The transfer of Carlos Soler could spell bad news for James Ward-Prowse if the deal goes through as expected this week. Yesterday Simon wrote a piece suggesting that Ward Prowse could become an unpredictable casualty of the Spaniards arrival and this has been confirmed by TeamTalk who claim we’re ready to offload the midfielder.
Last season’s £25m signing from Southampton might face significant challenges ahead if West Ham completes the transaction with PSG, which seems to depend on at least one outbound sale first.
With West Ham’s head coach Julen Lopetegui already having a wealth of midfield options, Ward-Prowse could see his first-team opportunities severely limited based on early indications. I have a bit of sympathy for JWP who has clearly done nothing wrong, has decent ability and an excellent attitude, it’s just that he doesn’t appear to be Lopetegui’s cup of tea.
The set-piece specialist was an unused substitute in West Ham’s 2-0 Premier League victory against Crystal Palace at the weekend. This followed a brief appearance from the bench in the previous game against Aston Villa, and things don’t look too promising for him in the battle for midfield places at the London Stadium.
Guido Rodríguez has quickly established himself in the West Ham team under J-Lo, and the return of Edson Álvarez has further strengthened the midfield.
Few could have foreseen Tomas Soucek becoming a regular starter under the Hammers’ new head coach, who has also shown a willingness to play Lucas Paquetá in midfield.
This situation does not bode well for Ward-Prowse, who will likely feature in the League Cup game against Bournemouth. However, if West Ham signs Soler from Paris Saint-Germain, JWP might find himself either accepting a reserve role or looking for a new club.
Hope he can find a club where he gets regular first team football.
Has to have been a Moyse pick, dead ball specialist, free kicks, corners, looking for the target men.
However, when you have Bowen taking the corners, Paquetta, Kudus and a raft of others who can place a ball through the eye of a needle, I don’t see where his other attributes puts him ahead of others.
In American football JWP would take the role of specialist kicker. He certainly is not the greatest quarter back.
He certainly did a pretty reasonable job for us while Moysie was in charge. He was fit for purpose then. Times they are a changing!
pretty sure we paid 35m?
Possibly the coaches first mistake . PREMATURE .
RESPECT RESPECT RESPECT and please try to cut out the impersonal phrases ” DEADWOOD ” etc.
actually it was 35m euro
so around 30m pounds
maybe that figure included 5m of unrealised add-ons?
More than a few PL teams are looking pretty dire after a couple of matches. There will be some thoughts out there that JWP’s dead ball abilities may be a short cut to adding goals to a struggling team particularly around 15-20 million.
Seems strange to get rid of him when we finally get a player like Fullkug who could really capitalise on ward prowses set pieces
i think bowens corners are more lethal tbh
as for free kicks JWP has been surprisingly poor – personally would prefer cresswell to step up
in open play i don’t know what’s wrong with JWP, seems very hesitant to pull the trigger, perfers to lay it off to zouma so he can punt it
at’s exactly the point l am making Fullkrug has yet to establish himself .
so l have a suspicion that perhaps the coach is under pressure to agree to J.W.P. ‘ s selling as he is probably the most ‘ SALE ABLE COMMODITY’ . if it happens then l believe it could be the coach’s first big mistake.
What really gets me though is C.H.’s underpaying indifference in the article saying ” l have a BIT of sympathy for J.W.P. who has clearly done nothing wrong.” l would not wish to receive a reference like that! please look at his work rate and comparative statistics !
Perhaps he should be more mouthy then ?