Neither cross country runner or somebody with skill. Fitness is part and parcel of the modern game. It will be honed as professional progress through the academies into professional footballers. Wenger revolutionised Arsenal when he turned up at the Gooners, by improving fitness. It's now accepted as the norm. Gone are the days when Hull City players would lord it up in Cave Castle chain smoking and knocking back pints like they were going out of fashion the night before a match!!!!
That's a very good point, I noticed a few times towards the end of the season that Fryatt had the option of passing to Mclean, but decided to go it alone. I've also regularly seen Koren go to play a pass, realise it was Harper and turn around and try and go it alone(Barmby, Bullard and Stewart have done the same).
Mclean will improve with a full pre-season with us, people are too quick to judge players when they first arrive. For me he has a great work ethic but just needs to slow down a bit in key areas and think a bit more. He has a bit of technique and is not a poor player in that regard, like ***an was. The worry is that people will get on his back and he can't play to his potential, I've seen that so many times over the years with players at City look at Walters for Stoke for example and Keith Andrews.
I don't remember anyone getting on Walters back, I thought he was a good player for us, I don't really remember Andrews getting much grief either, though he's one lucky player, he's never Premier League quality.
Andrews just scored v Italy, probably the pinnacle of his career! I'm sure back in the day there were online boards slagging off Walters but being an internet newbie will take your word that he never got a hard time anywhere
