Stephen Ward

[geysir]

The Longford Slashers?

[Acornvilla]

The Longford Slashers?

no acornvilla :D we are a very multinational team full of young tallent and some not so tallented youth

[Irishwolf]

was at the liverpool game last night in molineux.Wardie had a very solid game,Kevin Doyle was absolutly class and foley was very good as well.

[Deckydee]

http://www.herald.ie/sport/soccer/mccarthy-says-ward-ready-for-ireland-call-2039169.html

[tetsujin1979]

Ward signs three year deal with Wolves: http://www.wolves.co.uk/page/News/0,,10307~2058634,00.html

[drummerboy]

Watched yesterdays's highlights on RTE this morning. Caught the Everton v Wolves game. Ward was involved in the free kick that Everton scored from. in the first half he was playing left side of midfield. In the second half Mick brought on Jarvis and put Wardy left full. Another incident when Everton broke and had just Wardy to beat, Ward made a sublime tackle and came away with the ball. RTE never even mentioned his name in the indicent. Do they not realise he is Irish. I can't understand what this guy has to do to get into an Irish squad. Foley has also started the season very well.

[shakermaker1982]

Great tackle on Beckford when he was one on one with Ward. MOTD mentioned him!

[Stuttgart88]

Watched yesterdays's highlights on RTE this morning. Caught the Everton v Wolves game. Ward was involved in the free kick that Everton scored from. in the first half he was playing left side of midfield. In the second half Mick brought on Jarvis and put Wardy left full. Another incident when Everton broke and had just Wardy to beat, Ward made a sublime tackle and came away with the ball. RTE never even mentioned his name in the indicent. Do they not realise he is Irish. I can't understand what this guy has to do to get into an Irish squad. Foley has also started the season very well.Does RTE ever comment on the Irish players' performances, bar maybe the obvious ones? It'd be no extra effort for the analysts / commentators to comment - good or bad - on an Irishman that features in a game, but it'd be very useful for the public.

[tetsujin1979]

They do mention the Irish players when the lineups are announced, but not during play
Walters was mentioned as a B international for the Stoke game

[Stuttgart88]

That's something I suppose, but in the post match review it'd be nice if the question was put to the panel whether they thought he played well (which he did based on the MOTD highlights I saw).

[Sullivinho]

As one of the unfancied, Stephen's got a tough task to break into Trap's plans but so far so good. Himself and Kevin Foley are nothing if not consistent.

[Stuttgart88]

Trap seems to offer only annual or semi-annual friendly opportunities to play yourself into the squad or team. At least Foley is now a mainstay in the squad. Ward was unlucky to be injured in early summer, but without Trap seeing him up close it doesn't look like he'll figure. Maybe he has already decided that the raw Cunningham is better.

Although Armenia away will be tricky (they beat Belgium and only lost 2-1 to Spain) you'd think that Andorra at home wiould be an opportunity to make at least one "risky" selection.

[Noelys Guitar]

I watched the whole game yesterday and Ward and Foley have definetely improved from last season. Not world beaters by any means. Timing of tackles good . The opposition encountered very good. I was impressed by their discipline. Ward last saeson looked a little off the pace to me against very good players. Against some very, very good Everton players yesterday I thought his overall performance was good. He looks like an established PL player.

[Sullivinho]

Ward last saeson looked a little off the pace to me against very good players.

I thought the very same thing. Seemed to lack a decent burst of acceleration. It was there at times yesterday though, right enough.

[rambler14]

Should be in the squad and starting.

[Brendan 82]

I watched this game (Everton v Wolves) and I can't argue. He should be in the squad by now

[seanfhear]

I think he deserves some more looking at, at the very least.

[rebelmusic]

If you replace Ward's name with Kilbane in the below thread, it sounds all too familiar

http://boards.footymad.net/forum.php?tno=572&fid=263&sty=2&act=1&mid=2119553410

[Colbert Report]

If you replace Ward's name with Kilbane in the below thread, it sounds all too familiar

http://boards.footymad.net/forum.php?tno=572&fid=263&sty=2&act=1&mid=2119553410

"Ward - Lets in occasional sloppy goal. Passes well, has reasonable pace, good crosser of a ball."

I don't know, the last sentence doesn't describe Killer at all!

[Charlie Darwin]

Best comment:


Still good enough for the England team though.

[rebelmusic]

"Ward - Lets in occasional sloppy goal. Passes well, has reasonable pace, good crosser of a ball."

I don't know, the last sentence doesn't describe Killer at all!

Haha well yeah true, but meant the rest of the thread. Seem to be fans of Foley though.

[Noelys Guitar]

Excellent game today for Wolves. Played up front by McCarthy and really put himself about. Won loads of headers and played some very good football. I would like to see him continue playing up front for Wolves and see if he can put in performances like todays on a consistent basis. We need decent forwards and maybe Ward can step in when needed. Considering he used to be a winger I was very surprised by how good he is in the air.

[SwanVsDalton]

Not sure where it came in his positional merry-go-round but Ward made his name as a striker at Bohs, his form up front is what took him across the water. Always handy in the air.

[drummerboy]

Ward has been playing left side of midfield in recent weeks and yesterday was pushed on up front. Really think this lad deserves a chance to play for the Senior Irish team. Yesterday he had a great game and kept Fletcher out of the team. I know if Doyle was fit he would not have started up front but he certainly looked the part.

[Irishwolf]

Agree,very solid performance from stephen yesterday.Think he proved a lot of people wrong.He's been a consistent starter in the league this year and surely this is improving him.The fact he is so versatile gives him a great advantage,if he wasnt for this he'd be shipped off (LIKE KEOGH) long ago.There aren't many players in the league who can play defence midfield and attack.Surely that stubborn old Italian will eventually give him the long overdue proper call up. He's better than Kilbane in defence and better than sheridan in attack.

[mark12345]

I was looking at the highlights (brief as they were) of the Wolves game and saw a lad put in a number of very good crosses with left and right boot. Thought it was one of there foreign players but was very pleasantly surprised when I heard Ward's name attached to them. Looks like a decent option for the Ireland subs bench at least, on this evidence.

[SolitudeRed]

Saw this article from the BBC by a Wolves fan seems full of praise for Stephen Ward and his commitment to the cause, wonder if hes part of Traps plans though.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/606/A78321800

'For me, Ward is above criticism. He gives everything for Wolves every single time he pulls on the shirt. Whether he is ultimately good enough for a team in the higher reaches of the Premier League is not a matter for him. It is a matter for McCarthy. All Ward can do is carry on doing his absolute best. And he always delivers nothing less.'

[Manc Irish Wolf]

Glad to see Wardy's Performance being noted be so many. He was immense on Sunday and was a lot of people's man of the match above fan's favourite Ebanks Blake (who equally played very well). He's definitely a victim of being a Jack of all Trades, however proved on that performance how effective he can be in his true position (when he first arrived he was player of the month in the Championship).

He proved a perfect link up man for SEB winning countless balls in the air - which is no mean feat against two dominant centrehalves in Danns and Johnson - and I would personally like to see him given another chance there again this weekend ahead of Doyle on that performance (I absolutely love Doyle, however his lack of directness is frustrating, often running to the wings and am equally worried about his inability to form effective partnerships - hopefully I'll be proved wrong on that).

Wardy is definitely frustrating, as that performance and others such as at Left Back against Spurs last season prove what he can do when his confidence is up, in which he has the ability to be the best player on the pitch in arguably the best league. However, at other times suffers from a lack of confidence. Irrespective, his attitude and commitment is second to none and surely for his adaptability alone is deserved of a place in our squad.

The thread attached gives resounding special recognition:

http://www.molineuxmix.co.uk/vb/showthread.php?t=55585

For the record, Foley had another good game, with his usual tidy distribution, good positional sense and well timed tackling playing in centre midfield, whereas Hunty loooks like he is getting back to his combatative, scurrying best, although could have put a few better balls in. All in all, these three are definitely what you need in a dogfight.

[theworm2345]

Scores against Liverpool...neat finish under Reina. Only turned it on at half time, but he's been a handful so far with his physical presence.

His first goal since February 2007, first ever in the EPL

[SkStu]

great news. Delighted for Stephen. Even moreso as i have a signed Bohs jersey with his name printed on the back. Will have to check out the goal later.

Great for Stephen and also a nice lift for the league and domestic footy for a player that came through from junior football with Portmarnock AFC, the league with Bohs and on to England. The way it should be done for almost all Irish players.

[Charlie Darwin]

Technically he looks to be better than most of our English-trained players. I didn't know the Bohemians academy was such a bastion of total football.

[SkStu]

yeah, he came through under Gareth Farrelly's tenure i believe so it makes a lot of sense when you thnk about it..... erm....

[Philly]

With Kilbane heading to League One team Huddersfield and Cunningham out injured for the season, it looks like Wad will finally get his chance for Ireland over the next few games.

[Yard of Pace]

I think this shows how stupid Trap was never to give Ward a chance until now. We've only one game before Macedonia and our first-choice left back is playing central midfield at 3rd division level. Ian Harte for a recall maybe? He seemed to be doing well at Reading. Or O'Shea left back.

[irishfan86]

Harte is playing as a centre half now, and the little pace he had is gone. He would be a total liability as a fullback at this stage IMO. My preference would be for O'Shea to play at left full and one of Foley or Coleman to slot in at right full, or Kelly even...Kelly could be tried as a left full too as he's spent quite a bit of his club career at Brum and now Fulham playing there, but his lack of playing time would be a concern for me now.

[Colbert Report]

Ian Harte is one of my all time favourite players but there is absolutely zero chance of an international recall.

[elroy]

Harte is playing as a centre half now, and the little pace he had is gone. He would be a total liability as a fullback at this stage IMO. My preference would be for O'Shea to play at left full and one of Foley or Coleman to slot in at right full, or Kelly even...Kelly could be tried as a left full too as he's spent quite a bit of his club career at Brum and now Fulham playing there, but his lack of playing time would be a concern for me now.

I agree, think JOSH is the safest option at LB for now.

Really starting to worry for Wolves now, yesterdays result against WHam was a disaster for them. They are only two points off safety so a good run could see them safe. But with so many Irish involved with the club, really want to see them come good as opposed to Wham where we have zero interest.

[Colbert Report]

John O'Shea can not play left back. Please stop suggesting him as a potential left back, thanks be to you.

[Stuttgart88]

He is definitely not a natural left back but he can hold his own there, and is better than most alternatives we have. He can play CB and RB better though. If we had decent natural left backs it'd be daft to consider him but we don't.

[Colbert Report]

Ciaran Clark did very well today at left back for Villa against Chelsea, I'd say he's the best available player to fill that spot for us too.

Given
O'Shea-Dunne-St. Ledger-Clark

[elroy]

John O'Shea can not play left back. Please stop suggesting him as a potential left back, thanks be to you.

I disagree and would be of the same thinking as Stutts post straight after you. Im not saying its is best position but he could do a job there. I think at present he would be our safest option there. I would like to see some new options tried at LB against Wales in February ie Clark, maybe Ward.

[Colbert Report]

We used to play Finnan at left back and O'Shea at right back a few years ago. That tells you all you need to know about how good a LB O'Shea is. Last season when Evra was out O'Shea did not play left back either for Manchester United.

[Charlie Darwin]

Well that's hardly surprising since Evra played almost every game last season and O'Shea was injured for all but the first three months. O'Shea played left back once or twice this season when Evra was injured.

[Junior]

Correct. Colbert, If I could be arsed to do a search, how many times do you reckon you have posted "O'Shea is not a LB" ?

Seriously - its tedious. As others have pointed out, obviously its not his natural position but he could more than do a job there for us compared to our other options and if he can get game time there for Man U, I really fail to see what point you are trying to make.

[Colbert Report]

My point is, he can't get game time there for United. Once in the past five years in an emergency situation does not count in my opinion. It really gets my goat when I see people post this here, it would be a bit like saying Robbie Keane could do a great job for us in central midfield, just not going to happen.

[Charlie Darwin]

I don't think anybody's ever seriously said it would be his best position or that he'd do a great job. But the point is that Alex Ferguson trusts him to play there in a snip and it's very likely that we'll have a snip at some point in the future and most of us have full confidence that he'd do a decent job.

[Brendan 82]

We are an international side and players are always notoriously played out of their preferred position to accommodate the usual lack of supplies that a particular international side will have in a particular position. For example, before WC 2002 Nigeria played with Kanu in central midfield against us in Dublin. So the prospect of JOSH filling in at LB is not so crazy, and that is why people mention it as a possible option.

[Colbert Report]

Trapattoni knows better than all of us, when he starts John O'Shea or a plonker like Stephen Ward at left-back then I'll shut my mouth. Until then, people need to stop mentioning players playing in positions that they're clearly not suited for. The idea of John O'Shea starting a match for Ireland at left back is ludicrous. Our current left-back problems are nothing new, Steve Staunton used to put Steve Finnan, one of the best right-backs in the world at the time, in at left-back in order to accomodate John O'Shea's weak left foot.

[Charlie Darwin]

I'd have thought the reason O'Shea hasn't started left back is that he's our best right-back and our best centre-half so left-back would only be his third most-effective position. And Trap loves KK. But if it was an emergency and we needed him to play left-back, he'd probably do it better than most, just as he does for one of the top 5 teams in Europe from time to time.

[drummerboy]

O'Shea has played at left back for United in both the premiership and the Champions League. It may not be his best position but to suggest it would be ludicrous to play him there is wrong. KK days are over, Cunningham is out until next season. The choices Trap has to make for the game in March is can he take a huge chance and play KK or will he draft in untried players like Ward or Clark or play someone versatile like O'Shea. The answer is obvious to me. Josh