Formed by Hammers supporters Jack Elderton and Callum Goodall to offer their fellow fans in-depth but accessible analysis of their team and its players, Analytics United will provide content for the Club's official website, app, Official Programme and social media channels over the course of the 2023/24 season.
For their second column, Analytics United use performance analysis and data to examine the all-round contribution James Ward-Prowse will make to West Ham United...
West Ham United have confirmed the signing of 28-year-old midfielder James Ward-Prowse from Southampton.
The dead-ball specialist and ex-England international will bring huge experience and know-how to the dressing room with 343 Premier League appearances, 49 goals, and 40 assists racked up over an 11-year period as a regular in the Saints team.
Ward-Prowse has been an almost constant fixture on the south coast since breaking through in 2012 and has featured in more than 80% of Premier League matches in seven of the last nine seasons. Over the last four years, whilst captaining the side, he has appeared in every single fixture bar just two – both of which he missed through suspension.
When he is playing, no one comes close to running as far as him; our new No7 covered a staggering 433.4km last season, 14.5km more than any other player in the league, and roughly 21.5km more than Declan Rice. If there’s one thing that Ward-Prowse will certainly add, it’s an insistence on the highest standards and a refusal to let anything go easily on the pitch, qualities that will be needed after Rice’s departure in July.
His exemplary fitness and professionalism have been clear throughout his career but his ability from dead-ball situations has shone through just as much. Ridiculously, despite Ward-Prowse only being eleven years old at the time of Lionel Messi’s debut, only Messi himself (41) and Cristiano Ronaldo (31) have scored more free-kicks than Ward-Prowse (17) in that period.
Additionally, no player has recorded more shot assists from dead-ball situations (237) than Ward-Prowse across the last five Premier League seasons – that’s more than Trent Alexander-Arnold (196) and Kevin De Bruyne (140). Adding his set-piece delivery to a squad that includes aerially dominant players like Tomáš Souček, Kurt Zouma, and new boy Edson Álvarez, should prove to be a very effective move. Interestingly, West Ham ranked third for set-piece goals over the last three seasons, tied with Southampton on 41 – acquiring the best set-piece taker in recent Premier League history should see this tally rise in the coming season.
On top of all that he has provided from corners and free-kicks, Ward-Prowse has also scored 13 penalties in the Premier League over the course of his Southampton career, leaving David Moyes with a decision to make regarding who will have the responsibility of taking them this season. Saïd Benrahma has shown ice-cool form from the spot as recently as the UEFA Europa Conference League final, but it will be difficult to ignore Ward-Prowse’s track record.
As easy as it would be to talk exclusively about his productivity from set-pieces in this piece, Ward-Prowse is far more than just a dead-ball specialist, adding huge value from general play both in and out of possession, thanks in part to his calmness on the ball and impressive spatial awareness. His scanning of the pitch is a huge asset, allowing him to find pockets of space to receive the ball and provide cover for his full-backs.
Ward-Prowse’s greatest strength on the ball is his wide passing range, including slick one-two combinations and more direct, vertical passes that facilitate progression through the thirds. In the context of this West Ham side, the benefits of Ward-Prowse’s passing game are fourfold – his one-twos will help us play through opposition pressure, his cross-field switches will allow our wide players to receive the ball in space, his crossing from deep areas will increase our box threat, and his speed of execution will enable us to hit teams on the counter.
Whilst it’s all well and good being a positive contributor on the ball, any player that is going to thrive in a David Moyes side needs to offer something out of possession too – thankfully, Ward-Prowse fits the bill. As alluded to earlier, the eleven-cap England international is blessed with elite fitness levels and remarkable awareness, both of which serve him well when defending.
His impressive engine and diligent mentality make him a dogged and effective presser, capable of forcing turnovers in the middle of the park when given the license to do so. This should come as no real surprise given the time he spent working under ex-Southampton manager, Ralph Hasenhüttl, a self-professed disciple of the Red Bull school of thought, of which counter-pressing is a fundamental tenet.
Ward-Prowse is equally comfortable taking a more disciplined approach too, biding his time and regaining possession by intercepting passing lanes, rather than relentlessly harassing the opposition. Over the course of last season, only four players recorded more interceptions than Ward-Prowse (55). Declan Rice led the way at West Ham last season with 63 interceptions, whilst Moisés Caicedo, Cheick Doucouré, and Idrissa Gueye all hit 56.
In the context of this transfer window, the purchase of Ward-Prowse for a comparatively modest fee could prove to be one of the shrewder pieces of business conducted this summer. A consummate professional with a wealth of Premier League experience, exceptional leadership qualities, and a wicked delivery, West Ham fans will no doubt be enamoured by his effort, and excited every time we get a free-kick in the opposition half. Welcome to East London, James.
*The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of Analytics United and do not necessarily reflect the views opinions of West Ham United.
