Pretty old school from former Newcastle United manager John Carver.
James McClean would not have needed anyone on his case. He would have been well aware that his split-decision to turn his back on Alexis Sanchez’ 82nd minute free-kick.
There is a chance that the Arsenal forward’s free may have crept through the West Brom wall anyway but McClean turning away from the strike opened up a gap. The shot then deflected in off McClean’s leg and left Baggies goalkeeper Ben Foster beaten all ends up.
As we noted, on Sunday, McClean was not supposed to be in Foster’s wall but Pardew himself had got word onto the pitch that he should join in. The confusion did not help matters but McClean was repentant after the final whistle. West Brom did rescue a point with a late Jay Rodriguez penalty but McClean still came clean in the post-match dressing room.
Ben Foster was absolutely livid https://t.co/yJOLYWu2qj
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) December 31, 2017
West Brom boss Alan Pardew told Express & Star that ‘Poor James’ was encouraged to join the wall as he felt ‘we needed another body in there and then he’s turned his back’.
Pardew said, “He’ll learn from that lesson because he’s a strong character. And he acknowledged that in the dressing room.”
While many of his Baggies teammates appeared willing to move on after the apology, John Carver had another idea. The former Newcastle United manager is Pardew’s assistant at The Hawthorns has been involved in professional football for 34 years and some of his methods are out of yesteryear’s playbook.
Pardew, thankfully, intervened after Carver suggested a possible forfeit for McClean. The West Brom boss commented:
“We’re not going to go over it. I think John Carver did suggest a bit of old school, put him in the goal and let’s all kick the ball at him to teach him a lesson.
“We’ll go away from that. We’re much more intelligent these days John Carver, thank you.”
Thank goodness for that.
Pardew did conclude the McClean matter by praising the Ireland international for getting at Arsenal up the left wing and said he would prefer to focus on that rather than his free-kick aberration.
One suspects McClean will not be turning his back on a free-kick again any time soon.
