Derby County have made their first singing of the summer. Joe Ward joins The Rams on a three year contract on a free transfer. The former Peterborough player is the new Derby County manager. The 27 year old joins Derby from Peterborough. We spoke with the Voice of the Posh and with Nathan Albon, from Peterborough United commentator & presenter from BBC Radio Cambridgeshire to find out all about him and what he can bring to The Rams.
Derby have signed Joe Ward. What do you make of it?
Voice of the Posh: Joe has been an unbelievable servant for this football club, he's won promotion, stuck with us through relegation, and has proved excellent value from a player that we got from non-league for basically nothing. While it's sad to see him go, it's probably time for his posh career to end, and so I'm happy he's got his move to a big club in Derby.
Nathan Albon: It's a strong signing for a team chasing Championship football, especially on a free. He was a League One promotion winner with Peterborough in 2021, he’s now 27 years old and arguably at the peak of his powers.
He’s played 45 games last season for Posh. Did Peterborough want to re-sign him?
Voice of the Posh: We tried. Joe wanted a new challenge, he's been with us for a long time, making 40+ appearances a season for most of that time, he became quite unpopular with a lot of the fans due to some frustrating attributes in his game. I have no doubt that if we could afford to offer him the same financial package as Derby, then we could have kept him, but I think from a Posh perspective he wasn't worth it.
Nathan Albon: Peterborough tried to sign him up on a new deal - he had a contract on the table since early on in the season. Maybe he was waiting to see whether Posh would be playing Championship football next season. Spoiler: they won’t be, and he’s decided to move on.
He joined Posh in 2018 and made more than 200 appearances. Would you consider his time at London Road a success?
Voice of the Posh: YES! He won promotion, scored loads of goals, got loads of assists, played wherever we needed him to and was a fantastic servant to the football club. His disaster-class at Hillsborough was a disappointing way to end his time at Posh. But, overall he has to be considered as one of Posh's best pieces of business in recent times.
Nathan Albon: He was Peterborough’s longest-serving player before he chose to depart, so it’s really the end of an era. In that time he developed from a raw 22-year-old out of non-league, into an established League One player and promotion winner, which you’d have to say is a success. However, I would think he still wants to establish himself at Championship level.
What are his strengths?
Voice of the Posh: Joe's strengths come with him bursting forward. When counter-attacking, Joe Ward is an absolute machine. Excellent finisher, a box of tricks and absolutely rapid. He also has excellent stamina, and can easily play a full 90 minutes bombing down the right hand side all game.
Nathan Albon: He likes to get crosses into the box from the right, which should suit Paul Warne’s direct style of play. It’s been useful in his time at Peterborough to have the likes of Ivan Toney and Jonson Clarke-Harris to aim at.
What are his weaknesses?
Voice of the Posh: Joe's weaknesses come when he's in a team which is on the ball for a long amount of time. His crossing, especially last season, is pretty woeful, he either overhits is massively or doesn't beat the first man. He was also seen at Posh as a deliverer of set pieces, which he simply does not have the tools to do. Defensively he's a hard worker, although gives away a lot of niggling fouls.
Nathan Albon: He tends to be a confidence player, so if things aren’t going well for the team, he can go quiet in games. But, that works both ways. When the team is firing, he tends to be at the heart of it.
He is a right sided player. What is his best position?
Voice of the Posh: Joe Ward's best position is a right wing back in a back five. He has all the attributes required for RWB. He is not a right back. This is a very big misconception that I've seen from Derby fans. In fact, Joe Ward himself tweeted a Posh fan earlier this season correcting them when he was called a right back. Ward is a right wing back in a back five, and a right winger if Derby play a back four.
Nathan Albon: He’s more comfortable playing higher up, without defensive responsibilities. He’s best-suited to wing-back or winger. I would say he’s best on the right of an attacking three in a 4-2-3-1, or as a wing-back. He’s publicly said on social media he is not a right-back, but he can do a job there.
What other elements to his game are there?
Voice of the Posh: Joe Ward is a sponge for tactical information, and is often one of the first to fully understand and adapt to a new system. He's physically decently strong, and doesn't get bullied in that regard. He's hard working and will always put his body on the line for his club.
Nathan Albon: He’s good from set pieces, scores the odd free-kick and can hit a thunderbolt from range - just look at his goal in the play-off semi-final first leg vs Sheffield Wednesday.
Do you think Ward can be good player in League One for Derby?
Voice of the Posh: Yes, he probably could, however I do worry for Joe. He's notorious for losing his head and struggling in front of big crowds (giving away the penalty after ten minutes at Hillsborough comes to mind), I worry for Joe as Derby's crowds are huge and he's not proved best suited to those situations. However, if Joe can get over this mental blockage, then I'm sure he can be a great player for Derby. Even though his time was up at Posh, Joe is still in his prime age, and so Derby have got themselves an exciting player!.
Nathan Albon: I do, if Paul Warne puts his arm around him and gives him enough game time, he will reap the rewards. Expect Joe Ward to provide plenty of assists in Derby’s push for promotion.
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