That's the route this debate always goes down and its ridiculous. Someone says McShane's ace/best defender/some other hyperbole. I say: no he isn't, see list of errors. They say: well of course he makes errors, he isn't perfect, if he was he'd be playing in the PL. But the very point is that we have three really good defenders who don't make these errors, but people still say McShane has been better. Jack Hobbs has been a mainstay in our team for 2 years now (ignoring the 3-4 months of game time or so he missed through injury) and he's hardly ever, if at all, cost us a goal. The guy's just totally reliable. That we agree McShane makes mistakes just proves he isn't as good as Hobbs because he simply never makes mistakes, and that's just our 2nd best defender! The Forest thing is ridiculous. He was on the pitch for about 20 minutes and it didn't change anything when he went off. Against Blackburn we shut them out completely and they had one shot from range all game. That was with a back three of Chester, Hobbs, Bruce. You can't pretend we've only done well defensively when playing McShane. There's nothing wrong with supporting your players. I just find it really irritating that it's become one of those accepted things among City fans that McShane is having this amazing season and it's nothing to do with his performances.
He's had a brilliant season. Next season I woud rather utilise the exact same squad we have had this season, get relegated - use all the financial gains to build an academy for the future. I would hate to sign another load of overpaid ****e and finish the season in the bottom 3 with **** all to show for it. So, in that respect is McShane good enough for the Premier League? Yes he is. I want the board to build a sustainable long term future, the only way to do that is by developing our own pool of talent instead of splashing money on has beens and never will be's.
I think Steve Bruce should perhaps come and consult you on players to pick, clearly you know more than him, and he's only been in the game for 40 years and worked under one of the best ever managers. What does he know, McShane you're ****.
I wouldn't disagree with the principal you suggest, but I'd suggest that for £18k a week, you could get a much better player than McShane, so I'd sign him instead.
I suspect he would be offered reduced terms - therefore better to have what you know, than a step into the unknown. Watching the youth FA cup on TV highlighted just how far we are behind other clubs in terms of facilities. It urgently needs addressing. I would probably put it as the most important thing we MUST do to progress.
The reason McShane a cult hero is because he's not the most talented, but he puts in 100% and he leaves everything he's got the pitch. But he still makes rash decisions and makes mistakes.
I remember the time when Macca would get Megsied at least once a game, minimum. His stance was the widest thing I'd ever seen. I like him though.
There is no doubt that centre back has always been his best position, during the EPL the majority of the time he played right back, which not his best position. I have to agree with those that say even at centre back he is not quite good enough for the premier league, but would be a good back up to have off the bench. I would go for a 2 year contract, if the terms and conditions were reasonable.
Completely and utterly wrong, the first goal Chester could not commit himself as Elmo had left his man which meant that he had to cover two men, any defender knows this. All i can say is about Mcshane is he is decent, how can anyone compare him to Chester is unbelievable. Some of the cross field passes Chester tries are brilliant, twice in recent games strikers have stood on Chester for five minutes then moved to play on one of the others for 85 minutes as they know they get no change from him. I rate Chester very highly as you can see, if where not in the Premier League by the end of next year Chester will be. Will Mcshane? No. There's your answer. Anyone who says Bruce disagrees with me is wrong. Chester has played every league game, Mcshane hasn't thats your answer on them to. Hobbs is just reliable and a far better player, as we will see now by the fact that both start over Mcshane. So how does Mcshane disagree. Just because Mcshane isn't as good doesn't make him not decent.
Have I read your last paragraph wrong or are you suggesting that Hobbs and Chester are better than McShane because McShane is currently injured?
The McShane thing for me is about the character. Not the most gifted of players maybe and to be honest I still get nervous when he has the ball - still the feeling that anything could happen. But it's been great to see how he has established himself as a bit of a cult hero this year. When the song about not selling McShane started I joined in and loved it but felt it was tongue in cheek - ironic even - but I am actually won over now to thinking of him as a City hero. Not for his talent like Hobbs or Chester but there is a loveable scariness and 'anything could happen but not necessarily bad' feel now. I'd be sorry to see him go. But then I was sorry to see Nick go at the time.
I agree with that in a way, but you can guarantee that even if there was a budget of £0 for next season there would be people complaining and wanting Bruce out when we ended up in the relegation zone. That's why so few clubs manage to successfully implement this model. Lol. It's a good job I never said he was **** then. Why does it have to be one extreme or the other? Because I don't buy the hysteria that he's our best defender now he's had a run of alright games and cut the mistakes down to one every game or two, I must think he's ****? Can't he just be alright? And if you're going to go on about disagreeing with the manager, don't you remember what you said about Brady? Thing is Hobbs is just as committed, but manages to do so without being rash and losing his man.
It was that he wouldn't need to take a pay cut if we were promoted, not quite the same as saying the same terms as he had a wage drop on relegation so would presumably have a wage increase on promotion (if his deal wasn't expiring). They do offer different things. Chester is good at reading ahead and trying to play the ball out from the back, but lacks aerially and when it comes to going for 2nd balls inside the area (ie when we've made a poor/short clearance from 6 yards to the edge of the box). I had to laugh during the first half when the Forest fans got all excited because Chester at last man had just played the ball past their striker on the half way line and they thought it was a good chance they'd missed out on. Do they really think a lad the size of Chester is going to be a CB at this level without being able to play with the ball at his feet? Hobbs is above average in almost all aspects of defending, though lacks compared to Chester in the playing the ball out when in possession. Not sure about his reading ahead as it's usually Chester reading ahead and Hobbs going for the first ball so it's not called for. The fact he's usually the one making the first clearance also means he doesn't get much chance to go for 2nd balls in the area. McShane is much better as a CB than a RB, and you can guarantee when the ball is falling to an opposing midfielder on the edge of our area the one throwing themself in the way of the shot will be McShane if he's playing (Bruce does it as well, but it's not often with a fully fit squad they both play). Look at both Forest goals and look at what's missing from a defensive point of view. The irony with the throwing the body in the way of it comment is I was having the same conversation at the ground against Birmingham, and about 30 seconds it was Chester throwing himself in the way of a shot, but it's the only time we could remember him doing it.
