' LATEST ON JOE MASON '

" Joe Mason will play a big part next season "

By Terry Phillips

Sunday 26th April 2015


It remains a mystery to me why Ole Gunnar Solskjaer sent the young striker out on loan – and even seemed ready to agree a £2m transfer to Bournemouth.

Solskjaer did agree a two year contract extension with Mason before he went to Bolton on loan – and he is committed to the Bluebirds until 2018.

Russell Slade clearly sees the 24-year-old striker as a key player in his squad going forward, saying: “One of my first decisions since coming here was to bring Joe back in the January window. That’s how much he means to me.”

Mason and Eoin Doyle, a striker who showed he is far more than just a goalscorer with his movement and awareness, linked well. They showed that two small strikers can form a potent unit. The goal by Mason was his first for Cardiff in more than two years, while Doyle took his goals tally for the season to 29. Four of those have been for the Bluebirds.

The best Doyle moment for me, though, was his control, close turn, pass and run which led to Mason’s goal. He linked with Noone, ran onto the return and Mason scored following a low cross.

my opinion - hes not good enough. simple really

I like Joe but he hasn't progressed as much as I would have hoped.

There may well be a number of reasons for this - injury, being sent on loan, not starting enough games etc but I think he's got a bit of catching up to do.

Would love to see him do well with us.

Hasn't trained on.

I think Kenny Miller made a lot of space for him.

Both are ok, and I like Joe in particular, but to be honest we need a lot more pace and power up front if we are to challenge next season. Their lack of pace makes Doyle and Mason too easy to mark and neither will be prolific goal scorers in this division. Their best bet is for one of them to be paired with a faster version of Kenwyne.

Needs time
and is only just getting his sharpness back and good pre season and we will see the best out of him and who knows how far he can take us

Good player and best finisher at club.

Needs a different manager who stops long ball tactic.

Hasn't trained on.

I think Kenny Miller made a lot of space for him.

100% agree. Miller did a lot of good work for Joe. You could see it when they played, he was always pointing to Mason where he wanted him to go and where to put the ball.

Love Super Joe but why it was 'beyond' Ole when he had Macheda, Guerra, Le Fondre and Maynard etc available. Plus Mason barely played in the promotion season/PL season

Good player and best finisher at club.

Needs a different manager who stops long ball tactic.

Totally agree

i like joe, dont get me wrong hes a great kid, but i sadly dont see him being the answer to our problems, maybe ship him out on loan again see how he does. but i wouldnt want to risk playing him week-in week-out and find out he cant perform

I thought by now he would be stronger.

Do we see him as a 20 goal a season striker ?

If we can put an end to our hoofball tactics (which have actually stopped funnily enough with Turner and Connolly's absense), I think Mason and Doyle will be an okay partnership next season. Potential to be a like a Chopra/McCormack type of partnership, but they have a long way to go to get to that level.

All those critical of Joe are probably the same ones that said Rudy Gestede wasn't good enough for the championship

All those critical of Joe are probably the same ones that said Rudy Gestede wasn't good enough for the championship

All those critical of Joe are probably the same ones that said Rudy Gestede wasn't good enough for the championship

To be fair Rudy Gestede was absolute shite for us, anyone who thinks he was a great player during his time here are 100% lying

All those critical of Joe are probably the same ones that said Rudy Gestede wasn't good enough for the championship

To be fair Rudy Gestede was absolute shite for us, anyone who thinks he was a great player during his time here are 100% lying

Well I did and I'm no liar look up my old posts

Everyone saying he hasn't progressed, but he was stuck at Bolton all season last year (and half of this season). Give him games and he'll get better, simple. Should have had practice in the premiership.

couldn't disagree with the first paragraph more. Mason over the last few years would have benifited massively from proper season long loans.
If Bournemouth offered 2m we should have took it imo.