" BITE THEIR HANDS OFF/TIME TO DISCUSS WITH SLADE "

Why Cardiff City should bite Wolves' hands off at £3m for Joe Mason/If they offer it?

16 June 2015


Kenny Jackett wants to discuss Joe Mason with Russell Slade

By Steve Tucker


Cardiff City fans might be loathe to see players depart this summer, but if Wolves return with a bid for striker Joe Mason anywhere in the region of £3m the Bluebirds should bite their hands off.

If reports are accurate Wanderers’ manager Kenny Jackett has already tested Cardiff’s resolve to hold onto the 24-year-old with an offer of somewhere approaching £1.5m for his services.

Unacceptable, naturally. Cardiff maybe no longer be shopping at Harrods as boss Russell Slade has observed but they should not be in the business of doling out charity to their rivals either.

However the indications are that the Bluebirds rate Mason as worth somewhere nearer £3m, and with Jackett apparently preparing to increase his original offer, an amount anywhere near that should see Mason sold.



This is nothing against Mason the player of course, but for that kind of money is the frontman really integral to Cardiff’s fortunes next season? Surely not.

Since arriving from Plymouth in July 2011 for a fee of £250,000, Mason has proved to be a ‘nearly man’ for the Bluebirds through no fault of his own.

Under Malky Mackay he looked poised to make the breakthrough, contributing vital goals in the Premier League promotion campaign not to mention a strike at Wembley in that momentous League Cup Final back in February 2012.


Opinion then was that this was just the start for Mason in the Welsh capital, the platform from which he would cement himself into the fabric of the side. But that was not how things turned out.

Consigned to a season on loan at Bolton whilst the Bluebirds suffered in the top-flight, he was not fancied by Mackay’s successor, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer either and back to Bolton he went.

Mason seems to be a bit more of a favourite of boss Slade.

Back from Bolton and over an injury, he finished the season in the starting XI and he looked reasonable if not spectacular.

There is talk of Mason striking up a partnership with Eoin Doyle, but such talk really seems fanciful.

The pairing of two relative novices, Doyle at Championship level anyway, is surely not designed to strike fear into stubborn Championship defences.

Eoin Doyle slots a penalty to put the Bluebirds 2-0 upEoin Doyle is expected to start up-front next season
Having brought him in from Chesterfield in January, surely Slade is more disposed towards Doyle, and what of Alex Revell or Federico Macheda and anyone else who might survive the summer in the Bluebirds forward department?

Perhaps the biggest indication that Mason is not a requirement is Slade’s pursuit of the Championship’s top scorer last season, Darly Murphy. If he, or someone of a similar ilk, can be secured then the Bluebirds attack would be built around him. Where does Mason stand in the pecking order then? The answer must surely be kicking his heels on the bench.

We know these are changing times at Cardiff. The cost-cutting measures introduced by owner Vincent Tan have transformed ambitions if not expectations.

Whether you see the ‘rationalisation’ as long overdue or a betrayal is unimportant.

The Bluebirds, in financial terms, are where they are right now and the chance to cash in on Mason might be too much to resist.

The hope would be that if the Bluebirds can secure a sizable fee for Mason then that would go to Slade to help bring in other players this summer.

Make no mistake though, Mason is far from integral to the Cardiff set-up next season.

He remains a good striker, a good player, but clearly not an overly important one as far as the Bluebirds are concerned. They have done without his services long enough.

If Wolves, or anyone else for that matter, are willing to stump up £3m for him it would be remiss, if not negligent, of the club not to take the money.

Yes if they offer 3 mill snatch it because he not worth that and we aint going to get an offer for him like that again.

Yes if they offer 3 mill snatch it because he not worth that and we aint going to get an offer for him like that again.

Rydo, Ive been told they have not even offered half that so far. I reckon City will sell Mason for £2mill if they offer it.

Yes if they offer 3 mill snatch it because he not worth that and we aint going to get an offer for him like that again.

Rydo, Ive been told they have not even offered half that so far. I reckon City will sell Mason for £2mill if they offer it.

If so still a good offer.

Yes if they offer 3 mill snatch it because he not worth that and we aint going to get an offdevelopmentm like that again.

Rydo, Ive been told they have not even offered half that so far. I reckon City will sell Mason for £2mill if they offer it.

There are threefold problems with this proposal Annis, as I see it.

A) We are selling one of our better young players who should be integral to the team. Jackett can see it, Slade can't.
B) Even if we achieve £3 million or more, Slade will spunk it on rubbish if allowed to spend it.
C) If Slade is not allowed to spend it, Tan will pocket it.

Also, given the likely fact Mason is not one of our higher wage earners it seems we will achieve little for the benefit of our future development as a club.

There are other more seasoned veterans past their best in the squad who are earning much more than Joe and I think they are the ones we should offload if we have any aspirations to achieve playing success. I know you believe Tan's new found policy is to sell anything that moves, and I agree with you. Even contemplating the sale of Joe Mason shows how unambitious we have become. Any quality manager would try to keep hold of him. Shades of Mats Daehli again.

Yes if they offer 3 mill snatch it because he not worth that and we aint going to get an offdevelopmentm like that again.

Rydo, Ive been told they have not even offered half that so far. I reckon City will sell Mason for £2mill if they offer it.

There are threefold problems with this proposal Annis, as I see it.

A) We are selling one of our better young players who should be integral to the team. Jackett can see it, Slade can't.
B) Even if we achieve £3 million or more, Slade will spunk it on rubbish if allowed to spend it.
C) If Slade is not allowed to spend it, Tan will pocket it.

Also, given the likely fact Mason is not one of our higher wage earners it seems we will achieve little for the benefit of our future development as a club.

There are other more seasoned veterans past their best in the squad who are earning much more than Joe and I think they are the ones we should offload if we have any aspirations to achieve playing success. I know you believe Tan's new found policy is to sell anything that moves, and I agree with you. Even contemplating the sale of Joe Mason shows how unambitious we have become. Any quality manager would try to keep hold of him. Shades of Mats Daehli again.

Tan can not just pocket any money from our club ,he can use it to reduce our debt of course but not pocket it
2ndly the seasoned pros on more money your talking about would no doubt not command large fees

Yes if they offer 3 mill snatch it because he not worth that and we aint going to get an offdevelopmentm like that again.

Rydo, Ive been told they have not even offered half that so far. I reckon City will sell Mason for £2mill if they offer it.

There are threefold problems with this proposal Annis, as I see it.

A) We are selling one of our better young players who should be integral to the team. Jackett can see it, Slade can't.
B) Even if we achieve £3 million or more, Slade will spunk it on rubbish if allowed to spend it.
C) If Slade is not allowed to spend it, Tan will pocket it.

Also, given the likely fact Mason is not one of our higher wage earners it seems we will achieve little for the benefit of our future development as a club.

There are other more seasoned veterans past their best in the squad who are earning much more than Joe and I think they are the ones we should offload if we have any aspirations to achieve playing success. I know you believe Tan's new found policy is to sell anything that moves, and I agree with you. Even contemplating the sale of Joe Mason shows how unambitious we have become. Any quality manager would try to keep hold of him. Shades of Mats Daehli again.

Tan can not just pocket any money from our club ,he can use it to reduce our debt of course but not pocket it
2ndly the seasoned pros on more money your talking about would no doubt not command large fees

Steve, Tan can take it back out as he controls our club and he has only lent us the money.

If we sell him, who can we replace him with?

I would be very happy with 1.5m, decent player but nothing special

I would be very happy with 1.5m, decent player but nothing special

Yes if they offer 3 mill snatch it because he not worth that and we aint going to get an offdevelopmentm like that again.

Rydo, Ive been told they have not even offered half that so far. I reckon City will sell Mason for £2mill if they offer it.

There are threefold problems with this proposal Annis, as I see it.

A) We are selling one of our better young players who should be integral to the team. Jackett can see it, Slade can't.
B) Even if we achieve £3 million or more, Slade will spunk it on rubbish if allowed to spend it.
C) If Slade is not allowed to spend it, Tan will pocket it.

Also, given the likely fact Mason is not one of our higher wage earners it seems we will achieve little for the benefit of our future development as a club.

There are other more seasoned veterans past their best in the squad who are earning much more than Joe and I think they are the ones we should offload if we have any aspirations to achieve playing success. I know you believe Tan's new found policy is to sell anything that moves, and I agree with you. Even contemplating the sale of Joe Mason shows how unambitious we have become. Any quality manager would try to keep hold of him. Shades of Mats Daehli again.

Tan can not just pocket any money from our club ,he can use it to reduce our debt of course but not pocket it
2ndly the seasoned pros on more money your talking about would no doubt not command large fees

Steve, Tan can take it back out as he controls our club and he has only lent us the money.

I know that annis but it would reduce our debt at the same time
The post I was referring to said tan would pocket the money inferring that it would not reduce our debt but merely go into his pocket

Yes if they offer 3 mill snatch it because he not worth that and we aint going to get an offdevelopmentm like that again.

Rydo, Ive been told they have not even offered half that so far. I reckon City will sell Mason for £2mill if they offer it.

There are threefold problems with this proposal Annis, as I see it.

A) We are selling one of our better young players who should be integral to the team. Jackett can see it, Slade can't.
B) Even if we achieve £3 million or more, Slade will spunk it on rubbish if allowed to spend it.
C) If Slade is not allowed to spend it, Tan will pocket it.

Also, given the likely fact Mason is not one of our higher wage earners it seems we will achieve little for the benefit of our future development as a club.

There are other more seasoned veterans past their best in the squad who are earning much more than Joe and I think they are the ones we should offload if we have any aspirations to achieve playing success. I know you believe Tan's new found policy is to sell anything that moves, and I agree with you. Even contemplating the sale of Joe Mason shows how unambitious we have become. Any quality manager would try to keep hold of him. Shades of Mats Daehli again.

Tan can not just pocket any money from our club ,he can use it to reduce our debt of course but not pocket it
2ndly the seasoned pros on more money your talking about would no doubt not command large fees

Steve, Tan can take it back out as he controls our club and he has only lent us the money.

I know that annis but it would reduce our debt at the same time
The post I was referring to said tan would pocket the money inferring that it would not reduce our debt but merely go into his pocket

Steve, How was the cruise?

He is a cracking bloke! I have met him a few times, he seems very genuine and grounded, and conducts himself well.

I like him as a player, but feel he is limited, I would sell at anywhere near that price, it's about time we had a decent Striker at the top end, a younger Helgurson would be nice, he we a brilliant player and paid a very big part in getting us promoted last time......

if we were offered £2m cash i'd think we'd snap their hands off, let alone at £2m. with these initial bids, they are merely testing the waters with derisory offers to see how desperate we are. i very much doubt if they offer whats reported as £3m that it will be that in cash. it will most likely be half that with various clauses if they get promoted.