Lee Chapman !!?? 63 goals in 149 appearances for Sheffield Wednesday. If he is one of the worst players you've seen, you must spend a lot of time watching Brazil.
McShane was played out of position on Sunday at full back and with it being his first game back, he was very low on confidence and it showed. I felt for him and you could see how disappointed with himself he was when leaving the pitch. Keane shaking his head at a few of his inaccurate passes probably didn't help much either.
If WBA go up, he might go back to them and resurrect his career.
Forget about the performance or entertainment. It's only the result that matters.
I think he let the first goal get to him. He didn't realise Owen was making the run until it was too late and he couldn't recover. IMO not many defenders would have been able to match the run of Owen but there's no doubt it affected his confidence for the rest of the game. I think he's just going through a bad patch and he'll recover because he's such a strong character
McShane has had a tough time of it this season. I feel sorry for him as it was a big opportunity to really establish himself.
Earlier in the season, he was cruelly exposed against Everton to a career damaging degree although Sunderland were outplayed throughout the park that day.
As pointed out above - Newcastle was his first game back and confidence was at an obvious low ebb. Have to sympathise with him. The commitment is there and it's been a baptism of fire for him in the Premiership.
Trying to be optimisic - he'll become battle hardened and a bit more street wise.
It's an impossible league to compete in on guts alone - his reading of the game is going to have to become razor sharp to counteract his less than blistering pace. His distribution of the ball will have to improve dramatically as well as this can land him in trouble at times.
If he gets through this harrowing time on the pitch - he'll become a better and wiser player.
Quoting years at random since 1975
What is good about his play apart from his determination? Why do people use his age as an excuse when clearly its his ability that is the problem? Look at Johnny Evans who is younger, no excuses there. McShane is a disaster waiting to happen. I am sure Keane bought him to use as a centre back, a position he could not hold onto at West Brom but even when there are injuries he still wont risk him there.. He might get away with some sloppy play at rt back but not in the centre.I have seen him play well once and that was against the Czechs. Paddy Mcarthy Joe O’Cearuill and Sean St Ledger are much better players imo.
Wasn't he West Brom's player of the year? I know he was definitely Brighton's player of the year. As for using his age as an excuse, what about Dunne at his age? He wasn't setting the world alight when he was younger and now he's one of the best in the Premiership. McShane will probably improve. I'd say he's just moved to the Premier League at too young an age. If he drops down a division and waits a while to come back up I think it will make him a better player. IMO it was foolish for Keane to bring him back for such a big game.
My concerns are global. I reject absolutely revenge, aggression, and retaliation. The foundation of such a method, is love. I love you Sheriff Truman.
See him against Berbatov no? He's put in a few motm performances for Sunderland against target men. I really believe McShane has the brain but just lacks the knowledge if that makes sense. With experience he'll become a very good player imo.
I watched yesterday's game and as usual he was poor at right back. He seemed to be up against both Martins and Owen though. Viduka is the type of player he thrives against.
Last edited by eirebhoy; 21/04/2008 at 3:43 PM.
Yes! he was player of the year at both clubs but probably could get away with his over active type of play that he would not do in the premiership. Everyone loves a player like McShane who is determined, committed ,full of energy and enthusiastic but he is just too prone to making mistakes. He just appears way a very anxious player all the time as though he is walking on hot coals.
I would not compare him to Richard Dunne at all. Dunne always showed how much potential he had and luckily for us he pulled his finger out before it got too late but he always had this ability. I just wish I could be more optimistic McShanes future.
Puyol has a similar syle of play too. Search Keane v Puyol on youtube for a clip of him looking like a headless chicken. McShane's style of play doesn't do him any favours in terms of looking like he knows what he's doing.
His rushed type of play does remind me a bit of Puyol but that's as far as it goes. I just think that if he was good enough to play at centre back for Sunderland he would be a regular there by now. Their present two centres are nothing to write home about but Keane sees them as the better option to McShane even when they are injured.I really hope that he proves me wrong but he will have to get away from Sunderland and go somewhere he can play as a regular centre back.
Unfortunatly there always seems to be a mistake in the guy, and particularly at international level, you cant carry a player like that. I still feel he is a good squad player for us to have but little else. His mistake for the first goal really was a schoolboy error. i felt really sorry for him as i was hoping he would have a good game.
I wonder did he set too high of an expectation for himself by having such a good game for Ireland at the start of his international career?
McShane is an awful player and all the heart in the world won't change that
Agree that Keane will have seen McShane as a CB. Remember, he only signed McShane after being "gazumped" at the very last minute by Sanchez over a £3m signing of Chris Baird, who played the whole of last season at CB for Southampton (Curiously, Baird has been dreadful for Fulham, playing out of position at Right Back. Like McShane?).
And ever since Evans joined Sunderland on loan in Jan.2007, Keane has been desperate to sign him full time. Even now, he is reported to be still keen (sorry), despite a price tag of maybe £5m or more.
My guess is that Keane sees McShane as no more than useful back up, a squad player, until he can get someone better in his place.
One crucial difference between Dunne and McShane. Dunne was poor early on in his career, but not through any lack of ability; rather, his attitude was all wrong (too much drinking etc.). Once he sorted that out, his ability has shone through, making him one of the top CB's in the Prem.
Whereas no-one doubts McShane's attitude. His problem may be more than just a temporary lack of confidence. It's beginning to look like a lack of basic ability. And that's a hell of a sight harder to sort out than a bad attitude.
In the end, Sir Alex Ferguson's early judgement may be being proved right. When McShane was a promising youngster at OT and looking for games, in the end, Ferguson let him leave permanently. By contrast, he has done much more to keep Jonny Evans (a year younger) on MU's books, by loaning him out first to Belgium, then to Sunderland.
And it is being said that the only reason he is now considering selling Evans permanently, is in order to reassure Pique that he is next in line at OT, after Vidic and Ferdinand. (Otherwise, Pique will likely p iss off to Spain, where he would have his pick - sorry - of good clubs)
In the end, it's no real shame for Evans being rated behind the exceptional Pique, esp when Ferguson can probably demand £5m+ for him. But whichever, for all that he seems a decent sort, McShane doesn't belong in either of the other two player's company (imo).
As far as I remember, McShane actually left United as he wasn’t happy being asked to train with the reserves after his successful loan spell with Brighton, where he was voted their player of the year in 2006. He said at the time he wanted regular first team football. Ferguson was keen for him to stay and he was offered a contract extension.
In saying that, he’s clearly out of his depth at the moment and the lack of games isn’t helping his confidence.
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