Seen a few comments about him and seems like people arnt huge fans of him on here, I personally think that he has been our best player so far this season and he makes the team tick, makes us play, always in space. Without him we seem short in midfield as Cairney, who is having a good season so far, is just not quick enough and doesnt do enough for how good he can be. I like Cairney when on the ball but I think he just has no natural pace about him. Long old season, were just lacking a final ball. COYH
I'll always give a player plenty of time before deciding if they are any good but Mckenna hasn't done anything to impress so far in my opinion.
I WOULD AGREE WITH THIS POST. McKENNA DOES WHAT IT SAYS ON THE TIN. NOWT FLASH - JUST GRAFTS HARD. Good signing for the money he is being paid for sure.
I saw McKenna for the first time on Saturday against Palace. Thought he was good in the tackle win and distribute role in midfield, clearly experienced and some good link up play with Rosenior & Brady in the first half. Was very frustrated when Brady & McKenna were subbed, we instantly lost any presence in midfield and failed to really attack their back four after that. Poor subs in my opinion.
The thing Cairney lacks that could make him brilliant, is that final killer through ball, nice and neat on the ball but his passes just dont hurt the opposition.
I think Mckenna and Ash are quite the opposite, Ash is your big tackler dirty scrappy center midfielder, were as i dont see Mckenna as that, I see him more as a Bullard always on the ball making the team play.
I need to keep a closer eye on Mckenna, I've certainly seen nothing so far that would make me compare him to Bullard. Assuming you mean a fit, healthy and motivated Bullard and not the one who looked like he would rather by anywhere else but on the pitch in a city shirt (not that Mckenna is the latter either!). I've seen Mckenna as an Ashbee type player but so far he hasn't shown the same level of reading the game and breaking down attacks as Ashbee did throughout most of his city career. It may still come when he settles in the sides and learns the exact role he is expected to play.
That's what I am starting to see from Cairney but I don't think that is the role Mckenna is playing and I've certainly not seen any evidence of it. His most important job for the team is probably when we haven't got the ball. He needs to be breaking the opposition attacks down and filling in gaps left by others. That is what Ashbee did well and from everything I have seen is what I expect Mckenna to be doing.
Did this guy really just attempt to compare the style of play of McKenna to that of Jimmy Bullard? The worst part is I don't even think he's joking...
On the topic of midfielders, what is the point in Corry Evans? Cairney is the technical mastermind, McKenna is everything that's been said above and Evans brings what exactly? I don't dislike the guy or think he's crap, he's a decent player but I just don't see what he actually brings to the team that we don't already have, that's worth squeezing him into a 5-man midfield. You could have another striker in the side instead of him.
He is a similar style of player to Bullard but obviously not as good and not the same quality, players can be a same type of player without being the same quality. Shows how much you know about football.
He doesn't offer anything that any of our other midfielders offer. And I'd much rather play Mclean ahead of him.
That's what I meant. I know you think he's rubbish and I certainly don't, but I just don't see the point in playing 4-5-1 when you have only two good CMs and plenty of strikers.
Thats the thing isn't it. There is no point in playing a 451 when we have the squad that we do. We should only ever go into a 451 when Stewarts fit, and even then it's be more of a 433 with Brady, Fryatt and Stewart up top. Atm the only logical formation we should be playing is a 442, because looking at our squad, we have the players that are suited for a 442 more so than any other formation. Drop Evans, put McLean up top and go 442. As the meerkat would say, "simples".
