James Ward-Prowse

[TRO]

11 minutes ago, Peter Griffin said:

Yeah, I agree with that. I feel for the money that is suggested for JWP (anywhere from 40m to 70m) we should be able to get a better player, maybe a couple of years younger that could help bring Villa to the next level. I feel JWP would be a nice addition and would score some goals but we would want rid of him in a few years. We have that type of purchase with Ings and I am happy we bought Ings but he will not be here in a few years. 

I like JWP...but because they can't see life without him, the price is puntitive.....just a bit on the slight side too for me ...I want physical presence, to compliment a player who is comfortable on the ball and as well as winning the ball ,can start attacks.

I feel this one is going to be too expensive, due to their reluctance to sell.

Edited August 13, 2021 by TRO

[Peter Griffin]

1 minute ago, TRO said:

I feel this one is going to be too expensive

Me too

[macandally]

Some bizarre responses here, “I haven’t watched him but £40m is too much just for free kicks”

Try watching a few highlights before saying stuff like this, the midfield is the engine and sets the tempo for the game, it was what the Keanes and Vieras of this world excelled at.  If you think we want JWP for free kicks and not the ability to control the game tempo you may as well play Connor and you are totally missing where his value is to the team.

[TRO]

1 minute ago, macandally said:

Some bizarre responses here, “I haven’t watched him but £40m is too much just for free kicks”

Try watching a few highlights before saying stuff like this, the midfield is the engine and sets the tempo for the game, it was what the Keanes and Vieras of this world excelled at.  If you think we want JWP for free kicks and not the ability to control the game tempo you may as well play Connor and you are totally missing where his value is to the team.

You do make a very good point.

Bang on the money.

[Dave-R]

33 minutes ago, Peter Griffin said:

If we sign him I hope you are correct. At the moment, I see nothing. more in JWP than a dead ball specialist. I am not knocking the role of a dead ball specialist but I would be nervous he wouldn't add to our football. I suppose I haven't seen enough of him play other that the odd game against us and the highlights on MOTD / Sky and highlights of JWP tend to be free kicks

I feel the same and I'd be worried that we would have another Hourihane (despite he'd be better) with us. Don't want Smith to feel JWP sometimes struggles to fit in games because you feel he can't be added to games due to a lack of something in his game. Yet they can't be taken out either because of there free kicks and ability to score in games are to important to let go that it starts costing us . If it's one thing I've been glad for since Hourihane has not been playing for us it's that we now dont have these constant conversations on VT about how weak overall in midfield Conor is but at the same time you have to play him for his set pieces, I don't want us to be in that situation again.

For me it's get someone strong at every area in CM, they are there to find and they will cost. We're now trying to get to a top 6 spot and to achieve money does have to be spend and we will most likely have to over spend on an Excellent CM, just don't Overspend on  set pieces alone.

[hippo]

I think he is number 1 target - and we are still hopeful of landing him. If come late August we haven't we will probably move onto the other rumoured targets.

[TRO]

3 minutes ago, Dave-R said:

I feel the same and I'd be worried that we would have another Hourihane (despite he'd be better) with us. Don't want Smith to feel JWP sometimes struggles to fit in games because you feel he can't be added to games due to a lack of something in his game. Yet they can't be taken out either because of there free kicks and ability to score in games are to important to let go that it starts costing us . If it's one thing I've been glad for since Hourihane has not been playing for us it's that we now dont have these constant conversations on VT about how weak overall in midfield Conor is but at the same time you have to play him for his set pieces, I don't want us to be in that situation again.

For me it's get someone strong at every area in CM, they are there to find and they will cost. We're now trying to get to a top 6 spot and to achieve money does have to be spend and we will most likely have to over spend on an Excellent CM, just don't Overspend on  set pieces alone.

I think he is more than just a set piece specialist.....but personally, I want to see a similar player, but with physical attributes and presence.

I think defending set pieces we are a bit vulnerable at the back post a decent size CDM can help with that, the centre backs can't do it all in the air.....I have nothing against smaller players, but a good mix is paramount....its horses for courses.

[Mic09]

Is it the old story of 'if he played for Benfica and was called Jamez Wardprowsinho' he would be worth £50m?

[StefanAVFC]

52 minutes ago, TRO said:

Ndidi, Bissouma is the type for me.....maybe Anguissa or Doucoure, but haven't studied them enough.

Ndidi - 5'11

Doucoure 5'11

Bissouma - 6'

Anguissa - 6'1 but just got relegated and no one seems to be sniffing

Sorry to say it, but I feel like people want a black bloke in midfield and there's this weird pre-disposition that every one of these players are tall, when they're just not.

58 minutes ago, TRO said:

athletic for mobility, power and ball control to help them stay ON the ball.

Ward-Prowse has both of these in abundance, more so than the others on the above list. To stay on the ball, you don't need to be a 6'+ black bloke. Look at McGinn.

[ferguson1]

44 minutes ago, macandally said:

Some bizarre responses here, “I haven’t watched him but £40m is too much just for free kicks”

Try watching a few highlights before saying stuff like this, the midfield is the engine and sets the tempo for the game, it was what the Keanes and Vieras of this world excelled at.  If you think we want JWP for free kicks and not the ability to control the game tempo you may as well play Connor and you are totally missing where his value is to the team.

Thank you. The amount of stick I got for suggesting we sign JWP earlier this summer was ridiculous. 

He’s not just a dead ball specialist but someone that can keep possession well and control a midfield. Something we lack in abundance.  

[Vive_La_Villa]

Any news. I’m at the stage I’ll be a little disappointed if we didn’t sign him now. On top of his ability and set pieces he’s also a leader. Can never have too many leaders on the pitch.

Kind of sounds like he would have to force a move to leave though and he doesn’t seem the type to do that. 

[Peter Griffin]

There is clearly a little debate over whether we should sign JWP or not. How much do people think we should pay and at what price should we walk away? My view is 30m +.addons

[turvontour]

Our odds on signing him have drifted a fair bit in the last few days. Gone from odds on to odds against.

[Tommo_b]

It depends what we actually want…. Someone to put in great set pieces or someone with more “presence”’to break up the play.

I’d love JWP as with Ollie, Mings, konsa and Ings on the end of his set pieces, oh my goodness, that would take us up a couple of league positions alone. 
 

If not, Bissouma is the one we should look at, what a player. 

[jacketspuds]

I still think we need Ward-Prowse and Doucoure. Even if Ward-Prowse costs £45m I feel that it's worth it. He is coming in to his prime, he is a captain with proven PL experience. Not to mention his excellent set piece delivery, but he is not a one trick pony.

Ward-Prowse would be excellent for us, and Doucoure would provide great competition for Nakamba. If we can get both for a combined £55m that would be a net spend of approx. £50m, for all the players we have signed this summer. Then we can recoup some of it through player sales as well.

[Vive_La_Villa]

7 minutes ago, Peter Griffin said:

There is clearly a little debate over whether we should sign JWP or not. How much do people think we should pay and at what price should we walk away? My view is 30m +.addons

I think anything about 50m including addons is where the club should probably leave it. 

[Awol]

22 minutes ago, StefanAVFC said:

Sorry to say it, but I feel like people want a black bloke in midfield and there's this weird pre-disposition that every one of these players are tall, when they're just not.

Based. 

[Jareth]

Won't be anything else on this till after the weekend surely

[PerryBarrPet]

11 minutes ago, turvontour said:

Our odds on signing him have drifted a fair bit in the last few days. Gone from odds on to odds against.

I don’t trust odds. We can all remember when the odds suggested Grealish would stay!

[QldVilla]

48 minutes ago, TRO said:

I think he is more than just a set piece specialist.....but personally, I want to see a similar player, but with physical attributes and presence.

I think defending set pieces we are a bit vulnerable at the back post a decent size CDM can help with that, the centre backs can't do it all in the air.....I have nothing against smaller players, but a good mix is paramount....its horses for courses.

Agree with the methodology, but you can be 3 inches shorter than another player but have a superior vertical leap which can match that player in the air. They would have the data.