A couple of weeks ago we had the news that Tony Pulis had a warning for James McClean after what we thought was the most James McClean tackle imaginable. We were wrong.
See also: Tony Pulis Has A Warning For James McClean After The Most McClean Tackle Imaginable - Part 1
Essentially it boiled down to the fact that he had to be careful because he can be a bit of an idiot when it comes to going in hard. He was a marked man after getting away with one on Moussa Dembele and he need to think before he acted from now on.
Fast forward two weeks and McClean is being disciplined by West Brom after being handed down a three match ban for what is actually the most James McClean tackle imaginable. Just in case you haven't seen his sending off against Bournemouth, here it is one more time.
After his previous warning a couple of weeks ago, the West Brom boss has had no choice but to act and he has confirmed that the Derry man will face internal punishment after the FA handed him a three match ban for the tackle. Pulis' thoughts on the incident are beginning to sound rather familiar.
We talked to James after the Tottenham game. That was a rash challenge. So for him to do it two games later, irrespective of whether the full-back had just done him or not, is just stupid.
I have had a good chat with him and he understands. He’s a good lad. It was just the fact that that challenge came so quickly after the challenge on him. That mist was still there. He’s got to wash that away because it’s just petulance and we can’t afford that.
He’s got to realise that now that people will be aware. If he makes a mistake the next time he’s going to get punished.
It really is a shame that the negative side of his game has cropped up and taken the headlines away from what had been a very good run of form for McClean. Hopefully he'll be able to force his way back into the side in the new year and he'll once again be able to show why West Brom were right to take him from a relegated Wigan side last year.
