Stephen Ward

Nah thebronze, he was worse than woeful at times for us and the flak, whilst sometimes overly harsh, was due. 

Neither are "awful", that's just how our full backs are expected to play in the national team. Irrespective of who plays there, the standard ball is always a floated pass up the line. It's not how Ward has played at club level (where he's tended to be quite attack-minded), so it's clearly an instruction that comes from the Irish management.

Just signed a new 2 year contract extension at Turf Moor.

A local legend

thebronze14 wrote: Bob Hoskins wrote: thebronze14 wrote: I never understood the flak he got for Ireland on here and elsewhere online. He's never been top quality but has always been solid and possibly a little more for us now. After Paul McShane stopped playing for us with any regularity people needed a scapegoat I think to blame for the teams failings. If we have a bad month Sept, they will probably pick another player It's similar to when O'Shea was right back, he wasn't great and gave the ball away a lot. I think Ward deserved some of the criticism he got. But since before the Euro's Ward has been reliable.  Was never a fan of O'Shea at right back. Contributed little despite playing for Man United at the time. Much better when he was used centrally

+1

Green Devil wrote: Back to his usual self the other night, when under the cosh his lack of technical ability, positioning, passing etc all shown up. Spent most of the evening tucking in centrally  For luck he had McClean tracking back!   I don't know how many times it needs to be said but we need to put Brady at left back.

Green Devil wrote: pre Madonna wrote: Green Devil wrote: Back to his usual self the other night, when under the cosh his lack of technical ability, positioning, passing etc all shown up. Spent most of the evening tucking in centrally  For luck he had McClean tracking back!   I don't know how many times it needs to be said but we need to put Brady at left back.  Brady is nothing but a left-winger. I think it is a straight choice between him and McClean and we are damaging the team overall by trying to force him into positions he can't play. In a modern day full back you want someone who will attack with purpose, has good control and distribution.  Brady would offer a real threat going forward tomorrow evening.  As would having McGeady on the right wing! We need to go for the win tomorrow a draw is no good.

BabbsBalls wrote: I agree . We not try McClean on the right and RB on the left or vice-versa ?

McClean is the player who should only be played on the left wing. He's pretty one-footed anyway, and is really only effective in that position. Robbie Brady is obviously versatile, and put in man-of-the match performance playing predominantly on the right against Spurs - which is where I'd play him against Serbia, with Hoolahan as the number 10.

I wouldn't play at left-back against anything other than a minnow, such as
Andorra, where you know you're going to dominate and be under no real defensive pressure. He's just not a natural defender.