KEVIN MCDONALD

[1889]

Whatever you think of his transfer and the reasons behind it, he is a fantastic player. Never panics always finds space to receive a pass and knows what he's going to do with the ball long before it arrives at his feet. Seeing him doing exactly that for Wolves today, reminded me of how much I enjoyed watching him play in a red and white shirt.

I'm sorry but mercenary or not, no one can dispute he is a class act at this level and to say otherwise is just ridiculous.

UTB

 

[Red Squirrel]

Whatever you think of his transfer and the reasons behind it, he is a fantastic player. Never panics always finds space to receive a pass and knows what he's going to do with the ball long before it arrives at his feet. Seeing him doing exactly that for a Wolves today, reminded me of how much I enjoyed watching him play in a red and white shirt.

I'm sorry but mercenary or not, no one can dispute he is a class act at this level and to say otherwise is just ridiculous.

UTB

No one can deny he can be a quality player at times and showed touches of what he can do today but I don't think he stood out. Crawley showed that he can be shut out of a game and we could have done more to nullify any threat from him, but that would only have given more space to other equally decent Wolves players who showed that they are capable of doing as much damage. I just wonder if he will have the same impact next season when playing against better teams?

 

[true99blade]

Today proves that McDonald looks a class act with other good players around him. Proof? The 2011-12 season we had Ched, Williamson, and Quinn, he was valued as a very influential player to us then... the 2012-13 he looked for the majority of the season an average league 1 player. Now he has even better players around him such as Clarke, Henry, Jacobs, Dicko, Sako etc and was even nominated for league 1 player of the season. blader, I think its fair to say that McDonald was very lucky that a club that could offer him more than double of what we were paying him and for them to be favourites to win the league, came in for him. Because if they offered him the same amount that we were paying him then I'm not totally sure he would have been so keen to leave after the performance of the team vs Notts County.

 

[blader]

We don't know the real reasons, but as stated above, that isn't the topic of this thread. The point is that he was/is class but wasn't viewed that way by many (maybe most) at Bramall Lane which saddens me! I think had he been loved for the level of talent he had, he would have been more inclined to stay. I just don't think he felt loved here, and I don't think he was by many, when he should have been adored as the best midfielder in the division

 

[sitwell]

We don't know the real reasons, but as stated above, that isn't the topic of this thread. The point is that he was/is class but wasn't viewed that way by many (maybe most) at Bramall Lane which saddens me! I think had he been loved for the level of talent he had, he would have been more inclined to stay. I just don't think he felt loved here, and I don't think he was by many, when he should have been adored as the best midfielder in the division

I think your wrong ,Unitedites loved him and appreciated him. I think he is the best footballer we have had for years and has a fantastic talent ,however you cant deny he disappeared all to easily when things got tough. He also loved it here but probably realised things were going very tits up under David fucking Weir.

 

[Red Squirrel]

We don't know the real reasons, but as stated above, that isn't the topic of this thread. The point is that he was/is class but wasn't viewed that way by many (maybe most) at Bramall Lane which saddens me! I think had he been loved for the level of talent he had, he would have been more inclined to stay. I just don't think he felt loved here, and I don't think he was by many, when he should have been as the best midfielder in the division

I can't agree that most fans didn't view him as a quality player. As true99blade says, KMc stood out in the 2011-12 season when he had players around him who could work with him and he was motivated by this. I think most fans DID appreciate the skills that he proved he had but when he didn't have those players around him, KMc didn't shine and his attitude wasn't consistently good enough for me. For whatever reason, KMc showed that he didn't want to stay and fight and for that reason I'll never be sorry to see a player leave.

 

[blader]

I think your wrong ,Unitedites loved him and appreciated him. I think he is the best footballer we have had for years and has a fantastic talent ,however you cant deny he disappeared all to easily when things got tough. He also loved it here but probably realised things were going very tits up under David fucking Weir.

It could be that, or it could be that the better sides were capable of nullifying our one and only threat on the ball last season (McDonald) hence why he couldn't get into the game. We will not see a player of his quality in our midfield for a number of years yet.

 

[blader]

I can't agree that most fans didn't view him as a quality player. As true99blade says, KMc stood out in the 2011-12 season when he had players around him who could work with him and he was motivated by this. I think most fans DID appreciate the skills that he proved he had but when he didn't have those players around him, KMc didn't shine and his attitude wasn't consistently good enough for me. For whatever reason, KMc showed that he didn't want to stay and fight and for that reason I'll never be sorry to see a player leave.

Then does that not prove he does belong at a higher level? Most of the team just wren't on his wavelength last year, as he saw passes the players weren't capable of equalling, which a player of better quality could. I would suggest this side would be comfortably in the playoffs if we had McDonald all season. Bold call, but I truly believe that.

 

[puppet]

Who wouldve been more effective today, McDonald or Coady (yes he was playing, you just never noticed him most likely)

 

[blader]

Who wouldve been more effective today, McDonald or Coady (yes he was playing, you just never noticed him most likely)

Who WAS more effective today?

 

[SwissBlade]

KMac was talented, no doubt but for me he had two major weakness - he went missing in games too often and the big one was goals. His other fault was that he couldn't put the tackles in enough, in a battle he wasn't really there.

I'm quite sure that like Flynn and Murphy he would've thrived under Clough and perhaps playing the Scougall attacking midfield role he would've done well.

Taking nothing away from him, he's doing a good job at Wolves and playing for one of the best teams in the league he's clearly doing well there.

I wasn't that disappointed to lose him though, so long as we signed a replacement. I think Baxter is that replacement. Perhaps KMac could've added a bit more of an aerial threat up front than Baxter but as I said elsewhere I'd like to see Jose eventually play the central midfield role when we get an all round striker.

Next season I think we'll see Baxter and Scougall battling it out for that no 10 slot and with both having a full preseason under Clough it's an exciting prospect.

The big loss I see next season will be Coady. I really enjoy seeing the way he plays and he'll be a loss for us.

Would KMac have added more to the season of two halves that we've had? I don't think so. He would've struggled to pull us out of the mess that we had with Weir and up to December and the way we've played with Scougall, Murphy, Flynn, Baxter and Coady since January has been excellent. KMac would've contributed to this.

As I said before, good luck to him. He knew that Wolves would get him up to the Championship and he was motivated by this success rather than money per se.

 

[puppet]

I think Scougall will get snapped up, another offer we couldn't refuse/he wanted to go/can't stand in their way/pesky agents et al... that will leave us with Baxter who seems marginally fitter than me (I'm not fit...) and probably Coady on loan because on today's showing. he's about as consistent as every body seems to remember KMac being.

UTB

 

[SwissBlade]

Quick check on goals

Baxter 9 in 33
Flynn 6 in 28
Murphy 4 in 22

KMac 6 in 34

Not checked assists but in a side heading for promotion is KMac really doing his bit with goals for Wolves

 

[crucialkneeligaman]

McDonald, Kenny etc are castigated because of the circumstances in which they left after what the club had done for them. We've got to accept that there is very little loyalty in the game now. Deano said some nice things about us prior to the game but it didn't stop him from ditching us twice to move on to better things, that's football and life. Would still rather McDonald was in our side no matter what I think about him and I say that through gritted teeth.

 

[bartman]

Who WAS more effective today?

The KMac i saw today sat in front of the centre halfs,rarely crossed the half way line and gave the ball away a lot (especially in the 2nd half). He rarely got a tackle in and when he finally did,he got booked.

Because of the way we now play,it meant KMac had no pressure on him when he picked the ball up outside his own box. Indeed,he rarely made an effective pass into our half let alone create a chance or attacking pass for the 5 in front of him who worked their bollocks off whilst KMac flattered to decieve.

Coady was not at his best today but didn't hide when the going got tough....unlike KMAC during the middle third of the game when he didn't touch the ball.

Kevin MacDonald......over-rated show pony

 

[Bladesway]

We didn't actually sell McDonald it was Ronaldo.

When you are surrounded by players who are of a higher quality its easy to look good. Sorry but McDonald showed up one in ten. Remember wolves were a Premiership team 2 years ago and their wage bill reflects that.

I remember holding my head in my hands most games i watched him.

 

[blader]

The KMac i saw today sat in front of the centre halfs,rarely crossed the half way line and gave the ball away a lot (especially in the 2nd half). He rarely got a tackle in and when he finally did,he got booked.

Because of the way we now play,it meant KMac had no pressure on him when he picked the ball up outside his own box. Indeed,he rarely made an effective pass into our half let alone create a chance or attacking pass for the 5 in front of him who worked their bollocks off whilst KMac flattered to decieve.

Coady was not at his best today but didn't hide when the going got tough....unlike KMAC during the middle third of the game when he didn't touch the ball.

Kevin MacDonald......over-rated show pony

So why has he been nominated for League 1 player of the season? He isn't overrated, ea underrated by blades fans who are not used to 'proper' centre mids, after years of Montgomery, McCall and other grafters with limited footballing ability.

 

[stannyblade]

Can he be put in the Twat thread? He showed no respect what so ever at the end of the game high fiving everyone. Fine you have just won but save it for the dressing room not in front of your old teams fans.

 

[blader]

Can he be put in the Twat thread? He showed no respect what so ever at the end of the game high fiving everyone. Fine you have just won but save it for the dressing room not in front of your old teams fans.

Maybe because he was booed and jeered every time he got the ball despite being nothing but complimentary about our club pre-match. I would say I feel sorry for him, but he did absolutely the right thing leaving for a club that appreciated his talent and will be in the championship next season. Well done Kev.

 

[LSF]

Oh dear, why do fans feel so aggrieved when an ex player celebrates, don't acknowledge fans, or whatever....... they simply don't (generally) give a flying fuck about former clubs, preferring, quite rightly, to concentrate on their current paymasters.

Yesterday's booing of McDonald was churlish but typical of small minded folk who really should concentrate on supporting their own team instead of booing ex players who only did what those self same fans would do in the same position.

 

[bartman]

So why has he been nominated for League 1 player of the season? He isn't overrated, ea underrated by blades fans who are not used to 'proper' centre mids, after years of Montgomery, McCall and other grafters with limited footballing ability.

McCall- limited ability ? you aren't serious ? McCall was a far better footballer than KMac is now and had the international caps and long term top division experience to prove it

In terms of Monty,ability limited certainly,never hid when the going got tough .Completely different player to KMac whereas Monty's job was to mark and tackle...KMAC is incapable of doing either.

As for your patronising comment about Blades fans not used to proper midfield players ? You mean like Currie, Brown,Tonge, McCall, Arnott,Hodges,Jags, etc etc.. These players has skill,vision and heart who could also 'dig in' when required.

Many Blades fans can see someone who has the potential to be a 'proper centre mids' but hasn't got the heart,desire or bottle to succeed at a high level .

 

[Latters]

The KMac i saw today sat in front of the centre halfs,rarely crossed the half way line and gave the ball away a lot (especially in the 2nd half). He rarely got a tackle in and when he finally did,he got booked...

Gave the ball away a lot? I think you must have been at a different game to me then. He must have lost possession twice, maybe three times at a push, but pretty much every one of their passing moves, and there were a lot, he was heavily involved in.

He played some quality threaded through-passes that, thankfully, Clarke managed to balls up.

For anybody to say Coady is anywhere near as good as him is just simply not true. But I'm forgetting that Coady came through the Liverpool academy, so he must be better.

 

[bartman]

Gave the ball away a lot? I think you must have been at a different game to me then. He must have lost possession twice, maybe three times at a push, but pretty much every one of their passing moves, and there were a lot, he was heavily involved in.

As you said,Latters,we must have been to different games because the majority of his passes in the 2nd half went to our players or were misplaced to his own. He was the most ineffective player in their midfield today.

 

[blader]

McCall- limited ability ? you aren't serious ? McCall was a far better footballer than KMac is now and had the international caps and long term top division experience to prove it

In terms of Monty,ability limited certainly,never hid when the going got tough .Completely different player to KMac whereas Monty's job was to mark and tackle...KMAC is incapable of doing either.

As for your patronising comment about Blades fans not used to proper midfield players ? You mean like Currie, Brown,Tonge, McCall, Arnott,Hodges,Jags, etc etc.. These players has skill,vision and heart who could also 'dig in' when required.

Many Blades fans can see someone who has the potential to be a 'proper centre mids' but hasn't got the heart,desire or bottle to succeed at a high level .

He only played 3 seasons in the PL didn't he? K-Mac already has 1 and I would wager that he will surpass 3 quite comfortably actually. He only left the PL because of a fall out with Brian Laws, otherwise he would still be there. He is the best CM in league one (by quite a margin as well) and will only go onto much bigger and better things at a faster rate than Sheff Utd will. He is the best CM in my lifetime, but my memory only stretches back as far as the mid-90s so there may have been better previous to that, I'm sure e.g. Currie.

My comments are made relatively speaking, and you should consider that too. We are in league 1, so maybe he isn't quite the player some of our top flight players were, but to not realise he is by far the best CM we could have hope for in league 1 is crazy IMO.

 

[bartman]

He only played 3 seasons in the PL didn't he? K-Mac already has 1 and I would wager that he will surpass 3 quite comfortably actually. He only left the PL because of a fall out with Brian Laws, otherwise he would still be there. He is the best CM in league one (by quite a margin as well) and will only go onto much bigger and better things at a faster rate than Sheff Utd will. He is the best CM in my lifetime, but my memory only stretches back as far as the mid-90s so there may have been better previous to that, I'm sure e.g. Currie.

My comments are made relatively speaking, and you should consider that too. We are in league 1, so maybe he isn't quite the player some of our top flight players were, but to not realise he is by far the best CM we could have hope for in league 1 is crazy IMO.

McCall had 3 seasons at Everton and seven years at Rangers winning leaue and playing European football. He also won 40 international caps. Are you really trying to compare KMac to him? KMac's last 3 seasons in Division 3 ? Hardly the sign of a top level midfielder who should now be in the prime of his career.

You also need to look at why he fell out with Laws.....wasn't it alcohol related discipline problems ?

Best midfielder since the mid 90's ? I had to laugh at that one. Please look at the players we have had in that time and re-consider.

Your comments weren't relatively speaking,you were giving an opinion which you are perfectly entitled to do. Is he the best type of midfielder we could have at this level? The way NC plays,I don't think KMac would have been his type of player

 

[blader]

McCall had 3 seasons at Everton and seven years at Rangers winning leaue and playing European football. He also won 40 international caps. Are you really trying to compare KMac to him? KMac's last 3 seasons in Division 3 ? Hardly the sign of a top level midfielder who should now be in the prime of his career.

You also need to look at why he fell out with Laws.....wasn't it alcohol related discipline problems ?

Best midfielder since the mid 90's ? I had to laugh at that one. Please look at the players we have had in that time and re-consider.

Your comments weren't relatively speaking,you were giving an opinion which you are perfectly entitled to do. Is he the best type of midfielder we could have at this level? The way NC plays,I don't think KMac would have been his type of player

Playing in the SPL means squat. Half our current squad have played there, Jamie Murphy was the best young SPL player before he came to us, so that's not the greatest judge of talent.

He fell out with Laws because Laws took him off at half time so he just went to meet his dad at the pub. Discipline, but not really 'alcohol related'! (I suppose a pub is alcohol related in a sense)

I can't say you're wrong and I'm right, but as he is the only CM nominated for League 1 player of the year does that not make him the best CM in League 1 by definition? (as viewed by independent adjudicators)

 

[bartman]

I can't say you're wrong and I'm right, but as he is the only CM nominated for League 1 player of the year does that not make him the best CM in League 1 by definition? (as viewed by independent adjudicators)

Carlton Palmer played for England. Does that make him one of the best central midfielders this country has ever produced ?

Michael Carrick is loved by the 'independent' press- a poor man's Ray Wilkins ?

 

[blader]

Carlton Palmer played for England. Does that make him one of the best central midfielders this country has ever produced ?

Michael Carrick is loved by the 'independent' press- a poor man's Ray Wilkins ?

So you don't think he is the best CM in league 1, I take it? Care to offer an alternate suggestion?

 

[Bladesway]

OK so lets piece this together. he is better than makeweights like McCAll and Montgomery, arguable and in the case of McCall disrespectful to someone who has international caps aplenty and played most of his career above the current place of KMac. Monty is lowest common denominator. What about Tonge? He was a decent midfielder and while different in attributes anyone who remembers that night against Liverpool or that free kick at the Sty or his integral part of our team over the years he was there would say he was far better than KMac. So perhaps we have had some decent midfielders. Oh and Michael Brown, Graham Stuart, Don Hutchison, Stephen Quinn. Just off my head and not necessarily all better but certainly not much worse.

Another piece of information we are often told is he was so good his passes didn't find team members because they weren't clever enough to make the runs. I have read that back and I still chuckle. After all, Porter could be a Premiership centre forward based on that logic because he makes runs that lesser players just can't spot. I hope that myth is debunked now. Because if that is the case I can still play at a decent standard. I can lamp a ball into a space that only a top player could spot, honest.

My own opinion of the player is that forgetting loyalty because that shouldn't be the issue, he was quality when he wanted to be. However, he was part of a team in a downward spiral. A top player would have gone up a division surely and not plumped for being a big fish in a small pond. Every team has them. I played with some very, very good players but they stayed where they were because they were scared of getting lost amongst better players. And that sums KMac up for me, big fish in a small pond, turns up when he fancies and no more or less. He isn't a poor player thats a fact but he isn't any better than most of what we have had in recent years.

Finally, Scougall and Cody are still 21 and developing. I think both will play at a higher level than MacDonald over a longer period. Why? Because they have talent and are prepared to work hard.

 

[Slugger]

Better midfielders than KMac since the mid 90s?

Jags, Hodges,Tonge, Quinn(x2), Gillespie, 2 houses (White and Wood), Brown ...

He may look good at this level but I wouldn't rate him with any of above