No I think it is Mark Oxley who signed on August 8, 2008. Unless there is another whom I have forgotten about. McShane joined us on loan on August 29th 2008 and signed with us on a perm on August 30th 2009.
ah ok. still I would have never predicted mcshane to last so long, FairPlay he's been a good servant.
He has been great. In age where players leave as often as they do having been with us in some fashion for almost 6 years is in itself an achievement. Especially when you think the number of managers he has had with us and relegation and then the rebuilding and then promotion it is pretty miraculous that he is still with us. Not only still with us but a regular for us on the field and still does the job for us like he did today. Great player that McShane.
Thought your defence looked far better in the second half with Chester (Man of the match) in the middle and with Bruce Junior unable to get in the way.
Bruce Jr is an anomaly in a back 3, his performances are normally very good. He kept Suarez in his back pocket when we beat Liverpool 3-1 at home, then up until going off injured in the FA Cup final he was my MOM - by some distance. Him going off probably helped change the outcome of that game, as we had one less positive substitution to make. He's also a real marmite player, some like, some don't. I think he's ok, but he probably wouldn't be in my back 3 for league games. I'd use him for the cup and Europa league. Ferdinand was well at fault for losing Chester at the corner, surprising really given his experience. Best of luck.
Bruce and McShane arn't premier league standard , but through over performing , between them they provide great cover in the CB position . i wouldnt want either released but it is an area of concern . of the two i trust Bruce much more in ground tackles
As I said on t'other thread. Bruce Jr. - can't fault his defensive qualities but he's a liability with the ball and you can't afford to keep gifting possession back to the enemy so cheaply at this level. Decent enough squad member for emergencies but nowhere near first team standard at premier league level.
I agree with Hatty. Bruce is really good in the tackle but as he showed yesterday, we just wouldn't have as many tackles to make if he didn't keep giving them the ball. I think it'd be nice to be able to dominate possession a bit more against other bottom half sides. Huddlestone's passing is wasted while we're sat in our own half. The other defenders can all pass so much better than Bruce.
to be fair, mcshane did get a lot of stick which was maybe unfair at times, but some of his early performances werent great.. Bruce seems to get similar levels despite putting in some great displays, i didnt make yesterday so cant comment too much, but did see one great tackle on MOTD..if Bruce can ride it out and keep improving at Mcshanes rate, could be a world beater soon!
You have to remember that when we first signed Macca, he was still very young. I think he's matured well and I'd have him at centre half over Bruce any day. He's much better on the ball and has started looking like attacking more often, liking his little runs forward. Should start on Thursday for me.
His weak foot cross in to Jelavic after that little run was as good a cross as you'll ever see, quality! McShane has improved so much over the last 2 years it's incredible, specially given his age. He's just grown as a player in that space of time in the amounts you'd expect from a 17 year old growing from youth football to being ready to play with the seniors.
Team for Thursday? Harper Maguire McShane Figueroa Rosenior Quinn Boyd Meyler Brady Sagbo Aluko Amazing how we can make wholesale changes and still look pretty strong.
**** right off, Steve Bruce can try and **** on his own face if he pulls that one out. I'm not even sure some of those will be registered, we can only name 21 players, I expect they'll probably be
I'm not sure Maguire is registered actually, it could be him and Robertson ineligible until the group stages.
