Wasn't long ago a lot of Geezers were claiming him as the next Messiah. Wanted Harry chucked out and a "proper Manager" like Rosler to take over. They were even saying it after Harry took him down in last year's semis! Well now he's sacked with Wigan third bottom of the Championship while we're in the Prem and hopefully looking up. Just goes to show the grass ain't always greener Signed: Smug W*nker
Fair point and descent OP in my opinion. Certainly puts the recent "Is Harry A Soft Touch" moan-fest thread into perspective, IMHO.
really surprised to see Wigan in that position in the champs...so the merry go round continues. Malky the favourite apparently.
Agree I really thought they would be up there ⦠saw a couple of great goals by that Mcmamaman recently he looks a great player
Compared to our Harry, he was sure an animated character, at times almost a bit OTT:- please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image Happier times:- please log in to view this image Down in the dumps:- please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image
Serves him right:- James McClean explains why he didn't wear poppy on his shirt in Wigan vs Bolton: 'It has come to mean something very different' Wigan Athletic winger James McClean refused to wear a poppy during his side's Championship encounter against Bolton on Friday please log in to view this image Wigan winger James McClean refused to wear a poppy on his shirt against Bolton please log in to view this image McClean looked dejected during his side's 3-1 defeat against Bolton at the Macron Stadium please log in to view this image McClean did not wear a poppy on his shirt during a match between Sunderland and Everton in 2012
The letter he wrote to the Wigan chairman explained his position, which was accepted by his club. Gets my respect for sticking to his beliefs.
Hands up. I was one of those wishing we had gone for Rosler. I'm glad I'm not the owner of a football club having to make these decisions (well, apart from the fame and fortune). Impossible job!
I had not read his letter - yes, he does stick to his beliefs:- Letter in full Dear Mr Whelan I wanted to write to you before talking about this face to face and explain my reasons for not wearing a poppy on my shirt for the game at Bolton. I have complete respect for those who fought and died in both World Wars - many I know were Irish-born. I have been told that your own Grandfather Paddy Whelan, from Tipperary, was one of those. I mourn their deaths like every other decent person and if the Poppy was a symbol only for the lost souls of World War I and II I would wear one. I want to make that 100% clear .You must understand this. But the Poppy is used to remember victims of other conflicts since 1945 and this is where the problem starts for me. For people from the North of Ireland such as myself, and specifically those in Derry, scene of the 1972 Bloody Sunday massacre, the poppy has come to mean something very different. Please understand, Mr Whelan, that when you come from Creggan like myself or the Bogside, Brandywell or the majority of places in Derry, every person still lives in the shadow of one of the darkest days in Irelandâs history â even if like me you were born nearly 20 years after the event. It is just a part of who we are, ingrained into us from birth. Mr Whelan, for me to wear a poppy would be as much a gesture of disrespect for the innocent people who lost their lives in the Troubles â and Bloody Sunday especially - as I have in the past been accused of disrespecting the victims of WWI and WWII. It would be seen as an act of disrespect to those people; to my people. I am not a war monger, or anti-British, or a terrorist or any of the accusations levelled at me in the past. I am a peaceful guy, I believe everyone should live side by side, whatever their religious or political beliefs which I respect and ask for people to respect mine in return. Since last year, I am a father and I want my daughter to grow up in a peaceful world, like any parent. I am very proud of where I come from and I just cannot do something that I believe is wrong. In life, if youâre a man you should stand up for what you believe in. I know you may not agree with my feelings but I hope very much that you understand my reasons. As the owner of the club I am proud to play for, I believe I owe both you and the clubâs supporters this explanation. Yours sincerely, James McClean http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/james-mcclean-poppy-row-read-4590605
Sad to see Rosler go. He beat lung cancer and was a great player back in the day, along with Sammer one who made the transition to the West a success. Here he is in his pomp among the mullets still with his hair and the DDR shirt (hanging out): http://static.weltsport.net/picmon/2f/Ms0_d8FK0_m.jpg
King hell, he beat lung cancer! That is vanishingly rare, his 10 year survival is remarkable. And I think he is a decent manager still. Agree Tramore. At least McClean makes a cogent argument. Wonder if he actually wrote that, I hope he did. He is still a prisoner of a sectarian mindset, poor lad, but there's a glimmer of hope.......
Bloody hell Killy, I had McClean's poppy thread up for a week and you never mentioned it! But as soon as an Uwe Rosler thread is started......
Sorry, I missed that one, or was it part of the general Remembrance Day thread? I was actually going to ask you how we transitioned from a Harry Redknapp thread to the recent Roy Keane incident almost a month later?
