James McClean M Wrexham b.1989

Posted this on his Instagram under a picture of a longer message to the fans.

"This a post to be honest i didn’t envision i would be writing, i was committed to this club, i couldn’t have tried more to show that, all summer the talks i had about extending my deal here seemed to be positive and i got led to believe that would be case, Monday 5 days out from the start of the season, a season where i was honoured to be asked to captain and lead this club forward, i was then told that any new deal was not going to happen as unfortunately i don’t fit the criteria of the new ownerships model as i am over the age of 32 to extend, which left me with the most difficult decision i have had to to make in this game but look thats football, thats life and the new ownership don’t owe me anything.

I don’t want this to come across negative i just felt its important to explain because NO contract was offered or was going to be offered due to the reasons above

This is a club i love and i wish this club all the success in the world"

I think it’s an exciting move for him. And a mature one on his part. He’ll continue enjoying his football.
His international career is surely over but he may have felt that anyway after Greece game. 100 caps. Owes us nothing.
Thanks for some great memories James

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Originally Posted by Fixer82

I think it’s an exciting move for him. And a mature one on his part. He’ll continue enjoying his football.
His international career is surely over but he may have felt that anyway after Greece game. 100 caps. Owes us nothing.
Thanks for some great memories James

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Perfectly said

Got in an online spat with fans questioning the merits of calling up an ageing fourth-tier player.

Interestingly, he agrees with me that League Two is clearly of a higher level than the League of Ireland, and suggests that LOI players aren't worthy of being called up. He also considers the English fourth tier to be of a better standard than the Scottish Premiership, aside from the Old Firm.

https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/footb...ll-up-30848746

Little surprised at that, the majority of LOI players that have gone over to L1 and L2 clubs haven't looked out of place

They'd be the top players though. And some haven't done great, like Hoban or McGinty

hes right. outside of the old firm the spl is god awful.

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Originally Posted by pineapple stu

They'd be the top players though. And some haven't done great, like Hoban or McGinty

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Yes, they're picking out the best LoI players, and those ones often are up to League 1 or League 2 standard. But that doesn't mean the league as a whole is. In fact, with so many of the better players moving over in that way I think the domestic league has gone backwards if anything in the last year. European results would seem to back up that view also.

For what it's worth the next three biggest teams in Scotland after the big two generally find themselves competing with clubs in the top half of League 1 for players. So I think he's got that one wrong, but that will just be down to a lack of knowledge on his part, he's never played in Scotland so, like most supporters of the Glasgow teams, will have next to no understanding of the rest of the league.

As a general point, he should just have kept quiet. As a League 2 player he's exceptionally lucky to be in the squad, it's very rare that we call up any player at that level and I think the current manager is about the only manager who would have done it.

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Originally Posted by tetsujin1979

Little surprised at that, the majority of LOI players that have gone over to L1 and L2 clubs haven't looked out of place

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McClean is talking through his rear end - trying to justify a call-up after joining the Ryan Reynolds bandwagon.

I would put the Scottish Premiership at L1 level - and Celtic and Rangers in the Championship. Several LOI clubs I think would acquit themselves well in L2 - certainly better than the Conference (or National League as it is these days)

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Originally Posted by Eirambler

Yes, they're picking out the best LoI players, and those ones often are up to League 1 or League 2 standard. But that doesn't mean the league as a whole is. In fact, with so many of the better players moving over in that way I think the domestic league has gone backwards if anything in the last year. European results would seem to back up that view also.

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I don't think the LOI has gone backwards - in fact I think the standard of football is improving.

Yes L1 and L2 are poaching players - but lately I think that is down to Brexit which stops under-18s going to England. They end up spending time here before getting poached and I think they contribute to the standard of the LOI. There are quite a few players in the LOI who would fit comfortably into a L1 team. LOI is above the National League and I have spent a fair amount of time looking at it over the years - Wrexham and Notts County were very much the exception to the rule.

The top teams would probably survive in League 2 alright. The lower teams would be National League at best, the National League as far as I know is a full time professional league. I very much doubt this season's UCD would stay up in it, for example.

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Originally Posted by Eirambler

The top teams would probably survive in League 2 alright. The lower teams would be National League at best, the National League as far as I know is a full time professional league. I very much doubt this season's UCD would stay up in it, for example.

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UCD wouldn't - but I think most of the rest would be there or thereabouts. All bar a handful of NL clubs get less than 2,500 at their games - and many are down near the 1,000 mark, including Solihull who are in the play-off position at the moment. Oldham and Southend get good crowds but both are in the relegation zone. Most LOI PD teams get bigger crowds than the lowest 10 L2 teams.

There are still a handful of teams who are part-time - or full-time / part-time hybrid. The NL teams do get money from the PL and the EFL - although the big bounce comes in L2 which is worth an extra £1million a year.

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Originally Posted by Jd2793

hes right. outside of the old firm the spl is god awful.

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And even watching the old firm today both teams were nothing to write home about either. Wonder before was it just the atmosphere created by both sets of fans being at the game making it look better than what it is.

Whatever reason they decided to ban away fans for they'd wanna go and sort it out because the atmosphere that was created before was probably the reason why non fans watched the game.

retiring from international football..
https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2023...-ireland-duty/

Has announced his imminent retirement from international football. The New Zealand game will be his last in a green shirt. The timing probably right.

Thanks James.

Always gave his best.

legend. always put ireland first and never found wanting for lack of effort. same couldnt be said for a lot of players over the past 10 years. well done james.

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Originally Posted by DCWA

Has announced his imminent retirement from international football. The New Zealand game will be his last in a green shirt. The timing probably right.

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I not quite sure I agree with you on the timing. I've no qualms about giving him a testimonial down the road - I've not been his biggest fan in recent years, and I think he's only stayed in the squad because he's a Kenny favourite - but achieving over a hundred caps is some achievement and it deserves to be celebrated. We need to find a viable option at left (wing) back and, assuming he starts a meaningless friendly, it's an opportunity delayed.

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Originally Posted by Eminence Grise

I not quite sure I agree with you on the timing. I've no qualms about giving him a testimonial down the road - I've not been his biggest fan in recent years, and I think he's only stayed in the squad because he's a Kenny favourite - but achieving over a hundred caps is some achievement and it deserves to be celebrated. We need to find a viable option at left (wing) back and, assuming he starts a meaningless friendly, it's an opportunity delayed.

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stevens hasnt been reliable and manning cant defend. only other one we had was odowda who got badly exposed in greece. mcclean was our only option for most of kennys time in charge

Was never his biggest fan in terms of his talent but a massive fan in terms of his heart, passion, commitment to his country and his principles. A beast of a man. Congrats and well wishes James!

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Originally Posted by Jd2793

stevens hasnt been reliable and manning cant defend. only other one we had was odowda who got badly exposed in greece. mcclean was our only option for most of kennys time in charge

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Largely agree. Stevens was at his best just before Kenny took over. Whatever happened yer man at Cardiff Joel Bagan?

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Originally Posted by Stuttgart88

Largely agree. Stevens was at his best just before Kenny took over. Whatever happened yer man at Cardiff Joel Bagan?

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He's on loan in Belgium with Zulte Waregem, in their second division

Some moronic Mansfield " fans " very lucky they didn't fall over the hoarding / or gate ~ ~ Because James McClean would have made mince-meat out of them.

Wonder if McClean's stance will get covered in the next season of the Wrexham documentary. Seems like a story waiting to be told to an American audience.

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Originally Posted by Eirambler

Wonder if McClean's stance will get covered in the next season of the Wrexham documentary. Seems like a story waiting to be told to an American audience.

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It did cross my mind that this may have been one of the reasons for signing him

Hat trick of assists for McClean today, and another for Eoghan O'Connell, as Wrexham are promoted after beating Forest Green 6-0

Has said he'll come out of retirement if the next manager wants him to and that the decision to retire was because Kenny was disrespectful towards him after joining Wrexham.

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Originally Posted by JR89

Has said he'll come out of retirement if the next manager wants him to and that the decision to retire was because Kenny was disrespectful towards him after joining Wrexham.

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He will not go quietly into the night will he..:rolleyes:

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Originally Posted by Grafter

He will not go quietly into the night will he..:rolleyes:

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You can say that again... :rolleyes:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/68829125

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Originally Posted by JR89

Has said he'll come out of retirement if the next manager wants him to and that the decision to retire was because Kenny was disrespectful towards him after joining Wrexham.

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In fairness to James ~ ~ Kenny didn't really have that many better options ( for that position ) ~ ~ So, why push James out before the campaign was ended ? !

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Originally Posted by EalingGreen

You can say that again... :rolleyes:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/68829125

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It's not compulsory to, love / even like, the King / Monarchy ~ Is it ? !

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Originally Posted by seanfhear

In fairness to James ~ ~ Kenny didn't really have that many better options ( for that position ) ~ ~ So, why push James out before the campaign was ended ? !

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Ireland had 3 LB's at least in their u21 squad that were playing at a higher level regularly and more deserving of a call up than McClean. And that's before we even consider players outside the u21s who are also better.

He's playing in league 2 when everyone else in the squad is at the very least a championship player...he can have no complaints.

This is why I think it's a joke he got a send off and after his comments I really wished we hadn't wasted that fixture on such a self entitled player.

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Originally Posted by seanfhear

It's not compulsory to, love / even like, the King / Monarchy ~ Is it ? !

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Off with your head! / kneecaps! [delete as appropriate]

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Originally Posted by CSAD

Ireland had 3 LB's at least in their u21 squad that were playing at a higher level regularly and more deserving of a call up than McClean. And that's before we even consider players outside the u21s who are also better.

He's playing in league 2 when everyone else in the squad is at the very least a championship player...he can have no complaints.

This is why I think it's a joke he got a send off and after his comments I really wished we hadn't wasted that fixture on such a self entitled player.

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It's a matter of opinion but I don't think that Kenny treated James McClean that well in the end.

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Originally Posted by seanfhear

It's a matter of opinion but I don't think that Kenny treated James McClean that well in the end.

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He got treated better than he deserved. Most league 2 players wouldnt be within an asses roar of a call up yet McClean got numerous caps and a send off game, he should be grateful he got what he got in the end.

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Originally Posted by CSAD

He got treated better than he deserved. Most league 2 players wouldnt be within an asses roar of a call up yet McClean got numerous caps and a send off game, he should be grateful he got what he got in the end.

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I am not overly impressed with your ( or Kenny's ) loyalty to a player that always gave his best / always turned up, if at all possible / which was pretty much always / always showed Kenny a lot of respect before Kenny didn't handle the parting of ways well ~ ~ It would not be unusual for a manager to finish a campaign with pretty much the same players that went through a campaign unless some one pretty exceptional turned up / or at least a marked improvement ~ ~ Kenny did not handle the end of James McClean's Ireland playing career well ~ ~ Then, Kenny did Not handle a lot of things well, while he was the Ireland manager ~ ~ This is just another mess-up by Kenny ~ One of very very many.

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Originally Posted by EalingGreen

You can say that again... :rolleyes:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/68829125

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Big fan of McClean but I always disliked the song in that glorifies his hatred for something (the monarchy) rather than glorifying him for his love for something (his country).

If we had any decent left backs he'd have been gone a lot sooner. International callups aren't an entitlement, the likes of him and Shane Long would do well to remember that.

I thought him not getting an october call up was weird. It was a bit telegraphed in that Kenny justified his selection in September by saying that by only playing two weeks in League 2, that his level wouldn't drop much and there was an implication that he was a doubt for future squads. But we basically just had one left sided player in Manning, as long as you consider Scales a centre-half, which is where he played against Greece. And then the comments Kenny made, which I think were probably then but could have been November. They were basically 'McClean is such a good trainer and so 100% that when you see him in training, you end up picking him', the inference being that it was better not to risk picking him in a squad for fear that he might convince you to play him.

I really don't think there were any viable alternatives. Sure Sean Roughan was playing at a higher level in League 1, but he's nowhere near ready for senior international football. He's just not. Same is true of Tayo and Jay Furlong - nowhere near ready at all. McClean had offers from championship clubs, so that's probably closer to his true level. You had Manning who was still adapting to international football and you had Brady and Stevens who were constantly injured, along with O'Dowda, who's defensively probably too much of a liability. All the 98/99 crop of left backs from the 21s basically hadn't made it to the level required: Trev Clarke, Darragh Leahy, Tyreke Wilson, Tom O'Connor. The 2000/01 crop was basically Joel Bagan who isn't ready (and is playing second division in Belgium) and Andy Lyons who wasn't playing at League 1.

So yeah... I still don't see the alternatives, unless you're gonna move Danny McNamara or Jon Gallagher across to that side, which they can both do. Not entirely sure either are good enough, but they're currently a mile ahead of Bagan, Roughan etc.

What I don't get is he says he decided to retire to go out on his terms given Kenny's treatment of him. That he'll come out of retirement if the next manager wants him to.

Every man and his dog knew Kenny was out the door after November so why retire when it was obvious that Kenny was basically out the door.