Wiles

[ldotm]

That’s 2 in 3 now for him, including a handful of goals in pre-season too.

Good to see him making those runs into the box, could be a real asset this season if he can get into double digit figures.

[Terrier Ramone]

Finally looking like the player we thought we'd bought, very dangerous in this league.

[Terriersmad]

He was very good in the first half in particular yesterday. One lovely turn and switch of play was serious class, and exactly the sort of thing that he was trying without it coming off last season. Great finish for his goal too. His link-up between the midfield and attack was good, running those channels, and bringing Miller into the game, too. Faded off the ball in the second half after his goal, but so far this season he's really stepped up and looks a very good player again. I can see him bagging double figures from midfield, which is something we have desperately needed. Just 7 goals from the whole midfield last season; that has to improve, and early signs are that it is going to.

[terriersyndrome]

He got an assist aswell in the posh game. He should have had two yesterday tbf, he just didn't get enough on the lob. Great run for Helik to pick him out though.

[benhomly]

Like a 6th signing of the summer, totally different player this season so far.

[nickhtafc82]

His post match interview was a breath of fresh air. He's playing with a smile and hopefully he doesn't take any setbacks to heart and keeps the current attitude.

He's a classy player and it's great to see.

[Convictatthemac]

Thought he was really good yesterday. He really is a 6th signing and he needs to dominate the league because he’s more than capable of doing this. Our box to box/AM area is stacked, it’s a league winning midfield.

The only danger is the likes of Wiles switching off and being careless (over confident). He did that in a preseason game after scoring and he needs to be better than that, because he is better than that.

[Tinpot]

Sometimes I bloody love being proven wrong.

[nickhtafc82]

He was that bad last season, he had to be carrying an injury, so i was hopeful coming into this season.

Sounds like he was probably struggling with mental health aswell.

To see the turnaround is fantastic.

[Headless Chicken]

Aug 18, 2024 11:58:49 GMT 1 Tinpot said:

Sometimes I bloody love being proven wrong.

Fair play - that's what we should all be like, if that means it's good for Town.

There just seems to be a few narcissists that are more interested in being proven right!

There's clearly a player in Wiles, but I don't think he's blessed with natural athletism, which is always going to limit him.

[Tinpot]

Aug 18, 2024 12:14:33 GMT 1 nickhtafc82 said:

He was that bad last season, he had to be carrying an injury, so i was hopeful coming into this season.

Sounds like he was probably struggling with mental health aswell.

To see the turnaround is fantastic.

I've not seen anything about his mental health although he was clearly struggling very badly on the pitch and that had to be frustrating for him at the very least.

I do recall quite a few people predicting that he'd be much better this season. At a level he was more familiar with, more time to get over his injury issues etc.

Even though I'm usually quite positive I just couldn't see it, and I said a few times that I didn't think he'd be up to League 2 football any more, let alone League 1.

It's early days but he's making me eat my words. If he keeps this up he's a shoo-in for "most improved player".

[Henry Mcgee]

One of those players that looks decent in League 1 but struggles in the Championship. We've a few of those now - Wiles, Koroma, Hogg, Pearson, Kasumu, Turton, Headley, Ward, Lees - in fact almost all the team! The standard of League 1 is much, much lower and Duff is getting extra out of these players - that combination will see us do very well this season.

[nickhtafc82]

Aug 18, 2024 13:29:32 GMT 1 Tinpot said:

Aug 18, 2024 12:14:33 GMT 1 nickhtafc82 said:

He was that bad last season, he had to be carrying an injury, so i was hopeful coming into this season.

Sounds like he was probably struggling with mental health aswell.

To see the turnaround is fantastic.

I've not seen anything about his mental health although he was clearly struggling very badly on the pitch and that had to be frustrating for him at the very least.

I do recall quite a few people predicting that he'd be much better this season. At a level he was more familiar with, more time to get over his injury issues etc.

Even though I'm usually quite positive I just couldn't see it, and I said a few times that I didn't think he'd be up to League 2 football any more, let alone League 1.

It's early days but he's making me eat my words. If he keeps this up he's a shoo-in for "most improved player".

He seemed to be suggesting it in his post match interview on Radio Leeds.

Either that, or I'm reading too much into it.

[gledholt terrier]

Aug 18, 2024 14:19:28 GMT 1 nickhtafc82 said:

Aug 18, 2024 13:29:32 GMT 1 Tinpot said:

I've not seen anything about his mental health although he was clearly struggling very badly on the pitch and that had to be frustrating for him at the very least.

I do recall quite a few people predicting that he'd be much better this season. At a level he was more familiar with, more time to get over his injury issues etc.

Even though I'm usually quite positive I just couldn't see it, and I said a few times that I didn't think he'd be up to League 2 football any more, let alone League 1.

It's early days but he's making me eat my words. If he keeps this up he's a shoo-in for "most improved player".

He seemed to be suggesting it in his post match interview on Radio Leeds.

Either that, or I'm reading too much into it.

I don’t think you were - clear implication that he was miserable last season, which shone through really.

[Tinpot]

Aug 18, 2024 14:19:28 GMT 1 nickhtafc82 said:

Aug 18, 2024 13:29:32 GMT 1 Tinpot said:

I've not seen anything about his mental health although he was clearly struggling very badly on the pitch and that had to be frustrating for him at the very least.

I do recall quite a few people predicting that he'd be much better this season. At a level he was more familiar with, more time to get over his injury issues etc.

Even though I'm usually quite positive I just couldn't see it, and I said a few times that I didn't think he'd be up to League 2 football any more, let alone League 1.

It's early days but he's making me eat my words. If he keeps this up he's a shoo-in for "most improved player".

He seemed to be suggesting it in his post match interview on Radio Leeds.

Either that, or I'm reading too much into it.

Do you have a link to that interview?

[nickhtafc82]

I listened on DAB, im guessing it will be online somewhere

www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0jk27ky

[stevehtfc]

Hes keeping Kane out the team.
Playing well..... He just needed competition for places and a forward thinking manager.

[Big Ern]

There was a point yesterday first half when the ball broke out to them on the wing in front of the kilner and he absolutely busted a gut to get to it first. He seems a completely different player and is absolutely on fire.

[Bubbles]

Aug 18, 2024 16:03:43 GMT 1 stevehtfc said:

Hes keeping Kane out the team.
Playing well..... He just needed competition for places and a forward thinking manager.

“Ben Wiles is on fire.”

Fits that bloody awful Phil Foden song better than Kane as well…

Make it so,Cowshed.😊

[htafcdreams]

Ben has definitely got better since he bought that 600bhp Audi

[philstarbuckscoffee]

Performance in general is something that fascinates me. I thought there was promise there last season in Wiles but it just didn’t happen. But even so, I am amazed at what a difference we have seen already and would love to know what has been the difference? Confidence, fitness, getting over an injury, just enjoying training etc.?

If I remember correctly, I thought he had a decent game at Preston away and remember him getting tackled from behind after a good run and probably unlucky not to get a free kick/booking for the challenge and he was hitting the ground in frustration. Anyway the less said about that game the better but seemed to sum up his season.

It is like a completely different player now and I wonder if it was just a shitshow behind the scenes last year and really professional this season.

I heard the tail end of his interview on RL after the game, did he allude to what has resulted in his personal turnaround?

[mosher]

Aug 18, 2024 11:58:49 GMT 1 Tinpot said:

Sometimes I bloody love being proven wrong.

Mate, you've been on here long enough to know that you're not supposed to say that.

You're supposed to double down and dig yourself deeper.

You're welcome. 

[pauldaltonsboots]

Delighted for him. For a variety of reasons, he was not at the races last season. Despite that, his technique was good and he hit the ball cleanly. The problem was he couldn’t get in to games or got caught in possession as not sharp enough.

In preseason and start of season he has looked sharp and confident, which allows his obvious talent and ability to come through. The finish versus Stevenage is superb technique.

Maybe it is because I am now in my 40s or maybe because I coached men’s football at a decent level for many years, that I am understanding of the impact poor coaching, culture and lack of confidence can have on players. Just people like me and you, and young people at that. Wiles is only 25 - first season at a new club when only 24 and the club was in a bad place with poor managers.

A full preseason, looking fit and happy and being well coached and he is thriving. Love to see it. Keep it up Ben!

UTT

[gowlinggoal]

This new guy Wiles looks like a real player. We had someone with the same name last season and he was rubbish