Time to map out a plan for Villa's future
- Says blogger Matthew Turvey
Shunned defenders ready to fight on
Monday 20th July 2009, 11:30AM BST.
Out-of-favour defenders Jason Shackell and Darren Ward have not given up hope of gate-crashing Wolves’ Premier League party.
The up-for-sale duo both got 90 minutes under their belts in the pre-season friendly at Kidderminster on Saturday – in front of watching manager Mick McCarthy.
Another defender set to leave, Neill Collins, also played the full game.
For the three – all centre halves – the path back into the first-team at Molineux looks increasingly bleak.
The resurgent Jody Craddock, Christophe Berra and Richard Stearman were already well ahead in the manager’s thoughts.
This summer has seen Roland Zubar arrive and Bobo Blade join on trial, with both going on the pre-season tour of Australia, while the out-of-favour trio were left at home.
But, despite the mounting odds, Ward and Shackell refuse to accept that there is no way back.
Shackell said: “You never say never in football, anything can happen at any time. I just carry on training and hope I can get some more game time under my belt.”
Ward added: “Whenever I play for Wolves, at whatever level, I just want to do my best. Never say never.”
Ward has not played for the club since the Carling Cup exit at Rotherham last August, while £1m signing Shackell last figured in January’s FA Cup defeat to Middlesbrough.
But both can boast what many of their rivals cannot – Premier League experience.
Ward played against both Manchester United and Arsenal for Watford in 2000, while former Norwich skipper Shackell also played in the top flight with the Canaries in 2005.
They can also point to Craddock as an example of what can be done.
The veteran stopper – 34 on Saturday – went from the verge of a loan move to Walsall to skippering the title-winning side in less than six months.
Shackell said: “Jody is a great professional and an example to us all. He has done really well.”
Both are still exploring the possibility of a move, but Shackell admits that a transfer back to Norwich – where he spent the end of last season on loan – “won’t be happening.”
Ward, who spent time at Watford and Charlton in 2008/09, added that there are “a few clubs interested.”
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I really wonder what’s happened with Shackell. McCarthy spent an age chasing him prior to his signature. Then when he’s signed up, he doesn’t get a proper run in the team.
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Dead wood and are no longer needed.
Time to move on and build a Premier League squad.
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why did mick give collins a 4 year contract!!!!
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Translation: No other club will pay us close to the fortune we’re getting from Wolves, so not even playing doesn’t matter
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Any chance of getting rid of Stephen Ward as well?
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Players are given long contracts by Wolves so that they have a higher resale value when it comes to them moving on. That way a player is worth more to the club than if the contract runs down and they move on a free instead. It makes good business sense, isn’t it obvious?
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I would give ward & collins free transfers as long as we dont have to pay there wages for the remainder of the time left on them. As for shackell i would except and bids over 500,000.
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6 – Yes especially as clubs are queuing up outside Molineux to buy him….
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Next signing we should make is a new contract for Dave Bowman,a good talent scout is worth his weight in gold.We have a lost a no of backroom staff,but must not lose someone who has been integral to many of the decent signings we have made in recent seasons.
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Personally everytime I saw shackell play last season he did a good job and fitted in well. I really don’t see why he is up for sale as he would be decent back up in the prem. Ward isnt good enough, Collins doesn;t deserve to be called a professional footballer, but Shackell is ok and would add to strength in depth!
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No 3
My friend at Wolves tells me that Colins had a clause in his contract saying that if he played x number of games or more he would be elligible for an extended contract
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incident at molinuex ticket office this morning closed untill further notice , apparently some body really happy tried to hand his ticket back bw lol
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10
I agree with you. I think Shackell is a half decent player who can still do a job for us in the prem.. I see MM is still looking for a good backup striker wise, which is good news indeed. Shame we don’t apprear to be interested in Ledley any more.. :-)
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10. Wanderers Prem – Shackell was abysmal at home to Boro and Preston, and dreadful away at Swansea for me he’s the worst of the lot. Ward is unfairly criticised, he’s nowhere near good enough for the prem but we had a good record when he played the year before last, he seemed to become the fans scapegoat for some reason. As for saying Collins doesn’t deserve to be a pro footballer – Collins played 23 of the first 30 matches in which we had our record start to the season in the clubs history. Whatever you say he can’t be that bad. Stop talking garbage.
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CANT SEE THE PROBLEM WITH SHACKELL, ITS MYSTYFYING US ALL COLLINS AND WARD I KINDA UNDERSTAND
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14 Ian
Collins was only in the team cuz craddock was injured and mm wanted to prove the fans wrong and prove that collins was good. If u hav seen him play u know that he is mistake prone, he made at least 5 a game. Shackell had one bad game against boro (who were prem) and he never got a chance in the team, I think he is a decent player and wouldn’t mind him staying with us as he isnt a liability like collins! I think Ward is a good player but back up to elokobi
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I saw shackel play sat/Kiddminster and thought he was very sharp especially as we played him at left back.He is very quick for a big lad and I think we are being a bit hasty in getting rid of especially after some comments on current defenders.
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It doesn’t matter all are on there bike and good look to the 3 of them, but to be fair if i had to choose any i would choose Collins.
Changing subject, what do people think of us putting in a 2 million bid for this Mccarthy lad. Jez said before we were promoted that they had analysed why clubs didn’t stay up and that some money had to be spent. I agree we are spending money on young players which would be great if we had an established team but we are buying no experience, people who have played and been reasonably succesful but i can see lots of gambles a lot of potential but no experience, i re-iterate the only team that bought no one with experience last year was the Albion. I hope it works but it is a massive gamble.
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15- Did you go to the Borough cup game, Shackell was way out of his depth.
18. I agree we need 1-2 experienced heads, but we have 13 full internationals at the club now so no lack of experience. What we need is a player or two who are young enough to still improve but have been in the premiership but not neccassarily internationals such as Nolan and Alan Smith. I like Ryan Taylor the left back he reminds me of Muscat!
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18: I agree we now need a proven premier league player. What about we say to Everton forget the lescot sell on clause and we’ll have Phil Neville, a top pro who has looked class in Everton’s midfield, i think he could be as good for Wolves as Ince was.
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5, what’s wrong with Stephen Ward, who’s better at left back then?
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5. Oh dear it’s the broken record again…
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21,Richard Sorry mate Stephen Ward would be out of his depth in the prem,agree with 19 Laughingwolf Ryan Taylor would be a much better prospect.Stephen Ward may be a 100% in terms of putting a shift in but we will need more than that to compete with the likes of Everton,Villa Fulham etc.
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Just heard about the bomb scare, the only bombs we want at the Mol are sort SEB and Doyle will be providing. C’mon the Wolves.
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well said 14
10 & 13 you must be watching different players.
On another note Ive been told by a member of the office staff at wolves that mancienne was at the club today for talks
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Personally I agree with 10/13 Shackell didn’t get a fair crack of the whip. He even says himself he is not giving up trying hard in training and whenever he plays for the reserves.
I think he shows alot of heart and positive attitude and I think he deserves another chance!!!
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The boy mc carthy has chosen to join wigan as he has been guaranteed a place in the first team squad. I wish him all the best and he obviously has an abundance of talent. I feel Wigan will go down this season along with pompey and Burnley, Blues and Hull below us and us fighting with blackburn for 15th place.
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sell Craddock as well,not good enough,there is no room for sentiment in the premiership
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