Joel Ward is a Premiership quality defender. We are much better defensively with him in the side than not. Every manager in recent years have consistently selected him when fit. Yes he has his limitations going forward but as some on here have agreed there have been signs of improvement this year.
In truth it has only been AWB who keep him out of the side and he commanded a £50m fee and had the best tackling statistics in the Premier League.
Agreed Ferguson is probably the long term replacement but it is unlikely that due to the nature of his injury even when fit that he will challenge for a regular place for at least a year.
Whilst it would be lovely to be able to spend £30/£40m on a RB it ain't going to happen.

Based on previous seasons experience, most posters on here (me inc) didn't think Eze would play until at least the New year. Now it appears he is fit today, but needs game time to get him match fit.

If we can hopefully apply this to Ferguson, he is slated to be physically fit by November. Having been out much longer than Eze, I have to assume he will take longer to get him match fit. However, he is still very young, was England U21 level, and as testament to his quality, the West Brom coach at the time was publicly furious to see him go. Therefore, he may feature; and sooner than we all believed.

If he does, we maybe seeing the back of a certain Nat Clyne.

Personally, im not so sure. Given the severity of 'Fergies' injury, its very feasible he could break down again & probably at the most inopportune moment. I think Clyne will be here for the foreseeable, seeing as i doubt we'll see NF till end of this, but next season. Just my opinion.

This operation, will make the 'Charge Of The Light Brigade' seem like a simple military exercise.

Complete rubbish. Kelly can play right back, as can Tomkins. There is a good reason PV picks Wardy every game.
Theres also a reason why he holds the record for the highest amount of top flight appearances in a Palace shirt. By all means get on his back if you actually know what you're talking about. Sadly, you dont.

Clyne?

Also see Joel's post match interview. Overt criticism of the ref. Sailing close to wind but not wrong.

Hi Deano, in my opinion the right back area is clearly one that the club have looked towards improving. Hence the signing of Ferguson.

But with so much other change required during the summer, there were higher priorities than right back.

Ferguson may ultimately prove to be the answer, but in the meantime we have 2 highly experienced players in Clyne and Ward....and I think Joel is currently enjoying a good spell of form although his distribution lets him down at times.

Old, Ungifted and White