[talkSAFT]

B, we have our own anthems. I can guarantee you don't sing ours so why should I sing yours?

I've got to be honest I don't even know the words, shocking I know.

John Redwood tried his best.  hahahahahaha

[Salopbaggie]

Its is a bit of a dilemma!

As a person proud to be British, I would be happy to sing a song which has meaning to or about the "country".  I do have a problem singing an anthem about a person, purely because of the family they were born into, which symbolises most of what is wrong with society and which does not even mention the country.

Personally my views are similar to Billy Connelly's

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i9nnnM-__JQ

[Worldclassalbion]

As ex military, I always wear my Poppy with pride and I Have visited the Ulster Tower memorial near Thiepval in France on quite a few occasions. I am also a royalist HOWEVER I do see why James McClean doesn't wear the Poppy and its his prerogative.

I will also add I think he's been a good player for us so far and links well with Brunty down the left hand side.

I don't like people burning the Poppy as this makes me very angry indeed but I work with people who don't wear it, up to them.

My take is he didn't need to explain his decisions but he has and should be applauded for it, get behind the lad as he's Albion now. We have all been brought up differently, for instance I HATED WOLVES and want them to lose every game,  this was instilled in me from an early age and now I'm an Adult, I merely DISLIKE them immensely and still want them to lose every game

[St Charles Owl]

As ex military, I always wear my Poppy with pride and I Have visited the Ulster Tower memorial near Thiepval in France on quite a few occasions. I am also a royalist HOWEVER I do see why James McClean doesn't wear the Poppy and its his prerogative.

I will also add I think he's been a good player for us so far and links well with Brunty down the left hand side.

I don't like people burning the Poppy as this makes me very angry indeed but I work with people who don't wear it, up to them.

My take is he didn't need to explain his decisions but he has and should be applauded for it, get behind the lad as he's Albion now. We have all been brought up differently, for instance I HATED WOLVES and want them to lose every game,  this was instilled in me from an early age and now I'm an Adult, I merely DISLIKE them immensely and still want them to lose every game

To be fair to him, I don't agree with his stance but respect his right to make his own mind up on it.  This wouldn't be an issue at all if clubs stopped putting the poppy on the shirts at this time of year, this is what causes him to have to put out the statement because he won't wear a shirt with one on it.  There is no need for clubs to put the poppy on their shirts, put up banners or adverts on the hoardings around the ground if they want to promote it but leave it off the shirt.  Outside of the club players can make their own private decision whether to wear one or not.

[Dingle-Dingle]

As ex military, I always wear my Poppy with pride and I Have visited the Ulster Tower memorial near Thiepval in France on quite a few occasions. I am also a royalist HOWEVER I do see why James McClean doesn't wear the Poppy and its his prerogative.

I will also add I think he's been a good player for us so far and links well with Brunty down the left hand side.

I don't like people burning the Poppy as this makes me very angry indeed but I work with people who don't wear it, up to them.

My take is he didn't need to explain his decisions but he has and should be applauded for it, get behind the lad as he's Albion now. We have all been brought up differently, for instance I HATED WOLVES and want them to lose every game,  this was instilled in me from an early age and now I'm an Adult, I merely DISLIKE them immensely and still want them to lose every game

To be fair to him, I don't agree with his stance but respect his right to make his own mind up on it.  This wouldn't be an issue at all if clubs stopped putting the poppy on the shirts at this time of year, this is what causes him to have to put out the statement because he won't wear a shirt with one on it.  There is no need for clubs to put the poppy on their shirts, put up banners or adverts on the hoardings around the ground if they want to promote it but leave it off the shirt.  Outside of the club players can make their own private decision whether to wear one or not.

I believe the shirts are auctioned after the weekend with all proceeds going to RBL charities. Perhaps J M could auction his shirt himself and donate to a charity of his choice. DD

[4evaabaggie]

....... if Chris Brunt doesn't have a problem with James McClean and James McClean doesn't have a problem with Chris Brunt, then I don't see why there's any problem at all.  (Aside from him needing to screw his head on a bit tighter and develop the ability to send a cross where it's actually meant to go every now and then.  But that's presumably a work in progress.)

Exactly right; it's the press that are determined to make something of it and WILL do unless something bigger happens on the day to deviate attention. Let's hope that Mourinho admits that he isn't, after all, the best human being that ever lived, or that someone at Chelsea IS at fault for something. That should do it.

Bring back Ashley Cole and his rifle!

---

Take it from a Welshman, you're the only ones who do sing that anthem by the way.

A, she's not our queen, she's "the queen of England".

B, we have our own anthems. I can guarantee you don't sing ours so why should I sing yours?

I've got to be honest I don't even know the words, shocking I know.

Glassedeye, I do not wish to be argumentative but, she is not queen of England, she is queen of great Britain and the commonwealth, she is your queen as is she the queen of Scotland, northern Ireland and England, I consider myself to be English first, and proud of it too, but I am British also. I will support the royals and England in every sport they play, as a brit I like all the British teams to do well, why do the none english parts of this land always fill so hard done by and anti-english. One nation made up of four countries ....... let's not fight each other, there are many people out there that want to harm us all irrespective of which side of a national line you were born. Let's stick together and cheer on the biggies.

[Dingle Bells - Dingle Bells]

I know it might not be the right thread, but I couldnt find a better James Mcclean thread?

Ive just seen an interesting stat: In the past 12 months no one has delivered more accurate crosses (excluding corners) in the premier league (45) - Just thought it was an interesting stat as some people seam to slate him for being poor with the ball.

Before everyone jumps on my back I said some!

[Salopbaggie]

I suspect a few of the said "some" , espscially some on other sites and the newspaper forums ) who slag him off may not be basing their opinion on matters soley down to his football.

[Worldclassalbion]

As usual I may be in a minority but I like McLean. Yeah he's hot headed but a decent player who ALWAYS gives 100%. I also think he puts some dangerous crosses in when he gets the chance.

Mind you I also liked Gamboa (would have been great on the wing) and Poco, still do in fact. Good luck to the pair of them. Never got a chance under TP.