Jamie Ward released

[AngryRam]

Agree money needs to be spent on the defence..
I liked Jamie, did well for us but we all move on. He declines (they all do), teams and tactics evolve.
B&W is right, Jamie does lose the ball too much now and does not fit the way SM wants to play.

[HungaryRam]

Couldn't agree more SheffRam,

Ultimately, we would have had to replace Ward at some point if we want to move on, but you can't deny that it does suggest there's been significant unrest in the camp. And to be fair, he's probably been one of the players with the most to hold a gripe about, what with Ibe, Lingard, Ince being brought in.

I can definitely see this to be the beginning of a trend, and it won't come cheap. Can definitely see Buxton gone next.

But overall it really isn't a good reflection of the manager if the very players he sought to tie down to longer contracts are some of the very players he's looking to release.

Everything points to an upheaval.

But it does beg the question, can Derby be a club that wants to keep a loyal spine of players yet always look to loan others in the future?

[blackandwhite56]

Couldn't agree more SheffRam,

Ultimately, we would have had to replace Ward at some point if we want to move on, but you can't deny that it does suggest there's been significant unrest in the camp. And to be fair, he's probably been one of the players with the most to hold a gripe about, what with Ibe, Lingard, Ince being brought in.

I can definitely see this to be the beginning of a trend, and it won't come cheap. Can definitely see Buxton gone next.

But overall it really isn't a good reflection of the manager if the very players he sought to tie down to longer contracts are some of the very players he's looking to release.

Everything points to an upheaval.

But it does beg the question, can Derby be a club that wants to keep a loyal spine of players yet always look to loan others in the future?

Why do you bring in unrest and difficulty of keeping a loyal group of players into this?
Did you see Ward play the first half

[HungaryRam]

I guess I've been reading too much of the rumours thread on another forum [!]128522;

But you only need look at the bare facts, we have released a player whom we could have feasibly got a fee for.

Only a few months ago he was terrorizing Blackburn at Eawood Park. There would have been takers, poor injury record or not?

There's defintely more here than meets the eye.

[wristslasher_909]

Jamie was a big noise in the dressing room. Mouthy!

I think this is where Steve will be getting his own experienced men in to the spine of the team.

If this is the start of things to come we could see Keogh, Bryson (Burnley and Dyche are big admirers) Buxton and Grant on their way too.

The last of the remaining "Clough men" will go.

The younger ones from the previous regime will stay as McClaren will fancy shaping them in to the new group. Hendrick, Hughes, Forsyth and Bennett in this pack.

I would keep Johnny Russell, but his confidence was shot towards the end of the season.

I imagine we will pursue Ince.

Bent is a possibility although I think we could do better. He's in a dramatic decline.

Steve will be hoping at least 3 or 4 under 21s will make the step up.

Of his own signings: Dawkins, Christie and Albentosa these will all be retained.

Thorne and Martin are the crown jewels, so I can't see either of those 2 moving.

[vanderlaans_header]

Just had a look on twitter to see Owen Bradley confirming Jamie Ward has been released.

Not particularly surprised by this, fallen down the pecking order drastically due to injuries and what not. Never had a fully fit season. Shame because he started the season well and hes a heart on sleeve type of player.

I can't believe that...this guy was one of our best players before he got injured. The guy fights like hell to show his commitment and the passion from Jamie is fantastic.

We release Jamie but at the moment keep Forsyth, Christie...I wish McClaren would F*** off and leave this team alone before he does even more damage.

People i know, who weren't Derby fans. who watched the Reading game on sky said it was one of the worst performances they'd seen in years and said it looked like some of the players just didn't want to play at all(for McClaren)[/quote]

You have obviously set yo

[Ramondo]

People who have contrasting opinions is what makes these boards interesting.

God forbid we have a messageboard full of people agreeing with one another. How dull that would be.

And what if they were the ones that were calling it wrong?

Always more than one perspective, always good to hear it, even if we don't always agree with it.

[Rapid]

Just had a look on twitter to see Owen Bradley confirming Jamie Ward has been released.

Not particularly surprised by this, fallen down the pecking order drastically due to injuries and what not. Never had a fully fit season. Shame because he started the season well and hes a heart on sleeve type of player.

I can't believe that...this guy was one of our best players before he got injured. The guy fights like hell to show his commitment and the passion from Jamie is fantastic.

We release Jamie but at the moment keep Forsyth, Christie...I wish McClaren would F*** off and leave this team alone before he does even more damage.

People i know, who weren't Derby fans. who watched the Reading game on sky said it was one of the worst performances they'd seen in years and said it looked like

[Ramrocker]

Isn't Jamie Ward still officialy a Derby player until his contract runs out or he signs for some other club. Now SM has gone could things change in Wards case. Rumours of a fallout with the manager are rife, but maybe a new man might want to look what he has before releasing players. As I understand it his contract runs until the end of June, with a years option, so we are still paying his wages. Would love it if he stays with us for another season, just to **** Forest off.

[roger_ramjet]

Well for sure his Sheffield bolt hole doesn't look as good a prospect as it used to