By CandH’s new blogger James Batterbee
I have to admit when we sold Declan Rice to Arsenal this summer I was quite concerned with how we might replace or dare I say ‘upgrade’ our midfield.
When you have over £100 million burning a hole in your pocket it would be easy to make a knee jerk reaction like Pellegrini did during his short tenure.
Being linked with players who had Premier League experience left some of us, including me, a little less than excited – McTominay, Palinha, Phillips and JWP sounded uninspiring and very dour in a David Moyes kind of way.
So when we eventually signed a player in Ward Prowse I was equally relieved, as we needed numbers, and nonplussed at such an average buy.
Now I know it’s early on in the season but from the three games we’ve seen him in my namesake is looking like a very good signing!
Now this alleged ‘one trick pony’ is showing his class from get go. His first set piece against Chelsea was mustard and he followed up with a fabulous first time left footed pass to Antonio for our second.
This was very impressive but I’ve been most impressed by his engine and the ability to do the basics brilliantly. His run against Brighton to support Mikey and get his goal was exceptional.
Even in our dour win over Luton he was constantly moving the ball around and didn’t give up possession cheaply. I’ve been a supporter of Moyes in the main, but at times last season I was calling for a change ( not as often as Hughie).
I think our gaffer has got the blend correct so far this season and our midfield is looking very complimentary with Alvarez , Soucek, Paqueta and JWP.
Now a note to Gareth Southgate, who I’m sure reads this blog. James Ward-Prowse is not a one trick pony. It’s time for you to start opening your eyes to what you have on offer instead of picking Kalvin Phillips!
James describes himself as a long suffering hammers fan since 1980s whose first game was Trevor Brooking’s last in the 1-0 loss to Everton May 1984, He worked at Upton Park between 1996 and 2000 for Ladbrokes.
E
Although I agree with your article on JWP why have you called Alvarez (the crab)? What a derogatory term for a really exciting player. When we signed Alvarex I was just expecting a no nonsense holding player, that when he won they ball would just lay it off. But boy am I pleasantly surprised. Not only does he do the deep lying holding midfield role, brilliantly, but when he does win the ball back, he comes forward with it, looking to set up forward play. The Bowen goal against Luton, Alvarez won possession, forged forward and played not one but two, one two’s before feeding Paqueta who similarly looked up and found Bowen with an excellent pass. Far from being a crab and only playing sideways, Alverez is a forward thinking exceptional player that makes things happen.
Hi Eug. Let me clarify my nickname for Alvarez. When I think of a crab I think tough, strong, elusive and everywhere quickly l🦀. The fact he likes a sideways pass wasn’t where I was going but he’s good at that too. I like what I see from him very much