James McCarthy M free agent b.1990

[Charlie Darwin]

Bit harsh. Wigan are a top team on their day and one of the worst on the others.

[irishfan86]

Titus Bramble has been brilliant this season IMO. Without him they would have been relegated by now, no doubt in my mind.

[Junior]

I think fu1hams comments were not too dissimilar to my own thoughts after watching James against Man City last week. He was decent but no more. He played in a very poorly performing Wigan side and spent most of his time on defensive duties. He didnt look out of his depth in that side, that was for sure and I wouldnt say that he looked championship standard unless you were to say the whole team did (and that might be a valid point).

As far as I am concerned, he is doing well, getting regular games under his belt and performing to a decent (if not top class) standard. I dont agree with comments such as 'I don't think we'll see what he is fully capable until he is playing with a better team'. The same thing is often said of McGeady and certainly of McCarthy when he was with Hamilton in the SPL, now he has had 3 months in the Wigan first team and we think we wont see the best of him until he is in a better side. Players simply dont get the opportunites to go to Arsenal and Barca and the likes that often (extreme to make the point I know). Wigan are a premiership side who have a good chance of remaining there for next season. McCarthy should be able to impress in a side that is competing at this standard, he is playing alongside established premiership players. I hope one day he does move on to bigger and better things but he has a good few years of development ahead of him yet and he needs to do it at all levels not just in a top team.

Im really pleased with how he's progressing.



NB: I havent seen much of Bramble this season apart from MOTD but he was muck against Man City - no question.

[tetsujin1979]

Has everyone forgotten he's still only 19, and was still 18 at the start of the season? I can count on the fingers of one hand the number of 19 year olds who have made as many appearances as James this season.
That in itself is a mark of the talent of the lad. Leave him alone for a season or two until he turns 21 and then we'll start to see the best from him.

[boovidge]

Arsenal Target James McCarthy: I'm Happy At Wigan Athletic

Latics prodigy ready to ignore interest from Gunners and Liverpool...

http://goal.com/en/news/9/england/2010/04/04/1863804/arsenal-target-james-mccarthy-im-happy-at-wigan-athletic

Sorry if that's already been posted.

[Crosby87]

I would just hate for him to move to a club like Arsenal at this point and get lost in the mix. Or pick up a small injury then not be able to get back into the lineup for months or whatever... Sometimes the grass isn't greener.

[geysir]

Arsenal Target James McCarthy: I'm Happy At Wigan Athletic

That reads more like his agent at work.

The fact that McCarthy at 18/19 has held a regular place in the Wigan team is a sign of definite progress.

[elroy]

Arsenal Target James McCarthy: I'm Happy At Wigan Athletic

Latics prodigy ready to ignore interest from Gunners and Liverpool...

http://goal.com/en/news/9/england/2010/04/04/1863804/arsenal-target-james-mccarthy-im-happy-at-wigan-athletic

Sorry if that's already been posted.

Wenger doesnt sign Irish players so no truth in the rumour.

[boovidge]

Didnt he sign an Irish keeper? McDermott I think he's called.

[Charlie Darwin]

Wenger doesnt sign Irish players so no truth in the rumour.
It's not as if he has a vendetta against Ireland or anything. Irish players just aren't Arsenal material.

[Paddy Garcia]

Agree, if there is one manager who does not care where a player is from its Wenger. Simply interested in talent.

[tetsujin1979]

Wenger doesnt sign Irish players so no truth in the rumour.Conor Henderson and Sean McDermott both in the Arsenal youth setup.
Stokes, Cregg, and Barrett all came through there.

[seanfhear]

Has Wenger ever paid any money for an Irish Player.

I am generally a big fan of Wenger and he certainly has done well for Arsenal in the transfer market.

Not going for Shay Given when he could have had him for 5/6 million must be a managerial crime though.

Wenger has never really bought a really really expensive player where the ante would be upped if his judgement on such a player were wrong.

[Razors left peg]

Has Wenger ever paid any money for an Irish Player.

I am generally a big fan of Wenger and he certainly has done well for Arsenal in the transfer market.

Not going for Shay Given when he could have had him for 5/6 million must be a managerial crime though.

Wenger has never really bought a really really expensive player where the ante would be upped if his judgement on such a player were wrong.

I think he payed alot of money for Reyes if memory serves right

[Charlie Darwin]

I was surprised to learn that, before Arshavin, Wenger's most expensive purchase was Wiltord.

[Crosby87]

Wenger might make a play for James Mac as part of FIFA telling French people to be more considerate of Irishness.
Also according to Wikipedia, Wengers parents own a bistro in france, which will be useful if he wants to cook for Mac to impress him and get him to agree to come to London.

[seanfhear]

I think he payed alot of money for Reyes if memory serves right
Well remembered and he did not really do the business but Wenger generally does well in the transfer market. He normally buys for a good price and often sells on when the player is getting past his peak.

It would be interesting to see if Wenger was given loads of dosh would he be able to do as well (or better) buying the big money buys.
At this stage though I am not sure if he would go for big money buys even if he is given the dosh.

[Razors left peg]

Well remembered and he did not really do the business but Wenger generally does well in the transfer market. He normally buys for a good price and often sells on when the player is getting past his peak.

It would be interesting to see if Wenger was given loads of dosh would he be able to do as well (or better) buying the big money buys.
At this stage though I am not sure if he would go for big money buys even if he is given the dosh.

Think you're right, its almost as if he sees himself as the opposite to the Chelseas and Man Citys of the world and has a need to prove he can compete without spending the big money.

[tetsujin1979]

Wenger was under severe financial constraints at Arsenal before they moved to the new stadium, which is generating way more for them than Highbury.
While I don't see him spending City or Chelsea levels of cash, I do think he'll be able to spend more than in previous seasons on new players

[elroy]

It's not as if he has a vendetta against Ireland or anything. Irish players just aren't Arsenal material.

Not saying he has a vendetta but in the recent past two players, notably Given and Dunne who are def good enough to play for them and arguably Arsenal needed (and still need imo) were not ignored by Wenger.


Conor Henderson and Sean McDermott both in the Arsenal youth setup.
Stokes, Cregg, and Barrett all came through there.

Fair enough, none actually made it through but I was referring to the fact that he doesnt sign Irish players as opposed to any comng through the youth system.

[tetsujin1979]

Fair enough, none actually made it through but I was referring to the fact that he doesnt sign Irish players as opposed to any comng through the youth system.
Probably a load of nationalities he hasn't signed players from, has he ever signed a Scottish player? Or from Northern Ireland?

[Crosby87]

Or a Faroe Islander or Cypriot? Or American? or Iclander?
Or united federation of micronesian? Surely he mustn't only hate the irish!

[geysir]

So far the wisdom of his choice of Wigan over possible bigger clubs has exceeded expectations, already he has made 16? starts in the EPL.
It wouldn't surprise me to hear that a host of clubs would keep an eye on a prospect like McCarthy. The only thing remarkable about that, is that it makes the news.
It looks to me that his agent is angling for a renegotiated contract just at a time when Wigan look likely to stay up.

[MuckaTucka]

It wouldn't surprise me to hear that a host of clubs would keep an eye on a prospect like McCarthy. The only thing remarkable about that, is that it makes the news.
It looks to me that his agent is angling for a renegotiated contract just at a time when Wigan look likely to stay up.

His agent seems to have very good contacts. For the last 3 years we've been hearing everything from Barcelona and Real being interested to Liverpool wanting him to eventually replace Gerrard.

I'd say Wigan was McCarthy's idea, whereas the agent seems to be angling for another move. Wigan has been perfect for McCarthy, a small enough sized club where he can break through under a manager who likes to play football the right way with limited pressure.
It's a shame to hear all this transfer talk about him now, there's no rush to get a big move to someone and rotting in the reserves for a few seasons.

[elroy]

Probably a load of nationalities he hasn't signed players from, has he ever signed a Scottish player? Or from Northern Ireland?

The two examples I was giving are top premiership players who were available and wouldve improved the Arsenal team at a relatively low cost. I cant recall any recent Scottish or NI players who were available in recent times that you could say operate at the same level as the two in question. In any case my comment was obviously somewhat tongue in cheek.


Or a Faroe Islander or Cypriot? Or American? or Iclander?
Or united federation of micronesian? Surely he mustn't only hate the irish!

Perhaps, how many of those nationalites operate at the same level as the two in question.......anyways tongue in cheek as i said. Hes french, im allowed dislike him and his transfer policies or lack thereof.

[Drumcondra 69er]

His agent seems to have very good contacts. For the last 3 years we've been hearing everything from Barcelona and Real being interested to Liverpool wanting him to eventually replace Gerrard.

I'd say Wigan was McCarthy's idea, whereas the agent seems to be angling for another move. Wigan has been perfect for McCarthy, a small enough sized club where he can break through under a manager who likes to play football the right way with limited pressure.
It's a shame to hear all this transfer talk about him now, there's no rush to get a big move to someone and rotting in the reserves for a few seasons.

Wigan was McCarthy's idea, he chose them over Wolves as his old youth coach from Hamilton is on the backroom staff at Wigan. Mick McCarthy was very interested in signing him.

[irishfan86]

Not saying he has a vendetta but in the recent past two players, notably Given and Dunne who are def good enough to play for them and arguably Arsenal needed (and still need imo) were not ignored by Wenger.

Wenger likes every player, including his centre-halfs, to play football. Dunne is not simply a backs to the wall defender, but he is limited in his distribution.

Shay Given is also quite poor at the distribution end of things. In terms of stopping the ball there are few better, but I think that the top teams really do take into consideration distribution as an asset. I think Arsenal's ideal goalkeeper would be Reina for example -- fantastic distribution from the back.

If I were Wenger I definitely would have signed Given if available, not so sure about Dunne though.

[Predator]

Wenger likes every player, including his centre-halfs, to play football.

That explains Senderos and the re-signing of Campbell then!

[seanfhear]

That explains Senderos and the re-signing of Campbell then!
Thats thrown a spanner in some theory or other allright (especially Senderos)

[geysir]

Anybody watch the game against Arsenal? How did our boy do in midfield?
I only saw the highlights, the build up for one of Wigan's goals where he got his pass through a swarm of defenders.

[boovidge]

He was playing a very defensive role. He made a very good tackle to stop a dangerous looking attack.

[kev mcq]

He was playing a very defensive role. He made a very good tackle to stop a dangerous looking attack.

That's about all he did.

[Closed Account]

That's about all he did.
Seen the highlights did you?

[kev mcq]

Seen the highlights did you?

Yes I did, and I also watched the match live...is that ok with you?

[Closed Account]

Yes I did, and I also watched the match live...is that ok with you?


That's about all he did.
Well then this comment is hugely unnecessary. Not only is it disparaging and negative, its hugely unproductive.
It'd be acceptable if you gave a summary of what he didn't do that was to your disappointment, but all you did was give a quick quip.

That's about all you did.

[kev mcq]

Well then this comment is hugely unnecessary. Not only is it disparaging and negative, its hugely unproductive.
It'd be acceptable if you gave a summary of what he didn't do that was to your disappointment, but all you did was give a quick quip.

That's about all you did.

Ok then, he gave the ball away almost every time he had it, and only seemed to find a team-mate when he passed it backwards. Did nothing going forward. Just because he's young and Irish doesn't mean everyone has to have a hard-on about him all the time FFS.

[tetsujin1979]

Ok then, he gave the ball away almost every time he had it, and only seemed to find a team-mate when he passed it backwards. Did nothing going forward. Just because he's young and Irish doesn't mean everyone has to have a hard-on about him all the time FFS.
That's just plain wrong
From the guardian's match chalkboard

http://sites.google.com/site/tetsujin1979/Home/jamesMcCarthyWiganArsenalPasses.JPG
looks like the majority of passes made in his own half were passed back or sideways, and in the opposition half his passes went forward

only two intercepted passes in his own half, both of which were going forward, i.e. playing positively

[Closed Account]

Ok then, he gave the ball away almost every time he had it, and only seemed to find a team-mate when he passed it backwards. Did nothing going forward. Just because he's young and Irish doesn't mean everyone has to have a hard-on about him all the time FFS.
Thats fair enough, at least now your articulating your opinions.
From my perspective McCarthy played to the managers directives. Watson was playing tip of the diamond and McCarthy was largely protecting the back four. I can only remember one particular pass that he played out to the left back who had cut inside and the ball ran out of play.

Its a sign of his progression that a 6 out 10 display against Arsenal is a sign of his demise to some people at the tender age of 19. Yapsteritis.....

[kev mcq]

Thats fair enough, at least now your articulating your opinions.
From my perspective McCarthy played to the managers directives. Watson was playing tip of the diamond and McCarthy was largely protecting the back four. I can only remember one particular pass that he played out to the left back who had cut inside and the ball ran out of play.

Its a sign of his progression that a 6 out 10 display against Arsenal is a sign of his demise to some people at the tender age of 19. Yapsteritis.....
I'm not trying to be controversial or trollish (yapsteritis), but in my opinion he didn't have a great game. I think he looks like a great prospect and looks comfortable playing in the Premier League, which is very encouraging, but he has a bit to go yet.

[elroy]

I watched about 75 mins of the game. I thought McCarthy did ok nothing exceptional but nothing major to fault either, gave the ball away a few times needlessly but seemed to be the only player in Wigans MF with the exception of N'Zogbia who was willing to try daring long range passes etc. One thing that particularly impressed me is his composure on the ball, not rushed at all which is arguably in contrast to Gibson at present. Considering the lad is only 19, he is progressing very well. Wigan is the perfect club for him in the sense that he is looked after by the manager and getting plenty of action to aid his development.

[Razors left peg]

He might not stand out as being brilliant in every game but the lad has had a very very solid start to his Premiership career, better than most 18/19 year olds I would think

[irishfan86]

He's not a superstar just yet, but he's very intelligent and strong for his age. He's actually very quick and looks to be a better athlete than I thought he was was.

Very glad he's playing with us any way, and I think we've got our first elite-level player here since Keane/Duff broke through a decade ago. In my view it's only a matter of time before a top level team comes in for him.

[tetsujin1979]

he was being monitored when he was in Scotland by some of the top teams across Europe, but none of them were willing to take a chance on him. Now that's he's proven himself at the very least an adequate Premiership player, I do expect interest in him to rise. Fair play to Martinez for sticking to his guns, and the interest he showed in McCarthy at Swansea, and getting in the player he wanted for his new team.

[Acornvilla]

he was being monitored when he was in Scotland by some of the top teams across Europe, but none of them were willing to take a chance on him. Now that's he's proven himself at the very least an adequate Premiership player, I do expect interest in him to rise. Fair play to Martinez for sticking to his guns, and the interest he showed in McCarthy at Swansea, and getting in the player he wanted for his new team.

no he wanted to stay in Hamilton for a while and not make the jump to a big club were he wouldn't get first team football. hes a smart boy or a at least he has a few good people taking care of him and didn't let him go anywhere when he wasn't ready or go for the money.

He then went to Wigan (when he or his family taught he was ready)because of the former Hamilton coach at Wigan aided by the fact he had a chance of playing regular premiership football

or am i totally mad :)

[tetsujin1979]

well, other than Swansea, did any other team put in an official bid for him? I know Liverpool took him on a trial, where he played in a training game, but it didn't result in a bid.
Wonder what his value is now?

[boovidge]

Wolves wanted to sign him didnt they?

[Charlie Darwin]

Yeah it was between Wolves and Wigan.

[Crosby87]

We got the Wigan game today on FSC here, had to laugh Jimmy Mac was on his heels, someone was about to run right by him so he basically tackled him and got a yellow.
It concerned me (and the announcers) a little about his pace to be honest and no one is a bigger buyer in him than me.
I predict he leads us to Euro 2012 with solid two way play. (If Trap Allows that.)

[MuckaTucka]

We got the Wigan game today on FSC here, had to laugh Jimmy Mac was on his heels, someone was about to run right by him so he basically tackled him and got a yellow.
It concerned me (and the announcers) a little about his pace to be honest and no one is a bigger buyer in him than me.
I predict he leads us to Euro 2012 with solid two way play. (If Trap Allows that.)

It was some shot he had from about 30 yards, that hit the post/crossbar.
The BBC Radio 5 commentators said they've been very impressed by him this year.
You could argue that that yellow card showed a bit of cuteness, rather than worry about his pace. The professionals foul, take the yellow card and stop the outnumbered counter attack.

[Razors left peg]

Wouldnt worry too much about pace as long as he is not ridiculously slow. In the list of Xavi, Fabregas,Scholes,Gerrard,Pirlo,Keane etc pace wouldnt be high on their list of main attributes.