Derby County have signed right back/right wing back Kane Wilson from Bristol City. The 23 year old joins for an undisclosed fee from The Robins. What an he bring to The Rams? We spoke with the Exiled Robin, Forever Bristol City and One Stream in Bristol to find out!
Derby have signed Kane Wilson. What do you make of it?
The Exiled Robin: Based on everything we know (his form for Forest Green in League Two), he should be a good option and potentially exciting signing. He was Player of the Year in League 2 the previous season and excitement was high when he signed early last summer - exactly the sort of signing fans like their club to make.
OSIB: Is a brilliant move for him, and to be honest a good one for the club too as presumably it smoothed over the Jason Knight deal for us. He was clearly too good for League Two at Forest Green, so should be a really good fit for a Derby side going for promotion.
He only played 7 games for The Robins last season. Why was that?
The Exiled Robin: Unfortunately he got injured in pre-season and Mark Sykes (a signing largely expected to be a squad player by many fans) took his role at right wing-back and never really looked back. Sykes was arguably our best performer in the early stages of the season, so once Wilson got back to fitness, he understandably had to wait his turn.
When he eventually got his opportunity, often from the bench, he looked just off the pace. Whether that was the two-division step up, not quite being right after injury or just a general lack of fitness, we don’t really know. But as the season progressed it was clear there was some sort of issue there and the manager didn’t have trust in him to do the job he wanted. We moved towards being one of the hardest pressers in the league in the second half of the season and maybe that’s just not his game?
Forever Bristol City: Reading between the lines he didn't have a great pre-season and not for the first time we've found players from League Two are not up to Championship fitness levels. Played in the first round of the Carabao Cup and got injured. When he did get back into the squad, he came on as a sub and looked off the pace. Rumblings of "attitude" issues arose and he never got a look in from the turn of the year although we had a formation change which didn't help.
OSIB: He had a great pre-season, was set to be our starting RWB but then got injured shortly before the season started. Lost his place to Mark Sykes, who did very well in his position so struggled to get him out the side when back. Shortly after coming back from injury, it turned out he actually needed surgery on something that had been a niggling injury for quite a while, so that kept him out until February. By then, we’d changed system to be a 4 at the back, Kane wasn’t particularly trusted to play right back considering his best strengths are going forward. A real combination of bad luck with injuries, and a team doing well without him in a new system that didn’t suit him. Nothing too malicious.
What are his strengths?
The Exiled Robin: From what we’ve seen, undoubtedly his attacking prowess. Pace, skill and an ability to whip a ball in we’re the reasons we signed him and we saw flashes. But the afore-mentioned apparent lack meant he struggled to sometimes execute after a lung-bursting run forward.
Forever Bristol City: Didn't see enough of him to fully judge but in Summer 2022 he was something of a marquee signing for us being a key member of the very successful Forest Green Rovers side promoted from League 2 and also in that Division's "Team of the Year". A right wing back who liked to get forward and a virtual ever present in 2021/2022 with 3 goals and 13 assists. Manager Nigel Pearson had played with wing backs from Day 1 since appointed in March 2021 and it was a problem position which he tried resolving with Danny Simpson [ex. Leicester] who was never going to be fit enough and even midfielder Alex Scott. So, on paper it was a signing that made a lot of sense. Notwithstanding the fitness/attitude issues raised earlier our switch in January to a flat back 4 didn't help Kane but, apparently he can play right back.
OSIB: His dribbling, and absolutely his crossing. His quality and consistency of cross is up there with anything you’ll see in League One, or even Championship.
What are is weaknesses?
The Exiled Robin: The obvious flip side! He came with a reputation as a flying wing-back and so defensively isn’t the strongest. That’s not to say we say anything in particular to say that, but the underlying feeling is that Nigel Pearson didn’t trust him enough defensively to play him. Obviously, without wanting to sound patronising, there’s a big difference between being up against the likes of Ismaïla Sarr, Ben Brereton-Diaz and Grady Diangana to what he’ll come up against in the level down.
Forever Bristol City: His defensive capability. League One less demanding fitness wise so that shouldn't be an issue.
OSIB: He didn’t appear to be the fittest or be able to cope too well with the intensity of the Championship, but hard to tell fully if this was due to his underlying injuries.
He is a right sided defender. What is his best position?
The Exiled Robin: From what we know and have seen he’s the archetypal right wing-back. It would be a surprise to see him anywhere else, although if a team had a solid pair of centre-backs and a good covering holding midfield, then maybe the traditional right-back slot could be an option. I guess with his attributes he’d also have some potential to play further forward, right side of a 4-1-3-2 for instance?
Forever Bristol City: Best position - RWB
OSIB: Right wing back
What other elements to his game are there?
OSIB: As mentioned I think his crossing is really the key part of his game to watch out/get excited for.
Do you think Wilson can be good player in League One for Derby?
The Exiled Robin: Yes, without doubt. Not many players can be *that* good in League Two without being able to make the step up. I don’t want to bang on about his fitness, but at times even when he came on for 20 minutes he looked leggy, but if he’s over that, more settled back in the Midlands and has a team structure that suits him, of course he could be a very good signing. The fact that Bolton wanted him too should bode well for you. The upper echelons of League One is probably where he should have gone last summer for further development. Maybe now he’ll get his chance to prove himself at that level.
Forever Bristol City: I don't see why not!
OSIB: Definitely. I’d say all City fans were very excited with his signing, and it sounded like we fended off competition from a range of clubs to sign him, so it’s a bit of a shame we never got to see him as his best. Hopefully Derby will be a fresh start for him. We’ll definitely be keeping a keen eye!
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