Journalist shares Harry Maguire verdict after West Ham United win v Chelsea
West Ham United midfielder James Ward-Prowse demonstrated why Harry Maguire would benefit from joining the Hammers this summer, according to Richard Jolly.
Jolly reflected on his debut for the Independent on Tuesday (22 August) suggesting that his “upstaging” of Chelsea’s star-studded side demonstrated why a move to be part of David Moyes’ side should be appealing to Maguire.
Ward-Prowse was up against an expensive midfield at the London Stadium, with the last two British record signings, Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo, featuring for the Blues. But the England international was the most impressive player on the pitch having been (like Maguire) one of Moyes’ top targets this summer.
Explaining his reasoning behind the comparison between Maguire and Ward-Prowse, Jolly wrote: “The deposed Manchester United captain may look at Ward-Prowse’s debut and see the merits of a central part in Moyes’ plan, in a team whose tactical blueprint, if not overly ambitious, may suit each.
“Maguire could wonder if he was wrong to pull out of a move to West Ham.”
Missed chance
West Ham United and David Moyes would love Maguire to be at the heart of their defence for this coming season, but for whatever reason the England international feels he is better off fighting for his place at Old Trafford instead.
Ward-Prowse has managed to show within 90 minutes of football at the London Stadium, what Moyes is so good at. That is making players that fit his style of play, reach their maximum ability no matter how limited their actual technical ability.
Very few fans would argue that Ward-Prowse is a better player than Fernandez of Caicedo, but how the Hammers boss has structured his team to fit the midfielder’s skillset is much organised in a much better way than the midfield currently is at Stamford Bridge.
The same is true of how Moyes would utilise Maguire when compared to his position at Manchester United. Erik ten Hag has a very specific vision of how he wants his central defenders to play and Maguire doesn’t fall into that category.
If the 30-year-old had made the switch to the London Stadium this summer, he would have likely reaped the same rewards as Ward-Prowse already, which could have gone a long way to prolonging his international career and improving his standing as a defender in the Premier League once again.
It may now be a case of seeing what Maguire could have been, with the Hammers already moving on to other defensive targets.
In other West Ham news, one West Ham player left Andros Townsend stunned with his performance against Chelsea