Fergie wants McClean?

Davekoolhill

I was reading this morning that Ferguson could consider signing James McClean in the summer.

I know it's only paper talk so I am not reading too much into it, but they were saying that united will be on the lookout for a natural left sided player in the summer.

What do people think? He would hardly move to United after half a season in the EPL.

Mitch Connor

Paully D

Well if they want him then he'll go, although I can't see O'Neill being too happy about one of our better players being sold after 6 months in the job.

Personally I don't think he's done enough to be considered by Manchester United, but you'd never know. I thought that about Smalling and Jones too and they've worked out well so who knows?

Samich

IBTL

Samich

Paully D wrote: »

Well if they want him then he'll go, although I can't see O'Neill being too happy about one of our better players being sold after 6 months in the job.

Personally I don't think he's done enough to be considered by Manchester United, but you'd never know. I thought that about Smalling and Jones too and they've worked out well so who knows?

Smalling and Jones? They showed great potential really.

Mclean is raw and I think he'll get stifled next season.

Friel

Not the right man to solve our problems unfortunately.

Flancrest

Friel wrote: »

Not the right man to solve our problems unfortunately.

Problems??????????

DoctorGonzo08

If he gets enough media hype about Utd wanting him, maybe Liverpool will splash out another £35m on an investment.

Davekoolhill

Well united would be more suitable for him than chelsea, man city, or arsenal. James is too much of an honest player for those clubs.

MoscowFlyer

I can't believe it took this long for them to come up with this story.

GavRedKing

DoctorGonzo08 wrote: »

If he gets enough media hype about Utd wanting him, maybe Liverpool will splash out another £35m on an investment.

Sunderland > Liverpool.

Mitch Connor

Flancrest wrote: »

Problems??????????

centre of the park. we lack a creative spark in the middle - mainly. Someone like Iniesta.

just look at United last night - nearly all the chances came from crosses (and mainly from Valencia). We need someone in the centre capable of opening space and creating chances, like David Silva (at his best) to give us another way of scoring.

_blank_

Davekoolhill wrote: »

Well united would be more suitable for him than chelsea, man city, or arsenal. James is too much of an honest player for those clubs.

why does it even exist?

stovelid

Maybe just look in the LOI in a year or two time and get another one for 400k.

Leiva

There is a James McClean thread & a UTD Thread ?

Does it need its own ?

shanered

I doubt it really to be honest!

Liam O

well if Park leaves there'll be a spot for a 4th choice winger, unsure if McClean would want that role but it'd be there. I think he does have the attributes to play through the middle too with his height and strength so it's something that could be considered...

Davekoolhill

stovelid wrote: »

Maybe just look in the LOI in a year or two time and get another one for 400k.

Good point, a lot are saying that Ryan Brennan will be in England by the summer.

Friel

Flancrest wrote: »

Problems??????????

You're joking, right?

Crann na Beatha

This post has been deleted.

Davekoolhill

Morricone

gavredking wrote: »

Sunderland > Liverpool.

Wrong, wrong, wrong. You're wrong

Paully D

Samich wrote: »

Smalling and Jones? They showed great potential really.

Mclean is raw and I think he'll get stifled next season.

Smalling had played 13 Premier League games, Jones 35. They showed about as much potential, less in Smalling's case, as McClean has. My point is that I didn't think Manchester United would sign them on the basis of what they had done up until that point, but they did and they've turned out to be good signings.

McClean is raw but teams have made plans to stifle him over the last few months, with many wingers and defenders doubling up on him, yet only a couple of teams have managed to make him completely uneffective. A goal tally of 4 in 16 (1 in 4) along with 5 assists is absolutely superb and if defenders can't stop him now despite making plans to do so I can't see what the difference will be next season.

Personally I think he'd be better off playing week in, week out for another couple of seasons before moving on, but if Manchester United come calling I guess it's impossible to say no.

Raskolnikov

This reminds me of the Kevin Doyle to Chelsea/Arsenal talk that we had awhile back - http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056318381

Mitch Connor

Paully D wrote: »

Smalling had played 13 Premier League games, Jones 35. They showed about as much potential, less in Smalling's case, as McClean has. My point is that I didn't think Manchester United would sign them on the basis of what they had done up until that point, but they did and they've turned out to be good signings.

McClean is raw but teams have made plans to stifle him over the last few months, with many wingers and defenders doubling up on him, yet only a couple of teams have managed to make him completely uneffective. A goal tally of 4 in 16 (1 in 4) along with 5 assists is absolutely superb and if defenders can't stop him now despite making plans to do so I can't see what the difference will be next season.

There is also the possibility of people, individually, learning how to deal with him better.

Taking the links with him as fact, for the purpose of the conversation, I would like to see how he does in the PL next season - when people are that bit more aware of him. I do see the flipside of that though, in that his value could go from the reported 12million now (for the sake of argument) to 25million next summer - so if United see obvious potential in him now, go now and save the money.

Also, at United he would, potentially, have to deal with less man marking than at Sunderland. At Sunderland, if he is identified as the main threat a team can double up on him, as you say they have. At United, doubling up on him will leave space for Evra, or Young, or Nani, or Rooney, or Welbeck etc - so it is harder to make a plan to mark him out of a game at United than at Sunderland.

I'm not going to be screaming for us to sign him, as I think there are other players/positions that should be priorities over McClean, but if he was to sign for United I would be happy, to be honest - would be a massive step up from Park.

Rhys Essien

Suppose United will have to get the Irish link going again.

This must be the first time in about 30 years that they dont have an Irishman playing first team.(Bar Jonny Evans)

the realpigiron

James McClean wouldn't be ready for Man United yet. He needs more years at Sunderland to develop before he goes near a club like United.

Liam Miller left Celtic after playing a handful of games where he looked the part. He went to Man U, couldn't get a game, and his career went downhill from there. I think he's with Hibernian now. He's washed up as an international class player anyway.

If Man U are really after him I hope McClean has someone smart to advise him. He should stay at Sunderland and get more experience.

Orando Broom

Rhys Essien wrote: »

Suppose United will have to get the Irish link going again.

This must be the first time in about 30 years that they dont have an Irishman playing first team.(Bar Jonny Evans)

Robbie Brady is still on the books and is on loan at Hull. Seemingly very highly thought of there. I would wager this McClean talk is just that, talk.

Brady from a united perspective would be a better fit in so far as a player who'd be happy to be startign from a 4th choice base and trying to work up.

McClean has been very good but i think the talk of moving to the likes of United is a little premature. he'd be better served staying at Sunderland who look like a team that could make inroads into the top six on a consistant basis with a few more shrewd signings. I don't think they are that far away.

Friel

the realpigiron wrote: »

James McClean wouldn't be ready for Man United yet. He needs more years at Sunderland to develop before he goes near a club like United.

Liam Miller left Celtic after playing a handful of games where he looked the part. He went to Man U, couldn't get a game, and his career went downhill from there. I think he's with Hibernian now. He's washed up as an international class player anyway.

If Man U are really after him I hope McClean has someone smart to advise him. He should stay at Sunderland and get more experience.

Miller plays for Perth Glory in the Australian League.

Nalz

Rhys Essien wrote: »

This must be the first time in about 30 years that they dont have an Irishman playing first team.(Bar Jonny Evans)

Jesus go again....even just counting players representing the Republic: Gibson, O Shea, Keane, Irwin, O Brien, McGrath, Moran, Gerry Daly, Don Givens then on to the Dunnes and Shay Brennan. Thats going back into the 50s!

Orando Broom

Trilla wrote: »

Jesus go again....even just counting players representing the Republic: Gibson, O Shea, Keane, Irwin, O Brien, McGrath, Moran, Gerry Daly, Don Givens then on to the Dunnes and Shay Brennan. Thats going back into the 50s!

Bit of a hair trigger post there Trills, I think he is saying Man Utd. are "Irishmanless" for the first time in 30 years.

happyman81

DoctorGonzo08 wrote: »

If he gets enough media hype about Utd wanting him, maybe Liverpool will splash out another £35m on an investment.

hehehe

Predalien

Even if United were interested, from an Irish point of view I don't think it'd be a good idea for him to move to a club where he'd be unlikely to start that much. Arsenal should be keeping a close eye on him though, he gets good ball into the box a lot, something their other wingers don't do enough, and he works hard defensively.

Smegball

I'd take him over Park any day of the week!

Park has literally gone to the dogs :pac:

Nalz

Orando Broom wrote: »

Bit of a hair trigger post there Trills, I think he is saying Man Utd. are "Irishmanless" for the first time in 30 years.

Yes I know, and I reckon its a lot longer than 30 years!

kryogen

In before its locked/moved, would never surprise me to see Fergie sign a winger

Meets criteria too

A. British/Irish
B. Young
C. Mid level Team

Doubt it will happen though, hopefully! Looks a very good prospect/talent, but would prefer to see more of him next season and would also prefer the larger problem of the middle of the park addressed!

FlawedGenius

Has the potential to be world class and better than Duff.

smokedeels

It's strange having no ROI players at United, SAF should sign him for that reason alone.

Samich

FlawedGenius wrote: »

Has the potential to be world class and better than Duff.

I lol'd :P

Adolf Hipster

Trilla wrote: »

Yes I know, and I reckon its a lot longer than 30 years!

Love the way he tried to explain it and changed font colour even though you had clearly understood the point :pac:

8-10

As it stands I think Derry get 15% cut of sell-on price. Bet they're wishing it's King Kenny who's interested.

Owen_S

Would the Liverpool fans prefer him to Downing?

redzerdrog

Owen_S wrote: »

Would the Liverpool fans prefer him to Downing?

no

shadowcomplex

DoctorGonzo08 wrote: »

If he gets enough media hype about Utd wanting him, maybe Liverpool will splash out another £35m on an investment.

what makes you think he would be prepared to make the step down

shadowcomplex

redzerdrog wrote: »

no

Troll

Liam O

shadowcomplex wrote: »

what makes you think he would be prepared to make the step down

shadowcomplex wrote: »

Troll

It would seem so...

Paully D

8-10 wrote: »

As it stands I think Derry get 15% cut of sell-on price. Bet they're wishing it's King Kenny who's interested.

Yep, we tried to buy out their sell out clause of 15%. Derry have denied it, but it's true. We offered them £500,000 for it and they told us where to go. Looks like a good decision if this recent speculation has something in it.

kraggy

kryogen wrote: »

In before its locked/moved, would never surprise me to see Fergie sign a winger

Meets criteria too

A. British/Irish
B. Young
C. Mid level Team

Doubt it will happen though, hopefully! Looks a very good prospect/talent, but would prefer to see more of him next season and would also prefer the larger problem of the middle of the park addressed!

Are Irish players considered British/homegrown when it comes to the new rules?

If so, why?

Owen_S

kraggy wrote: »

Are Irish players considered British/homegrown when it comes to the new rules?

If so, why?

As far as I know, a player'snationality plays no role in the homegrown rules, only the time spent in that nation/club between certain ages(which obviously means English players would be more likely to be homegrown than Brazilians players).

A Home Grown player will be defined as one who, irrespective of his nationality or age, has been registered with any club affiliated to the Football Association or the Football Association of Wales for a period, continuous or not, of three entire seasons or 36 months prior to his 21st birthday (or the end of the season during which he turns 21).

hefferboi

DoctorGonzo08 wrote: »

If he gets enough media hype about Utd wanting him, maybe Liverpool will splash out another £35m on an investment.

8 posts in on a united thread and the first joke about us. Ye have problems.

Professional Griefer

hefferboi wrote: »

8 posts in on a united thread and the first joke about us. Ye have problems.

Never knew City fans poke jokes at Liverpool so much so they have problems.