Second Captains

EltonJohn69

Need to get the FBI involved. They would have had Mansour, Pep, De Bruyne all in handcuffs very quickly.

Arghus

Ol' Donie wrote: »

Well, when you say took Uefa seriously, did anybody in the whole world actually think it would happen? The ban I mean.

I never believed for literally one second that City would get banned.

Thought all the talk about it initially was ridiculous, it was never ever going to happen.

Brock Turnpike

Can't have been the only one who had a little chuckle when Jack's biographer mentioned they were eating fish and chips?

kilns

Brock Turnpike wrote: »

Agree. Especially not with the bluffer Delaney being one of the guys they chose to discuss it with.

Is he really good mates with Ken or something? They have him on way too often considering the much more high quality football journos they could have on

Ol' Donie

Brock Turnpike wrote: »

Can't have been the only one who had a little chuckle when Jack's biographer mentioned they were eating fish and chips?

I got fish n chips for dinner today. I heard it's full of prootein.

Brock Turnpike

kilns wrote: »

Is he really good mates with Ken or something? They have him on way too often considering the much more high quality football journos they could have on

Yes, they're mates alright.

Cienciano

Arghus wrote: »

I never believed for literally one second that City would get banned.

Thought all the talk about it initially was ridiculous, it was never ever going to happen.

Yeah, it's sad really. I don't think anyone really thought it would stick.

boccy23

Has a sh*t footballer ever generated more airtime than James McClean. :mad:

healy1835

My biggest issue with McClean is that he's an absolutely filthy player. Launching into tackles when there's no need, leaving plenty on players after the ball is gone. Probably in a minority here, but I thought that tackle on Milik in the Aviva a few years back was a shocker. Clearly meant to do him. I'm all for a good 50/50 or a tough challenge, but he's just trying to hurt guys.

Sultan of Bling

healy1835 wrote:

My biggest issue with McClean is that he's an absolutely filthy player. Launching into tackles when there's no need, leaving plenty on players after the ball is gone. Probably in a minority here, but I thought that tackle on Milik in the Aviva a few years back was a shocker. Clearly meant to do him. I'm all for a good 50/50 or a tough challenge, but he's just trying to hurt guys.

Probably one of his best games. Totally changed the game when he came on. The poles couldn't handle him. The poles were in complete control beforehand.

If VAR was around then, who knows. He left a marker as they say. Similar with Keane on overmars.

Arghus

healy1835 wrote: »

My biggest issue with McClean is that he's an absolutely filthy player. Launching into tackles when there's no need, leaving plenty on players after the ball is gone. Probably in a minority here, but I thought that tackle on Milik in the Aviva a few years back was a shocker. Clearly meant to do him. I'm all for a good 50/50 or a tough challenge, but he's just trying to hurt guys.

I totally agree with you, he's a dirty player. But I remember that tackle clearly changing the game. The crowd responded to it instantly and Ireland suddenly found more urgency. Can't condone it, but it definitely had an effect.

In general though his lack of brains on the field is usually quite frustrating.

boccy23

boccy23 wrote: »

Has a sh*t footballer ever generated more airtime than James McClean. :mad:

It’s worth talking about. He’s dead right anyway.

Blanco100

If McClean was any good he would be a legend in fairness. Talks the talk but his talent is nowhere near the level needed to be a key man in the Ireland set up. As bad as this Ireland team is.

boccy23

ReginaldSmythV wrote: »

It’s worth talking about. He’s dead right anyway.

I don't deny that. But it is the same discussion that has been had the previous 3,4,5... when the poppy protest or the twitter abuse or whatever arises. This time it was that the culture allows the same discussion again against the backdrop of Black Lives Matter.

kilns

I think McClean will start to drift out of the Irish consciousness soon as I cant see him being the type of player Kenny likes or could work with based on the fact that he is a very limited player and if Kenny wants to play good football and hold onto the ball he simply cant do that with McClean in the team.

So he may be in squads but he will not get any game time

srfc d16

kilns wrote: »

I think McClean will start to drift out of the Irish consciousness soon as I cant see him being the type of player Kenny likes or could work with based on the fact that he is a very limited player and if Kenny wants to play good football and hold onto the ball he simply cant do that with McClean in the team.

So he may be in squads but he will not get any game time

I'd imagine he likes him quite a bit seeing as he signed him for Derry and played him for 3/4 seasons.

yermandan

Best egomaniacs yet today. I was howling

dr.kenneth noisewater

yermandan wrote:

Best egomaniacs yet today. I was howling

You really felt for the guy alright!

lawred2

boccy23 wrote: »

I don't deny that. But it is the same discussion that has been had the previous 3,4,5... when the poppy protest or the twitter abuse or whatever arises. This time it was that the culture allows the same discussion again against the backdrop of Black Lives Matter.

If he's right, he's right. Just because he's insistent and consistent doesn't make him any less right.

You're going to a lot of effort for someone who doesn't "deny that" he's right...

Jim Root

dr.kenneth noisewater wrote: »

You really felt for the guy alright!

Im still cringing about it on his behalf. Brilliant.

kilns

srfc d16 wrote: »

I'd imagine he likes him quite a bit seeing as he signed him for Derry and played him for 3/4 seasons.

local boy who cost virtually nothing at a place where you cant go and buy players each transfer window.

I would be shocked if all players available to Ireland are fit and ready that McClean would be in the starting 11 based on the way Kenny's teams play

srfc d16

kilns wrote: »

local boy who cost virtually nothing at a place where you cant go and buy players each transfer window.

I would be shocked if all players available to Ireland are fit and ready that McClean would be in the starting 11 based on the way Kenny's teams play

I have no idea if Kenny will select him or not but stating that he wouldn't like him or couldn't work with him is clearly wrong as proven in the past.

EltonJohn69

Jose masterclass !
De Gae nightmare !!
Rodgers capitulation !!!
Frank Triumphs !!!!

Ken was badly missed today.....

kilns

srfc d16 wrote: »

I have no idea if Kenny will select him or not but stating that he wouldn't like him or couldn't work with him is clearly wrong as proven in the past.

he had a very limited hand in Derry and had to work with what he had.

If you saw the football he played with Dundalk, he likes to keep the ball which is the antithesis of McClean

srfc d16

kilns wrote: »

he had a very limited hand in Derry and had to work with what he had.

If you saw the football he played with Dundalk, he likes to keep the ball which is the antithesis of McClean

I have seen plenty of the football he plays. He managed my team for a few months and has been managing in the league for 20 years.

kilns

srfc d16 wrote: »

I have seen plenty of the football he plays. He managed my team for a few months and has been managing in the league for 20 years.

Rovers were very rash getting rid of him but thats for another day

In any case, if you want to play good constructive possession football, McClean is not your man

Ol' Donie

You know when something good happens? I've taken to telling it, whatever it is, that it's going in the jigtionary.

For example, last night I made enchiladas that turned out to be better than I expected.

Beef enchiladas....you're going in the jigtionary!

Makes little sense, don't care.

dr.kenneth noisewater

Ol' Donie wrote: »

You know when something good happens? I've taken to telling it, whatever it is, that it's going in the jigtionary.

For example, last night I made enchiladas that turned out to be better than I expected.

Beef enchiladas....you're going in the jigtionary!

Makes little sense, don't care.

I've heard Say my Name on the radio so many times over the past couple of months and it always gives me a laugh

Raoul

srfc d16 wrote: »

I have seen plenty of the football he plays. He managed my team for a few months and has been managing in the league for 20 years.

I wouldn't be shouting that round the place .

I wouldn't be McCleans biggest fan and I don't think he is really a Stephen Kenny type player but he could be of use in the latter stages of games where the opposition team don't want to see an absolute maniac sprinting around the place for the last 15/20 minutes.

Also, Kenny has space in the team for players who don't necessarily have the silkiest of skills. Chris Shields is in the Dundalk team for years as an enforcer, not a great passer of the ball. John Mountney wouldn't be the most skillful either but he is often employed in games where Dundalk required a lot of energy up and down the pitch.

Arghus

Just because McClean played under him at Derry ten years ago is no guarantee of him being the first name on the team sheet for Ireland.

You have to look at the context too. McClean's skill level was next level compared to the standard in the loi. I saw him play in the flesh for Derry against my local team, just before he got the move to Sunderland, and he was basically like Pele compared to the other 21 cloggers on the field. It was ridiculous. You had to play McClean if you were manager of Derry City. It's at the highest level that his limitations become a lot more obvious.