[BaggyBomber]

UNDERWHELMED!!!!

Seen a lot of him, have you, Tom?  The Wigan supporters have and they seemed to like him.  I think I'll wait to see him play for us, providing he signs, before I write him off.

Seen him enough over the years to have an opinion on him always happy to be proved wrong but i would agree with Slick
If people aren't a bit underwhelmed by this signing then you are far too happy with mediocrity, nothing wrong with wanting to see ambition is there?

What sort of realistic signing, in our terms, would please you, Tom?  What are your expectations?

I know we can't go out and spend absolute fortunes but this is yet another cheap and nasty signing like the majority of our signings over the last couple of seasons who surprise surprise have failed to work, I'd take Phillips from QPR who we may well sign but i'd like to see 2 players of that calibre brought in instead of one good signing and one to make up the numbers

You call Anichebe, Sessignon and Ideye cheap?  Poor they might be but cheap, no.  Strangely enough,  prior to the scouting team that bought those three (and Anelka), we had bought exceptionally well.  Some of the bargains are still with us or just departing.

[Tom_Wba]

Seen a lot of him, have you, Tom?  The Wigan supporters have and they seemed to like him.  I think I'll wait to see him play for us, providing he signs, before I write him off.

Seen him enough over the years to have an opinion on him always happy to be proved wrong but i would agree with Slick
If people aren't a bit underwhelmed by this signing then you are far too happy with mediocrity, nothing wrong with wanting to see ambition is there?

What sort of realistic signing, in our terms, would please you, Tom?  What are your expectations?

I know we can't go out and spend absolute fortunes but this is yet another cheap and nasty signing like the majority of our signings over the last couple of seasons who surprise surprise have failed to work, I'd take Phillips from QPR who we may well sign but i'd like to see 2 players of that calibre brought in instead of one good signing and one to make up the numbers

You call Anichebe, Sessignon and Ideye cheap?  Poor they might be but cheap, no.  Strangely enough,  prior to the scouting team that bought those three (and Anelka), we had bought exceptionally well.  Some of the bargains are still with us or just departing.

Yep very happy with a lot of the signings during the Ashworth era but the last couple of seasons we've been way off the mark in terms of signings that deadline day when we signed Anichebe and Sessegnon was a strange one panic buys i thought, in terms of transfer fees for Anichebe & Ideye i don't think they actually cost that much i believe a lot of it was add ons which by looking at them we won't be spending another penny on them.
Like i say i am happy to be proved wrong on this one and will be a bit more happier if/when we bring in other wingers before making a real judgement on the role McClean will play but for now i will remain uninspired by this signing

[silverbaggie]

Slick_Footwork Wrote:
Don't rate McClean at all, he's just a bog standard hit and run winger who hoofs balls into the box.

No link up play, no vision, no through balls. I like wingers to be easy on the eye. He isn't.

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I'm a little confused here Slick. I thought wingers with pace and an ability to cross the ball were what we needed.

Going way back, isn't that what Clive Clark used to be; a very quick winger who could knock the ball into the area and create chances for others; adding a few goals themselves along the way.

Alternatively, you could try to sign a 'Willie Johnston type who sometimes infuriated by trying to beat a defender over and over again and sometimes lost the ball by over complicating things.

In the early sixties when I first supported the Albion, we had a left winger like that by the name of Derek Hogg who, was even worse than Willie, and I quote "had a marked tendency to over-elaborate".

No... give me a fast direct winger who can outpace his marker and lay on chances for others.

[BaggyBomber]

Slick_Footwork Wrote:
Don't rate McClean at all, he's just a bog standard hit and run winger who hoofs balls into the box.

No link up play, no vision, no through balls. I like wingers to be easy on the eye. He isn't.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I'm a little confused here Slick. I thought wingers with pace and an ability to cross the ball were what we needed.

Going way back, isn't that what Clive Clark used to be; a very quick winger who could knock the ball into the area and create chances for others; adding a few goals themselves along the way.

Alternatively, you could try to sign a 'Willie Johnston type who sometimes infuriated by trying to beat a defender over and over again and sometimes lost the ball by over complicating things.

In the early sixties when I first supported the Albion, we had a left winger like that by the name of Derek Hogg who, was even worse than Willie, and I quote "had a marked tendency to over-elaborate".

No... give me a fast direct winger who can outpace his marker and lay on chances for others.

Clive Clark, my little hero.  Brave as a lion, kick him and foul him he'd keep getting up and going again.  He used to taunt the full-backs verbally as well as with the ball.  Scored a lot of goals for a real winger, too.

[Slick_Footwork]

Don't rate McClean at all, he's just a bog standard hit and run winger who hoofs balls into the box.

No link up play, no vision, no through balls. I like wingers to be easy on the eye. He isn't.

I understand how he'd fit Pulis mould, because he works hard and puts crosses in. But I don't expect
us to be playing any football if this is the type of player we're targeting.

I thought at the time that Pulis was the man to keep us up. I was a strong vocal supporter of that.
But this is the kind of transfer target that made me worry about him being here long term. Looks
like we're going to persist with the 'work man like' style rather than actually trying to play a bit.

I have no problems with "a bog standard hit and run winger who hoofs balls into the box" as long as he gives defenders plenty of trouble and we have strikers capable of putting the crosses into the net.  We're talking of a winger here, not a midfield general.  I like strong running, powerful play and find it exciting.  If that's what TP gives us and it proves to be successful, that's great, in my opinion.  Barcelona we ain't, nor ever likely to be, for a myriad of reasons.

Just personal opinion but I like my attacking players with a big of flair and vision. I saw plenty of McClean at
Sunderland and didn't think he was a Premiership player. He's just a hard worker who is direct, but has little
in the way of quality. And despite us not being Barcelona, I think we could attract much better.

The fact he's been Wigan's best player doesn't hold much weight as they've just been relegated to League 1.

Not impressed at all, could probably name 10 wingers in the next 60 seconds who I'd prefer including Matt
Phillips who we've been linked with, the Ukranians who 1996 has mentioned, Andros Townsend from Spurs,
or preferably, someone like Diego Perotti from Genoa.

I'm a little confused here Slick. I thought wingers with pace and an ability to cross the ball were what we needed.

Going way back, isn't that what Clive Clark used to be; a very quick winger who could knock the ball into the area and create chances for others; adding a few goals themselves along the way.

Alternatively, you could try to sign a 'Willie Johnston type who sometimes infuriated by trying to beat a defender over and over again and sometimes lost the ball by over complicating things.

In the early sixties when I first supported the Albion, we had a left winger like that by the name of Derek Hogg who, was even worse than Willie, and I quote "had a marked tendency to over-elaborate".

No... give me a fast direct winger who can outpace his marker and lay on chances for others.

Nothing to be confused about - I just don't think he's Prem quality.

He's just a 'knock and run' type player and I think that attacking players should have a bit more about
them than just being an athlete.

I think there's much better out there and a reason why he's been plying his trade in the lower levels. The
guy can't pass, has little in the way of skill, no vision. Knock, run, hoof into the box just isn't the football I
enjoy watching at all.

[betterthanbaird]

Don't rate McClean at all, he's just a bog standard hit and run winger who hoofs balls into the box.

No link up play, no vision, no through balls. I like wingers to be easy on the eye. He isn't.

I understand how he'd fit Pulis mould, because he works hard and puts crosses in. But I don't expect
us to be playing any football if this is the type of player we're targeting.

I thought at the time that Pulis was the man to keep us up. I was a strong vocal supporter of that.
But this is the kind of transfer target that made me worry about him being here long term. Looks
like we're going to persist with the 'work man like' style rather than actually trying to play a bit.

I have no problems with "a bog standard hit and run winger who hoofs balls into the box" as long as he gives defenders plenty of trouble and we have strikers capable of putting the crosses into the net.  We're talking of a winger here, not a midfield general.  I like strong running, powerful play and find it exciting.  If that's what TP gives us and it proves to be successful, that's great, in my opinion.  Barcelona we ain't, nor ever likely to be, for a myriad of reasons.

Just personal opinion but I like my attacking players with a big of flair and vision. I saw plenty of McClean at
Sunderland and didn't think he was a Premiership player. He's just a hard worker who is direct, but has little
in the way of quality. And despite us not being Barcelona, I think we could attract much better.

The fact he's been Wigan's best player doesn't hold much weight as they've just been relegated to League 1.

Not impressed at all, could probably name 10 wingers in the next 60 seconds who I'd prefer including Matt
Phillips who we've been linked with, the Ukranians who 1996 has mentioned, Andros Townsend from Spurs,
or preferably, someone like Diego Perotti from Genoa.

I'm a little confused here Slick. I thought wingers with pace and an ability to cross the ball were what we needed.

Going way back, isn't that what Clive Clark used to be; a very quick winger who could knock the ball into the area and create chances for others; adding a few goals themselves along the way.

Alternatively, you could try to sign a 'Willie Johnston type who sometimes infuriated by trying to beat a defender over and over again and sometimes lost the ball by over complicating things.

In the early sixties when I first supported the Albion, we had a left winger like that by the name of Derek Hogg who, was even worse than Willie, and I quote "had a marked tendency to over-elaborate".

No... give me a fast direct winger who can outpace his marker and lay on chances for others.

Nothing to be confused about - I just don't think he's Prem quality.

He's just a 'knock and run' type player and I think that attacking players should have a bit more about
them than just being an athlete.

I think there's much better out there and a reason why he's been plying his trade in the lower levels. The
guy can't pass, has little in the way of skill, no vision. Knock, run, hoof into the box just isn't the football I
enjoy watching at all.

Here's a quote from a (reasonable) Wigan fan on another forum 'McClean has very limited end product but he'll always give you 100%. He'll also complete 90 minutes which is something McManaman regularly struggles to do. He was our POTY as he was one of a few who were up for the fight, however I don't think he'll be good enough even as a squad option.'

I'd be happy to sign Ba but I don't think it's likely. Always seems to be linked with the same clubs.

[drewks]

....just to join the debate, I don't know this (McClean) bloke other than the clips on the link provided, but personally I think that if he's fast, direct and can both sling a good ball across AND score a few then he sounds just fine to me!

I'd rather watch a team playing through the wing(s) in that way than be bored senseless by so-called 'better' teams who take 25 passes to go a couple of yards further forward (and that's only due to the other defence falling asleep through boredom).

As for this guy 'not being PL standard' - I'd imagine our HC would think otherwise!

[Slick_Footwork]

....just to join the debate, I don't know this (McClean) bloke other than the clips on the link provided, but personally I think that if he's fast, direct and can both sling a good ball across AND score a few then he sounds just fine to me!

I'd rather watch a team playing through the wing(s) in that way than be bored senseless by so-called 'better' teams who take 25 passes to go a couple of yards further forward (and that's only due to the other defence falling asleep through boredom).

As for this guy 'not being PL standard' - I'd imagine our HC would think otherwise!

I saw lots of him for Sunderland in the Prem and to be honest, he was very much a journeyman.

He is quick, but doesn't have any skill, so a decent full back can read him like a book. From memory, he was decent
in his first few games for Sunderland, because he was raw and full backs didn't know what to expect from him. After
they realised he was nothing more than 'kick and rush' he soon ended up at his level (Championship).

His final ball isn't often up to the Youtube standard either, he's the type of player who can cross the ball directly into the
stand on a regular basis.

I can understand the Pulis link because he's a hard worker but I think we could do a lot better.

I'd say the 'betterthanbaird' quote above sums up my thoughts about him.

Ba on the other hand would be a quality signing.

[Ska'dForLife-WBA]

Elsewhere, seems we've missed out on Micah Richards (if we were ever interested). Signed for Villa on a free.

[Slick_Footwork]

Elsewhere, seems we've missed out on Micah Richards (if we were ever interested). Signed for Villa on a free.

Gutted about this if he's fit. Although a big risk with the salary he commands and his fitness record.

Interesting change in stance for Villa who seemed to be trying to reduce big earners in the last few years.