Strong left foot. Kept his cool during the goal.
James Wilson
- Thread starter Stojan Stamenic
- Start date
Yeah, as a striker its tough because you don't get as much leeway as, say, a winger. Do you reckon we'll be seeing a lot more of him next season though? In cup competitions?
Thought he played better as the half progressed; took the goal like a pro and looks fairly confident on the ball. Hull are so defensive that we haven't yet seen him make runs in behind the defense, but he's supposedly very fast, right?
He can play wide in a front 3 as has the pace and dribbling to be effective there and a good shot from outside the box.
Nice debut goal. He's done well to get noticed like this with a new manager coming in soon
I really want him to be around the first team next season, and be a part of Van Gaal's training.
With the snap he gets behind his shots they are always going to be hard to stop if well aimed. Has that natural finisher vibe. Pleased for him.
It is so pleasing to see him grow throughout the season, at various levels. Long it may continue and with us only of course. He has potential to be a 'complete' striker 
What a moment for him. Has been at United since he was 8.
Van Gaal always brings through the promising youth players, it's one huge thing in his favour. When you look at who he gave debuts to it's staggering really, Iniesta, Xavi, Valdes, Puyol, Thomas Muller, Thiago Motta, Pepe Reina not to mention most of the Ajax team who won the European Cup.
I think he is actually better there than as a number 9 personally, I think sometimes he doesn't work the channels well enough for a front man but he'd really excel in that sort of inside left/right role, maybe a bit like Henry used to play.
Delighted for him. Must be an insane feeling.
We haven't brought through a top striker since Mark Hughes in the 1980's. No pressure James.
Made up for the boy, hopefully the first of many.
Well taken goal
*waits for Welbeck fanbois to storm thread*
Anyone check the odds for a Wilson hat trick before KO?
A new Old Trafford babe is born.
He'll score goals. He's a proper striker.
Harsh from Giggsy to take him off!
Which game did you think was his best out wide?
Well for me his best form this season came when he was playing alongside Fletcher for the u18s.
Two goals on his debut and he's greeted with a handshake from Giggs, Butt, Neville and Scholes. Great stuff.
So hard to catch the U18s games through streams, when will MUTV let me buy it?! Not sure I caught any games Wilson played for the U18s.
Looking forward to Fletcher coming up next season perhaps.
Strongly disagree with that. In fact, it's one of his strengths.
Agreed, Wilson coming out wide to link with players is part of his game
One hell of a debut, lets hope we can see a bit more of him next season.
Hmmm, on reflection maybe it's a little unfair of me to say that, but I do think his link up play could be better as a striker. Its just personal taste but I'd love to see him coming inside off one of the flanks but not as a winger, as a genuine forward rather than as the lone striker. I suppose more or less the role that Welbeck has played in big games.
I completely forgot about him playing in the U18s this year, but I remember him and Fletcher tearing it up. That seems like an age away now.
Take him to brazil as the obligatory youngster in the squad
For the record, I agree that to the left in a front 3 would be a good role for him, at least in certain matches against certain set-ups. But at the end of the day he's without doubt a natural born no.9.
Yes that was a very odd comment. From the admittedly little I have seen of him, he seemed to work the channels extremely well.
http://www.manutd.com/en/News-And-F...7766F189-12B5-48C7-84FC-FB470BC4412E&pageNo=1
Wilson making his mark
In his first in-depth interview, speaking before his two-goal debut against Hull City, 18-year-old James Wilson discusses his progress with Inside United...
We hear your father wasn’t really into football but realised you were special by watching you play in the back garden. Is that true?
Well, he’s more of a snooker man! He always used to talk about my grandad as well, as he could remember me kicking a ball around with him when I was little.
So where do you think you inherited the talent from?
My brother had a bit of a dabble in football. From what I heard, he was a good player but he’s quite a bit older than me. He didn’t have that chance as there weren't as many scouts back then as there are now. He just didn’t get the big break he needed.
You’ve been around the United set-up for a long time – when did you actually join? I would have been aged six and then playing at the satellite centres. I came through from there, before going over to Littleton Road and then The Cliff. I came here to Carrington when it was Under-12s level.
When you scored at Old Trafford in the FA Youth Cup quarters against Charlton in 2012, you were still just a schoolboy. How incredible an experience was that?
I can remember being in the changing rooms afterwards and I was in the shower. It was boiling hot and everyone was touching the water and asking how I could bear to stand in it. It must have been because of the adrenaline. It was just a great feeling, particularly with it being the winner as well.
We ended up losing to Chelsea in the semi-finals of the competition…
We went to an Ajax tournament, it was the first time we’d done it, and I got an injury to my foot. It was just a
little bruising but it put me out of the second leg. I came on but they were not sure I was fit enough to start the game and it was a bit of a blow. Chelsea have always had a good youth set-up as they’ve proved again this season.
Tell us about captaining both the Under-18 side and under-19 UEFA Youth League team this term…
I started off with the Under-18s and in the European league as well. When I was told I’d be captain before the first game, I thought it was a great honour. I hadn’t done it much before and I am quite inexperienced at it. Being given that responsibility meant I was able to give advice and encouragement on the pitch. It made me work harder, essentially, because, when you have got the armband on, you have that extra responsibility to shine.
Your speed makes you an obvious target for defenders. How do you handle any rough treatment?
I think, with the pace I’ve got, they must have some insight into my game beforehand, so I’ve just got to overcome that. If I get a knock, I must get back up and go again. You have had your share of injuries this season.
Are you still growing?
I think I’ve finished growing and 5ft 11in is going to be my height now. Hopefully, there will be no more injuries. I fractured my ankle a few years ago at Southampton and that was a bad one. It was weird as I’d never been out for that amount of time. It was hard because I was in the gym every day and not out on the pitch with the lads. So, I just knuckled down and got back fit as soon as possible.
How big a thrill was it to be on the first-team bench at Newcastle?
It was great experience being with the team and learning how to act around the hotel by being professional. Even the warm-up was different – I was out there with Nemanja Vidic and Tom Cleverley. When you’re warming up for the Reserves, there are not usually thousands
of people around. It was a great atmosphere – even when you’re out there beforehand the ground is filling up and you can feel the volume rising.
Were you aware that your inclusion had sparked a real buzz on social media?
It was a bit weird. All my mates were texting me. I was in the squad for the Aston Villa game and also the Bayern Munich match at Old Trafford, but didn’t get on the bench. Obviously, I was a substitute at Newcastle because of injuries and Danny Welbeck being rested.
After getting so close, how much are you relishing making your debut at some future point?
Hopefully, it’s not too far off. It would be great and it’s what you work towards. Every time, I just think, ‘I could be in that first team.’ It would be great to get a few minutes on the pitch and a real experience to see how different the games are, and the pace of it. I need to see how I deal with the atmosphere, the pressure and other factors.
Would you still set yourself a target of scoring in that game?
Yes, I probably would! Even in training, if you miss a chance, it matters. It is a lot more demanding with the first team, obviously.
Do you think you can be an inspiration to the younger players who are also hoping to make the breakthrough?Yes, I think a few of the younger lads in my digs are asking things and, obviously, as a boy, I used to look up to lads when I was their age. The roles are reversed now and I know what it is like to be in that situation.
Your aim must be to get into the squad for this summer’s pre-season tour. Will any international commitments affect that?
I don’t think so. The England Under-19s’ next qualifying round is in May, so it won’t affect it.
Hopefully, all being well, I’ll have no injuries and will get on that plane to America. It would be absolutely brilliant. I’ve been to the States before, in the Dallas Cup last year, and that was a great place to go.
How would you assess your season?
I’m definitely pleased. I’ve got through the three age groups and, as a striker, I want to score goals. I’ve done that at each level, but the most important thing is to keep improving – as long as that keeps happening. To get to where I am now, I have obviously improved.
Wilson making his mark
In his first in-depth interview, speaking before his two-goal debut against Hull City, 18-year-old James Wilson discusses his progress with Inside United...
We hear your father wasn’t really into football but realised you were special by watching you play in the back garden. Is that true?
Well, he’s more of a snooker man! He always used to talk about my grandad as well, as he could remember me kicking a ball around with him when I was little.
So where do you think you inherited the talent from?
My brother had a bit of a dabble in football. From what I heard, he was a good player but he’s quite a bit older than me. He didn’t have that chance as there weren't as many scouts back then as there are now. He just didn’t get the big break he needed.
You’ve been around the United set-up for a long time – when did you actually join? I would have been aged six and then playing at the satellite centres. I came through from there, before going over to Littleton Road and then The Cliff. I came here to Carrington when it was Under-12s level.
When you scored at Old Trafford in the FA Youth Cup quarters against Charlton in 2012, you were still just a schoolboy. How incredible an experience was that?
I can remember being in the changing rooms afterwards and I was in the shower. It was boiling hot and everyone was touching the water and asking how I could bear to stand in it. It must have been because of the adrenaline. It was just a great feeling, particularly with it being the winner as well.
We ended up losing to Chelsea in the semi-finals of the competition…
We went to an Ajax tournament, it was the first time we’d done it, and I got an injury to my foot. It was just a
little bruising but it put me out of the second leg. I came on but they were not sure I was fit enough to start the game and it was a bit of a blow. Chelsea have always had a good youth set-up as they’ve proved again this season.
Tell us about captaining both the Under-18 side and under-19 UEFA Youth League team this term…
I started off with the Under-18s and in the European league as well. When I was told I’d be captain before the first game, I thought it was a great honour. I hadn’t done it much before and I am quite inexperienced at it. Being given that responsibility meant I was able to give advice and encouragement on the pitch. It made me work harder, essentially, because, when you have got the armband on, you have that extra responsibility to shine.
Your speed makes you an obvious target for defenders. How do you handle any rough treatment?
I think, with the pace I’ve got, they must have some insight into my game beforehand, so I’ve just got to overcome that. If I get a knock, I must get back up and go again. You have had your share of injuries this season.
Are you still growing?
I think I’ve finished growing and 5ft 11in is going to be my height now. Hopefully, there will be no more injuries. I fractured my ankle a few years ago at Southampton and that was a bad one. It was weird as I’d never been out for that amount of time. It was hard because I was in the gym every day and not out on the pitch with the lads. So, I just knuckled down and got back fit as soon as possible.
How big a thrill was it to be on the first-team bench at Newcastle?
It was great experience being with the team and learning how to act around the hotel by being professional. Even the warm-up was different – I was out there with Nemanja Vidic and Tom Cleverley. When you’re warming up for the Reserves, there are not usually thousands
of people around. It was a great atmosphere – even when you’re out there beforehand the ground is filling up and you can feel the volume rising.
Were you aware that your inclusion had sparked a real buzz on social media?
It was a bit weird. All my mates were texting me. I was in the squad for the Aston Villa game and also the Bayern Munich match at Old Trafford, but didn’t get on the bench. Obviously, I was a substitute at Newcastle because of injuries and Danny Welbeck being rested.
After getting so close, how much are you relishing making your debut at some future point?
Hopefully, it’s not too far off. It would be great and it’s what you work towards. Every time, I just think, ‘I could be in that first team.’ It would be great to get a few minutes on the pitch and a real experience to see how different the games are, and the pace of it. I need to see how I deal with the atmosphere, the pressure and other factors.
Would you still set yourself a target of scoring in that game?
Yes, I probably would! Even in training, if you miss a chance, it matters. It is a lot more demanding with the first team, obviously.
Do you think you can be an inspiration to the younger players who are also hoping to make the breakthrough?Yes, I think a few of the younger lads in my digs are asking things and, obviously, as a boy, I used to look up to lads when I was their age. The roles are reversed now and I know what it is like to be in that situation.
Your aim must be to get into the squad for this summer’s pre-season tour. Will any international commitments affect that?
I don’t think so. The England Under-19s’ next qualifying round is in May, so it won’t affect it.
Hopefully, all being well, I’ll have no injuries and will get on that plane to America. It would be absolutely brilliant. I’ve been to the States before, in the Dallas Cup last year, and that was a great place to go.
How would you assess your season?
I’m definitely pleased. I’ve got through the three age groups and, as a striker, I want to score goals. I’ve done that at each level, but the most important thing is to keep improving – as long as that keeps happening. To get to where I am now, I have obviously improved.
Decent highlight video in the latest United Uncovered. Worth a watch:
http://www.manutd.com/en/News-And-F...content=4&utm_campaign=newsletters&qsut=www10
http://www.manutd.com/en/News-And-F...content=4&utm_campaign=newsletters&qsut=www10
Brilliant. So happy for Wilson.
Great video.
Rams home the extent to which he was too good for U18 level at the start of the season. Lots of those long runs with a goal at the end have a real 'man against boys' look to them.