Craig Wighton

[an-dee]

Got to remember he was playing out of position too. I still think he's best used off the striker but out wide when he gets it and runs at defenders you can see they're absolutely terrified of his pace, skill, and vision. Hopefully, he keeps on playing regularly and improving because I think he has the potential to be a star for us and even as a future international.  

[Double Blue]

His skill and vision has always been there but he is also developing physically .That will help further improve his confidence to not be knocked off the ball with ease. Lasting a full 90 minutes without tailing off towards the end will also be a thing of the past. He is a joy to watch and I'm sure with his attitude will continue to improve into a top class player.

 

[harry94]

Good to see him being able to assert himself from out wide where he had to close down and press the best attacking full back in the league and stop him from playing his game. I was terrified of the prospect of him having to put in a defensive shift but he pressed brilliantly and put himself into positions to capitalise whenever Rangers made a mistake on that side.

I think a problem is that quite a few players who have skill come through but remain very one dimensional in their development years and are given so much protection in how they are deployed and are retained in their comfort zone. The fact is that although managers should strive to play players in the roles that they are perfectly suited, the best balance of quality is always a challenge because playing everyone in their perfect role is not always possible.

If he could just keep up that sort of application and assertion off the ball, work on his upper body strength (maybe hit the gym with Ojamaa) and keep level headed (he's going to have poor runs of form and fall out the team - he has to learn from that) - he'll be able to put his natural ability to use.

[Spiritof62]

He seems a quiet kind of kid, once he gets some self belief in his ability and some upper body strength, he will be some player.

[Bubster]

3 minutes ago, Spiritof62 said:

He seems a quiet kind of kid, once he gets some self belief in his ability and some upper body strength, he will be some player.

I don't think he lacks self belief but agree it's more of a quiet confidence than a gallus sort.

[Cobra]

Wighton produced more on Sunday than Greg Stewart ever did against the Old Firm and when you consider Stewart was an amateur at Wighton's age, you wonder what CW will be producing a few years for now.

[BCram]

42 minutes ago, Spiritof62 said:

He seems a quiet kind of kid, once he gets some self belief in his ability and some upper body strength, he will be some player.

Tottenham's John White was very effective without having a particularly big build. do you think times have changed and physical strength is much miore needed nowadays? Just interested, 

[WoodStein]

14 minutes ago, Cobra said:

Wighton produced more on Sunday than Greg Stewart ever did against the Old Firm and when you consider Stewart was an amateur at Wighton's age, you wonder what CW will be producing a few years for now.

I think CW's still a couple of years away from his best, adding wee bits to his game each season. This season, he's had a handful of games where he's shown a fair bit of stamina & speed, running at/through the opposition with great control. He's also getting better at adapting to different positions, and has perhaps still not settled on what his best position is. 

I'm hoping the next bit he adds is that 'fraction' extra it takes to finish off those runs with a goal....so close on Sunday, maybe it'll be the next one.

I hope he stays at Dens for a few more years, until he does reach that higher level....though his best years could easily be 4-5 years away, and with a bigger club.

[petercaproni]

I saw CW33 in a youth game at Alloa several years ago and was amazed to learn that he was only 14 at the time-He has everything that is needed to play at the very highest level and I am confident that he will get there. I just hope that we see him in Dark Blue for a few more seasons before his inevitable move to the EPL-and Cammy? Ditto-this guy is improving all the time , he has an inexhaustible engine and is as fearless as could be.  A future skipper and Scotland right back. Great to be talking about two dyed in the wool Dundee men who really care about the club. Great young players. Well done to both of them.

 

[Blue4evr]

Being of a similar generation I assume, I know what you mean. White was an intelligent player who seemed to glide over the pitch. CW has a very similar style and seems to ghost past players. I've watched Craig since he was 15 in Dev games and delighted to seem him where he is at this stage of his career. Would be good to think there are maybe one or two who might be following in CW and Cammy's footsteps.

[TheDarkBlues]

8 hours ago, Bubster said:

Just a wee note about CW at the weekend.

No-one (myself included) is really raving about his performance on Sunday whilst Cammy and Co get huge plaudits, but having downloaded and watched the game back (Thanks harry) it really was an excellent performance from him.

I think we all have such high expectations for young Craig that for him to get a rave review he will need to pop in a perfect Hat-trick. The reality is he is a 19 year old laddie who spent most of that game running at Glasgow Rangers using skill and vision to tear them to pieces on occasion.

From the first minute he set the tone with his brilliant run and cross which O'Hara took off the head of Haber.

He did drift in and out of the game but that's par for the course for a young player (especially out on the wing) but to see a 19 year old boy surrounded by 3 experienced Rangers players slide the ball through to Ojamaa for him to cross for our goal is a real treat. His turn of pace, cheeky nutmeg and composed strike near the end were also exceptional - you need to credit the Rangers defender with an excellent saving tackle (and their keeper for a good reaction save after it deflected to the right), otherwise I think the bottom left corner of the net was rippling just as it did when he made the DABs cry.

In CW and Cammy kerr we have 2 fantastic young prospects and they make me proud to be a Dee every time I see them nutmeg a defender or annihilate an experienced Scotland international in front of the Derry.

Spot on!

When he got the pass from Holt (I believe?) it looked like he was about to take a face plant on to the pitch, but caught his footing and played a inch perfect pass out to Ojamaa for the first goal.

His directness of play and pace is something that defenders do not like to defend against. It is hard to think that he is only 19, and yet at the same time it feels like he has been with the club for a lifetime. Hopefully we have him a little longer as well.

[Gedee]

1 hour ago, Double Blue said:

His skill and vision has always been there but he is also developing physically .That will help further improve his confidence to not be knocked off the ball with ease. Lasting a full 90 minutes without tailing off towards the end will also be a thing of the past. He is a joy to watch and I'm sure with his attitude will continue to improve into a top class player.

 

I was so glad to see him getting on, for basically the full 90 minutes, on a regular basis. And no' jist for a 15min. spell at the end.

It was frustrating for me. And it certainly must have been frustrating for him. Although he accepted it with grace, knowing it was

all part of PH's approach plans.To be honest Double Blue, your post above is right on the mark (imo) What a prospect & future