James McClean M Wrexham b.1989

**Noelys Guitar** · 11/12/2011, 3:46 PM

Excellent cameo today for Sunderland. Changed the game when he came on. Different type of player from Duff and McGEady in that he can head the ball and uses his size to great effect. Excellent first touch as well. Very impressed and makes sense now of MON' comments about starting him earlier this week.

**legendz** · 11/12/2011, 3:54 PM

I've seen him play in the LoI a few times. He did well today when he came on. To think the Dublin Super Cup is labelled a waste of time for LoI players but it was playing in the Dublin Super Cup that clinched McClean's move to Sunderland.

**Sullivinho** · 11/12/2011, 4:32 PM

Sounds very positive. Glad to hear he's getting involved enough to deserve his dedicated thread back.

I was undecided whether to watch the game later or not but will do based on that review Noely. I'm one of those with no club allegiance who looks out for the Irish players on show more than anything else.

**Closed Account** · 11/12/2011, 4:34 PM

Another great advertisement for the League of Ireland. Go out and watch these players on your doorstep now instead of waiting until they move to the "big" leagues.

The only negative is Noelys incorrect use of Capitalisation. Grrrr...

**Jaysus** · 11/12/2011, 4:34 PM

Very fast and positive and crossed well.

O'Shea on the other hand was terrible (again).

**tommy_c12000** · 11/12/2011, 4:36 PM

He was very positive when he came on, had a couple of good crosses and displayed a good first touch. However, I wouldn't get too carried away with it. Posters on the Sunderland forum making him out to be the Messiah. It was a good solid start to his Sunderland career and he certainly didn't do himself any harm. Hopefully, he will build on this over the coming weeks

**Predator** · 11/12/2011, 4:56 PM

Originally Posted by legendz

I've seen him play in the LoI a few times. He did well today when he came on. To think the Dublin Super Cup is labelled a waste of time for LoI players but it was playing in the Dublin Super Cup that clinched McClean's move to Sunderland.

I don't recall McClean being outstanding in the Super Cup. The guy who replaced him in one of the games, Daniel Kearns, could probably put his performances in the Super Cup down as the clincher.
McClean was simply brilliant for Derry before he left.

**ArdeeBhoy** · 11/12/2011, 5:04 PM

Good luck to the lad, hopefully MO'N will get the best out of him now?

**Yard of Pace** · 11/12/2011, 5:47 PM

Exciting young wingers in the north-east of England have really prospered for us over the years. Alan O'Brien, Thomas Butler....

**Predator** · 11/12/2011, 6:10 PM

None of whom hail from the Creggan.

**legendz** · 11/12/2011, 7:29 PM

Originally Posted by Jaysus

Very fast and positive and crossed well.

O'Shea on the other hand was terrible (again).

O'Shea has been terrible all season. Surprised he was not taken off.

**legendz** · 11/12/2011, 7:32 PM

Originally Posted by tommy_c12000

He was very positive when he came on, had a couple of good crosses and displayed a good first touch. However, I wouldn't get too carried away with it. Posters on the Sunderland forum making him out to be the Messiah. It was a good solid start to his Sunderland career and he certainly didn't do himself any harm. Hopefully, he will build on this over the coming weeks

Some were questioning the last manager for having on the bench at all. He'll have a long way to go. Decent start but he's a lot to learn. It's a great advert for the LoI again. The FAI should really do some promotion work using Ireland players who've played in the league. Now that we've qualified for the Euro's with players like that, it's time to be promoting the talent that is in the league. Ward played in the LoI. Doyle played in the LoI. Fahey played in the LoI. There's no better time than In February/March ahead of the start of next season. Airtricity should look to get involved.

**Charlie Darwin** · 12/12/2011, 1:03 AM

It seems like he made a big impression on the Sunderland fans today, and all the papers say his introduction changed the game. A quote from O'Neill here:

The substitute James McClean, making his debut for Sunderland following his move from Derry City in the summer, made a significant difference after he came on with 14 minutes left. O'Neill had watched him play for the reserves against their Manchester United counterparts on Thursday and judged him ready.

"He wants to go out and please," O'Neill said. "He is young, a bit immature but he was great and the crowd took to it."

**tricky_colour** · 12/12/2011, 2:47 AM

If he turns out to be as good as the toothpaste he will be fantastic.

**tricky_colour** · 12/12/2011, 2:52 AM

On a more serious note there is a good article about him here.
http://www.rokerreport.com/2011/8/9/...eone-who-knows

**ifk101** · 12/12/2011, 7:50 AM

The first thing he did after coming on was beat his man and drill in a perfect cross. That turned the game for Sunderland as it lifted both the team and the crowd.

**ArdeeBhoy** · 12/12/2011, 9:46 AM

Originally Posted by tricky_colour

If he turns out to be as good as the toothpaste he will be fantastic.

I believe their market share has been dropping for some years now...

**Eminence Grise** · 12/12/2011, 10:13 AM

Originally Posted by tricky_colour

If he turns out to be as good as the toothpaste he will be fantastic.

He might be of Northern Irish extraction, but filling a hole in the Irish squad is a realistic target. Hopefully he'll get a better chance than the Brian Careys of this world. He knows the drill...

I can hear the chant now: 'Let's go f***ing dental, let's go f***ing dental, la la la la, la la la la!'