Will Danny Ward start in the World Cup?

[francis39]

Adv: 

Ward played more matches than Wayne Hennessey this year—by the time wc begins he would have played 16 times for Leicester this year and twice x45mins or Wales, total 1530mins. 

Hennessey: 630 Wales, 180 Forest, total 810 mins.

 

 

Disadv:

Hennessey had 106 caps, Ward 26. Hennessey is far more familiar with playing alongside Bale, Ramsey, Allen, Davies, Rodon etc.

 

Hennessey has played both National league matches, which are the final two international matches before the WC first match, while Ward played 0. Seems Page has made up his mind.

 

Ward has only played 90mins the 12 months before the Worlds, and so had rarely played with his national teammates for quite a while— While Hennessey played 7 of the 9 matches of Wales in 2022.

 

Even if Ward plays well in the final 4 matches, he would have finished the first half of the season playing badly in half of the matches, which is a very bad record, considering that a goalkeeper may be criticised heavily even if he only plays badly 10% of the time. 

 

Hennessey was the national hero—9 saves against Ukraine made him the MOTM and sent Wales to the WC.

 

 

—-

I think if Ward had played well since the beginning of the season he might be picked for at least half/1 match in the national league fixtures. But now that he played zero, and Hennessey was the playoff hero, while there is no more friendly match before the world cup, I cannot see Page changing the goalkeeper suddenly, especially when Hennessey didnt put a foot wrong since taking back Ward’s berth, and minutes in the national team is far more important than in the club considering that it is the national team which is playing the WC. 

However, if he can keep his starting berth in the club, while Hennessey will probably not/may even retire from the wales team after WC, he may be the starter for years to come. 

Edited 21 October 2022 by francis39

[Finnegan]

They've both been given a fair crack at it under Page so it's hard to say for certain. 

 

I'd expect Hennessey to be ahead of him but if Ward keeps a couple more clean sheets before the break and Hennessey is still sat second fiddle to that fraud then who knows. 

[francis39]

6 minutes ago, Finnegan said:

They've both been given a fair crack at it under Page so it's hard to say for certain. 

 

I'd expect Hennessey to be ahead of him but if Ward keeps a couple more clean sheets before the break and Hennessey is still sat second fiddle to that fraud then who knows. 

It would need a miracle, considering that we lost every match away from home and there will be 3 away matches in the next 4, and the remaining one is at home against Man City😅

 

 

Yes, but in 2022 Hennessey had played 7/9 matches for Wales while Ward has only played 90mins. Such could play a major role as familiarity between goalkeepers and Defenders are important. 

[francis39]

9 minutes ago, Finnegan said:

They've both been given a fair crack at it under Page so it's hard to say for certain. 

 

I'd expect Hennessey to be ahead of him but if Ward keeps a couple more clean sheets before the break and Hennessey is still sat second fiddle to that fraud then who knows. 

I think Hennessey starting for Forest may not be good for him TBO. 

[Cadno'r Cymoedd]

Page will pick Hennessey for the opener

[1972 Fox]

No he won't. Not good enough at the top level. Hennessey is the better keeper.

[HybridFox]

I thought Ward did very well at the Euros. 

 

It was unlucky injury cost him his place and Hennessey had a really good game in the play-off.

 

International managers are a bit fickle in that sense that club form is often irrelevant in their eyes. E.g. Harry Maguire supposedly plays well for England so retains his place despite fleeting appearances for United.

 

I'd expect Hennessey to be the frontrunner but there's no disputing Ward would be the fresher of the two having actually played games

 

[francis39]

2 hours ago, TK95 said:

I thought Ward did very well at the Euros. 

 

It was unlucky injury cost him his place and Hennessey had a really good game in the play-off.

 

International managers are a bit fickle in that sense that club form is often irrelevant in their eyes. E.g. Harry Maguire supposedly plays well for England so retains his place despite fleeting appearances for United.

 

I'd expect Hennessey to be the frontrunner but there's no disputing Ward would be the fresher of the two having actually played games

 

Hennessey was kept after playing against Austria and didnt let Page down against Ukraine. Page may have decided to fully stick to Hennessey from then becoz he owed him for qualifying Wales because of his big saves. 

 

I think if there are some warm-up matches, Ward may actually have legitimate chance to compete with Hennessey. But now that there arent any, and Page didnt even give him 1 minute in the national league, there is no doubt that Page will stick to Hennessey unless Hennessey makes a howler against USA/England then maybe Ward will come in. 

 

And Ward’s form had been really poor until the last 2 games. He may need brilliant performance for another 2 months to make up for his poor performance in the first 2 months of the season to persuade Page to give him a chance? (The world cup starts within 1 month though!) 

[francis39]

3 hours ago, TK95 said:

I thought Ward did very well at the Euros. 

 

It was unlucky injury cost him his place and Hennessey had a really good game in the play-off.

 

International managers are a bit fickle in that sense that club form is often irrelevant in their eyes. E.g. Harry Maguire supposedly plays well for England so retains his place despite fleeting appearances for United.

 

I'd expect Hennessey to be the frontrunner but there's no disputing Ward would be the fresher of the two having actually played games

 

actually ward grab the no.1 and started in the euros becoz the euro was postponed and hennessey got injured in national league

Edited 21 October 2022 by francis39

[AKCJ]

God help Wales if he does.

[CrazyKopCorner]

Hope he does - England will have a field day 

 

Has to be on the proviso that a new goalkeeper is an absolute priority in January 

[Iran]

I hope he does

[Kevinparr71]

Not unless Hennessey gets injured

[baldeagle]

I hope he does and has a cracking tournament  then comes back to us and carries is form on . 

[francis39]

On 21/10/2022 at 23:19, Kevinparr71 said:

Not unless Hennessey gets injured

Ward is actually playing better now (though he hadnt been required to made more than 2 saves in each of these 3 matches). 

But im afraid it is too late. 

There isnt any warmup matches before the WC after the national league.

There is no way Rob Page would suddenly start him in the World Cup

[Heskey2011]

On the basis of just that save just then, yes. 

[francis39]

10 hours ago, Heskey2011 said:

On the basis of just that save just then, yes. 

I would say Ward will definitely be the starter after the world cup with the next euros the aim. 

But because Hennessey has been the hero in playoffs, has been far more experienced and reliable internationally (i couldnt rmb him making any mistake in 105 caps) and Ward hasnt showed the consistency required to be an international no.1 (Made a howler against Czech in 2021Oct which could be the reason that he was dropped for Ukraine, and had like 5 some really poor performances this season coupled with 1 great performance and 2-3 decent if not spectacular performances, while Hennessey has played almost all 2022 Wales matches (so Ward actually has no chance to play with the Welsh teammates apart from playing 90 mins with them early in 2022) he should get the nod for the WC. 

 

Edited 23 October 2022 by francis39

[francis39]

On 21/10/2022 at 15:00, Finnegan said:

They've both been given a fair crack at it under Page so it's hard to say for certain. 

 

I'd expect Hennessey to be ahead of him but if Ward keeps a couple more clean sheets before the break and Hennessey is still sat second fiddle to that fraud then who knows. 

LoL Henderson single handedly won 3 points for Forest 

[francis39]

On 21/10/2022 at 15:38, Cadno'r Cymoedd said:

Page will pick Hennessey for the opener

Any sources though? Though Page has picked Hennessey to in the 2 final games b4 WC

[JimJams]

4 hours ago, francis39 said:

LoL Henderson single handedly won 3 points for Forest 

Did he not use both hands?

[francis39]

1 hour ago, JimJams said:

Did he not use both hands?

His whoscored score in 6.7sth, even though he plays for a weak Forest side…

 

[Cadno'r Cymoedd]

5 hours ago, francis39 said:

Any sources though? Though Page has picked Hennessey to in the 2 final games b4 WC

Apart from HP and Daddies, no.😉

 

Just my thoughts based on the play offs. But if Danny Ward does keep some form now in the PL then Page might feel differently.... 

[francis39]

6 minutes ago, Cadno'r Cymoedd said:

Apart from HP and Daddies, no.😉

 

Just my thoughts based on the play offs. But if Danny Ward does keep some form now in the PL then Page might feel differently.... 

I think Page would subjectively incline towards Hennessey no matter how Ward plays because he was the major hero against Ukraine, and he did nothing wrong in Wales kits in 2022 in 645 mins (Actually he kept hennessey simply becoz he did nth wrong against Austria originally) ; 

While Ward has only played 90mins for Wales in 2022, which is a big disadvantage (coz chemistry with back four is important, it is not ideal playing so little with the teammates before a major tournament) 

Even if he does keep his form for the next3 tough matches, Im afraid it is too late— no more warmup match before the WC for him to show off himself on Wales kits. It is different playing behind Faes and behind Neco/ Davies/ Rodon/Roberts. Hennessey may do-a-Ochoa/Romero/Lehmann/Neuer, and start in a major tournament without regular club football. 

Edited 24 October 2022 by francis39

[Cadno'r Cymoedd]

1 minute ago, francis39 said:

I think Page would subjectively incline towards Hennessey no matter how Ward plays because he was the hero against Ukraine, and he did nothing wrong in Wales kits in 2022. (Actually he kept hennessey simply becoz he did nth wrong against Austria originally) 

 

While Ward has only played 90mins for Wales in 2022, which is a big disadvantage (coz chemistry with back four is important) and no more warmup matches before the world cup

Even if he does so, Im afraid it is too late— no more warmup match before the WC for him to show off himself on Wales kits. It is different playing behind Faes and behind Neco/ Davies/ Rodon/Roberts. Hennessey may do-a-Ochoa/Romero/Lehmann/Neuer, and start in a major tournament without regular club football. 

I agree that I think he will start Hennessey as I said in my first post. 

[francis39]

10 minutes ago, Cadno'r Cymoedd said:

I agree that I think he will start Hennessey as I said in my first post. 

It would be great if both can play at least one match tho… Hennessey definitely deserves to start after sticking with the team for 15 years and being the hero in playoffs. Ward also deserves to play after playing all 10 WCQ group stages. in my opinion tho, dont fix it if it aint broken. Hennessey starts in wc. let ward play the third if wales lost the first two. Ward regain no.1 after the world cup.