Stephen Ward is comfortable being a left-back at Wolves – because he has been playing there since he was 12!
The Irish striker-cum-midfielder has stood in in the No 3 for the last two games and is set to retain his place against Crystal Palace.
Ward was the surprise choice for the injured George Elokobi against Nottingham Forest, but slotted in effortlessly as Wolves won 5-1.
Perhaps that wasn’t the greatest test of his adaptability, but the trip to Charlton offered an altogether stiffer examination.
Yet the 22-year-old sailed through it, rendering Addicks winger Lloyd Sam pretty much redundant. Sam’s frustrations were summed up as he was booked for a late challenge on Ward.
While Ward offered the team plenty of resistance defensively, his undoubted potential going forward was perfectly illustrated, when he later chiselled out a superb cross for Sam Vokes to put Wolves ahead.
The former Bohemians man revealed his association with the position goes back a long way – to a famous club that has produced over 20 Irish
internationals.
Liam Brady, Ronnie Whelan, Richard Dunne, Gary Kelly, ex-Wolves winger Mark Kennedy and former Albion trio Johnny Giles, Paddy Mulligan and Mick Martin are just several of the many groomed at one stage by the Dublin club.
He said: “When I was about 12, I’d just signed for one of the biggest junior clubs in Ireland, Home Farm. I signed as a left winger but someone got injured, I played left-back and ended up staying there for a year.
“So there is something in my history although playing left-back at 12 is different to the Championship! I’d never started a professional game as a left back before the Forest game.
“I’ve filled in a couple of times for Home Farm and I remember going there for a few minutes, after Jackie McNamara got sent off at Norwich and we had
nine men.
“I’d also played there in training for Wolves a few times.”
Any nerves Ward had were eased by the planning in training beforehand, while team-mates Neill Collins and Richard Stearman have been big help
vocally.
Ward said: “Charlton was always going to more of a test defensively than Forest. We were very much aware of that. In the work we’d done in training, I’d set myself up for what was to come. As a back four we defended well as a unit.
“We do plenty of work on team shape and that’s always going to help. The fact I’ve got Neill (Collins) and ‘Stears’ inside me is also important, because they’re both good talkers.
“Neill is usually playing on my side and he’s constantly telling me when I should be bombing on or when I should be hanging back. Having those guys talking me through has made it easier.”
Ward never expected be playing left-back but was just grateful to be playing, with two new left-backs arriving in the transfer window.
He said: “The gaffer brought in a couple of left backs and all I was focused on was doing as well as I could. Thankfully I got the nod and was glad to
take the opportunity.”
Ward admits he has had to tailor his own attacking instincts to adapt to his new position.
He said: “I’m probably over-concentrating now I’m actually playing left back. I’ve probably not gone forward as much as I might have been able to. That
will come if I play more games.
“I probably can improve on certain things but have to remember as a left back your first job is to defend.”
Ward’s crowning moment at left-back came with that superb cross for Vokes. Yet the player admits he hasn’t even seen it yet.
He said: “I haven’t even watched the goal again yet. If I’m being honest, I was trying to swing a leg around the ball and get it into the box.
“All credit to Sam because he turned it into a good cross by getting across his man and clipping it home with the outside of his foot. It was a great finish.”
Typically unselfish, Ward also attributes his adaptability to the new role to winger Matt Jarvis, who has been in superb form.
Ward said: “We’ve been attacking really well, as well as keeping things fairly solid at the back. Being able to score as many goals as we have makes a big difference.
“‘Jarvo’ and ‘Kights’ (Michael Kightly) have been superb and whoever has been playing up front have always looked dangerous. Teams may come to Molineux and try to make it difficult for us to break them down, which Palace may well do tonight.
“If so, it’s just important we do what we’ve been doing, because we’ve got the players who can find the net.”
McCarthy has described Ward and Collins as the fabric of club as a tribute to their willingness to take on different positions.
Ward believes everyone in the squad would do the same for the manager.
He said: “That’s just the way it is for everyone – we’re happy playing anywhere. Everyone has got so much respect for the gaffer, if he asks you to do a job,
you don’t think twice.
“When I first came here, Karl Henry played a few games at right-back and this season and he’s been fantastic in midfield.
“Andy Keogh has also played out wide and it’s something we’d all do. We just want to be successful and will do whatever it takes.
As for his eventual position, Ward not surprisingly has an open mind after playing striker, left midfield and left-back for Wolves.
He said: “I suppose I’d just have to say I’m versatile! When I first came here, I’d probably never have imagined I’d have ended up playing left-back but I’ve really enjoyed the last two games.
“It’s been a different experience, but I’m happy to carry on playing there as long as I’m asked to. There’s definitely a good buzz around the place but no one is getting carried away.
“With the sort of character the manager is – and how we all are as players – we keep our feet firmly on the ground, because there are only five games gone.
“We all know there’s a very long way to go.”
32 Comments
I gave Ward a lot of stick last season, mostly deserved I believe. I’ll give the lad his due, he’s doing well so far at left back. Maybe this is his natural position as he looks far better there than he has on the wing or up front.
I hope his spell at left back continues to be successful as he’s obviously a player with lots of courage and determination. No wonder MM likes him: he’s done anything that has been asked of him (even when carrying an injury) despite getting nothing but stick from us fans.
I for one will lay off him for a while, he’s earned some credit!
RESPECT STEPHEN..YOU’VE EARNED YOUR PLACE AND DOING A BRILLIANT JOB..MUCH IMPROVED PLAYER ON LAST SEASON.
IT’S ALL LOOKIN’ REALLY GOOD FOR US NOW..BRING ON PALACE..BARMY ARMY!!!!!!!!
And to think that everyone moaned when he was announced as left back. Well done Steve keep up the good work. come on u Wolves. talk about stepping up to the plate.
COME ON WOLVES .2-0 WIN TONIGHT
go back to ireland your pathetic !
there is a joke here ready to be made about stephen ward and ‘left back’ but im not going to make it. well done son, youve proved so many people wrong from last season, its good to hear all the positive hype for once. hopefully it will continue for a good few months yet. up the wolves!!!
Steven Ward has played well filling in at left back,and quite rightly deserves to continue in that role if he puts in the performences,i for one gave the lad alot of stick last season but any Wolves player who puts a shift in gets my backing.Id like to also comment on how well Neil Collins has done alongside Stears the last couple of games,left back wasnt Collins is position but he got on with it and never moaned like others ie Eastwood & Boothroyd,i feel Collins natural postion is centre half and as long as hes putting the performences in then he shouldnt be dropped…
Stephen was fantastic on saturday, work rate was second to none and put in a few decent tackles. After the stick he got last season i think he is out to prove a few people wrong. Another good result tonight come on me babbies!!!!!
i shall be on here tonite seeing who aint bin to the match,n i will name n shame you,i wish they had midweek games in the prem,aye boing boing donk
I went to Charlton and Stephen Ward was class. He tackled hard, got really stuck in and his positional sense was surprising good! Henry in my opinion just shaded man of the match but ward was a close second. Fair play to him, gives his all for the club. In this position his “all” is finally good enough and I wish him well! Another top performance please Mr Ward.
Will the south bank ever sing “there is only one Stephen Ward”, i will laugh if they do, in a good but cringe worthy way! I suppose we’ll see in a few hours ha ha.
7: Thats because you’re obviously sad enough to do things like that. Your the steptoe that doesn’t realise you can change your name as often as you want and still post ! ps: ive got some Flash for ya when you decide to bath in the kitchen sink ok
Anyone is better than Elokobi, but fair play to him, he has accepted the role and is not only defending well, but also setting up goals!
Keep it up !
Just washed my neck (7 easy baggie) ready for a 70 mile drive to see a bit of class,,,,,fair play young Wardy your doing the job..
Well done Wardy, we haven’t really seen what you can do up front. You were not impressive on the left wing but at left back your very decent, I wouldn’t drop him on this form even for Elokobi. The ship is steady and going in the right direction, its a long journey and all the staff will will need to keep working hard for the destination to be reached. The captains doing OK as well
(5) Baggies fan obviously!!! Southbank nice to see you on here mate… Come on wolves we can do it tonight… Oh and (9) EASYWIN baggies he’s still dremaing if he thinks it was an easy win you wait till the villa smash you on Sunday!!!! You really do need to get a grip….. You numpty!
11,thats now way to talk to a fellow dingle,talking of flash thats wot your havinf a flash in the pan lololololol aye boing boing donk
WE HATE M.MCARTHY - Go back to whatever rock you’ve just crawled up from - your pathetic!!!
WE HATE M.MCARTHY Grow up,
ducth wolf - have you ever seen elokobi play ?!?
Credit where its due Mr Ward Well done - Make the left back berth your own!
we hate m.mcarthy do you know what a racist is ?keep your anti irish rubbish to yourself up the wolves !!
Wardie’s a top man, he wants to play, any position. All of you “Supporters” who questioned MM’s decision to play him at left back are now backing off the critisisms ’cause of his workrate & performance. Yes he has been backed up by Collins, as he should be, but he is quick to learn the subtelties of the position. OK, he hasn’t got the physical strength of George - but who has? Heskey maybe? - but he is quick, and he’s got heart! So let’s have some more support for MM and Wardie!
Good Luck to Wardy,saw him pre season and he looked a lot fitter and stronger,still dont think hes a left back,iv been supporting Neil collins all along so i hope he can keep the doiubters quiet,i remember all the negative comments when he signed his new contract,its all gone quiet over there.
15. do you mean “you’re pathetic”? Because “your” indicates possession and “pathetic” must be an object, you moron.
GoaldenPalace your a muppet
I had my doubts, but it is starting to look like this is his best position. As he says, after a few more games he will probably attack a bit more, but he has to get the defender mentality right first.
I have not gone to tonights game, so I don’t know how he is doing/done. I won’t complain if he makes the position his own as an attacking left back; after all, he has the attacking experience to do it well if his defence is up to it.
In the Championship we can afford occasional position changes, though the Premiership is too combative to allow such a luxury.
Goalden Palace - What on earth are you wittering on about??????? I am far to young to remember Steptoe but as you are, I would expect a degree of maturity. To use the website for random attacks on strangers is rather infantile. The subject was in respect of football and football alone and was perfectly relevant to the subject matter in hand. As a life long Wolves fan I am astonished you could not respond with a comment that is actually relevant! Perhaps you were too busy feeding Delilah or was it Hercules?????????
i hear you started givin ward sum stick when it was 1-1 daint tek long did it,aye boing boing donk
A solid if not brilliant performance against palace, and without our strongest 11 on the park.
The squad looks strong and balanced and more importantly for the first time in a few years we look and play like a…TEAM!!
Well done to everyone…players, staff and the gold n black army.
Another three points in the bag,,we realy missed Matty Jarvis,,super mick is going to have to face up to it,,Andy Keogh is not good enough..I noticed the last couple of games you only hear the sound of super mick coming from the South Bank,,(two faced or what???)
brum,readin,preston,qpr starting to look good,me thinks you wont be up there long,aye boing boing donk
Still aint got a job yet Terry ?
I’m sure you could do a good job cleaning windows.
No bucket & sponge required