Why does everyone not have anything positive to say about McClean? I personally like what he brings to the team. He's not prolific in terms of goals at this level. But he runs himself into the ground, he does all the donkey work most centre forwards don't like doing. He occupies good positions between the opponents midfield and defence. There is definitely a good player in there, he'll get us goals next season for sure. How many goals did he create for other players by taking opposition defenders out of the game with intelligent runs? Don't get on his back because of a simple miss or two. He's one of a few players that when he plays a full 90 mins earns his money with the hard graft he gets through.
I agree with you, I like the type of player that McClean is. If he can add a few goals to his game for us next season, then hopefully there will be less criticism of him as a player (I know he's a striker and that's what his job is but if he can provide plenty of assists then that's fine by me). When we add a target man to the line up then we will have very different types of striker available that will give us options for formation and the way we play.
I've been very outspoken in my defense of Aaron McLean. He'll be a good player for us, mark my words (usually Sagegee's job ).
You have to have more than work rate though. I appreciate the effort he puts into the game but it's little use if it comes to nothing. He just seems to be another ***an.
Decent bloke who grafts for the team, good squad player but not a first XI man for a team pushing for promotion
He's not a marathon runner he's a footballer and his position is in the attack so he should score and assist a lote more than he does.
Hopefully he'll get on the scoresheet more next season. I admire the work he puts in but when you mention his name the first thing that comes to mind are the close range misses against Leeds and Donny. Nice to see his goal down at Coventry again on the montage posted yesterday though.
The trouble is McLean would have to be classed as "below average" in this league along with Simpson and Cullen. Fryatt is about average (imo) although I do not claim to be qualified in any sense of the word but just going on what the other teams have then I would have to say that there are 10 teams with better forward line options than us (at the moment). Our 52 goals last season says it all for me and we have done little or nothing to improve our attack. McLean is a fantastic little work-horse but would be far more comfortable in League 1. Again, just my two-pennoth.
Simpson and Fryatt are much better than you're giving them credit for IMO, and Cullen (whilst you're probably right he is below average) is only 18 and will still improve a lot. With Fryatt, Simpson and McLean we have a pretty decent attack, all it needs is a target man in there to compliment them all. As for not scoring many, how many shots did we have? It's not like Fryatt was missing sitters every week, he just didn't get the chances, and for that you have to blame our midfield. Using your grading system I'd say there are 23 teams in the division with a better middle two than Harper and Evans. As for the point of the article, I see what the OP means, people are too quick to jump on his back (myself included) I hadn't noticed before but he's right about the good runs he makes. One thing's for certain though, he isn't an option as a target man.
Simpson is not "below average". He got better and better last season. McLean hasn't looked good enough so far. That said, he's not a forward who'll link play, he's an out and out goalscorer who wants to get in behind defences. If we put together a midfield that can penetrate, we'll see much more of him. Cullen isn't anywhere near good enough, sadly.
I think the bloke deserves a chance next season, the scouting team are no mugs and must have seen soomething in him to sign him. The problem with Mclean is that like Harper, that horrible miss against Donny will be hard to shake off and will be a motive for the boo boys to target him (he can thank his lucky stars we were winning at the time!). Like most players from last season, he deserves a chance to show what he can do after a full pre season at the club and see if he can fit into the team with any new signings we make. It took Simpson a few months to settle in, we may see the same thing with Mclean.
I agree with what you're saying, but in fairness, that miss against Donny, and Harper's against Scunny were just stupid. On both occasions the player didn't even strike the ball, you can't even call it a miss, they got complacent, McLean fell over it and Harper just dribbled it to the keeper, it wasn't even hard enough to be a backpass so a dribble is all you can call it. So they deserve any criticism they get for them, they weren't honest mistakes, they were lazy and complacent.
The odd glaring miss is irritating, but all players make mistakes from time to time and bad though those misses were, they don't really bother me. What does bother me is his first touch, his ball control is definitely League One standard and as he's 28 I can't see much likelihood that it will change. He works hard and as has been said, with better service from midfield his goal scoring may well improve, but I don't think he's good enough to be in the starting XI. Unless it's between him and Harper, in which case I'm all for him starting.
Not at all, every team needs a player like a ***an or a McClean. Without them Fryatt probably wouldn't have had as many chances to score. McClean shouldn't be criticised for that. Another ver useful player in our armoury.
I don't think you've seen McClean play! He doesn't play off the shoulder at all! He drops deep in between oppo's defence and midfield, runs the channels and generally stretches the oppo defence.
Agreed. Some stupid fans think the the top scorer must be the best player and those who don't score must be ****.
said it before, and ill say it again..whenever your 1st thought when describing a footballer, is he works hard..that usually says he isnt good at football or youd mention that 1st...
Funny that, I'm sure 99% of managers would now consider a footballers finest attribute is athleticism. Why do you think they spend hundreds and thousands on conditioning and prozone stats? It's to give the team a competitive edge. Stick to Sunday league where fitness is less of a pre requisite!!!!
He did for Peterbrough when he was scoring goals. That's what he's made for. As OLM says, he hasn't got the touch to drop off and link play.
