Ward warning as Blues gear up
Tuesday 24th February 2009, 11:26AM GMT.
Stephen Ward has urged his Wolves team-mates to ignore their rivals’ results – even though Birmingham could slash their Championship lead to a single point.
Victory for Blues in their game in hand at Crystal Palace would reduce Wolves’ advantage to its smallest since October.
Mick McCarthy’s men host struggling Plymouth on Saturday, while Reading entertain Nottingham Forest and Blues go to Sheffield United on Sunday.
But left-back Ward insists they must just concentrate on their own form.
He said: “Blues have a game tonight, so there could be a smaller gap by the time we kick off on Saturday.
“But it’s up to us not to look at other results too much and just concentrate on what we’re doing.
“Most teams still have something to play for – whether it be going for the play-offs or promotion or getting out of trouble at the other end.”
Ward, 23, is keen to stick to the positives after Wolves’ 2-2 draw against Cardiff extended their lead to four points – after Blues and Reading lost.
He said: “We’re in a better position now than maybe we would have expected at the start of the weekend. That has to be a positive.
“Although we didn’t win, we’re further ahead of Birmingham and Reading. We’ve got the points on the board and just have to see what happens with the games in hand.
“In a weird way we can take the positives out of the weekend even though we didn’t win ourselves. The results from Saturday again proved anyone can beat anyone in this league.”
Business Awards
Book a Business Awards table
Join our celebrations of the region's best in business on Thursday March 22 - book your table now
Lifestyle
Interactive Dining Out map
Hundreds of reviews by the Express & Star and Shropshire Star's teams to help you decide where to eat.
entertainment
All the film reviews
Before you plan a trip to the pictures, get our critics' verdicts on all the latest movie releases
OUR NEW APP
Get the new E&S app
Download the Express & Star’s new app to your iPad or iPhone to get one week of access to our digital newspapers absolutely FREE.
expressandstar.com
Popular sections
Useful links
Agree Stephen its points on the board that count,But you must(The Team) start to perform far better than you have recently especially at the back or there is a distinct possibility of it all ending in tears.12 games away from the promised land Heroes or Villians its up to you.
Report abuse
Wardy has done well at left back but now is the business end of the season and my back four would be:
stearman, Berra, Craddock, Foley
my midfield would be:
Jarvis, Quashie, Kites, Reid (at home)
Jarvis, Quashie, Jones, Kightly (away)
my front two at home would be keogh and ebanks blake against more physical sides Iwelumo has to play (aka sunday v cardiff)
Report abuse
Blues won’t beat Crystal Palace. A draw if their lucky,maybe.
Report abuse
Most fans were expecting us to be chasing Reading and Blues not the other way around.
Its still in our hands and football as stated by many is a funny old game, anything can and usually does happen.
Fingers crossed Palace do us a favour but lets just keep behind the team no matter what.
Report abuse
If we stick with this settled back 4 now of Foley, Craddock, Berra and Ward we will be ok. Craddock will bring some experience back to the defense and we will keep a clean sheet this weekend. The La Manga trip did us good, and now we can move forward and take the title! Don’t worry if Keogh starts or not, he links play well even if he can’t hit a barn door. As long as we keep it tight at the back we can do it.
Have faith my brothers!
Report abuse
I am fully behind the lads and applaud Ward for the way he has played, but steramn at left back is a better option, better defending more comfortable going forward. Craddock will be a god send with his experience for the remaining twelve games, I really fancy us going on a run now, I will be there getting behind them whatever happens!
Report abuse
1. Agree Malta Wolf but with small correction – Heroes or Villians its up to US. We supporters are just as important and instrumental to acheiving our goal.
Report abuse
7,Maidenhead Wolf,Fair comment it is up to Everyone players,fans alike and hopefully with everyone singing from the same song sheet Premiership here we come.
Report abuse
Could not agree more Mr Ward – We need to focus on our own games and results and let everyone else worry about us!
Look at Cardiff last season – similar games in hand but ran out of steam
Games in hand are nice; But points on the board speaks for itself!
UP THE WOLVES!
Report abuse
wardy been great gem at left back but now teams starting to target him as a weakness in the back four
jarvis doesnt get back to help him out defensivly so in my opinion we need to do one two things
1. play Matt Hill as he more defensive to counter this then play Jarvis left wing
2. play Kyel Reid left wing as he does get back and help the full back and keep Wardy in
As long we leave Ward and Jarvis on the left the more teams will target Wardy who isnt a natural defender and requires some help at times
Report abuse
Even if the blouses win tonight(which i doubt) we will stretch our lead over them at the weekend anyway.
Report abuse
Blimey, you can see how Laughing Wolf got his name. How can you play a left-footed centre half at left-back – no way is he more comfortable going forward than Wardy, who has performed exceptionally. AND >>> Three wingers in a midfield four !!! Thank God you ain’t the manager LW!
Report abuse
Who writes this stuff?
“Reading entertain IN-FORM Nottingham Forest” the same Nottingham Forest who have lost 5 and drawn 1 of their last 6 games !!
Unbelievable.
Also, another 20p in the “stating the obvious” box for you Wardy !!
This guy needs a rest though, seriously, he’s been good all season but has been responsible for quite a few goals against recently, as quite a few people have said on these boards he’s being highlighted as our weak link at the moment, what’s happened to Hill?
Out of Darkness Cometh Light
Report abuse
Hooray!!! We have people talking sense at last. Just keep behind the boys and they will deliver of that I am sure. Just think of it if you were in their position, one would go out guns blazing to reach that goal………
Report abuse
Does Clinton Morrison play for Palace….? Hope so!
Report abuse
What a nice change to read positive, contructive and sensible comments
Wardy has done well this season and hopefully we’ll get back to winning ways against Plymouth.
Tough game for Blues tonight but this season is still very much in our hands
UP THE WOLVES
Report abuse
I think Blues could go down to Palace tonight and grab all three points. The win against Plymouth isnt a cert.
Report abuse
13, yorks wolf who READS this stuff…Not you ;-0
Never mind, we’re top of the league and the finishing line is in sight. The moaners are running out of steam and the comments are becoming more balanced and positive.
Not sure we’ll get a favour from Palace tonight but I still think we’re good enough to do it on our own.
Report abuse
KEEP THE FAITH
Report abuse
I for one cant understand all this talk of dropping Ward, he has put in consistent 7 out of 10 performances all season, is good in the air, not afraid to put a tackle in & always offers Matty options going forward – he has become a much better left back than he ever was a striker & with more experience playing in a consistent back 4 (yes consistent back 4 – how many CB parings have we had this year???) his defensive positioning can only improve. The reason at times we have struggled down the left defensively this season is the lack of cover Jarvis offers getting back – although top class going forward & running at players Jarvis does often leave the left side isolated defensively. Lets just hope Palace do us a favour tonight & we can push on Saturday & get back to winning ways eh!
Report abuse
The people who come on here saying that Ward is ‘the weak link’ and that he’s being ‘targeted by the opposition’ are just regurgitating opinions that they’ve seen on these pages and think that they’re true. You clearly dont go to games because the fact is Ward has been probably our most consistent player all season and barely puts a foot wrong. Just what is it with with Wolves ‘fans’ that they always have to have to knock individual players?
Report abuse
Whats going on normally every one is just moaning! Great to see everyone being positive. Seems Malta Wolves and Maidenhead Wolf have really bonded! Can’t beat a bit of love on the message boards.
Report abuse
i just wish that the players keep out of the papers saying what they,re going to do then come match day let themselves and fans down do your talking on the pitch blues are still strengthing there squad when there md,s what to sell yet what is morgan doing or MM THATS THE STORY
Report abuse
Well said about concentrating about what they are doing,pity he didnt apply that Sunday when Parry beat him to cross for Chopras goal
Report abuse
Simple! Stop talking start winning, these articles are a complete waste of time. Concentrate on your own game all these articles for the past two months have said the same spin and we still need to start winning.
Report abuse
All this about Stephen Ward~:
The lad has been an absolute revelation at left back this season. Yes he has made mistakes, but hasn’t everyone. Hill has looked average whenever he played there – and Stearman is a right footed centre back, so he can’t play there. He looked dodgy the game he had at right back.
I think the back 4 we played on Sunday is our strongest. Craddock and Berra looked good together. Long term, obviously Stearman is the man, but for now I think we need to stick with the experience. Stearman has made his fair share of mistakes this season aswell.
Up the Wolves, come on Palace tonight!!
Blues have a very tough game at the weekend whereas ours has got to be 3 points. We could really consolidate our position with just 11 games to go.
Report abuse
Yes fine
…..so why mention it then Wardy?
It seemsall you players can spout off about this and that….Do your talking on the pitch.
Nothing Else Matters!!!!
Report abuse
If MM took S.Ward out and played Stearman (or whoever else) at leftback, and we lost, the moaners would be back on here saying that he shouldn’t have changed the back four. He’ll be damned if he does and damned if he doesn’t.
Lets stick with what we know and get this division won. We’ve had our bad run now lets get behind the team for the last few games
Report abuse
How anyone can say Ward is good at left back is beyond me!! He was a short term measure but because he is Mick’s lovechild he keeps his place.
He has now cost us a number of important goals;
- Cardiff equaliser, let winger get past too easily.
- Coventry winner, shocking lack of pace exposed.
- Blackpool equaliser, gave away needless freekick.
- Sheffield game, ripped apart throughout and looked lost, cross came from that side.
Get this muppet out of the team and Hill, yes a recognised full back, in the team.
Report abuse
Firstly – there’s no way Quashie should be anywhere near our first team, there’s no way Ward should be dropped for the very average Hill. We need to get David Jones back into that midfield – I also don’t rate Kyel Reid.
Karl Henry does so much more work than what I’ve seen from Quashie so far.
For the time being we have to stick with the back four that started on Saturday and then get Stearman back in once he’s had a break.
Report abuse
28. For God’s sake get a life. Every single player has made mistakes this season but you’re so one-eyed you just dont see it do you? Typical example of so called ‘fan’ I mentioned in 20. Or are you a boggie in disguise?
Report abuse
Ward is in a different class to Matt Hill. Stephen Ward is a very good footballer who’s comfortable on the ball – Hill isn’t. He also gives 110%, some people don’t appreciate this.
Report abuse
18 Prawn Sandwich, The’ve changed it now but it certainly said IN-FORM Nottingham Forest earlier (honest guv), perhaps they do read the posts after all!!
20 Bewdley Wolf, What are you on about? It’s MY opinion that Ward has been a weak link recently and I’m entitled to it, I said he’d been good this season but WE HAVE let in a lot of goals recently from HIS side, My last match was Burnley away and he was too far in field and hadn’t got the pace to close the guy down quickly enough when the ball went out to their right culminating in a cross and goal.
As far as your comment “Rarely puts a foot wrong” is concerned………get real.
I’m not saying he’s the only one….far from it but don’t spout off just because somebody makes a comment you don’t agree with.
Report abuse
Bewdley wolf –
I thought this was where people could write their own comments and opinions, and rip into the typical ‘fan’
Maybe if you had been going to matches as long as some of us then you would feel the frustration of mad mick and crazy jez!
Time for a change i think!
Report abuse
isnt Mcsheffrey on loan at Forest… c’mon you could do yourself and us a huge favour by bagging a couple on Sat ! (Every little helps)
COME ON YOU WOLVES
Report abuse
32 – Its not the opinion I disagree with, its the people who simply copy what they read on here. And I’ve seen every match this season and Ward has made odd mistakes but his level of performance has been consistently good. My argument is with people who insist on blaming one player for all the teams ills. And the goal you’re on about came from a misplaced pass from midfield, Kightly as I recall, like a lot of goals we’ve conceded lately. Its just lazy to pick on an individual without seeing the bigger picture.
Report abuse
SUPERSTARDJWOLVES = Hasn’t Clinton Morrison moved to Coventry? Didn’t he score against us?
Report abuse
33- As it happens I’ve been going since 1969 and many of the last 15 years have been deeply depressing, I’m not denying that. But the point is that most of us would have loved to have seen a young team of British (and Irish!) players trying their hearts out every week for our club. Now we’ve got just that, AND we’re top of the league and people still moan and attack individual players. This has undeniably been the best season for donkey’s years and the real frustration is that some people are so negative that they cant see it.
Report abuse
We need to get behind players like Keogh
He played great on Sunday except for that miss, however the keeper did make an incredible save.
Another thing why on earth did we abuse Jay Bothroyd??
He scored the winner against the albion which should make him an instant hero and hes a nice guy to boot.
A player we should abuse is Mark Davies.
He makes me sick if im honest.
The way the wolves fans got behind him as a youngster and turned up to watch him play in the England under 17′s game was a credit to us. And the way the club stuck by him through his injuries and paid his wages was a credit to the club.
To turn around and go to, wait for it.. Bolton as soon as he was fit again just sums up the way football is and has been for a while now, no loyalty.
Report abuse
so i presume you must have read all of bob wolfs other posts dating back to the beggining of the season slating ward then aswell?
if your trying to justify your disagrement by stating ‘the people who simply copy what they read on here’ then i am afraid you are a tool
get your facts right before you comment next time!
Report abuse
35 Bewdley Wolf. Fair point, I don’t tend to single out individuals usually, we as a club have got quite a history of “Team scapegoats” from certain supporters but I don’t subscribe to it.
At least the article I commented on was about Ward !!
This is our season, I and the betting slip in my wallet certainly hope so.
Report abuse
You lot deserve everything you get, i can not beleive that a lot of you think that Ward is a good player. You lot really are stupid.
Have you not seen him play and seen that other teams are seeing him as weak bloody hell you need help, once again failure is your success.
Report abuse
Reading and Wolves have both put together good runs this season. To be honest Blues have been woeful in every single game except home to Forest. Doesnt say much for any team below us. However if we now take our turn to put a decent run together, it could be all over bar the shouting :-))
Report abuse
39 – Yes I have read Bob Wolf’s posts dating back to the beginning of the season. He’s done nothing but slate Ward from the first game he played. Doesn’t that illustrate my point completely?
Report abuse
The first 30 minutes on Sunday was the best we have played for ages and who were our best players in that spell? 90% of our attacks came down the left and all featured Jarvis and Ward.
Fact.
Report abuse
that hes copying what everyone else has said?
No.
Report abuse
Wardy has done ok, but all he does is get the ball and plays it long up the line he is not good enough. The most consistent player this season has been stearman. Ward has been targeted and been skinned alot. We now need a proper full back for the run in.
Report abuse
32 Yorkie. Thought that may have been the case after I posted. Sorry for being so pedantic!
As for your comments re Ward, I have to politely disagree. I don’t think its him in particular that is a weak link, I just don’t think we defend as a unit as well on the left and also due to the general lack of good left sided players teams are better going down their right anyway. I’m sure someone will give a dozen or so exceptions that will prove my point!
Report abuse
47 Prawn Sandwich, No problem, I’m all for pedantry (hence my post)
Re Ward, like I said to Bewdley Wolf it’s just my opinion but I do take your point, Jarvo isn’t the best at tracking back and as a consequence Ward does get a bit exposed at times.
Report abuse
45 – No, that he’s the type who like to make certain individual players a scapegoat for all of the team’s ills. And that some people are so negative that they cant enjoy the season that we’re having. And while we’re at it, why on earth do people insist on slagging off MM? He’s built a team from nothing and we’re on the brink of the premier league. He should get the freedom of the city if we go up instead of being called a muppet
Report abuse
49.Bewdley People are worried that recent team selections have undermined the great start we had to the season,16 different centre back pairings already,constant tinckering with midfield/Forward line,One would have thought by now MM would have a settled team.We cant keep relying on others with 12 to go it is in our own hands.Win at home draw away at least 4 should do it.
Report abuse
Please dont play Quashie ever again! Get David Jones back in straight away, and Iwelumo paired back up with Ebanks-Blake, otherwise i cant see us finishing in the top 2 at all!
Report abuse
I Say that the Wolves Players should be keeping out of the press as we did in our promotion year.
The Players spouting off in the press just heaps pressure on themselves as rival teams have more to prove to knock us off our perch, so they try harder.
If Incy and Irwin were at the club we would have a closed shop policy.
Report abuse
49 Bewdley Wolf I hope you are joking or are you a baggies fan. If you are a baggies fan give MM the freedom of Sandwell.
Report abuse
38: I could not agree with you more. I would love to see wolves pass Bolton on there way down and laugh my arse off at Davies on the way.
No honour, no pride, no guts to win his place, no endeavour and no chance of getting in a team of Micks with that attitude.
We want players who want to play for the club. Ward being a case in point.
Report abuse
first time on here and some really interesting points and comments! Plymouth wont be an easy game for wolves as they are fearful of the drop!
MM has had enough opportunity to bolster the side in the transfer window but he has only purchased one player. If MM is sincere about a big push then he should have bought more players in. The team has performed really well this season but it seems that the only consistent thing about them is the inconsistentcy. Lets hope we do make the premier and they do not make the same mistake as last time they were there……only buying one decent player Henry Camara!! They will need to spend big as every one knows. Lets not end up like our neighbours WBA!
UP THE WOLVES!!!!
Report abuse
12. i think laughing wolf has a good point playing kitely as an attacking central midfielder with a holding midfielder(quashie as i think henry needs a rest) and 2 wingers(jarvis and reid) makes good sense to me. stearman was brought on on sunday at left back and looked ok, although i would prefer g.friend or clint hill there.have to say thought keough had a good game and deserves a start on saturday with seb against plymouth.
Report abuse
OH YEH WELL DONE 10 MAN C.PALACE GREAT RESULT!COME ON WOLVES LETS WIN ON SATURDAY PLEEEEEEAAAAASSSSSSSSSEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Report abuse
20.BEWDLEY WOLF.if you think its everyones imagination that ward has been at fault for quite a few of the goals recently it must be you who’s not going to many games.no one’s havin a go at ward he’s a 100% player but he is getting found out against the better widemen in the division and found wanting positionally sometimes(not his fault as he is not a lb really)and has been at fault for quite a few goals recently(coventry twice,was torn apart by parry for cardiff sunday) noone is knocking him,and i will get behind whoever is selected in the team but i think friend or hill might be a better option,anyway that’s my opinion thats what these message boards are all about, opinion.
Report abuse
44 malvern wolf.yes great! its also the reason we’re leaving great big holes in our defence and midfield and conceding so many poor goals.ward needs to defend first and only get forward when possible not all the time as he keeps getting caught out of position as jarvis doesn’t cover well enough.hill is more of a defensive fullback, admittedly not as good as ward going forward but a better defender which is whats needed with the goals we’re leaking at the moment.be nice to get a clean sheet saturday.
Report abuse
48 Much like Naylor and Kennedy really!!!
Report abuse
My sister was surprised when she learned that Mick could sell the players, she said “can the players sell Mick”. briddy
Report abuse
Wardy has done amazing this season at left back considering that we bought him as a striker.
And as for Stearman at Left Back, are you kidding ? He’s a good enough central defender but look how he covered Foley at right back, it was shocking.
We need our Lescott back (we can only dream !!)
Come on me babbies.
Report abuse