Graham Potter Set to Unlock Deadly Double Act. West Ham’s decision to recall midfielder James Ward-Prowse from his unsuccessful loan spell at Nottingham Forest was greeted with a lukewarm response.
During a less-than-exciting transfer window, the return of a player already on West Ham’s books failed to capture the imagination.
However, from the little I’ve seen of new Hammers boss Graham Potter so far, I am confident that the new gaffer will be able to get the very best out of Ward-Prowse.
Potter is nothing if not a pragmatist. Unlike former head coach Julen Lopetegui, the Hammers’ new manager does not ask players to do tasks they are incapable of. The resurgence in performance and confidence of the squad under the new boss is no accident, and I can’t imagine why it would be any different with Ward-Prowse.
Potter will be fully aware that JWP’s main asset is his delivery. For that reason, I would not be at all surprised if we see him deployed on the right of midfield when he plays. Ward-Prowse has a reputation as a dead-ball specialist, but he can also be deadly accurate from wide positions.
It was not something we regularly saw under David Moyes, who preferred to utilise the £25 million signing from Southampton as a workaholic No. 10 or even on the left-hand side of midfield, where his qualities were completely blunted.
Therefore, I would not be surprised if Potter does quite the opposite and views Ward-Prowse as a way to unlock the undoubted potential of loan signing Evan Ferguson.
The 20-year-old Irish striker is deadly in the air and has the physical attributes to trouble most central defenders, but delivery will be a key factor. So don’t be surprised if, at some point in the near future, we see West Ham shaping up tactically for Ward-Prowse to load the bullets for the big fella.
