Precision + curve + dip = Goal. They call it the Ward-Prowse theorem. If there is one thing that West Ham know they’re getting with Ward-Prowse, it is most certainly the free kick goals. His right foot the driver, the goal the cup. Multiple hole-in-ones each season. The golf-swing celebration to follow. Trademark.
Ward-Prowse is on track to beat David Beckham’s free kick record, being just one free kick goal behind him in the Premier League all time records. If you weren’t bored enough of free kick stats, only Lionel Messi (32) has scored more free kicks than Ward-Prowse (17) since Ward-Prowse’s first professional match, and whilst Messi has done so in 336 attempts, Ward-Prowse has his 17 goals in 117 free kick attempts.
How would this fit at West Ham though? Moyes’ side used to be one of, if not the best set-piece threats in the Premier League. That has fallen off in recent times, and West Ham float amongst the middle of the table when it comes to statistics surrounding set pieces. That said, the overall conversion rate from set pieces by West Ham is still very good. West Ham created 87 chances from set pieces last season, ranking 7th in the league, and scored 6, ranking 7th again. However, West Ham were also 19th in the league when it came to total dead balls last season. Ranking in the top half for chances created and goals scored from a low amount of set pieces indicates a very high conversion rate with comparison to other teams. The addition of Ward-Prowse, arguably the best set piece taker in the entire league, would take this up a whole new level, and boost their already high conversion rate.
The set pieces are great, but they can’t provide the overall picture for a player – and Moyes won’t have been so adamant on signing him if it were just for his free kicks. So, we need to delve into what Ward-Prowse offers outside of the dead ball specialty.
Any Southampton fan will be able to tell you the personality traits that Ward-Prowse possesses. First and foremost he’s seen as a leader, which seems fairly obvious as he was Southampton’s captain for an extensive period before leaving. Consistently available, a manager’s dream… you name it. He’s somebody West Ham have been looking for in the absence of Declan Rice, and he’ll certainly be the provider of leadership from the midfield. He’s never caused an issue, and is absolutely the type of personality you’d want around your squad if you were a manager.
But with that in mind, sometimes players provide value in the dressing room and not on the pitch – but its safe to say that Ward-Prowse excels at both.
JWP is superficially listed as a number 8: a box-to-box midfielder who does both defensive and offensive work. However, he’s not necessarily the archetypal Moyes number 8. The first noticeable difference between Ward-Prowse and a typical Moyes number 8 is the height – going from Tomas Souček to James Ward-Prowse is almost like going from one extreme to another. Based on the assumption that Lucas Paquetá will stay, JWP should be the one taking Souček’s place in midfield alongside Paquetá and Alvarez. That brings us onto the difference he will make with comparison to Souček.
The obvious attribute that West Ham will be conceding is Souček’s aerial ability – though they won’t be losing much else and will certainly be gaining a whole lot more. Ward-Prowse and Souček share similar numbers in the defensive metrics, though Souček edges it ever so slightly on the tackles and interceptions per 90 front. The bottom line though, is that Ward-Prowse can absolutely do what Souček does and may improve over time in a new system (particularly West Ham’s) at these things. Ward-Prowse isn’t a major ball carrier nor progressive passer, but that may not be his primary task in West Ham’s team.
Moyes will evidently be pushing more of a transitional, counter-attacking side once again. In his usual 4-2-3-1, JWP will likely be part of the “defensive” 2 in midfield alongside Edson Alvarez, with Lucas Paquetá (again, on the assumption he is still here) or Pablo Fornals just in front. The team will be reliant on the front 4 producing a fast transition and creating chances down the other end – but Ward-Prowse is not part of that front 4 and can’t provide the late-run-to-header combination that we are used to with Souček… so where does he come in?
West Ham have most noticeably struggled when an initial counter-attack fails and the opponent manages to get bodies behind the ball. Last season the usual outcome would be that Paquetá, Rice, and the full-backs would all prove indecisive and many chances petered out through sheer stalemate around the area. Paquetá has it in him to pick a pass every now and then, but Rice was not creative enough and Souček would be in the box waiting for a ball to come in. Now, however, Ward-Prowse will be arriving late but sitting outside the area – either waiting for the ball to come out to him so he can reenact a dead-ball situation for a cross, or double the threat of Paquetá and pick a pass of his own. Either way, it’s a large improvement on the attacking possibilities West Ham will be able to produce.
Defensively it’s more of the same – Alvarez and Ward-Prowse will more or less combine to produce Rice’s defensive qualities between them – and Ward-Prowse is certainly a fine complement to Alvarez. Ward-Prowse and Alvarez’s anticipation and work rate mixed with Alvarez’s aggression provide a strong barrier in front of West Ham’s defence when sitting in a low block. Ward-Prowse will also be there to help prevent transitions from opponents, as he likely won’t be in the box when chances muster themselves.
Whichever way you look at it, the pros enormously outweigh the cons when it comes to the signing of James Ward-Prowse. Professionalism, efficiency, leadership and work rate alongside goals and assists are the ideal attributes West Ham fans look for, and they’ve got that now.
And to top it off, free kicks are going to feel like penalties again.
Joe Davis - Football 