What does Mclean bring to the team?

[cambridgeshire canary 7,798]

I'm honestly confused, just as he looked very confused and lost against Southampton.

 

Dont get me wrong, Kenny does always seem like a nice bloke, and he is a bit of a laugh getting pissed at the celebrations and all

 

But could someone explain what he brings to the team that say, Vrancic (who I would argue is our best midfielder) doesnt?

[A Load of Squit 6,260]

https://www.premierleague.com/clubs/14/Norwich-City/stats

 

[Yellowhammer 95]

A Scottish accent 

[Disco Dales Jockstrap 1,959]

Cultural diversity?

OTBC

[GJP 79]

We play our best football with Vrancic and Buendia on the pitch. There is also clear understanding between those two and Pukki.

 

McLean might have a bit more of an engine and might win a few more headers but it hasn't got us anywhere.

 

We're going to let goals in anyway so I'd rather we gave ourselves a better chance of scoring them too.

[hogesar 10,764]

M

Well, the reason why hes in the team, I think, is partially because he has the engine to get up and down the pitch better than Vrancic and Trybull and Leitner

He also has won more in the air than any of our other players this season which partially tells it's own story but also perhaps gives another reason as we struggle for height throughout the team.

Finally his interception rate is second to only Tettey.

Far from a perfect player and some games you forget he is even there but there are pretty blatant reasons why he plays.

[hogesar 10,764]

Also, Vrancic is my favourite player but he has struggled when hes played this season bar maybe 45 minutes against Sheffield United and a couple of other times. He was also blowing after coming on for 10 minutes against Southampton.

[Dr Greenthumb 793]

1 hour ago, cambridgeshire canary said:

I'm honestly confused, just as he looked very confused and lost against Southampton.

 

Dont get me wrong, Kenny does always seem like a nice bloke, and he is a bit of a laugh getting pissed at the celebrations and all

 

But could someone explain what he brings to the team that say, Vrancic (who I would argue is our best midfielder) doesnt?

Not a lot! No pace, passing is predictable and doesn’t score many. His one pro is that he can win headers. He should be nowhere near the team, but I have been saying that for a year, so I sound like a broken record.

[The Bristol Nest 597]

Maclean is our best all round midfielder imo although Vrancic is my favourite due to his creativity. 

Let's not go looking for fall guys although I think that Russell  Martin is past it.

[Samwam27 606]

I think, as some have already said, he's the best we've got in terms of the engine in midfield. He may not be creative like Vrancic, but he's more competitive and wins aerial battles. But he needs a strong defensive midfielder to play with, and apart from Tettey, we haven't got one.

Trybull, Leitner and Vrancic just don't offer that at this level, and any one of those 3 also need a strong DM, which we haven't got (apaprt from Godfrey!)

When tettey doesn't play, we have one of the weakest midfields in the league, and thats saying something for such a seasoned pro 

[Samwam27 606]

If we can find a stronger DM, Maclean or Vrancic would be my pick of pairing. Just don't think Trybull or Leitner offer much going forward, even in the Championship, and would like us to get fresh blood in (especially as tettey can't go on forever) to replace Trybull and Leitner 

[king canary 8,757]

17 minutes ago, hogesar said:

M

Well, the reason why hes in the team, I think, is partially because he has the engine to get up and down the pitch better than Vrancic and Trybull and Leitner

He also has won more in the air than any of our other players this season which partially tells it's own story but also perhaps gives another reason as we struggle for height throughout the team.

Finally his interception rate is second to only Tettey.

Far from a perfect player and some games you forget he is even there but there are pretty blatant reasons why he plays.

This.

He's mobile- you need a player in the middle who can cover ground and our options are either too old (Tettey) or too static (Vrancic, Leitner, Trybull) to do it. 

I think Rupp could do this but so far Farke doesn't appear to see him as a central midfielder.

[A Load of Squit 6,260]

3 minutes ago, The Bristol Nest said:

Maclean is our best all round midfielder imo although Vrancic is my favourite due to his creativity. 

Let's not go looking for fall guys although I think that Russell  Martin is past it.

I think weve found our new 'escape goat'. 😀

[hogesar 10,764]

1 minute ago, king canary said:

This.

He's mobile- you need a player in the middle who can cover ground and our options are either too old (Tettey) or too static (Vrancic, Leitner, Trybull) to do it. 

I think Rupp could do this but so far Farke doesn't appear to see him as a central midfielder.

I'd like to see Rupp given a chance there because so far, for most games this season our midfield balance hasnt been right. I mean, partially that's due to our personnel rather than Farke but whilst he had an absolute horror show against Villa, I wonder if Leitner might be involved again.

Irritatingly the only way I can really find balance is to have three central midfielders with the people available which doesnt work with the attacking players we want in the team.

[king canary 8,757]

2 minutes ago, hogesar said:

I'd like to see Rupp given a chance there because so far, for most games this season our midfield balance hasnt been right. I mean, partially that's due to our personnel rather than Farke but whilst he had an absolute horror show against Villa, I wonder if Leitner might be involved again.

Irritatingly the only way I can really find balance is to have three central midfielders with the people available which doesnt work with the attacking players we want in the team.

This is why I think we should have given a back 3 a go. The extra defensive cover shouldn't blunt us as it actually gives our wing backs more license to roam and can somewhat offset the lack of protection in central midfield.

[hogesar 10,764]

2 minutes ago, king canary said:

This is why I think we should have given a back 3 a go. The extra defensive cover shouldn't blunt us as it actually gives our wing backs more license to roam and can somewhat offset the lack of protection in central midfield.

Agreed. We've just had really limited times to do it because of injuries. Even when we have had the opportunity it would have meant no cover on the bench. But I do remember Farke talking about a back 5 / 3 being something they spent some pre season time on.

[Clint 221]

I said on another thread that I think he’s a reasonable player but to get picked every week without fail, is a bit of a stretch.

IMO we need to get Marco back in the team. Technically he’s not the greatest (but then neither is McLean) but his physicality and unpredictability makes him difficult to play against.

It is also very clear that he brings out the best in Pukki and arguably brings the wide players into the game more as he can hold up play and offer a shield of sorts.

Without him in the team, our front three just struggles too much physically. Another clear problem that was not addressed in January when we just signed another small and weak technical player! 

[A Load of Squit 6,260]

I think with the frequency of the games coming up we'll probably see most of the current squad who are fit playing at some stage.

 

[Mason 47 1,925]

As mentioned by others, he's the 'Jack of all trades' in our midfield, in that he can do all the things expected of a CM with no glaring weakness- but at the cost of no outstanding benefits.

He isn't as good a passer as Trybull or Vrancic but he has more engine. Wouldn't compete with Leitner technically but has a greater work rate. Not as good a defender as Tettey but more useful supplementing attacks from deep.

When you don't quite have the quality, you'll often find the 'least offensive' option becomes the go-to. You rarely see one of these all-rounders as a regular starter at this level however as they cant compete with specialised midfielders. Such players bring tactical and technical questions with them that Farke doesn't currently want to answer.

[FenwayFrank 2,717]

We need Vrancic ,Leitner and Trybull to go into a room and one player to come out again

[Europe_93 50]

6 minutes ago, FenwayFrank said:

We need Vrancic ,Leitner and Trybull to go into a room and one player to come out again

Mould all that together and we'd have a £40m transfer target, that would leave after the next 8 games 😁

[Yellow Fever 4,415]

40 minutes ago, Clint said:

I said on another thread that I think he’s a reasonable player but to get picked every week without fail, is a bit of a stretch.

IMO we need to get Marco back in the team. Technically he’s not the greatest (but then neither is McLean) but his physicality and unpredictability makes him difficult to play against.

It is also very clear that he brings out the best in Pukki and arguably brings the wide players into the game more as he can hold up play and offer a shield of sorts.

Without him in the team, our front three just struggles too much physically. Another clear problem that was not addressed in January when we just signed another small and weak technical player! 

 

I think what you've correctly identified is the balance or blend of the team is all wrong. All teams should be greater than the sum of their parts - individual weaknesses being  balanced out by individual strengths. That's how we won the championship.

What I think happened in the autumn is that at Marco had a few awkward matches which the boo boys boo but was never given the chance to settle in - get up to speed as say Cantwell or Emi has (and frankly failed).

We need more creativity in midfield - and physicality in attack. That's Marco and Vrancic. Both play / serve well with Pukki.

We must play to our strengths with what we've got and not just be poor  / mediocre everywhere. 

 

[ged in the onion bag 961]

2 hours ago, cambridgeshire canary said:

I'm honestly confused, just as he looked very confused and lost against Southampton.

 

Dont get me wrong, Kenny does always seem like a nice bloke, and he is a bit of a laugh getting pissed at the celebrations and all

 

But could someone explain what he brings to the team that say, Vrancic (who I would argue is our best midfielder) doesnt?

Can 100% guarantee you that if Farke picked any of Vrancic, Leitner or Trybull as regular starters, you’d be going mental with threads to get McLean back in the team.    The CM position has lost us our premier league status but him and Tettey are our only starter options, although, prefer to see Godfrey given a go if only we had cover.

[A Load of Squit 6,260]

22 minutes ago, FenwayFrank said:

We need Vrancic ,Leitner and Trybull to go into a room and one player to come out again

We all need competition for places but suggesting that a player murder the other two is going too far. 😀

 

[ged in the onion bag 961]

56 minutes ago, Clint said:

I said on another thread that I think he’s a reasonable player but to get picked every week without fail, is a bit of a stretch.

IMO we need to get Marco back in the team. Technically he’s not the greatest (but then neither is McLean) but his physicality and unpredictability makes him difficult to play against.

It is also very clear that he brings out the best in Pukki and arguably brings the wide players into the game more as he can hold up play and offer a shield of sorts.

Without him in the team, our front three just struggles too much physically. Another clear problem that was not addressed in January when we just signed another small and weak technical player! 

Really, the only thing you got right there is that ‘technically he’s not the greatest’.   Have you been watching him this season? Sadly, he has shown no physicality whatsoever, he’s been chasing shadows, getting nowhere near the ball or opponents.... take a look at the effort he makes prior to Spurs free-kick goal at Our place, which is typical of what’s he’s provided this season.   That’s without the ball, with it, as you say, technically he’s not the best! Think we’ve seen the last of Marco as he won’t over achieve next season like he did last!    
 

it is bizarre how so many fans are calling for players to be included who have had their chances and completely failed to take those chances.    Steips, Mario, Moritz and Tom Trybull.   We all hoped they could make the step up but sadly the overall dynamic never worked.    

[FenwayFrank 2,717]

19 minutes ago, A Load of Squit said:

We all need competition for places but suggesting that a player murder the other two is going too far. 😀

 

It’s like the thunder dome, three men enter, one man leave 😁

[Decemberists 48]

Against Southampton he was very poor.

But he usually brings a decent aerial presence, a range of passing, a few goals, close control to open up space, willingness to get on the ball and move it forward.

He’s a cracking player who had a bad game.

[ec-p 117]

Think he was our only player to have a shot on target on Friday.

[Mello Yello 2,572]

.....Buckfast....

[dylanisabaddog 6,143]

Kenny is not Premier League standard but not many of them are. Our only chance is to play Mario and for every player to dive around the edge of the penalty area🙄