By Chris James
I wrote this a few weeks ago. Since then Macca has put in two very strong performances fot City. Has it changed my mind about his future role for City? I'm really not sure - but I'm definitely glad he's here at the moment. Keep it up Macca!
When Macca joined City back in the Summer of 2006 from Barnsley I was quietly optimistic.
Here was a boy who has Champions League experience, a quality left foot and didn’t cost us a penny.
He was already a semi-popular figure with City fans after being instrumental in a Barnsley side that beat Swansea in a play-of final to deny them a place in the Championship.
Okay so he was carrying a bit of weight around his waste and didn’t seem particularly fast but most agreed he was a talented pro.
Originally, he slotted in well in City's midfield alongside Riccy Scimeca and fans got used to him sweeping the ball out wide, creating space for others and pulling the strings when City were on top.
But as time went by, more and more games seemed to pass him by. Teams latched on to the fact that if you close him down fast you could shut him down. His right foot was non-existent, he was too timid to shoot, and he didn’t have the pace to skip past players.
He also had this peculiar habit of pirouetting like a ballet dancer, usually in a vulnerable position in front of defence, and leaving poor old Darren Purse with no protection whatsoever.
With Jones’ trusted 4-4-2 formation, City have always needed midfielders who can break past strikers and support – Macca can’t do that.
After his second successive Welsh derby red card last year, he was rightfully dropped and didn’t really regain his place until the end of the season when Ledley got injured.
Those months where he was out of the side were our best of the season. Okay Gavin Rae isn't as technically gifted as McPhail but does the donkey work and links up well with Ledley.
With Rae sitting, it also gives Ledley the licence to roam and do some damage further up the field.
In the matchday programme against Scunthorpe on the opening day of this season, Jones wrote that he allowed Paul Parry to move to Preston because he thought the player would benefit from a change of scenery.
If that is the case with Parry, then surely the same can be said of McPhail. For me he is stale and too often slows play down when the team plays best at a high intensity.
If he does stay this season I won’t be gutted as I do think he has something to offer – especially against the poorer sides in the division who give midfielders too much space.
I certainly would never boo him and will continue to support him whenever he pulls on a Bluebird shirt. But for me it is time for him to move on. He is someone who disappoints and frustrates.
When City fans turn on a player the writing is on the wall. As far as I'm concerned that ink is well and truly dried.
