http://www.footballfancast.com/2012...hip/sunderland-offer-former-everton-man-trial Sunderland are set to take Scotland international James McFadden on trial. The striker has been a free agent since his release from Everton in the summer, with Black Cats manager Martin OâNeill said to have been a long-term admirer of the Scot. The Daily Record reports that McFadden has been training with former club Motherwell and is wanted by Aberdeen, but would prefer to remain in England where he has spent a majority of his career. At 29 the Glaswegian is still hopeful of rebuilding his career after struggling for game time at Goodison last year, and an injury wrecked 18-month spell which ended his stay at Birmingham. Sunderland are well-stocked for strikers after bringing in Steven Flecther and Louis Saha in the summer. However McFaddenâs arrival could leave OâNeill confident he has enough options to allow young strikers Ji Dong Won and Connor Wickham to secure loan deals to gain experience. The versatility of the ex-Motherwell man may also appeal to the Ulsterman as McFadden can operate on left wing as well as upfront. As i said in another thread, be nothing more than a squad player and someone to make the numbers up in training, but might give McClean a kick up the arse so
Didn't think he was as young as 29 TBH. A trial can't hurt and if he impresses MON can make the decision. If he scored the winner in the derby he'd be a hero and he may have something left to offer.
first of all Wickham has started to score a few goals of late for the reserves and Eng U21's and I think the lad needs to go out till the end of the season if that is the case that will leave us with Fletcher, Saha, Ji, Campbell and as we know Sessegnon can play upfront if have to so do we actually need McFadden? If Ji or Campbell go onloan then yes bring him in till Jan with the option of till the end of the season if he performs. after the good work that we did in the summer we are a work in progrss, I have just commented on another article saying a quality young CB should and I think will be targeted for the summer but a 3rd striker has to be on the list as well as I certainly would not offer Campbell a new contract and Ji and Wickham are nowhere near ready. The best option for me would be to stick with Fletcher, Ji, Saha and Campbell till January and go for Guidetti at Man City on loan till the end of the season with the option to buy for around 6m then send Ji out on loan for the remaining few months
There was a time when I really wanted this lad, he did have a spell where he was outstanding. The fact Everton released him when they are so short in numbers is a massive alarm bell for me though.
20-odd goals in about 200 appearances doesn't tell me he's a striker. Poor to appalling at best, he's rode his luck for long enough and should be employed in one of the lower tiers of English football to recognise his potential. I'd imagine O'Neill is looking at this as nothing more than a punt, to see if he has any ingredients about him which would amount to anything valuable, which is highly unlikely, so I'd expect him to be playing Scottish football before too long. Unless of course he's good mates with Fletcher and O'Neill is doing Fletcher a favour, still not good enough in my opinion. I'd imagine you have kids on your books that would embarrass McFadden on the training ground. The best things in life aren't always free, more often than not, the free things are awful crap that nobody wants.
On his day he's outstanding, I remember a goal he scored for Scotland that was better than that gigs favourite cup goal against Arsenal. If he can impress and prove his fitness. I think McClean could use the competition. I remember when we brought Benjani in it saw Kenwyne pulling his weight ait more
He's only 29, jeez he must be aging in turtle years. Seems like he's been around forever. He has had spells in his career when he looked a good player and it seems odd that at 29 he's clubless - the good times must be 2 years ago + and there are some tell-tale signs of being past his best by looking at his stats but guess there's nothing to lose. It's not as desperate as getting Shefki Kuqi.
