West Ham star James Ward-Prowse says he’s overthinking a key aspect of his game and needs to calm himself down.
As far as hitting the ground running at a new club goes, it doesn’t get much better than James Ward-Prowse at West Ham.
For a long time adequately replacing departing captain Declan Rice seemed a daunting task for the Hammers. Especially given the team struggled in the Premier League last season with him in the side.
West Ham had to sign two players in the shape of Ward-Prowse and Edson Alvarez to do that.
But both settled in extremely well.
Ward-Prowse started the season on fire with eight goals and assists in as many games for West Ham.
Ward-Prowse hits sticky spell after flying start
He also became the first West Ham player to have a goal contribution in each of his his first three Premier League appearances.
In fact he was so good for West Ham in his first three months that there was outrage when he was snubbed by Gareth Southgate for consecutive England squads.
There is no hiding the fact Ward-Prowse has been less effective of late, though. It’s a stretch to suggest the “honeymoon period” is over.
But the goals and assists have dried up and some West Ham fans have started questioning whether Ward-Prowse brings enough to the table in open play.
There has been much made of Ward-Prowse being one direct free-kick goal away from equalling David Beckham’s Premier League record of 18.
West Ham star James Ward-Prowse says he’s overthinking key aspect of his game and needs to calm down
The midfielder has had a few attempts but is yet to make one count, much to the disappointment of fans and the player himself.
Now West Ham star Ward-Prowse says he’s overthinking a key aspect of his game and needs to calm down.
Speaking on a new episode of Iron Cast – West Ham’s official podcast – Ward-Prowse admits he has been having sleepless nights about it.
“It helped getting the (assist for) Nayef’s (Aguerd) goal against Chelsea (because) obviously a lot was spoken about the set-pieces and stuff so to kind of get that first of all really set the tone for me,” Ward-Prowse said.
‘It’s my own high standards and when I don’t reach them that’s when I get frustrated’
“Of course when you come in you want to impress your new teammates who might have played against you or seen you or the fans might’ve seen you play but you want to make sure you show them what you’re about. So to do that within the first few minutes of the game was important for me and relieved a bit of pressure if you like.
“Yea (I do feel pressure with the set-pieces). Not so much corners, more so the direct free-kicks. I think that pressure is now there because I’ve had a few this season which I’ve been really disappointed with and I genuinely lose sleep about it.
“I’ll be wishing I could have it again, because you don’t get too many. I think last year I think I had one in like 10 games – like an opportunity to score – I’ve had three or four now and I’ve not quite delivered on that front yet.
“In terms of sort of corners and delivering wide free-kicks I don’t feel it’s difficult or there’s a pressure…
“You can just feel it (the sense of expectation and anticipation with direct free-kicks) and I’m guilty of getting too excited with it and I want to just do it and get it. So I need to just calm myself down. But it’s coming anyway, it’s coming…
“It’s my own high standards that I set and when I don’t reach them that’s when I get frustrated.”
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