Finally....a bit of sense!

[WORKSOPBLADE]

Thank God he's talking sense. Wonder if he said this to K.B. and was ignored ??

 

[creswell blade]

the benefit of a new striker would be good but it would just be another fooking loan. mcCabes needs to show us hes behind the manager and shell out some coin the tight fisted bullshitting monkey spanker

 

[blades1889]

we will defo need some decent (fast) wingers if he's going in middle.

 

[norfolkblade]

I like the sound of this a lot, although don't forget, when Lowton returns, we can have him on the right with Yeates on the left, remember the damage they produced at Ipswich at the end of last season, was a joy to watch!

 

[Jim Chimmerney]

Wardy prefers the right hand side himself and tends to drift out of the game/be less effective in the middle....

Still, if he's been impressing in training, alls good I suppose.

Was going to say the same thing, he started as a winger, it was only in his latter time at Chessy that he 'became' a striker.

As the article says, it all depends who we play out wide but it can only help the team with the opposition defenders having someone to worry about in the box and not on the wing. I said last season that I would have liked to see Evans and Wardy up front and hopefully, we'll now get the chance.

 

[SwissBlade]

I think Ward does more damage when he plays down the wing and comes inside.

Some have said that when he did this v Boro he looked the most dangerous player on the pitch so justifies playing him as a striker. Logical of course

However for me, Boro couldn't cope with him for spells, not because he was in a central role, but because of his movement.

The key for me is not just that we can set up in a rigid formation with players that can play those positions perfectly, but that we have players like Ward who are comfortable in different areas of the pitch.

Of course if we have Wardy drifting, then someone needs to fill for him...

That my friends is not just effective football... thats Total Football

Schmoke and a pancake anyone?

 

[Jim Chimmerney]

I think Ward does more damage when he plays down the wing and comes inside.

Some have said that when he did this v Boro he looked the most dangerous player on the pitch so justifies playing him as a striker. Logical of course

However for me, Boro couldn't cope with him for spells, not because he was in a central role, but because of his movement.

The key for me is not just that we can set up in a rigid formation with players that can play those positions perfectly, but that we have players like Ward who are comfortable in different areas of the pitch.

Of course if we have Wardy drifting, then someone needs to fill for him...

That my friends is not just effective football... thats Total Football

Schmoke and a pancake anyone?

The prime example of someone playing wider than the 'normal' striker position are David Villa and he's not that bad from there !

 

[Guesty]

Perhaps I'm just imagining things, but has anyone noticed that Ward has looked far more reluctant in taking people on since he came back form his (last) injury last season? He seems unwilling to break into a sprint, and I can't say I blame him with his hamstring the way it us. When he's isolated against the Fullback, he'll more often than not lay off a short ball rather than get at him.

 

[SwissBlade]

Perhaps I'm just imagining things, but has anyone noticed that Ward has looked far more reluctant in taking people on since he came back form his (last) injury last season? He seems unwilling to break into a sprint, and I can't say I blame him with his hamstring the way it us. When he's isolated against the Fullback, he'll more often than not lay off a short ball rather than get at him.

I think he's trying to adapt his game a little bit.

Before he relied on pure pace to beat a man, but that won't always work (see Boro v Killa, tried to get around the outside a number of times, but Killa was too smart or quick enough to win the ball)

So he's coming inside, he's looking to play short balls inside to Britton and Monty.

But I think in a way you're also right, where as in the past he'd have had no fear about trying to use pace to blitz the full backs, now he'll check his run and again on Sunday, laid the ball back to the full back.

What i'd like to see is for Ward to think a bit. He has pace to burn and even with Killa, he was getting no joy on the outside, so why not put Killa on his weaker right foot.

Fast, Tricky Wingers always frustrate me and I used to love playing against them at full back (right footed, but always preferred playing down the left). They always seem too predictable. The easiest thing for a full back is to show the winger down a route that they don't like i.e inside or outside.. 9 times out of 10 they'll opt for their preferred option even if its the more difficult option, Kick them up in the air a couple of times (like Cotterill often got) and they back off...

My experience with Wingers is that they don't like the cold, they don't like mud, and they don't like getting kicked!

 

[Grecian2000]

My experience with Wingers is that they don't like the cold, they don't like mud, and they don't like getting kicked!

You are Hoofy Blackwell and I claim my Five pounds!!!!

Just to step way back to the first few posts on this thread. There seems to be some concern that Wardy isn't great at 1 on 1's. Is this really a problem? When did any of our other strikers actually get in a position to have a 1 on 1?

 

[SteelCity Blade]

You are Hoofy Blackwell and I claim my Five pounds!!!!

Just to step way back to the first few posts on this thread. There seems to be some concern that Wardy isn't great at 1 on 1's. Is this really a problem? When did any of our other strikers actually get in a position to have a 1 on 1?

This is a good point Grecian and to be honest it isnt a concern for me. I think people are remembering a few instances like the one against Palace in our promotion decider where it just dropped to him at point blank range. Its easy to remember such moments and make a generalisation that he isnt good at one on one's....

His record at them might be poor (I dont know I havent seen the stats), but even if thats the case it doesnt mean he cant work on that element of his game....he has a lot of brilliant attributes to compensate. We have to remember he is young as well and youthful exhubarence can cause a lack of composure in such situations. Its something he can work on IF he needs to.

Besides....I would see him as a supporting striker for Ched so he wouldnt necessarily be the one to get into the 6 yard box in my mind. He would play in behind. Speedo will be the judge anyway

 

[SwissBlade]

You are Hoofy Blackwell and I claim my Five pounds!!!!

Just to step way back to the first few posts on this thread. There seems to be some concern that Wardy isn't great at 1 on 1's. Is this really a problem? When did any of our other strikers actually get in a position to have a 1 on 1?

No, the subtle difference is that I just wouldn't buy ponces like Cotterill in the first place.

I will make it clear though that I don't class Ward as the same as Cotterill, Ward does get stuck in. Just needs to be a bit smarter.

I think most of our strikers have got into positions for one on ones, Ched on Sun, we just can't finish them - Its all about composure... but then again what do I know, I'm just a defender.

 

[Moosie]

No, the subtle difference is that I just wouldn't buy ponces like Cotterill in the first place.

I will make it clear though that I don't class Ward as the same as Cotterill, Ward does get stuck in. Just needs to be a bit smarter.

I think most of our strikers have got into positions for one on ones, Ched on Sun, we just can't finish them - Its all about composure... but then again what do I know, I'm just a defender.

Yes composure has alot to do with it. But imo if ched had been banging them in for fun, or any of our strikers for that matter, it probably would have made the net ripple. Confidence has it's part to play in a strikers game.

 

[Jim Chimmerney]

No, the subtle difference is that I just wouldn't buy ponces like Cotterill in the first place.

I will make it clear though that I don't class Ward as the same as Cotterill, Ward does get stuck in. Just needs to be a bit smarter.

I think most of our strikers have got into positions for one on ones, Ched on Sun, we just can't finish them - Its all about composure... but then again what do I know, I'm just a defender.

We just haven't played that style of football for a long long time. You can count on one hand the number of times any of our strikers have been put through for a one-on-one with the keeper in the last 10 years ! Billy last season, then it's probably Ashley Ward v Leeds !!

 

[Highbury_Blade]

Jamie Ward's first goal against Southampton, Shelton away at Gillingham(?), Webber missing against Wigan in 06-07 (why oh why!). It does happen, it's just rare as rocking horse poo

 

[DonnyBlade85]

one thing we lack at the minute is chances on goal, if we play a pair up front i think more chances will come, if we play someone like wardy with pace upfront sitting on the last man then i think we will get even more chances!

 

[Ollessendro]

what about Evans chance against Boro on Sunday, wasn't that a one on one?! (he should have buried the bugger regardless).

 

[Grecian2000]

It certainly wasn't what I consider to be a 1 on 1. That, to me, is a through ball, offside trap beaten and away from the defence. This is where you have to choose what to do and it's this time and decision making that Wardy has got wrong in the past (round the keeper, blast it past him, dink it over him, slide it under him).

Ched's was just an opening in the box and the only "choice" was which side to hit it. Still an easy(ish) chance though and he should have scored.

 

[Ollessendro]

It certainly wasn't what I consider to be a 1 on 1. That, to me, is a through ball, offside trap beaten and away from the defence. This is where you have to choose what to do and it's this time and decision making that Wardy has got wrong in the past (round the keeper, blast it past him, dink it over him, slide it under him).

Ched's was just an opening in the box and the only "choice" was which side to hit it. Still an easy(ish) chance though and he should have scored.

yep, I wasn't really being serious. Ched's chance was more of a 'sitter' than a one on one. Maybe young Wardy is trying to break Dean Saunders record of 499 (i'm exagurating) one on one's without scoring. The guy was fantastic, but he couldn't put away a one on one for toffee.

 

[Highbury_Blade]

I wouldn't have even called it a sitter. From that angle it was much easier from the keeper to save than it was the striker to score. But he should have made it a little bit more difficult for the keeper to save than he did.

 

[Ollessendro]

I wouldn't have even called it a sitter. From that angle it was much easier from the keeper to save than it was the striker to score. But he should have made it a little bit more difficult for the keeper to save than he did.

fair enough, although I'd have expected him to score. Reckon I could have buried that ..... even on the owd chocolate peg

 

[Highbury_Blade]

I would have gone for the top left corner with the outside of the left boot meself, though the potential for row zz ridicule is substantially higher....

 

[SwissBlade]

We just haven't played that style of football for a long long time. You can count on one hand the number of times any of our strikers have been put through for a one-on-one with the keeper in the last 10 years ! Billy last season, then it's probably Ashley Ward v Leeds !!

I think Ward, BT 2 and someone else all had one on ones v Palace away last game of the season before last...

Ward had some last season, but I can't remember when at this moment

 

[mekkyblade]

Trouble with that is we dont have two proper wingers and i cant see many around for speedo to bring in! Apart from that fact im more than happy for wardy to play central.

 

[creswell blade]

looks like calve and jordon will be in for saturdays match and theres talk of him dropping players for the upcoming game

http://www.sufc.co.uk/page/Previews/0,,10418~2136061,00.html

 

[super_pig]

i'm really positive that speedo has gone straight in and solved the full back problem immediately.. full back is a highly specialised position these days.. the days of sticking anyone who is fit there to make up the numbers at corners is long gone.. team is starting to have a bit of balance at last

 

[Bladesman]

Strangely it's taken Speed 7 days to spot what Blackwell couldn't!

True but I wonder if he had spotted that anyway while Blackwell was in charge.

Just makes you wonder if he had any input at all into Blackwells decision making.

 

[Ollessendro]

thinking about it Ched Evans had a one on one away against QPR in the FA cup last season. He went clean through, in acres of space and crashed it against the bar. At first we all thought it was off side, but turns out he timed his run to perfection.

There must be a few on here that were there that night and remember this? There were around a 1000 Blades freezing our bollocks off, but a rare attacking performances got us warmed up.