James McCarthy M free agent b.1990

[superfrank]

Wasn't that all before he'd even played in the SPL?

[Razors left peg]

Wasn't that all before he'd even played in the SPL?

yeah so u would think after a season where he won the SPL young player of the year award he would be more sought after

[superfrank]

Looking at recent winners, Aiden McGeady is still at Celtic, Shaun Maloney went to Villa then back to Celtic, Steven Naismith isn't a regular at Rangers, Derek Riordan went to Celtic then back to Hibs, Stephen Pearson left Celtic for Derby, James McFadden went to Everton and now Birmingham City, Kevin McNaughton is at Cardiff and Stilian Petrov is at Villa.

I don't think winning the SPL Young Player of the Year award is a sign of someone who will become a top class player (Petrov would be the nearest, imo). Maybe, scouts who watched him against better opposition were less impressed with him.

[Claret Murph]

Yes, a team that have the correct attitude, that are going the right way, that have a good history and that play football the right way. They will stay up and id much rather seeing a good footballing team like them stay up rather than the likes of Bolton, Hull and Stoke

I will say one thing carloz talk about hitting the nail on the head , I could never have put it better myself , only one thing thou you forgot about Blackbum as they are going to to dire under Sam again this season . :)
As for the kid, well at 18 some really do go to make it big and other just seem to fade away remember the jury is still out if he can cut it in the Prem .

[drummerboy]

Yes, but he's manager of BURNLEY!


Did I say he wasn't.

Burnley have been sniffing around McCarthy.

[kennedmc]

McCarthy agent has links to Spain - hence all these bullsh!t links to the likes of Real and Barca - no substance in them at all.

I believe when he was on trial at Liverpool he scored a cracker in a training session and an onlooking Gerrard said "sign him up"! Gerrard was not knocking on Rafa's door insisting they sign him up :rolleyes: bit of a difference.

If Rafa could have got him at a decent price couple of 000K than might have.....
Liverpool were never going to pay millions for him than

[Razors left peg]

McCarthy agent has links to Spain - hence all these bullsh!t links to the likes of Real and Barca - no substance in them at all.

I believe when he was on trial at Liverpool he scored a cracker in a training session and an onlooking Gerrard said "sign him up"! Gerrard was not knocking on Rafa's door insisting they sign him up :rolleyes: bit of a difference.

If Rafa could have got him at a decent price couple of 000K than might have.....
Liverpool were never going to pay millions for him than

As far as I can remember, the story at the time was that Liverpool made an offer of 1 million for him but he didnt want to leave Hamilton

[elroy]

Would it not be better than the guy joins the likes of Wolves/Burnley with the opportunity of regular first team football, rather than waste away under the stewardship of Benitez. After the treatment of Keane wouldnt want any Irish player to go near. Name one player that has come through the ranks to regularly feature in the first team under Rafa...............

[dr_peepee]

Would it not be better than the guy joins the likes of Wolves/Burnley with the opportunity of regular first team football, rather than waste away under the stewardship of Benitez. After the treatment of Keane wouldnt want any Irish player to go near. Name one player that has come through the ranks to regularly feature in the first team under Rafa...............


True. But maybe the players coming through at Liverpool aren't good enough. It's not as if players went on to prove Rafa wrong by pulling up trees at other clubs if you know what I mean. I'm torn between the lure of first team, football (which In fairness he's been getting that for a good whil now) or the opportunity for improve by playing regularly with better players.

[tetsujin1979]

Wolves have offered 1 million for McCarthy, in a take it or leave it deal: http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/football/spl/2009/07/14/wolves-make-1m-take-it-or-leave-it-bid-for-frustrated-accies-star-james-mccarthy-86908-21518556/

[Crosby87]

Wolves have offered 1 million for McCarthy, in a take it or leave it deal: http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/football/spl/2009/07/14/wolves-make-1m-take-it-or-leave-it-bid-for-frustrated-accies-star-james-mccarthy-86908-21518556/


Take it!

[Manblue]

I dont think its a bad move regardless of if they stay up or not if hes good enough hel play and if hes good enough someone else will buy him if they go down, alot of managers are reluctant to take players from scotland because the standard is so bad. A year in the Prem at 18ish should do him no harm

[tetsujin1979]

Hamilton's manager hopes McCarthy will stay with the Accies: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/scotland/8150680.stm

[Scram]

Hamilton's manager hopes McCarthy will stay with the Accies: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/scotland/8150680.stm

Hopefully not.

[Junior]

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11661_5436731,00.html

Being reported on SSN that a fee has been agreed with Wolves - Still not a done deal though. Its says £2m in the link though Ive read £1.5m elsewhere.

http://www.skysports.com/football/transfer_clockwatch/0,23710,14896,00.html

[irishbaz]

fee agreed with wolves just came up on sky sports

[Brendan 82]

Great move by Wolves. Small fee and if he puts in a good season they will be able to sell him for big bucks. Delighted; can't wait to see him in the Premiership. At Wolves he should get plenty of playing time too:cool:

[ofjames]

great move for him. undoubtedly a step up from the SPL.

He'll get the chance at Wolves to prove whether the hype is justified. If he does he'll get a big move in no time.

Hopefully he'll be smashing!

With a bit of luck our midfield could be shaping up a lot better this season.

Even 2 or 3 of the following actually happening would make us a whole lot stronger in that department:

1. Stevy reid overcoming his injury woes to show the world just how good we all think he is
2. Stevy ireland realising he's being an eejit and coming back
3. Darron Gibson establishing himself as a genuine first team premiership player at man u
4. Obviously McCarthy doing the same at Wolves
5. Chris McCann doing the same at Burnley

All 5 of the above and world cup qualification by christmas... now that would be nice

[Razors left peg]

Hope Mick McCarthy doesnt stick him out of position on the right wing or something like that like he did with Darron Gibson

[pineapple stu]

Bugger - this mean he won't be coming to Dublin next week?

[stiffler]

Is James likely to obtain a starting position at Moulineux immediately?


Who is his competition for a central midfield spot?

[eirebhoy]

He's going to be similar to Stephen Ireland imo. He'll start to shine once he gets the opportunity alongside really good players. Players that will make the quick simple passes look that bit better, offer themselves for the passes, read his runs forward, etc. He plays a simple game and that's not going to stick out in a relegation fight.

[tetsujin1979]

Wigan have had a 2 million bid accepted by Hamilton, just announced on NewsTalk

[eirebhoy]

A move to Wigan would definitely be the best option imo. I couldn't see Big Mick playing him centrally and Martinez likes to play an quick passing game which will suit McCarthy down to the ground.

[tetsujin1979]

Martinez was linked with him as well when he was manager of Swansea, so this isn't too surprising

[paul_oshea]

i see wigan being relegation fodder this year though, or there or there abouts,sold a lot of their better players the last year or so, even if martinez has done well in the past

[irishfan86]

i see wigan being relegation fodder this year though, or there or there abouts,sold a lot of their better players the last year or so, even if martinez has done well in the past

I agree that Wigan should be vulnerable to the drop, but Wolves are hardly guaranteed mid-table safety themselves.

[Crosby87]

He's going to be similar to Stephen Ireland imo. He'll start to shine once he gets the opportunity alongside really good players.

Not trying to be funny, but is he going to get the chance to play with "really good players" with Wolves?
Just dont want to see him move up then fall off the earth like Stokes.
With that said I a mdefinitely happy for the move, its just there are like 0 Championship league games on here so I did not watch Wolves recently.....

[eirebhoy]

The sun says he has turned down Wolves and will have medical at Wigan tomorrow.

http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/sport/spl/2539974/Wigan-nick-26m-Mac.html

[irishfan86]

Not trying to be funny, but is he going to get the chance to play with "really good players" with Wolves?
Just dont want to see him move up then fall off the earth like Stokes.
With that said I a mdefinitely happy for the move, its just there are like 0 Championship league games on here so I did not watch Wolves recently.....

In Stokes' defense, he is only 20 years old and is under contract with a Premier League club.

At Sunderland he has largely been played out of position (wing as opposed to forward), and has been used mainly as a substitute.

If Stokes went to a mid-upper level Championship club, and was given a chance to be a starter, I think we'd see him shine once again.

I wouldn't write him off just yet, and I think he'll be a good option for us in his mid-twenties.

[dr_peepee]

i see wigan being relegation fodder this year though, or there or there abouts,sold a lot of their better players the last year or so, even if martinez has done well in the past

Defo agreed here... No Palacios, Valencia, Heskey, and most likely Scharner and Cattermole. I have them as a cert to go down.

I'm gonna put a score on all the promoted clubs staying up this year actually.

The fee is agreed so I think we'll find a couple more clubs sniffing now that that particular variable is set... I'd be disapointed if he goes to Wigan. I understand people being impressed by Martinez commitment to good football, but we've seen many lower profile teams perish on that particular rock. Consolidation should come first, the frills later.... I don't think McCarthy needs another relegation battle..

[tetsujin1979]

The sun says he has turned down Wolves and will have medical at Wigan tomorrow.

http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/sport/spl/2539974/Wigan-nick-26m-Mac.html

It's weird the Daily Record says he had a medical with Wolves: http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/football/spl/2009/07/17/celtic-launch-late-bid-to-land-hamilton-starlet-james-mccarthy-as-wolves-circle-86908-21526074/

[passinginterest]

Football365 reckons 4 Premier League teams and Celtic are all in the hunt at this stage.

[eirebhoy]

It's weird the Daily Record says he had a medical with Wolves: http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/football/spl/2009/07/17/celtic-launch-late-bid-to-land-hamilton-starlet-james-mccarthy-as-wolves-circle-86908-21526074/
The Scottish Herald would be a lot more trustworthy than the sun and record. They say Hamilton are expecting bids from 2 more clubs. Apparantly Celtic have always had an agreement that they could match the price of the highest bidder so I wouldn't rule Celtic out yet.

[tetsujin1979]

According to football365, Burnley and Portsmouth are the two other Premiership sides interested in McCarthy

[Crosby87]

Hypothetically which is better from the point of him developing in your opinions, going to Celtic or to Wigan, Ports, Burnley or Wolves?
If you could have it your way were do you put him?

[eirebhoy]

I'm very biased but I genuinely believe Celtic would be best for him. Certainly at 18. With Celtic they'll dominate most games so he'll get plenty of the ball which can only be good for him. Mowbray will have the team playing an attractive passing game. And Celtic will most likely be playing in the Europa cup this season which would be a good experience for him.

If not Celtic then Wigan for a lot of the same reasons. I don't want to see him going to a team that will be defending for most of the game. He has to learn to start dominating when his team have the ball.

[eirebhoy]

The Record said a top 8 premiership club are interested in him and the Evening Time say it's Everton. Birmingham also named.

http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/sport/display.var.2520544.0.five_in_fight_for_accies_you ngster.php

Clubs know the price now and if they all had start bidding early in would have resulted in an auction so we'll probably see a few more bids in for him.

[Thommo]

Surprised none of the top teams in the EPL have made any bids for him.
He sounds like a level headed young lad anyway I'm sure he'll make the right choice.
The only thing I'll say about going to Celtic is this whole Scotland/Ireland thing and the abuse he might get similiar to McGeady maybe a factor in his decision also Celtic never pay top wages they see it as an honour to play for the club, Stephen Fletcher the Hibs striker Strachan missed out on him cos the board wouldn't give him the extra funds needed.

Hopefully from an Irish perspective once his transfer goes through shirley he'll be capped down in thomond park this summer.

[eirebhoy]

Mowbray has ruled out a move for McCarthy as he's too expensive.

[Junior]

Just on the wages front. Celtic wont pay the wages a premiership side will because they cant. Clubs in the championship can offer better financial packages than Celtic. You only have to look at the money on the table from the latest Sky/ESPN deal for the SPL to see why Celtic cannot and should not attempt to pay the stupid money.

Hopefully James has good support and advice around him, he appears to have a level head and obviously has the Celtic connection from his youth. This, coupled with some european football (Im with you EB - it looks like the Europa league for us this year!!) a good manager in Mowbray, the pressure that comes with being a Celtic player (media, supporters both home and opposition) would all be great experience for the lad and further grounding in professional football - if in 3 years time he has done well, he will still only be 21 and plenty of time for the next move......

From a biased Celtic fan of course.

Failing that, would Villa and MON not be interested?

EDIT// scrap the above if we cant match the asking price its largley irrelevant!!

[irishultra]

He should join Bohs, he'll get plenty of European football that way ;)

[Thommo]

But were only talking 2 to 2.5 million for the best young player in Scotland this is a bargain basement transfer when you compare to what's gone on so far this summer.
Hope Celtic don't rue it, he's Celtic true and true they should have been leading the pack on this one.
Sad that Mowbray has ruled him out.

[Closed Account 2]

I heard he had a medical at Wigan just now :S

[Closed Account]

Breaking News: Hamilton Academical's James McCarthy Undergoes Medical At Wigan Athletic - Report (http://www.goal.com/en/news/9/england/2009/07/17/1388275/breaking-news-hamilton-academicals-james-mccarthy-undergoes)



The young Irish international has moved a step closer to joining the Latics it seems...

17 Jul 2009 16:24:49

James McCarthy seems to have made his choice as to which Premier League club he will be moving to this afternoon, as Sky Sports News are reporting that he is undergoing a medical ahead of a possible move to Wigan Athletic.

Wolverhampton Wanderers had also agreed a fee for the Scottish-born Irish international, but it seems that the attractions of working with new Wigan manager Roberto Martinez have outweighed those of joining the significant Irish contingent at Molineux.

Full report to follow...

From Goal.com so that means its about 25% true.

[eirebhoy]

From Goal.com so that means its about 25% true.
Sky Sports News.

Goal.com always quote their source. They're only passing on 2nd hand info.

[Manc Irish Wolf]

Don't think it's dead and buried. Willie McKay (his agent) is a well-renowned shrewd operator (he was the agent behind Chimbonda's relegation day resignation and Henri Camara's strike). Personally, I think that it is more a case that he is trying to get as many medicals sorted as possible to draw out the process, weaken interested club's buying power, entice prospective bidders and ultimately get the best deal for young James (and himself).

That said, after the Camara strike Wolves did say that they would never deal with him again, so wouldn't be surprised if he did talk McCarthy into joining someone else. However, we have laid the groundwork showing him around and giving him assurance that it is a wonderful area to live in giving that he's a kid moving away from home. However, Micks back from Australia now, so hopefully he'll show him the same level of enthusiasm as he did Doyle and convince him that as one of his tribe he should join us.

[tetsujin1979]

Slightly off topic, McKay is also Stephen Ireland's agent, and was rumoured to be one of those agents to be called in for questioning for taking bungs

[youngirish]

Apparently Spurs have bid now also. I'll post a link when I can find one.

[youngirish]

As promised:
http://www.football.co.uk/tottenham_hotspur/spurs_bid_to_clutch_irish_youngster_mccarthy_from_ the_jaws_of_wolves_rss134143.shtml