He played him as a winger first and then realised that he was more suited to playing in the backs after one game there from an interview I read. Ill try to dig it out.
Its not really the point I'm getting at though....
He played him as a winger first and then realised that he was more suited to playing in the backs after one game there from an interview I read. Ill try to dig it out.
Its not really the point I'm getting at though....
I'm a bloke,I'm an ocker
And I really love your knockers,I'm a labourer by day,
I **** up all me pay,Watching footy on TV,
Just feed me more VB,Just pour my beer,And get my smokes, And go away
If he's saying it was after one game he's lying. Here's an article from March 2008 describing him as a "striker come winger" http://www.birminghammail.net/birmin...7319-20574698/
and here's another from September 2008 when he first got a run of games at left back and the reason why, http://www.birminghammail.net/birmin...7319-21827522/
STEPHEN Ward is set to continue in his makeshift role at left-back for Wolves against Crystal Palace tonight.
And the 23-year-old, a specialist winger or striker, is set for a medium-term stint at left-back after recent signing Matt Hill joined first choice George Elokobi on the injury list.
Tallaght Stadium Regular
Not sure he's a Trappatoni-style full back. Trap would instinctively be wary of the striker within the full back.
Sent off today against Liverpool after a terrible fifty one minutes at left back. Based on what I saw today, he's no left back at all. I don't know if maybe he just had a bad day or what but he was extremely poor against Liverpool and took two bad yellow cards before being sent off. He may end up costing Wolves the game here now.
Doyle subbed off now to bring on another full back. Nice job Stephen Ward.
Last edited by Colbert Report; 26/12/2009 at 5:49 PM.
Foley caught lunging at Insua, he missed him completely leading to Gerrard's goal. Unbelieveable stuff from Ward. What an idiot. Terrible day for the Irish at Wolves.
stop being so harsh on him ffs. Its his first full season at left back and its in the premiership. The red card apart, he played fine - good balls from the back, supported Jarvis regularly and defended solidly for the most part. He did show some defensive naivety at times too though and is far from the finished article but Anfield will always provide a tought test for a young inexperienced full back. Most of his performances have been very good this season and we should focus on that instead of trashing him for one bad moment in an overall good half season.
I like high energy football. A little bit rock and roll. Many finishes instead of waiting for the perfect one.
Foley was being played out of position and it showed. Has had a disappointing season, i thought he would take the premiership by storm.
Doyle held the ball up well but never looked like scoring as his team-mates didnt have the quality to create anything much.
I like high energy football. A little bit rock and roll. Many finishes instead of waiting for the perfect one.
The second yellow card for Ward was actually quite a harsh decision. He did have a hand on Lucas' back but it seemed like there was very little contact before Lucas went to ground. In most cases it would have been a free-kick with no card shown. McCarthy correctly questioned afterwards whether the correction came as a result of communication with the 4th official (and said if so, he wished that the same thing had happened in Paris).
Wolves looked in good shape before the sending off so I think they some case for feeling aggrieved tonight.
"There's man all over for you, blaming on his boots the fault of his feet" - Samuel Beckett, Waiting for Godot
If you want an argument, lets have it - I've read your laughable opinions on football and if I were you would stick to Ice Hockey. Take a leaf out of your more enlightened Irish brothers in North America and start to read a game rather than spouting over the top, wind-up comments with the immature intention of being contentious (you really are a rebel!).
Remind me again, how were the Mighty Liverpool faring against Wolves prior to the sending off? The game had a 0-0 written over it - which was down to the defensive solidarity we showed, of which Wardy was a part of. There was no way in the world that was a worthy yellow for a sending off - the referee even knew that, hence the reason there was such confusion once he produced the yellow when he tried to backtrack by yellowing Berra instead. To be fair to him, he looked Nervous at the start, but started pushing up the line well and was just starting to motor. Not dismissing any naivety (which is understandable after all, in his first full season at left back playing against one of the top teams in Europe) however in the absence of any other viable contender (the only other alternative Nolan has been a Sub of late) think he might derserve our support (after all being Irish "Fans", Colbert, it is in our interests).
As for Foley, it is his 2nd game back and he is out of position. We are threadbare after losing Kightly, Keogh and Edwards in the last three weeks and need to balance the midfield with a defensive player to complement the more attacking Milijas and Jarvis. You could see he wasn't comfortable there and I have no doubt back he will be playing at rightback when he is back to full fitness.
Doyle held the ball up well as usual but didn't have the service. I fancied him to have a chance, but the sending off put paid to that. He was certainly no worse than Torres - which is not a bad benchmark.
That said, I would like to add that you haven't in the slightest wound me up. Honestly.
"The richest man in the world is not he who has the most, but he who needs the least"
It was not my intention to wind anyone up, I was just stating my honest opinion. If that is as good as he is, then he'll never play for Ireland. Fair enough if he just had a bad day, as I haven't seen him play a full match before. I hope I'm wrong about him, left back is our big weakness (as much as I love Kilbane).
Red card aside, terrible performance from this guy.
I don't know why you're getting in digs about "ice hockey" and "fans". I live in Canada but I don't have the slightest interest in hockey. Boring sport. I'm no less Irish than you, you live in Wolverhampton! Born and raised in Ireland myself. Keep the personal digs out of the Stephen Ward discussion, thanks.
By the way, the first yellow he received today for having his hands all over Benayoun was one of the laziest moves a football player can make. There can be no argument over this. Bonehead of the year award goes to Stephen Ward for that one. The second yellow looked harsh but what do you expect after being caught literally clutching for straws?
A Few Points:
1) If that is as good as he is, then he'll never play for Ireland. - As mentioned, it wasn't his best game, but that's not as good as he is - he has been quality in his last three (including two clean sheets which was exactly the same score the game was at today in his "terrible performance" before he was sent off). It was called a bad game - all players have them - a players career is a learning curve and Wardy (like all of the Irish players recently promoted to the Premier League) will learn from every game. This is to our benefit - not for them to be derided at every mistake with damning statements such as Based on what I saw today, he's no left back at all.
2) I'm no less Irish than you, you live in Wolverhampton! - I referred to you and your Irish brothers in North America. I in no way questioned your Irishness whatsoever. What I do question is your premature, sensationlist opinions. For the record, I live in Manchester (as the name suggests).
3) The second yellow looked harsh a far cry from your previous two bad yellow cards - make up your mind - consistency is often the basis of any good argument.
"The richest man in the world is not he who has the most, but he who needs the least"
I love how everyone is jumping all over me. The guy played terribly, look at the match ratings from people other than me if you don't believe me. I guess this forum is only for unadultered praise of Irish players huh?
Ward given the lowest match rating of both teams, by a wide margin:
http://www.skysports.com/football/us...150469,00.html
I've been watching Ward with interest and on the games I've seen him play this season, I think he is nailed on to be the next regular Ireland left full. Dreadful mistake made by ref for 2nd yellow card. It was barely a free.
Always look on the bright side of life
haven't seen much of Ward recently, but would have to agree with Mick mcCarthy on the sending off. 1st one was a booking, but on the second one its just a case of legs getting tangled at speed. no intent at all from Ward to bring him down, and not a yellow card in my opinion.
Bring Back Belfast Celtic F.C.
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