feel they are both best.
I think (and hope) that the arrival of Osvaldo will lead to Gaston playing more in the central AMC position that he favours. I think some of his issues last year came from the fact he was short of options to play his favoured pass beyond the defensive line, as Rickie (bless him) just doesn't possess the pace to make the most of these kind of balls. As a result Gaston was having to try and do different things which perhaps didn't suit him so well.
Yeah definitely, i'm also hoping that osvaldo won't stand for gaston being so wasteful and will give him a verbal slap when he takes too many players on. If gaston could consistently make the right decision when to take players on and when to play other players in the whole team will function so much better and he will be able to play himself into some form. But like you say sometimes he just didn't have an option and with osvaldo's smart movement he will have a more natural outlet for that pass in behind.
I will keep repeating myself though. I strongly disagree; we need players like that to maintain the balance of the team.
Ward-Prowse created several golden chances in the Sunderland game in the first half. Ward-Prowse could have had four or five assists in that game if we knew how to finish. I feel he's clearly our best option at AMR/RM now for the next few games and also a good option at CM/CDM based on the second half. He was the best player on the pitch in the last game and proven he deserves to be in the side on merit. He's also only 18 at the moment..he can only get better..
What is it you want from a wide midfielder winger-- good crosses? JWP leads the Premier league. What is it you want from an attacking mid-- key passes? JWP leads the team and is also pretty high up in the Premier League. Can't see how he's been a problem with the offense or what he has been doing wrong. Whatever it is you want in a midfielder (other than maybe defense) he's done it. He doesn't have to play clever throughballs or dribble through people if what he is doing is working. And it is working. Very well. If I were JWP, I would continue to play exactly the way he is playing right now until the opposition forces him to change. It just seems like a silly way to nit-pick. People say that JWP should be playing based on potential and the argument is that we should play who is more effective right now. Well JWP is the most effective right now, so that settles that. Except then the argument is that he'll lose his spot because Ramirez/Lallana/Rodriguez have more potential in that position. Totally circular argument. JWP has been one of the best we have RIGHT NOW. He also has as much or more potential than just about anyone in the squad. What on Earth is the problem here? Maybe he winds up not being good enough in the long run, or maybe not. The same thing could be said of any of the players. Let it play out, instead of looking for problems that don't exist.
