West Brom comment: Some truths are better left unsaid
Throughout his career, James McClean’s honesty has been refreshing.
A man who wears his heart on his sleeve both on the pitch and in front of the camera, he represents a welcome change from anodyne media-trained players too scared to voice their own opinions.
He’s also a man with principles, who deserves immense credit for sticking by his community in the face of huge and unfair criticism.
His decision not to wear a poppy has earned him boos throughout the country, but his reasoning is completely understandable.
We should be wary of telling footballers to keep quiet, we want players to be as honest as open with the fans as possible, especially in this day and age when there is too much disconnect between those groups.
But McClean’s comments in the build-up to the Newcastle game were too close to the bone.
“Everyone wants to play Premier League football so I do think there will obviously be a lot of people looking at their next move or their future come the summer if the inevitable happens and we do go down,” said McClean.
“The fans just see it as if you do go down and players leave then you’re a snake, or you’ve taken the club for a ride and this and that.
“But we’ve got families as well, we need to look after them. We’ve also got a career to look after as well, we want to be the best we can be. You have to look after yourself first and foremost.”
Any pragmatic football fan knows plenty of Albion’s players will be looking for a move back to the Premier League this summer.
If not for the money, then for their own professional pride of being the best they can be.
The galling thing for Albion supporters is they have stuck by McClean during his three years at the club.
They have been on his side against opposition fans who boo him, they have welcomed his passionate and committed approach, even though sometimes it has put the team in danger.
McClean has not featured much this season, and perhaps he feels others are more to blame for the demise. But he has had a hand in it, just like plenty of the other players.
Reckless challenges in the final minutes against Watford and Newcastle at home led to free-kicks that cost Albion four points.
He gave away the ball in the build up to Tottenham’s equaliser at Wembley and also turned his back in the wall against Arsenal on New Year’s Eve, allowing Alexis Sanchez’s free-kick to squeeze through.
McClean’s desire and passion cannot be questioned, but he’s cost the team points this season.
At the other end, he’s managed one goal and no assists from 31 appearances, 14 of which were starts.
His comments were honest, and it’s worth remembering they were in response to a direct question about the summer. But they were unwise, and did not come from a position of strength.
Gagging McClean may go against the exact reason his character endears him to fans, but some truths are just better left unsaid.
