James McCarthy M Celtic b.1990

**SkStu** · 07/11/2011, 3:04 PM

Originally Posted by Junior

He hasnt taken a step backwards in my opinion - he's just stood still - done nothing of note. Will be an important season for him personally

yup, i will concede that.

**tommy_c12000** · 19/11/2011, 9:41 PM

Had a good game 2day on his return to the first team by all accounts:

http://boards.footymad.net/forum.php?tno=558&fid=516&sty=2&act=1&mid=21158976 31

Perhaps a break was just what he needed. Let's hope he will continue to rediscover the form which once made him one of Britain's hottest properties

**Kingdom** · 20/11/2011, 10:45 PM

He started in the middle 2 of a 4 for once.

**BonnieShels** · 21/11/2011, 12:20 AM

And how did he play there.?

**Drumcondra 69er** · 21/11/2011, 1:50 PM

Originally Posted by SkStu

Yes it is reasonable. Thats how he was sold to the world as a 16 year old. Four years later, despite occasional flashes of ability, he still has it all to prove. Roy Keane was dominating games from midfield for Notts Forest at 20 years old. Fair point on the injury but all in all he has taken backwards steps this season when major progress was expected.

Keane wasn't dominating games from midfield at 20, at that stage of his career he was playing a more pushed up role and was quite prolific in front of goal, he started dropping further back over the next couple of seasons before eventually moving to Man U but at 20 people were wondering if he'd be the next Tommy Gaynor.

Had he been dominating games even when he was pushing 22 you could argue that Forest wouldn't have been relegated in 93.

Agree that McCarthy seems to be standing still this season though and that Keane was playing more consistently at that age.

**cufc champions** · 21/11/2011, 2:00 PM

I watched the first half of the game Saturday and thought he played ok, he got about the park put in a few tackles and never lost the ball. A small bit more agression in his game would not go astray, I would also like to see him get a little further forward than he did on Saturday he seemed to stay in the holding role the vast majority of the time.

**Dunners** · 21/11/2011, 2:22 PM

I would also like to see him get a little further forward than he did on Saturday he seemed to stay in the holding role the vast majority of the time.

Maybe he thought Trap would be watching the video

**Kingdom** · 22/11/2011, 11:55 AM

I'm probably being over-cynical, but I didn't think McCarthy had been suffering from any injury recently, and thought it ironic that having finally shown a committment to the team, that he gets dropped by Wigan. Also thought it highly significant that he returns to the team in the position that he probably needs to show pedigree in soon if he's to get a game for Ireland. Is that too coincidental?

Look at it another way....Wigan are probably in pole position for relegation; if they do, they are likely to shed players: Moses, McCarthy, Rodallega to name but a few. What better way to add a few €'s onto young James value, than by him playing centre midfield for Ireland in the European Championships, particularily when he is still very young and has so much experience already, and has been tracked by some of the continents biggest clubs already. But the only way he will get selected to start for Ireland is......by playing centre midfield.

Is that too off-the-wall?

As it happens he did the simple things right that I saw - showed for the ball, played simple passes, and harried a lot.

**Paddy Garcia** · 22/11/2011, 9:02 PM

I don't believe that they are resigned to the drop. Has got his place on merit.

**kennedmc** · 22/11/2011, 9:49 PM

Originally Posted by Kingdom

I'm probably being over-cynical, but I didn't think McCarthy had been suffering from any injury recently, and thought it ironic that having finally shown a committment to the team, that he gets dropped by Wigan. Also thought it highly significant that he returns to the team in the position that he probably needs to show pedigree in soon if he's to get a game for Ireland. Is that too coincidental?

Look at it another way....Wigan are probably in pole position for relegation; if they do, they are likely to shed players: Moses, McCarthy, Rodallega to name but a few. What better way to add a few €'s onto young James value, than by him playing centre midfield for Ireland in the European Championships, particularily when he is still very young and has so much experience already, and has been tracked by some of the continents biggest clubs already. But the only way he will get selected to start for Ireland is......by playing centre midfield.

Is that too off-the-wall?

I think what you are saying is a complete load of rubbish!!

**Sullivinho** · 22/11/2011, 10:03 PM

Originally Posted by Kingdom

I'm probably being over-cynical, but I didn't think McCarthy had been suffering from any injury recently, and thought it ironic that having finally shown a committment to the team, that he gets dropped by Wigan. Also thought it highly significant that he returns to the team in the position that he probably needs to show pedigree in soon if he's to get a game for Ireland. Is that too coincidental?

Look at it another way....Wigan are probably in pole position for relegation; if they do, they are likely to shed players: Moses, McCarthy, Rodallega to name but a few. What better way to add a few €'s onto young James value, than by him playing centre midfield for Ireland in the European Championships, particularily when he is still very young and has so much experience already, and has been tracked by some of the continents biggest clubs already. But the only way he will get selected to start for Ireland is......by playing centre midfield.

Is that too off-the-wall?

As it happens he did the simple things right that I saw - showed for the ball, played simple passes, and harried a lot.

I'm not completely sold on that one Kingdom...but I'm damn sure Dave Whelan was in Dallas on 22nd November, 1963.

**geysir** · 22/11/2011, 11:14 PM

Kingdom's last sentence resonated with my way of thinking.

**SkStu** · 23/11/2011, 4:19 AM

Originally Posted by Kingdom

As it happens he did the simple things right that I saw - showed for the ball, played simple passes, and harried a lot.

did you notice if he beat Paul Greenes number of successful attempts at harrying, Kingdom?

(who was it again that said that?)

Great post by the way - completely off the wall - but brilliant conspiracy theorising!

**Murfinator** · 24/11/2011, 11:39 AM

More likely he's suffering a spell of low confidence and is more appreciative now that he has the opportunity to be a part of the national teams squad, even if it is the bench.

**Crosby87** · 24/11/2011, 2:01 PM

Is Kingdom actually Oliver Stone? Stone says in Interviews his mother was Irish.
What the hell was the deal with Wall Street 2 then? Transformers Kid can't act worth a lick.
Must have spent too much time on here when you should have been doing better casting.

**The Fly** · 24/11/2011, 7:43 PM

Originally Posted by Crosby87

Is Kingdom actually Oliver Stone? Stone says in Interviews his mother was Irish.

Originally Posted by Crosby87

What the hell was the deal with Wall Street 2 then? Transformers Kid can't act worth a lick.
Must have spent too much time on here when you should have been doing better casting.

Know when to stop.

**boovidge** · 26/11/2011, 4:00 PM

Assist for the late Wigan winner today.

**Jaysus** · 26/11/2011, 4:16 PM

Originally Posted by boovidge

Assist for the late Wigan winner today.

That's James McArthur, the Scottish international. Easy mistake to make though.

**boovidge** · 26/11/2011, 4:55 PM

said on BBC it was James McCarthy!

**Diarmo** · 26/11/2011, 8:37 PM

By all accounts Wigan bossed the midfield today, good to hear. The more he plays ina 4 man midfield the better, it'll wean people off this mad idea that he's a "behind the striker" type of player. Also, it should mean he'll get a spot on the plane to Polkraine.