Chris McCann (D/M Shams b.1987)

[Claret Murph]

A very good write up in the Indo I must say .

[cheifo]

Really nice article.Good to hear about one of younger players who is very focused and driven.
What I get from that, is there is a certain way to manage young players and our u21 Manager needs to learn how to do that, so we don't let these situations snowball.

[eirebhoy]

McCann not as involved so far tonight as the other Burnley midfielders but they're all playing well. He's made 4 very good runs forward with ball at his feet and looks a talented footballer. Defending very well which is what he's had to mainly do. Good team Coyle has built.

McCann is actually a similar player to James McCarthy and Trap's type of player. They'd still both need a Reid or a Garvan in beside them though if we want to dictate a game.

[irishultra]

looks assured on the ball and good vision. i think he just played a nice pass outwide there.

[eirebhoy]

He had a lot more of the ball in the 2nd half and played very well. He didn't stop running all night but rarely had to sprint. Paced himself well and looked like he could have played on for a while longer.

[irishfan86]

Solid performance by McCann, but he didn't stand out as a star player- it really was a team performance in the truest sense.

I haven't seen enough of him to say one way or another whether or not he should be in ahead of Whelan and Gibson, but I was quietly impressed tonight.

Like Eirebhoy says, I think he'd need a more defensive minded player alongside him in the middle- the problem is that McCann still may be too offensive for Trap. He really is box-to-box more than a holding midfielder.

[eirebhoy]

Andrews would be an attacking midfielder and Trap rates him though. Trap just wants energetic midfielders. He had Perrotta as 1 of his 2 midfielders for Italy while he was playing an attacking role for Roma.

He didn't stand out certainly and the same thing goes for McCarthy most of the time. They'd need a guy in beside them that would stand out from the crowd and dictate the play. They're 2 intelligent players who can pass the ball and defend well though. McCann, Garvan and McCarthy playing together in a B match would be nice. :) Obviously I'm thinking away from Trap's system though.

[geysir]

Thinking outside the Trap.

[Junior]

McCarthy is playing in an advanced role for Hamilton though, a sort of in the hole position. Though obviously they have been getting a few beatings, so I assume hes having to get back and defend more

[irishfan86]

McCarthy is playing in an advanced role for Hamilton though, a sort of in the hole position. Though obviously they have been getting a few beatings, so I assume hes having to get back and defend more

Actually McCarthy and McCann are playing in a similar role in 5 man midfields:

---------------Keeper--------

D-----------D-------D-------D

---------------DM-----------

W-------McCann----McCarthy---W

---------------S------------

[drummerboy]

McCann played well without being outstanding. Seen Fergie in the crowd, wonder who he was watching.

Really impressed with Owen Coyle as a manager. Perhaps well worth keeping in mind when Trap ends his tenure with us.

[irishfan86]

McCann played well without being outstanding. Seen Fergie in the crowd, wonder who he was watching.

Really impressed with Owen Coyle as a manager. Perhaps well worth keeping in mind when Trap ends his tenure with us.

I agree that Coyle has been very impressive and has the potential to be an Ireland manager in the future; however, if Trap's reign is successful, you've got to think that one or both of Brady and Tardelli will be his successor.

[gspain]

McCann played well without being outstanding. Seen Fergie in the crowd, wonder who he was watching.

Really impressed with Owen Coyle as a manager. Perhaps well worth keeping in mind when Trap ends his tenure with us.

He was probably watching potential semi final opponents.

I thought McCann did ok without being spectacular. Hard to judge on tv.

[ifk101]

I thought he was average at best but improved in the second half as Arsenal pushed forward. Put in a good cross in the second half where the Burnley striker (Patterson) should of scored and made it 3-0.

[paul_oshea]

to be honest, ive kept track over here in the papers and any clips i have of their run, and he has never been the one i have noticed to stand out, or more importantly the journalists, again this could be a case of ppl clutching at straws, but he doesn't look anymore than a championship performer at the moment.

[NeilMcD]

Come on Paul the only way to comment on a player is to see him play in the flesh prefereably or at worst on Tv.

[paul_oshea]

i saw extra time of the chelsea game and a stream of the second half last night. Fair enough its not loads but im saying from what people are saying here that if he is that good and will be in the premiership then he would want to be standing out in games(against the premiership teams), and ive read about most of their games this year to see if he has been mentioned and he hasn't.

[NeilMcD]

I agree I think 3rd Policeman in particular is OTT in his praise for a good lot of the Championship players.

[dr_peepee]

I've not seen much of him either.

It's a fair point.. But to have that much playing time under his belt at that age is commendable and bodes well.

[paul_oshea]

PeePee coyles side is a young side. I'd love to see the stats and how many others there are that have "that much playing time under their belts". I'd guess they all pretty much have the same at burnley in or around his age! Wheres EB or tets when ye need them :D

[irishfan86]

PeePee coyles side is a young side. I'd love to see the stats and how many others there are that have "that much playing time under their belts". I'd guess they all pretty much have the same at burnley in or around his age! Wheres EB or tets when ye need them :D

I don't know if Burnley is that young of a side- I thought I heard the commentator say that the team that lined up yesterday had an average age of 27...(may be wrong though).

[Closed Account]

Average age of the Burnley side was 27 last night. McCann was the second youngest. Only Kevin McDonald was younger, he just turned 20. Only Silvestre, Bischoff and Fabianski were older than him on the Arsenal team.

[third policeman]

I agree I think 3rd Policeman in particular is OTT in his praise for a good lot of the Championship players.

I dont think its OTT to suggest that we look at these players when our current centre midfielders are not exactly dominating the opposition. Coyle has praised McCann's contribution on several occasions and said that he believes he has premiership pedigree. Garvan and O'Toole have both been linked with premiership teams in recent weeks. I am quite happy to be judged on what these players actually deliver, but I still think its bad that Trapp, Tardelli and Brady have not been going to watch our Championship players until last week.

[NeilMcD]

I do not think anybody would disagree that the players you mentioned should be looked at and also tried in B matches and in friendlies. But you have not just said that and you have been OTT in your comments on their virtues in my view.

[eirebhoy]

McCarthy is playing in an advanced role for Hamilton though, a sort of in the hole position. Though obviously they have been getting a few beatings, so I assume hes having to get back and defend more
When I've seen McCarthy he's playing of a 3 man midfield in a 4-3-3. Maybe they went more defensive at Celtic park but I didn't see that game.


i saw extra time of the chelsea game and a stream of the second half last night. Fair enough its not loads but im saying from what people are saying here that if he is that good and will be in the premiership then he would want to be standing out in games(against the premiership teams), and ive read about most of their games this year to see if he has been mentioned and he hasn't.
Constantly getting excellent reviews by the Burnley fans on their forum. Many of their comments posted in this thread. Owen Coyle clearly rates him as a premiership player too.

Just one comment from a Burnley fan from their forum:
"wouldn't look out of place in that Arsenal side. Quite possibly the best midfielder I've seen play for Burnley."

Again he really reminds me of McCarthy. Looks a really intelligent player and can pass the ball but doesn't dominate possession. For every 2 or 3 passes Alexander was making, McCann was making one. Stephen Ireland is playing twice as many passes per game as he was last season so I wouldn't worry about that. McCann definitely looks a player.

I think an important point to make about him is a lot of players of his age with his energy would run around a bit like headless chickens in a match like last night. He looks to have a lot of composure and intelligence. For one of his runs forward he could have played a quick hopeful through ball as he had 3 Burnley players ahead of him with Arsenal caught out a bit. He waited until the exact moment that an Arsenal defender came out to tackle him and laid it off to the player the Arsenal defender was previously marking. Probably should have led to a goal.

[Junior]

When I've seen McCarthy he's playing of a 3 man midfield in a 4-3-3. Maybe they went more defensive at Celtic park but I didn't see that game.

I know McCarthy has his own thread so I wont dwell on it here but in Hamiltons win against Killie (at home) at the weekend, it was definitely a 4-5-1 formation with McCarthy playing in an advanced role of the 5, just off the Hamilton lone striker Offiong.

I havent seen that much of him, only highlights on Setanta and the game at Celtic Park, where he was very quiet to be honest.

[Rocky77]

I dont think its OTT to suggest that we look at these players when our current centre midfielders are not exactly dominating the opposition. Coyle has praised McCann's contribution on several occasions and said that he believes he has premiership pedigree. Garvan and O'Toole have both been linked with premiership teams in recent weeks. I am quite happy to be judged on what these players actually deliver, but I still think its bad that Trapp, Tardelli and Brady have not been going to watch our Championship players until last week.

Give him his full title please: Former Longford Town midfielder Marco Tardelli ;)

[Claret Murph]

As having seen Chris play this season and in the past seasons also , one thing that sticks out each year he gets better and better . Everyone at Turf Moor knows he he could move on in January if the right offer comes in as the Club are losing £4 million a year so the sell to survive which has always been the same .Put it this way the fans on the Burnley messageboard vote for for the best player in each game and and Chris is top of the pile , why do you ask simple as he is the best player we have at the club .
He will make an international but when is the question .

[third policeman]

I do not think anybody would disagree that the players you mentioned should be looked at and also tried in B matches and in friendlies. But you have not just said that and you have been OTT in your comments on their virtues in my view.

Sorry if you find my views OTT, but I happen to believe that some of our uncapped Championship players (McCann, Foley, Garvan, St Ledger and Walters) are better that some members of the current squad (Whelan, McShane, Miller, Folan). It remains to be seen whether I am right or wrong, but according to your criteria ("seeing players in the flesh") I may just be better qualified than you to speak, as I have seen all these players playing in the flesh over the last 2 seasons whilst watching games at Wigan, Preston and Burnely.

In the meantime I am not going to be constrained from expressing opinions about individual players or the tactical capabilities of Trap or Benitez, just to please you.

[Closed Account]

Anyone watching this lad tonight? Didn't get a chance. How's he doing? Position?

[SkStu]

scored their second. Looked pretty good from what i seen on justintv. Set up a great chance near the end that would have put them 4-0 up...

[eirebhoy]

Anyone watching this lad tonight? Didn't get a chance. How's he doing? Position?
My TV's being hogged but he'll be playing in the usual left side of a midfield 3.

[geysir]

My TV's being hogged .
Then it's not your tv.

[tetsujin1979]

My TV's being hogged but he'll be playing in the usual left side of a midfield 3.

According to the line up on Sky Sports's live scores service he was on the left in a 4 man midfield.
http://tetsujin1979.googlepages.com/lineup.JPG

[irishfan86]

From watching it was a definitely a 4-5-1 of sorts. Paterson alone up front, with Eagles and Blake acting as wingers.

McCann played more centrally alongside Gudjonsson and Elliott.

He had a good game, as did basically everbody on Burnley.

Showed good composure and instincts to get in the box for what was essentially a tap in off of a wonderful play by Blake.

I've watched him play about 4 times over the past month, and he definitely looks like one for the future. Not sure that he is as ready as some on here would have you believe, but he definitely looks like he's got the potential, and his physique makes me think he'd have no trouble adapting to life in the Premier League at some stage.

Coyle has them playing wonderful, positive football, and I think staying with them as opposed to joining a struggling team in the Premier League would be best for him at this stage.

[Claret Murph]

Words fail me this morning , I just feel for Chris and the rest of the Burnley team .

[drummerboy]

McCann reminds me of a young Garreth Barry. David Moyes and Sam Alladyce were in the crowd watching players. Wouldn't surprise me if McCann was one of the players being watched. He done well.

[paul_oshea]

he did well.

YA irishfan watching it last night i would go with that, i think it would be great if coyle managed to get burley promoted as they play great football and I think this would suit mccann more as oppossed to leaving for a struggling PL team.

[danonion]

I think he can play left back as well.

[eirebhoy]

I've seen McCann play 4 or 5 times this season and he's definitely a Trapattoni type player but another that I've yet to see dominate play. Against Arsenal he made 4 or 5 brilliant runs with the ball which won freekicks or set up chances. I was more impressed with him off the ball and the same goes for James McCarthy. I think he's very similar to McCarthy actually (or McCarthy's similar to him ;)). That's McCann, McCarthy and Gibson I want to see demanding the ball off their teammates. Maybe I'm just too a fan of the playmaker but they all have the ability to be playmakers.

[irishultra]

i thought he was ok last night, he should impose himself more but he does look like a player, one occassion he was almost zizou-eque the way he evaded the midfielder for tottenham.

[irishfan86]

I think he can play left back as well.

He's a right footed central midfielder. :confused:

Maybe he filled in there during a crisis at one point but I doubt he'll ever play there again if he did.

[eirebhoy]

McCann is left footed although I wouldn't call his right foot weak.

[youngirish]

Had a great game last night in the play-offs against Reading. Fingers crossed that we will see him in the Premiership next season as he's a better option than JJ O'Toole and S Quinn in midfield at present imo (JJ looks good for the future though also).

Some comments here:
http://boards.footymad.net/forum.php?tno=104&fid=297&sty=2&act=1&mid=2126039613

[NeilMcD]

Yeah lets hope his run in with Don Givens does not prevent him from getting in the squad. Would like to see him called up.

[Claret Murph]

Can't wait to see Chris run out at wembley ..................

[drummerboy]

Yeah lets hope his run in with Don Givens does not prevent him from getting in the squad. Would like to see him called up.

I'm afraid it WILL hamper his progress for the foreseeable future. Its a pity because I think he is a great prospect. Givens has too much influence in the set up.

[tetsujin1979]

Can't wait to see Chris run out at wembley ..................
the play off final is on the 25th May, seeing as the Nigeria game is the following friday (29th), I don't see him getting called into the squad, and will probably miss the Bulgaria game because of that :(
Earliest we can hope to see him in an Ireland squad is the Australia game in August.

[youngirish]

I'm afraid it WILL hamper his progress for the foreseeable future. Its a pity because I think he is a great prospect. Givens has too much influence in the set up.

Shouldn't be a problem. Apparently Givens said this when quizzed about his clash with McCann recently:

"I take it back, its nice to see Chris developing into a player of true class"

http://oneteaminireland.blogspot.com/2009/02/mccann-good-enough-for-premiership.html

[Claret Murph]

Don't beleive a word Givens says he would put the knife into McCanns back while smiling at him :mad::mad::mad: