James McCarthy M free agent b.1990

[Manc Irish Wolf]

EBB seems to be shot of confidence alright, cant see him turning it around this season. Is Keogh really rated highly by the Wolves fans? Am not convinced but he did start the season very well for Wolves before the injury.

Having witnessed the failings and limitations of their messiah this season (SEB), a lot of the moronic boo-boys seem like they are finally beginning to realise how much Keogh actually contributes to the team. First and foremost he is an intelligent footballer who brings other players into the team well with his interlinking play, runs down the channels and relentless workrate - as opposed to SEB who is the classic last shoulder striker, but does not have the work rate, runs or seemingly football intelligence to do anything else (I'm not writing him off completely as he is young enough to improve). Keogh's problem is that he is not a natural goalscorer (but may improve), however as is being argued by most these days, it is better to have someone up front who doesn't score contributing something, rather than nothing. Every one realises that Doyle is a class above, so the supply line to him is the most important thing, plus Keogh creating space is more likely to create openings for the likes of Milijas and Kightly (who always plays better with Keogh linking up with him) to score, much like Doyle and Keane do for the Irish midfield. Doyle and Keogh looked like they had a good connection when we played Sunderland - so hopefully they'll be able to reunite that shortly. Having said that, we desperately need to buy another striker - however overall Keogh looks to have found the step easier than SEB.

[SilkCut]

Hopefully a goal in the premiership will shut the idiots up for a while at least.

[drummerboy]

I've always been impressed by Keogh, when he played at club level. His workrate is wonderful. Obviously he needs a bit more composure in front of goal but I reckon that will come. At international level, I can't really remember him been given a chance is his proper position. One thing for sure is he is not a winger. I've seen him criticised on here for his performances for Ireland which is unfair as he is always played out of position. Hopefully he will be back soon. Great to see McCarthy making progress and now we need McCann to recover soon and start showing he can do it at the highest level.

[Nagger]

http://soccertubehighlights.com/?tag=james-mccarthy-goal

[Stuttgart88]

Your stats are obviously way off. John O'Shea hasn't played since November 18 2009 and yet you expect me to believe that he's completed 35 games so far this season
I think it's your interpretative ability that is way off.

[twoenz]

Took his goal brilliantly, looked pretty composed in slotting it away, if only he'd followed up the penalty instead of Sharner.

Although, I'd say the ref's been reading this forum if he thought that McCarthy running away from goal toward a high bouncing ball was a direct goalscoring chance to send Stearman off.

[Serb]

Although, I'd say the ref's been reading this forum if he thought that McCarthy running away from goal toward a high bouncing ball was a direct goalscoring chance to send Stearman off.

Don't think it was a straight red. He had been booked earlier on in the game so I think that was his second yellow card.

[Charlie Darwin]

yeah, it was a second yellow.

[Leeside Swagger]

The Brazil match would be nice for his debut for the Senior team, if he keeps this form up he could be in with a shout.

[tetsujin1979]

McGeady made his debut against Jamaica at a time when Scotland were making overtures for him to declare for them (read before he was brought to a meeting with Berti Vogts) which tied him to us, and allowed him to continue with the U21's without the debate about his international allegiance brewing around him.
I know the rules have changed slightly, but I'd have no problems at all with McCarthy coming on to receive a long kick out in the final minute of the Brazil game if it ended the same talk that's going on with him.

[Brendan 82]

Cap him I say. Simple as

[paul_oshea]

Agreed

[jbyrne]

Cap him I say. Simple as

if he merits it he should be capped but not just to tie him to us. i'm not questionning his allegiance to us but he should be capped when its right based on his ability and form and nothing else

[Acornvilla]

2 goals in 2 starts aint a bad eh.. start :)

[Brendan 82]

if he merits it he should be capped but not just to tie him to us. i'm not questionning his allegiance to us but he should be capped when its right based on his ability and form and nothing else

I'd cap him on form now

[geysir]

A cap in a friendly won't tie him,
has to be a cap in a competitive game.

[jbyrne]

I'd cap him on form now

form is temporary, class is forever ;)
lets see how he goes for the next 3 or 4 months

[Leeside Swagger]

A cap in a friendly won't tie him,
has to be a cap in a competitive game.

After scoring the winner for Ireland against Brazil he's hardly going to want to play for the Jocks now is he?:cool:

[Fixer82]

2 goals in 2 starts warrants a cap for me....stick him on for half an hour against brazil and see how he gets on.

On a sidenote, he was practically being written off on this forum no more than a week ago, then he bangs in 2 goals for Wigan. Wonder if there's a link between the two :)

[Ozymandias]

2 goals in 2 starts warrants a cap for me....stick him on for half an hour against brazil and see how he gets on.

On a sidenote, he was practically being written off on this forum no more than a week ago, then he bangs in 2 goals for Wigan. Wonder if there's a link between the two :)

that was only by a few WUMS...the majority on here said give him time to mature and settle in the Wgan team and premier league.....I have watched him a few times and he has impressed me.....he is very young though so plenty of time...cap him and it will take media pressure from scotland of him

[Fixer82]

that was only by a few WUMS...the majority on here said give him time to mature and settle in the Wgan team and premier league.....I have watched him a few times and he has impressed me.....he is very young though so plenty of time...cap him and it will take media pressure from scotland of him

agreed

[gilberto_eire]

that was only by a few WUMS...the majority on here said give him time to mature and settle in the Wgan team and premier league.....I have watched him a few times and he has impressed me.....he is very young though so plenty of time...cap him and it will take media pressure from scotland of him

Come on lads, let's get real, he won't be a top player until he scores either a hat-trick and/or wonder goal.

Sure everyone knows that, looks at your man..... Ronney for United, he wouldn't have ever made it to United unless he scored this....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_OZmixtMByY

....and he wouldn't have made it there unless he did this......

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LtwiGBn1BQw

:p

[Ozymandias]

Rooney isn't a fair comparison...everyone knows when he finishes playing he will be released back into the wild.

[Serb]

Got another 90 minutes today for Wigan -vs- Notts County in the FA Cup, hit the post with a scuffed shot apparently.

[SkStu]

game coming up on Setanta here after the Utd Hull game. Looking forward to seeing how he played...

[Dublincelt67]

JAMES McCARTHY could be set to sensationally switch his allegiance from the Republic of Ireland to Scotland.

Sport of the World can reveal the 19-year-old Wigan wonderkid has told close friends and family he would talk to Craig Levein if the new Scotland boss approached him about performing a dramatic U-turn.

Levein is sure to be interested in finding out how serious the £1.2million midfielder is about pledging his international future to his homeland, with a crucial Euro Championship qualifying campaign on the horizon next season.

A source close to the ex-Hamilton star said: "James has been alerted to the possibility of Scotland being interested in him again, and it's certainly fair to say he is interested in Scotland.

"Although he has played for the Republic of Ireland at Under-21 level, he hasn't yet played a full, competitive international for them, so under FIFA rules he is free to play for Scotland.

"He has had no direct contact with Craig Levein yet but he would certainly not rule out the possibility of playing for his natural country if he believed Scotland wanted him.

"I know Gary Caldwell has been nipping his ear about this since he arrived at Wigan and realised how good James is after training alongside him.

"He thinks he is an outstanding talent and has told James he won't rest until he has agreed to pull on a dark blue shirt.

"To be fair to James it was never a case of James turning his back on Scotland - Scotland just didn't want him when he was younger."

Levein could be set to change all that. He is eager to spread his net as far and wide as possible to ensure he has the strongest possible pool of talent available for Scotland. He is currently putting

together a database which will cover every under-age and senior pro who qualifies for Scotland and he is currently scouring the country for potential targets.

McCarthy was originally overlooked by Scotland at all under-age groups and Under-21 level, despite Hamilton Accies officials pushing his case for a call-up.

Eventually, the talented teenager opted for the Republic of Ireland after he was offered the chance to turn out for the Emerald Isle at Under-17 level.

Although born and bred in Glasgow, McCarthy qualifies to play for Ireland though his grandfather. However despite moving through the ranks to represent Ireland at Under-18, Under-19 and Under-21 level, he has yet to make a full squad.

Even if he eventually does make it into Giovanni Trapattoni's full squad he would have to play some part of a competitive game to nail his colours to Ireland.

Levein certainly knows all about the youngsters current form after heading down south to take in Wigan's 2-0 win over Wolves at Molineux last week where he saw McCarthy celebrate his first ever English Premier League start with a goal.

Dont know what to make of this story?!

[greendeiseboy]

I wouldn't be surprised if he did to be honest. I always had a feeling that he would anyway.

I hope the FAI act fast on this as he seems to be making his mark at the moment. I would hate it if we were to lose out on him at this stage but I have a bad feeling about it.

[irishultra]

lol would be funny.

[tetsujin1979]

Dont know what to make of this story?!

hmmm, not a lot here really
standard tabloid "source close to the player" stuff, filled in with fairly established facts to add a degree of authenticity. No player is tied to a country until they play a senior competitive game, it's not just McCarthy.
Gary Caldwell is at Wigan for 2 weeks, he's hardly likely to change McCarthy's mind in that time.
Trapattoni has stated before that he doesn't think McCarthy will change alleigances - http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,14933_4261934,00.html - and McCarthy himself has reaffirmed his desire to play for Ireland - http://www.fai.ie/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3677

To be honest, to me that article is more about Levein wanting to find players that are qualified for Scotland than anything else.

[Jicked]

Caldwell has been at Wigan for ten days. Lets say that these super reliable quotes were taken two days ago, allowing a day to file the story. That's eight days. So he's met McCarthy maybe five or six times. We're supposed to believe that a guy who's just moved to a new club and a new city has spent those five days badgering a 19 year old boy rather than trying to fit in to a new squad, and in the meantime he's felt so emotive about his talkings to McCarthy that he's found time to tell a friend about how desperate he is for McCarthy to play for Scotland, and his friend has gotten in touch with the Scottish press.

Alternatively a tabloid hack could be making up a story to sell newspapers in Scotland and thought he could make up an old rubbish and pretend he heard it from an 'unnamed source'.

[Nagger]

Theres always a chance he will switch. He's hasnt been capped yet. So no surprises there. I do hope that Trappatoni starts selecting him for international duty.

As for the report, i think its rubish. Made up, to sell newspapers, as Jicked said.

[Poor Student]

I can't understand why a player with his reputation has not been capped yet. He has played roughly 100 games at senior level and we only need to send him on the field of play for 10 seconds in a friendly to ensure if he does turn out to be good enough he will be playing in an Irish shirt.

[greendeiseboy]

I can't understand why a player with his reputation has not been capped yet. He has played roughly 100 games at senior level and we only need to send him on the field of play for 10 seconds in a friendly to ensure if he does turn out to be good enough he will be playing in an Irish shirt.

He has been capped - but at the level he was ready for. We have a game in March against Brazil and I dont think that will tie him to us but if the reports are true he could have already made the u-turn, if he hasnt already done so by then.

He's only 19 and is under constant pressure with this issue. He has already stated that if Scotland had picked him at underage level he would have played for them.

He's now that bit older and has played a few times for us but is playing with the under 21's who are managed by Givens which says enough. He has also withdrawn from several squads due to injury only to play the following week for his club so maybe there is already a commitment issue.

There's only so many statements a player can make on a subject and with this thing raising it's head again I'd expect to hear another one soon from him.

[Razors left peg]

When he didnt change his mind about playing for us after all the abuse he took while he was playing for Hamilton I doubt he would change his mind now that he is away from all that

[greendeiseboy]

[QUOTE=Razors left peg;1311139]When he didnt change his mind about playing for us after all the abuse he took while he was playing for Hamilton I doubt he would change his mind now that he is away from all that[/QUOTE

That could be case but maybe the fact that he was away from all the abuse gave him a chance to clear his head and make his mind up without the attention.

I just hope it's put to bed by him soon.

[Razors left peg]

not sure what more the lad can do to put it to bed. He has always said its not an issue, he is playing for us and thats it. He has travelled to the arse ends of europe with the under teams so I personally dont doubt his commitment

[greendeiseboy]

not sure what more the lad can do to put it to bed. He has always said its not an issue, he is playing for us and thats it. He has travelled to the arse ends of europe with the under teams so I personally dont doubt his commitment

I hope you're right

[Crosby87]

Good God i hope he stays. The comments ive just been reading from Scottish "fans" on other boards are largely horrible. Can't imagine why he would want to go back.

[greendeiseboy]

Good God i hope he stays. The comments ive just been reading from Scottish "fans" on other boards are largely horrible. Can't imagine why he would want to go back.

Go on the some of the Celtic forums as well and some of the comments are just as bad.

Bit surprised by that.

[Eirambler]

The fact that it's in the NOTW gives me hope that there's nothing in it, but even so, McCarthy should be called up to the senior squad now for the Brazil match. Even though he has to play a qualifier to be tied down, getting him into the senior squad would make it less likely that he would want to switch.

Whereas the option of international football in a rubbish Scotland team might be preferable to being stuck in Givens' U-21s.

To give an idea of how desperate Scotland would be to tie him down, Craig Levein has gone to Perth to watch Celtic play today, only to find when he got there that the nearest they had to a Scottish player in their starting eleven was Aiden McGeady.

[jbyrne]

if he wants to play for us he will and if he wants to play for scotland instead he will do that instead. id like to see scotland ask him back as he would then have the chance to declare himself once and for all. he's only a kid and owes nothing to anybody

[Crosby87]

if he wants to play for us he will and if he wants to play for scotland instead he will do that instead. id like to see scotland ask him back as he would then have the chance to declare himself once and for all. he's only a kid and owes nothing to anybody

He's declared himself once and for all thats whats weird about the story. He shouldnt have to do it every week. Thats everyone is hoping he hasnt opened the door.

[Eirambler]

if he wants to play for us he will and if he wants to play for scotland instead he will do that instead. id like to see scotland ask him back as he would then have the chance to declare himself once and for all. he's only a kid and owes nothing to anybody

But they did just that a year ago, and he turned them down. Now its started again, so clearly that didn't work. They're desperately in need of a player like him, they've got nothing going forward, and the Scottish media will hound him until it's beyond doubt that he's going with us. The only way to do that is to get him into the senior squad.

[greendeiseboy]

But they did just that a year ago, and he turned them down. Now its started again, so clearly that didn't work. They're desperately in need of a player like him, they've got nothing going forward, and the Scottish media will hound him until it's beyond doubt that he's going with us. The only way to do that is to get him into the senior squad.

The difference this time round is that the vibes seem to be coming from the player himself - if the report is true which at this stage has to be taken in the context of where it surfaced from - which in reality is totally unreliable - but its being put out there again.

The timing of this is also significant : now a regular for Wigan, two goals and a new Scottish manager - it was bound to raise it's head again.

[Deckydee]

Link here - http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/scottish/scottish_sport/696688/Ex-Hamilton-ace-to-talk-to-Craig-Levein-about-Scotland-switch.html

Nice comment at the end :op

[Crosby87]

Link here - http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/scottish/scottish_sport/696688/Ex-Hamilton-ace-to-talk-to-Craig-Levein-about-Scotland-switch.html

Nice comment at the end :op

So you will give him kisses if he stays deckydee? I like a person with a sense of humor although im not sure he would be up for that!

[Deckydee]

Ha Ha - Very Funny - That wasnt me BTW. But since I am funny:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s4jz00Eelbk

:D

[dr_peepee]

So Caldwell is "Grooming" him!!

[Jacky08]

Well the Scottish Media will ramp this one right up, hope young McCarthy remains firm in his committment to wear the green

[elroy]

Had a good look through the Daily Record and plenty of recent articles about the new manager and who he wants to bring into the squad, not even a mention of McCarthy so hopefully its nothing more than rubbish paper talk.

The guy did reaffirm his commitment to us only a few months ago.