Last season he was at fault for quite a number of goals, often simply due to his lack of pace. This season we've sat deeper and this seems to have helped as he has good positional sense and is an experienced pro. Sentiment aside, it is an area we need to upgrade. Having fullbacks that can get up and down the pitch with pace is becoming increasingly important in the modern game and so, sadly for Ward, it is inevitable he will lose his place sooner or later. He has always stood up when called on and didn't make a fuss when AWB got all the plaudits and took his place and I'm perfectly fine with him keeping his place in the team in the short term.

He's been incredibly steady for us over the years and often hasn't had the credit he deserves, a huge contributor to the most successful period in our history and doesn't deserve to be singled out for a ludicrous handball decision.

Once Ferguson is fit Ward will return to being a more than capable back up for us just like he was when AWB emerged beforehand and, should Ferguson get injured, he'll step in and be very reliable again.

He's not the future but is an extremely valuable member of the present and recent past.

We were somewhere around Barstow, on the edge of the desert, when the drugs began to take hold...

Agree. He's been a good servant. He's doing a reasonable job at present, but is limited. If Ferguson does recover fully from his operation, he is likely to become our no. 1 RB some time this season with Ward as back-up.

Respect Wardy as a brilliant servant to the club and top professional. Thoroughly decent chap too.
He is not a liability- that’s unfair but I have felt for a couple of seasons that he is a weak link and the avenue for many of our goals conceded. When AWB Emerged as his successor I didn’t notice anyone crying for Wardy to come back in.
As many have said on this threat he’ll never let us down if called upon and always gives 100%.
But gotta agree he shouldn’t be first choice RB if NC and NF (who is also a decent CB) are fit.

Joel Ward is what he is.

He has always been quite poor at stopping the cross, prone to a mental lapse costing a goal chance, and pretty crap coming forward. He does have some qualities though and has had some very good outings for us over the years.

He is a decent squad player but probably shouldn’t be starting for a premier league side.

I expect Nathan Ferguson will do an AWB and move ahead of old Wardy soon enough in the pecking order.

Trump lost. Badly. Hahahahahahaha.

For a club our size he is a good no.2. Good back up just too slow. We have been given an injured right back who may recover to replace Ward. Let’s hope Ferguson fully recovers and hasn’t lost his pace. Let’s also hope he cuts it in the premier. Knowing Roy it could be a longer wait.