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Post by CaajScot on Dec 1, 2016 7:42:10 GMT
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Post by Sméagol on Jul 18, 2017 15:28:45 GMT
WILSON LOOKING SHARP OUT IN AUSTRIA
James Wilson is back and one of the sharpest shooters of recent years at Reserves and Academy level has clearly lost none of his eye for a goal.
When we spoke to the Biddulph-born striker in March, as he continued to recover from a knee injury at the Aon Training Complex, he declared: "Hopefully, when I get back on the pitch, my finishing [ability] will still be there. I know it will be." Judging by the evidence at the training camp in Austria, he was right.
As our video suggests, he is capable of finding the far corner of the net with unerring accuracy and impressive regularity. During a round-robin tournament on Wednesday, he led his team, and was even charged with the responsibility of organising their warm-up exercises, before scoring within a matter of seconds in the first game. It is almost as though he has some innate ability to work these angles but shrugs off the suggestion it is anything out of the ordinary.
"I always find the corner," he smiles as we stroll back to the main base in Obertraun. "It's not a thing I think about too much, to be honest, I just kind of hit it and it goes there! If it carries on like that, I'm not going to complain."
The 21-year-old does not feel back to 100 per cent yet but this extensive training will help in that respect. His extra work does not go unnoticed by new Under-23s coach Ricky Sbragia, who can see what a role model Wilson has become, particularly for the youngest member of the group in Austria, Mason Greenwood, also a striker.
"I'm feeling stronger," says Wilson. I'm doing a lot of work and I'm feeling good. I felt I needed a bit more practice and the keepers were more than happy to help as we've got seven out here. It was good for me and the goalies as well to get back into the swing of things. It was just finishing from the edge of the box, set and finish, and it went rather well!
"It is good for the younger lads that I am about and they can see how I like to be some sort of role model and watch how I act but I'll let them determine what they think of me."
He is visibly more battle-ready for regular first-team football than when making his stunning two-goal introduction as a 18-year-old against Hull City during Ryan Giggs’ temporary spell in charge in 2014. Willo, then, was willowy and, despite his blistering pace, did not possess the physical presence he has now. It is that speed which also allows him to become an option as a wide forward, which he feels is crucial for any striker.
"I've been at the gym for what has probably been nine months now," he explains. "Gym sessions at least three or four times a week. It has helped me a lot and I'm noticing that in training. My legs are maybe still a bit off but definitely my upper body has surpassed what I was before.
"I think you have to be quite versatile in the modern game. If you can play on the wings, unless you're a real big target man, obvious players like Peter Crouch, who brings something extra to the team, I think you need to be quite versatile if you want to be playing games week in and week out.
"I can play more positions and it's not really an issue for me. It's just about getting a chance really."
So what does the future hold for Wilson? The injury problems that halted his progress are hopefully all behind him. "I'm taking it like any normal season now," he adds. "I know no injury comes at a good time but it was good there was no need to rush to get back before the end of the season. We just took it through into pre-season and, I think, timed it quite well with that even though it was a bit more extended. Better safe than sorry."
The next step is to return to action and then the club will decide the best option for 2017/18. "It depends what comes about really," he says. "I'll see what's happening with the first team because obviously we've brought in new signings. I just want to get back into it really, first and foremost keep on top of my legwork as that is the main thing. But all that extra work, the weeks and weeks of it, are definitely paying off."
If he does begin his comeback at Premier League 2 level, the early signs are he will soon be back in the groove and making up for lost time. We live in a fast-paced world where a spell on the sidelines can make players appear like forgotten men in the minds of some fans. Yet nobody who witnessed Willo terrorising defences at younger levels for United would ever write him off. Hopefully, he can show what we know he is capable of.
Watch exclusive interviews and insight from the camp in Obertraun during 'Academy & Reserves: Season Preview'. On MUTV & MUTV app at 18:30 BST on Friday.
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Post by ratbag on Jul 19, 2017 11:48:13 GMT
WILSON LOOKING SHARP OUT IN AUSTRIA James Wilson is back and one of the sharpest shooters of recent years at Reserves and Academy level has clearly lost none of his eye for a goal. When we spoke to the Biddulph-born striker in March, as he continued to recover from a knee injury at the Aon Training Complex, he declared: "Hopefully, when I get back on the pitch, my finishing [ability] will still be there. I know it will be." Judging by the evidence at the training camp in Austria, he was right. As our video suggests, he is capable of finding the far corner of the net with unerring accuracy and impressive regularity. During a round-robin tournament on Wednesday, he led his team, and was even charged with the responsibility of organising their warm-up exercises, before scoring within a matter of seconds in the first game. It is almost as though he has some innate ability to work these angles but shrugs off the suggestion it is anything out of the ordinary. "I always find the corner," he smiles as we stroll back to the main base in Obertraun. "It's not a thing I think about too much, to be honest, I just kind of hit it and it goes there! If it carries on like that, I'm not going to complain." The 21-year-old does not feel back to 100 per cent yet but this extensive training will help in that respect. His extra work does not go unnoticed by new Under-23s coach Ricky Sbragia, who can see what a role model Wilson has become, particularly for the youngest member of the group in Austria, Mason Greenwood, also a striker. "I'm feeling stronger," says Wilson. I'm doing a lot of work and I'm feeling good. I felt I needed a bit more practice and the keepers were more than happy to help as we've got seven out here. It was good for me and the goalies as well to get back into the swing of things. It was just finishing from the edge of the box, set and finish, and it went rather well! "It is good for the younger lads that I am about and they can see how I like to be some sort of role model and watch how I act but I'll let them determine what they think of me." He is visibly more battle-ready for regular first-team football than when making his stunning two-goal introduction as a 18-year-old against Hull City during Ryan Giggs’ temporary spell in charge in 2014. Willo, then, was willowy and, despite his blistering pace, did not possess the physical presence he has now. It is that speed which also allows him to become an option as a wide forward, which he feels is crucial for any striker. "I've been at the gym for what has probably been nine months now," he explains. "Gym sessions at least three or four times a week. It has helped me a lot and I'm noticing that in training. My legs are maybe still a bit off but definitely my upper body has surpassed what I was before. "I think you have to be quite versatile in the modern game. If you can play on the wings, unless you're a real big target man, obvious players like Peter Crouch, who brings something extra to the team, I think you need to be quite versatile if you want to be playing games week in and week out. "I can play more positions and it's not really an issue for me. It's just about getting a chance really." So what does the future hold for Wilson? The injury problems that halted his progress are hopefully all behind him. "I'm taking it like any normal season now," he adds. "I know no injury comes at a good time but it was good there was no need to rush to get back before the end of the season. We just took it through into pre-season and, I think, timed it quite well with that even though it was a bit more extended. Better safe than sorry." The next step is to return to action and then the club will decide the best option for 2017/18. "It depends what comes about really," he says. "I'll see what's happening with the first team because obviously we've brought in new signings. I just want to get back into it really, first and foremost keep on top of my legwork as that is the main thing. But all that extra work, the weeks and weeks of it, are definitely paying off." If he does begin his comeback at Premier League 2 level, the early signs are he will soon be back in the groove and making up for lost time. We live in a fast-paced world where a spell on the sidelines can make players appear like forgotten men in the minds of some fans. Yet nobody who witnessed Willo terrorising defences at younger levels for United would ever write him off. Hopefully, he can show what we know he is capable of. Watch exclusive interviews and insight from the camp in Obertraun during 'Academy & Reserves: Season Preview'. On MUTV & MUTV app at 18:30 BST on Friday. I'd love to see him get a meaningful loan to a decent club with lot's of playing time...the kid is fast and talented and hopefully he still might get a shot at playing for United 1st XI... |
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Post by caino on Jul 19, 2017 12:55:19 GMT
WILSON LOOKING SHARP OUT IN AUSTRIA James Wilson is back and one of the sharpest shooters of recent years at Reserves and Academy level has clearly lost none of his eye for a goal. When we spoke to the Biddulph-born striker in March, as he continued to recover from a knee injury at the Aon Training Complex, he declared: "Hopefully, when I get back on the pitch, my finishing [ability] will still be there. I know it will be." Judging by the evidence at the training camp in Austria, he was right. As our video suggests, he is capable of finding the far corner of the net with unerring accuracy and impressive regularity. During a round-robin tournament on Wednesday, he led his team, and was even charged with the responsibility of organising their warm-up exercises, before scoring within a matter of seconds in the first game. It is almost as though he has some innate ability to work these angles but shrugs off the suggestion it is anything out of the ordinary. "I always find the corner," he smiles as we stroll back to the main base in Obertraun. "It's not a thing I think about too much, to be honest, I just kind of hit it and it goes there! If it carries on like that, I'm not going to complain." The 21-year-old does not feel back to 100 per cent yet but this extensive training will help in that respect. His extra work does not go unnoticed by new Under-23s coach Ricky Sbragia, who can see what a role model Wilson has become, particularly for the youngest member of the group in Austria, Mason Greenwood, also a striker. "I'm feeling stronger," says Wilson. I'm doing a lot of work and I'm feeling good. I felt I needed a bit more practice and the keepers were more than happy to help as we've got seven out here. It was good for me and the goalies as well to get back into the swing of things. It was just finishing from the edge of the box, set and finish, and it went rather well! "It is good for the younger lads that I am about and they can see how I like to be some sort of role model and watch how I act but I'll let them determine what they think of me." He is visibly more battle-ready for regular first-team football than when making his stunning two-goal introduction as a 18-year-old against Hull City during Ryan Giggs’ temporary spell in charge in 2014. Willo, then, was willowy and, despite his blistering pace, did not possess the physical presence he has now. It is that speed which also allows him to become an option as a wide forward, which he feels is crucial for any striker. "I've been at the gym for what has probably been nine months now," he explains. "Gym sessions at least three or four times a week. It has helped me a lot and I'm noticing that in training. My legs are maybe still a bit off but definitely my upper body has surpassed what I was before. "I think you have to be quite versatile in the modern game. If you can play on the wings, unless you're a real big target man, obvious players like Peter Crouch, who brings something extra to the team, I think you need to be quite versatile if you want to be playing games week in and week out. "I can play more positions and it's not really an issue for me. It's just about getting a chance really." So what does the future hold for Wilson? The injury problems that halted his progress are hopefully all behind him. "I'm taking it like any normal season now," he adds. "I know no injury comes at a good time but it was good there was no need to rush to get back before the end of the season. We just took it through into pre-season and, I think, timed it quite well with that even though it was a bit more extended. Better safe than sorry." The next step is to return to action and then the club will decide the best option for 2017/18. "It depends what comes about really," he says. "I'll see what's happening with the first team because obviously we've brought in new signings. I just want to get back into it really, first and foremost keep on top of my legwork as that is the main thing. But all that extra work, the weeks and weeks of it, are definitely paying off." If he does begin his comeback at Premier League 2 level, the early signs are he will soon be back in the groove and making up for lost time. We live in a fast-paced world where a spell on the sidelines can make players appear like forgotten men in the minds of some fans. Yet nobody who witnessed Willo terrorising defences at younger levels for United would ever write him off. Hopefully, he can show what we know he is capable of. Watch exclusive interviews and insight from the camp in Obertraun during 'Academy & Reserves: Season Preview'. On MUTV & MUTV app at 18:30 BST on Friday. I'd love to see him get a meaningful loan to a decent club with lot's of playing time...the kid is fast and talented and hopefully he still might get a shot at playing for United 1st XI... I agree. couldn't go wrong going somewhere like Swansea or Bournemouth. playing the right football under a decent manager. he needs a challenge though in the PL. Then you have the likes of Burnley, West Brom or one of the newly promoted teams. it might be a struggle and a battle but that would do him the world of good. similar to Pereira's loan at Grenada |
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Post by Sméagol on Nov 24, 2017 12:53:20 GMT
Marcus Rashford may be the centre of attention at Manchester United at present, but another of the club’s well-regarded strikers is making a positive impression after overcoming a serious and mentally challenging injury. When the name James Wilson is mentioned, the first image that comes to mind is the one of him pointing to his name on the back of his United shirt in front of the East Stand at Old Trafford during his memorable debut against Hull City. That match, on May 6, 2014, conjured up one of the best atmospheres at Old Trafford since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement. Two weeks had passed since David Moyes was sacked, but it felt like a lifetime ago as Ryan Giggs’s United put Hull to the sword in a 3-1 win. The United supporters sang the name of Giggs, their caretaker manager, as he walked down the touchline but by the hour mark, they were singing Wilson’s name instead. Wilson, then just 18, scored twice on his debut and in doing so, became the name on everyone’s lips. What followed did not exactly go to plan. Two months later, despite having a depleted squad to choose from because of the World Cup, Louis van Gaal did not pick Wilson for his first pre-season tour of America. When Van Gaal did bring him into the first-team squad, for the 2014-15 season, Wilson played 17 times, but scored just twice. He was then loaned to Brighton the following year, but scored only five times. José Mourinho had a look at Wilson, playing him for the opening 45 minutes of his first friendly in charge against Wigan Athletic, but did not take to the striker and he was shipped out on loan to Derby County, where he tore his anterior cruciate ligament, the same injury suffered by Zlatan Ibrahimovic, during training. The road to recovery has not been an easy one for the popular young striker. Speak to academy staff at Carrington and they will tell you that at times, Wilson has found it mentally tough to get over his injury, which is understandable as this was the first serious injury of his career. It is understood that Wilson suffered a few setbacks on the way, which only added to the anxiety he felt after rupturing his ACL, but now there is light at the end of the tunnel and it is shining brightly. United’s academy staff, most notably Ricky Sbragia, the Under-23 coach, and director Nicky Butt, have been impressed by Wilson’s attitude since he returned to training. He first started making inroads during a youth team pre-season trip to Austria nine months after he suffered the injury. As well as scoring a number of goals in training, Wilson made sure he spent as much time as possible in the gym. The striker would visit the gym four days per week in order to improve his upper-body strength. Wilson has come to realise that he cannot just rely on his pace and his natural finishing ability to become a Premier League striker. He knows he needs the strength to hold off defenders too. Seen as a senior member of the squad at 21, Wilson even helped set up some of Sbragia’s coaching sessions in Obertraun, a quiet village in central Austria that sits 500 metres above sea level. It was during a loan spell at Derby County that Wilson suffered a serious knee injury News of Wilson’s impressive performances in training filtered through to America, where the first team were on tour. There was interest in Wilson from Reading, where Jaap Stam, the former United defender is in charge, but after consulting with Mourinho, Sbragia and Butt, the forward rejected a loan offer as he felt his recovery would be best served at Carrington. Now, it is clear that he is fully over his injury. Wilson has scored five goals in nine under 23 team matches. While the first-team squad headed to the Platinum Lounge at Old Trafford for the annual United for Unicef gala last week, Wilson was scoring against Athletic Bilbao in front of a sparse crowd at Leigh Sports Village. The striker impressed onlookers by running across the box and powering a header into the Bilbao goal. Sadly for Wilson, Mourinho has not selected him for the first-team squad yet this season, and the return of Zlatan Ibrahimovic means he is unlikely to feature on the bench any time soon. United are ready to send Wilson out on loan in January so he can get more first-team experience. “It’s certainly a possibility [going on loan],” Wilson said. “We’ll just have to talk and have a few conversations with the manager and certain people around here. I’m not ruling it out but we’ll come to an agreement over what needs to be done.” www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/sport/james-wilson-ready-to-make-up-for-lost-time-at-manchester-united-629fvrj7g |
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Post by Sméagol on Jan 10, 2018 15:51:58 GMT
Come on lad!!
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Post by Bestie on Jan 10, 2018 15:56:36 GMT
Urgh. Horrible club to go to.
Hope he does well though.
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Post by ScholesEvilTwin on Jan 10, 2018 15:57:07 GMT
Hopefully he gets a run of games and finds form.
Still got plenty of talent.
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Post by Tatty on Jan 10, 2018 16:18:02 GMT
WTF. I thought he was dead. LOL!
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Post by ScholesEvilTwin on Jan 10, 2018 16:33:11 GMT
Hopefully he gets a run of games and finds form. Still got plenty of talent. He's still relatively young isn't he? 22 last month. EDIT: Injuries have done for him here, but still loads of time for him to kick-start his career, at a decent level too, elsewhere. |
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Post by ratbag on Jan 10, 2018 17:05:41 GMT
He's still relatively young isn't he? 22 last month. EDIT: Injuries have done for him here, but still loads of time for him to kick-start his career, at a decent level too, elsewhere. Real shame. I had high hopes for him when he was going through the youth teams. I wish him lots of luck and I hope he makes it. |
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Post by Sméagol on Jan 20, 2018 15:13:05 GMT
Get in Willo!
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Post by Sméagol on Feb 28, 2019 10:01:15 GMT
In May, it will be five years since James Wilson, 18 at the time, stunned Old Trafford with two goals on his debut against Hull City. But this summer it is likely the striker will leave Manchester United, ending an association with the club that began when he was a young boy. Wilson was plucked from the academy by Ryan Giggs after the Welshman was named caretaker-manager in the wake of David Moyes' sacking in 2014. Two weeks later, he was thrown in at the deep end against Hull and it took him just 31 minutes to become the fourth-youngest United player to score in the Premier League. By the time he was substituted for Robin van Persie just after the hour mark he had scored another, this time in front of the Stretford End, in a 3-1 win. "It was a surprise," Wilson told ESPN FC by telephone of his debut call. "I'd only been training with the first team for two weeks. I'd had a good season prior to that, scoring for the Under-18s, the U-19s in the Champions League and I'd scored for the U-23s, so I had made all the steps in one year. "I was surprised to get the nod but I stepped up to the plate and did my bit for the team on the night." A few months later, Wilson signed a four-year contract, with new manager Louis van Gaal branding the striker "one of the brightest young English prospects." That contract is due to expire on June 30, 2019 and after a series of injuries and loan moves, Wilson, now 23, is set to leave the club he joined at the age of seven. "I think I've come to terms with it," says Wilson, on the prospect of finding a new home in the summer. "I wouldn't say I'm 100 percent certain I'm going to leave. There's still a slight chance I might get a contract but I think I'm edging towards leaving in the summer. "I'll come to terms with it more when it actually happens. I think it might be tougher than perhaps I thought. My focus is one the next step, wherever that might be." The bright side for Wilson, looking forward, is that he is enjoying his football again. On loan at Aberdeen since August, he has scored three times -- including a stunning 30-yard strike in a 3-0 win over Hamilton in October -- and played in a narrow Scottish League Cup final defeat to Celtic in December. He'd chosen Aberdeen, currently third in the Scottish Premiership behind Celtic and Rangers, to "get out of his comfort zone" and put himself in the shop window ahead of a possible permanent move in the summer. "I wanted a little bit of a change," says the former England Under-21 international. "Scottish football has been getting a lot more coverage over the last few seasons as the quality has improved. I wanted to move away from home. I'm originally from Stoke and Aberdeen is 400 miles away from there. "My first loan move was to Brighton, which was kind of the same thing. The last few loan moves have been closer to home: Derby and Sheffield United. I thought the most successful loan was the Brighton one and I was trying to get as many similarities with this move. Being so far away from home, I have to think more about what I'm going to eat and the rest time I get between training and games. All things considered, I think it's been a good move." The most important thing for Wilson has been staying fit. Two years ago, his spell at Derby County was cut short because of a knee ligament injury and he's had to contend with persistent niggles and knocks that have made it difficult to break through at Old Trafford. "I'm in a much happier place with regards to football," he says. "The fitness comes with games. The more games I play, the fitter I'm going to get. In the short-term, I just want to perform as best as I can. "The whole point of the loan move was to put myself in the shop window and see what options come available." Had it not been for injuries, things may have been different for Wilson at United. Or if Van Gaal had stayed rather than being sacked after winning the FA Cup in 2016. When Jose Mourinho took over that summer, he inherited another teenager academy striker who had scored twice on his United debut. His name? Marcus Rashford. "Louis van Gaal believed in me and played me as much as he could," says Wilson. "I was training with the first team every day and thought I was progressing well. As far as opportunities, you go into training and you do your best and the team gets picked. If you're not in the squad, you have to deal with it. "I wanted to get out of my comfort zone on loan at Brighton [during the 2015-16 season] and while I was there, Rashford came through. I came back and never really got that chance again. Injuries were a big thing. Constant ankle injuries is a big one and my ACL two years ago. "Looking back, if anything, it would be that which has held me back but it happens for a reason and I believe that. This is where I am. I'm supposed to be here and I'm enjoying my football at the moment. I can't complain." If Wilson does leave United for the final time this summer, he will go with those vivid memories of that night against Hull in May 2014. "It was an amazing experience to go through," he says. "It was a childhood dream to play for United and score on my debut. Scoring goals is what I love doing and I'm try to do that as much as possible. "You get that same feeling every time -- every goal that goes in, you get it. Whether it's in a reserves game for the U23s or in the league, I'm just trying to feel that feeling more." www.espn.com/soccer/club/manchester-united/360/blog/post/3785420/exclusive-the-real-reason-man-uniteds-james-wilson-is-ready-to-quit-his-boyhood-club?platform=amp&__twitter_impression=true |
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Post by Stew on Feb 28, 2019 10:23:16 GMT
Such a pity injuries wrecked his Utd career. Was one of the best strikers I’ve seen in the reserves. Rossi was the best, sadly done for too.
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Post by ratbag on Feb 28, 2019 10:38:04 GMT
I just hope that he goes on to have a good career and make a decent living...
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