We have to help James out - MON Manager Martin O'Neill admits that wing wizard James McClean is being singled out by Barclays Premier League defences. Sunderland boss Martin O'Neill believes James McClean has become Sunderland's target man. The young winger has emerged as one of Sunderland's key players following O'Neill's arrival in early December. He was handed his senior debut as a second half substitute in the home win over Blackburn - O'Neill's first game in charge. Since then the former Derry man has amassed 24 appearances for the first team, notching five goals in those games. Little was known about the 22 year-old, who was signed by Steve Bruce last summer, when he burst onto the scene, stunning defences with his blistering pace and penchant for taking his man on. However, after watching a determined Wolves side thwart the midfielder during Saturday's draw at the Stadium of Light, O'Neill now believes McClean is the player the oppostion teams will target. "James McClean is a marked man now." O'Neill told safc.com "What we have to try and do is to devise ways in which he can receive the ball, where he gets a little help from us. "Back in his early stages he was an unknown quantity and he was able to take on players one versus one, but they're backing up now and we have to find ways of helping him." The manager added. "If James has two players on him, then there has to be someone free for us and we have to try and work that one and help James out."
Other teams are certainly on to him so its make use of him by letting him make the space and others exploiting it
Read this one earlier Rog, The man in charge will steer him right, of that I have no doubt. but address for the shirts mate, want to get em away.
Sure he can look after himself or as syd says use it to our advantage by creating gaps for us to attack with.
Unfortunately, in Sessegnon and Bendtner, we have 2 front men who dont attack the centre of the 18 yard area, thus it is making the wide mens job very difficult as there is nothing to hit, and McClean in particular is having to check and come again. That said, someone has to get a hold of Jamie and tell him to make much better runs down the flanks, also giving the full backs and midfielders something to hit as well. He is receiving the ball with 2 or 3 players to beat everytime recently and he is getting easily crowded out. Still, the lad is only young and still learning his trade so I expect much better next season anyway. Rock on Jimmy.
Like cest' says. Mcclean often has two or three defenders crowding him. However there are a few things That we don't seem to do but should. Our fullbacks never seem to overlap? Now this maybe part of mon's defensive package but rarely if indeed ever have I seen Richardson or Bridge go past him to draw a player away. Swap wings, if he's getting no joy down the left go to the right. We know Larrson can play on the left. Push Mcclean out to the right and let him have a go at the other full back. We have never tried this? Maybe there has been no time to coach this or we don't want to do it but I think it could be tried? Let Mcclean wander swapping with sess or Bendtner or a free role for ten minutes. This should stop pre arranged game plans. Just some things I would like to see tried.
