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Southampton: Analysis of James Ward-Prowse’s set-piece production

ByMarc Walker|
Southampton's English midfielder James Ward-Prowse during the English Premier League football match between Southampton and Manchester United at St Mary's Stadium in Southampton, southern England on November 29, 2020. (Photo by Naomi Baker / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by NAOMI BAKER/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Southampton's English midfielder James Ward-Prowse during the English Premier League football match between Southampton and Manchester United at St Mary's Stadium in Southampton, southern England on November 29, 2020. (Photo by Naomi Baker / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by NAOMI BAKER/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Southampton midfielder James Ward-Prowse is renowned in the Premier League for his ability to deliver set-pieces with unerring accuracy.

Alongside this, he is becoming a very strong all-round midfielder who is thriving under Ralph Hasenhuttl’s leadership.

His set-pieces continue to be a vital part of his team’s performances though and have produced a number of goals and assists already in the 2020/21 season.

Given that he is rated so highly in this regard, just how valuable are Ward-Prowse’s dead ball deliveries to the Saints?

I created a graphic – released on my Twitter account below – that shows the goals, assists and chances created from JWP’s corners and free-kicks, but I’ll go through the main headlines here too (graphic produced using the StatsZone app)

If we take a look at free-kicks first, it is notable that all of his goals from direct set-pieces in the last two years have been from left to central areas just outside the penalty box.

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This may be because he prefers the ball to be bending away from the goalkeeper and a more natural angle instead of towards him and potentially giving a better chance for a save.

Interestingly, over a third of his free-kicks inside the final third of the pitch make something happen.

Taking a look at goals, assists, shots on target and chances created, 36.1% of his deliveries close to the penalty area produce one of these – creating a chance for a goal directly or via an assist for his team regularly.

If we now move onto corners, the rate of chances created drops but will for any player given how difficult it is to score from them.

On average, Ward-Prowse produces an opportunity to score for a teammate from 18.6% of his corners, with left-sided in-swingers proving most effective for him since December 2018.

Looking at all set-pieces together in all positions on the pitch, he scores, assists, shoots on target or creates a chance 21.7% of the time.

In all, it is fair to say that set-pieces continue to be a very strong asset for Saints and they can count on their captain to make things happen when they need him.