Grant Ward

PoolWarrior

Well-known member
Can't see a thread about him on here but supposedly training with us - anyone think he deserves another chance?
 
Guess that’s up to MA. I certainly think he’s a good player but can he stay fit I would imagine is the biggest question mark.
 
Can't see a thread about him on here but supposedly training with us - anyone think he deserves another chance?
It’s a tough on as on ability alone most definitely - easily has the talent to play it this level. But, he has had two really bad Injuries where he has been out for a year or more - it seems the club have taken the decision that at 27 with two serious injuries he is to much of a risk. If he proves his fitness then who knows? Different manager and different perspective means he could get a 1 + 1 to see how he gets on, if he struggles for fitness and or form you release him after 1 year with no major loss costs wise.
 
It’s a tough on as on ability alone most definitely - easily has the talent to play it this level. But, he has had two really bad Injuries where he has been out for a year or more - it seems the club have taken the decision that at 27 with two serious injuries he is to much of a risk. If he proves his fitness then who knows? Different manager and different perspective means he could get a 1 + 1 to see how he gets on, if he struggles for fitness and or form you release him after 1 year with no major loss costs wise.
I agree with everything you’ve said, however the problem is that he could be fit throughout pre season and then pick up another bad injury that keeps him out all season, he doesn’t seem to get little niggles, all seem to keep him out for 7 or 8 months. It’s a bit risky IMO.
 
I agree with everything you’ve said, however the problem is that he could be fit throughout pre season and then pick up another bad injury that keeps him out all season, he doesn’t seem to get little niggles, all seem to keep him out for 7 or 8 months. It’s a bit risky IMO.
I agree it’s very risky and I suspect that’s why the club have taken the decision to release him. We could put him on a ‘pay as you play’ deal which mitigates the risk for the club - any club who takes him is taking a bigger risk than usual on a player like him with his injury record which might limit the clubs who come in for him.
 
No harm letting him do his pre-season with us. If he proves his fitness then it could lead to a short term contract. He is the one midfielder in our squad who had that little injection of pace.
 
I agree with everything you’ve said, however the problem is that he could be fit throughout pre season and then pick up another bad injury that keeps him out all season, he doesn’t seem to get little niggles, all seem to keep him out for 7 or 8 months. It’s a bit risky IMO.
That could also apply to anyone though.
 
Compare with Kevin Stewart who's a year older and has made 118 career appearances compared to Grant's 173.
Should we have let Kevin go instead?
Wasn't Stewart under contract for another year?

Please don't tell me you're reopening my mental wounds that I'd blocked since I found out we gave him an extra year.
 
Take the injuries away and he'd be in our best 11 easily, I guess the club didn't want to gamble on a player that may not play more than 30 games a season. Such a shame, he is a top player.
 
Take the injuries away and he'd be in our best 11 easily, I guess the club didn't want to gamble on a player that may not play more than 30 games a season. Such a shame, he is a top player.
I don’t remember anyone denying his quality, just the long term injuries.
 
Between him & Stewart we may get nearly a season & depending what they are being paid it may be a acceptable, then again either of them may stay relatively injury free you never know. 🤞
 
His overall fitness record is very good, regularly playing 40 or so games a season, his last injury was bad, but so long as he can recover he could be worth another chance.
I’m not against it, I rate him as a very good champ midfielder. I wonder without the 2 serious injuries if he mightn’t have been a premier league player as he’s quick mobile and athletic. The sports scientists and physios etc will have to make the call along with the club risk stance. maybe he’s just been unlucky, maybe they can find a contract that suits him and us, reasonable basic supplemented by great appearance Money or something.
 
Between him & Stewart we may get nearly a season & depending what they are being paid it may be a acceptable, then again either of them may stay relatively injury free you never know. 🤞

Ward has done 36 games or more in four out of the last 7 seasons, the rest he missed with serious injuries, to lump him in with Stewart is seriously inaccurate.
 
I would offer his a pay as you play and then look at it again in January and offer him a contract then if all goes well, but I'm sure he will have plenty of clubs in for him.
 
Agree with 1966. I'm not one who thinks we've no money right now, but we do have to be prudent with what we do have.

And if that means MA checks out what all the existing squad can do, then fine.
 
Wasn't Stewart under contract for another year?

Please don't tell me you're reopening my mental wounds that I'd blocked since I found out we gave him an extra year.
Kevin is contracted until 30.06.2023 +1. That wasn't the point I was making, it was just a comparison of injury records.
 
Ward has done 36 games or more in four out of the last 7 seasons, the rest he missed with serious injuries, to lump him in with Stewart is seriously inaccurate.
Maybe so but that's probably why they were both affordable in league 1, I'll just wait & see what happens
 
He (and Kev) are serious operators. If they were BOTH fit and available, Pool are only a couple of players short of being at least “ handy”.
 
I know he was only a sub on the day but I thought Ward was excellent in the 15 mins or so he played at Wembley and was a calm head who just kept possession and suppressed their attack and movement.
Shame he couldn’t have made an impact last season.
 
Over the last two seasons, Grant Ward has played a lot more matches than both Matty Virtue and Kevin Stewart despite having a serious injury.
Matty Virtue has only played 19 league matches over two seasons compared to Wards 40. Yet both Virtue and Stewart have been rewarded with contract extensions. The club cannot afford to keep 3 players with their injury records, and for me, the logical move would be to sell Matty Virtue who is far too slow to play at this level. I would resign Ward and add another couple of midfielders as well.
 
Over the last two seasons, Grant Ward has played a lot more matches than both Matty Virtue and Kevin Stewart despite having a serious injury.
Matty Virtue has only played 19 league matches over two seasons compared to Wards 40. Yet both Virtue and Stewart have been rewarded with contract extensions. The club cannot afford to keep 3 players with their injury records, and for me, the logical move would be to sell Matty Virtue who is far too slow to play at this level. I would resign Ward and add another couple of midfielders as well.

Send Virtue out on loan to L1, put him in the window and depending upon how things develop maybe cash in on him in January, alternatively if we get another run of injuries like last season we've got ready-made cover to recall in January.

Ward, depending upon fitness and recovery, might feature in some pre-season games, although it could be a little too early for him, I'm sure the club are keeping their options open on this one and will offer him a contract if they think he still has a role to play.
 
Over the last two seasons, Grant Ward has played a lot more matches than both Matty Virtue and Kevin Stewart despite having a serious injury.
Matty Virtue has only played 19 league matches over two seasons compared to Wards 40. Yet both Virtue and Stewart have been rewarded with contract extensions. The club cannot afford to keep 3 players with their injury records, and for me, the logical move would be to sell Matty Virtue who is far too slow to play at this level. I would resign Ward and add another couple of midfielders as well.
Sure I remember seeing Matty was fastest over 5k of anyone in the squad.
 
Sure I remember seeing Matty was fastest over 5k of anyone in the squad.
I don't think his problem is middle-distance running, which after all his rehabilitation treatment he will have plenty of practice with. But his
sprinting and lack of speed over the first 10yds. Although it can be worked on, he suffers from the same problem as Andy Garner had
he just is naturally slow. He isn't the only player that isn't quick enough for the championship though, there is Keogh, Madine, and Thorniley that are not quick enough as well.
 
Send Virtue out on loan to L1, put him in the window and depending upon how things develop maybe cash in on him in January, alternatively if we get another run of injuries like last season we've got ready-made cover to recall in January.
I feel the same. I think he was clearly rated by Critchley (probably helped with the Liverpool connection) but it'll be interesting to see how Appleton rates him.
 
I feel the same. I think he was clearly rated by Critchley (probably helped with the Liverpool connection) but it'll be interesting to see how Appleton rates him.

I think the thing is, having missed almost the whole of last season, he needs to be playing regular first team football, and I'm not sure the club can guarantee that.
 
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