More good than bad at left-back

Last updated : 09 May 2007 By Gary Moss

Appearances: 46


Season Highlight:
The left-back has missed only a handful of games in his first season at Meadow Lane. The former Boston and Hearts man was bought in aat the beginning of Thommo's reign and has proved he is one of the better acquisitions. A few errors may have marred what has on the whole been a solid season for the 27-year-old.


Season Lowlight:
McCann had a night to forget against Wycombe in the Magpies quarter-final Carling Cup exit. Chairboys right midfielder Kevin Betsy made a fool of the Scot.

McCann was unable to deal with the wingers speed and skill on too many occasions. This game led to a series of below par performances for the defender including key errors over the Christmas period.

Austin had his doubters over the festive period and the Wycombe game was a cause of his bad form.


Best Game:
Mansfield (away). As far as full-back performances go, this was up there with the very best. Notts trailed 2-0 at the break at Field Mill until a second half fightback was fuelled by the feisty left-back.

McCann...Superb at Field Mill
He was solid at the back and keen to get forward to rescue the black and whites a point against their most bitter of League Two rivals. Edwards and Dudfield found the scoresheet for the Magpies but it was McCann that time and time again caused danger to the Stags back line.

His tough tackling and leading attack from the back proved just the springboard for a Notts revival. He whipped in numerous testing crosses and galloped up the line as Notts went in search of second half goals.


The Mad View:
McCann has had a mixed first season at Meadow Lane. Another one of Thommo's early acquisitions joining from Lincolnshire neighbours Boston in the summer on the bosman ruling. He will always be remembered as a good Thompson signing despite his scattered calamities.


Upon his arrival, the full back was an instant hit with the Magpies fans making countless decent performances to impress the ever following County fans.


But, displays over Christmas left a lot to be desired with key errors and poor positioning costing the side dearly. He may not be the only offender but it is key errors at key times from certain Notts players that make the difference between mid-table and a play-off place.


Left-back is Austin's strongest position. His tackling at times is imperious. With just five bookings to his name all season, it says a lot about his timing of a tackle. He jas come up against some of League Two's pacey and tricky wingers throughout the season with a good disciplinary record in tact.


He may also be remembered as the man who missed a crucial penalty away at Hartlepool. The miss put an end to County's hopes of the play-off's and instead left Notts resigned to yet another mid-table finish.


These failings aside, McCann still has a year left to run on his contract and most Notts fans will be pleased to see him stay I'm sure.


In particular, what McCann does add to the squad is his ability to operate in a number of different systems, with experience of playing both a left wing back and the left side of midfield in some part of his career.


McCann will by no means be remembered as one the Magpies stars this season but he is certainly a valuable member to Thompson's ever growing Notts jigsaw.


Left-backs are marked on reliability, stern defending and support to the flanks, all of which McCann has shown he is capable of doing at some point. But it is now that his consistency must improve for him to hold down his first team place for next season as County go in search of promotion at all costs.


Rating:
7/10