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Southampton: Where does James Ward-Prowse fit in this season?

By Edward Waugh

KUNSHAN, CHINA - JULY 05: James Ward-Prowse of Southampton FC looks on during the 2018 Clubs Super Cup match between Schalke and Southampton at Kunshan Sports Center Stadium on July 5, 2018 in Kunshan, Jiangsu Provinceon, China. (Photo by Lintao Zhang/Getty Images)
KUNSHAN, CHINA - JULY 05: James Ward-Prowse of Southampton FC looks on during the 2018 Clubs Super Cup match between Schalke and Southampton at Kunshan Sports Center Stadium on July 5, 2018 in Kunshan, Jiangsu Provinceon, China. (Photo by Lintao Zhang/Getty Images) /
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The 23-year-old saw limited game time towards the end of the 2017/18 campaign, beaten to the first team by the likes of Mario Lemina and Oriol Romeu, as well as often being forced to play out of the right.

To add, with fellow midfielders Jordy Clasie and Harrison Reed returning from their respective loan spells, and the signing of Stuart Armstrong from Celtic, it becomes harder to understand where Ward-Prowse fits into Southampton’s plans for this upcoming campaign.

The reason for this would be the system in which Saints are currently operating under Mark Hughes, since his arrival as well as the current pre-season in a 3-4-2-1, though it might not be completely evident on the surface as to why the young Englishman might struggle in this system.

Starting on his more natural position in the centre of midfield, this system would require Ward-Prowse to act as one of two defensive midfielders as a way of cover for the two wide players to push up the flanks and exploit space – however the academy graduate stats easily point out why this would be a bad fit not just for the player, but for team balance.

Via WhoScored.com, Ward-Prowse posted numbers of 0.8 tackles, 0.3 interceptions and 0.6 clearances per game, across 30 Premier League appearances last season (20 starts, 10 sub), to add ‘Tackling’ is one of the Portsmouth-born star’s listed weaknesses.

This becomes even worse reading when compared to his teammates, for example Oriol Romeu posted numbers 2.7 tackles, 2 interceptions and 2.1 clearances per game across 34 Premier League starts last season (via WhoScored.com)

It could be argued that these stats are a little unfair on Ward-Prowse given they were recorded from him playing out wide as a right-winger and that therefore not overly accurate, however many fans would most likely agree that the 5’8 man does not have the stature nor capabilities to be a fit in this role especially with there being other players such as Oriol Romeu, Mario Lemina and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg that can fill this role more efficiently.

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WEST BROMWICH, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 03: James Ward-Prowse of Southampton celebrates scoring their third goal during the Premier League match between West Bromwich Albion and Southampton at The Hawthorns on February 3, 2018 in West Bromwich, England. (Photo by Tony Marshall/Getty Images)
WEST BROMWICH, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 03: James Ward-Prowse of Southampton celebrates scoring their third goal during the Premier League match between West Bromwich Albion and Southampton at The Hawthorns on February 3, 2018 in West Bromwich, England. (Photo by Tony Marshall/Getty Images) /

So how about out-wide either as a right-wing-back or right-winger? Given his defensive stats and lack of real explosiveness and tackling weakness, it can again be easily argued that the England international wouldn’t be a great fit in Cedric Soares’ position, especially with the likes of the upcoming Yan Valery looking likely to become backup and Harrison Reed having been utilised somewhat effectively there this pre-season.

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Which then leaves us at right-winger, which is where Ward-Prowse was most effective for Southampton, offensively the former England U-21 captain posted three goals, three assists, 1.2 key passes and was dispossessed just 0.4 times per game (again via WhoScored.com), however these numbers are not exactly exciting especially when he also posted 0.2 dribbles and 0.9 shots per game, as well as having his finishing listed as ‘Very Weak’.

To add to this argument again, when compared to players that could feature in this role this upcoming season in Stuart Armstrong and Nathan Redmond, it shows as them being better fits, with the two being impressive at times this pre-season so far playing as attacking outlets.

Statistically Redmond looks to be a better fit on paper for this role, recording one goal, three assists, 1.4 shots, 1.4 key passes and 1.8 dribbles per game (22 starts and nine sub) shows that the winger has the capabilities to cause the opposition defence more issues by stretching them out and providing space to be exploited by the wing-backs due to his more explosive side to his game. The same could be said for Armstrong going off his recent performances.

So then, what now for Ward-Prowse? Well it’s clear that the he is a very technically gifted player, however with the mentioned lack of explosiveness and finishing ability it still makes the young midfeilder a slightly awkward fit as an out and out attacking outlet and only improvements on these parts of his game will aid him in making the first-team in this role, it being where the academy graduate can be utilised the most in this current squad and system.