After the last couple of performances, one can see what McPhail brings to the team. Burns was woeful. More fouls on his record shows his intent on being top of the charts in that department. He can't take a corner or an accurate freekick, but is popular as he runs about a bit.
McPhail doesnt work hard enough though does he. since running up and down gets you the man of the match award regardless, he maybe needs to have a rethink.
RE: McPhail doesnt work hard enough though I don't think McPhail puts enough effort in to be regared as a pivotal member of the team. Last night Shuker was determined to get a goal & we did. McPhail lacks that passion I'm afraid. I think Carbon is more of a key player to be honest!
Shuker's crossing is poor oh he can run with the ball and occasionally trick a player into making a challenge, but when he gets room for a cross, he invariably doesnt beat the first man. he took 3 corners last night, all of which resulted in a Tranmere counter attack. McPhails distribution is a class above, his dead ball delivery is the best we have and the lack of creativity evident last night was mostly down to his absence. Shuker isnt in our best midfield 4 - FACT.
RE: Honestly do you think that Shuker is better than McPhail? Probably not as talented a player, but in terms of winning us games, yes
RE: McPhail doesnt work hard enough though You really don't like McPhail do you. All based on logic. Oh yes. Some people couldn't spot a proper footballer if they were Brazilian.
mcphails deadball delivery is the best we have? i'm afraid that honour goes to robbie williams. He's the only oe who has ever looked like scoring from a freekick
RE: McPhail doesnt work hard enough though I don't like or dislike him. I don't like or dislike Shuker, but I do admire the effort he puts in. Particularly if it's true that he's lleaving us next month. I am not denying MacPhail has talent, I just wish he would put more effort in. I think he drifts out of games too easily. I also think that if he hadn't come from a supposed big club, people on here might be more critical of him.
That is a complete load of dog toss........ I think the opposite. The opposite being if we had have signed him from a lower profile club people wouldn't harp on about his work ethic. The last 2 games I saw him play he worked his socks off without any credit. Bradford away he held the midfield together almost single handedly after Howard was sent off and then against Rovrum again he worked harder than most of them. I recall last 10 mins him running 50 yards back to retrieve the ball when we were pushing up and beat the rovrum striker getting there 1st before passing it back into the danger area. Scored from the resulting corner i believe.</p> I think we should give him a break. Just because his body language can look a bit lazy doesn't mean he hasn't put any effort in. I remember the same used to be said about a certain Chris Waddle!!!</p>
RE: McPhail doesnt work hard enough though I've always been interested in the way people develop dislikes (and likes) of certain players. Tommy Tyke's lad hated Nicky Eaden with a passion. SM hated Sheron (although Mike did give him plenty of ammunition). I have taken an irrational dislike to many players over the years, most notably Billy Ronson (probably because he was brought in to replace King Ronnie). I never warmed to Bruce Dyer despite most people thinking he was great. Of the present team I am ambivalent towards Shuker but I rate Anthony Kay and I certainly rate McPhail. All I would say, Red Helen, is that you are in good company: neither of us are necessarily right or wrong.
RE: McPhail doesnt work hard enough though I agree. The only player I really had no time for was Sheron. He put us into the league we are now imo. Some people rate skill above passion & work rate. Fair enough, maybe I just rate players who do give their all week in & week out, like Shipperley, Redfearn, Shuker, Moses.
Hate to argue but.. Robbie hasn't scored a set piece for the first team. McPhails only two goals for the club have been freekicks.
I honestly think.. that a lot of football fans see what they want to see so that their opinion doesn't have to change. IE: I rate Hayes. But I rated Hayes after two games and said so. That is probably blinkering my view to a drop in form. A lot of people are judging McPhail on his early time at Oakwell. His workrate this season has been excellent, as have most of his performances. A lot of people took a lot of convincing over Colgan and only now, after a goal-costing-error-free season, is he starting to get credit. Peoples minds help them see things or not see things that they want or don't want to see. IMHO.
RE: I honestly think.. I agree to some extent, I certainly didn't rate Colgan last season but he has done well this.
