Only a Game? - Here’s hoping for a good ‘Christmas Day’
International Friendly, Aviva Stadium, Dublin 29/2/2012 Republic of Ireland vs Czech Republic Republic of Ireland's James McClean applauds the crowd after the game Mandatory Credit �INPHO/Morgan Treacy *** Local Caption ***
As James McClean puts his head on his pillow to go to sleep tonight he’d be forgiven for thinking that what he’s feeling is similar to what he experienced on many Christmas Eves as a child growing up in Creggan Heights.
It’s certainly a romantic picture but only instead of waiting on the arrival of Santa Claus and his reindeers the 23 year-old Sunderland winger will be waiting to hear if he has been included in Republic of Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni’s 23 man squad that will take its place at next month European Championships in Poland and Ukraine.
It’s certainly a romantic picture but only instead of waiting on the arrival of Santa Claus and his reindeers the 23 year-old Sunderland winger will be waiting to hear if he has been included in Republic of Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni’s 23 man squad that will take its place at next month European Championships in Poland and Ukraine.
This time last year McClean was lining out against the likes of Shamrock Rovers, Bray Wanderers and U.C.D.. Since joining Sunderland last summer he has been facing off and scoring against the likes of Manchester City, Blackburn and Chelsea. The former St. Peter’s High School pupil has come extremely far in such a short space of time.
McClean has been turning heads virtually every time he plays for Sunderland.
Sunderland boss Martin O’Neill said that he would have loved to played alongside McClean and there’s even been rumours that Manchester United are considering an offer for the player during the summer.
The last ten months have been real Roy of the Rovers stuff for McClean and I hope that tomorrow’s news is no different.
In one of my previous columns I explained why I thought that Trapattoni was right not to commit to bringing the player to the finals so early on.
Some of us feared that if McClean’s form started to disappear so would Trapattoni’s interest but thankfully the Derry man has gone from strength to strength and proved to everyone just how much of a talent he is.
Although many will say that McClean deserves to be included in the squad because of his goal scoring exploits for the Black Cats but it’s tracking back and defending that will have caught 73 year-old Trapattoni’s eye.
Trapattoni has a style of play that he very rarely strays from. And in stereotypical fashion it’s built around defending and patience.
Virtually no-one has ever played a free role under Trapattoni and no one should argue with that sentiment.
Trapattoni is a manager who values discipline so that’s why he said that McClean is “90 to 99 per cent” guaranteed to be included in his squad.
There’s always a chance that McClean might not make it to Poland but hopefully that doesn’t come to pass.
In the likelihood that he is included in Trapattoni’s squad it’s important that fans, managers and players alike don’t inflict high expectations upon him.
Sunderland boss O’Neill said that McClean could be the star of Euro 2012.
Whilst it would be great to see a fellow Derry man light up such a prestigious tournament I don’t think making such predictions is helpful.
McClean is extremely talented and is deserving of a place in Trapattoni’s squad. That’s where it should stop because everything else is just conjecture and opinion.
Irish football supporters have berated the English media when they pressurised such players as Wayne Rooney, Theo Walcott and others.
Expectation is fine but unnecessary pressure is not what is needed right now.
Ireland’s game against Croatia is only five weeks away and as James McClean wakes from sleep tomorrow morning I hope that when he hears Trapattoni’s decision it will feel like all of his Christmases have come at once.
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Weather for Derry
Wednesday 19 June 2013
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 10 C to 18 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
Wind direction: West
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 12 C to 19 C
Wind Speed: 13 mph
Wind direction: South
