Chris McCann

[pateen]

Burnley boss hails “top-class” McCann


January 2, 2008

Exiled Republic of Ireland under-21 midfielder Chris McCann has been hailed as a superstar-in-waiting by Burnley manager and one-time Irish international Owen Coyle.

McCann has been in fine form for the Clarets this season, and has found a huge fan in Coyle, his new boss at Turfmoor.

The young Dubliner courted controversy in 2007 when walking out of Don Givens’s Irish under-21 squad after being omitted from the starting XI – but Coyle feels 2008 and beyond could see him take major steps towards the top of the game.

He told the Irish Sun: “It is easy to forget that Chris is still only 20 years of age because he seems to have been on the scene for quite some time. For someone of his age to have clocked up almost 100 first-team appearances in a tough league like the Championship shows you what he’s about.

“I don’t want to heap pressure on him, but in his position and at his age, I’m not sure I’ve seen a better player. Chris has been immense since I came in and I think he’s going to be a top player who will play at the highest level.”

good to see

[eirebhoy]

High praise indeed.

[aidz1]

Playing for burnley against arsenal on bbc now

[NeilMcD]

O Connor looks more impressive so far. But Mc Cann is tracking Denilson well, but not getting involved enough. O Connor tough shows for the ball all the time.

[beautifulrock]

McCann looks a little one paced as well, O Connor looked a good bit better, some above average tackles and kept possession well.

[theworm2345]

From the Irish Independent 21/11/07

"The non-appearance of Burnley midfielder Chris McCann's name on the Irish team-sheet caused a surprise before kick-off.

Ex-Home Farm youngster McCann is understood to have opted to leave the squad altogether after being omitted from the starting line-up. He had been an unused substitute against Montenegro on Friday in a game that was his first competitive call-up to this level."

Supposed to be quite a good prospect but a bit of tantrum throwing there considering the Montenegro game was his first.

Is it Don Givens at it again or a big kid throwing his toys out of his pram? Who knows perhaps Givens should have given him a run against Montenegro but this time looks like McCann needs to grow up.

Never seen this...I'm sure it was that **** Givens "at it again"

[ramsfan]

think oconnor impressed more today, mccann looks handy too
just watched stoke and have to say lawrence is definitely a strong bet to make ireland squad definitely more useful than andy keogh.

[paul_oshea]

dont know what all the fuss about mccann is to be honest.

[Fergie's Son]

More concerned about Givens. We need a change at the U-21 level which is why his involvement in the hiring of the new manager is wrong.

[eirebhoy]

dont know what all the fuss about mccann is to be honest.

There hasn't been much fuss at all, other than Owen Coyle's comments.

[geysir]

Not much fuss?
He walked away from the u21 team in a Qualifier thinking he was too good to sit on the bench as a sub. Looking at that game today I´d think how on earth did he inflate his head with the idea that that he was too good for just sitting on the bench. So I´d say also what was the fuss about?

[eirebhoy]

Not much fuss?
He walked away from the u21 team in a Qualifier thinking he was too good to sit on the bench as a sub.

If you look at the post I was replying to you'll see that that has nothing to do with what I'm talking about. Other than Owen Coyle I haven't seen anyone sign McCann's praises.

[Stuttgart88]

What about Youngirish?

[paul_oshea]

If you look at the post I was replying to you'll see that that has nothing to do with what I'm talking about. Other than Owen Coyle I haven't seen anyone sign McCann's praises.

ah but it has EB, thats exactly ( geysirs point ) what I was pointing to.

[Dr. Ogba]

watched the game last night, was my first time seeing McCann in a full match and wasn't too impressed by him...O'Connor looked the more lively and dynamic of the two imho.

Having said that, its not really fair to judge on the basis of one performance against one of the best sides in the prem and there must be something about him if he's been playing first team in the championship since the age of nineteen and 2 separate managers rated him so highly...

[OwlsFan]

I thought while O'Connor was involved in the game a lot and played some nice passes, he misplaced too many other passes for my liking.

[Stuttgart88]

I've always thought James O'Connor is a tidy midfielder who does all of the things you want from a player in that position, but he's a midget and is a Championship level player. Fair play to him for carving out a good career for himself in a very competitive league. I can't see him ever being an option for the international team though.

[nijboyle]

Anyone hear anything about Sligo Rovers defender Seamie Coleman who was on loan at Burnley?

[youngirish]

What about Youngirish?

Funnily enough Stutts I still think McCann can be a very good player , yes even though he had an average game yesterday against the best team in Britain I'm still unwilling to drive that final nail into the coffin of his career just yet.

Too many people on here sing the praises of players or hang them out to dry based on one performance. How is Darren Potter doing this year again btw?

When you consider the other players Givens has started in the U21s, many of whom will never make the breakthrough at their respective clubs then I still believe McCann was good enough to be in those squads long before he actually receievd the call up. Remember this is Don Givens we are talking about , a plank of the highest order, and not Arsene Wenger. He consistently failed to include Garvan also, one of our only other U21 players that was getting regular club football at a decent level (surely something that should be taken into consideration).

[geysir]

Besides the point but Burnley's manager Owen Coyle looks very fit, he takes care of himself and looks like he could still do a reasonable goalpoaching job.
Pity he only received a token cap. He is doing well as a championship manager.