Stephen Ward – West Ham game is crucial
Friday 31st December 2010, 11:30AM GMT.
Man of the moment Stephen Ward today admitted Wolves face a pivotal game in their season at West Ham tomorrow.
Tensions will be running high as the Premier League’s bottom two clash at Upton Park with both teams battling to escape the drop zone for the first time since the start of October.
Ward is in determined mood after grabbing the winner at Liverpool on Wednesday night and believes Wolves can continue their upward turn after three wins in six.
West Ham are bottom despite being in even better form with three wins and two draws from their last six.
“It’s huge and if we could go there and get a result it would take us out of the bottom three,” said Ward.
“It was important after dropping to the bottom of the table with such a poor performance against Wigan – and not many results going for us on Tuesday – to bounce back.
“We were all delighted by the way we responded.
“But we need to be ready for tomorrow because it’s going to be a pivotal game in the season and we need to do well.”
Wolves are in buoyant mood following their first away victory since winning 3-1 at West Ham in March.
But Ward insisted the players will remain grounded despite the huge lift from their shock success on Merseyside.
“We won at Anfield but we’re still in a relegation battle so we need points on the board,” he said.
Ward hinted the game-plan was again likely to be similar to the tactics used so successfully against Liverpool at Anfield.
“When you’re the away team, you don’t want them getting off to a good start, so I’m sure we’ll have a similar game-plan tomorrow – to get in their faces and try to take the game to them,” he said.
Ward was a huge part of that operation alongside Sylvan Ebanks-Blake as the duo hunted the Reds down.
“The two of us worked hard up there and that workrate has always been part of his game,” said Ward.
“I thought he was outstanding.
“It was a good ball through for me to score, so hopefully I can repay the compliment if we play up front together again.”
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The West Ham game is important but a draw would be a good result.
I agree with Ward, SEB has been outstanding since he got back in the side, hope he starts scoring regularly.
Would prefer Edwards in the side over Hunt with Jarvis on the left but Mick will probably stick with a winning team.
Happy New Year Wolves Fans! Wolves were a Premiership club for the whole of 2010, keep the faith.
UTW
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Delighted that Ward got the winner at Liverpool. He gets a lot of stick on here, usually from people who do not appear to regularly watch him play. For him to score was certainly poetic justice after what happened to him at Anfield last year. I hope we do not go in for Michael Brown. He is 33 and has a bit of history – don’t think he’s an easy fit for our team. Short term at best.
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Let’s hope for some more good news with another win starting our New Year on a positive note.
Well done to Ward who has always given his all it has not been his fault that he has been played at LB, he is much more effective as a forward, let’s hope McCarthy now understands this, have always called for SEB in the team.
It was good to see McCarthy smile for a change, but he has put himself underpressure.
Happy New Year to all the Wolves fans, and the posters on here whatever our differing opinions are, one thing is we are all united in is for our team to do well and stay a Premiership Team.
Let’s start 2011 Flying!!!!
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The only thing i would disagree with is ‘hard work has always been part of Sylvan’s game’. In the Champ he regularly used to do almost nothing for most of the game and then take a half chance to win the game. He has not lost his eye for goal, but his work rate is immensely better, another tribute to his attitude and the coaching staff.
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It may have been born out of necessity because of injuries, but the pairing of Ward and Ebanks-Blake seems to be developing into a useful partnership.
Ward certainly wins his fair share of headers and took his goal well.
Since his return to the side Ebanks-Blake looks very sharp and it’s just a matter of time before he scores again.
Let’s hope we can get something out of the game tomorrow (preferrably 3 points).
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I’d drop Ward for Fletcher (cue outrage from usual suspects and their one-swallow-makes-a-summer attitude), otherwise unchanged. As for Michael Brown – what Solent said. He’d be another Marcus Bent, a name on the payroll who’s not going to do anything.
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My recent post was withdrawn so I will moderate my language this time.
‘Very pleased to read in previous article that Jody will be back in two weeks. Was getting worried with recent press reports linking us to Richard Dunn and Danny Sh*ttu.
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Give credit where it it due, Ward played a lot better than Fletcher when he came on, the ball stuck to ward more than Fletcher.
Maybe the reason why Mick has not been picking Fletcher, as he is looking light weight at times.
Yet unless Fletcher livens his game up I can see Ward getting a lot more chances, until we get some reinforcements.
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A draw would be a good result to reel in the baggies villa and blues then the pressure is on. Be watching the game tomorrow in the sun keep warm and happy new year.utw
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brill win the other night so glad ward got the winner might get some people off his back lets just hope he does it again at west ham
n dont want brown to old n how bout lewis mcgugan from forest
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Good Luck, hope we get a result on Saturday, but I doubt West Ham will play as badly as Liverpool did, so Lets not get carried away.
We still need some quality and guile, pure hard work is not enough in this league, Lets hope the win against Liverpool is a turning point and not just a one off, sorry to sound negative, but it is wolves and MM.
happy New Year !
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I admit im one of the people who give Ward stick on here, but only when he plays at LB. Beacuase i dont think he’s good enough to play in that position, but its MM/TC who think he is? To me he doesn’t possess natural defending skills to play LB. He stands off his player far to much when the player receives the ball, which gives the player time to see were/whether he wants to ‘pass/cross or run with the ball’ But when he plays up front in his natural position he looks a far better player and far more comfortable with the ball? Play players were they are comfortable and you will see/get the best out of them. I believe we’ve got ‘natural defenders’ who could do a far better job at LB, Foley for one and dont say he’s right footed so was Derek Parkin (800 games) for Wolves most at LB. Mancienne is another ‘imo’ leave Ward were is playing now. But it does worry me that MM spent the bulk of our kitty on a player he was desperate to sign yet he cant get 90mins at any cost WHY? I will always support any player who wears the ‘GOLD and BLACK’ of Wolves, but please Mick play them were YOU bought them to play. GOOD LUCK TOMORROW LADS: UTW: HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL ON THE BOARDS: Opinions Opinions its what makes football GREAT:
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Wouldn’t it be great if Wardy went on to be a premier league revelation?!?!?
It would just rewards for the lad who has given 100% in every position and every role he has been expected to perform! At times his 100% hasn’t really been up to standard but I have been really enthused by recent performances and hopefully this goal will be the catalyst for more as it has been with SEB!
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Go the wolves.
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I sometimes feel we talk games up to much. We expect to win against Wigan and we would in all honesty expect to lose at Anfield. The reverse was true. What are the odds of losing to West Ham and beating Chelsea.
It really doesn`t matter where the points come from but probably better to take points off the hammers. i think both teams can get out of trouble Blues, Fulham and WBA are all in trouble.
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every game is important thats what they have to get into there heads and play like they did against blues and liverpool and never again play like they did against wigan. i still say that wolves HAVE GOT TO GET RID of connorand start playing like they did when mick first came ,keep the ball on the floor moving it about quickly and shooting from outside the box keeping forwards in the box and getting the wingers to go past defenders ,and thats from someone who got no badges but knows how to play the game
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I agree with 2 above. I’ve never seen Stephen Ward hide or bottle it. He gives 120% no matter what position he is asked to play. Let’s not forget he was signed as a striker and has been mostly deployed as left back in recent times. In the two 1.0 wins against Birmingham and Liverpool he was very effective up front, so let’s get off his back and give him the support he deserves. I suspect some of the knockers on here are probably the same people who moaned about the likes of Steve Sedgley and Mark Kennedy who were here on big wages and never gave the same spirit and attitude as Stephen Ward.I would be happy with a point at Upton Park. WWFC forever !!
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Stop Scott Parker and you stop West Ham. He’s the architypal box to box player which makes him very difficult to man mark, like we did against Liverpool.
Better idea…..buy him tomorrow morning and watch West Ham pick him up!
Other unrealistic signings. Robbie Keane, Jonathon Woodgate and Joleon Lescott.
More realistic transfer targets.
Wheater, although there seem to be a number of other clubs after him.
Richard Dunne. That would be good.
Micheal Brown. Would give us some real bite in midfield, but, is he past his best, or, could he do an ‘Alex Rae’ ?
….and a left back, or is Malone ready and due back after loan ?
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Oh no, now we are being linked with a 33yr old (Brown at Pompey),we have already got a player like Brown in Karl Henry who is also younger. We should be going for loanee’s, someone like Wilshire of Arsenal who was on loan at Bolton last season, I know he won’t be available but there must be more like him at the top clubs. Secure premiership survival first, then try and sign some class players in the summer, nobody who’s any good will want to sign for us until they are sure we will still be in the top flight next season.
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1. Edwards over hunt. Are you drunk. Edwards is very average and rarely offers us anything. Hunt is still gaining match fitness and getting better every game
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One thing you can never fault with Ward is his effort, desire and flexibility to help out wherever required.
It’s difficult to say what his most effective position is. I currently believe he’s still the best LB at the club.
It was great to see him take his chance and he certainly deserved that bit of glory.
Whether he is our best long term option as a striker i’m not so sure, but as always, respect to him for his efforts.
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I hope the same team turns up as against Liverpool and not the one that turned up against Wigan.
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Leon Brown…..you make me laugh
If Fletcher had the same faith shown in him that Ward has by MM then you would see the best of Fletcher…..and it would be far more of a return than Wards!
Now I know Ward has scored a goal against Liverpool….great, thankful for it – BUT this blind faith in favourites has led us to the position we are in.
Players out of position instead of playing their correct positions….All any of us have asked is to play players in their rightful positions!
Even Ward looks better as a striker than left back….
Now back to the real thing – PLEASE DO YOUR TALKING ON THE PITCH instead off the press!
wolves4eva
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21 David
I’ll help you out. Ward is not good enough for either the LB or Centre Forward position.
It’s that simple. Great effort against Liverpool, can’t fault the effort, but we need to be replacing players like Ward with quality. Ditto Stearman. Far far too many mistakes to be premiership quality.
Let’s not be blinded by a single result, this team is very short on quality and we need to strenghten ASAP !!
1. Edwards is utterly average at best. Another one that runs a lot with absolutely no quality at the end of it. Hunt everytime for me.
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6. PeteNuts – Spot on mate. I would do the same, after all it kind of makes sense to me to play our top scorer :)
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Loan targets could be:
Johnny Evans (Man Utd)
Darron Gibson (Man Utd)
Michael Owen(Man Utd)
Fabio Da Silva(Man Utd)
Frederico Macheda(Man Utd)
Ravel Morrison (Man Utd)
Jo (Man City)
Michael Johnson(Man City)
Joleon Lescott(Man City)
Shaun Wright-Phillips(Man City)
Emmanuel Adebayor(Man City)
Jeffrey Bruma (Chelsea)
Josh McEachran(Chelsea)
Daniel Sturridge(Chelsea)
Patrick Van Aanholt (Chelsea)
Victor Anichebe (Everton)
David Bentley (Tottenham)
Giovani Dos Santos (Tottenham)
Jonathan Woodgate (Tottenham)
Robbie Keane (Tottenham)
Jay Spearing (Liverpool)
Martin Kelly (Liverpool)
Jonjo Shelvey (Liverpool)
Carlos Vela (Arsenal)
Craig Eastmond (Arsenal)
David Dunne (Aston Villa)
Steven Ireland (Aston Villa)
Steve Sidwell (Aston Villa)
Now I know i’m gonna get loads of people saying we will not get any of these, and i partly agree. But these players are either unwanted or young and need experience. I’m not saying we will get any of them, but they will all probably go somewhere in January!
I think these players from the Championship could also make a difference;
David Wheater (Middlesboro)
Adel Taraabt(QPR)
A couple of these would be very nice, mainly a left back (Van Aanholt), Midfielder (O’Hara), centre-back (Dunne) and a striker (Vela). Then i’d be reallt happy!
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Stevo, if you’re reading this, Happy New Year to you and everyone at the Wolves. We know that you are up for the fight to keep us in the Prem and game by game you will make this happen.
PS that was a well taken goal at Anfield the other night, you weren’t gonna lose out to Mr 70 yds Reina – Get in you Dub!
PPS Happy New Year to my fellow posters on here, let’s hope for good things in 2011.
coyw
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best player over the last 3 games as been seb. i thought Millias was class against liverpool. He helped mark Gerrard out of the game and found the open man time and time again. Shame one player gets pointed out. he scored a goal but was nowhere near the standard of seb
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Can we please stop slating ward now?
Wheres all the handsworth fans, passports put away and too busy looking over their shoulder i bet. Said all along its a long season, their arrogance spoke volumes..
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20 Pete completely agree Edwards is a very average player who rarely stands out Hunt can be a danger to any side we play against i’ll have 2 pints of what number 1 is drinking but it won’t change my opinion.
All the best for the lads tomorrow Zubar’s best game last season he roasted them down the right.
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yes Steve 3 points will probley take us out of the bottom 3, but didn;t we say that before the Wigan game and look what happened there, lets not get carried away lets see what West Ham team turns up then slowly but surely play them off the park and come back with the magical 3 points, Happy New Year to you all. UTW
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No1 NO TEAM CHANGES! I was at anfield and every player deserves to keep their place on work rate alone. If they work that hard at west ham we have every chance of winning.
I also disagree that a point would be a good result. We need to stop thinking like that. We have earned our place in the Premier league, saying a point is good result against the bottom place side is wrong
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still looking dodgy at the back but great result at anfield after the shambles against wigan, west ham beat fulham away in thier last match so they’ll be confident, so a point would be good but we really need to come back up the m1 with all 3 points. utw happy new year to all.
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Great performances against blues and Liverpool. Forget about the opposition we never let them play! Rubbish against Wigan although we should have had a penalty when the fans favourite was taken out! Stop your whingeing armchairs and get behind the lads. We need to bear in mind the injuries that we have got. In recent weeks we have had doherty on the bench. Anyway if foley stops Parker we will win. Up shortly and on my way to the east end!
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