[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.