[Ernie Ernie Ernie]

ChrisSnell, on Aug 14 2007, 11:11 PM, said:

Like every other Town fan i was extremely concerned to hear of Ward's hamstring injury. This turn of events looks like costing us our most creative player for a minimum of eight games and i think we have to ask ourselves a very simple question: just how ambitious are we?

Now if we really are ambitious, as the "only promotion will be good enough" rhetoric would suggest, surely the Manager should be allowed to bring in a loan player in an attempt to fill the void left by the unfortunate Ward. That's assuming he knows of any, of course.

However if the Club are content to "make do" for the next six weeks or so, rely on the same players we relied on last season when Ward was sidelined and perhaps lose vital points in the process, does this mean that all the earlier talk was just bluff and bluster?

Let me say loud and clear that i genuinely hope the likes of Smith, Lowery or Jackson might fulfill the role temporarily vacated by the mercurial Ward. Infact they should see their team-mate's misfortune as a golden opportunity to impress. My fear is though, that if we don't take decisive action over the next few days to add creativity to our side we might look back on a hamstring injury to Jamie Ward costing us as dear this season, as it probably did last season.

Losing Ward is a mssive blow however it will make us play with a more solid 4 4 2 and the introduction of possibly lowery on the right will give us more shape.

[S18Spireite]

Hear what you're saying Chris but in the short-term we ought to be looking to win games with any two from Lester, Fletcher, Chief, Jackson, Shaw in League Two

Whether Ward is a problem long-term is a different matter...

[SpireKop]

Hope he isn't out for long, think a short term loan may be ideal, a pacey striker. Lester looks class.

[mr. smith]

Alex Green, on Aug 15 2007, 12:09 AM, said:

though this is an unfortunate situation for Ward (which will also mean he will be left out the U21 match too) it is a good time for Jackson to prove that he should start on a regular basis

not good enough.

[S18Spireite]

ChrisSnell, on Aug 14 2007, 11:49 PM, said:

Ern:
That's a great point and one i've considered myself. We certainly looked far more balanced on Saturday after going 4-4-2. My concern is though, that we've no-one at the Club capable of running at defenders with the same pace or trickery exhibited by Ward (though i acknowledge that Smith did well when he came on).

As i said, i think not bringing in a player of similar ability cost us dear last season. I hope we don't repeat the mistakes of the past.

Perhaps I should be urging ambition and new players all the time, I might be being too cautious or an apologist here.

But I think the situation between last season and this season is different. Last season Ward seemed our ONLY hope. This season we have Lester.


and Fletcher...and people who should operate better in League 2 - Shaw, Jackson....Smith(!!)

I just don't think you can compare the two scenarios exactly like for like. I would hope we are confident in the strikers we have without going elsewhere, I didn't feel the same when Ward was injured last season

[mr. smith]

Alex Green, on Aug 15 2007, 12:16 AM, said:

well he never will be if he doesnt get a chance Mr S you know that. He gets bit parts which are neither here nor there.

4 words, leave it there.

[h again]

ChrisSnell, on Aug 14 2007, 11:11 PM, said:

Like every other Town fan i was extremely concerned to hear of Ward's hamstring injury. This turn of events looks like costing us our most creative player for a minimum of eight games and i think we have to ask ourselves a very simple question: just how ambitious are we?

Now if we really are ambitious, as the "only promotion will be good enough" rhetoric would suggest, surely the Manager should be allowed to bring in a loan player in an attempt to fill the void left by the unfortunate Ward. That's assuming he knows of any, of course.

However if the Club are content to "make do" for the next six weeks or so, rely on the same players we relied on last season when Ward was sidelined and perhaps lose vital points in the process, does this mean that all the earlier talk was just bluff and bluster?

Let me say loud and clear that i genuinely hope the likes of Smith, Lowery or Jackson might fulfill the role temporarily vacated by the mercurial Ward. Infact they should see their team-mate's misfortune as a golden opportunity to impress. My fear is though, that if we don't take decisive action over the next few days to add creativity to our side we might look back on a hamstring injury to Jamie Ward costing us as dear this season, as it probably did last season.

I'm sure Rico would love to bring in a loan replacement, and I can even imagine the finances running to it, courtesy of a decent crowd tonight, but if you were a manager with a player like Ward on the books, would you let him out on loan? There may be one or two youngsters in the Premiership who could be useful, but Ward, despite his youth, has been around a bit and knows the lower divisions. By the time a Premiership youngster has found his feet Ward will be fit again.
If we're going for a loan it might be better to get another midfielder, though there were signs tonight that the Scottish invasion may be starting to get its act together. I can feel an injury crisis building already, especially with Aaron off for so long on international duty, so loans there will have to be, but where and for how long is a very open question at this stage.

[BlueRover52]

If Fletcher has to be rested after one match and Chief in a similar vein,just who are we going to partner an impressive Lester up front.Squad is small enough already without losing key players like Ward for 6wks.If Rico can get a loanee in he should be allowed to.Will start to feel the pressue if we dont get the right result on Saturday

[h again]

mr. smith, on Aug 15 2007, 12:18 AM, said:

4 words, leave it there.

A bit of unnescessary gloom, surely? He looks a lot stronger than last season and is still very young. He should be given the chance to step straight into Ward's shoes. If he can't hack it alongside two of the Chief, Lester and Fletcher we might start to wonder, but at the moment it's all to play for.

[mr. smith]

h again, on Aug 15 2007, 12:31 AM, said:

A bit of unnescessary gloom, surely? He looks a lot stronger than last season and is still very young. He should be given the chance to step straight into Ward's shoes. If he can't hack it alongside two of the Chief, Lester and Fletcher we might start to wonder, but at the moment it's all to play for.

personnel opinion. with our small squad he'll get his chances. just think when a player is that small theyve got to be exceptional to succeed & i dont think he is.

[**Carlos**]

mr. smith, on Aug 15 2007, 12:36 AM, said:

personnel opinion. with our small squad he'll get his chances. just think when a player is that small theyve got to be exceptional to succeed & i dont think he is.

Agreed... but hope we our both proved wrong Mr S

[mr. smith]

*Carlos*, on Aug 15 2007, 12:42 AM, said:

Agreed... but hope we our both proved wrong Mr S

certainly hope so.

[Wooden Spoon]

ChrisSnell, on Aug 14 2007, 11:11 PM, said:

Like every other Town fan i was extremely concerned to hear of Ward's hamstring injury. This turn of events looks like costing us our most creative player for a minimum of eight games and i think we have to ask ourselves a very simple question: just how ambitious are we?

Now if we really are ambitious, as the "only promotion will be good enough" rhetoric would suggest, surely the Manager should be allowed to bring in a loan player in an attempt to fill the void left by the unfortunate Ward. That's assuming he knows of any, of course.

However if the Club are content to "make do" for the next six weeks or so, rely on the same players we relied on last season

if we have to `make do` with lester and fletcher, i think we will do ok. we wont be playing a side of the blunts calibre every week.

we have dropped a level too, and players like shaw have not played at the level he has by being rubbish.

if anything, the midfield is the concern


its early days, no need to panic

This post has been edited by death: 15 August 2007 - 05:00 AM

[cooper6271.freeserve.co.uk]

Chris, Ward will be a massive miss from now on, noticed when we lost Ward last night we seemed to struggle
with united. Jamie's pace and skill frightened the united wing backs & they were doubling up on him to try to stop his threat, therefore stopping united having the width to hurt us.But as soon as Ward went off it opened up the game for the united to operate with width, to be honest after that we were in trouble.My other concern now is if Jack Lester gets injured we are in major trouble, dont think we have the strike force at the club at the moment should an injury become to Lester.The board may have to show some ambition & not just with a striker, the midfield is a massive concern to me apart from Niven last night the rest are poor.
The young lad Robertson is also a major concern to me,dont think he is what we require at full back got the run around at Chester & last night he was awful.

[dim view]

ChrisSnell, on Aug 14 2007, 11:11 PM, said:

Let me say loud and clear that i genuinely hope the likes of Smith, Lowery or Jackson might fulfill the role temporarily vacated by the mercurial Ward. Infact they should see their team-mate's misfortune as a golden opportunity to impress. My fear is though, that if we don't take decisive action over the next few days to add creativity to our side we might look back on a hamstring injury to Jamie Ward costing us as dear this season, as it probably did last season.

talking of bluff and bluster, how can you genuinely hope that these young players progress, but at the same time call for replacements to be brought in?.

Rico has already shown his ambition by making provision for injuries to his forwards. If you don't rate them, that's a different issue.