Manager Mick McCarthy admits the Sylvan Ebanks-Blake and Stephen Ward strike pairing gave him food for thought at Hereford.
Ward scored two to make the most of a rare outing up front, while fellow half-time substitute Ebanks-Blake had a string of chances, as Wolves overwhelmed the Bulls at Edgar Street.
The 22-year-old showed no ill-effects of the knee operation he had last season to repair his patella tendon.
McCarthy believes play-anywhere Irishman hasn’t always been given the credit he deserves.
He said: “I thought him and Sylvan together were terrific. I am delighted for Ward, because he hasn’t always been appreciated as much as he could be.
“Last season, his patella tendon was about 50 per cent intact when he finally had it looked at.
“Yet he kept saying ‘I’m grand, gaffer’ to the extent where I said, ‘no you’re not, stop training and get it seen to’.
“That showed what sort of character he is, so I was pleased he did so well last night.”
McCarthy has often played Ward wide left as he struggled to force his way in against the likes of Ebanks-Blake, Andy Keogh, Freddy Eastwood, Jay Bothroyd and Stephen Elliott.
He believes the former Bohemians man can still do a job up front, especially with the way clearing in the wake of Eastwood’s departure and the expected exit of Bothroyd and Elliott.
He said: “He’s played up front and left midfield for us, but if I asked him to play left-back or anywhere, he’d show the same commitment to playing,”
“I think he can play wide left, but ‘Wardy’ is just a great guy to have around. He plays any position and does it with equal enthusiasm, which is nice.”
McCarthy was also impressed with debutant Chris Iwelumo, whose deft lay-off allowed Keogh a free shot at goal, as the highlight of the work of Wolves’ first-half strike pairing.
He said: “I was pleased with Chris as well – he played well in his half. That was his first game but he looked good.”
Wolves were particularly impressive down the flanks all the way through and McCarthy was also pleased with Daniel Jones, who supplied numerous centres in the first half.
He said; “On the left, Daniel Jones got forward and put several crosses in. DJ’s still learning the game but his forward play is good.”
43 Comments
i really do think ward could do a job as a striker and i think we should give him a chance up ther instead of paying for another striker wen he 1st signed he scored goals upfront!!!!
Ward is a reserve at the very best, any thought of him playing regularly shows a lack of ambition and judgement
The strike pairing is obviously S.E.B with one other out of Keogh or Iwelumo
I’d just play it cool Mick as you always do. The steps to success should be
1) Pick various striking combinations to start the season
2) If someone scores a few drop them for not tracking back.
3) Then announce your best two strikers (to the detriment of the morale of the others)
4) Fall out with at least one of the better strikers and go public everytime you have a new thought.
I quite like Ward. OK, he’s not the kind of player who will get you sitting on the edge of your seat, but he can link up play quite well and seems to know where the goal is.
I got frustrated with him last season but that was because he was being played out of position (like so many players) and obviously injured.
Very similar to Keogh though in my opinion, so if he is going to play up front then do we really need both of them, on top of the 4 forwards we have?
no.2 bill is correct.
weve got to bed in a striker partnership in Scotland,Ward can do a job for wolves up front,Keoghs got to start burying his chances,i think he will and if we all get behind the team we will be ok.
So Iwelumo’s deft lay-off allowed Keogh a free shot at goal… but did he score with that free shot?
Er, no he didn’t!
No surprises there then!
a good positive game , with positives all through…so why oh why do we still still moaning messages on here ???
People in the game recognise MM as a good manager …perhaps some so called fans need to recognise that !!!
I do not believe you lot !!! All this negative talk and the season hasn’t started yet !! Ward is a striker and should be played there. If he makes a good pairing with SEB then we have choices AND competition which can only be good for the team and us. For pity’s sake let’s just give the team a chance before we start shooting from the hip
Aww… still missing Freddy are we wolveswolves (3)?
Even Shayne Ward could score two against Hereford. If Mick thinks this partnership will work in the championship we’re doomed!
I think we all forget how good Ward looked up front when we first signed him. I’ll be surprised if he gets in as first choice striker but i would far rather have this guy as 4th/5th choice striker than ineffectual showponies Eastwood and Bothroyd.
YEP BIG DILEMA THAT ONE! WHO DO I PLAY UP FRONT WITH KEOGH..BLAKE OR WARD. BOY IT’S TOUGH BEING A MANAGER WITH DECISIONS LIKE THAT.
What happened to Sam Vokes ?
Why didn’t he get a run out - does anyone know ?
Ebanks Blake!..you must be joking! watched him every game home and away last season and he makes Nathan Blake looks good, we are heading for a relegation scrap this season, just hope we dont do another Leeds
14 I think vokes is injured, nothing too serious tho
MM showing he hasn’t learned from rash statements about team selection from last season.
He should keep quiet about stuff like this until we have played all the friendly games. Talking about selection headaches after a pairing for 45 mins of friendly football is ridiculous.
Realist, go away, you are depressing!
14. vokes is injured.
Realistic has never been to a game. what a stupid comment to say SEB makes Nathan Blake look good. NATHAN BLAKE was the laziest striker had, a man who definately did not put a shift in!
2 - not sure how much you’ve seen of Keogh but he’s not a centre forward. Ward is yet anothet player who has been unfairly treated by being played here there and everywhere - he is a work horse and has a far more adept touch than Keogh in front of goal. IMV McCarthy has no idea what makes a good forward (he struggles to know what makes a good centre half and he played in that position most of his career) and is clouded by his “favourites” at the club, Keogh being one of them. I really hope we do the business this season, but I’m sceptical rather than being overtly negative. I hope he’s taught the players what those white metal poles with the net attached to them mean because if he hasn’t solved last year’s biggest problem, we aren’t going far this season.
Realist Wulfrunian is a WUM, don’t pay any attention to anything he posts.
Well done to S Ward. He was playing out of position last year. When he first came I rememeber he scored a few goals as a striker. Give the lad a chance. He’s got the right attitude as well.
15. Are you for real? Blake is the real deal pal, or is 20+ goals a season not good enough for you. At a guess at each of these games you went to you were accompanied by a labrador.
“that’s my goaaaal” Shane Ward…. even shane Warne would be better…. CB’s please.
REALIST..OI’ I’M THE NEGATIVE ONE ROUND HERE..LMAO
BUT THAT COMMENT WAS OUT OF ORDER SON..BLAKE IS BRILLIANT AND OUR MAIN HOPE FOR PROMOTION THIS SEASON..PICK ON THE NUMPTY’S IN THE TEAM..THERE’S ENOUGH OF ‘EM FOR GODS SAKE. BUT ONLY PRAISE THE FEW QUALITY PLAYERS WE DO HAVE!.
NEWBRIDGE..HOWS IT GOIN’FELLA. CHECK OUT POST 26..I DID A POSITIVE ONE..OMG..FFS..I’M BECOMMING A HAPPY CLAPPER..PMSL
Southbank, how about DON’T pick on the “numpty’s” in the team. The very nature of being a supporter is to support. No doubt you’ll respond with the old cliches of “I’ve given my life to this club”, or “I pay their wages” but forget that. Allow these lads to do their job in a an environment where they don’t feel afraid to make mistakes. The new season should be viewed as a fresh start for these lads and with the help of the much missed “Molineux Roar” we can go that one step further this season. Let’s make Molineux a fortress.
SOME PEOPLE NEVER STOP MOANING,I WONDER HOW LONG INTO THE THE SEASON IT WILL BE WHEN ALL THESE NEGATIVE PEOPLE ARE CHANTING SUPER MICK MCCARTHY
Southbank - I am PMSL at you, friend.
Further to my earlier message (15) its unbelievable anyone can rate Ebanks-Blake- how many times did he trip up when clean through last season?- no touch, no skill, cant finish, ok he scred 20 goals last season but so lucky- he wont get us double figures this time round- if we could get 1 million should get rid tomorrow, too many unrealistic fans on here its going to be a long hard struggle next season so at least come christmas when we are lower end of table if we do get in a relegaion fight pays for my season ticket next year if my bet on us relegated comes in.
PADDY..NO I WON’T RESPOND WITH ANY OF THAT. BUT IT IS TRUE OF COURSE..LMAO
GREG..NICE TO SEE SOMEONE WITH A SENSE OF HUMOUR FOR A CHANGE.
11 leeds wolf
shame leeds couldnt score 2 against hereford last season when they knocked them out of the cup , stop sniping at hereford who have built a strong squad without spending any money , and stop and give wolves a chance at least to start the season.
Out of darkness cometh light
Come off it!! Ward?? i just hope it SEB & Vokes!!!
Realist Wulfrunian is a Thrush in wolves clothing. Not one single Wolves fan, even the `realists`, would think along those lines.
31. “no touch, no skill, cant finish, ok he scred 20 goals last season” Can’t you see the contradiction in your statement?! Just imagine how many he would score if he HAD touch, skill and could finish!! Numpty.
Ypu lot no nothing about football, some of you idiots now think that S Ward is good, Idiots he has found his level, and I think Mad MM has to, league 2 here you come.
37) Like you fools that rate the prolific Luke Moore…. how many goals did he score for you last season? If your hopes are resting on him banging them in, you are a goner!
Ward is useful up front but not as first choice. He is a young lad and was played out of position. In his debut season he was decent enough!
37) Poor signings, poor support, poor ground, poor songs…. shall I go on?
5/6 to be relegated. What’s the odds on Luke Moore top scorer…. 1,000,000/1!
I find it ludicrous that Ward can even be mentioned in the same breath as SEB!
if mick is going to play stephen ward then he should be upfront not on the wing. he tried very hard but had no threat and was unable to provide decent crosses.
it sounds as though he (ward) will be 4th choice striker at best could be usefull from the bench.
seb i think is pencilled in for one starting place the others then are all fighting for the other.
keogh keeps getting picked and i do like him but how frustrating is he to watch, his lack of goals is worrying and he needs to improve his goals tally this season. we cannot have a wolves no9 that doesn’t score.
would like to see what vokes can do.
iwelumo again i await to be impressed but for £400k could be good addition to the squad.
also mick said the other day was after another striker. anyone have any ideas who. why not gow at rangers £250k would get him ,scored loads at falkirk but went to rangers when we were interested (couple summers ago)not given chance at ibrox so up for a move.he’s young and hungry
as with an earlier post would like to see who would be our starting two for the new season picking themselves by being our best two over the friendlies..
the main thing is we could have the best strikers in the league but they need chances and they need to take them, hopefully with kites and jarvis fit this will make a huge difference.
we need our other midfielders to grab more this season too.
the thing with football is that each start of the season we always look forward and always hope for the best. i would like to be in top6 by xmas and challanging for top2 top 6 through the season, why not we should be. i want to see a more attacking entertaining style of football too. many of last seasons games were dire to watch.
mick and the boys its up to you. entertain, challenge give us some goals. do this and you will have everyone behind you with a packed molineux each week. i have my doubts re mick as manager but again will give my support to him and the boys. lets get of to a flyer.
come on the wolves.
see you all at dundee and motherwell
I’ve always said as a striker Ward aint bad. It does give Mick a headache!
My pecking order-
1)SEB
2)Keogh
3)Vokes
4)Iwelumo
5)Ward
I think we need to give credit where it is due. Yes, it was only a friendly against Hereford but Stephen Ward looked the business in the second half (this doesn’t mean that I think he should be first choice by the way). He was fit, he worked hard and took his goals really well! He did struggle on the left wing last year but remember when we first signed him? Lots of fans were very positive about him! He’s a striker not a winger.