What a difference a few degrees make.
If James McClean rotated his shoulders 90° counter-clockwise then he would have avoided all the kerfuffle of failing to acknowledge the English National Anthem. As happened, he remained as he was and prompted a tidal wave of Twitter debate on whether he was right or wrong to do so.
But we wonder if he’ll bite the bullet and face the flag the next time God Save the Queen plays before a game after the dressing-down he got from new manager Tony Pulis.
The West Brom boss sat down with McClean after the player didn’t turn to face the English flag during a pre-season friendly at the weekend, the latest controversy to befall the Republic of Ireland winger after he refused to wear a poppy on Remembrance Sunday.
“Obviously there has been a stigma around him and he doesn’t need to start that up again,” Pulis told the Wolverhampton Express & Star.
“So hopefully we’ve nipped it in the bud and we can get on with our things and he can get on with his things. I didn’t see the situation but I had a chat with him and explained what we do as a football club and the way we are and I think he’s fine with everything.
“We’ve got Northern Ireland lads in the squad and he’s been absolutely fantastic with them, and the way he’s mixed and integrated with the group has been brilliant.
“I’ve seen the pictures and he’s got to turn towards the flag like everybody else has and he recognises that.”
