Just in case there was any doubt, Nuno Espirito Santo was not lying when the manager said he planned to make full use of his West Ham United squad over the festive period.
The last few matchdays have seen some pretty substantial rotation – Nuno’s starting XI was labelled ‘mind-boggling’ by some and ‘diabolical’ by others before the 1-1 draw with Brighton – as well as a few Premier League debuts, and the odd unexpected return.
Teenage centre-back Ezra Mayers stepped off the bench at the Amex. Three days earlier, the imposing presence of Mohamadou Kante graced the top-flight stage for the first time as his fellow Frenchman Soungoutou Magassa rescued a point away to Manchester United.
Now, if the West Ham United faithful were clamouring for Kante’s involvement, it is fair to say most did not feel the same about another midfielder who found himself on the fringes of Nuno’s squad.
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A 31-year-old midfielder who was supposed to leave in the summer. Until it became clear that Espanyol could not afford Rodriguez’s La Liga homecoming, that is.
Whether anyone is willing to take Rodriguez, and his £75,000-a-week wages, off West Ham’s hands come January, only time will tell. For now, the fact that he made his first start since the opening weekend at Sunderland – and there was still no place in the matchday roster for James Ward-Prowse – should dispel any lingering notion of a shock recall for another forgotten man.
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Whenever a manager arrives promising a clean slate, as Nuno did when he replaced Graham Potter at the end of September, that often means a new beginning for players who had fallen out of faith under his predecessor.
“All players will get their chances,” Nuno pledged, speaking to Tipsbladet. “It is a new start.”
For both Guido Rodriguez and James Ward-Prowse, though, this could not have been further from reality. Until that tight draw on the South Coast, the much-maligned midfield duo had made only one appearance between them under Nuno.
And that belonged to Rodriguez, during the miserable home defeat by Brentford.
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A rare and unexpected start in the 14th matchday of the Premier League campaign, then, simply reiterated that Rodriguez is very much ahead of Ward-Prowse as far as Nuno’s pecking order is concerned.
You can probably say the same about the aforementioned Kante.
So, a man who started all five matches under Graham Potter from August until the end of September can now be considered behind Freddie Potts, Soungoutou Magassa, Mateus Fernandes, Tomas Soucek, Andy Irving, Rodriguez and Kante.
From first-choice to eighth in the blinking of an eye. If Nuno sees George Earthy as an option, Ward-Prowse might even slip to ninth.
Just what on earth happened during that loan spell at Nottingham Forest, one has to wonder?
Matt Le Tissier thinks a Southampton return is unlikely
Now, it would be a stretch to suggest Ward-Prowse is in something of a West Ham ‘bomb squad’.
The £30 million signing continues to train with the first-team at Rush Green, after all. But when a matchday rolls around, even Rodriguez and Kante are boarding the bus before him these days.
“Obviously, if the club can afford it, he’s somebody who will bring a decent bit of quality into the team,” Southampton icon Matt Le Tissier told Give Me Sport recently. Ward-Prowse was linked with an emotional Saints homecoming following that brutal sidelining by Nuno.
“We know what his set pieces are like, and he’s a very good passer of the ball. So he’s got qualities there that can definitely improve on what we’ve got at the moment.
“[But] obviously, we’re in the Championship now. The budgets are very different. And I’d imagine James’ wages now are certainly way above what anyone at Saints is on.”
David Moyes would like to sign Ward-Prowse for Everton
Ward-Prowse’s reported £115,000-a-week pay packet actually makes him one of the highest earners at West Ham. Hammers News have been told that a substantial loss on their £30 million investment is expected, though whether anyone is willing to take over his wages remains to be seen.
There is also the issue of Ward-Prowse maybe needing to accept a pay cut in order to make an exit a possibility.
The 31-year-old is under contract until 2027.
The good news is that, according to club insider ExWHUEmployee, Leeds and Burnley may be willing to take a punt, in the hope that Ward-Prowse’s vast Premier League experience and his devilish dead balls can be the difference in the relegation battle.
Everton boss David Moyes would consider a reunion with a player he brought to West Ham in the first place, meanwhile. Though another obstacle is likely to revolve around the potential inclusion of an obligation-to-buy clause in any short-term loan arrangement.
“There have been early talks and Everton want to do the deal as a loan at first and see how it works out,” a leading West Ham transfer source told Hammers News a few weeks ago.
“Moyes wants a loan with option, similar to what he did with Kalvin Phillips at West Ham.
“West Ham want the money or the guarantee of money at the end of any deal and so, unless Everton change their stance slightly, it actually makes Southampton favourites despite being in the Championship!
“One thing is for certain, the player will be leaving in January. A reunion with Moyes does appeal to him but a return home to Southampton is also a big factor.”
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