How good is Wilko going to get ?

[petralpotter]

I think he stands out as our most improved player,his tackling is good and was amazed at his pace when an attack broke down last night and he had to get back.
A lot of credit must go to the manager for persevering with a youngster in such a difficult season.
Oh and to answer my own question i reckon hes bound for the top.

[tony harrison]

Should have been in from the start of the season. Him and Dicko showed enough for me against Newcastle last season. They both deserved their chance on the evidence of the home performance.

Wilko has come in now and is making it look like he has played in that position all season. Yes he is our most improved player, let's hope he continues to improve at this rate and our right back position is solid.

[stokecity4life]

Totally committed.

Improving all the time.

Building confidence and experience from playing with Adby.

Super performance last night.

Just the sort of player we need tbh.

Oh and a Stokie through and through.

I remember talking to him at the gym on time when he was injurred - he was totally gutted not to be playing.

[knowles]

A top lad and I'm absolutely delighted for him. It was his 50th league appearance for Stoke last night. I don't think it will take as long to notch up the next 50.

[salopstick]

i think the premiership is too good to blood both wilko and dicko

this year wilko has had his chance and made that spot his own

i hope dicko gets the same chance next season and proves likewise

[XLITTLEMISSSTOKEX]

he is totally commited he's agreat player and sure is gonna get better

[Bick]

Completely agree, FANTASTIC last night. He seems to have calmed his tackles down, doesn't just hoof it and supports the winger in front of him at all times.

And that burst through when he got a shot off was class!! I am very chuffed for him

[redditchpotter]

Could be a legend for us,the way he is improving week after week.Possible future England full-back

[AlanHansen]

Very good last night and committed.

I have been critical of him in the past for both diving in and his distribution, to be fair to him though he is getting better by the game and this despite some sort of ongoing injury.

[knowles]

Does anyone else find it weird that our Wilko gets talked about in the press- e.g. "Wilkinson kept England winger Ashley Young very quiet". It makes me laugh because, at the end of the day, he is one of us

[AlanHansen]

No

[LDE76]

There's still obviously room for improvement, but he looked much more at ease on the ball last night. Personally, I doubted whether he'd ever turn into a genuine Premier League full-back, so for me his recent form has been a bonus.

[eddy_under_fire'sviews]

yeah i really rate the youth. he has come on leaps and bounds. Its great seeing him celebrate isn't it?!?!?! its like it means a little bit more to him...

[vestanpance]

Best game in a Stoke shirt for me, thought him and Lawrence provided an excellent balance on the right hand side.

No doubt Delap will be there for Everton then

Really pleased for him. I had my doubts and he's proved me wrong. As for Dicko, i wasn't sure he was good enough last season to be honest, as for the Premier League, i think it would be a step too far.

[stone6]

Mar 5, 2009 12:02:05 GMT redditchpotter said:

Could be a legend for us,the way he is improving week after week.Possible future England full-back

Think he's eligible for England and Scotland.

[AlanHansen]

England player - Er, no. Much improved, yes.

[Janet in ST5]

Very good. In fact, he's probably going to be very, very good. He improves ever game and is really learning from the experience. Wonder how long before he gets a feature on 'The Big Tackle'?!

[big bea]

is he 24 now maybe 25? not young really. coming up to his peake ages of 26 27 28, but agreed great player, dicko is more of a prospect i think. got 2 or 3 years on wilko

[magicmanfuller]

wilko is an average player who to be fair has played well in the last two games. He kept Young quiet against villa fairly easily i thought. If we stay up id be looking for a right back as a priority signing in the summer

[markscfc72]

hes 24 and is much better than 'average'!

[magicmanfuller]

Mar 5, 2009 19:09:20 GMT markscfc72 said:

hes 24 and is much better than 'average'!

Like everyone else I think he is a top bloke and is definatly a good squad player. His performances of late have been much improved but when he got sent off against utd it showed his lack of experience and against spurs lennon ran rings around him. Just because he has done much better in the last two games you wouldn't say based on his performances on the whole this season that he is much more than an average player

[alan12661]

He has had a few pretty good games this season and I would like to see Dicko get the same opportunities,however I did fear that Mike Dean would see his rash challenge on Gardner as a sending off offence as he went throughthe back of Gardner.

[Lakeland Potter]

I wonder what Wilko is now worth? I'm not suggesting we sell him but it seems no time at all since TP almost accepted a bid (of £200k?) from Blackpool. You'd have to say that based on some of his games this season (where he has kept some good wingers quiet) he'd now be worth much more. Even against Ronaldo his sending off came after he had had a good game and wound him up to the extent that Ronaldo had kicked out at him after a fair tackle.

[grayscfc]

wilko is turning into a solid, hard uncomprimising defender who will be feared by his oponents, and he can put a killer cross in too, if he keeps improving he`ll be a top prem defender- and we know he`ll bleed or draw blood for stoke city-just ask that portuguese wanker ronaldo.

[stokiemama14]

think wilko is becoming a great player

goarnn lad still even more to come from you aswell i think

goarnn stoke

[magicmanfuller]

700k

[alan12661]

I do wonder if we would / could afford to sell Wilko and Dicko; as replacements would cost an absolute fortune, and would the replacements have the same 'Passion' for Stoke as these boys seem to have!!

[Do eet fer Paddock]

Mar 5, 2009 19:21:48 GMT magicmanfuller said:

His performances of late have been much improved but when he got sent off against utd it showed his lack of experience and against spurs lennon ran rings around him. Just because he has done much better in the last two games you wouldn't say based on his performances on the whole this season that he is much more than an average player

The only way these lads will improve is to up against the best players in the world, and mistakes are part and parcel of the learning process.

He was ace last night

[Ddraigcoch]

Mar 5, 2009 19:54:39 GMT alan12661 said:

I do wonder if we would / could afford to sell Wilko and Dicko; as replacements would cost an absolute fortune, and would the replacements have the same 'Passion' for Stoke as these boys seem to have!!

Passion is the stand out word there fella. Wilko personifies the Passion that fans want to see.

All he needs to do now to cement himself as a regular starter is be a little bit more composed. I feel like I'm being a little over critical but on occasion he gets caught out of position too easily and gives the ball away a liitle bit easily too.

But out of 10 I'd say this season he's improved from a 5 to a 7.5 and if he keeps up his current form between now and the end of the season we'll be laughing like pirates.

[alan12661]

dd, I couldn't agree more. He needs to curb his aggression a bit (until no ones looking 'smiley thing') though. as I have stated before, he could have been sent off for his reckless challenge on Gardner last night.