McClean deserves better than Wigan
BEFORE the FA Cup final two years ago, I said if I was still a Wigan Athletic player I would take winning the trophy over staying in the Premier League. Given what’s happened since, and what is surely on the cards at my former club, I am not so sure now.
I never won a cup as a player or even played at Wembley. So, I would have given anything, including the Premier League, to pick up a cup winners’ medal.
But are they worth it? Look at the mess Wigan are in now. Beating Manchester City in the cup final in 2013 was followed just days later by Premier League relegation and Roberto Martinez’s exit to Everton.
Last season just didn’t get going for his successor Owen Coyle, who was out of the door before he had a chance to change things. They picked up under Uwe Rosler and there was a bit of momentum towards the end of last season, going into this campaign full of optimism.
But Wigan have not won at home since August, which is a frightening statistic in any league.
After Rosler went, chairman Dave Whelan appointed former Cardiff boss Malky Mackay, who was being investigated for alleged racist texts.
It was a disastrous call, which has cost Dave his club and chairmanship and is set to cause relegation from the Championship.
His grandson is now at the helm, and Mackay has been replaced by Gary Caldwell.
It is a brave appointment – two young, inexperienced men running a club which, at the moment, is only going in one direction – and they will need some older, experienced heads around them to stop the rot.
In the middle of all this is Ireland’s James McClean, who is actually their top scorer with six goals.
He has played when he has been fit and, as we saw when he came on against Poland, he can be a positive and effective influence.
I like the edge to his game, he gave us impetus, desire and some zip against the Poles.
James McClean is not a League One operator and, if they do go down, he is one Wigan player who will be in demand.