[silverbaggie]

This incident has stirred up quite a furore on twitter which has unfortunately now gone global through Yahoo.

Why do so many recent West Brom players seem to bring the club into disrepute.

Saido-- with him inhaling laughing gas from a balloon.

Anelka.. with his alleged xxxx salute.

Bednar.. and his open purchase of hard drugs.

and now this idiot who has only just been signed by the Club.
If Jonas and other non British players can stand to attention, I don't see why this idiot can.t.

If I were TP I would be telling this young man that he is now transfer listed and will never play another game for West Brom.

Here's your P45 McLean and close the door on the way out!!!!

[Stairs]

He's a young man with misguided principals and needs dealing with, which I understand TP has done.

Let's draw a line under it and see what he does for the club this season.

[meandbrenarebaggies]

I think there are probably people, in all walks of life, who are not what observers expect them to be.  By this I mean there are Kings who are really anti-monarchists; Politicians who are really anarchists; Priests who don’t believe in God.  This being so there are probably footballers who really should be moralists.  We, the observers, should be really careful about stereotyping footballers into what we think they should be rather than allowing them to be what they are.  They, on the other hand, should not expect anything other than harsh criticism if they expect to occupy a well paid niche in society and then use that opportunity to express personal views contrary to majority opinion even if their behavior could be vindicated.  I think it would be wonderful if our back four were secretly meeting together to knit a huge quilt for charity and the goalkeeper had a penchant for collecting bed-pans.  One of our midfielders was a trained sword-swallower and the left winger really was a left winger.  Hey ho; its life Jim but not as we know it.  I remember the first time I lined up to shake hands in that comical ritual before a game; 1980 I think it was; our team could hardly contain their laughter they thought the whole process ridiculous.  The Italian team we were playing were outraged as they had been doing this for ages.  One man’s meat is another man’s poison?

[BaggyBomber]

Oh, dear!  Oh, dear!  Let's hope the incident has been greatly exaggerated and we haven't bought yet another pup.  This alleged type of behaviour is potentially very insulting to many supporters. The man has history.

[HarryJAllstarWBA]

Good points imo: http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/se...clnk&gl=uk

"McClean's crimes are, it seems, that he will not look in the correct direction when the British national anthem plays, and he will not wear a poppy on his shirt when the Armistice date comes around every year. His reasoning is simple and justifiable: he is from Derry in Northern Ireland, a town which experienced abuse first hand at the British army, who killed innocents in Bloody Sunday.

McClean has never attacked those who served in the First World War or the Second World War, he has merely pointed out that the same institution killed his own people, often in disgraceful, illegal circumstances. To opt out is a brave choice.

The second argument, the tedious if-you-don't-like-it-go-home nonsense, is the most fatuous of the three. If you accept that the British Empire has damaged every continent and country it has touched with oppression and belligerence, then it follows that those still feeling the effects of the British Empire should not be prevented from benefitting from the wealth in England. Wealth that, in part, was built on the trade and exploitation of the Empire.

McClean simply explained his actions honestly and succinctly, and does not constantly tell people what he makes of the national anthem or poppy; he merely reacts when the circumstances are unavoidable."

[BaggyBomber]

I'll wait until I see some better evidence or something he does in front of us before going overboard but, I am concerned that already there are these rumbles. I know the media alawys seems to put a negative spin on us, probably other teams as well but, obviously, I am just sensitive to us.

---

HarryJAllstarWBAGood points imo: http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/se...clnk&gl=uk

"McClean's crimes are, it seems, that he will not look in the correct direction when the British national anthem plays, and he will not wear a poppy on his shirt when the Armistice date comes around every year. His reasoning is simple and justifiable: he is from Derry in Northern Ireland, a town which experienced abuse first hand at the British army, who killed innocents in Bloody Sunday.

McClean has never attacked those who served in the First World War or the Second World War, he has merely pointed out that the same institution killed his own people, often in disgraceful, illegal circumstances. To opt out is a brave choice.

The second argument, the tedious if-you-don't-like-it-go-home nonsense, is the most fatuous of the three. If you accept that the British Empire has damaged every continent and country it has touched with oppression and belligerence, then it follows that those still feeling the effects of the British Empire should not be prevented from benefitting from the wealth in England. Wealth that, in part, was built on the trade and exploitation of the Empire.

McClean simply explained his actions honestly and succinctly, and does not constantly tell people what he makes of the national anthem or poppy; he merely reacts when the circumstances are unavoidable."


Out of common sense and decency, most people wouldn't take a job in a different country, if that's what England is considered to be to McClean, and then go aroung insulting it's flag, national anthem and other icons.  Nor do I subscribe to this mantra that the British Empire is/was responsible for all the ills of the world.

[DannytheBaggie]

HarryJAllStarWBA

Your last post is spot on and very well put :-)

[BaggieMan]

Out of common sense and decency, most people wouldn't take a job in a different country, if that's what England is considered to be to McClean, and then go aroung insulting it's flag, national anthem and other icons.  Nor do I subscribe to this mantra that the British Empire is/was responsible for all the ills of the world.

Baggy, as usual you have hit the nail exactly on the head. 

[BaggyBomber]

Thanks, TheBaggieMan.

[Arcane Astral Aeons]

so what
fair play to him for not betraying his moral beliefs

i don`t see in any law book that you have to stand and observe the English national anthem
it`s not his
he is Irish after all

and before anyone tears me to shreds for posting this
this whole episode would not have happened if the dumb yanks had not insisted on playing it before the game in question

have read all the posts on this thread and to be fair
some of them are way,way,way out of order.

i personally don`t give a rats ass about his beliefs
we all have our own(Don`t we?)

leave the guy alone
we signed him as a football player

didn`t we?