Ambitious Posted January 5, 2014 Share Posted January 5, 2014 Jamie Ward - 7 goals and 3 assists in 23 games. He is a very good player for this division, otherwise he wouldn't touch these numbers. I do admit at times he is a bit of enigma. But, the statistics do back-up the fact that he is targeted by large sets of fans. Most people say he is dispossed a lot, yet... Jamie Ward dispossed 38 times, Chris Martin 61 times, Will Hughes 37 and Craig Bryson 30. It's not too bad overall, I get frustrated by him at times - but, he's a better option than 95% of this division. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StockholmRam Posted January 5, 2014 Share Posted January 5, 2014 Great reply Ambitious. Backed up with stats and facts too. This we like. Can we go back to since Mac arrived and changed us to a 4-3-3 with full backs bombing on and a holding mid. This system is fantastic when on song ( see Blackpool) but it requires the 2 midfielders and the two wide forwards to retain possesion, run like blue arsenal flies, tackle, run, tackle run when we have not got the ball. Dawkins was a bit better today and is seen to be improving in his defensive game. Ward isnt. Not to me at least. We aim to go higher so we need better stats than these from them all really. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rammieib Posted January 5, 2014 Share Posted January 5, 2014 If you want stats, Jamie Ward has played five games less than Hughes or Bryson so that makes his stats even worse. I think the simple equation is that we can do better than him. I want to improve the team all the time and when the opportunities come up to do this, then we should. Ward is one of those players at the moment that we could easily improve on. To only have three assists all season when you take the majority of set pieces is shocking. I cannot remember scoring from a corner or set piece this season (I am sure we have though) but the quality of delivery from William showed just how far behind we are. It concerned me today that when Ward went off, everyone (including Will Hughes) seemed to shirk the responsibility of taking set pieces. We should be 5 goals more to our name this season with decent corners and set pieces. My other big criticism of Ward (and Dawkins falls into this ) is that I don't think they are team players. They didn't track back enough today and it was cringeworthy when there was a point just before half time when Ward was on the left, William pulled out wide and Ward just stood and watched from the half way line. He needs to break a gut to provide support to his fullbacks. So ability is there but has he genuine,y provided it over the course of this season - in comparison to the others, no he hasn't and that is why we could improve on him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boycie Posted January 5, 2014 Share Posted January 5, 2014 Stats are as accurate as the possession stats from today. Depends on who's stats you look at. Stats aren't facts in my opinion, unless every stat site says the same. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alph Posted January 6, 2014 Share Posted January 6, 2014 Stats are as accurate as the possession stats from today. Depends on who's stats you look at. Stats aren't facts in my opinion, unless every stat site says the same. What were the possession stats? Can't get them up on Sky Sports App. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Albert Posted January 6, 2014 Share Posted January 6, 2014 People tend to go through stages of loving and hating Ward. When the team is doing well, people tend to get on his back a bit, but the shear number of goals and assists, as well as he willingness to actually attack when things weren't going so well tends to get people off his back when things are going poorly. The numbers speak volumes about him though. 98 games, 28 goals, 23 assists (0.34 goals and 0.28 assists per 90 minutes played) is a mighty fine record for any player. For comparison sake Chris Martin has currently got a record of 37 games, 14 goals, 10 assists (0.40 goals and 0.29 assists per 90 minutes) and Bryson has 105 games, 22 goals and 19 assists (0.22 goals and 0.19 assists per 90 minutes). Basically, people will find someone to target some kind of complaint at, and with the side playing well, Dawkins signed, Mason looking good and other options in general someone has to take some flak, particularly as we're currently on the loving Buxton side of the Buckenbauer cycle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ilkleyram Posted January 6, 2014 Share Posted January 6, 2014 Fair points and good stats all, Albert. But different positions, different roles. One of Jamie's specific roles in the team has been to provide assists, especially from set pieces both with NC and SM. We know that he can deliver a good cross/corner/freekick but IMO he doesn't do so consistently well enough every game. Perhaps his stats should be even better in comparison. His job is also to help his full back defend - harder because it involves a lot of effort and awareness tracking back, especially if he has just been on a long run forward. A tough part of the game for a guy in his position. And he doesn't do that consistently well enough for me. I like his willingness to niggle - one of the few we have who get in the faces of the opposition, especially in big games - and his pace, his ability to nick a ball off a player or try a dummy and get the team moving forward. I like his attitude. So he brings some good things to the team and can be more than worth his place. But he doesn't deliver consistently. Which is why he's a good Championship player and maybe not a good PL player Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mwram1973 Posted January 6, 2014 Share Posted January 6, 2014 I think Ward is a good championship player, without a doubt. BUT is he good enough for us now?, I think we could get someone in better or give Bennett a run out there. He done brilliantly against Chelsea out wide when he came on, blistering pace and tries to get into the box all the time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jacko1983 Posted January 6, 2014 Share Posted January 6, 2014 He needs to be taken off freekicks, that is for sure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-JW- Posted January 6, 2014 Share Posted January 6, 2014 All this talk of stats bores me. Stats can make anyone believe any fookin thing. 20% of people know that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Day Posted January 6, 2014 Author Share Posted January 6, 2014 All this talk of stats bores me. Stats can make anyone believe any fookin thing. 20% of people know that. 1 out of 50 of your posts I enjoy reading Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
niram Posted January 6, 2014 Share Posted January 6, 2014 bennett looked alot better than him when he came on on sunday Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shuff264 Posted January 6, 2014 Share Posted January 6, 2014 Jamie Ward - 7 goals and 3 assists in 23 games. He is a very good player for this division, otherwise he wouldn't touch these numbers. I do admit at times he is a bit of enigma. But, the statistics do back-up the fact that he is targeted by large sets of fans. Most people say he is dispossed a lot, yet... Jamie Ward dispossed 38 times, Chris Martin 61 times, Will Hughes 37 and Craig Bryson 30. It's not too bad overall, I get frustrated by him at times - but, he's a better option than 95% of this division. How does that work out per game? Just a wondering Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TigerTedd Posted January 6, 2014 Share Posted January 6, 2014 He needs to be taken off freekicks, that is for sure. Absolutely agree with this. He's a good player, and he provides certain things, but I think his scoring stats are a bit deceiving. Similar to Theo. He had a great scoring record, but he isn't actually very good, just gets in the right place at the right time. Ward hasn't scored much in the way of a screamer, if I remember correctly, the majority have been from tap ins (which for a set piece specialist, you'd expect him to have a go from outside the area, and be successful, more often). Bryson, by comparison, has scored screamers and tap ins and the whole lot. Perhaps he can see us through to the end of the season, but I think the likes of Russell, or Bennett if he can keep his form, should be ahead of him in the pecking order. And I think he'll be surplus to requirements if / when we get promoted. I also think that Nigel did a great job of building a team of triers with a really great work ethic. And based on some of the comments on here, I don't think Ward has that work ethic. Maybe it's wrong to bring it up, but remember how he left Sheffield United in the first place. He's got a bit of an attitude on him. Of all the players on our squad, I'd probably be least sad to see him go. Which is not to say I'd be happy to see him go, I still think he's good, and I don't think his attitude is that bad, but when put in context next to everyone else we have, he seems to be a bit of a weak link by comparison. Which is maybe a bit harsh, as we have such a strong team, but someone has to be the weak link. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Teale Posted January 6, 2014 Share Posted January 6, 2014 Surely ward is on the free kicks as he is the best at taking them. Otherwise wouldn't have clough and then Steve mc made someone else take them? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StockholmRam Posted January 6, 2014 Share Posted January 6, 2014 I like your posts to, including this one :-) However a scape goat to me isnt someone giving an opinion on how they played, but commenting that he doesn't try, should be sold straight away, doesnt care etc are. Ward on top form is unplayable is this league, admittedly he has been up to his normal standards, but some of the comments against him imo are over the top. I would have no qualms about him being dropped, but I would rather see him in our team/squad than playing against us....IMO of course. Problem with dropping him mate is that ( and I dont know him personally, just going on what I have read and been told) is that he is quite a vocal influence around daily DCFC squad life, well liked, but ever so moody. Dropping him might have an effect on a few others. Dunno for sure of course but it did strike me straight away as he might be a bit problematic if not playing regularly. I didnt like at all that he spat his dummy and sulked openly on being taken off the other week. Some argue that it shows his passion and that he cares. I view it as it also shows part of his personality. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RIMBAUD Posted January 6, 2014 Share Posted January 6, 2014 Sometimes these 'bubbly' characters are not as well liked as either they think or as others will admit. (Of course I have no idea about Ward's popularity or otherwise.) I like him as a player but he has definitely lost some of his mojo (injured?) and I agree, as others have suggested, that the team have improved and he is no longer the stand out performer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ramarena Posted January 6, 2014 Share Posted January 6, 2014 Surely ward is on the free kicks as he is the best at taking them. Otherwise wouldn't have clough and then Steve mc made someone else take them? Maybe, but jeez the rest of the team must be pretty gash at them if Ward's the best we have. Not saying he's a bad player, but his set pieces are dire. Maybe a set piece expert in the mould of a quality CDM is what we require? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dabber Posted January 6, 2014 Share Posted January 6, 2014 I think Bryson has been taking more free kicks of late and Russell corners, but neither available vs Chelsea Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonnysupersheep Posted January 7, 2014 Share Posted January 7, 2014 I think at this point of the season we need to pull together as a team and ward hasn't been part of that team for a good few games now if not months. He has a habbit of striding forward and as soon as he is dis-possesed he carrys on his run forward for another 10/15 yards and then walks back. Teams are going to be playing a solid game against us, packing the midfeild, slowing the play down and hitting on the counter with the way we have been playing in recent months and in order to play effectivley against this we need players that track back and work for the team not themselves More efective team players are available i'm sure, Bamford has proved himself at league 1, never got the chance at forest a few years ago be good to see what he does here, competition for a position is what we need but i'm not confident that ward will react well. For me he could go, not a massive fan but lets see what january brings Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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