I'd be happy to consider keeping Williams & Reeves on a pay per play deal. They'll probably end up with no wages at all, if they have to pay their medical expenses
Bit of a 'Ben Reeves' for me in that the hype led us to believe we were getting a league 1 Messi equivalent yet the end product has been largely conspicuous by its absence.
I'd love it if we kept Williams. He's an excellent technician and one of the best players we have on the ball.
While he's not got much to show for it, we play very well with him in the side. It's somewhat analogous to how Sterling was often doubled up on during/just before the World Cup last year, and that gave other players a bit more freedom in which to play.
I think he's easily good enough for the Championship and would be a bit of a steal if we got him on a deal for next year, on affordable wages.
He should have had an assist v Portsmouth - Cullen shot at Igor. He should have got an assist on Saturday - bad miss from Taylor. This is a positive for me.
He’s improving, I think, and showing flashes of real talent. Yet to take a full game by the scruff of the neck.
Very unlucky not to have two assists, with both Cullen and Taylor missing gaping goals from chances served on a plate by Williams. His stats would look a lot better with those to his name.
Good player but his lack of a goal threat is a big weakness. He could be part of a successful team but we'd need goalscorers elsewhere in the midfield. I'm not so worried about a lack of assists, he's created chances that others have missed and we need more goalscorers in the squad.
I'd be happy to consider keeping Williams & Reeves on a pay per play deal. They'll probably end up with no wages at all, if they have to pay their medical expenses
Very much doubt either would agree to that as they'd both get regular contracts elsewhere. Would sign them up for next season, who knows what kind of player we'll be signing with virtually no budget.
I'd be happy to consider keeping Williams & Reeves on a pay per play deal. They'll probably end up with no wages at all, if they have to pay their medical expenses
Very much doubt either would agree to that as they'd both get regular contracts elsewhere. Would sign them up for next season, who knows what kind of player we'll be signing with virtually no budget.
Yes, that's why I put a smiley. I doubt any player who can rarely complete a 90 minute game of football, would sign a pay as you play deal.
Ultimately you have to consider the fact that players like him, whether he is a world beater or not, won’t cost any kind of transfer fee. I’d be surprised if there are players of his quality floating around on a free in League One in the summer that we could attract. Gotta be worth a go.
the bloke is quality, will only get better with regular football and will improve the game of those around him. A player always willing and able to receive the ball as an outlet is a rare commodity at this level.
Id be over the moon if he was here next season. See it as very unlikely though
I'd keep Williams as he's our 9th best player according to statbank. Seriously, I'm happy to keep him, but his best game for us was his debut and he's shown no improvement.
I'd be happy to consider keeping Williams & Reeves on a pay per play deal. They'll probably end up with no wages at all, if they have to pay their medical expenses
Very much doubt either would agree to that as they'd both get regular contracts elsewhere. Would sign them up for next season, who knows what kind of player we'll be signing with virtually no budget.
Yes, that's why I put a smiley. I doubt any player who can rarely complete a 90 minute game of football, would sign a pay as you play deal.
I see, read your post as 2 separate parts with the first being serious.
He has the ability and adds something different to us we didn’t have before.
Goals/assists have been too sparse so far but with the ability he has shown I feel that will change and think it would be very different if he had someone with speed (like Grant) in front of him.
I would definitely be in favour of keeping him whichever division we were in.
What does he add that we didn’t have before?
Admittedly I do not go much these days so onky seen him 3 times but I think his ball control is better than most and against Pompey he showed the ability to beat a midfielder and drive forwards on occasion (like a poor man's Scott Parker) which I think we lack (Fosu can do it but has kot this season). I also think that given a season he would create more chances than anyone else in our team. Basically, I think he is quality but has not quite delivered yet. I am confident he will in the play offs
the bloke is quality, will only get better with regular football and will improve the game of those around him. A player always willing and able to receive the ball as an outlet is a rare commodity at this level.
Id be over the moon if he was here next season. See it as very unlikely though
He's decent for us at this level, but we can all give opinions. Mine is that he's overrated by the media and some of our fan base. He's about the level of Reeves on a good game.
I think he's overrated based on what I've seen - he's not a bad player but I suppose I thought he'd offer more. Like Reeves and Marshall I've been a little disappointed.
Can't fault his attitude and am happy for him to prove me wrong.
Joining Bradford apparently having turned down the Gills and Wrexham.
How bizarre.
gills have money and he’s a Tunbridge Wells man so surprised he’s not there. Wrexham has theoretically got a stack of cash and the whole Ryan Reynolds thing.
but he’s chosen Bradford! I can only imagine Mark Hughes got into his head - or scared him into signing
Williams was a great disappointment. Proof that being a lovely guy just wasn’t enough. Flattered to deceive on so many levels. Loved him initially but it became evident that when he was not injured his sole contribution was to gain five yards and win a free kick. End product was awful.
Joining Bradford apparently having turned down the Gills and Wrexham.
How bizarre.
gills have money and he’s a Tunbridge Wells man so surprised he’s not there. Wrexham has theoretically got a stack of cash and the whole Ryan Reynolds thing.
but he’s chosen Bradford! I can only imagine Mark Hughes got into his head - or scared him into signing
My understanding is that Bradford is a 3 year deal, whilst gills was a 2 year deal. So will make more in long run and at this stage of career probably more important.
Williams was a great disappointment. Proof that being a lovely guy just wasn’t enough. Flattered to deceive on so many levels. Loved him initially but it became evident that when he was not injured his sole contribution was to gain five yards and win a free kick. End product was awful.
Think that’s very harsh.
I get the impression people are sometimes more critical of him to try and counterbalance the fact that he was a popular character with the fanbase.
He was the best player on the pitch in the 2019 Playoff Final when he came on, and he was one of the better players in the side during our early good form in the Championship.
If he was a great disappointment, then god knows how we’d classify many of the other players we’ve had since.
Williams was a great disappointment. Proof that being a lovely guy just wasn’t enough. Flattered to deceive on so many levels. Loved him initially but it became evident that when he was not injured his sole contribution was to gain five yards and win a free kick. End product was awful.
Think that’s very harsh.
I get the impression people are sometimes more critical of him to try and counterbalance the fact that he was a popular character with the fanbase.
He was the best player on the pitch in the 2019 Playoff Final when he came on, and he was one of the better players in the side during our early good form in the Championship.
If he was a great disappointment, then god knows how we’d classify many of the other players we’ve had since.
Or they just appreciate he had some very good elements to his game but in terms of adding to the team did very little. Could just be a difference of opinion ?
Theres also a number of people who are friends or families of JW on here who seem to think the slightest criticism is a personal attack on him
Joining Bradford apparently having turned down the Gills and Wrexham.
How bizarre.
gills have money and he’s a Tunbridge Wells man so surprised he’s not there. Wrexham has theoretically got a stack of cash and the whole Ryan Reynolds thing.
but he’s chosen Bradford! I can only imagine Mark Hughes got into his head - or scared him into signing
Looks like he has done a UTurn and is now joining the Gills.
Mark Hughes managing Jonny Williams at club level feels like something that happened in 2013, not 2023.
I feel like Williams was sort of the victim of the extremes, when people were high on him, they were very high, and when low on him, very low.
He's a skillful player who suffered from a lack of consistency and a slew of injuries. And I do think those two things are related. Also, he's a 10, but he doesn't score a lot of goals and isn't much of an assist man either, and that turns a lot of fans off. I think he's a player who you have to accommodate for, but the amount he's played in the Championship and at international level shows there's something about him, in addition to him being a lovely bloke.
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They'll probably end up with no wages at all, if they have to pay their medical expenses
You have nailed it mate
While he's not got much to show for it, we play very well with him in the side. It's somewhat analogous to how Sterling was often doubled up on during/just before the World Cup last year, and that gave other players a bit more freedom in which to play.
I think he's easily good enough for the Championship and would be a bit of a steal if we got him on a deal for next year, on affordable wages.
Very unlucky not to have two assists, with both Cullen and Taylor missing gaping goals from chances served on a plate by Williams. His stats would look a lot better with those to his name.
I’d give him another deal.
I doubt any player who can rarely complete a 90 minute game of football, would sign a pay as you play deal.
the bloke is quality, will only get better with regular football and will improve the game of those around him. A player always willing and able to receive the ball as an outlet is a rare commodity at this level.
Id be over the moon if he was here next season. See it as very unlikely though
Seriously, I'm happy to keep him, but his best game for us was his debut and he's shown no improvement.
Admittedly I do not go much these days so onky seen him 3 times but I think his ball control is better than most and against Pompey he showed the ability to beat a midfielder and drive forwards on occasion (like a poor man's Scott Parker) which I think we lack (Fosu can do it but has kot this season). I also think that given a season he would create more chances than anyone else in our team. Basically, I think he is quality but has not quite delivered yet. I am confident he will in the play offs
Can't fault his attitude and am happy for him to prove me wrong.
gills have money and he’s a Tunbridge Wells man so surprised he’s not there.
Wrexham has theoretically got a stack of cash and the whole Ryan Reynolds thing.
but he’s chosen Bradford! I can only imagine Mark Hughes got into his head - or scared him into signing
If he was a great disappointment, then god knows how we’d classify many of the other players we’ve had since.
Theres also a number of people who are friends or families of JW on here who seem to think the slightest criticism is a personal attack on him
I feel like Williams was sort of the victim of the extremes, when people were high on him, they were very high, and when low on him, very low.
He's a skillful player who suffered from a lack of consistency and a slew of injuries. And I do think those two things are related. Also, he's a 10, but he doesn't score a lot of goals and isn't much of an assist man either, and that turns a lot of fans off. I think he's a player who you have to accommodate for, but the amount he's played in the Championship and at international level shows there's something about him, in addition to him being a lovely bloke.