Thursday 9th July, 2009last year, mid-July
McLaren departs Valley Parade leaving Stuart with a familiar problem
Paul McLaren has today had his contract cancelled and departed Valley Parade, leaving manager Stuart McCall yet again facing that strawberry blonde-coloured hole to fill.
McLaren is the fourth different player to wear the number four shirt vacated by Stuart when he was released in 2002, but despite appearing the best prospect yet to take on the challenge of mastering the midfield dominator role City have struggled to replace, he will join Tom Kearney and Paul Evans in the nearly men section of the club’s history. Only Nathan Doyle has enjoyed success while wearing number four, but he was a right back.
Stuart has two central midfielders on trial ahead of the commencement of pre-season friendlies from Saturday in Grant Smith and Jordan Hadfield. Neither has been shy in expressing their disgust at previous managers overlooking their ability, both are hoping Stuart will be able to recognise it over the next couple of weeks.
Holes can be picked at their arguments for irregular football with their clubs last season – is Greg Abbott of all people a bad judge of a tiggerish central midfielder like Smith? Even allowing for some less than sophisticated tactics by manager Keith Alexander that make central midfield unnecessary, at the end of the day Hadfield couldn’t get in the Macclesfield Town team. Both have a lot to prove to give Stuart confidence they can succeed where others have failed in replacing Stuart the player.
As for McLaren, he started his City career looking like he was in second gear and rarely managed to climb any higher. He had moments where he looked to good for the division, but rarely battled hard enough to be able to show it.
The real disappointment of McLaren hanging up City’s number four shirt is that last season’s number 23 isn’t going to be taking it up.
Once it was indicated we needed McLaren off the wage bill, then this has to be regarded as good news – I would just feel happier if Furman or Law had been secured as a long term replacement.
As I indicated yesterday the signings to date appear to be sound enough if lacking in that vital spark but, same as you Jason, the thought of Smith and Hadfield as our midfield hub does not fill me with excitement. I have also noted the views they have made on their previous managers, which together with comments from fans I know at their previous clubs, leaves me feeling far from insprired. I dont like to pre judge players but is this the best we can do?
Hopefully the money that has now been freed up from the higher earners leaving the club can be put to good use and maybe we will now see one or two players coming in to raise our hopes for the coming season.
Over to you Stuart – please lets not settle for ‘cast offs’ unless they really justify a place at our club. I think it is wise to lower the expectation this time round but not to then make this a reality with too many ‘average at best’ signings