James McClean M Wrexham b.1989

The one thing that stood out about McClean for Derry was that he could shoot with venom off both foot from anywhere, but it's something he's gradually lost in England. I don't think it would do him any harm to play as a centre forward and learn to trust his shooting again.

Just made it 2-0 at Elland Road to give Malky Mackay his first win as manager. Not sure if he's playing up front or on the wing.

was looking for his goal but found and earlier piece of skill

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qiir2LHh8QU

Does not play for me so here is the link.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qiir2LHh8QU

http://www.wigantoday.net/sport/wiga...ward-1-7054319

Two goals and an assist in his last three league appearances – not to mention three man-of-the-match awards – show he is making his mark down the middle.

Not something I'd have spotted in him. Anyone else?

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Originally Posted by Stuttgart88

Not something I'd have spotted in him. Anyone else?

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Paul must surely have predicted this already somewhere around page 1 or 2 of the thread?

Lucky to still be on the pitch but McClean has scored again to draw Wigan level at 1-1.

He was very lucky. This video doesn't show it but it was a very strong tackle. His goal is at 0:28.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k1K5UfmGU80

This is his goal in their defeat to Birmingham the week before, cracker.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m1SxUOS9s2c

McClean was a serious source of goals for us though never played through the middle - was prone to coming in off the wing to shoot or popping up at the back post for crosses. A high-confidence McClean looking to score is a serious asset.

He is on good form, what's the betting he won't score in his next match?

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Originally Posted by SwanVsDalton

McClean was a serious source of goals for us though never played through the middle - was prone to coming in off the wing to shoot or popping up at the back post for crosses. A high-confidence McClean looking to score is a serious asset.

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Well I suppose 'good' is in the context of our general ability to score goals, 4 in 25.

The Irish News have reported that they understand James will be a Hull player by the end of the day, although Hull have since denied interest, according to Matt Dean of the BBC.

hull not interested, say rte.

This story from the Sentinel caught my attention earlier and made me smile due to its non-story-plucked-completely-out-of-thin-air nature: http://www.londonderrysentinel.co.uk...ean-1-6556226#

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Deadline Day: Celtic to move for ex-Derry City winger McClean

Scottish Premiership champions Celtic could make a surprise move for ex-Derry City winger James McClean.

The Wigan man, who is currently playing up front for Malky Mackay’s side, is a massive Celtic supporter and if the Parkhead men made a move then a switch, even on loan, could happen.

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Unsurprisingly, no move to Glasgow ever transpired.

i'd expect mcclean is on a decent enough wage so wigan will surely look to offload him in the summer unless they somehow claw themselves out of this relegation battle - which doesn't look likely.

i hope he doesn't go the way of doyle/ward and drop off in his performance level as his club falls through the leagues. mainly because i get the feeling o'neill will play him regardless.

Celtic had made enquiries about McClean, after all, along with Hull and Derby, but Mackay was keen to hold on to him, according to Garry Doyle in the Irish Independent: http://www.independent.ie/sport/socc...-30958584.html

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Originally Posted by Garry Doyle

After an intense weekend of talks involving Derby County, Hull City and Scottish champions Celtic, the Irish international was forced to accept that his immediate future lies with Championship strugglers Wigan.

Having sold four of their highest earners in this transfer window, the Latics were adamant that in-form McClean would not be joining Shaun Maloney, Callum McManaman, Ben Watson and Adam Forshaw in exiting the DW Stadium.

And with 18 months left on his contract, there is no guarantee he will be leaving in June or July either, unless relegation-threatened Wigan suffer demotion to League One. In those circumstances, a move would be inevitable.

Pursuers

For now, though, McClean is staying, in spite of a number of enquiries made by three pursuers since Saturday.

Derby called first, suggesting they were prepared to make a bid, but were told in no uncertain terms that no deal was possible.

Next came Hull. Their interest didn't match Derby's in terms of intent, whereas Celtic showed considerably more conviction.

Yet Wigan refused to take down their not-for-sale sign.

And even when a loan move was suggested as a possibility, the Lancashire club's policy didn't shift.

And so McClean is staying, a victim of the fact he has endeared himself to Wigan's new manager Malky MacKay.

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Derby ended up getting Tom Ince on loan instead. They were left without a wide player when Liverpool recalled Jordon Ibe from his loan spell, for no apparent reason other than maybe Europa League back up. I would have thought it would have been better for the player's development to stay at Derby really. I wonder if Celtic would be McClean's first choice or would he prefer a way back to the PL, and the extra cash that would inevitably come with it.

Surely he would have plumped for the Hull or Derby options. I'd have gone with Derby, personally. The way Hull are going, they've as good a chance as being in the PL next season as Derby.

McClean is an emotional sort though, it seems. I can't imagine he would have found it easy rejecting Celtic were the option presented to him.

He's not moving now but there's a bit of impetus added for him to continue his recent good showing between now and the summer.

Scored the third in Wigan's 3-1 win over Darren O'Dea almost-certainly-relegated Blackpool. Wigan still nine points from safety.