James McClean M Wrexham b.1989

[Charlie Darwin]

Move confirmed: http://www.theguardian.com/football/2013/aug/08/james-mcclean-wigan-sunderland-transfer?CMP=twt_gu

[OwlsFan]

Shooting star or like Haley's Comet which will be back again ? I fear the former but hope for the latter (although not every 75 years). We have seen it all before. Huge media hype supported by many fans after a successful first season and then the downward spiral and a drop to the Championship is a large retrograde step. No Premiership side was interested in signing him. Perhaps Wigan will be back with a reinvigorated McLean but I'll stick my neck out here and with regret say I doubt it.

I wonder should be convert to a full back ? Might be better potential for him there or am I overreacting?

[SwanVsDalton]

Shooting star or like Haley's Comet which will be back again ? I fear the former but hope for the latter (although not every 75 years). We have seen it all before. Huge media hype supported by many fans after a successful first season and then the downward spiral and a drop to the Championship is a large retrograde step. No Premiership side was interested in signing him. Perhaps Wigan will be back with a reinvigorated McLean but I'll stick my neck out here and with regret say I doubt it.

I wonder should be convert to a full back ? Might be better potential for him there or am I overreacting?

There was some strong PL interest - more than strong - but it dried up for specific reasons.

He has plenty of convincing to do but a good Championship club could be the place to do it. McClean's emergence was a surprise to even the most ardent, hopeful Derry fans - he has a decent set of attributes, but the speed of his ascent was stratospheric. To get his feet on the ground and get back to developing - which he no doubt needs to do - is the best thing all round.

A confident McClean, taking on right backs even from the Championship, can be a great weapon for us.

[Roberto]

Just as well Wigan ditched that horrible orange away kit from a few years back as I just cant picture McClean in one :)

[Charlie Darwin]

Uh oh.

http://cdn1.independent.ie/migration_catalog/article25339008.ece/ALTERNATES/h342/JAMES-McCLEAN

[Sullivinho]

Incidentally, not the bib his father wore but one provided on the day by the FAI.

[DannyInvincible]

There was some strong PL interest - more than strong - but it dried up for specific reasons.

Any further info on why exactly, SvD?

[SwanVsDalton]

Any further info on why exactly, SvD?

PMd you there Danny.

According to Owen Coyle, James took a pay cut to go to Wigan and play first team football. Fair play.


"We have all done silly things as young men. The bottom line is, having had a chat with him, as we always do, I know he is focussed and just wants to concentrate on his football.

"If we get James McClean doing that, there is no doubt he is a huge talent. He took the Premier League by storm with his wing play; not only his quality on the ball but how hard he works off the ball for his team. He is a Republic of Ireland international. He has won 14 caps at a young age. There is no doubt he can go from strength to strength.

"He took a drop in salary to come, such was his desire to play football. That was fantastic to see in a young man. All too often in football, finance is the motivation for some players. To see a player prepared to come and take a step back because he believes it will eventually lead to two forward, it is great to have at your football club."

[ArdeeBhoy]

Can you not tell us all about 'the reasons';I can guess?

[SwanVsDalton]

Can you not tell us all about 'the reasons';I can guess?

It's nothing earth shattering and nothing to do with James (have realised it might read like something dramatic happened, particularly given McClean's track record). It's also not confirmed or official, just chat. But there was one PL club showed a more-than-strong interest in signing him.

[dong]

Have Derry any plans to use the money to make some ground improvements at the Brandywell?

[geysir]

A few kilos of semtex would enact an instant improvement.

[Predator]

A few kilos of semtex would enact an instant improvement.
Ah geysir, ever the japester!

[DannyInvincible]

Starts for Wigan in the Community Shield today.

[NeverFeltBetter]

A few wayward crosses already.

[Colbert Report]

The commentary team mentioned that there were rumours that McClean was brought in in an attempt to persuade James McCarthy to stay - apparently they are roommates whilst on international duty.

[NeverFeltBetter]

Did not have a good game, but he's only been part of their set-up for a few days I suppose.

[SwanVsDalton]

Didn't think he had a bad game to be fair. Was certainly one of the few Wigan players looking to take the game to Utd. There was some pleased fan comments on his performance noted in the BBC live coverage too.

[Predator]

McClean is still fearless and he gets breaks because he is willing to take a chance (like when he got in behind Smalling) but there are still elements of his game that need to improve. He definitely needs to show more composure. Too often, he snatches at shots or puts in a premature cross. And he also needs to mix his game up a bit. He is still all left foot and at the highest level, if he can't mix it up a bit, the best defenders will always have the measure of him.

[Sullivinho]

McClean is still fearless and he gets breaks because he is willing to take a chance (like when he got in behind Smalling) but there are still elements of his game that need to improve. He definitely needs to show more composure. Too often, he snatches at shots or puts in a premature cross. And he also needs to mix his game up a bit. He is still all left foot and at the highest level, if he can't mix it up a bit, the best defenders will always have the measure of him.

Top priority. He needs a stent in his game that allows for that all-action, furious approach yet provides him a cooler head near/in front of goal. Easier said than done. I've been expecting McGeady's shooting accuracy to improve for years.

[Sullivinho]

Actually, make that secondary priority. I've just seen him interviewed on SSN and I was lucky if I could understand every third word. ;)

[tricky_colour]

Any ratings I saw gave him as 6 same as the rest of the team, I mean basically they are chasing man u most of the time I would imagine, so nobody is gonna look very good.

[OwlsFan]

Substituted after 61 minutes against Doncaster. Injured or just hauled off?

[Charlie Darwin]

Wingers are often the first to be taken off. I wouldn't read too much into it, especially as his attacking game hasn't been great the past year or so and Wigan were looking to go forward in a game they really should be winning.

[DannyInvincible]

McClean started on the bench for Wigan today at home to Middlesborough but has been brought on for the last 25 minutes or so in place of Grant Holt.

Meanwhile, came across this article were he attributes his decision to move in part to Sunderland fan opinion: http://www.espn.co.uk/football/sport/story/231303.html


Wigan winger James McClean has revealed his decision to leave Sunderland was down to the club's fans hounding him out of the Stadium of Light.

McClean, 23, moved to the Championship side for £1.5 million earlier in the month after becoming surplus to requirements under Black Cats manager Paolo Di Canio.

Despite earning the club's Young Player of the Year award in his first season after arriving from Derry City in 2011, the Ireland international struggled to recapture the same form last term.

However, McClean, who was involved in a handful of off-field controversies during his time on Wearside, claims that his exit was down to fan opinion, rather than being based on his performances on the pitch.

"Leaving the club was nothing to do with how I was playing," McClean told the Evening Chronicle. "But it was definitely needed. My time was up at Sunderland, that's why I asked to leave.

"It's never nice when your own fans are booing you before you even get on the pitch. The season before I was the best thing since sliced bread."

[OwlsFan]

Many fans are notoriously fickle, especially in the northeast of England when their club is struggling, but were they on his case because he was crap or for other non-footballing issues ? If every player changed club when the fans booed him, it would be an even greater merry-go-round than it already is in England.

[jbyrne]

but were they on his case because he was crap or for other non-footballing issues ?

maybe it came from his refusal to wear the poppy

[OwlsFan]

Doubt it. Fans are prepared to overlook just about any indiscretion if the player does the business on the field.

[ArdeeBhoy]

Have S'land mates who were totally behind James, but read a lot of cr*p from the Mackems about this and DiCanio which doesn't put a lot of them in a very good light.
Ignorant, intolerant and hypocritical are just three words that spring to mind.

[DannyInvincible]

Doubt it. Fans are prepared to overlook just about any indiscretion if the player does the business on the field.

Is opting not to display a poppy to be considered an indiscretion now?

A lot of Sunderland fans were very unforgiving as a result of that. I recall he was subjected to audible booing from his own fans that could be heard through the television upon his entry on to the field of play during a game in the immediate aftermath of that hullabaloo.

[Charlie Darwin]

Wigan drawn alongside Rubin Kazan, Maribor and Zutte Waregem in the Europa League.

[Serb]

Wigan drawn alongside Rubin Kazan, Maribor and Zutte Waregem in the Europa League.

Doesn't seem like a tough group. Kazan will probably top that easily enough (got a win against Spurs last season didn't they? Or was that the season before? I think they beat Inter 3-0 too). Hopefully Wigan would be a lot better than Maribor and Zutte Waregem.

[tricky_colour]

If for example Gareth Bale had refused to wear a poppy I doubt many Spurs fans would boo him

[DannyInvincible]

If for example Gareth Bale had refused to wear a poppy I doubt many Spurs fans would boo him

Who's to know? It would undeniably stir a fair bit of public comment, as any "show of rebellion" does around poppy season. Wasn't even the man of objectivity, Jon Snow, subjected to criticism a few years back for his refusal to wear a poppy whilst presenting the Channel 4 news?

Spurs fans wouldn't get a chance to harass Bale though. Sure, isn't he AWOL in Madrid?

Are Spurs fans known for their nationalistic/jingoistic fervour anyway?

[tricky_colour]

Who's to know? It would undeniably stir a fair bit of public comment, as any "show of rebellion" does around poppy season. Wasn't even the man of objectivity, Jon Snow, subjected to criticism a few years back for his refusal to wear a poppy whilst presenting the Channel 4 news?

Spurs fans wouldn't get a chance to harass Bale though. Sure, isn't he AWOL in Madrid?

Are Spurs fans known for their nationalistic/jingoistic fervour anyway?


No just saying if McClean had been outstanding the fans would not give a hoot about off the field stuff.

[DannyInvincible]

It was none of their business either way.

[Stuttgart88]

I think tricky's got a fair point tbh.

Last time I was at WHL there were more Star of Davids than any other flag, so I guess they're nationalistic but just in a way that few other British clubs are.

[SkStu]

The bould James got a straight red for Wigan this morning.


The Latics' James McClean was shown a straight red card in stoppage time.
A clash between winger McClean and Blackpool defender Gary Mackenzie was brought to the attention of referee Mark Haywood by his assistant, after it appeared McClean had been stamped on.

[DannyInvincible]

Poppy season's approachin'.

Oh, and good to see you back, Stu. ;)

[tricky_colour]

McClean incident here at about 3:20ish but a lot of it is off camera.
http://www1.skysports.com/footballleague/championship/video/8980424/blackpool-1-0-wigan
Clearly something must have happened for McClean to get back on his feet so quickly!!!

[DannyInvincible]

What was McClean sent off for exactly? For taking a nasty elbow to the head and suffering a sneaky stamp by MacKenzie whilst on the deck? A player wouldn't get livid like McClean did for no reason. Is he supposed to have raised a hand to MacKenzie?

[tricky_colour]

One of the worst referring decisions you will see, but I think it was the linesman who got him send off,
McClean did kind of square up to him by he didn't raise and arm or anything like that.
So basically he gets elbowed in the face, stamped on and then sent off for nothing!!!
I'm quite surprised McClean remains so calm under the circumstances.

[DannyInvincible]

You'll never guess what club MacKenzie started out with!

[CraftyToePoke]

You'll never guess what club MacKenzie started out with!

Ha ha, figures. Football League Show presenters were firmly in McClean's corner on it, officials got it all wrong, unless of course they have Ibrox leanings also. Maybe they ganged up :)

[Grafter]

Is it all about the poppy incident that McClean still gets hated on? e.g.https://twitter.com/JMcC_23/status/390959445360254976/photo/1

It's a wonder he keeps going back to Twitter - is it that addictive?

[CraftyToePoke]

Won his appeal anyway

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/24636889

[DannyInvincible]

Won his appeal anyway

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/24636889

Big weekend ahead. Next up; the poppy appeal...

http://www.chrisbakerremovals.com/agif1.gif

[Roberto]

Wigan away to Yeovil on Sunday so whatever McClean decides to do I don't think it will get as much publicity as last year. If he plays for Wigan tonight I wouldn't be surprised if he is not involved on Sunday which I think would be a smart move by the club. I hope he doesn't have to face this crap every year.

[tricky_colour]

should be no poppies worn by anyone it's too political

[Roberto]

should be no poppies worn by anyone it's too political

Especially by a Derry man from the Creggan estate ;)