Joe Mason (F MK Dons b.1991)

[CraftyToePoke]

Well, with the likes of Stephen Ireland and Jamie O'Hara having threads of their own on here, I thought it might not be too much of a stretch to give one to Ireland U19 International, Joe Mason at Plymouth.

It will be interesting to track his career path form here, born in Plymouth to an Irish mother.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_2/9407643.stm scored two today putting him on 7 from 12 starts this season

http://www.pafc.co.uk/page/ProfilesDetail/0,,10364~47542,00.html all about him.

http://www.pafc.co.uk/page/MatchReport/0,,10364~53103,00.html glowing match report and already being linked with moves to bigger and better things acccording to this. Wont be difficult for someone to prize him away as Plymouth cant pay their players at present.

[AlaskaFox]

Great thread. I'd say he'll be a key player in the U21s qualifying campaign with Clifford.

Profiled him back in January too:
http://greenscene.me/2011/01/spotlight-joe-mason/

[Yard of Pace]

Never heard of him before, thanks CTP. While we're on the subject of League 1 (Division 3, come on), another one to watch out for is U-21 international Anthony Pilkington of Huddersfield. He's seriously classy.

[tetsujin1979]

His brother Anthony played for the U19's as well, he was with Plymouth but was released before making a senior appearance

[Stuttgart88]

Anthony Pilkington has a brother called Anthony? Wow.

[tetsujin1979]

Anthony Pilkington has a brother called Anthony? Wow.
Joe has a brother called Anthony

too many Joe's around here lately....

[CraftyToePoke]

Never heard of him before, thanks CTP. While we're on the subject of League 1 (Division 3, come on), another one to watch out for is U-21 international Anthony Pilkington of Huddersfield. He's seriously classy.

A friend of mine has a season ticket at Huddersfield, really rates Pilkington and told me they turned down big money for him in the window from Middlesborough.

[Yard of Pace]

A friend of mine has a season ticket at Huddersfield, really rates Pilkington and told me they turned down big money for him in the window from Middlesborough.

Really? I'm a Huddersfield fan for over 20 years. Pilks' brother is called Danny, by the way. Pilks himself, well, he's class. Can go all the way I think.

[Tipp Townie]

Re. Joe Mason.

Saw him a couple of weeks back Brighton v Plymouth. Unfair to judge him on this one game as the whole team played poorly and it was just after they had the 10pt deduction, which possibly affected morale.

But for the record he struggled to get into the game at all and Plymouth looked more dangerous (relatively speaking) once Fallon had come on, with Joe still barely getting a touch. No shame in Mason having a quiet game v that back 4 of course as, until Saturday just gone, Brighton have been very solid at home.

Anyway, as CraftToePoke has mentioned above, he apparently had a great game at Sheff Wed.

[Yard of Pace]

His brother Anthony played for the U19's as well, he was with Plymouth but was released before making a senior appearance

Our midfielder curse continues with Pilks breaking his ankle last night. Latest report says he'll be back for our promotion party, but not sure how accurate that is!

[Yard of Pace]

http://www.datm.info/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/DIFPTeeMockUp.jpg

[CraftyToePoke]

Has signed for Cardiff City - http://www.cardiffcityfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10335~2389150,00.html

Good move, play offs for the last two seasons but a bit of a rebuild going on there, and a new manager, Malky Mackay. Will be interesting to keep an eye on along with Rooney at Birmingham.

[CraftyToePoke]

He has featured in all his sides pre season games including what looks like a decent performance Vs Parma according to this : http://www.cardiffcityfc.co.uk/page/2011-12/0,,10335~2405957,00.html a fine solo run and effort along with some other favourable mentions. Hopefully he will be in the eleven next week with league points to play for.

Some fan input here on his performance Vs Parma, played behind a front two, and played very well to by the sound of it : http://www.ccmb.co.uk/fudforum/index.php?t=msg&th=286848&start=0&rid=0&S=fd173ba857c119c4a09dc7112d9bd674

[CraftyToePoke]

Came on after ten minutes today, and played really well in his sides 3-1 win according to Talk Sport, playing at the top of a diamond, and has several threads in his honour on the Cardiff (http://www.ccmb.co.uk/fudforum/index.php?t=thread&frm_id=1&rid=0) forum this evening. The Cardiff OS still doesnt have a proper report up, which is poor, but BBC (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/14435063.stm) credit him with a nice assist. Also a thread here (http://www.ccmb.co.uk/fudforum/index.php?t=msg&th=289398&start=0&rid=0&S=a7a8ec882a24fdc3f32b0dd7194ee583) about him where they all seem very pleasantly surprised.

[CraftyToePoke]

Peterborough Utd 4 - Cardiff City 3

I had the pleasure of being at this game Tuesday evening, it was brilliant entertainment for the neutral, and Joe Mason came on after 15 minutes due to an injury, he came on as a striker, and did fine, he didnt carry an aerial threat and did most of his eye catching work on the deck, most notably when he came deep picked it up and got turned to run at his opponents, two of these stood out, one from either flank when he took possession near halfway and on the first cut across the box from the left and tried to bend it in the top corner but the effort was blocked. The other from the opposite side saw him beat a man and cut infield at pace along the Peterborough penalty area, he kept glancing up looking to roll a ball down the side of the defenders to put a teammate through, but no one made this run for him, instead he picked a good pass to the supporting fullback whos shot was blocked for a corner, it was good play.

That was the best of him, in general play, he did ok, his first involvment ran the ball out of play after a heavy touch and although game enough, I dont remember him winning any headers. He linked well, nice tight control, comfortable on the ball with quick simple layoffs. He also earned two free kicks. You could see why Cardiff forums seem to see him as a player for behind a front two, rather than an out and out striker at present. You could also see why, although he is always in the match day 16 at his new club he is not quite in the first 11 yet, but he did show glimpses of real ability.

Frecklington played for Peterborough and was removed with 15 to go, but Kearns wasnt involved. McPhail and Gerrard were on the bench for Cardiff with the former playing 35 mins and doing ok.

[Stuttgart88]

Scored in the first half today for Cardiff.

[tetsujin1979]

Got an assist on one of the other goals too

[CraftyToePoke]

Notched again tonight as reported on the Irish Abroad thread, to put his side in the quarter finals of the League Cup.

BBC report here (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/15346240.stm) where he takes the plaudits despite missing an easy chance as well. The Cardiff City OS leads with More Mason Magic As City Progress (http://www.cardiffcityfc.co.uk/page/MatchReport/0,,10335~61157,00.html) and he takes MOTM with McPhail in second for that award. And finally mostly positive appeciation (http://www.ccmb.co.uk/fudforum/index.php?t=msg&th=297944&start=0&rid=0&S=999832b47785b22ebbb99001552b3ad0) on their fan forum, looks like he played up top by himself, and maybe McPhail just behind him. Others saying the Cardiff defence looks much better with Gerrard in it, as he was for their clean sheet tonight.

[Stuttgart88]

Arguably the brightest light on the horizon for us right now, with Brady following behind?

[Jaysus]

Arguably the brightest light on the horizon for us right now, with Brady following behind?

James McCarthy and Seamus Coleman are the obvious ones, IMO.

He's in the same bracket as the likes of Brady, Jeff Hendrick, Mark O'Brien and Sean Scannell at the moment.

[Stuttgart88]

James McCarthy and Seamus Coleman are the obvious ones, IMO.Fair point, but I was referring to the underage crop - the ones we know less about. I agree about the others you mention too. Interesting players emerging.

[Kingdom]

Brady is the real shining light ahead of those mentioned ^^I think.
I'm like a broken record but Duffy, Coleman, Hendrick, O'Brien, McCarthy, Treacy, Brady, Mason, Clifford (maybe) - it's not bright there,

[theworm2345]

I think you guys are overhyping Mason. I've been following him since he broke through with Plymouth before they were twice relegated and he's definitely got potential but I don't think he's on the level of Scannell and Brady and definitely not Treacy and Coleman. He's still young but still he's never been a prolific scorer (granted he didn't have a full season in the Championship in 09/10 and, though he was a regular with Plymouth in League One last season, they were ****e and were under constant threat of going under).

[Kingdom]

Worm I appreciate what you're saying, and I'd always feign to someone that has followed a particular player, but with a bit of luck the type of players we have coming through are those who will all contribute to the scoring, rather than one out-and-out goalscorer as we have presently, like we were pre-Robbie. Under Charlton, and to an extent McCarthy, we were a threat from all angles. mcGrath, Moran, Houghton, Whelan, Sheedy, Townsend, QUinn, Cascarino, Aldo, Stan, Dinny, all were capable of putting one away for us.
Presently Robbie lightens the load for everyone else a lot. It's the only thing that worries me about him retiring - the rest of the team aren't prolific enough as a group.

[theworm2345]

Has just made it 3 in 3 against Leeds

[TrapAPony]

Has just made it 3 in 3 against Leeds

Bad play from O'Dea

[MeathDrog]

Should have been a free out.

[Carrigaline]

Has just scored his 5th of the season for Cardiff.

[SkStu]

Grabs the opener today in the final against Liverpool!! Nice finish too!!

[tetsujin1979]

scored the opener in the League Cup final, tidy little finish too

[Adrianovic]

Scored in the Carling Cup final against Liverpool. Composed finish.

[DannyInvincible]

Mason comes off after having played the full 90 minutes. Game has just gone into extra-time now.

[tricky_colour]

Going to penalties now, Antony Gerrard is still on the pitch I think?

[Colbert Report]

Yes he is

[tricky_colour]

Wow what a save from Steven Gerrard!!!

[tricky_colour]

Crazy penalties 3 missed!!

[Colbert Report]

Four missed now. Reminds me of Spain 2002.

[the bear]

Going to penalties now, Antony Gerrard is still on the pitch I think?

oh nooooooooooooooooooooooo

[tricky_colour]

gerrard...................kinda knew it....

[Colbert Report]

Anthony Gerrard missed Cardiff's fifth penalty, giving the Cup to Liverpool.

[seanfhear]

Very good game from Cardiff. It was one of those games that nobody deserved to lose.

[tricky_colour]

Quite a few missed penalties missed 5 out of ten a conversion rate of 50%.
Google tells me the average conversion rate is 80%-90%

I expect the conversion rate drops in penalty shoot outs, one because players are tired two because none specialist penalty takers are also used, perhaps thirdly there is more pressure on the players.

[tricky_colour]

Quite a few missed penalties missed 5 out of ten a conversion rate of 50%.
Google tells me the average conversion rate is 80%-90%

I expect the conversion rate drops in penalty shoot outs, one because players are tired
two because none specialist penalty takers are also used, perhaps thirdly there is more pressure
on the players.

Maybe one reason so many were missed was because the first penalty (a good one) was
saved causing players to put their penalties that extra bit higher and wider, but over doing it.

[theworm2345]

Forced both own goals in Cardiff's 2-1 defeat of Bristol City today

[SkStu]

never underestimate the value of good harrying!

[SkStu]

Another goal for Joe-Ma this season. Having a great run with Cardiff. Would like to see him given a call up at some stage in the near future.

[SkStu]

another goal for Mason for Cardiff. A tap in this time after Kenny Miller hit the post. Puts Cardiff one up on Derby County. Another young Irish lad who has had a great season in the championship.

[liamoo11]

He has been completely unexpected i woodsay. Did not pull up trees at underage level for us

[Carrigaline]

Scores again, if Cardiff win this, then a play-off place is assured.

[SkStu]

Mason grabbed one for Cardiff in their loss today.