Leicester City have agreed a four-year contract with Welsh goalkeeper, and Foxes No.2, Danny Ward. Let’s look at what this means for the player and club.
In July 2018, Leicester City needed a goalkeeper to compete a bit with the eminent Kasper Schmeichel, and to provide high quality cover whenever the ‘Great Dane’ was injured or otherwise unavailable for a fixture.
The King Power side signed Liverpool goalie Danny Ward, a Welsh international 25-year-old, with plenty of playing experience, though not so much in the topflight. Since then, he has featured just 14 times, let’s have a look at what we can expect his new deal to mean for him and the goalkeeper set up going forward.
Leicester City’s other No.1?
As reported by BBC Sport, Danny Ward is happy in getting a contract extension to stay with the Foxes and continue his development under the brilliant Brendan Rodgers, and of course at the world-class training facility.
"“Even in my short time here, you can see in terms of facilities alone, the step up has been incredible” – Danny Ward, BBC Sport"
Most of his development has occurred behind the scenes, with Foxes supporters seldom able to see in action the improvements to his game since joining, and especially since Brendan Rodgers joined.
For Brendan Rodgers then, the benefit of keeping Ward and seeing him remain an option is clear. As reported by LeicestershireLive, Brendan views the experienced goalkeeper as another No.1.
Though Ward has been unable to topple the Great Dane, he has performed well when called upon, and given the arduous task of often having a second-rate team in front of him. As Leicester progress as a team, with new signings and youngsters developing well, hopefully no team would be a ‘second rate’ team going forward.
It is therefore very difficult to accurately judge his goalkeeping calibre – he has not started a single match for the King Power side in the Premier League! However, we can say some great things about him.
What Ward brings
Passion, energy, and authority. These are the words which reflect Kasper Schmeichel. Schmeichel is a commanding presence, passionate about performing for the badge and keeping those clean sheets intact. These words do not apply wholly to Ward.
Danny Ward can be surmised in three words: calm, reflexive, and sweeping. These are, in my view, the defining characteristics which make him a suitable option alongside Schmeichel.
Where Schmeichel can sometimes panic under the press of players and spray a long ball forward with little direction and a lot of hopefulness, Ward brings a level of calmness under that pressure.
His short distribution is good. Though more direct and less into space than a centre-back could do, Ward’s passing is more accurate and less risky, meaning Leicester are more likely to retain possession and build something from the back.
Schmeichel is known for his positioning excellence. Where he stands entirely dictates whether he will save a ball, and he tends to be in the right place. ‘Danny boy’ has had little opportunity to show whether he has the positional knowledge; from his appearances, we can see that he relies less on positioning.
Ward relies more on reflexes and acrobatics to save shots. He will often be in a less than savoury position, and will be forced to make a reflex save or dive. This is something Schmeichel does not do quite as well.
So, Ward is a good option opposed to Schmeichel, though his positioning could be improved through match experience and a little bit of coaching from the Great Dane.
Also, it is good not to forget those penalty heroics against Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Carabao Cup!
On top of this, there are several other goalkeepers at Leicester City, who would be looking for an opportunity at the King Power. Think of the on-loan Daniel Iversen, the No.3 backup Eldin Jakupović, and youngster Jakub Stolarczyk.
What the deal means for other goalkeepers
Let me get this out of the way: Kasper Schmeichel remains the No.1 until he is either injured or retires. Schmeichels positioning and his authority over his penalty box make him THE leader you would want for your defence. Ward’s new deal does nothing to upset that.
Ward’s new deal spells the final end at Leicester for two other players. Jakupovic and Iversen will leave the Foxes. Jakupovic is a triple backup who will likely retire after years of being No.2 and now No.3.
Iversen has been impressive for Preston North End on loan this season. He has been an excellent shot stopper, though the team ahead of him is perhaps not the best – especially after they lost Ben Davies to Liverpool FC.
Despite how good he has been on loan, and despite his relative youth, Danny Ward is a better overall goalkeeper and is more experienced in the here and now. Brendan Rodgers does not need a project as a No.2, he needs a reliable backup. If Iversen stayed, he would either go back on loan or become No.3.
Meanwhile, the youngster goalkeepers Stolarczyk and Chituru Odunze – both of which have been excellent and offer the same dynamic as Schmeichel and Ward respectively – will get no opportunities from the bench next season in any competition.
Danny Ward is the player to bring on if needed, or the player to start when needed. That being said, should a long-term injury fall upon our No.1 Dane, then Ward becomes No.1 and the likelihood is that Stolarczyk is on the bench.
Ward’s new deal pushes prospects and backups out of the club, cementing his position as the one to play if not the Great Dane. It also means that no new signings for that position will come in the next three years at least. That being said, there are other positions a lot more important.
Nevertheless, expect him to get more game time in cups going forward – he would not have agreed a deal without game time guaranteed – and expect to see the youngsters on the bench in European competitions.
Leicester City have plenty of good options, plenty of prospects, and a reliable backup. The deal secures the safe position for the Foxes.