Harsh? Scott Johnson's (WOL) verdict Harry Wilson

[The Lone Gunman]

Nice to see Wilson make Scott Johnson look silly today

Really? You reckon? On the contrary, I'd say Wilson's performance yesterday underlined exactly what Johnson was saying.

Nobody doubts Harry Wilson's natural ability - not Echo writer Scott Johnson, not Mick McCarthy, who regularly substitutes him or drops him altogether, not Jurgen Klopp, who has sent him out on loan during each of the last four seasons, and not me either. But the big question is how often that ability manifests itself and unfortunately it hasn't been often enough in a Cardiff shirt.

Before yesterday's stunning hat-trick at St Andrews, Wilson was on a run of 12 Championship appearances without a goal. In fact, he'd scored just two goals in his previous 32 appearances for City, which is a really poor return from a player with his talent, especially in a division that has been seriously lacking in quality throughout 2020/21.

When Wilson arrived at Cardiff back in October, he had a reputation of being a free-kick specialist and he netted two brilliant set-pieces at Birmingham. However, those were his first for the Bluebirds. It took him until the 40th minute of his 37th City appearance to score from a free-kick, by which time the season was effectively over. I bet none of us thought that would be the case when Harry initially arrived at the CCS.

There have been periods during games this season when Wilson has looked top drawer, but there have also been plenty of matches in which he's been almost totally anonymous. A player with his technical abilities should be able to impose himself at this level far more often and his influence on those around him should be much greater. But I guess that particular flaw in his game is one of the primary reasons why he ended up on loan at City in the first place.

Yesterday's glittering performance came in a pressure-free dead rubber against an experimental Birmingham side. Afterwards, Wilson told the press: "I've had the game time here at Cardiff. I'm in double figures for assists and I've got seven goals, so my numbers are okay, but they could be better."

Harry wasn't wrong and neither was Scott Johnson.

[blue lewj]

TLG pretty much sums it up above.

I don't think outside of his set pieces he is that great a player otherwise and I stand by that.
He is way too inconsistent with it.

I think the test of a loan player is how gutted you are to see them leave at the end of the season. I'm not at all really. I think what we were paying him could be saved and although he has that x factor in some games when he looks at it and interested, those times are few and far between.

He has come out and said he thinks he is good enough to be in the Liverpool squad. I can't see it.

[blue lewj]

By squad I mean matchday squad by the way.

I can't see him playing for Liverpool. Not in any meaningful games anyway.

[surge]

Really? You reckon? On the contrary, I'd say Wilson's performance yesterday underlined exactly what Johnson was saying.

.......

Harry wasn't wrong and neither was Scott Johnson.

He also said:

I've had to adapt my game because the way we've played here has been different to what I'm used to.

But it was up to me to adapt my game and make sure I can help the team.

My assists this year have been better than previous years. Although maybe my goals haven't been as much, I've helped the team in different ways.

My off-the-ball work has definitely got better throughout the season.

I don't take issue in what Scott Johnson is saying and think those who are saying one good performance makes him look foolish have missed the point, but I also disagree with your assessment especially saying MM regularly subs Harry or drops him which gives an incomplete idea of his time here. Wilson returned to the side 62 minutes into Mick's second game against Millwall and has started majority of games since only once being subbed before 70 minutes - subbed to rest him/freshen things up rather than poor performance.

I'm pretty sure he'll describe this season as worst yet numbers wise but also that there is only one player more creative than him in the league. As fans, we'll be disappointed he didn't light up the stage more often but should also recognise that only Hoilett has has had a better season than him from the names you selected earlier in this thread and none of those names have had to adapt their game as much as he has.

A season easily good enough to attract premier league bidders but not those focused on European spots. A side like Leeds or Villa who are on the cusp of challenging for Europe would be about right.

[The Lone Gunman]

A season easily good enough to attract premier league bidders.....

We'll see.

[surge]

We'll see.

I'm just waiting for this thread to change subject matter so we can start talking about how good Hoilett was that year. We're on the third page and still on subject of OP which doesn't happen too often on here...

[dml1954]

TLG pretty much sums it up above.

I don't think outside of his set pieces he is that great a player otherwise and I stand by that.
He is way too inconsistent with it.

I think the test of a loan player is how gutted you are to see them leave at the end of the season. I'm not at all really. I think what we were paying him could be saved and although he has that x factor in some games when he looks at it and interested, those times are few and far between.

He has come out and said he thinks he is good enough to be in the Liverpool squad. I can't see it.

So what about his first goal yesterday then ? Mishit it I suppose did he and it luckily swerved into the net from about 35 yards !! Plus the one against Belgium for Wales. You are just floundering around trying to cover up previous silly and derogatory comments about a player who is probably the most technically gifted player in the Championship. He has been worth every penny of whatever we have paid him and I for one have enjoyed seeing him being a City player this season. He is the one player in our side who gets people off their seats when he receives the ball and one of the few players in our squad worth paying to go and see. We will badly miss him next season.

[The Lone Gunman]

I also disagree with your assessment especially saying MM regularly subs Harry or drops him which gives an incomplete idea of his time here. Wilson returned to the side 62 minutes into Mick's second game against Millwall and has started majority of games since only once being subbed before 70 minutes - subbed to rest him/freshen things up rather than poor performance.

That's your opinion, but it's only that - truth is you don't know why McCarthy has been subbing Wilson so often.

Games since McCarthy took over:

v Barnsley (A) - dropped
v Millwall (H) - came on as a 62nd minute sub
v Bristol City (A) - subbed on 72 mins
v Rotherham (A) - played the full 90 mins
v Coventry (H) - subbed on 89 mins
v Luton (A) - subbed on 76 mins
v Preston (H) - subbed on 69 mins
v Bournemouth (A) - subbed on 61 mins
v Middlesborugh (A) - subbed on 67 mins
v Derby (H) - dropped
v Huddersfield (A) - subbed on 86 mins
v Watford (H) - subbed on 72 mins
v Stoke (H) - came on as an 84th Minute sub
v Swansea (A) - subbed on 84 mins
v Nottm Forst (H) - subbed on 71 mins
v Sheff Weds (A) - on as a 72nd minute sub
v Blackburn (H) - subbed on 89 mins
v Reading (A) - subbed on 81 mins
v Brentford (A) - subbed on 72 mins
v Wycombe (H) - dropped
v Birmingham (A) - subbed on 87 mins

Considering Wilson is a 24 year-old, it seems his manager thinks he needs a lot of rest if your assessment is correct.

[The Lone Gunman]

He is the one player in our side who gets people off their seats when he receives the ball and one of the few players in our squad worth paying to go and see.

A damning indictment of the management of the club, wouldn't you say?

[blue lewj]

I think there is a player in there.

I just don't think we see it enough.

Plenty of players had potential and fell by the wayside and will again.

[The Lone Gunman]

I'm pretty sure he'll describe this season as worst yet numbers wise but also that there is only one player more creative than him in the league.

Really? Do you believe that?

[City123]

Or, perhaps, yesterday showed the best way to utilise him is to not smash the ball 10 feet above his head for 90 minutes?

[Rjk]

Hoilett 20
Tomlin 18
Wilson 18*
Koumas 12

or to look at it another way:
Hoilet 20/69 = 29%
Wilson 18/65 = 28%
Tomlin 18/68 = 26%
Koumas 12/58 = 21%

expressed as a percentage of the total goals the team scored

[dml1954]

A damning indictment of the management of the club, wouldn't you say?

Thats your opinion but only that. The most telling thing about this thread is that you are agreeing with Scott Johnsons opinion on Wilson. Johnson is the biggest know-all in Welsh journalism and someone who has been proven over time to dislike Cardiff City intensely. You are the biggest know-all on this board and also dislike Cardiff City, their players, management and owner intensely. You make ideal bed fellows.

[The Lone Gunman]

Thats your opinion but only that.

You're going to have to help me out here. You're apparently a huge fan of Neil Warnock, Neil Harris, Mick McCarthy, Vincent Tan and his board. You have consistently praised all of the above for the jobs they've been doing at Cardiff in recent years. However, this morning you have boldly asserted that despite the many players City have signed and the many millions they have spent in the process, the one player in the squad who gets people off their seats and is worth paying to go and see is a Liverpool loanee who'll be gone next week.

That's hardly a ringing endorsement of the management, is it? And remember, it's you who made that observation, not me.

As for Wilson, I'm afraid I do agree with Johnson. I've also been disappointed by the player. Given his level of ability and what he did at Derby two years ago, I expected more from him. Quite a bit more. Apologies for that.

[Dave Blue]

Thats your opinion but only that. The most telling thing about this thread is that you are agreeing with Scott Johnsons opinion on Wilson. Johnson is the biggest know-all in Welsh journalism and someone who has been proven over time to dislike Cardiff City intensely. You are the biggest know-all on this board and also dislike Cardiff City, their players, management and owner intensely. You make ideal bed fellows.

Whatever you think of what Johnson says, your view that he hates City is utterly bizarre. He is a ST holding fan you happens to have a regular column in the Echo.

[Dave Blue]

So what about his first goal yesterday then ? Mishit it I suppose did he and it luckily swerved into the net from about 35 yards !! Plus the one against Belgium for Wales. You are just floundering around trying to cover up previous silly and derogatory comments about a player who is probably the most technically gifted player in the Championship. He has been worth every penny of whatever we have paid him and I for one have enjoyed seeing him being a City player this season. He is the one player in our side who gets people off their seats when he receives the ball and one of the few players in our squad worth paying to go and see. We will badly miss him next season.

Fear not. The fans’ hero Tomlin will more than make up for the loss of Wilson I have no doubt!!!

[City123]

Fear not. The fans’ hero Tomlin will more than make up for the loss of Wilson I have no doubt!!!

Jonny Williams will lead us to the promised land