Stephen Ward

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

http://boards.footymad.net/forum.php?tno=104&fid=297&sty=2&act=1&mid=2110648226

"Ward 7-what a great debut.Great foil for Scotty.He is very composed and has a good footballing brain"

"Ward - 7 - To say it was his first league game for us in a totally alien position for him, I thought he was terrific. Showed some great touches and had good interplay."

"Ward 8 performed very well in the centre of the field"

"Ward 7 - early booking (very harsh too) probably held mim back a little"

"Ward - 9 http://boards.footymad.net/images/smileys/star.gif"

"Ward - 7 - Read the game well and didn't look out of position. Did well after picking up a harsh early booking."

"Ward 8 - The Great Debate on here all week on whether he was a central midfielder was answered, at least in this game. And that when he had to play with that ridiculous early booking hanging over his head."

"Ward 8 - a revelation and got stronger and stronger"

[Charlie Darwin]

Interesting. I said earlier I don't know if he has the positional sense to play in the centre, but his versatility is obvious and I've said many times before he's one of the best technical players we have on the ball. There are obviously questions over his ability at left back and his rash decision-making, but he certainly has a lot of ability. A bit like O'Shea, maybe his ability to fill in anywhere is a negative on his ability to master one position.

[Stuttgart88]

My god, could you imagine what a foot.ie Great Debate on whether Ward is a CM would read like?

[tricky_colour]

There is always something I have quite liked about him, he seems to know what he is doing
when he seems to be doing everything wrong :)

[Philly]

Ward started today v Everton, with Mee dropping to the bench. Good to see. Apart from one terrible attempt at a throw-in he's looking solid, with Coleman giving him plenty to do. Hopefully he gets a few games between now and Scotland.

[tricky_colour]

Yes I heard about his bad throwing on the commentary but did not quite see it, he was criticised for his throw in v German
it may be a consequence of trying to take a quick throw in to gain advantage, he was rated 6 on sky sports same as the other Irish lads.
He also got beat at least once but nothing much came of it I think.

[Philly]

Keeps his place for the game today v Arsenal, great to see. Tough game for Burnley mind!

[Closed Account]

Stretchered off, looked in distress, head in hands. Reportedly ligament damage.
Stephen Ward has just left Turf Moor on crutches and wearing a protective boot on his left foot. He was accompanied by club doctor
Sean Dyche confirms Stephen Ward is on his way to hospital for a precautionary check on the ankle injury he suffered tonight

[Charlie Darwin]

Aw ****. I hope it's NOT worse than it sounds.

[tetsujin1979]

Aw ****. I hope it's worse than it sounds.
I really hope that's a typo

[geysir]

It's just an echo of other voices, not Charlie's.

[Charlie Darwin]

Oops :o

[KK77]

Hopefully not serious but if so move Wilson to left full and Delaney in alongside O'Shea.

[DeLorean]

That would make sense but obviously isn't going to happen, unless Keogh, Clark, Pearce and maybe even Duffy all get injured too.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/11675998.Stephen_Ward_was_right_to_sign_for_Burnle y__insists_defender_s_agent/

Conscience clear after signing for Burnley at the 11th hour.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

On the bench again.

Can we afford to start him against Poland or do we start Wilson at LB and risk starting Keogh alongside O'Shea?

The ideal as it stands would probably be to start Clark alongside O'Shea as he has been decent lately in a rejuvenated Villa team.

Pity - again - that Delaney isn't in the squad.

[DeLorean]

Surely it has to be Clark at this point. There is absolutely nothing to be said in favour of starting Keogh. Clark is playing better at a higher level, no brainer.

[Olé Olé]

Surely it has to be Clark at this point. There is absolutely nothing to be said in favour for starting Keogh. Clark is playing better at a higher level, no brainer.

A back four of Coleman, O'Shea, Clark and Wilson looks okay to me and gives a bit of flexibility in who we play at left-back because both Clark and Wilson have played there.

Although, I haven't seen it mentioned by any poster on here but Sean St. Ledger started for Orlando City there. Options, options, options...

[Stuttgart88]

I only saw the first 30 mins of Burnley's win at Brentford last night but Ward looked really good as an attacking left back. Great lace on one occasion and he looked really fit, maybe a bit lighter than usual?

Judge scored but I didn't see the goal. Burnley won 3-1.

[Charlie Darwin]

Judge's goal was very good. Twisted and turned to find space in a crowded box and smashed it low and hard past the keeper.

[DeLorean]

Here- (https://youtu.be/Sp8m41MN_14?t=1m25s)

[Crosby87]

I Judge that only a 5 out of ten.

[DeLorean]

That's about 4 more than I'd give the keeper for his attempt at saving it.

[DeLorean]

Stephen Ward on homesickness, beating Germany & the frustration of not playing (http://www.the42.ie/ireland-stephen-ward-homesickness-interview-2563108-Jan2016/)

[geysir]

"I DIDN’T SEE it coming,” says Stephen Ward in that article, which could be an appropriate epitaph for Paul's headstone.

Regardless, I note that Burnley are on a roll since the return of Stephen to the starting line up.

[DeLorean]

Seems to have divided opinion last night. Personally I thought there was more bad that good really. On top of his B&H 1st Leg performance, I'd prefer if we went with somebody else at this stage. Doing a bit of a u-turn here but, with this diamond formation, Brady probably is the best option for utilising the space on the wing. It also allows us to get more of our best players onto the pitch.

[jbyrne]

Seems to have divided opinion last night. Personally I thought there was more bad that good really. On top of his B&H 1st Leg performance, I'd prefer if we went with somebody else at this stage. Doing a bit of a u-turn here but, with this diamond formation, Brady probably is the best option for utilising the space on the wing. It also allows us to get more of our best players onto the pitch.

I admire wards effort but caught out of position too much, his passing is poor and offers very little going forward. brady ticks two of those boxes but was dodgy position wise, especially when facing his own goal, against the swiss. its a real problem position for us

[DeLorean]

I think it would have been more beneficial taking a look at Doherty at least one of the nights.

[DeLorean]

Ward is a Premier League player again. Burnley have secured promotion with a 1-0 win over QPR. They will be champions if they beat relegated Charlton on Saturday.

Edit - I actually jumped the gun a bit as it's still in injury time! Was looking at an 'as it stands' league table.

Confirmed now anyway.

[tricky_colour]

Congrats to Ward, back in the top flight!!
Always though he was a decent player.
He has good defensive stats in the championship.

[Stuttgart88]

He fills me with fear for Ireland though!

[Fixer82]

Congrats to Ward, back in the top flight!!
Always though he was a decent player.
He has good defensive stats in the championship.

He's good going forward. Defending can be hit an miss. No McShane though who gives me grey hairs every time i see him in a green shirt

[geysir]

There's no respite from the jitters following Ireland, at best our defenders are distinctly average currently and considering the exception Coleman, our outstanding full back who's a hair's breath from conceding a penalty in every game, it's grey hairs all round.

[jbyrne]

There's no respite from the jitters following Ireland, at best our defenders are distinctly average currently and considering the exception Coleman, our outstanding full back who's a hair's breath from conceding a penalty in every game, it's grey hairs all round.

but in his 30 odd caps to date has actually conceded how many??

[Stuttgart88]

That's not the point. It's how many he might give away at unknown points in the future. Add that to all the ones he might have given away in the past had he not timed his tackles properly and used good positional sense, well, it's a disaster really.

[geysir]

Facts do not count when it comes to the fear that something bad is bound to happen, we only need a memory or a false memory will do just as grand.

[Stuttgart88]

Any word on Kevin Long?

[tetsujin1979]

Any word on Kevin Long? no penalties yet, but he's due to give one away any day now

[tricky_colour]

Of course you have to remember he has been playing for Ireland.

Let's face it anyone playing in defence for Ireland is in for a pretty tricky time (pun half intended ;))

Actually his stats are not quite as good as I though, but he will no doubt have the last laugh if he wins a
Premiership Title Winners medal next season!!

[paul_oshea]

when is someone going to post those blue a href title links serialising Wards career -> Stephen Ward on living a lie for 15 years (http://Stephen Ward on living a lie for 15 years)

"I was an imposter."

[SkStu]

when is someone going to post those blue a href title links serialising Wards career -> Stephen Ward on living a lie for 15 years (http://Stephen Ward on living a lie for 15 years)

"I was an imposter."

"I couldn't believe I had been getting away with it for so long. Sure, the occasional Irish fan suspected something was not quite right with my story, but I had media people in high places. And friends in low places. I was going to enjoy the ride while it lasted."

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

"People ask 'why now?' but this was affecting my home life. I wasn't a good person to be around. Playing for Ireland was all I wanted to do. I grew up dreaming of wearing the green but you ask yourself is it worth the hassle".

Stephen Ward's autobiography will be serialised every Saturday only in The Sun newspaper starting this Saturday.

[Closed Account]

Assist sorry:ball:

[DeLorean]

Bundles the ball home to give Burnley a 2-0 lead against Bournemouth. Similar kind of poachers goal following a corner to a couple he's scored for us in the past, against Northern Ireland and Estonia.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

According to reports, Hull have accepted a £10m bid for Andrew Robertson...

http://www.espnfc.com/story/3049543/hull-city-accept-10m-burnley-bid-for-defender-andy-robertson-sources

Could spell bad news for Ward and Brady. Perhaps Meyler too.

[Stuttgart88]

You mean Hull have accepted a bid.

Anyway, good to see your glass half empty as always.

[Olé Olé]

What has that got to do with Meyler?

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

What has that got to do with Meyler?

They're selling Robertson to fund signings, one of whom, Adlene Guedioura, plays in his position.

[Olé Olé]

And Mason is injured and they've sold Livermore. You're reaching. Really reaching.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

And Mason is injured and they've sold Livermore. You're reaching. Really reaching.

And they brought in Evandro and Markovic. And Meyler has already been plugging gaps at RB, where they have also signed Elabdellaoui, who can also fill in RM.