this post was submitted on 15 Nov 2023
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I find it that people, and even our fans, relegate ward Prose to a set pieces merchant.
He has a great passing, good range, tries to vary short and longer passes, often goes to the easiest, yet efficient solution (compared to Paqueta who will try what looks crazy to him.. and still succeed).
I really feel safe with him, he is not a proper DM and maybe plays a bit too deep but he is a really fine player. Our fans were crazy about Downes and how he was misused but he was the kind of lateral passing. Ward Prose is such an upgrade (and for the price, he has to)
Tbf, Downes is younger, and while he was great at Ipswich (watched him there plenty since it's my dad's team) it's definitely a big step up (regardless of it from them or by way of a season at Swansea). The loan might do him a world of good and he could still prove a good squad player.
One big factor ultimately though is that Downes' best attributes are his consistency in performances, ability to win the ball back and to retain possession, he's not at all a creative player really. Ward-Prowse is all those good things but with a better range of passing and the x-factor of his set pieces. Maybe Downes can compete for the Alvarez style role post-loan (which I think would mean working a little extra on his defensive positioning), otherwise I have to admit he'll never be a starter when Ward-Prowse is fit
I like ward-prowse but I can’t say he’s ever had a game where I’m like “wow he absolutely he ran that game” which is what you get with great centre midfielders. He’s single handedly won us games with his deliveries but his contributions outside of that are often pretty forgettable.