" JOE MASON £3MILL FLOP? "
Wed Mar 29, 2017 10:30 am
What's become of ex-Cardiff City starlet Joe Mason since his £3million move? A Wolves pundit explains his struggles
The former Cardiff City striker hasn't hit the heights for Wolves yet
By Chris Wathan
Wednesday 29 MAR 2017
It seems only yesterday that Joe Mason was helping Cardiff City into the play-offs under Malky Mackay, or sending thousands of Bluebirds fans into dreamland at Wembley.
After being snaffled from Plymouth Argyle for £250,000, the forward instantly became a Bluebirds favourite. He was quick, skillful and versatile, operating out wide, behind the striker or up front.
Yet his Cardiff career suddenly stalled. The goals dried up and there were loan moves to Bolton Wanderers that seemed to signal the end of his South Wales adventure. Mason was one of those players who found consistency and fitness hard to maintain.
He had, though, started the 2015/16 season with the kind of intent that suggested he was going to fulfil his potential. Playing behind Kenwyne Jones, Mason had been one of the bright spots under Russell Slade — only for him to be sold when Wolves came calling with a £3m deal that January.
Still, there were plenty of fans who thought the sale represented a good deal for all parties, albeit tinged with the frustration of what might have been.
While Kadeem Harris and Joe Ralls — both brought to Cardiff at a young age with scope to develop — have recently flourished under Neil Warnock to fulfil their potential, Mason is the one that got away.
But how has he fared since leaving Cardiff City Stadium?
Joe Mason of Cardiff City celebrates scoring the only goal of the game with Craig Noone and Joe Ralls
This is why Warnock won't be concentrating his scouting reports on Mason this weekend.
Ryan Leister is the Wolves fan pundit for the Birmingham Mail. He explains why Mason's injury travails and inconsistent form has plagued his time at Molineux.
More than a year after his move, Mason is now battling for full fitness as Cardiff make the trip to Wolverhampton. He hasn't featured for Paul Lambert's men since January 31.
And it has rarely been straightforward for Mason in the West Midlands.
Wolves have already had three managers in his time at the club: Kenny Jackett, Walter Zenga and Lambert — each with contrasting styles, philosophies and different preferences when it comes to striking options.
Nouha Dicko has been a near ever-present up front, while Lambert has brought former Aston Villa striker Andreas Weimann to the club with some success.
Ryan explains just why Mason has found it tough.
"Mason hasn't had a great time, he's scored a couple of nice goals and had his best game for Wolves versus Villa, scoring the winner in a 1-0 win," said Ryan.
"He's got injured quite a lot, but when he's played he's often disappeared in games and looked lightweight.
"It was even reported that Wolves turned down £5m for Mason in the first window of the season."
Joe Mason struggled under Kenny Jackett
Whether Wolves would be willing to offload Mason at the end of the season remains to be seen.
But Wolves fans and pundits simply haven't been enamoured with the 25-year-old. Once renowned for his pace and knack of scoring a crucial goal — such as that strike in the 2012 League Cup final — his goal record for Wolves makes for more difficult reading.
Mason has bagged six times from 33 league appearances in 14 months. That's a far cry from the form back in 2011-12 that saw him earn regular call-ups to Republic of Ireland's Under-21 squad, scoring 12 goals in his debut Bluebirds' season.
Joe Mason's Wolves career has never really got going
But Ryan explains why Mason may become surplus to requirements, at least in the eyes of supporters, if he cannot reclaim that glittering form.
"When he has time on the ball, he looks like he can hurt a side," added Ryan.
"But you aren't often given that luxury in the Championship.
"If he left in the summer I wouldn't be surprised or particularly bothered."
Even if fully fit and firing, Mason would continue to find the Wolves first team a difficult nut to crack, according to Ryan
"I'm not sure he'd get it now," he added.
"Mason's best games were in the No.10 role and Ivan Cavaleiro will be in that slot on Saturday. He's been tried out wide but rarely offered more than hard work
"As I said, clearly a good footballer if allowed to play in space but weak and easily bullied when it's physical."
If Ryan's observations are correct, travelling Bluebirds fans may not even glimpse Mason at Molineux this weekend, let alone watch him score.
The 25-year-old may have to drop down a level next season, and may struggle to recoup the form which lit up Cardiff City Stadium half a decade ago.
The former Cardiff City striker hasn't hit the heights for Wolves yet
By Chris Wathan
Wednesday 29 MAR 2017
It seems only yesterday that Joe Mason was helping Cardiff City into the play-offs under Malky Mackay, or sending thousands of Bluebirds fans into dreamland at Wembley.
After being snaffled from Plymouth Argyle for £250,000, the forward instantly became a Bluebirds favourite. He was quick, skillful and versatile, operating out wide, behind the striker or up front.
Yet his Cardiff career suddenly stalled. The goals dried up and there were loan moves to Bolton Wanderers that seemed to signal the end of his South Wales adventure. Mason was one of those players who found consistency and fitness hard to maintain.
He had, though, started the 2015/16 season with the kind of intent that suggested he was going to fulfil his potential. Playing behind Kenwyne Jones, Mason had been one of the bright spots under Russell Slade — only for him to be sold when Wolves came calling with a £3m deal that January.
Still, there were plenty of fans who thought the sale represented a good deal for all parties, albeit tinged with the frustration of what might have been.
While Kadeem Harris and Joe Ralls — both brought to Cardiff at a young age with scope to develop — have recently flourished under Neil Warnock to fulfil their potential, Mason is the one that got away.
But how has he fared since leaving Cardiff City Stadium?
Joe Mason of Cardiff City celebrates scoring the only goal of the game with Craig Noone and Joe Ralls
This is why Warnock won't be concentrating his scouting reports on Mason this weekend.
Ryan Leister is the Wolves fan pundit for the Birmingham Mail. He explains why Mason's injury travails and inconsistent form has plagued his time at Molineux.
More than a year after his move, Mason is now battling for full fitness as Cardiff make the trip to Wolverhampton. He hasn't featured for Paul Lambert's men since January 31.
And it has rarely been straightforward for Mason in the West Midlands.
Wolves have already had three managers in his time at the club: Kenny Jackett, Walter Zenga and Lambert — each with contrasting styles, philosophies and different preferences when it comes to striking options.
Nouha Dicko has been a near ever-present up front, while Lambert has brought former Aston Villa striker Andreas Weimann to the club with some success.
Ryan explains just why Mason has found it tough.
"Mason hasn't had a great time, he's scored a couple of nice goals and had his best game for Wolves versus Villa, scoring the winner in a 1-0 win," said Ryan.
"He's got injured quite a lot, but when he's played he's often disappeared in games and looked lightweight.
"It was even reported that Wolves turned down £5m for Mason in the first window of the season."
Joe Mason struggled under Kenny Jackett
Whether Wolves would be willing to offload Mason at the end of the season remains to be seen.
But Wolves fans and pundits simply haven't been enamoured with the 25-year-old. Once renowned for his pace and knack of scoring a crucial goal — such as that strike in the 2012 League Cup final — his goal record for Wolves makes for more difficult reading.
Mason has bagged six times from 33 league appearances in 14 months. That's a far cry from the form back in 2011-12 that saw him earn regular call-ups to Republic of Ireland's Under-21 squad, scoring 12 goals in his debut Bluebirds' season.
Joe Mason's Wolves career has never really got going
But Ryan explains why Mason may become surplus to requirements, at least in the eyes of supporters, if he cannot reclaim that glittering form.
"When he has time on the ball, he looks like he can hurt a side," added Ryan.
"But you aren't often given that luxury in the Championship.
"If he left in the summer I wouldn't be surprised or particularly bothered."
Even if fully fit and firing, Mason would continue to find the Wolves first team a difficult nut to crack, according to Ryan
"I'm not sure he'd get it now," he added.
"Mason's best games were in the No.10 role and Ivan Cavaleiro will be in that slot on Saturday. He's been tried out wide but rarely offered more than hard work
"As I said, clearly a good footballer if allowed to play in space but weak and easily bullied when it's physical."
If Ryan's observations are correct, travelling Bluebirds fans may not even glimpse Mason at Molineux this weekend, let alone watch him score.
The 25-year-old may have to drop down a level next season, and may struggle to recoup the form which lit up Cardiff City Stadium half a decade ago.
Re: " JOE MASON £3MILL FLOP? "
Wed Mar 29, 2017 12:10 pm
Couldn't understand why some people were actually annoyed when we sold him.
Has to go down as one of the best bits of business in the clubs history, Wolves will be lucky to get 500k back for him. Not fast enough, not strong enough, not good enough in the air. Very average player.
Has to go down as one of the best bits of business in the clubs history, Wolves will be lucky to get 500k back for him. Not fast enough, not strong enough, not good enough in the air. Very average player.
Re: " JOE MASON £3MILL FLOP? "
Wed Mar 29, 2017 2:46 pm
2blue2handle wrote:Couldn't understand why some people were actually annoyed when we sold him.
Has to go down as one of the best bits of business in the clubs history, Wolves will be lucky to get 500k back for him. Not fast enough, not strong enough, not good enough in the air. Very average player.
certainly not worth what they paid. and defo was not reowned for the pace the author credits him with. id swap him for Lambert in a heartbeat though
Re: " JOE MASON £3MILL FLOP? "
Wed Mar 29, 2017 5:21 pm
dogfound wrote:2blue2handle wrote:Couldn't understand why some people were actually annoyed when we sold him.
Has to go down as one of the best bits of business in the clubs history, Wolves will be lucky to get 500k back for him. Not fast enough, not strong enough, not good enough in the air. Very average player.
certainly not worth what they paid. and defo was not reowned for the pace the author credits him with. id swap him for Lambert in a heartbeat though
Well yeah but I'm sure most people would swap a 3m player for one available on a free.
Re: " JOE MASON £3MILL FLOP? "
Wed Mar 29, 2017 8:53 pm
not as bad as the cornielius flop, um 13million, plus 45 thousand a week, wow, thats a kick in the bollox for season ticket holders, you paid for that, me included 
Re: " JOE MASON £3MILL FLOP? "
Wed Mar 29, 2017 11:19 pm
2blue2handle wrote:dogfound wrote:2blue2handle wrote:Couldn't understand why some people were actually annoyed when we sold him.
Has to go down as one of the best bits of business in the clubs history, Wolves will be lucky to get 500k back for him. Not fast enough, not strong enough, not good enough in the air. Very average player.
certainly not worth what they paid. and defo was not reowned for the pace the author credits him with. id swap him for Lambert in a heartbeat though
Well yeah but I'm sure most people would swap a 3m player for one available on a free.
you do realise values change.?
which one is available on a free and which is worth 3mill ?