James McClean M Wrexham b.1989

[cestlavie]

Gibson was told to go and get regular first team football, he did that not in championship but in the premier league. That still wasnt enough for Trap. When you sit on the bench and see Paul Green getting on the pitch during a major championship ahead of you your bound to take step back and think what the fook Im I doing here, I know Im not really part of your plans. You cant keep testing players to limit and think youll get no response. I would say Gibson, McLean and Wilson are probably sorry they ever declared for the team the grew up supporting. Sad sign of the times.

[Charlie Darwin]

I'm fairly sure Gibson's main gripe is that he wasn't considered for the Italy match. He was probably privately relieved that Green was thrown on against Spain instead of him.

[Stuttgart88]

I was listening to Scotland v Serbia on the radio today for a bit and I heard that the Scottish full back was making his debut. A player would never get a first cap for us in a proper game under Trap no matter how compelling his club performances have been. If McClean can't start in Kazakhstan then who can he start against?

[BonnieShels]

McClean should be sent home, he is being disrespectful not just to the manager but to his team mates. We have got the weakest group of players I can remember for many a long year and they act like prima donnas. Kevin 'Only my family knows which club I play for' Foley, Darron 'I love being a Man U reserve team player' Gibson - what a sad group of muppets. This campiagn was Gibson's chance and he didn't have the bottle.

It's about representing Ireland not about yourselves. It is an honour to be called up to represent your country but no, it's all about 'me me me'.

The players we have are second rate, Trapp rightly emphasizes a system over individuals and picks the players he thinks will best fit into that system.

We don't have anything like the resources of England who will qualify the for World Cup but as everyone knows haven't a snowballs chance in hell of winning it. We're not making any progress in the UK / Ireland in producing players technically as good as the continent, until that happens we will have to put up with 2nd rate football regardless of who is manager.

In some respects I don't blame the players, they are so embedded in their alternate universe they don't see how stupidly they are behaving. Joe Cole is on 100k a week for LFC, sanity does not prevail in football.

You what now? Absolute drivel. We don't have to put up with anything like last night.
We were shocking and there was no discernible system on show as far as I could see.

[IsMiseSean]

I was listening to Scotland v Serbia on the radio today for a bit and I heard that the Scottish full back was making his debut. A player would never get a first cap for us in a proper game under Trap no matter how compelling his club performances have been. If McClean can't start in Kazakhstan then who can he start against?

The closest Trap came to that was Caleb Folan. He won his first cap in the home WCQ versus Cyprus from the bench.

[Newryrep]

I was listening to Scotland v Serbia on the radio today for a bit and I heard that the Scottish full back was making his debut. A player would never get a first cap for us in a proper game under Trap no matter how compelling his club performances have been. If McClean can't start in Kazakhstan then who can he start against?

I wouldnt use Scotland as an example - a lynching party is currently being organised for Craig Levein after todays result

[backstothewall]

I was listening to Scotland v Serbia on the radio today for a bit and I heard that the Scottish full back was making his debut. A player would never get a first cap for us in a proper game under Trap no matter how compelling his club performances have been. If McClean can't start in Kazakhstan then who can he start against?

McClean wasn't fit. Trap as much as said he was going to start him, but how can he play him if he is tucked up in bed with a lemsip and a hot water bottle? Even if he was feeling a bit better, he hadn't taken any real part in training or any of the preparation for the game.

[tetsujin1979]

I was listening to Scotland v Serbia on the radio today for a bit and I heard that the Scottish full back was making his debut. A player would never get a first cap for us in a proper game under Trap no matter how compelling his club performances have been. If McClean can't start in Kazakhstan then who can he start against?
That was Paul Dixon of Huddersfield, won MOTM too, although I can imagine what the reaction would be here if Trapattoni gave a defender from the lower half of the Championship his debut in a qualifier

[Stuttgart88]

McClean said he was fit.

It's not just McClean. Trap doesnt trust Coleman, didn't trust McCarthy, and so on.

I'm just saying that he's very cautious introducing new players but I think international football is full of examples of players being given responsibility at an early stage of their career. I can see both sides of the argument, but I'd pick a natural wide player in a wide position any day of the week over a player - who I like as it happens - who has failed to impress in the same role previously.

[backstothewall]

He tweeted that on Monday I think, but he didn't train, then he was sent home from training on Tuesday. They flew 5000 miles on Wednesday and presumably nobody trained.

It's a great sign that he was that keen to play that has was saying he was fit and attempting to train when he obviously wasn't ready, but in a situation like that the coaching staff have to protect him from himself. It's impossible for us to relate to how quickly a super fit athlete can recover from a hamstring injury or groin strain, but we all know what a cold/flu is like. If your that bad on a Tuesday, your not going to be 100% by friday evening.

Given that Trap was trying to prepare them to play in a new system (which worked out so badly I'm not really sure what it was supposed to be, but hindsight is 20:20), he had to move on and make those preparations with someone else if it looked like he wasn't going to be right.

Can you imagine the reaction if he played him and he ran about the place looking a yard off the pace?

[Uncle_Joe]

IIRC didn't McAteer declare himself fit in 2002 before the Cameroon game when he clearly wasn't. I remember him saying something some time after which went along the lines of there was no way he was going to rule himself out of such an important game.
With no disrespect to McClean I think this may be a similar situation with McClean unwilling to admit he wasn't 100% fit (no doubt fueled by a strong desire to take an opportunity to start) and Trap making the decision based on what he saw.

I was also a bit miffed why a lot of media kept on going on about McClean being left out purely because Trap was a bit mad and not mentioning anything at all WRT his previously reported illness.

[geysir]

This issue like the communication issues is being over egged.
Trap is 'slightly' on the side of over-cautious and loyal, that has served him well down through the years, I don't have a serious issue with that.
It's academic really if he selects Doyle/Cox or McClean on the left, the ball is still going to be relentlessly hoofed. It's academic who does the hoofing, Wilson /Ward, O'Shea/Kelly.

I understood McClean 'controversial' comments to be about this team's version of playing football in a WC qualifier and undeservedly stealing the win, if so, they echoed mine and I'd be disappointed if anybody associated with the team felt different.

[Charlie Darwin]

I don't have a problem with McClean not playing - he was ill and somebody else who was fit took his spot. I do have a problem with Cox playing when Long or (an admittedly out of favour at club level) Coleman would have been a better option.7

That said, there were points in the first half when it was clear why Trap was playing Cox. His interplay and understanding with Keane is second only to the retired Duff.

[tetsujin1979]

this is in today's Independent
http://cdn.independent.ie/multimedia/dynamic/01101/trapattoni-mcclean_1101409t.jpg

which immediately made me think of this exact photo
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BCEBXwj6jb0/T6_mRC-jaTI/AAAAAAAACjE/p9dHFgxPPIo/s1600/keane-mcarthy-saipan.jpg

[DannyInvincible]

Was away for the weekend and not been online since Friday afternoon so just catching up on the fall-out from the infamous tweet. How was it to be interpreted exactly? Was it an attack on his team-mates' performance, Trap's methods or was it an expression of frustration at not having seen game-time? Perhaps a combination of all of those, although I don't see it as anything personal, nor do I think there was any malice or spite intended towards anyone whatsoever. I notice a lot of the stories on it are implying the tweet was some sort of personal tirade against Trap, but I think the media are just stirring again. Thankfully, Trap hasn't taken it that way anyway. Wasn't McClean ill in the lead-up to the game anyway (even if he did state he was "100% fit" on Twitter a day or two before the match), so surely it wasn't unreasonable that he didn't feature. Not that anyone should be expecting to play anyway.

The general message might well be what we were all thinking after the manner of the victory, but having vented his anger so publicly, he might consider himself lucky to still be part of the squad. I think allowing him to remain on the basis of an apology was the sensible solution and at least it doesn't appear that anyone in the squad will be dwelling on it, so we can all move on.


I would say Gibson, McLean and Wilson are probably sorry they ever declared for the team the grew up supporting. Sad sign of the times.

You think they'd rather be playing for NI? Very doubtful. If anything, McClean's tweet, albeit ill-advised, does demonstrate his heart is in the right place. He's clearly very passionate about his identity and sees playing for Ireland as an expression of that; he just needs to keep his head screwed on too. Likewise, Wilson said he would have no interest in playing for NI back in January when Michael O'Neill got in touch with Stoke to try and gauge whether or not he'd be interested in declaring for the IFA. For Wilson, it was made clear that it was a case of either us or no-one.

[ArdeeBhoy]

But what did DG say?
Runs...

[Stuttgart88]

I love this Stephen Ward quote from the Examiner about using Twitter!

"To be honest, we’ve had a couple of meetings about it at the club. At the end of the day, it’s people’s personal preference. If they want to be on it, they can. But I’d prefer to stay away and just avoid trouble. It gives people a chance to have a say on whatever they want about you. For me, it’s not a great thing."

[SkStu]

Lol, poor old Wardy! Even he rolls his eyes when I defend him!

[tetsujin1979]

I love this Stephen Ward quote from the Examiner about using Twitter!

"To be honest, we’ve had a couple of meetings about it at the club. At the end of the day, it’s people’s personal preference. If they want to be on it, they can. But I’d prefer to stay away and just avoid trouble. It gives people a chance to have a say on whatever they want about you. For me, it’s not a great thing."I read before that Mick sent the players who were using twitter on a course on how to use it. If you didn't do the course, you were banned from using it.

[AlaskaFox]

Lol, poor old Wardy! Even he rolls his eyes when I defend him!

Which of you is the better defender?

[SkStu]

Which of you is the better defender?

Im right footed so he's the better left back. :)

[OwlsFan]

Despite the fear of death by a thousand lashes for saying this, I wasn't impressed with his run out tonight or by any of his brief cameos for us. Early days I know but for the people who are screaming for him to be included, I am not convinced as yet that he will be our next saviour.

[centre mid]

I'd echo Owlsfan's comments above, apart from one nice volley that went close he was pretty anonymous last night.

[SkStu]

I've been saying for a while on this thread that im not convinced just yet either and that he needs to have the same impact this season as he did for the last chunk of lat season before we can hail him as a potential saviour but I'm not letting that stop me from using him as a stick to beat Trap with... :)

[Junior]

The roar he got as he came on at Craven Cottage was somewhat bizarre, like something you would hear off the X-Factor (so I'm told). It's ridiculous, he's done nothing to date. Twittergate, The Nordie swap over issue and a few months of good performances for Sunderland have escalated him to a ridiculously high status. I've no doubt he could come in and do a job for us but he's got a hell of a lot to learn both on and off the pitch and I just don't get this frenzie for him to be in the starting 11.

[The Legend]

Because McGeady is a joke and Duff is gone!

[ifk101]

If the choice is between Simon Cox, Andy Keogh and even Kevin Doyle on the left wing, I'd start McClean every time. He is not our next saviour but he is a natural winger and he's playing regularly on the left wing in the Premiership, something the aforementioned names aren't doing.

For the record he has played about 200 minutes for Ireland. That's not much more than 2 full games in total. What do you honestly expect him to do or achieve in that amount of time?

[DeLorean]

McClean admits twitter rant was idiotic (http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/international/2012/0913/337434-mcclean-admits-twitter-rant-was-idiotic/)

As dumb as it was, there's a lot to be said for a guy that can take his medicine like a man.

He had a really promising season last time but this year will be a bigger test for him. As much as the crowd hysteria when he comes on as a sub mystifies me, I think people are entitled to be excited about him. Whether he fulfills his potential or not, only time will tell.

When Trap mentions reasons for not including him in the team, he usually mentions McGeady. To be fair, I think the vast majority (at long last) are not looking for him to replace McGeady, but to fill the gap after Duffer's retirement. Playing Cox on the wing is something that should only be considered in an emergency, and was baffling with a player of McClean's promise available. It would be like Tony Cascarino retiring, but choosing John Sheridan to start up front instead of Niall Quinn!

[Lionel Ritchie]

There's even more to be said for a man who'll just delete his account once and then stay off the feckin thing

[DeLorean]

There's even more to be said for a man who never set up an account in the first place, but that's not the point.

[Bucky-O'Hare]

I have to laugh at the boys above saying he's done nothing yet. Of course he hasn't because he hasn't had a fair crack yet. A few short cameos mean nothing. He's easily Irelands best attacking performer in the EPL followed by Long and Wes. Cox doesn't even play in the EPL and is getting more chances.

[jbyrne]

I'd echo Owlsfan's comments above, apart from one nice volley that went close he was pretty anonymous last night.

agree but it didnt stop a couple of media outlets, RTE radio yesterday morning in particular, saying that he was impressive!
purely to keep the "McClean must play, why wont trap pick him?" show on the road i would imagine.

[Charlie Darwin]

I have to laugh at the boys above saying he's done nothing yet. Of course he hasn't because he hasn't had a fair crack yet. A few short cameos mean nothing. He's easily Irelands best attacking performer in the EPL followed by Long and Wes. Cox doesn't even play in the EPL and is getting more chances.
Cox has been a far more effective player in a green shirt.

[DannyInvincible]

agree but it didnt stop a couple of media outlets, RTE radio yesterday morning in particular, saying that he was impressive!
purely to keep the "McClean must play, why wont trap pick him?" show on the road i would imagine.

Yesterday's daily RTÉ headline article on McClean was near parody, such was the blatancy of their agenda: http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/international/2012/0912/337291-mcclean-will-not-start-against-germany-trap/


Republic of Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni will continue to exclude James McClean from his starting XI despite an impressive performance from the winger the 4-1 win over Oman.

McClean received the biggest cheer of the night at Craven Cottage when he came off the bench on the hour to replace captain Kevin Doyle.

The Sunderland man had the crowd on their feet twice more during his 30-minute cameo, firstly when he drew a world-class save from Ali Al-Habsi with a brilliant free-kick, and then when he hammered a difficult volley just centimetres over the Oman bar.

McClean vented his fury at Trapattoni on Friday when he appeared to criticise the Italian for not bringing him off the bench in Kazakhstan, where the Republic scraped a 2-1 win with two last-gasp goals.

But despite his excellent showing in south-west London it appears the talented 23-year-old will be on the bench again when the men in green take on Germany in their World Cup qualifier against Germany on 12 October.

[ifk101]

Cox has been a far more effective player in a green shirt.

He started off well but it has been a while since he put in a performance of note. This is (a) due to him being played out of position and (b) facing a higher level of opposition than he did as the start of his Irish career.

[Crosby87]

I think many of you would take Cox over anything else most evenings.

[osarusan]

Yesterday's daily RTÉ headline article on McClean was near parody, such was the blatancy of their agenda: http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/international/2012/0912/337291-mcclean-will-not-start-against-germany-trap/

Perfectly reasonable headline in my opinion.

I think the tendency on this forum to label anything critical of Trapattoni as 'an agenda' is ridiculous.

[ifk101]

The article linked to mentions an "impressive performance" and "excellent showing" by McClean against Oman which isn't an opinion most would share. This is an article taken from the Independent so there are a number of news sources running the same article. Hence the agenda.

[jbyrne]

Perfectly reasonable headline in my opinion.

I think the tendency on this forum to label anything critical of Trapattoni as 'an agenda' is ridiculous.

Totaly disagree. There is definately an anti-Trap agenda from our media as there always inevitably is with all our managers over the years.

Its what follows the headline where the issue is. He was not anymore, actually probably less so, impressive than many of our other players Tuesday.
The free kick was actually easily saved really and he wasted a number of good crossing opportunities.

I am dying for a spark to appear from somewhere but McClean hasnt shown enough to justify the clamour to have him picked yet.

[osarusan]

The article linked to mentions an "impressive performance" and "excellent showing" by McClean against Oman which isn't an opinion most would share. This is an article taken from the Independent so there are a number of news sources running the same article. Hence the agenda.


BBC give him a brief but positive review, describing him as lively, and mentioning him having a couple of shots. I guess they've got an anti-Trap agenda too.

[p2011]

Watched the whole game on the box here and I have to say that "impressive performance" and "excellent showing" are just ridiculous. The campaign for McClean is a bit hysterical to my mind and there are far more pressing issues, such as persistance with 4-4-2 and Shane Long's exclusion. What does he have to do to get into the team for a competitive game? Where's the campaign for him?

[johnnyc]

http://www.balls.ie/2012/09/12/is-this-the-real-james-mcclean-in-the-middle-of-another-social-media-mess/

[jbyrne]

BBC give him a brief but positive review, describing him as lively, and mentioning him having a couple of shots. I guess they've got an anti-Trap agenda too.

"lively" and "a couple of shots". brilliant, all our attacking problems are solved!

all these media outlets get their reports from the same sources for events on the scale of Tuesdays match anyway

[boovidge]

McClean's certainly overhyped, but he's also certainly a better option on the wing than Simon Cox or Andy Keogh.

[Charlie Darwin]

http://www.balls.ie/2012/09/12/is-this-the-real-james-mcclean-in-the-middle-of-another-social-media-mess/
Dear me. He's really not the smartest, is he?

[Bucky-O'Hare]

Cox has been a far more effective player in a green shirt.

He's been effective against lesser opposition and not on the wing. McClean hasn't had anything like the chance Cox has.

[Charlie Darwin]

The reason Cox has been given such a big chance is because he impressed from the start and forged an instant connection with Keane that no other striker in the squad has. I wouldn't play him on the wing but I can see the logic behind it, and for a spell it actually looked like it would yield a goal or at least some good chances. McClean has also played against lesser opposition without being as impressive, in my opinion.

[Sullivinho]

http://www.balls.ie/2012/09/12/is-this-the-real-james-mcclean-in-the-middle-of-another-social-media-mess/

*Hastily checks entire thread for any flippant remarks, attempted jokes or puns I may have made at his expense*

Only a matter of time before he googles his own name and winds up on here!

[Bucky-O'Hare]

The reason Cox has been given such a big chance is because he impressed from the start and forged an instant connection with Keane that no other striker in the squad has. I wouldn't play him on the wing but I can see the logic behind it, and for a spell it actually looked like it would yield a goal or at least some good chances. McClean has also played against lesser opposition without being as impressive, in my opinion.

If I remember right Cox got a good run in that Celtic cup and impressed against poor opposition. McClean has been restricted to cameo roles and nothing more so it's simply daft to compare. And any time Cox has impressed he played as a striker. On the wing he's been poor. Give McLean a chance to impress before writing him off! Though the manager won't give him a chance so he won't have th chance to prove himself in a green jersey.

[Charlie Darwin]

If I remember right Cox got a good run in that Celtic cup and impressed against poor opposition. McClean has been restricted to cameo roles and nothing more so it's simply daft to compare. And any time Cox has impressed he played as a striker. On the wing he's been poor. Give McLean a chance to impress before writing him off! Though the manager won't give him a chance so he won't have th chance to prove himself in a green jersey.
McClean was used as a sub in the first game after he broke into the Sunderland team and has since started two friendlies as well as getting a run out at the Euros. That is a hell of a lot more of an opportunity than a lot of Irish players get. There is a huge void in the team where Duff used to be and the fact is that Cox offers more in the way of technical ability and ball retention, both of which we are sorely lacking since Duff's departure. McClean has his own talents - he can score goals, but he is also impetuous and gives the ball away cheaply, neither an attribute Cox has displayed to date.