Unveiling West Ham's Game-Changer: James Ward-Prowse – The Ultimate Declan Rice Successor!

James Ward-Prowse showcased his renowned swing celebration last weekend, reminiscent of his impressive golf swing. This marked his first goal for West Ham, a remarkable achievement considering he had recently departed from his long-standing 20-year tenure with Southampton.

The finish did not resemble Ward-Prowse's signature textbook style, lacking the David Beckham-esque curl from a set-piece scenario. Nonetheless, it reflected the potential of a player poised to excel in his fresh environment, fully capable of stepping into the significantly big shoes once occupied by Declan Rice.

Luton Town

West Ham United

Friday 1st September 7:00pm

Kick off 8:00pm

Ward-Prowse has shown great potential, having played a part in three goals in just two starting games (one goal and two assists). In his last six appearances in the league (including for Saints), he has contributed to a total of seven goals. This is an impressive record.

Please alert Gareth Southgate. We will explore Ward-Prowse's qualities as a potential replacement for Rice, even though he has been overlooked for the England team. Additionally, we will discuss how his versatility can contribute to a highly improved domestic season at the London Stadium.

Ward-Prowse has consistently been ranked among the Premier League's top central midfielders. His statistics speak for themselves. However, the lack of demand for his services this summer did not align with his impressive performance on the field.

Rice and Arsenal always seemed like a good fit, but with teams like Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester United, and Manchester City actively searching for midfielders from both the Premier League and European leagues, it feels like a missed opportunity to secure a talented player at a lower price.

Thanks to Southampton's relegation to the Championship, West Ham was able to sign Ward-Prowse for a fraction of the amount that Chelsea paid for Moises Caicedo (£115m) or Liverpool paid for Dominik Szoboszlai (£60m). It is expected that the fee for Alexis Mac Allister will reach £55m, while Enzo Fernandez cost Chelsea £106m in January. Romeo Lavia, Ward-Prowse's midfield partner at Southampton, was acquired by Chelsea for £53m.

It is important to acknowledge the qualities and potential of the mentioned players and their ability to make significant impacts at their clubs. However, the question still remains unanswered - why have the top teams in the Premier League overlooked Ward-Prowse?

In comparison, the former Saints captain was acquired by the Hammers for a modest price of £30m. This investment provides David Moyes with a player who possesses a proven track record in the Premier League, valuable experience, leadership qualities, great athleticism, and a wide range of skills. Additionally, Ward-Prowse's dead ball technique is unparalleled, surpassing that of any other player currently active in the English top flight, and perhaps even the world.

Perhaps it's Ward-Prowse's defensive prowess then? Nope. Last season, Ward-Prowse covered an impressive distance of 433km, surpassing Pascal Gross (419km) and Rice (413km), while also excelling in ball recoveries and winning possessions in the midfield. To put it into perspective, the 28-year-old outpaced all other players in both the 2019/20 and 2021/22 seasons.

As for creativity? Once again, the results speak for themselves. Ward-Prowse delivered the opening blow for West Ham, helping his team secure a convincing 3-1 victory over Brighton. This win allowed Moyes' side to briefly claim the top spot in the Premier League.

His new team has witnessed him register two assists already, matching the tally of Mo Salah, Phil Foden, and James Maddison this season. The initial indications are encouraging, and they are simply an extension of his evident effectiveness. During his farewell performance for Southampton, Ward-Prowse, operating from the defensive midfield position, contributed to a remarkable 25 percent of the team's overall goal count.

The box-to-box type, with a powerful engine, a creative eye and unrivalled set-piece ability - all for £30m. Can't be bad.

Savviest summer business?

This purchase may not have been particularly impressive. Despite Ward-Prowse's exceptional performance, there are some disadvantages that come with a player reaching their thirties. However, these drawbacks are not readily apparent.

As previously mentioned, Ward-Prowse surpasses his competitors in terms of distance covered and minutes played. This is a testament to his exceptional work ethic and unwavering commitment to his craft.

Southampton's poster boy had already received a public bid when he took to the field in what would ultimately be his last game for his beloved childhood club. Despite the knowledge that negotiations for his departure were advancing swiftly, Saints manager Russell Martin had faith in him, granting him the opportunity to showcase his skills for the entire 90 minutes against Sheffield Wednesday in early August. Undeterred by the impending transfer, Ward-Prowse performed with an unwavering focus, displaying a level of determination that seemed stronger than ever.

Furthermore, it is exactly what he had desired - bidding a magnificent farewell to the club he had become a part of at the young age of eight. As expected, his skillful pass reached Che Adams, who scored the winning goal in the 87th minute - a perfect way to conclude.

Now, let's fast forward to his first appearance for West Ham, a few weeks later, and everything was as usual. The noteworthy aspect is that Ward-Prowse outshone Chelsea's highly valued midfield duo worth £222m. One of them, Enzo Fernandez, missed a penalty, while the other, Moises Caicedo, conceded one. This beautifully encapsulates the situation.

Fernandez attempted 109 passes, overshadowing Ward-Prowse's 23. However, Ward-Prowse had a much greater impact on the game. On that day, he became the first West Ham player to provide two assists on their Premier League debut. Since his first appearance in 2012, Ward-Prowse has made 25 set-play assists, second only to Christian Eriksen's 29.

Moyes praised Ward-Prowse, saying his character resembles that of Declan Rice. He is exactly the type of player West Ham needs, even though he is four years older than his predecessor. Ward-Prowse possesses the same determined work ethic and perhaps even more skill.

Crafty yet creative

One reason is that the Hammers have outpaced all other teams this season in terms of advancing up the field, recording a speed of 2.26 meters per second during open-play sequences. This rate is significantly faster than the second-ranked team, Manchester United, who come in at 1.81 m/s.

David Moyes' team finished third in this metric last season as well, thanks to their effective counter-attack strategy. They often start quickly in transition, utilizing fast wingers such as Jarrod Bowen or Said Benrahma, or exploiting defensive weaknesses for Michail Antonio to exploit.

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West Ham has excelled in defense by adopting a deep sitting strategy. In fact, they have outperformed all other teams this season in terms of defensive positioning, as their average starting position for passing sequences during open play sits at a league-low of 35.1m from their own goal line.

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During his time at the club, Rice undeniably played a significant role in West Ham's advancement up the pitch. In the previous season, their ex-captain impressively covered a distance of 3,828m while carrying the ball, placing him behind only Antonee Robinson, Lewis Dunk, and Rodri in this category. In contrast, Ward-Prowse, representing Southampton, registered slightly over 1,000m using the same metric, indicating that he focuses more on passing rather than driving forward with the ball. This faster transition in gameplay arguably aligns even better with the Hammers' preferred style of play.

The following heat maps demonstrate the contrasting positioning of Ward-Prowse and Rice. Ward-Prowse is usually positioned deeper on the field, prioritizing defensive duties and effectively countering threats from deep areas. In contrast, Rice has gradually ventured into more advanced positions in recent seasons, contributing to attacking plays.

Nevertheless, Ward-Prowse's shift to a deeper position does not hinder his impact in attack. In fact, the maestro excels in every significant offensive statistic, outclassing Rice and displaying a greater variety of threats beyond his expertise in set-pieces.

But, of course, his ability from set-pieces is arguably unrivalled in the Premier League - and this also suits West Ham.

West Ham had an impressive record for set-plays last season, accumulating 15.1 expected goals, surpassing the numbers achieved by Newcastle, Everton, and Liverpool. Furthermore, they dominated in aerial duels, winning 623 of them, falling behind only Brentford. With Ward-Prowse now part of the team, West Ham's renowned aerial prowess, proficiency in set-pieces, and effective counter-attacks from deep positions are greatly enhanced.

Ward-Prowse's work-rate sets him apart from the rest. Last season, the 28-year-old covered an impressive distance of 433km, surpassing Pascal Gross (419km) and Rice (413km) to claim the top spot in the league. To put this into perspective, that's equivalent to running more than 10 marathons or making two round trips between St Mary's and the London Stadium, as the crow flies.

Furthermore, Ward-Prowse outperformed all other players in both the 2019/20 and 2021/22 seasons, with Tomas Soucek ranking second in the latter.

Soucek is the sole player who has covered a greater distance than Ward-Prowse in a single season over the last three years. He held the top position on the list in the 2020/21 season, and now they are teammates.

Catch the live match between Luton and West Ham on Friday at 8pm, streaming on We Main Event starting from 7pm.