West Ham: James Ward-Prowse - The Ultimate Game-Changer for Declan Rice's Position and a Masterstroke in Transfer Strategy

James Ward-Prowse showcased his renowned golf swing celebration last weekend, reminding fans of its undeniable charm. It was not in reference to his exceptional dead-ball swing, although that too is widely celebrated, but rather his goal-scoring celebration. This particular moment marked Ward-Prowse's inaugural goal for West Ham, a significant achievement considering he had recently concluded his 20-year tenure with Southampton to embark on a fresh adventure in London.

The finish didn't resemble Ward-Prowse's textbook technique. It lacked the signature David Beckham-style curve from a set-piece scenario. However, it showcased a player poised for success in his new environment, fully capable of stepping into the significant role once held by Declan Rice.

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Ward-Prowse has shown great potential, contributing to three goals in just two starts (scoring one and providing two assists). He has also been impressive in the league, with a total of seven goal contributions in his last six appearances, including for Saints. It's an impressive tally and a testament to his consistent performance.

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We will further explore the qualities that make Ward-Prowse an ideal replacement for Rice, despite his exclusion from the English team, and highlight how his versatility can contribute to a significantly enhanced performance in the upcoming domestic season at the London Stadium.

Ward-Prowse has consistently been ranked as one of the top central midfielders in the Premier League, and his statistics prove why. Surprisingly, despite his impressive numbers, there has been a lack of interest and enthusiasm for his services this summer.

Rice's fit with Arsenal has always been apparent. However, as top clubs like Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester United, and Manchester City battle over midfielders, both from within the Premier League or the European leagues, it seems like an opportunity was missed. The chance to sign Rice at a significantly lower price was likely due to Southampton's relegation to the Championship. West Ham managed to acquire Ward-Prowse for a fraction of the fees Chelsea paid for Caicedo (£115m) or Liverpool paid for Szoboszlai (£60m), for instance. It is expected that Alexis Mac Allister's fee will rise to £55m, while Enzo Fernandez cost Chelsea £106m in January. Meanwhile, Romeo Lavia, Ward-Prowse's midfield partner at Southampton, was purchased by Chelsea for £53m.

Despite acknowledging the impressive qualities and potential of the aforementioned players to make significant contributions to their clubs, it remains a valid question: why has Ward-Prowse been disregarded by the top teams in the Premier League?

In comparison, the former Saints captain was acquired by the Hammers for a relatively modest fee of £30m. This investment allows David Moyes to secure a player with a proven track record in the Premier League, along with experience, leadership, athleticism, and numerous other attributes. Moreover, Ward-Prowse possesses an unrivaled talent for delivering set-pieces, surpassing any other player currently active in the English top flight, and potentially even worldwide.

Perhaps it is Ward-Prowse's defensive prowess? Unlikely. Ward-Prowse demonstrated his exceptional stamina last season, covering an impressive 433km. This surpassed the distances covered by Pascal Gross (419km) and Rice (413km). Additionally, he excelled in terms of ball recoveries and possessions won in the middle third.

What about creativity? Once again, Ward-Prowse displayed great skill. He delivered the first goal for West Ham in their dominant 3-1 victory over Brighton last weekend, temporarily propelling them to the top of the Premier League under Moyes' leadership.

His new team has witnessed him already provide two assists, which is equal to the number achieved by Mo Salah, Phil Foden, or James Maddison this season. These initial indications are strong and simply build upon his evident effectiveness. During his last performance for Southampton, Ward-Prowse contributed to 25 percent of the team's goals from the defensive midfield position.

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

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This purchase may not have been flashy, but it is evident that Ward-Prowse sets high standards. However, as with any player approaching their 30s, there are some drawbacks that may not be immediately apparent.

As per the specifications, Ward-Prowse surpasses most of his competitors in terms of distance covered and playing time. This is a testament to his exemplary professionalism, as he takes great pride in his unwavering dedication and commitment.

A public bid had already been made for Southampton's poster boy when he stepped on the field for his boyhood club's final game. Despite knowing talks were moving quickly for his departure, Saints boss Russell Martin had faith in him, allowing him to play the full 90 minutes against Sheffield Wednesday in early August. Ward-Prowse, undeterred, displayed a level of focus that was seemingly stronger than ever.

In addition, it is exactly what he would have desired - to bid a grand farewell to the club he became a part of at the age of eight. As expected, his pass to Che Adams resulted in the winning goal in the 87th minute - a fitting conclusion.

Now, let's jump ahead to his debut with West Ham a few weeks later, where everything went back to normal. The fact that Ward-Prowse outshined Chelsea's £222m midfield duo, one of whom missed a penalty (Enzo Fernandez) and the other conceded one (Moises Caicedo), perfectly encapsulates the situation.

While Fernandez attempted 109 passes, Ward-Prowse's impact on the game was much more significant. On that day, Ward-Prowse made history by becoming the first West Ham player to provide two assists on their Premier League debut. This was his 25th set-play assist since joining the competition in 2012, with only Christian Eriksen having more (29).

"His character is very similar to Declan Rice," Moyes stated. Ward-Prowse is the player that West Ham needs, despite being four years older than his predecessor. He possesses the same determined work ethic and arguably even more skill.

Crafty yet creative

To begin with, the Hammers have demonstrated exceptional speed in their forward play this season, covering a remarkable distance of 2.26 metres per second during open-play sequences. This speed surpasses that of all other teams, with Manchester United coming in second at 1.81m/s.

Last season, David Moyes' team achieved an impressive third position in this category, showcasing their effective counter-attack strategy. They excelled at swiftly transitioning from defense to attack, capitalizing on the speed and skill of their wingers, namely Jarrod Bowen and Said Benrahma. Furthermore, their ability to breach opposing defensive lines allowed Michail Antonio to utilize his pace and chase down opportunities.

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West Ham has consistently adopted a defensive approach, as demonstrated by their preference for sitting deeper. In fact, no other team in the league has shown a greater inclination to retreat, as evidenced by their average starting position for open-play passing sequences, which stands at a league-low of 35.1m from their own goal line.

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During his tenure at West Ham, Rice played a pivotal role in propelling the team forward on the pitch. As the club's former captain, he impressively covered a distance of 3,828m while dribbling the ball last season, surpassing all but three players: Antonee Robinson, Lewis Dunk, and Rodri.

On the other hand, Ward-Prowse, representing Southampton, recorded just over 1,000m in the same metric during that particular campaign. Though he may not exhibit the same level of forward drive on the ball, Ward-Prowse compensates by showcasing exceptional passing skills. One could argue that this swift transition between plays complements West Ham's playing style even more effectively.

The heat maps below demonstrate Ward-Prowse's tendency to operate in a deeper role compared to Rice, prioritizing enhanced defensive coverage and countering threats from deep positions. In contrast, Rice has progressively ventured into more advanced positions in recent seasons.

Nonetheless, Ward-Prowse's positional adjustment has not hindered his offensive contributions. In fact, the expert at taking set-pieces consistently outperforms Rice in all significant attacking statistics, demonstrating a wider scope of menace beyond his prowess with dead ball situations.

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

West Ham's aerial dominance and proficiency in set-plays were evident last season, with a remarkable 15.1 expected goals registered, outperforming all but Newcastle, Everton, and Liverpool. Furthermore, they topped the charts with a staggering 623 aerials won, second only to Brentford. By adding Ward-Prowse to the squad, West Ham's already formidable aerial threat, set-piece prowess, and potent counter-attacking strategy from deep are further amplified.

Ward-Prowse's work-rate sets him apart from his peers. As previously stated, the 28-year-old astonishingly covered a league-leading 433km during the last season, surpassing both Gross (419km) and Rice (413km). To put it into perspective, this distance translates to running over 10 marathons or making two round trips between St Mary's and the London Stadium, as the crow flies.

Moreover, Ward-Prowse outpaced all other players in both the 2019/20 and 2021/22 seasons, with Tomas Soucek ranking second on that list.

Soucek is actually the sole player who has covered more distance than Ward-Prowse in a season over the past three years. He achieved this feat by leading the list in the 2020/21 season. Interestingly, both players are now teammates. Don't miss the live broadcast of the Luton vs West Ham match on We Main Event this Friday, starting at 7pm with kick-off at 8pm.