James McClean M Wrexham b.1989

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Originally Posted by joe_denilson

I'd say there's a tradition where new squad members have to sing in front of the team or something. It'd make me **** bricks too.

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Yeah, that's it. Shane Long mentioned in an interview that Reading have the same tradition. It turns out our Shane is quite handy at the aul guitar and has a nice voice to boot. Whether McClean is Derry male's answer to Nadine Coyle remains to be see.

Delighted for McClean, it's brilliant news. And there's definitely a method to the madness with regard Trap expanding the squad and not calling up James initially. I think it's clear he's also in Trap's plans for the Euro's. When there's a player excelling at Premiership level who holds attributes that Trap would value (work-rate, stamina etc.) and will improve the team then it would be silly not to pit them against Spain.

There's not much more he can do to work his way into Trap's plans short of donating a kidney to Trap.

http://www.paddypower.com/football/f...grp_ids=503682

Paddy Power have Jimmy Mac at 8/11 to make the Irish squad. Looking positive

Ciaran Clark at 6/1 might be worth a small bet, as stated, he can provide injury cover for all four defensive positions plus central midfield.

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Originally Posted by dantheman

http://www.paddypower.com/football/f...grp_ids=503682

Paddy Power have Jimmy Mac at 8/11 to make the Irish squad. Looking positive

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Paddy's don't know any more than us, they're just responding to the surge in interest. It's far too uncertain for them to offer attractive odds.

Clark at 6/1 is worth a punt though.

Randolph 16/1 isn't bad either. Especially as an injury to any of the other three should see him called up.

Great news, though am wondering what prompted the sudden change of heart. Trap's not exactly known to go by popular opinion, and there's no indication this is a replacement through injury.

i think he finally realised that he could fit into the system - he's more likely to play more PL football between now and the end of the season than Hunt, he's a nightmare for any full-back with his direct approach , i just hope he gets 20 min aganst the Czech's next week

Serious question, do you think McClean would cause Sergio Ramos more problems than Duff or McGeady? Even Hunt's ripped a couple of quality full backs apart for us.

It will be interesting to see what impact McClean will have, whenever he gets a chance to bed into the squad. I've seen him play a few times for Sunderland where he benefits from much of the play going down his side due to Sessegnon favoring that side. He'll bring at minimum great attitude and high work rate. Beyond that I'm not sure what to expect at a higher level against better defenders, technically he is adequate. He seems a decent passer and crosser of the ball, he's a big lump who is direct. He's better than Lawrence and Hunt, and would provide a better option than either from the bench. His presence on the bench would probably be a motivator for McGeady and he'll be brought on when more direct options are required. He's a good option to have, I don't know what his potential is but I think his current fame will be temporary.

Piece I wrote for Goal about why McClean's call-up doesn't mean he'll be playing any time soon:
http://www.goal.com/en-ie/news/3920/...way-with-james

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Originally Posted by AlaskaFox

Piece I wrote for Goal about why McClean's call-up doesn't mean he'll be playing any time soon:

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I've lost all respect for you.

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Originally Posted by theworm2345

I've lost all respect for you.

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You had some before now?

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Originally Posted by AlaskaFox

"Break a leg" Ah that's nice, wishing him good luck.

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Your man who posted that has deleted his account.

That's unfortunate..

had a funny feeling mccleans call up was coming. anyone think its traps way of keeping him grounded? i reckon he knows what hes doing, paul green is thrown in their to keep mcclean from getting a big head too

I think that's closer to the mark. Things have been moving fast for McClean since he broke into the first team with a bullet.
All of a sudden he's supposed to be the man to carry the hopes of his club and country.

Green has been playing well for Derby since he returned from injury but I thought we were past needing him.

Last I looked, Trap doesn't call players up for the craic.

not for the craic its for the benefit of the squad, gently breaking a rising star in without stepping on anyones toes, maybe he feared ill will from squad members if he was thrown right in. do you think he will get game time? i do

as for green do you honestly think he's in the running for a place on plane, i doubt he will get on for czech match

I'm not sure whether he feared any ill will by not calling him up because, as he stated in the most recent press conference, he didn't call up McClean initially so as to preserve the continuity of the current group.

Yeah, he surely will get a run. I think it's as simple as this: if he performs well against the Czechs and is well received by the group then Stephen Hunt will be warned that his place on the plane to Poland is not certain. Whether Trap is actually willing to drop Hunt, I'm not sure. But I think there's more function to calling up McClean than bedding in.

i wouldn't like to see hunt dropped but i also hope mcclean can come in and make an impact, there could be a few tough decisions for trap come the summer. whats your view on teh reasonng behind the late call up

I can't be quite sure. All we can do at the moment is speculate. But there was definitely a reason for it. Maybe to keep everyone guessing about whether McClean will be considered for the squad for the actual Euro's, the Spaniards, Croats and Italians included.