James McClean M Wrexham b.1989

Judging by the highlights he had a poor game. Missed a sitter, fell asleep for second goal which allowed Morrison in for a free header. Was also slow in closing down the WBA striker for 3rd goal. Ah well, he can't be perfect all the time.

I wouldn't worry too much, from the highlights it looked like every Sunderland player had just suffered a horrendous comedown. Some of the defending was appalling, the players didn't look interested at all, in stark contrast to previous games.

I wonder if he'll get a run on Wednesday? Should be interesting.

On Twitter the @RTESoccer feed quoting Trap as saying that both McClean and Shane Duffy will play at some stage on Wednesday.

Article on McClean by Paul Rowan in the Sunday Times:

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Originally Posted by Paul Rowan

McClean: Hate messages in North will not ruin my Republic dream

James McClean says his dream of playing for the Republic of Ireland will not be broken by a deluge of hate mail posted on Twitter after he was named in Giovanni Trapattoni’s squad to face the Czech Republic on Wednesday. McClean also revealed that he might have stayed with Northern Ireland — who he played for seven times at U21 level — had he been called up to the senior squad earlier.

However it is the scale of abuse, some of it threatening in nature, which will most worry Sunderland and those closest to him.

“I’ve been getting a lot of hate messages every day. Around 50 to 100. I’m quite capable of giving some back myself, so it is not too bad,” McClean said. “I don’t mind abuse being directed at me. I can take that. But there have been times when they have been abusing my girlfriend, saying things about her and saying things about my family which is a different matter altogether.”

McClean, who played in Sunderland’s 4-0 defeat at West Brom yesterday, spoke about the hate messages after his parents were alerted to them by a tabloid newspaper during the week.

“It’s been crazy. I got a lot of abuse when I was not named in the original squad. Gloating messages. And now that I have been called in the squad it has been more angry, more heated messages.

“I am not too popular. One comment said ‘you’re from Londonderry. You’re a Fenian ****. I hope you break your leg’. I sort of expected that. It doesn’t really bother me.

“People need to understand that I grew up a Republic of Ireland fan. I’m from Derry. It is a quite nationalist area and my dream was always to play for the Republic.”

McClean, 22, who signed for Sunderland from Derry City last August for a fee of £250,000 (about €295,000), also said that he might have remained with Northern Ireland had he not been ignored by the then senior team manager Nigel Worthington for the Carling Nations Cup in May.

“I maybe would have played for the north. I had been playing well with Derry City week in week out and he wasn’t picking me but was picking players from the [Northern] Irish League. I don’t know why. I didn’t hear from them for two years and then I got a call up when I was signed by Sunderland when I hadn’t even kicked a ball for the club.”

However, it is clear that despite the abuse McClean is delighted to have made the switch and he could receive his first cap on Wednesday night, after he was cleared by Fifa to play for the Republic, a step that was quickly facilitated by the present Northern Ireland manager Michael O’Neill.

“I had a few chats with Michael and he asked what he could do to change my mind. He said if I am sure in my mind that I want to play for the Republic then he will sign the papers and get it done for me as soon as possible. I appreciate that a lot. He understands the decision and he hasn’t put any pressure on me.”

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Mcclean was very lazy in not tracking Morrison for second goal. One mistake I know but that is the sort of stuff trap will not pick him for. At the other end he got on the end of a good cross and narrowly missed, if he had connected, would've been yet another goal for sure.

Some very mature comments from McClean there which is great to see.

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Originally Posted by DannyInvincible

Article on McClean by Paul Rowan in the Sunday Times:

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I see "mature" young James is introducing words like "fenian", when no such word was used in the vile tweet to which he refers. He was called a "dirty rebel ****" in the tweet.

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Originally Posted by nigel-harps1954

Some very mature comments from McClean there which is great to see.

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Very confusing comments.

Being a proud Irish Republican, he intimates that he might have turned down the opportunity to realise his lifetime dream to play for the South, if only he had been selected to play for Northern Ireland in the Carling Cup.

Maturity would be to ignore the scumbags abusing him and his girlfriend on Twitter.

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Originally Posted by Not Brazil

I see "mature" young James is introducing words like "fenian", when no such word was used in the vile tweet to which he refers. He was called a "dirty rebel ****" in the tweet.

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Do you think he's making it all up?

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Originally Posted by Not Brazil

Very confusing comments.

Being a proud Irish Republican, he intimates that he might have turned down the opportunity to realise his lifetime dream to play for the South, if only he had been selected to play for Northern Ireland in the Carling Cup.

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McClean's a realist. He realises that when he was a Derry City player his dream was unlikely to materialise. He has stated that having got the move to the Premier League, he wished to wait and pursue his dream. I don't see what point you're trying to make.

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Originally Posted by Not Brazil

Maturity would be to ignore the scumbags abusing him and his girlfriend on Twitter.

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Maybe. However fair play to him for shaming those fools.

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Originally Posted by Predator

Do you think he's making it all up?

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No...just changing words.

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Originally Posted by Predator

Maybe. However fair play to him for shaming those fools.

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They shame themselves....whoever they are.

I don't think McClean comes out of the whole Twitter thing looking "mature", that's for sure.

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Originally Posted by Not Brazil

Maturity would be to ignore the scumbags abusing him and his girlfriend on Twitter.

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Well at least we all agree on one thing.

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Originally Posted by Predator

McClean's a realist. He realises that when he was a Derry City player his dream was unlikely to materialise. He has stated that having got the move to the Premier League, he wished to wait and pursue his dream. I don't see what point you're trying to make.

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I think you know fine rightly the point I'm making.

The Carling Cup thing is a red herring.

Had he of played in it, I believe he still would have jumped ship to the South when the move to Sunderland materialised.

He's from "quite a nationalist area" after all, and always supported the South. it was always his dream to play for the South.

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Originally Posted by Not Brazil

I see "mature" young James is introducing words like "fenian", when no such word was used in the vile tweet to which he refers. He was called a "dirty rebel ****" in the tweet.

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In your eyes, James is somewhat less than mature because his recollection of the tweet was 'you’re from Londonderry. You’re a Fenian ****. I hope you break your leg’

when in fact the actual tweet was 'Your from Londonderry you dirty wee t**t NI is your country and your a dirty rebel c**t go f**k yourself break a leg!!'

You need help NB, this obsession with James has gone beyond the boundaries of what we know to be rational.

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Originally Posted by Not Brazil

No...just changing words.

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Maybe he's mixing the comment up with one of the other couple of hundred.

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Originally Posted by Not Brazil

They shame themselves....whoever they are.

I don't think McClean comes out of the whole Twitter thing looking "mature", that's for sure.

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You don't really like James that much, so that is not surprising. However, you're right, they do shame themselves. James is simply publicizing their shameful comments.

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Originally Posted by Not Brazil

I see "mature" young James is introducing words like "fenian", when no such word was used in the vile tweet to which he refers. He was called a "dirty rebel ****" in the tweet.

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it's entirely possible the message he's referring to was deleted, or was private so noone else saw it

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Originally Posted by Not Brazil

He's from "quite a nationalist area" after all, and always supported the South. it was always his dream to play for the South.

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Reminds me of Niall McGinn.

McClean says that "maybe" he "might" have played for the IFA had he played in the CNC. He does not state that he would certainly have played for the IFA.

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Originally Posted by tetsujin1979

it's entirely possible the message he's referring to was deleted, or was private so noone else saw it

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Seems fairly likely the word 'fenian' might have got thrown into the significant abuse he was getting. The insinuation he's spinning it, whether you intend or not NB, is frankly ridiculous.

I think James would be best cancelling his Twitter account. It only encourages these bigots to post their vile posts.
On the other hand I understand how, for career reasons, he would have played for NI. It would have put him in the shop window a lot earlier. NI loss is our gain. I'm delighted that the lad will now get to play for the country he supported as a kid. He is a great ambassador for all the other nationalist kids who support the ROI up there. I hope many more of these kids go on to play for us. After all it is now their birthright.