' DID CITY DO RIGHT ON THIS DEAL ? '
Sat Mar 19, 2016 11:26 am
How Joe Mason's £3 million move from Cardiff City to Wolves has failed to work out so far
He was one of a number of strikers to be shipped out in January, and brought in a sizeable fee as the Bluebirds looked to balance the books.
Letting Joe Mason go looked like a major gamble.
At that point, he looked like being a major part of Russell Slade's revamped system, a key player in the 3-1 demolition of the club he would soon join.
Cardiff also seemed to be selling to a play-off rival, and many predicted it would cost them.
Three months on, and the reality has been very different.
Cardiff have pushed into seventh position, while Wolves languish in mid-table eleven points behind the Bluebirds.
So what has gone wrong for Mason? And did Cardiff pull off a masterstroke in landing the multi-million pound fee?
THE DREAM START
Cardiff fans were looking at Twitter with horror when Wolves fans exploded three minutes into Mason's debut.
One touch, one goal.
We're trying to work out whether or not that was Joe Mason's first professional touch for Wolves. One touch, one goal..?
— Wolves (@OfficialWolves) February 2, 2016
It was the kind of strike that seemed to reinforce that he could have been the perfect fit for Slade's new attacking set-up, flying in on the tails of the front man and smashing home a rebound.
Mason was in high spirits afterwards, telling the Wolves Express and Star: "I couldn't really have asked for much better.
"I had a feeling I'd score. I seem to score on my most of my debuts and luckily it happened again. To get it so early was really good for me and gave me confidence.
Related: Take a look at the giant flags that will greet every Cardiff City goal
"I definitely hope to go on a scoring run. My confidence is sky high, it's exactly the start I wanted moving clubs and I'm really looking forward to playing again on Saturday now."
He was unused substitute in the 0-0 draw with Reading, but came on at half-time to score in the next game against Preston.
Meanwhile, Cardiff were limping to two disappointing stalemates with lowly MK Dons and Charlton Athletic.
Those two results looked like they had set Cardiff's campaign back considerably, and raised question marks over the club's failure to land a first team striker.
THE END OF THE HONEYMOON
That early success raised Wolves' hopes that the loss of Benik Afobe to Bournemouth would not be felt too keenly, and Mason would help keep the team firing in the continued absence of the prodigious Nouha Dicko.
It hasn't quite worked out that way.
Kenny Jackett thought that Mason could build a classic target man-poacher partnership up front. The team's desperate defending in games when the pair have played up top have torpedoed any such hope, however.
They lost 1-0 to Huddersfield in the pair's first start since Mason's debut, before a humiliating 3-0 drubbing at the hands of struggling Brentford in the next game.
Jackett dropped his new man in order to get an extra body in midfield, and was rewarded with a 2-1 win over Derby.
That Griffin Park loss seems to have scarred the boss, who has been reluctant to start Mason since.
Why wolves don't play joe mason I will never know
— Lee Peltier (@Pelts_86) March 13, 2016
He admitted as much to the Wolves Express and Star yesterday.
He said: "I envisaged him coming in and being able to play all of the time.
"It hasn't worked that way. I don't think I've found the right combination around him all of the time.
"Also, certainly on two occasions, he's been effective coming off the bench for us as well. Do we want to work towards him being in the team? Yes we do.
"It's very much been a tactical thing. He will need some power around him.
"Options around Bjorn Sigurdarson, options around Michal Zyro, he’ll need a player of that ilk and power around him to get the goals that he’s showed he can get.
"It’s more of a variation of 4-4-2 (that I see him playing in). It depends on players but I feel he needs some support around him and some physical support around him, that’s where he plays best."
There had been signs of Mason developing a good partnership with Jones before the pair were moved on
Read More: 'Maybe Ken Choo should manage the final!' Russell Slade reflects on play-off anguish as he looks to ahead to 750th game
If Russell Slade felt the same, then perhaps he thought Mason was expendable after Kenwyne Jones left for the UAE.
THE JOY OF LEX - HOW CARDIFF MOVED ON
We're a fickle bunch, us football fans.
A club can be right under the pump if they sell a talented and popular player, but they can turn it around very quickly if a new hero is quickly ushered through the doors.
Enter Lex Immers, the darts loving Dutchman.
Despite a curious battle to nail down a first team place, he is now settled and looks likely to be Cardiff's key man as they chase down the hallowed sixth spot.
He is a hard worker, good in the air, has decent awareness and has proven himself to be an excellent finisher.
Mason had 6 goals in 24 appearances for the Bluebirds this season before leaving for the midlands. Immers has more than adequately filled the gap with three in eight.
Anthony Pilkington's impressive conversion to playing as a striker has also helped to fill the void. He continues to find the net and keep the Bluebirds' play-off hunt alive.
There's only one way to make sure you don't miss a player, and that's to replace him.
THE VERDICT
At the moment, it looks like fate has conspired to give Cardiff an excellent bit of transfer business.
The transfer embargo forced them to cast their net wide and stumble upon Lex Immers. Three million is a significant amount in the Championship and Mason's indifferent form will leave the club satisfied it was good value for the Irishman.
Still, Cardiff's squad looks one injury away from being in real trouble, particularly if Anthony Pilkington was affected.
Wolves have a very good Championship player on their hands, even if they haven't quite worked out how to use him yet.
Were the club right to sell Joe Mason for £3 million?
He was one of a number of strikers to be shipped out in January, and brought in a sizeable fee as the Bluebirds looked to balance the books.
Letting Joe Mason go looked like a major gamble.
At that point, he looked like being a major part of Russell Slade's revamped system, a key player in the 3-1 demolition of the club he would soon join.
Cardiff also seemed to be selling to a play-off rival, and many predicted it would cost them.
Three months on, and the reality has been very different.
Cardiff have pushed into seventh position, while Wolves languish in mid-table eleven points behind the Bluebirds.
So what has gone wrong for Mason? And did Cardiff pull off a masterstroke in landing the multi-million pound fee?
THE DREAM START
Cardiff fans were looking at Twitter with horror when Wolves fans exploded three minutes into Mason's debut.
One touch, one goal.
We're trying to work out whether or not that was Joe Mason's first professional touch for Wolves. One touch, one goal..?
— Wolves (@OfficialWolves) February 2, 2016
It was the kind of strike that seemed to reinforce that he could have been the perfect fit for Slade's new attacking set-up, flying in on the tails of the front man and smashing home a rebound.
Mason was in high spirits afterwards, telling the Wolves Express and Star: "I couldn't really have asked for much better.
"I had a feeling I'd score. I seem to score on my most of my debuts and luckily it happened again. To get it so early was really good for me and gave me confidence.
Related: Take a look at the giant flags that will greet every Cardiff City goal
"I definitely hope to go on a scoring run. My confidence is sky high, it's exactly the start I wanted moving clubs and I'm really looking forward to playing again on Saturday now."
He was unused substitute in the 0-0 draw with Reading, but came on at half-time to score in the next game against Preston.
Meanwhile, Cardiff were limping to two disappointing stalemates with lowly MK Dons and Charlton Athletic.
Those two results looked like they had set Cardiff's campaign back considerably, and raised question marks over the club's failure to land a first team striker.
THE END OF THE HONEYMOON
That early success raised Wolves' hopes that the loss of Benik Afobe to Bournemouth would not be felt too keenly, and Mason would help keep the team firing in the continued absence of the prodigious Nouha Dicko.
It hasn't quite worked out that way.
Kenny Jackett thought that Mason could build a classic target man-poacher partnership up front. The team's desperate defending in games when the pair have played up top have torpedoed any such hope, however.
They lost 1-0 to Huddersfield in the pair's first start since Mason's debut, before a humiliating 3-0 drubbing at the hands of struggling Brentford in the next game.
Jackett dropped his new man in order to get an extra body in midfield, and was rewarded with a 2-1 win over Derby.
That Griffin Park loss seems to have scarred the boss, who has been reluctant to start Mason since.
Why wolves don't play joe mason I will never know
— Lee Peltier (@Pelts_86) March 13, 2016
He admitted as much to the Wolves Express and Star yesterday.
He said: "I envisaged him coming in and being able to play all of the time.
"It hasn't worked that way. I don't think I've found the right combination around him all of the time.
"Also, certainly on two occasions, he's been effective coming off the bench for us as well. Do we want to work towards him being in the team? Yes we do.
"It's very much been a tactical thing. He will need some power around him.
"Options around Bjorn Sigurdarson, options around Michal Zyro, he’ll need a player of that ilk and power around him to get the goals that he’s showed he can get.
"It’s more of a variation of 4-4-2 (that I see him playing in). It depends on players but I feel he needs some support around him and some physical support around him, that’s where he plays best."
There had been signs of Mason developing a good partnership with Jones before the pair were moved on
Read More: 'Maybe Ken Choo should manage the final!' Russell Slade reflects on play-off anguish as he looks to ahead to 750th game
If Russell Slade felt the same, then perhaps he thought Mason was expendable after Kenwyne Jones left for the UAE.
THE JOY OF LEX - HOW CARDIFF MOVED ON
We're a fickle bunch, us football fans.
A club can be right under the pump if they sell a talented and popular player, but they can turn it around very quickly if a new hero is quickly ushered through the doors.
Enter Lex Immers, the darts loving Dutchman.
Despite a curious battle to nail down a first team place, he is now settled and looks likely to be Cardiff's key man as they chase down the hallowed sixth spot.
He is a hard worker, good in the air, has decent awareness and has proven himself to be an excellent finisher.
Mason had 6 goals in 24 appearances for the Bluebirds this season before leaving for the midlands. Immers has more than adequately filled the gap with three in eight.
Anthony Pilkington's impressive conversion to playing as a striker has also helped to fill the void. He continues to find the net and keep the Bluebirds' play-off hunt alive.
There's only one way to make sure you don't miss a player, and that's to replace him.
THE VERDICT
At the moment, it looks like fate has conspired to give Cardiff an excellent bit of transfer business.
The transfer embargo forced them to cast their net wide and stumble upon Lex Immers. Three million is a significant amount in the Championship and Mason's indifferent form will leave the club satisfied it was good value for the Irishman.
Still, Cardiff's squad looks one injury away from being in real trouble, particularly if Anthony Pilkington was affected.
Wolves have a very good Championship player on their hands, even if they haven't quite worked out how to use him yet.
Were the club right to sell Joe Mason for £3 million?
Re: ' DID CITY DO RIGHT ON THIS DEAL ? '
Sat Mar 19, 2016 11:52 am
Reminds me a bit of Ronnie Moore,worked hard,covered every blade of grass for the cause and was very popular with the fans but ultimately couldn't score in a brothel.
Joe looks class on times and often flatters to deceive to which end Kenny Jacket was ensnared.But we all know down here that Joe won't get 20 goals in a season unless the season's 3yrs long.This comes from someone who has always held Joe in high regard but on the basis that he will always struggle to get enough goals Jackett paid 3 times what he's worth in my view.
Joe looks class on times and often flatters to deceive to which end Kenny Jacket was ensnared.But we all know down here that Joe won't get 20 goals in a season unless the season's 3yrs long.This comes from someone who has always held Joe in high regard but on the basis that he will always struggle to get enough goals Jackett paid 3 times what he's worth in my view.
Re: ' DID CITY DO RIGHT ON THIS DEAL ? '
Sat Mar 19, 2016 12:07 pm
Football has moved on from 6 yard box foxes, they need to contribute throughout the game. Instinctively when he hasn't got to think about it he is potentially top notch but they come along so infrequently he is not worth carrying.
He never continued the growth path after Kenny Millar left. Was a fan in his first season, thought he needed to fill out but that never materialised. I thought he'd turn out Teddy Sheringham player getting better year on year.
Never worth more than £500K to me so an amazing piece of business by the club
He never continued the growth path after Kenny Millar left. Was a fan in his first season, thought he needed to fill out but that never materialised. I thought he'd turn out Teddy Sheringham player getting better year on year.
Never worth more than £500K to me so an amazing piece of business by the club
Re: ' DID CITY DO RIGHT ON THIS DEAL ? '
Sat Mar 19, 2016 1:21 pm
Personally think it's great business by the club. He was a great prospect when joined us but after 2013 never pushed on
Re: ' DID CITY DO RIGHT ON THIS DEAL ? '
Sat Mar 19, 2016 1:31 pm
great business possibly the best deal in the championship from our perspective 
Re: ' DID CITY DO RIGHT ON THIS DEAL ? '
Sat Mar 19, 2016 2:57 pm
Unbelievable deal, anything near a million was always going to be good business.
The only people who moaned were the ones who look for any excuse to bash Tan.
The only people who moaned were the ones who look for any excuse to bash Tan.
Re: ' DID CITY DO RIGHT ON THIS DEAL ? '
Sat Mar 19, 2016 3:03 pm
Without doubt a great deal by the club, but I hope Mason succeeds, he always done his best and seemed a decent sensible lad. 