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Let’s begin with a enjoyable truth. Set pieces (corners and free kicks) account for round 25-30% of objectives scored in ‘elite soccer.’
It can come as no shock that Manchester Metropolis (21) and Liverpool (19) topped the Premier League
desk this season from set items.

Newcastle are not at all bereft on this division, ending 7 th this season. With set piece objectives
making up 32% of complete objectives scored for Newcastle this season.
James Ward-Prowse (JWP) extensively impressed this season, with 4 objectives direct from free kicks. Signing
JWP would improve Newcastle drastically in a key attacking space for subsequent season.
With Newcastle trying so as to add additional creativity in midfield, JWP suits the invoice. Labelled because the ‘finest
free kick tacker on this planet’ by Pep Guardiola.
What would JWP deliver to Tyneside and would he be a very good slot in an already highly effective Newcastle Midfield?
Physique:
James Michael Edward Ward-Prowse, 5 foot 8 and 66kgs, performs for Southampton in centre midfield.
Becoming a member of Southampton’s youth workforce at simply 8 years previous. JWP has performed greater than 300 video games for the
south coast membership.
JWP made his first workforce debut in 2011 at 16 years previous within the league cup towards Crystal Palace.
Displaying promise, in simply his second first workforce begin, JWP scored in a 2-1 win over Coventry metropolis within the
FA cup.
It didn’t take lengthy for JWP to make his Premier League debut within the 2012/13 season towards
Manchester Metropolis. In a efficiency described as “Excellent” by Nigel Adkins the Southampton
Supervisor on the time. His stellar play led to a 5-year contract; nonetheless he was used principally as a
substitute with the inconsistent play you’ll anticipate from most 18 12 months olds.
It wasn’t till the 2013/14 season, below new supervisor Mauricio Pochettino, the place JWP really started
to shine and make his mark within the league. Scoring free kicks, taking most set items, JWP turned a
lifeless ball specialist for Southampton. Offering reliability and consistency over the subsequent eight years
on the membership.
In March 2017, he made his debut for England in a pleasant towards Germany. Since then, he has had
11 caps with 2 objectives for the three lions. Taking part in nicely below Gareth Southgate’s regular stewardship (till
lately).
JWP turned captain of Southampton in 2020 and in January 2022, after a free kick purpose towards
Wolves, he turned joint second within the checklist of most free-kick objectives in Premier League historical past with a
complete of 12, solely trailing the legendary David Beckham (18).
JWP performs principally as an attacking midfielder and would sit in entrance of Joelinton and Bruno, he can
even be deployed on the proper wing or as an emergency proper again. We’ve got coated his deal ball
means and has one of the best free-kick conversion charge within the Premier League since 2003 (Opta).
Additional, JWP is understood for his distinctive health he provides a layer of creativity from set items and
midfield that Newcastle may strongly profit from. Let’s check out whether or not he addresses the
deficiencies we have to strengthen within the centre of the park – progressive passes, creativity, go
completion charge and objectives scored.
Evaluation
Fundamental stats and creativity: A

James had a terrific 21/22 season at 27 years previous he’s proper in the midst of his prime as a
midfielder and it has proven. He’s a terrific penalty taker and purpose scorer. Additional evaluation uncovers
his “Prowess” creatively, James is within the 83 rd percentile for anticipated objectives and 88 th percentile for
Xa(A go that assists a shot).
Nonetheless, a whole lot of the artistic and purpose scoring menace JWP possesses comes from lifeless ball
conditions. Which isn’t essentially a foul factor, seeing as greater than 25% of objectives come from set
items within the Premier League.
That is additional highlighted by his 3.16 shot creating actions per sport and astronomical 0.11 Purpose
creating actions from lifeless balls. JWP is not any slouch in open play barely above common in ‘passing that
results in a shot’, with Southampton (like Newcastle) not having a prime tier purpose scoring striker up
entrance. You’ll anticipate this stat to enhance if he have been in a extra gifted facet.
James provides a artistic menace from set items in addition to in open play and most significantly scores
objectives. He was Southampton’s prime scorer within the league this season with 10 objectives and would add extra
of an attacking menace to Newcastle United.
Fundamental stats and Creativity: A
Passing

Firstly, I do just like the variety of passes performed per sport and I really like the progressive passing distance in
JWP’s sport. An eye fixed sore is the go completion charge of 78.4% for midfielders, this may be defined
by evaluating JWP to attacking midfielders fairly than conventional ‘midfielders’ which might bump
his rating up a good bit.
Then again, JWP has poor accuracy with lengthy distance passes with a dismal 44.5% completion
charge, this isn’t adequate particularly contemplating 23% of all passes per sport have been lengthy. There’s
both one thing tactically improper at Southampton or he must get rid of it from his sport.
Two space’s Newcastle want a stark enchancment in are crosses into the penalty space and progressive
passing, James addresses the previous indefinitely, offering crosses from an attacking midfield
place and is barely above common in progressive passes which might be a modest enchancment.
Lastly, JWP clearly provides creativity from each a lifeless ball and stay state of affairs together with his passing vary.
1.96 key passes per sport (go resulting in a shot) could be a welcome addition at Newcastle and
passing into the ultimate third. While he isn’t the best within the league, it will be a transparent
Passing: B
Defence

dismal 20% of dribblers tackled. JWP provides little worth with out the ball. One thing that’s a watch sore
within the trendy sport.
While being touted as match and energetic, James provides little stress. Nonetheless, probably because of the
expertise he has enjoying within the Premier League, when he does stress, he’s comparatively profitable.
An enormous optimistic is the 11.59 ball recoveries JWP wins per sport, which ranks him within the 85 th percentile a
clear bonus.
The few benefits he does have are unsurprisingly throughout and submit defensive set items, the place he
has a nous for blocking pictures and passes. He’s first rate at intercepting the ball. In abstract James
wouldn’t be signed due to his defensive prowess.
Protection: C+
Possession:

We’ve got coated here how dire Newcastle have been this season with touches per sport, notably within the closing third. JWP addresses this and can offered an outlet on this space of the pitch with 22.14 touches per sport within the opposition closing third.
Don’t anticipate JWP to dribble typically, in these positions. When he does, he appears to make the proper
resolution and isn’t dispossessed. JWP doesn’t carry the ball into the opposition space and to be
honest that isn’t actually his sport, as he rightly opts to cross the ball from the wing place.
JWP possesses terrific management, hardly ever miscontrolling the ball, within the 98 th percentile at 0.28 per 90.
Whereas he will get into good positions, he doesn’t obtain sufficient progressive passes which is a slight
concern, as that is an space that wants addressing for Newcastle United this off season.
Possession: B
Conclusion
James Ward-Prowse is somebody we clearly have an curiosity in signing and rightly so. He would deliver
one other desperately wanted purpose scoring dimension to the workforce and would sharpen our robust goal-
scoring functionality from set items.
Including creativity, assists and shot creation is one other clear space James improves. Moreover, if he
reduce a couple of of these errand lengthy passes out of his sport, he would vastly enhance our go completion
charge within the centre of the park.
Throw in an added bonus of further crosses and subtract an absence of defensive nous and you’ve got
an attention-grabbing recipe for this switch window.
James shouldn’t be getting any youthful and at 27 is approaching the age that Dan Ashworth might want to
keep away from, that is considerably mitigated by the Premier League expertise James possesses.
Lastly, the value reported is a ridiculous £75m, if that’s to be believed there are a lot better gamers
(like Paqueta) I might fairly see coming to Tyneside this window.
What number of Bruno’s out of 5?

What do you suppose? Is James value £75 million or would you fairly Newcastle prioritise the striker
and wing positions?
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