" MICK MCCARTHY REVEALS WHY HE DROPPED HARRY WILSON "

Cardiff City boss Mick McCarthy challenges Liverpool loanee Harry Wilson and reveals shock axing based on training performance

Eyebrows were raised when Mick McCarthy's first Cardiff City team was revealed, but the manager has said that two players stood out in training and had to be picked in front of Harry Wilson


By Glen Williams



Mick McCarthy has told Harry Wilson he has to impress on the training ground to break into his Cardiff City team after two of his team-mates shone in the manager's first few days.

Bluebirds fans were shocked to see the Liverpool loanee named on the bench for McCarthy's first match in charge against Barnsley on Wednesday night, with Sheyi Ojo and Junior Hoilett preferred on the wings.

Wilson watched on as his team fell two goals behind before rescuing a point thanks to Ojo and Kieffer Moore's late header.

But when asked with Wilson, who was the club's marquee signing in the summer and has enjoyed some success during his time here, was omitted, McCarthy explained that the two he selected were the ones who had earned the right to start.

"I picked the team based on what I saw in training over two days. They have got to impress me there," McCarthy said after the 2-2 draw.

"The ones who impressed me were Junior and Sheyi Ojo, the two of them were different class in training.

"Everybody gets so surprised that Harry's not playing and Murph's [Josh Murphy] not playing, so what? We've got a good squad of players.

"I did say to Murph, 'Look, you're not playing, but what I don't want is you sat on the bench, coming on, sulking.

"He's come on and he's made an impact today. So that's brilliant, that's progress for him and progress for us. That was the reason."

When asked if Harry needed to step up in training and be in his thoughts for this weekend's clash with Millwall and after, McCarthy responded: "Absolutely!

"I'm sorry, did I come to a club where there was some gilt-edged positions for players? Because nobody told me and that ain't going to happen, ever.

"You've got to get in the team and when you get in the team you've got to stay in the team.

"I know Harry is a good player, I've seen him, he was at Hull, he scored for them against Ipswich. I've seen him at Bournemouth, Derby, I've always admired him.

"And I'd like to admire him at Cardiff. But, like I said, I picked the team on what I saw in my two days of training."

Wilson has scored three goals and produced five assists in his 19 appearances in a Bluebirds shirt so far this term.

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Well said.
That should send out a message that there are no managers favourites and you have to work in training img to get your place. That’s how it should be, and that’s how it wasn’t under Harris.

Over to you Harry

I did suggest he was kicking him up the arse by benching him in other post lets be honest wilson had looked like he had given up last few games and perhaps thought it was a given he would start

Well done Mick someone with set of balls!
Class player but my personal view he has been shit at Cardiff whether that was down to Harris or the players around him we will see.
He can not use his right foot which as cost us a number of goals and his set piece as been very poor!

Hopefully the big boot will do the trick!

Quote (Mick McCarthy): "I'm sorry, did I come to a club where there was some gilt-edged positions for players? Because nobody told me and that ain't going to happen, ever."

Absolutely love that comment alone and it's clearly what has been required for some time (and I include some of Neil Warnock's picks in that)

I warmed to the idea of Mick McCarthy when I heard his first interviews and I warmed to him again after tonight's performance and his ability to 'see' what was going wrong

Very vocal and direct (good and bad) with his players depending on what they were doing right or wrong

For me its a start in the right direction.

I've been asking the question why Harry Wilson has not found a club yet but instead has become a journey man. He has talent and we have seen that with us and when he plays for Wales. So why has not at least one of his loan moves not become permanent. Is it because Liverpool have a high price tag on him or is it something else?

I think McCarthy has dropped a hint tonight what this something else is.

Let's see where this one goes, to be fair Ojo has looked good this season and bagged goals

Quote (Mick McCarthy): "I'm sorry, did I come to a club where there was some gilt-edged positions for players? Because nobody told me and that ain't going to happen, ever."

Absolutely love that comment alone and it's clearly what has been required for some time (and I include some of Neil Warnock's picks in that)

I warmed to the idea of Mick McCarthy when I heard his first interviews and I warmed to him again after tonight's performance and his ability to 'see' what was going wrong

Very vocal and direct (good and bad) with his players depending on what they were doing right or wrong

Have to day, that first sentence was music to my ears too my only gripe in reality, was our passing success rate was the lowest it's been all season! I'm hoping it was a blip,due to trying things out (MM) but at 43% that's embarrassing for proffessional players
Happy to end the losing run,and great to see some fight in the 2nd half,as at 2-0 it looked like a long night was coming.

Onwards and upwards. Bloooooobirds

Quote (Mick McCarthy): "I'm sorry, did I come to a club where there was some gilt-edged positions for players? Because nobody told me and that ain't going to happen, ever."

Absolutely love that comment alone and it's clearly what has been required for some time (and I include some of Neil Warnock's picks in that)

I warmed to the idea of Mick McCarthy when I heard his first interviews and I warmed to him again after tonight's performance and his ability to 'see' what was going wrong

Very vocal and direct (good and bad) with his players depending on what they were doing right or wrong

Have to day, that first sentence was music to my ears too my only gripe in reality, was our passing success rate was the lowest it's been all season! I'm hoping it was a blip,due to trying things out (MM) but at 43% that's embarrassing for proffessional players
Happy to end the losing run,and great to see some fight in the 2nd half,as at 2-0 it looked like a long night was coming.

Onwards and upwards. Bloooooobirds

Hope passing issue is a blip too but not making excuses thought state of pitch done either side any favours mate

It’s all very well Junior, Bacuna, and Flint being excellent in training but they were all crap in the game! Wilson and Murphy are our best players attacking you have to build a team around them to be successful?

Good comments. The way it should be too - hopefully it’ll encourage players like Murphy (whose undoubtedly a quality player) to step up too. My worry is I think there are other players in the squad whose worth ethic is where it should be but unfortunately their ability isn’t...

My only worry is that it’s the sort of comment you can get away with when you are new or when winning.

But then things aren’t going so well it’s the sort of comment that loses the dressing room.

Quote (Mick McCarthy): "I'm sorry, did I come to a club where there was some gilt-edged positions for players? Because nobody told me and that ain't going to happen, ever."

Absolutely love that comment alone and it's clearly what has been required for some time (and I include some of Neil Warnock's picks in that)

I warmed to the idea of Mick McCarthy when I heard his first interviews and I warmed to him again after tonight's performance and his ability to 'see' what was going wrong

Very vocal and direct (good and bad) with his players depending on what they were doing right or wrong

Have to day, that first sentence was music to my ears too my only gripe in reality, was our passing success rate was the lowest it's been all season! I'm hoping it was a blip,due to trying things out (MM) but at 43% that's embarrassing for proffessional players
Happy to end the losing run,and great to see some fight in the 2nd half,as at 2-0 it looked like a long night was coming.

Onwards and upwards. Bloooooobirds

It has been a lot lower than that most times this season, 43% is quite good for us
My appologies i misread I thought it was possession stats as for passing we have been lower on 5 occassions this season

I think Wilson get fecked off with some others in the team not pulling their weight in previous games.
Hopefully now they've all had the boot up the @rse they all needed. McCarthy's comments spot on.

Under warnock and Harris, some players were never dropped regardless of their performance. So this is good to hear. But he has got to get wilson in the team. He is miles ahead of everyone in terms of quality. It is all well and good players training hard, and maybe wilson did need a little kick up the arse and bringing back down to earth, but I cant remember the last time hoilet had a good game. What happens in training needs to be replicated in games as well.

It’s all very well Junior, Bacuna, and Flint being excellent in training but they were all crap in the game! Wilson and Murphy are our best players attacking you have to build a team around them to be successful?

So you're saying that even if he's shit in training and has a really bad attitude, Wilson should start anyway?


I 100% agree with what the manager is doing. How players perform in training should decide what the line-up is.

On this interview alone I am now pro Mick. Brilliant interview.

Changing the status quo and picking a team based on how they trained and not their salary!! Fantastic management.

Be interesting to see if Murphy starts with Wilson. Tomlin is en route. Got some goals in us yet!!

Bluuuuuuebirds!!

This is a shot across the bows of the whole squad. It sends the message that if the best player can be dropped then everyone needs to step up to the mark or they are out, the message was sent through dropping Wilson, Bennett and dare I say Mossa.
very good man management

I did suggest he was kicking him up the arse by benching him in other post lets be honest wilson had looked like he had given up last few games and perhaps thought it was a given he would start

Good shout ,Harry is a class act but has been very disappointing.MM will make him or break him like he did with Tommy Lawrence at Ipswich , another that's deminished since at Derby,even Emir Hews was begining to shine til injury.

It’s all very well Junior, Bacuna, and Flint being excellent in training but they were all crap in the game! Wilson and Murphy are our best players attacking you have to build a team around them to be successful?

So you're saying that even if he's shit in training and has a really bad attitude, Wilson should start anyway?


I 100% agree with what the manager is doing. How players perform in training should decide what the line-up is.

Indeed, but this is not the first time 'HarriRhys22' has shown a lack of understanding

Clearly, Mick McCarthy and his coaching team looked at what they had in front of them without prejudice (clean slate) and went with what they saw in training. To go with a Neil Harris selection would have been a bit pointless (as it had been for the last 7 games)

New manager, new start, fresh ideas and a fresh approach...

I'll take that all day and give the guy a chance to mould HIS team

It’s all very well Junior, Bacuna, and Flint being excellent in training but they were all crap in the game! Wilson and Murphy are our best players attacking you have to build a team around them to be successful?

So you're saying that even if he's shit in training and has a really bad attitude, Wilson should start anyway?


I 100% agree with what the manager is doing. How players perform in training should decide what the line-up is.

Indeed, but this is not the first time 'HarriRhys22' has shown a lack of understanding

Clearly, Mick McCarthy and his coaching team looked at what they had in front of them without prejudice (clean slate) and went with what they saw in training. To go with a Neil Harris selection would have been a bit pointless (as it had been for the last 7 games)

New manager, new start, fresh ideas and a fresh approach...

I'll take that all day and give the guy a chance to mould HIS team

Totally agree Chris

Can't say I really care if Wison has been crap in training if he gives 100% when he is playing and he does every match. True he hasn't been great but the effort is there. It smacks slightly of a gesture to make a point by dropping him. Think we might of done better bringing him on for the completely ineffective Bacuna last night.

Can't say I really care if Wison has been crap in training if he gives 100% when he is playing and he does every match. True he hasn't been great but the effort is there. It smacks slightly of a gesture to make a point by dropping him. Think we might of done better bringing him on for the completely ineffective Bacuna last night.

Well, these are lessons to be learned about his squad and he (Mick McCarthy) may learn that Wilson only 'steps it up' for match days and maybe others the same

But, as I said above, Mick is new to the club and must go on the evidence he sees in front of him and that was it can only be his success of failure where it matters; on the pitch

I'm sure Harry Wilson will play a big part for the remainder of the season but he has to earn the trust and respect of the manager first

It’s all very well Junior, Bacuna, and Flint being excellent in training but they were all crap in the game! Wilson and Murphy are our best players attacking you have to build a team around them to be successful?

So you're saying that even if he's shit in training and has a really bad attitude, Wilson should start anyway?


I 100% agree with what the manager is doing. How players perform in training should decide what the line-up is.

The most talented players are often the worst trainers! Because of this Tomlin didn’t have a chance with Warnock yet when Harris made him the main man and limited his training we made the playoffs! If McCarthy only picks the best trainers Tomlin will have no chance!
Our best trainers Junior,Ojo,Flint and Bacuna were terrible in the first half but it changed when two of our more talented players Murphy and Morrison came on in the second half?

It’s all very well Junior, Bacuna, and Flint being excellent in training but they were all crap in the game! Wilson and Murphy are our best players attacking you have to build a team around them to be successful?

So you're saying that even if he's shit in training and has a really bad attitude, Wilson should start anyway?


I 100% agree with what the manager is doing. How players perform in training should decide what the line-up is.

The most talented players are often the worst trainers! Because of this Tomlin didn’t have a chance with Warnock yet when Harris made him the main man and limited his training we made the playoffs! If McCarthy only picks the best trainers Tomlin will have no chance!
Our best trainers Junior,Ojo,Flint and Bacuna were terrible in the first half but it changed when two of our more talented players Murphy and Morrison came on in the second half?

You completely miss the point; Mick McCarthy went with what he saw rather than with what he was told

It may well be that he learns Wilson only does match days and he may well be happy with that eventually; but personally I can't see that happening

Mick McCarthy is effectively saying "Earn my trust..." to the whole squad; and that includes in training sessions

It does make me wonder if Wilson has been treated 'differently' until now because of his 'star' status?

It’s all very well Junior, Bacuna, and Flint being excellent in training but they were all crap in the game! Wilson and Murphy are our best players attacking you have to build a team around them to be successful?

So you're saying that even if he's shit in training and has a really bad attitude, Wilson should start anyway?


I 100% agree with what the manager is doing. How players perform in training should decide what the line-up is.

The most talented players are often the worst trainers! Because of this Tomlin didn’t have a chance with Warnock yet when Harris made him the main man and limited his training we made the playoffs! If McCarthy only picks the best trainers Tomlin will have no chance!
Our best trainers Junior,Ojo,Flint and Bacuna were terrible in the first half but it changed when two of our more talented players Murphy and Morrison came on in the second half?

That's absolute bollocks.

A new manager has just come in and the only thing he can go off is training.

It's pointless going off recent performances, because we had been on a very long losing streak.

If he was going to judge Wilson on his performances in matches, then he would also have come to the same decision to drop him.

Wilson has been practically invisible recently.

He started the season okay, but has been poor since the going got tough.

Problem is some fans look at him through rose-tinted glasses because he is Welsh.

Trouble is if he was going to pick the team on the past 6 performances there would be no one on the pitch.