Must Keep McLean

[Worthy Nigelton 1,301]

Is anyone saying this ready for next season?

I've seen a few saying we must keep Hanley, Pukki and a few others. Does anyone think McLean is key next year and going forward? He is one of the first names on the team sheet so maybe Dean Smith thinks he is indispensable for us. Do you?

[KeiranShikari 1,524]

Don't think there's much chance he won't be here.

He's personally a part of the team that I'd be looking to move though.

[canarydan23 4,762]

I'd keep him for the Championship but get rid quick if we get promoted again.

He's done ok since we reverted back to 4-2-3-1, and whilst he wasn't great against Newcastle (no one was) he was the only one putting a shift in.

[hogesar 10,762]

For the championship? He'll likely be one of the first names on the teamsheet again, his all-round gameplay has always served us well in the championship.

I'd imagine we'll be looking at bringing in a natural defensive midfielder and maybe starting to get one of the young players into games if we deem them good enough.

We will need some championship experience in midfield and with Rupp's injury record probably costing us, PLM having not played there, Normann not signing etc I imagine he will be playing more often than not.

[cambridgeshire canary 7,798]

No. Maybe.

Edited April 26, 2022 by cambridgeshire canary

[Badger 2,745]

I definitely want to keep him and have always felt that he could be a good CDM in the Skipp role if we used him that way, but accept I'm probably in a minority here.

[KeiranShikari 1,524]

5 minutes ago, Badger said:

I definitely want to keep him and have always felt that he could be a good CDM in the Skipp role if we used him that way, but accept I'm probably in a minority here.

We'll probably do that next season instead of signing one.

[Badger 2,745]

1 minute ago, KeiranShikari said:

We'll probably do that next season instead of signing one.

Fulham have used Harrison Reed in the role this year and tbh, I think McLean is better suited to it. Again, I know a lot of McLean haters will disagree.

[Midlands Yellow 4,682]

Who’d want to sign him and would he want to leave? He’s on decent money here I’d guess and that Rangers ship has long sailed by. 

[Canarywary 123]

Like a lot of our players I feel like he's a case of 'not bad enough to single out and get rid of, and not good enough to say we must keep him', somewhere in between. I think his personality in the dressing room and on the pitch is probably pretty key, which might be why Smith always picks him.

[Danke bitte 1,154]

8 minutes ago, Canarywary said:

Like a lot of our players I feel like he's a case of 'not bad enough to single out and get rid of, and not good enough to say we must keep him', somewhere in between. I think his personality in the dressing room and on the pitch is probably pretty key, which might be why Smith always picks him.

Essentially the best of a bad bunch. Bit of an indictment of this season. I think he’s quality for the Championship, so would like to see him stay. What we don’t need is a massive overhaul of the midfield like we did last summer. 

[KeiranShikari 1,524]

1 minute ago, Badger said:

Fulham have used Harrison Reed in the role this year and tbh, I think McLean is better suited to it. Again, I know a lot of McLean haters will disagree.

We'd obvsiouly have to see McLean in the role but I think it works for Reed because he's switched on defensively. McLean is busy and decently physical but I'm not sure he will 'sniff the danger' like a proper defensive midfielder.  To be honest he probably can do the role but I'd imagine it would be a significant downgrade on Skipp and even Tettey.

 

[jaberry2 769]

I think he is worth more to us in the championship than selling him for a nominal fee to someone like Rangers.

[Ian 1,211]

Not going to be able to replace him, and has a huge number of appearances for us in all divisions. Important to keep hold of him at this stage.

[hogesar 10,762]

39 minutes ago, Midlands Yellow said:

Who’d want to sign him and would he want to leave? He’s on decent money here I’d guess and that Rangers ship has long sailed by. 

I doubt Kenny would have a massive problem finding another club, even if it were in the same division. It was only 18 months ago or so that West Ham were interested in him.

[Mello Yello 2,572]

The Kenster and the majority of the others got us promoted.....and it's also looking like they're about to get us relegated....

It's imperative that they remain at the club - as surely that's how our adopted 'Yo-Yo' system works?.....

If it ain't broken don't fix it....We'll just 'as you were' carry on going up and down like a lady of the night's underwear....

It'll be heartbreaking if Kenny wasn't on the balcony next May sporting a Mayoral hat, ringing a bell whilst clutching a bottle o' buckie...."Hey Kenny! Giz a Flower!"......

[Midlands Yellow 4,682]

1 minute ago, hogesar said:

I doubt Kenny would have a massive problem finding another club, even if it were in the same division. It was only 18 months ago or so that West Ham were interested in him.

Really? I missed that one. What sort of fee was mentioned? 

[keelansgrandad 6,680]

I think there has been general agreement that it is midfield where we have been lacking this season. Of course we will be in a lower division but I think that will be the right time to rebuild midfield.

However, with Gilmour and Normann not a part of that, not that they have been performing, but will need replacing. So we might just need Kenny for another season to keep continuity while we bed others in.

[Icecream Snow 777]

Our only central midfield options are Sorenson, McLean, PLM and Rupp (contract expires at the end of this season).

PLM may want to go back to France, so I can't see us getting rid of Kenny.

[Don’t be Krul 452]

Must keep McLean if for nothing other to make him the weekly scapegoat

[hogesar 10,762]

6 minutes ago, Midlands Yellow said:

Really? I missed that one. What sort of fee was mentioned? 

At the time, around £10 million. I think it was first prem season under Farke.

[Midlands Yellow 4,682]

3 minutes ago, hogesar said:

At the time, around £10 million. I think it was first prem season under Farke.

I’ve just read about it, a Sun exclusive so there was probably something in it. 

[Number9 272]

There's no chance of selling him, even the Blue Square clubs will watch him playing before buying, no chance. 

[shefcanary 2,952]

I think Badger is onto something here.  When Kenny was bought, it was as a central attacking midfielder I believe.  However we had other better players in this role at the time.  As a result he has always played like a headless chicken, careering around midfield with very little discipline on show.  Just occasionally his forays have resulted in a goal or two (like the Gerrard / Lampard's used to score regularly).  From corners he has occasionally scored a decent headed goal. He has also occasionally made last ditch blocks and tackles. But nothing consistently - a jack of all trades, master of none.  Indeed his main speciality has become waving his arms around and shouting at his colleagues. 

Could Smith / Shakey over the close season just get into his head and re-mould him as a CDM?  The potential is there but not sure if he is prepared for this.  Otherwise it really is time to ship him off to Rangers.

[king canary 8,754]

1 hour ago, Badger said:

I definitely want to keep him and have always felt that he could be a good CDM in the Skipp role if we used him that way, but accept I'm probably in a minority here.

He'd be absolutely terrible at this role.

His biggest issue is his positional discipline is largely non-existent and he chases the ball like a headless chicken at times. He's also lacking much physicality and stronger players can often brush past him without much of an issue. 

[Google Bot 3,931]

If the premier league was a club, then we are the Kenny Mclean of the league.

So, Of course we keep him.  I am he, as you are he, as you are me, and we are all together! 🙂

(I'm cryyyy-ing)

[keelansgrandad 6,680]

38 minutes ago, shefcanary said:

I think Badger is onto something here.  When Kenny was bought, it was as a central attacking midfielder I believe.  However we had other better players in this role at the time.  As a result he has always played like a headless chicken, careering around midfield with very little discipline on show.  Just occasionally his forays have resulted in a goal or two (like the Gerrard / Lampard's used to score regularly).  From corners he has occasionally scored a decent headed goal. He has also occasionally made last ditch blocks and tackles. But nothing consistently - a jack of all trades, master of none.  Indeed his main speciality has become waving his arms around and shouting at his colleagues. 

Could Smith / Shakey over the close season just get into his head and re-mould him as a CDM?  The potential is there but not sure if he is prepared for this.  Otherwise it really is time to ship him off to Rangers.

I think a CDM has something different in his psyche. Quite happy to sit and do a job while letting the others get the plaudits. I still think Ollie deserved POTS as much as Emi.

I just don't think Kenny has that attribute.

[Worthy Nigelton 1,301]

1 hour ago, hogesar said:

I doubt Kenny would have a massive problem finding another club, even if it were in the same division. It was only 18 months ago or so that West Ham were interested in him.

West Ham were never interested in him. That was just paper talk.

[shefcanary 2,952]

15 minutes ago, keelansgrandad said:

I just don't think Kenny has that attribute.

Unfortunately, neither do I, just grasping at straws really.  If he can't, I really cannot see why we should retain him though.  Get some real specialists in.

[Midlands Yellow 4,682]

11 minutes ago, Worthy Nigelton said:

West Ham were never interested in him. That was just paper talk.

Declan Rice wants out there so maybe they’ll be back again.