Just back

I guess not unfathomable that Wilson and Artell have held talks about what each party wants.

Wilson wasn't in the squad for the two games after the deadline day mishap with Crawley.  Since then in every single matchday squad, starting 9 of those 15 games.  His first start in that run was the 1-0 win over FGR when he was paired up top with Rose and very much as the No. 9, to my mind the first time we'd seen him in that role.  Artell giving him a fair run in the side came less than 2 months into his reign as boss too.

He's only scored 2 and made 1 in that period, which is no way near the 5 goals in 4 starts and 8 sub appearances earlier in the season, but his all round contribution is far greater.  

The important thing is that Wilson has shown what he can do.  The assist at Crewe and the goal against Swindon are exactly what I think he's best at doing, pretty much bulldozing sides.  If he's paired with a player/players who can buzz around him and be more prolific, he's someone I want here next season.

Quoted from toontown

Interesting that Artell was happy for Wilson to leave in Jan, which was opposed by many on here as we had so few options. That judgment of Artell was proved wanting as we used him numerous times after that and in fact for the vital game against Swindon we'd have had no strikers at all if he'd been allowed to walk away. Doesn't film me with any more confidence about his judgment than our results have to be honest.

Wilson wanted to move back down south, wasn't down to Artell not wanting him here.

Quoted from toontown

Interesting that Artell was happy for Wilson to leave in Jan, which was opposed by many on here as we had so few options. That judgment of Artell was proved wanting as we used him numerous times after that and in fact for the vital game against Swindon we'd have had no strikers at all if he'd been allowed to walk away. Doesn't film me with any more confidence about his judgment than our results have to be honest.

Without his judgement signing Thompson and dougie we’d probably be playing the scunts next year …don’t lose sight of the fact hursty left us with a team full of dross and average players

Quoted from LocalLadGTFC

Wilson wanted to move back down south, wasn't down to Artell not wanting him here.

Correct. Artell said in interview that he didn’t want him to leave.

I think he is not the sort of guy that is going to stand in the way of a player that wants out, it would hardly be good for morale forcing players to stay against their will. But once the deal fell through it looks like they made it work because Wilson put in a decent shift afterwards.

So criticism of Artell’s judgement over this is not justified in my opinion.

Quoted from LocalLadGTFC

Wilson wanted to move back down south, wasn't down to Artell not wanting him here.

Totally different not standing in a players way when it's the summer, but in January, at the deadline so he can't be replaced, in the midst of a relegation battle, to just allow him out of his contract cos he fancied being somewhere else was as bad an idea as it sounded. We only had 1 other proper first team striker, an u23s kid and a wide right player who Hurst fancied having a go up there. Wilson was contracted, we needed him, on occasion we would have had literally nobody to play there if he had been allowed to walk as Artell intended.

Nobody would have been saying Artell was blameless if the paperwork had gone through on time when we were up excrement creek against Swindon with nobody to play up front. Nevermind all the other times he played since the move fell through. Sure tell the guy he can go in the summer, but sorry we need you for the battle ahead - of course this was when Artell was still spouting the delusion we weren't in a relegation battle which was why he complacently thought Wilson could be allowed to leave, he didn't think it mattered. Poor judgment

Quoted from toontown

Totally different not standing in a players way when it's the summer, but in January, at the deadline so he can't be replaced, in the midst of a relegation battle, to just allow him out of his contract cos he fancied being somewhere else was as bad an idea as it sounded. We only had 1 other proper first team striker, an u23s kid and a wide right player who Hurst fancied having a go up there. Wilson was contracted, we needed him, on occasion we would have had literally nobody to play there if he had been allowed to walk as Artell intended.

Nobody would have been saying Artell was blameless if the paperwork had gone through on time when we were up excrement creek against Swindon with nobody to play up front. Nevermind all the other times he played since the move fell through. Sure tell the guy he can go in the summer, but sorry we need you for the battle ahead - of course this was when Artell was still spouting the delusion we weren't in a relegation battle which was why he complacently thought Wilson could be allowed to leave, he didn't think it mattered. Poor judgment

We had a forward lined up to replace Wilson that fell through on deadline day, whether that was down to Wilsons paperwork failing or other reasons we'll never know. If Wilson was allowed to leave, Gardner probably doesn't go out on loan and would of probably played up front against Swindon. Wilson didn't leave so he was played up front against Swindon... he didn't leave so it wasn't poor judgement. Keeping a player against his will would of been poor judgement.

Quoted from toontown

Interesting that Artell was happy for Wilson to leave in Jan, which was opposed by many on here as we had so few options. That judgment of Artell was proved wanting as we used him numerous times after that and in fact for the vital game against Swindon we'd have had no strikers at all if he'd been allowed to walk away. Doesn't film me with any more confidence about his judgment than our results have to be honest.

We were looking to bring a forward in on loan but that fell through.

As regards next season, I would rather the playing budget was spent on a smaller but better quality squad with eager young home grown players on the bench.