James McClean M Wrexham b.1989

[SwanVsDalton]

Jersey signed by McClean for sale - mint condition.

Has it whitened in the wash?

[tricky_colour]

So that's it if he can't play-up front the can help prevent cavites appearing in the defence.

[tricky_colour]

Sunderland took a good pasteing today.

[SwanVsDalton]

Sunderland took a good pasteing today.


He'll take a pasteing for that sitter he missed though.

Incisor sharp wit there Tricky...;)

[SkStu]

yer all menthol.

[the bear]

playing villa soon, he'll have to brush up on delph before the match

[The Fly]

Sweet Jesus.

[Charlie Darwin]

I don't want to be the ******* who starts talking about football, but I thought he was a bit unlucky with his chance. He should have done better but it came at him quickly.

[tricky_colour]

I wondered where I got that one from!! (very short memory here!!)

[tricky_colour]

I see Sunderland flossed again

[gastric]

No wonder dentists supposedly have the highest rate of suicide in the professions when you consider some of this wit!

[Olé Olé]

Quick reference was made to this issue in the sports news on Today fm just there, so I looked it up and this is the only source I could find due to the Times online pay-to-view policy.
http://www.joe.ie/football/football-news/doubts-surround-mccleans-eligibility-for-euros-0019568-1

Basic premise of the story is that the IFA intend to drag their heels regarding McClean's ability to complete his switch. What powers do the North hold in this regard?

[Predator]

As far as I'm aware, McClean as well as the IFA and the FAI need to complete paperwork. The natural bureaucratic process delays the switch being official, but the IFA can stall if they so wish. When the IFA dragged Daniel Kearns, the FAI and FIFA to Switzerland, for example, no player's switch was finalised until after the case/outcome.

McClean can, however, take part in the squad for the upcoming game, but only for training purposes. He won't be able to play if it is not official.

[DannyInvincible]

That's certainly not optimal. For how long could an association potentially stall a switch? Indefinitely? Can FIFA force the process through with deadlines?

Out of interest, if a team was to play an ineligible player in a friendly, what, if any, would the punishment be?

[BonnieShels]

Did a quick search in the statutes and there doesn't seem to be any differentiation made by FIFA in terms of eligibility FOR a friendly match (in that eligibility for a friendly game is the same as that as a competitive "A" match).

The differentiation made between friendlies and competitive matches seems to only pertain to the acquisition of the "new" nationality.

However, I stand corrected if anyone can find anything saying otherwise as I only did a quick search.

[Predator]

That's certainly not optimal. For how long could an association potentially stall a switch? Indefinitely? Can FIFA force the process through with deadlines?To be honest, I'm not aware of the intricacies, but I believe that they can frustrate the bureaucratic process by waiting until the last minute, inaction, or otherwise. I imagine that if there is a deadline, the player and the FAI could complain to FIFA. In which case, I imagine the player could bring the IFA to the CAS? There's an idea.

Would the IFA administrators be so petty?
This is the association that brought Daniel Kearns to court in Switzerland.

If they are frustrating the process in this case - for McClean and O'Kane - then it will only reflect badly. Silly sausages.

[tricky_colour]

Let's face it, it should be a simple procedure to switch.
It would be deplorable if the IFA tried to delay it and it would reflect very badly on them if they tried to delay the process.

[geysir]

Let's fact it, that article is very very vague.

The FAI 'could encounter difficulties from the Irish Football Association'
'the FAI will need co-operation from their counterparts in the IFA, something that could prove tricky'

Not even a quote from a source close to the IFA.

[Predator]

Let's fact it, that article is very very vague.Very good! :o

[Sullivinho]

Let's face it, it should be a simple procedure to switch.
It would be deplorable if the IFA tried to delay it and it would reflect very badly on them if they
tried to delay the process.

Ah cut 'em some slack. The Kübler-Ross model takes time to work through, no sense in rushing it.

[BonnieShels]

Ah cut 'em some slack. The Kübler-Ross model takes time to work through, no sense in rushing it.

Surely they don't have to go through it for EVERY player? Christ on a bike.

Or are they just stuck on denial indefinitely?

[Sullivinho]

Surely they don't have to go through it for EVERY player? Christ on a bike.

Or are they just stuck on denial indefinitely?

I think they have someone different handling each stage. Gerry is the man for bargaining. OWC handles the anger. etc. Denial may be a situations vacant after both FIFA and CAS declined the position.

[DannyInvincible]

This piece by Paul Rowan was posted on OWC earlier. It was published yesterday, but not sure where exactly as I can't seem to find it online.


FAI in race to recruit McClean for Euros

The Republic of Ireland are involved in a race to have Sunderland midfielder James McClean available for the European Championships, but officials in Dublin are afraid that Northern Ireland may yet get in the way of the plan.

McClean signed elibility papers last week having received indications that he would be picked for the friendly squad against the Czech Republic on February 29, but the co-operation of the Irish Football Association in Belfast will be needed for that to happen and that could prove a problem given the level of anger in Northern Ireland football circles about the continued defections to the Republic.

It is believed to have taken about 10 months for Fifa to process the papers concerning the transfer of the former West Ham United player, Daniel Kearns, from the North to the Republic, with the process drawn out because the IFA didn’t immediately sign their side of the form which is needed for the transfer to take place.

The papers concerning another player, Derry-born Eunan O’Kane of Torquay United, are also taking a long time to go through.

Fifa confirmed last week that they have yet to receive the application concerning McClean, so the process could yet take months. That might explain why Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni, who was at Stamford Bridge yesterday to watch McClean, sounded so downbeat on Friday in Dublin about the player’s chances of making the squad. Ireland play their opening match of Euro 2012 against Croatia on June 10 and must submit their squad for the tournament by the end of May.

Trapattoni also said he had been watching McClean for six months, so the Football Association of Ireland must accept some blame for starting the application process so late, as the player declared for the Republic when he signed for Sunderland back in August.

Northern Ireland manager Michael O’Neill has already telephoned McClean to try to change his mind, but without success. Once the eligibility form has been completed, McClean would not be able to play again for Northern Ireland, who he represented seven times at U21 level.

However, he is still prepared to go ahead with the process, even though Trapattoni was not prepared to make any guarantees about caps when he made a media appearance in Dublin on Friday.

McClean was signed by Sunderland’s previous manager Steve Bruce for £350,000 but was fast-tracked into the first team when Martin O’Neill replaced Bruce as manager last month. He scored on his second full appearance against Wigan Athletic and has kept his place since, featuring in yesterday’s 1-0 defeat at Chelsea.

To be honest, I can't see the IFA behaving in such a petty and unprofessional manner so as to intentionally delay the switch process. I'm sure FIFA have rules and time-limits in place with some sort of reprimand in place for those failing to satisfy them. How would the process operate otherwise? Why would any association bother signing anything if there was no obligation to do it? These articles are all very vague and speculative; journalists pretending they know more than they actually do.

Are the IFA still angry anyway? Officially and publicly, they've gone down the route of accepting things as they stand whilst acknowledging the ball is in their court if they wish to attract players to play for them.

Regarding Kearns, I'm pretty sure that took 10 months because of the delay caused by the CAS case, no? :confused:

The sentence I've highlighted in bold cannot be correct either. I'm not sure where he got that information from, but the cases of Tony Kane, Michael O'Connor and even Bobby Zamora stand in direct contradiction to that.

[Charlie Darwin]

Paul Rowan writes for the Sunday Times so I assume that's where it's from.

[Olé Olé]

http://greenscene.me/2011/10/eunan-okane-waiting-on-international-clearance/

O'Kane understood that the paperwork wouldn't be in place in time for him to play against Liechtenstein. Subsequently, the under 21's played Liechtenstein again November and O'Kane wasn't in that squad either.

Not sure if this is a relevant point, but I haven't seen Daniel Devine receive any FAI call-up since he declared his allegiance. He also played under 21 for the North. I'm wondering has his paperwork gone through because he would have been eligible for the European championships in July, although Doolin seemed to favour sticking with the core who gained qualification, as far as I know. Not that his declaration is simple reason to call him up immediately, but he played a few games at championship level last season.

[tricky_colour]

Any how the IFA should not be able to delay it, if they can then the problem is with FIFA allowing the to do it.

[DannyInvincible]

Any how the IFA should not be able to delay it, if they can then the problem is with FIFA allowing the to do it.

To be honest, I can't envisage how they would. I think it's just a case of semi-knowledgeable journalists filling the gaps with vague speculation rather than actually doing a bit of investigation into whether there are rules surrounding such procedures. It would be hard to imagine these procedures were not governed by any legal framework.

Anyway, I've done a bit of investigation myself. As article 8.3 of the Regulations Governing the Application of the Statutes states:


Any Player who has the right to change Associations in accordance with par. 1 and 2 above shall submit a written, substantiated request to the FIFA general secretariat. The Players' Status Committee shall decide on the request. The procedure will be in accordance with the Rules Governing the Procedures of the Players' Status Committee and the Dispute Resolution Chamber. Once the Player has filed his request, he is not eligible to play for any representative team until his request has been processed.

Here are the Rules Governing the Procedures of the Players' Status Committee and the Dispute Resolution Chamber: http://www.thefa.com/TheFA/RulesandRegulations/Agents/BecommingAnFALicensedAgent/~/media/Files/PDF/TheFA/Agents/Rules%20Governing%20the%20Procedures.ashx/Rules%20Governing%20the%20Procedures.pdf

I'm not sure if that's the current version as it was published in 2008, but article 16.1 does state, "Procedural acts must be conducted within the time limit prescribed by the rules or by the decision-making body." 16.11 states, "Time limits that are to be set by the Players’ Status Committee and the DRC should normally run for no less than ten and no more than twenty days. In urgent cases, time limits may be reduced to 24 hours."

I assume that's relevant to the procedure in question and any current edition would feature similar, or would a player switch be deemed something other than a "procedural act"? It doesn't appear to outline any specific sanction, although I've only had a quick skim through.

Edit: Sorry, the 2010 version, here, which appears to be the most recent: http://www.fifa.com/mm/document/affederation/administration/01/27/68/28/verfahrensordnung2010_efsd.pdf

I think it's more or less the same.

[geysir]

Those are the terms of emancipation as proclaimed by FIFA, but as we have learned from history, what follows are decades of intimidation and suppression. The IFA Klan are prisoners of history.

[ArdeeBhoy]

Heh, Danny don't think it really matters.
Delaying McClean playing for Ireland just strikes me, if it happens, as a stunt by the IFA to 'appease' some of their more vociferous supporters and/or detractors of JMcC.

[ArdeeBhoy]

http://www.wsc.co.uk/content/view/8227/38/

[dr_peepee]

Assist for McLean there.... Looked to me from the replays that he was setting himself up for a shot on the turn in the area rather than the cultured lay off it appeared to be first hand!!

[DannyInvincible]

Think you're right.

Video here: http://www.101greatgoals.com/gvideos/golazo-stephane-sessegnon-v-swansea/

[tetsujin1979]

Interview with McClean in the Times: http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/sport/2012/0128/1224310868884.html

[Sullivinho]

McClean and O'Shea start for Sunderland vs Middlesbrough in the FA Cup today. Westwood and Meyler on the bench. Live on ITV1.

[tetsujin1979]

Excellent assist from McClean for Campbell's equaliser

[BonnieShels]

That was a lovely pass.

[BonnieShels]

He's had a great game today. He never stops going.He'll be on the plane.

[BonnieShels]

He's had a great game today. He never stops going.He'll be on the plane.Almost won it for them at the end.

[dantheman]

Played well again. Another few matches like this and he'll be in contention

[Murfinator]

Personally I think considering we're playing 3 teams with some of the best defenders in the game that the strong direct running style of winger that McClean is isn't very well suited. He's a very English style player and I think he'll have a bright future in the EPL but its that sort of one dimensional player the England squad is littered with that has been the reason they've been dreadful in every major tournament for the past 10 years. He's the style of player who'd wreck any poor to mediocre side but be also nullified by a top class full back is what I'm saying.

The likes of Duff, McGeady and even Lawrence or Fahey out wide have more strings to their bow and given the limited central options I would say that kind of more complex winger who doesn't look for the first time delivery, can hold up possession and is comfortable cutting inside is absolutely essential.

[Sullivinho]

Dynamic sort of fella. He'll bop you in the gob if y'get too close too. Are you watching Trap?

[SkStu]

the rave reviews he is getting for today are quite incredible... and these are just a selection from BBC.

"Major shame that Sunderland's James McClean isn't English. Has been a key part of Sunderland's revival under Martin O'Neill!"

"McClean reminds me of the young James Milner at Leeds and Villa. Strong, quick, direct. Could be a great Premiership player."

Former Sunderland defender Michael Gray for BBC Radio 5 live at the Stadium of Light on James McClean: "He's been first class out there. What's great about him is that he gets himself wide on the left and that's so horrible to play against as a defender. If he keeps getting the ball and putting the crosses in it's only a matter of time before Sunderland score from one."

"Martin O'Neill has drawn some superb performances from the likes of James McClean since his arrival as manager, is he the man to get Wickham firing?"

[tetsujin1979]

If McClean goes, who gets dropped from the squad?

[Adrianovic]

If McClean goes, who gets dropped from the squad?

I would take Duff, McGeady, Hunt and McClean as it stands.

But the reality is players will go in and out of form between now and the summer and, sadly, a couple of players will miss out through injury. It's great that we have options.

[tetsujin1979]

I would take Duff, McGeady, Hunt and McClean as it stands.

But the reality is players will go in and out of form between now and the summer and, sadly, a couple of players will miss out through injury. It's great that we have options.

so drop Coleman?

[Adrianovic]

so drop Coleman?

Yeah, at the moment he would be the man to miss out for me. He's having a so-so season with Everton up to this point.

I take Duff and McGeady as certainties, and I would just like Hunt in the squad because he's a great option to come on and give us some hustle with 15 mins to play if we're chasing a result.

[tricky_colour]

James McClean: Sunderland’s Overnight £50m Sensation http://www.sabotagetimes.com/football-sport/james-mcclean-sunderlands-overnight-50m-sensation/

[tricky_colour]

Personally I think considering we're playing 3 teams with some of the best defenders in the game that the strong direct running style of winger that McClean is isn't very well suited. He's a very English style player and I think he'll have a bright future in the EPL but its that sort of one dimensional player the England squad is littered with that has been the reason they've been dreadful in every major tournament for the past 10 years. He's the style of player who'd wreck any poor to mediocre side but be also nullified by a top class full back is what I'm saying.

The likes of Duff, McGeady and even Lawrence or Fahey out wide have more strings to their bow and given the limited central options I would say that kind of more complex winger who doesn't look for the first time delivery, can hold up possession and is comfortable cutting inside is absolutely essential.

Funny I was reading your post and thinking about replying that well Nottingham Forest became the best team in Europe with a player
like John Robertson who had a similar style, however I never bothered replying until I realise that the comparison to Robertson
was made in the article I just posted.
I am pretty sure I had not read the article before I thought of Robertson but maybe I had glimpsed it subconsciously because it seems
quite a coincidence!! The article also refers to Robertson's fitness or lack there of I definitely had not read that but was aware
he liked his chips.

[amaccann]

I saw the game today - first real chance I had to watch McClean in action after all the rave reviews being thrown about. In many ways he reminds me of Kevin Kilbane: he has a good work ethic, no problem in helping out & is a team player, like Kilbane though he seems slightly 1-dimensional going forward. He certainly doesn't have the same subtle, technical skills of a Duff or McGeady. Though in fairness, he does seem to have a good eye for the right pass - the one that set-up the goal was as slick as could be.

Deserves to be called into the squad for a friendly; not sure about the final squad for the plane.

[BonnieShels]

How many more dimensions does a harrying winger that likes to put himself about need?
His subtlety will come, he's only 22, he's only played 9 games or something for Sunderland. He's taken like a duck to water and long may it continue.

Do love that the start of the begrudgery is raising it's head above the parapet.