Plymouth boss Steven Schumacher has praised “outstanding” former Town defender James Wilson, who joined the Pilgrims in the summer following his Portman Road release.

Although it was little surprise that Wilson was let go last summer with former manager Paul Cook jettisoning almost every senior player, the 33-year-old had just been named the Blues’ Player of the Year.

The once-capped Wales international, who will be back at Portman Road with Plymouth on Saturday, quickly hooked up with Argyle and has been a mainstay of their defence this season, having made 42 starts up to now on the right of their back three.

“I think he has been outstanding. We knew when we were bringing him in we were signing a real leader, somebody who is good in the dressing room,” Schumacher told PlymouthLive.

“He has been one of our most consistent performers and gives us that little bit of strength and character in that backline, and at this moment in time he's playing really well.

“I thought he was excellent on Tuesday night [in the 2-0 home win against Cheltenham Town]. Some of his passing, especially in the first half, was brilliant. He has been a huge part of that defensive line that is doing so well.”

For Town, Wilson made 47 starts and two sub appearances having joined in the summer of 2019 after leaving Lincoln.

Elsewhere, another of last summer's released players, striker Ben Folami, made his full debut for Australia as a sub in the final minute of this morning's 2-0 defeat to Japan in a World Cup qualifier in Sydney.

Photo: Matchday Images

SouperJim added 15:14 - Mar 24 Can't say I'm surprised, of all the players Cook binned off I thought we should have kept Wilson. Solid and reliable and a big physical presence, exactly what you need at this level. He's never going to be a top ball playing centre half, but he's a very good stopper at this level and just does the basics well.
17

ThaiBlue added 15:32 - Mar 24 Always rated him and should of kept him.well done cook the clown
9

TimmyH added 15:40 - Mar 24 As I said in a previous post - what incoming manager decides to get rid of the player of the season from 2020/21? knew it was a mistake!...
9

Saxonblue74 added 15:45 - Mar 24 We could say the same of Aaron Drinan and Will Keane who are both having exceptional seasons. Who wanted to keep them?! Is he better than who we have? I'd say not, but its all opinions in football I guess!
4

Wacko added 15:52 - Mar 24 I politely disagree with everyone above - there's no way he'd be in a KM team ahead of Donacien, Wolf or Fridge. In a couple of years we should be way ahead of Plymouth, given that they're currently overachieving and we're underachieving. This was the perfect move for him at the perfect time and I'm glad to see he's thrived. I do agree that Cook is a clown and should've been sacked much earlier!

4

Saxonblue74 added 16:07 - Mar 24 Too much hindsight on here at times. We needed a clean sweep with a new broom and PC (among others) did an incredible job of making that happen. OK, so he didn't achieve what we all demanded on the pitch, but at the height of the "head calling" what we're the replacements being bandied around? Same old managerial merry-go-round dross!!! Cowley, Lampard, even our old mate Warnock to "get us out of a hole"?! We can look back and say if only PC had gone earlier, but that's only because we now know who was next! PC failed us on the pitch, but I thank him whole heartedly for the start of our revolution!

7

midastouch added 16:24 - Mar 24 I think we needed a big clear out, not quite as drastic as Cook thought though. Wilson was definitely one of the players we should have kept mind you. Wasn't a huge fan of Cook but some of his additions have proved to be shrewd. We've got Cook to thank for Wes Burns for example.
4

Bert added 17:00 - Mar 24 Should have kept him but Edmundsen is on a par with Wilson or a tad better imo.
2

gosblue added 17:18 - Mar 24 Hindsight tells us that Cook without Richardson is a non-starter. It's all in the coaching. There's an old saying: Go with what works. MM, PH, PL and PC all insisted on sticking with what wasn't working. Something is building at PR and it's down to the vision of the new owners and management. COYB
1

SickParrot added 17:31 - Mar 24 We still needed Wilson when Cook let him go but he's not good enough on the ball to fit into McKenna's system.
0

gosblue added 17:38 - Mar 24 The one that hurt more was Hurst selling Webster to fund his lower league squad.
0

magnus68 added 18:02 - Mar 24 We have 5 wins, 5 draws out of the last 10 games. It's just unfortunate the teams above us picks up so many points.
1

Marinersnose added 18:26 - Mar 24 He was outstanding for us. The Clown and his Magic Broom got rid along with others. Yes we needed to clear the deck but The Clown acted impulsively. Thankfully we are rid of him and are now moving forward. Plymouth will be a sterner test for us especially as scoring goals is an issue. It's a very long shot now but whilst it's possible I be fully supportive of the team. Next season will be totally different I'm sure.

8

istanblue added 18:34 - Mar 24 If he was scouse he would've been kept on like Toto the Clown.
1

blueboy1981 added 18:40 - Mar 24 No surprise there - an extremely competent player is Wilson.
1

blues1 added 22:32 - Mar 24 Gosblue Webster asked to leave. Stated that we were just a stepping stone to bigger things for him. So no, wasn't a mistake of Hurst to sell him at all. As for those saying we should have kept Wilson? He was injured too much here. And that's likely why we let him go. But its typical that having left he's now had a largely injury free season.
0

KiwiBlue2 added 02:01 - Mar 25 Its amazing over the past 20 years or so how many of our players have gone on to bigger things. Certainly reflective of the problems here during that time. Finally the arrival of K McK and the new owners seems to be bringing a close to that sad chapter.... coyb
2

Dissboyitfc added 06:39 - Mar 25 yep i also rated Wilson, a no nonsense row Z type of footballer who never really let us down! But with hindsight letting him go wasn't the mistake i thought it might be, quite simply he wouldn't be KMs type of player! Agree Cook was a clown and had to go but with hindsight letting Wilson go wasn't a bad thing, personally i think the clear out that happened was essential and i thank Cook for planting the seeds of improvement!

0

tractorboybig added 07:43 - Mar 25 but most of you on here were saying how great cook was at the start of the season, the man to take us up, a new era????????????????????? how fickle and easily led most of you are.
-2

algarvefan added 09:39 - Mar 25 None of this matters now, we currently have four or five very good players to cover our back 3. Coulson has stepped up and we haven't missed a heartbeat at the back, due to Edmunson's injury. Wilson was excellent, a no nonsense defender for us, but we have moved on.
1

norfolkbluey added 14:26 - Mar 25 PC was too much of a man at the bar, jokey and everyone's friend but underneath it all it was his side kick who was the real leader which has been very apparent in recent months. I always had my reservations about him but gave him the benefit of the doubt until he got rid of the likes of Keane and yes James Wilson. Plymouth may be overachieving but they will be a very good test for us coming up on Sunday. We will need our best to be at their best against them so COYB, when the going gets tough the 'tough' get going! Time to show this league that Ipswich are a different side altogether under new management. Good luck Paul, the fans are all behind you and the team.

0

Blogs 295 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls