James McClean M Wrexham b.1989

[tricky_colour]

He didn't get a great rating for the game in the stats here, second worse of the season in fact,
seems like he didn't get MOTM in the rating they use, but I guess stats do no always give a true reflection of play.

http://www.whoscored.com/Players/76050

[DeLorean]

Singled out as the star man by Independent.co.uk (http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/west-brom-vs-arsenal-player-ratings-mikel-arteta-endures-a-horror-show-as-james-mcclean-stars-for-a6743511.html) also. He was one of only two players they gave an 8/10 rating, the other being James Morrison.


James McClean - 8 out of 10 Fantastic run down the left before crossing into goal-mouth produced Arteta's own-goal. He gave Bellerin plenty to think about as he drifted across midfield at will.

[punkrocket]

And why wouldn't he :confused:?

Saluting a feckin' Linfield flag? Are you mad?

[Stuttgart88]

He didn't get a great rating for the game in the stats here, second worse of the season in fact,
seems like he didn't get MOTM in the rating they use, but I guess stats do no always give a true reflection of play.

http://www.whoscored.com/Players/76050maybe there's a lesson here tricky, heretical as it might sound?

[backstothewall]

McClean is an odd one.

I was sitting watching him come on the other night, and I turned to the brother when he ran on and said 'Naa, not his night'. I had the exact opposite when he came on against Poland.

It's like he is the most straightforward guy in the world. You can tell from his body language exactly what is going to happen. If it is a big game, or he has been sitting stewing watching a crap performance for 60 minutes, he'll tear the place up. Otherwise it's usually so-so.

I also can't help but like the guy. His no ****s given attitude is so refreshing in this era of the usual media trained guys

[tricky_colour]

maybe there's a lesson here tricky, heretical as it might sound?


Maybe, I think about 5 of the 22 on the pitch got a better rating

This is petty good, it shows how each player played ie James made 2 dribble and 3 tackles.

Sanchez made 11 dribbles but he was disposessed twice.

Actually that is a really good feature, tonnes of info on it.

http://www.whoscored.com/Matches/959687/Live/England-Premier-League-2015-2016-West-Bromwich-Albion-Arsenal

[tricky_colour]

Goalllllllllllllllllllll!!!

Good headed goal, long cross in from the right,got up above a defender

[tetsujin1979]

First goal for West Brom for McClean

[DannyInvincible]

Goal here: https://streamable.com/2ncy?t=2.3

[Charlie Darwin]

Took it well. Good man Seamus.

[seanfhear]

Well timed run . Very hard for the defender to have the same momentum to challenge for the ball.

[SwanVsDalton]

Just watching Match of the Day - should have been sent off for a fairly brutal tackle on Dembele. Classic McClean.

[thischarmingman]

Great goal, but very lucky to be on the pitch at the end.

[DannyInvincible]

Great endeavour to win the header and power it into the net for the goal, although just seeing his late tackle on Dembele now on 'MOTD' and it was pretty reckless. I don't think there was intent to harm, but he completely missed the ball and instead connected with Dembele's shin with the swinging leg. Lucky to have gotten away with a yellow-card.

[Charlie Darwin]

Ridiculous tackle. Needs to sort his head out - having a great game, just keep the aggression on a reasonable leash.

[tricky_colour]

Interview with James, I recommend putting the subtitle/captions on if you are struggling to understand :) (the cc button)


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0DRkM21uvt8

[seanfhear]

Pulis should school him on controlled aggression. Pulis is the man to do it. I would say he is pretty good on the controlled aggression himself.

[Charlie Darwin]

Pulis should school him on controlled aggression. Pulis is the man to do it. I would say he is pretty good on the controlled aggression himself.
I'd say he'd have started in the shower after the game had James seen red.

[DannyInvincible]

Some very high praise from Pulis: http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2015/1206/751637-pulis-praises-fantastic-mcclean-after/


"James has become a favourite here at the Hawthorns through his challenges and the way he picks up the ball,” Pulis told the club's website.

"He started sloppy and gave the first two balls away, but I have been delighted with him and he has been fantastic for us."

The former Stoke boss missed the game due to illness, with joint assistant head coach David Kemp taking the reins. Kemp echoed the manager’s sentiments, and said McClean must now try to kick on and add more goals to his game.

"He has been playing ever so well and goals are probably what he hasn't brought to the team. He got a terrific goal here and hopefully he can go on and score a few more.

"We've been very pleased with him. His performances have been excellent. He's been fantastic. I don't think anyone was doing somersaults when we signed him and felt he was going to have a big influence here but he has been tremendous.

"He's part of the group, sets the tone for the rest of the team with his energy and his performances have been top class."

[DeLorean]

He was lucky to avoid a red card for a poor tackle on Dembele in the second half as well. Great to see him going so well though, I would have thought he'd be in and out of the side at best if I'm honest.

[tetsujin1979]

Really? When he signed, I thought he was the most stereotypical Pulis player he ever bought!

[DeLorean]

He is for sure but I just didn't see him making this big an impact and playing as well so consistently. It had been a long time since he really performed at that level, i.e. his honeymoon period with Sunderland in early 2012. I was happy he got the move to West Brom, I just didn't see it going this well this quickly. Long may it continue.

[Charlie Darwin]

Straight red. To paraphrase Paul O'Shea, he's been a red card waiting to happen.

[DeLorean]

Did you hear anything else Charlie? Deserved, harsh, etc?

[CraftyToePoke]

BBC5 saying it was a deserved red.

[CraftyToePoke]

They have just elaborated on that to 'stupidly sent off for a callous foul'

[tricky_colour]

I would imagine it was harsh, the tackle that is, not see it yet though


James McClean (West Bromwich Albion) is shown the red card for violent conduct.

[Charlie Darwin]

https://vine.co/v/iKATwKg5Ar1

[DannyInvincible]

iKATwKg5Ar1

Probably fair enough. He connected with Smith's shin with studs up, even if the Bournemouth player did make a meal of it.

James will need to stamp it out. He's been a bit rash in the tackle of late. Is Pulis encouraging his aggression?

[seanfhear]

Hopefully Pulis sorts James out. This was gust going to happen. The Refs were probably just waiting for their chance. James just had to hand them the opportunity.

If he continues in this manner then he is just too much of a risk to have on our team.

[seanfhear]

iKATwKg5Ar1

Probably fair enough. He connected with Smith's shin with studs up, even if the Bournemouth player did make a meal of it.

James will need to stamp it out. He's been a bit rash in the tackle of late. Is Pulis encouraging his aggression?Not that different to other "challenges" that he has got away with. He better learn or……. ???

[CraftyToePoke]

I think Pulis might be advocating a more controlled aggression style, yes.

Picture him doing that ten minutes into a game at the Euros.

[DeLorean]

Rondon lost the rag, might take the heat off McClean a bit.

[tricky_colour]

#outofcharacter

[tetsujin1979]

Not that kind of player

[tricky_colour]

But seriously it is just a badly timed challenge, yellow card maybe, but red???

If that ref does not get his act together he will be joining Mourinho on the dole.

[Stuttgart88]

It was a shocking tackle. He had lost the rag a few moments earlier and had set out to get him, with or without getting the ball first. As seanfhear says, he is a risk to pick in a big game if he can't control himself.

[tricky_colour]

It is a bit odd he seem to have a go at the same player earlier on and made out he had fouled
him, but it looked to me as if McClean had trod on his foot not the other way around.
Still at least it was not Arter!!

[DeLorean]

It was a shocking tackle. He had lost the rag a few moments earlier and had set out to get him, with or without getting the ball first. As seanfhear says, he is a risk to pick in a big game if he can't control himself.

Yeah this might be a good lesson for him though and better for it to cost West Brom than us. He obviously didn't learn from his close shaves so hopefully this will have the desired effect. Martin O'Neill was talking about it on Goals on Sunday. (http://www.balls.ie/football/martin-oneill-james-mcclean-goals-on-sunday/319847)

[tricky_colour]

Despite what I said earlier I think McClean was fouled earlier and the ref gave nothing, granted it was hard to see what happened.

All in all I think it should have been yellow.

The MOTD commentator was surprised when he got red.

But anyway, he got closer to the ball then Roy Keane did. ;)

[MeathDrog]

All in all I think it should have been yellow.


Let's all be glad that you're not a referee.

[DeLorean]

The motd commentator was surprised initially but agreed it was a definite red having seen the replays.

[jbyrne]

after the initial coming together incident I knew what was coming next as mcclean set off back down the pitch in pursuit and could only watch through my fingers!
it was complete stupidity and I was embarrassed for him. straight red no doubt. its a real pity as he will now miss three matches at a time when he has made himself a regular in the west brom team. he may find it hard to get back in and at the very least the momentum of his seasons development will be interrupted. hopefully we benefit from the lesson I hope he learns from the incident

[thischarmingman]

3 game ban

http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2015/1222/755731-james-mcclean-banned-for-three-games/

[tricky_colour]

Let's all be glad that you're not a referee.

Looked like a good (Mc) Clean tackle to me

You gotta keep the game flowing. :)

Actually I would have spotted the first foul on McClean and sent the other guy off.

[Yard of Pace]

Clever from McClean to give himself a Christmas break so he'll have fresher legs to torment the tiring Swedish fullbacks in June.

[tricky_colour]

Yep and enjoy a good Christmas booze up too, mind you June is a little far away.
Anyhow looks like the poor lad will be stuck at home getting hammered!!

[tetsujin1979]

Pretty sure he's teetotal

[tricky_colour]

Yea he might well be, that did cross my mind actually.

[thischarmingman]

Pretty sure he's teetotal

He is. Which reminds me that someone on our forum once mentioned sitting beside him on a supporters bus to a DCFC game (when he was still unknown) and him turning down can after can.