Some Nottingham Forest fans have criticised former club hero Lewis McGugan for his poor attitude and low mental strength for not making it big in football.
McGugan is currently without a club at the age of 31 and he last played football for League Two club Northampton Town.
After leaving Forest, McGugan had spells at other Championship clubs before seeing his career decline.
Recently, a debate enraged on Twitter about the former England Under-19s man. Many fans criticised McGugan for not having the attitude to make it big in the game, despite showing a lot of promise at Forest.
The scorer of the best ever goal at the CG – it is a travesty that Lewis McGugan’s career appears to have stuttered to a halt at just 31… #nffc https://t.co/kEbmGbhSml
— Paul Taylor (@nottmtails) November 22, 2019
It’s his attitude. Plain and simple. Not got the mental strength to ever become a top player. Such a shame. So much talent.
— callum ???? (@calfish8) November 22, 2019
Such a massive talent wasted, but we have had a few of them
— Chris Simpson (@simcjs) November 22, 2019
Had it all, could have played at the highest level if it wasn’t for his attitude, such a shame
— nathan byrom (@NByrom) November 22, 2019
McGugan is a product of the Forest youth academy and was at the club for seven years from 2006 to 2013 before he had joined Watford in the summer of 2013 on a free transfer.
In total, McGugan had made 224 games in all competitions for Forest. He racked up a tally of 43 goals, bagging 27 assists. At Watford, the Englishman played 44 times in all competitions, scoring 11 times.
The 2014-15 season saw him get loaned out to Sheffield Wednesday, the club that he joined permanently in the summer of 2015 for an undisclosed fee on a three-year deal. His spell at Hillsborough saw McGugan make 39 appearances in all competitions and score nine times.
Some Forest fans also feel that his decision to depart the City Ground was the reason why McGugan failed.
Leaving Forest was probably the worst decision he made. What do you think, Paul?
— Jack Bryan (@jackbryan8) November 22, 2019
That free kick against Ipswich. Power, technique, intent. The guy was a one man highlight reel at one point.
The move away from Forest really seemed to unsettle him.
— Lee (@EquippedCafe) November 22, 2019
What do we think?
It would be unfair to say that leaving Forest became McGugan’s undoing. But things could have been very different if he had managed to stay at the City Ground back in 2013. He did play for a club that went onto play in the Premier League, but some players are meant to be at some places.
He wasn’t too bad in his time at Sheffield Wednesday, suggestive of how he was a Championship-level player instead of someone who could make it in the Premier League.