Joe Mason (F MK Dons b.1991)

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/foot..._2/9407643.stm scored two today putting him on 7 from 12 starts this season

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

http://www.pafc.co.uk/page/MatchRepo...~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.

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/

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.

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

Anthony Pilkington has a brother called Anthony? Wow.

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Originally Posted by Stuttgart88

Anthony Pilkington has a brother called Anthony? Wow.

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Joe has a brother called Anthony

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

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Originally Posted by 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.

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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.

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Originally Posted by CraftyToePoke

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.

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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.

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.

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Originally Posted by tetsujin1979

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

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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!

http://www.datm.info/wp-content/uplo...PTeeMockUp.jpg

Has signed for Cardiff City - http://www.cardiffcityfc.co.uk/page/...389150,00.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.

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/...405957,00.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...9dc7112d9bd674

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 forum this evening. The Cardiff OS still doesnt have a proper report up, which is poor, but BBC credit him with a nice assist. Also a thread here about him where they all seem very pleasantly surprised.

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.

Scored in the first half today for Cardiff.

Got an assist on one of the other goals too

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 where he takes the plaudits despite missing an easy chance as well. The Cardiff City OS leads with More Mason Magic As City Progress and he takes MOTM with McPhail in second for that award. And finally mostly positive appeciation 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.

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

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Originally Posted by Stuttgart88

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

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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.