James McClean M Wrexham b.1989

**Sullivinho** · 30/03/2013, 9:02 PM

Originally Posted by DannyInvincible

Sunderland have just "parted company" with Martin O'Neill

Call him up, John!

**SkStu** · 30/03/2013, 10:19 PM

Originally Posted by DannyInvincible

Sunderland have just "parted company" with Martin O'Neill: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/21985808

You have to wonder why now exactly? Losing 1-0 to league-leading Manchester United, albeit at home, isn't exactly a "final straw" type event. It reminds me of Wolves sacking McCarthy at a relatively late stage of the season previously. Sunderland are surely doomed to relegation now. I hope this doesn't affect McClean negatively. I'd imagine O'Neill had a good understanding of him that a new manager will be unlikely to possess.

Aye, I reckon they'll be going down faster than the price of a Rolf Harris painting.

**osarusan** · 30/03/2013, 10:26 PM

They were real relegation candidates under O'Neill, in my opinion. They have a horrible run in. They probably decided that a new manager could do no worse than he would have.

**NeverFeltBetter** · 30/03/2013, 11:03 PM

Might be hoping for something like what happened at Southampton too. If they did go down, little chance that anyone in the top tier of England would want either McClean or O'Shea based on their current form. O'Shea is in the latter part of his career anyway, but McClean really looks like a Championship level player.

**paul_oshea** · 31/03/2013, 9:51 AM

i think mcclean is a confidence player. He did well with Ireland over the last 2 games.

I fear for him tho i dont think any other premiership team would gamble on him. Perhaps bruce if hull got promoted.

**Charlie Darwin** · 02/04/2013, 4:44 PM

Ellis Short has clearly been made aware of the fact Martin O'Neill's teams tend to peak by Ferburary and crash thereafter.

**geysir** · 02/04/2013, 4:55 PM

Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin

Ellis Short has clearly been made aware of the fact Martin O'Neill's teams tend to peak by Ferburary and crash thereafter.

I suppose that's a 'fact', if you don't at all consider his 4 seasons in the top division with Leicester (which also included 3 league cup finals)
and two of his seasons at Villa*
*unless you apply a very biased flexible interpretation to what defines the last 1/3 of the season.

**Charlie Darwin** · 02/04/2013, 5:33 PM

Originally Posted by geysir

I suppose that's a 'fact', if you don't at all consider his 4 seasons in the top division with Leicester (which also included 3 league cup finals)
and two of his seasons at Villa*
*unless you apply a very biased flexible interpretation to what defines the last 1/3 of the season.

**ArdeeBhoy** · 02/04/2013, 6:31 PM

McClean getting flak all over Facebook (& doubtless other social media) for being 'disloyal' from some Sunderland fans (& others;mainly Eng.'loyalists'), in contrast to his club's latest manager.

As in the latter should be allowed his opinions, as opposed to James's on, erm, Irish nationalism.
Not the same thing I know.

**Charlie Darwin** · 02/04/2013, 6:53 PM

Could Sunderland become the first side to be relegated due to a lack of Supporting Our Troops?

**ArdeeBhoy** · 02/04/2013, 7:15 PM

Not unless you blame MO'N...

**DannyInvincible** · 03/04/2013, 8:52 AM

Originally Posted by ArdeeBhoy

McClean getting flak all over Facebook (& doubtless other social media) for being 'disloyal' from some Sunderland fans (& others;mainly Eng.'loyalists'), in contrast to his club's latest manager.

Disloyal to whom?

**paul_oshea** · 03/04/2013, 9:34 AM

I'd worry about him getting a chance with another club if Sunderland go down.

**Charlie Darwin** · 03/04/2013, 12:02 PM

Originally Posted by paul_oshea

I'd worry about him getting a chance with another club if Sunderland go down.

Why ?

**SkStu** · 03/04/2013, 1:53 PM

Probably a combination of his tendency to court controversy and a pretty bad case of SSS.

**DannyInvincible** · 03/04/2013, 2:00 PM

Originally Posted by SkStu

his tendency to court controversy

Who'd have thought it? Di Canio might even understand our James better than poor Martin!

**paul_oshea** · 03/04/2013, 2:03 PM

I meant premiership and for the reasons SkStu said.

**ArdeeBhoy** · 03/04/2013, 2:24 PM

Originally Posted by DannyInvincible

Disloyal to whom?

C'mon, yer not that green...

Try here.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Sunder...ref=ts&fref=ts

Lots of fascists posting.
Not for the faint-hearted.
And all over the Guarniad & BBC comments and other Brit media sites.

**geysir** · 03/04/2013, 3:58 PM

Strange that his beliefs were not a media issue while with Swindon.
As long as he doesn't bring his fascist salute to the football ground (it might cause conflict with the overdose of politically correct poppy fascism at EPL grounds), I don't see what relevance his political preferences have to do with anybody.

He's different, has plenty of 'passion' for the game, I don't know if he can manage/coach an epl team but I'm already curious to see what transpires.
Besides comparing tattoos with James, he might even teach him a trick or two on the ball.

**Stuttgart88** · 03/04/2013, 4:11 PM

I was thinking exact same thing re-Swindon. I suppose the difference is that at Swindon he didn't cause a (supposedly) left-wing MP living in a Primrose Hill mansion to stand down from a handsomely paid junket, sorry, non-exec deputy chairmanship.