Chris McCann (D/M Shams b.1987)

**Fixer82** · 11/03/2014, 4:38 PM

McClean...eh,....i'm out

**gastric** · 13/05/2014, 10:53 AM

is this bloke the unluckiest Irish player over the last few years? Injury prone, moves club to try and get Premiership football and his original club Burnley get there before Wigan. This follows his injury plagued season when Burnley were promoted. Hopefully, he gets the opportunity to play in the Premiership at some stage in his career.

**tetsujin1979** · 24/10/2014, 1:32 PM

made his come back from injury this week in a behind closed doors friendly against Everton: http://www.wiganlatics.co.uk/news/ar...y-2030169.aspx
no word on when he'll play for the Wigan senior side though

**gastric** · 04/11/2014, 11:44 PM

Just checking to see if Rob Kiernan played in this game and the man himself is back! Played for about 6 minutes which is fantastic for him. Hopefully, he can remain injury free and can play consistent football he says, crossing himself and touching wood at the same time.

http://www.sportinglife.com/football...hton-1-wigan-0

**Charlie Darwin** · 05/11/2014, 12:20 AM

That's terrific news. I look forward to one day being able to open this thread without a knot in my gut.

**Charlie Darwin** · 29/11/2014, 2:47 PM

First goal since returning from injury to put Wigan briefly ahead at Sheffield Wednesday.

**Charlie Darwin** · 13/12/2014, 2:50 PM

Second of the season to draw Wigan level at Watford.

**TheOneWhoKnocks** · 06/08/2015, 4:24 PM

Set for defensive role this season after impressing on the left side of a back three in pre-season.

http://www.wigantoday.net/sport/wiga...ence-1-7390989

**gastric** · 07/08/2015, 1:34 AM

Originally Posted by TheOneWhoKnocks

Set for defensive role this season after impressing on the left side of a back three in pre-season.

http://www.wigantoday.net/sport/wiga...ence-1-7390989

I have said on here previously that I felt he would make a great left back! Maybe now I will be proved correct. Could be good news for Ireland too if he can make it back to at least the Championship.

**Siberian** · 27/04/2016, 1:48 PM

Has made a good contribution to Wigan's imminent return to the Championship..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AeHZl1Aj758

**Closed Account** · 30/04/2016, 1:29 PM

Scored again today as Wigan secured promotion back to the Championship. Such a shame he got injured with Burnley, always like the look of him.

**DeLorean** · 30/04/2016, 1:38 PM

League 1 title is all but mathemically secured now also. Glad to see Wigan back up as well, I don't like seeing teams plummet through the divisions.

**TheOneWhoKnocks** · 30/04/2016, 1:40 PM

Perhaps the first cause-celebre of the Trapattoni era, even before Andy Reid and Wes Hoolahan.

**tetsujin1979** · 06/07/2016, 1:33 PM

signing for new MLS side Atlanta United: http://atlutd.com/atlanta-united-sig...-chris-mccann/
Won't actually play for them until January, when the team joins MLS, and is going on loan until then

**TheOneWhoKnocks** · 06/07/2016, 3:34 PM

Thought he had joined Serie A team Atalanta for a minute but then I realised he's Irish.

28. Doyle, Keane, O'Dea and St Ledger were all in or around that age when they moved to America. McClean flirted with the idea.

Over the next few years I can see this becoming a recurring theme.

I wouldn't mind but guys like Pirlo, Kaka, Lampard and Gerrard are moving there in their late-thirties.

**tetsujin1979** · 06/07/2016, 4:03 PM

None of them were 28 - Doyle was 31, Keane was 31, O'Dea was 25, and St Ledger was 30 when they signed for MLS clubs

**Stuttgart88** · 06/07/2016, 4:26 PM

Originally Posted by TheOneWhoKnocks

Thought he had joined Serie A team Atalanta for a minute but then I realised he's Irish.

28. Doyle, Keane, O'Dea and St Ledger were all in or around that age when they moved to America. McClean flirted with the idea.

Over the next few years I can see this becoming a recurring theme.

I wouldn't mind but guys like Pirlo, Kaka, Lampard and Gerrard are moving there in their late-thirties.

I think you've got to bear in mind that first and foremost football is their job. They have mouths to feed and a limited number of years of peak earning capacity. Good luck to him.

**SkStu** · 06/07/2016, 4:38 PM

Originally Posted by tetsujin1979

None of them were 28 - Doyle was 31, Keane was 31, O'Dea was 25, and St Ledger was 30 when they signed for MLS clubs

Average age pf move for those 4 players = 29.25 years old. TOWK gets a pass for this one.

in or around that age

**OwlsFan** · 07/07/2016, 9:36 AM

Originally Posted by DeLorean

League 1 title is all but mathemically secured now also. Glad to see Wigan back up as well, I don't like seeing teams plummet through the divisions.

Yes and no. Wigan is really a rugby league town and the football club was built on the finances of one man. I was sadder to see the likes of Coventry and Blackpool plummet.

McCann was actually offered a new contract but he couldn't agree personal terms. He's obviously following the $ to the USA.

**Olé Olé** · 07/07/2016, 10:01 AM

Originally Posted by OwlsFan

Yes and no. Wigan is really a rugby league town and the football club was built on the finances of one man. I was sadder to see the likes of Coventry and Blackpool plummet.

McCann was actually offered a new contract but he couldn't agree personal terms. He's obviously following the $ to the USA.

$ and the lifestyle. He was linked with Blackburn too. Has anyone been to Blackburn or Wigan? I'd hazard a guess that Atlanta, with a few more bucks in the pocket, is nicer.

I don't get how people don't understand these decisions. At this point, Championship is probably his ceiling. And he's nowhere near an Ireland cap. Yet, he's been offered an exciting opportunity like this. Dead bloody right to take it. And if he becomes player-manager or a coach there in a couple of years time then more power to him again.

Take a look at James O'Connor. Another man who played much of his career at Championship level. He went over to Orlando City as player/assistant manager. He's now manager of their affiliate, USL side Louisville City FC after Orlando City became an MLS side. That was a quick move up the management and coaching ladder.