Credit: Wrexham AFC
Ryan Reynolds knows his Wrexham squad better than most celebrity owners could claim. A TikTok video posted by the club showed Reynolds describing past and present players in single words, and while some answers were predictable, one stood out as perfectly chosen: calling captain James McClean “scary” captured exactly what the Irish international brings to this Championship squad.
The rapid-fire format gave Reynolds no time to overthink his responses. Mickey Thomas earned “legend” status, Sam Smith and Steven Fletcher both received variations on “beast,” and Ben Foster got the “hero” treatment alongside Mark Howard.
But “scary” for McClean was different. It was not the typical captain descriptor, not the standard leadership praise, and that made it the truest answer Reynolds gave.
Reynolds Shows He Understands His Players
Thomas got “legend” because that is exactly what the former Manchester United winger remains at Wrexham. The man who scored the equalizer in the famous 1992 FA Cup giant-killing of Arsenal has 349 appearances across two spells for the club, and Reynolds understood that history matters.
Smith earned “beast” as the club’s record signing at £2 million from Reading. The 27-year-old striker has justified every penny with his physical presence and goal return, and Reynolds clearly appreciates the power Smith brings to the attack.
Fletcher received the upgrade to “bigger beast,” which makes sense for a 38-year-old former Premier League striker with over 180 top-flight appearances. His experience and mentorship role earned him that extra word from Reynolds, even if the club ultimately released him after promotion to the Championship.
Foster and Howard both got “hero” treatment, recognising the goalkeeping department that has been crucial through three consecutive promotions. Oliver Palmer drew “gorgeous” in a moment of Reynolds humour, while Elliot Lee and Max Cleworth both earned “relentless” for their work rate.
McClean’s “Scary” Reputation Defines His Value
James McClean joined Wrexham in August 2023 with over 100 caps for the Republic of Ireland and extensive Premier League experience at Sunderland, West Brom, and Stoke. The 36-year-old was named captain for the 2024-25 season and has led the side through promotion to the Championship.
Embed from Getty Images“Scary” captures what opposition players already know about McClean. His intensity does not diminish with age, his commitment to every challenge remains absolute, and his presence on the pitch creates an edge that few players in League One or the Championship can match.
Reynolds could have chosen “captain” or “leader” or any number of standard descriptions. Instead, he went with the word that actually defines McClean’s impact, the quality that makes him valuable beyond goals and assists, the characteristic that sets the tone for how Wrexham approaches matches.
The TikTok format was throwaway entertainment, but Reynolds gave away something more valuable: proof that he genuinely understands what each player contributes to Wrexham’s project. “Scary” was not a joke or an insult, it was recognition that McClean brings something irreplaceable to a squad chasing Championship survival, and that Reynolds has paid enough attention to know exactly what that something is.
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