Jamie Ward - Hit or Miss?

[DizzyBala]

We're almost at the half point in the season, Jamie Ward has scored none and assisted three. He's played in 17 out of the 21 games.
What are your thoughts on him so far?

Personally, I think he's not pulled up any trees and while he works hard, it's often with little end product. He's an 'orrible little scamp and winds up the opposition something fierce but I think he's underperforming and can't really use the injury excuse as a reason why.

 

[Britt Assombalongalonger]

If I'm allowed, his not a hit or a miss. He's handy when he starts and can inject pace into the game coming on from the bench. It's not like we spent any money on him, or that we spent big wages given the 10k cap. 6/10, a useful extra attacking option.

 

[marshal99]

As i said in the past , he's like a slightly better Jamie Mackie , useful but not essential to the team. Loves how he winds up the opponent (and the opposition fans) with his antics though.

 

[Carlos]

Who do we have proven on that side? I like Chris Burke, I'll reserve judgement until he starts there for comparison

 

[Agent Penguin]

Whilst I would have liked him to have scored by now, I do think he adds something to the team. I'm pleased we have him.

 

[jimthemod]

Derby weren't daft ! Would have loved him in his pomp though

 

[SLM92NF]

Said it before, useless.

No real talent, a WUM that doesn't when and when not to wind up other players. Runs into trouble when given the ball and spends more time on his backside then he does "working hard". Tracking back is also generally horrendous too.

Better off without. Osborn and Mendes out wide have so much more to offer.

 

[SLM92NF]

Who do we have proven on that side? I like Chris Burke, I'll reserve judgement until he starts there for comparison

Chris Burke is 20x the player.

Burke did more off the bench in that Huddersfield game to show what he can add than Ward has in his 17 games!

 

[Trickie Trees]

Been a little bit disappointing. Expected one or two goals which he always chipped in with at Derby.
He shows odd moments of skill and he does occasionally threaten in a game but not consistently enough. I still want to like him and do think he is a useful squad member particularly off the bench. I am hoping he will have a decent spell and stick one or two chances in the net.

 

[lard]

He is alright , The 4 year contract was a way of getting round FFP , otherwise it would have been 2. He will score goals I don't have a problem with that.

 

[Tutts]

Hard worker, not much end product.

Worth an effective £20k a week? Probably not. I'd rather have either of the Burkes in, if we're going to play two up top.

 

[Samuel]

Not seen much of him but when I have seen him he's not been very good.

Can't believe we've got him for 4 years.

 

[Trickie Trees]

Hard worker, not much end product.

Worth an effective £20k a week? Probably not. I'd rather have either of the Burkes in, if we're going to play two up top.

Ollie Burke is totally unproven at this level though I do think he would be worth throwing in off the bench to stretch teams.
Chris Burke is the forgotten man these days. Perhaps lacks the pace for Freedman's counterattacking style.

 

[Pugwash]

He's kinda like the anti-Antonio.

Antonio is a blockbuster, one man wrecking ball who doesn't contribute much to team moves or help in defence.

Ward is the type of player that would be a vital cog in a team that's playing above the sum of its parts, like Brentford of Bournemouth last season.

He's not a "match winner", but he's got all the attributes to be an important part of a winning team...

 

[Bryn Gunn]

Neither hit or miss for me but a useful player to have.
There has been a few games were he's looked like the only one bothered, so I agree the work rate and effort is mostly there.
His wind up tactics make me laugh, been a long time since we had a character like that in our team and on the right day it can unsettle the opposition.

Comparisons to Chris Burke is quite apt in my opinion because whilst I'm not disappointed in the pair of them, I did expect more especially in terms of goals and assists.

 

[MASE]

Without the all important reference to whoscored.com Im assuming hes made a decent contribution defensively.
he gets up & down, gets stuck in & 3 assists must be near the top of the charts. Id be more inclined to scrutinise his performance more if we had spent the season with more numbers up the business end.

I like him, plus if he plays, theres more of a chance Benny Osborn could get a central spot where he belongs.

 

[matt1982]

Thought he might have one or 2 goals by now and he's been in and out with injury. Overall he's useful if only off the bench

 

[Otis Redding]

He gives us a completely different option in terms of character, both on the pitch and in the dressing-room.

The season has been slightly stop-start for him so far, but in my opinion he's displayed glimpses of his quality, so hopefully he'll really get going during the remainder.

 

[marshal99]

In some way , it's good that he's nothing special or that essential to the team. He's done okay but it should allow Oliver Burke the time to develop his game further and hopefully take over that right wing spot over time.

 

[daniel]

We keep on blaming the strike force but where are the dangerous crosses fro CoG, Blackstock or Oliviera to score from

No one seems to be getting to the bye-line and both Mendes and Ward are guilty but whilst mendes carries the ball forward dangerously, Ward doesnt seem to

So Ward definitely should not be in starting line up and DFs faith in him makes be doubt DFs tactical nous

 

[Captain Sinister]

One more journeyman added to a team of journeymen when we are crying out for players who have skill and intelligence.

 

[hannahd]

More of a hit than a miss. But slightly flying under the radar at the moment. He has been unlucky not to score on some occasions, like against Derby. He definitely adds something, and is always useful to come off bench. His influence is underestimated.

 

[stockers]

Wonder how much he's on? He's not going to take us to the next level and he's a barrier in front of our younger players.

 

[MASE]

Id be looking at the Tyler Walker situation before deciding whose the barrier between young players & the first team. Theres been many a situation where O.Burke could have made at least an impact on games, but that option hasnt & never really looks like being taken up.

 

[Kieran]

Well those praising Burke and saying he's the much better player are some of the ones saying we should get rid of him so we'll ignore that!

As for Jamie Ward, yes the stats don't look great, but it's his overall presence that has been a factor in our team, his passion just ups the tempo and helps us perform better. We've created so many chances this season, and all chances have to start somewhere, and a lot of the time he's involved with the play.

I think a lot of people get caught up in stats, for example if David Vaughan plays a killer ball through to Oliveira and he shoots, misses and O'Grady fires in the rebound, despite it being Vaughan who made the precision through ball, he wouldn't be credited with the assist.