Joe Willock

[HawK]

I hold my hands up I'd 100% completely and utterly written him off as a player that did well in a lackadaisical setup (Bruce era) but as time went on couldn't keep up with the levels required of an Eddie Howe player as more competition for places came in.

 

I really hope I'm wrong because there is a player under there. Whether that's contributing for us or someone else taking a chance on him, everyone wants to see him succeed. Hope he pushes on now and this isn't a flash in the pan.

 

 

[Tiresias]

I've been really encouraged by recent performances from him that a useful player is still there. It would absolutely be best thing for him to be honest to move on though to a club he can regularly start at. 

[Ikon]

Much better. Having said that, if we can get a decent/good offer for him then I'd cash in. Same with Osula.

[nufcjmc]

These two mini up turn appearances don't convince me to give him a new deal. Would be nice for him, us and ultimately his asking price would benefit from a good second half to the season but I am still on the side of selling. 

[Mountain]

1 hour ago, nufcjmc said:

These two mini up turn appearances don't convince me to give him a new deal. Would be nice for him, us and ultimately his asking price would benefit from a good second half to the season but I am still on the side of selling. 

 

If he wasn't injury prone I would keep him.

 

But he is.

 

Likeable character and comes across as a humble chap.

 

If he keeps his current form up and stays injury free, I will change my mind

[nufcjmc]

44 minutes ago, Mountain said:

 

If he wasn't injury prone I would keep him.

 

But he is.

 

Likeable character and comes across as a humble chap.

 

If he keeps his current form up and stays injury free, I will change my mind

He will be 27 come the summer and will be in his final year (unless we have an option for a year) He doesn't score enough to be an attacking midfielder and doesn't defend very well to be a defensive midfielder.  Hes always looked best with a consistent run of games something which with our first choice midfield he finds impossible to do. 

 

Still think he could do with a fresh start and we could do with the funds to reinvest and freshen things up. Hope he continues to have an impact when he plays and stays fit it will hopefully add to his fee or increase the number of suitors. 

[Mountain]

1 minute ago, nufcjmc said:

He will be 27 come the summer and will be in his final year (unless we have an option for a year) He doesn't score enough to be an attacking midfielder and doesn't defend very well to be a defensive midfielder.  Hes always looked best with a consistent run of games something which with our first choice midfield he finds impossible to do. 

 

Still think he could do with a fresh start and we could do with the funds to reinvest and freshen things up. Hope he continues to have an impact when he plays and stays fit it will hopefully add to his fee or increase the number of suitors. 

 

You are right tbh. 

[kingxlnc]

Has Crystal Palace written all over
 

Give them Willock plus 50m for Wharton 

[r0cafella]

The question is, would anyone give him a new deal? I wouldn't personally so it's time to move on. 

[Kanj]

This is def the time to sell him but damn it I do love JW. Want him to be successful and enjoying his game. 

[Conjo]

22 minutes ago, r0cafella said:

The question is, would anyone give him a new deal? I wouldn't personally so it's time to move on. 

 

Depends. If there's no team willing to pay for him, he's way too good to release on a free. If there is a team willing to pay what the club considers fair, we should let him go.

[El Prontonise]

3 hours ago, r0cafella said:

The question is, would anyone give him a new deal? I wouldn't personally so it's time to move on. 

 

Would he even want a new deal to sit on the bench?

[Menace]

I wouldn't offer him a new deal - its time to move him on and get some new blood in

[r0cafella]

The price we can get will be really interesting. 25-30m seems right but optimistic.  

[Menace]

I'd be surprised if he went more than what Longstaff went for to be honest

[BrickTop]

I like watching Willock play when he's on form. His fast, powerful runs with the ball get the team up the pitch and can get you out of your seat as a fan. He has a goal in him too. I think his attributes suit how we play and he can be a useful squad player in this set up if he can find some consistency. Id keep until the end of his contract barring an offer you can't turn down - we probably won't get much for him selling in January anyway. 

[nufcjmc]

5 hours ago, r0cafella said:

The price we can get will be really interesting. 25-30m seems right but optimistic.  

Unfortunately if we look to sell in the summer based on his contract length we will be lucky to get near 20m for him. Its not going to get us our money back bit the squad has been upgraded and hes never quite kicked on from his loan spell with us. Squad player is all he will ever be here and think he would be a better player for someone giving him regular starts. 

 

As has been mentioned we cant afford to let him go for free but also not mad keen on giving him another 3 or 4 year contract either. A sale in Jan is unlikely but dont think we would rebuff a good offer coming in for him. 

[Coffee_Johnny]

On 27/11/2025 at 14:47, Rich said:

Think that’s Willock’s true position, as one of the two floating wide men behind a striker. Still shocked at how good he was considering the team wasn’t functioning smoothly at all in the 3-4-2-1 shape with the changes we made.

 

He must’ve been showing something in training to be back to first sub off the bench for the usual midfielders, so fair play to him for that.

Maybe he’s keen on the move back home in January. 

[80]

On 01/12/2025 at 13:21, Coffee_Johnny said:

Maybe he’s keen on the move back home in January. 

Aye, I think we have to consider the possibility he's playing for a move. I wish him well either way, always got the impression his bad play post injury was predominantly psychological. Maybe he's cracked something.

[TRon]

On 01/12/2025 at 06:54, Menace said:

I'd be surprised if he went more than what Longstaff went for to be honest

 

He's only 26 and has more attacking attributes than Longstaff, plus he's got a turn of pace. I think we could get £20m without too much trouble. Especially if he has a half decent season. 

[Lucky]

On 01/12/2025 at 01:28, kingxlnc said:

Has Crystal Palace written all over
 

Give them Willock plus 50m for Wharton 

Is Wharton really that good?

[joeyt]

Very sulky when he got brought off. Pretty much straight down the tunnel

[Donut]

Off to Palace as soon as the window opens hopefully.

[TRon]

He had a decent game, seems to be looking more like the Willock of old. 

[TRC]

Just now, joeyt said:

Very sulky when he got brought off. Pretty much straight down the tunnel

I think he needs to take the positive from that. It likely means he’s being rested for some CL game time rather than Ramsey.