James McCarthy M free agent b.1990

[Sullivinho]

N'Zogbia rolled the ball into McCarthy who flicked the ball over the defender with his right foot before volleying in with his left from eight yards. Lovely stuff.

http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Football/Pix/pictures/2008/06/19/rivaldo460.jpg


Was tackled hard about 5 minutes ago and looked in a lot of pain. He's just come off....hope it's not serious but will raise doubts for Tuesday...

He attracts a fair few of them.

[geysir]

He was replaced by his twin.
I'd hope that was Martinez being cautious for James' sake.

[irishultra]

this guy is gonna be proper world class(i.e not robbie keane 'world class' ;) )

[Charlie Darwin]

Even if he is injured, if he's not in the team on Tuesday TRAP OUT.

[tricky_colour]

Garth Crooks just describe it as one of the best goals of the day on the BBC.

[Drumcondra 69er]

Was tackled hard about 5 minutes ago and looked in a lot of pain. He's just come off....hope it's not serious but will raise doubts for Tuesday...

He'll be pulled out, clubs looks for any excuse when it comes to friendlies.

Will be gutted if he is.

[SkStu]

N'Zogbia rolled the ball into McCarthy who flicked the ball over the defender with his right foot before volleying in with his left from eight yards. Lovely stuff.


http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Football/Pix/pictures/2008/06/19/rivaldo460.jpg

http://img.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2008/01_05/EngScotGazza_468x319.jpg

[tricky_colour]

second goal here, quality of stream rather poor though.
http://www.soccernirvana.com/epl/wigan-v-blackburn-2nd-half-highlights-video_60508e4a2.html

[tetsujin1979]

here too: http://www.101greatgoals.com/videodisplay/wigan-blackburn-second-half-goals-8410970/
reminds me a little of Bergkamp VS Leicester and the similar goal VS Argentina

[seanfhear]

second goal here, quality of stream rather poor though.
http://www.soccernirvana.com/epl/wigan-v-blackburn-2nd-half-highlights-video_60508e4a2.html
The goalkeeper just had no idea what was happening there.

Excellent goal from James.

[Noelys Guitar]

How many players in the Premiership can score or even attempt a goal like that. Great goal. Definetely a touch of the Bergkamp/Frank Worthington about it.

[Drumcondra 69er]

Brilliant goal, hope he's available for Tuesday.....

[tricky_colour]

first goal here.
http://www.soccernirvana.com/browse-Barclays-Premier-League-videos-1-date.html
not to difficult but nicely taken.

Second goal,
http://www.soccernirvana.com/epl/wigan-v-blackburn-2nd-half-highlights-video_60508e4a2.html
Maybe the same as already posted here.

[theworm2345]

I don't know why, but this whole incident reminds me of this kid...he's been waiting too long, gets injured right before the thing he's been waiting for, but rebounds (as hopefully McCarthy will do Tuesday)...I think the kid even looks like him a bit and has the same name.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RDEboZ7qtIA

Maybe I'm just crazy.

[irishultra]

bit of an overreaction with the goal guys it was good but i had visions of him flicking it over the blackburn defenders head before pinging it into the net....nice goal but not exactly goal of the month stuff

[paul_oshea]

He loves sliding around in the mud our James.that was decent skill (not lucky but sometimes that won't come off especially dryer conditions)but i thought the instinct to get it into the corner was better.

[Sullivinho]

He's shown a few deft touches in games lately. I didn't realise he was so skillful. Does a lot of defensive running too. It'l be a sickener if he doesn't make tuesday.

[Charlie Darwin]

The only other player I've seen do something like that recently is Elmander, who's got brilliant technique for a big lump of a man.

[irishultra]

i heard he signed 4 chelsea and will join them in summer

[geysir]

Possibly the 6 blackburn defenders got stuck in the muck but the beauty of the goal was that James made it look so simple.

[Eirambler]

McCarthy has pulled out of the squad due to 'tiredness' (not injury). Not exactly a display of commitment to the team or anything...and unlikely to please Trap either.

[Colbert Report]

I think SkStu said this when the squad was first announced. There's more to this story than meets the eye.

[musicinmouth]

Really disappointing. If it's true that the reason is "tiredness", that seems very strange.

Keane out too.

[Paddy Garcia]

Gerard injured, but turning up for England anyway.

Then again McCarthy call up an afterthought and ignored previously.

[tetsujin1979]

Gerard injured, but turning up for England anyway.

Then again McCarthy call up an afterthought and ignored previously.
Gerrard's out of the England game: http://www.football365.com/story/0,17033,8652_6733886,00.html

[Paddy Garcia]

Yes, thats the point I was making. He still intends to join the squad.

Sorry - was unclear.

[geysir]

Gerrard is not joining up with the squad per se. Reports say he is mandated to turn up in order for his injury to be assessed.

[AlaskaFox]

From the horse's (Trap's) mouth:
“McCarthy was someone I spoke of who could play two positions, in midfield or behind the striker. Sure, I am disappointed that he is not with us but the Wigan physio says it is better that he stays at home after coming back from an injury.”
http://greenscene.me/2011/02/keane-mccarthy-lawrence-and-best-out-of-ireland-squad/

[dr_peepee]

What in the name of jayzus is going in here?? Strange... Is he waiting til after the Carling Cup thing before throwing his lot in with Scotland?? Is he sayin in so many words that he doesn't want to be involved whilst Trap is in charge... The "tiredness" thing is a definitive jab at someone if you ask me. I'd say there's less subtle ways to remove yourself from squads...

Edit: The Green Scene article said he was pulled and the McCarthy was gutted so maybe I'm over reacting..

[Paddy Garcia]

Thanks for the link - also that McCarthy is gutted (sorry to miss out on the squad as opposed to a description of his injury).

Funny seeing an Irish player in a West Ham shirt on that link - I keep thinking it must be Villa!

[boovidge]

take it from me, he took a knock to his ankle yday, the same ankle he had major surgery on 3 months ago. 100% committed to us

ok so that's made me a bit less worried. still disappointed though, a potential McCarthy appearence was one of the reasons I was looking forward to the game.

[Sullivinho]

McCarthy has pulled out of the squad due to 'tiredness' (not injury). Not exactly a display of commitment to the team or anything...and unlikely to please Trap either.

Disappointing. I can see this Celtic Cup thing being pull out mania. Keane's absence might provide further opportunity for Long though. No bad thing. Coleman possibly in the frame too.

[Stuttgart88]

Green Scene is quality. RTE take note.

[Sullivinho]

Green Scene is quality. RTE take note.

Absolutely. They did a big feature on McCarthy a week or so back, compiling quotes and whatnot. Very good.

[Charlie Darwin]

Sometimes I wonder why clubs don't just invent injuries instead of pulling players out due to fatigue, or why the FAI doesn't just say he took a heavy knock or something. I think it's fairly clear that he is just recovering from a bad injury and that it would be irresponsible to bring him over but to the average person it probably just sounds like bull****.

[paul_oshea]

The problem with Mccarthy not coming over is that we know Trap wont put him in in march. Or possibly june.

[DeNiro]

Ok, he's pulled out. But even if he played he still wouldn't be tied to us. Macedonia is the key game to get this guy capped, even if it's just for a minute at the end. Scotland were a bit to close for comfort in Dublin this week as well!

[paul_oshea]

Ya but will that happen.don't think so.

Only in American sports could a big fattie be considered an athlete.

[geysir]

I wouldn't argue that point with The Diesel, nr 99 for The Steelers.

[elroy]

Gutted that he has pulled out, particularly after his recent displays for Wigan.

According to todays times, Noel King met with James last week to reaffirm Traps plans for him in the Irish set up

[paul_oshea]

And what plans are they?

Ya geysir i wouldn't like him to catch me.but im confident enough looking at him and the belly hanging out tjats he wouldn't catch me - at least without a break after a 10 sec rush and a timeout.

[elroy]

The exact piece from the article is

"His brief time with the senior squad has been marked with withdrawals and exclusions, though he is believed to have had a meeting in north west England during the week with Noel King and that may have helped reassure the player that he is part of Trappatoni's plans."

[Crosby87]

Hard not to see Trap's side in this.
At some point he has to play.
What is up with this?

[tricky_colour]

Pretty sensible with him coming back from injury.
We don't want him picking up a major injury and never being the same player again, as happens to Irish player far too often!
It is pretty disappointing nonetheless.

[AlaskaFox]

Pretty sensible with him coming back from injury.
We don't want him picking up a major injury and never being the same player again, as happens to Irish player far too often!
It is pretty disappointing nonetheless.

David Meyler's recent comeback is a fantastic example of this. We don't want to injure our best prospect in a nothing game with Wales.

[Junior]

How many players in the Premiership can score or even attempt a goal like that. Great goal. Definetely a touch of the Bergkamp/Frank Worthington about it.

There are plenty and too many to bother listing. A lovely goal, well taken and Im delighted for McCarthy and for us having him to represent us at some point in the (hopefully very) near future. However, lets not go overboard with the praise, akin to redtop headlines.

[Duggie]

great touch of skill for his 2nd goal, so frustrating, we all want to see this guy get some game time in the green!! trap seemed a little annoyed when speaking about it last night, maybe almost saying when we call him again he should be there. by the way those awards were a disaster, about as awkward as tv could get those interviews.

[AlaskaFox]

Idiots at ybig still talking about how he's tired, not injured. Do they not read anything other than Aertel?

Saw this in yesterday's Observer, where fans and club bloggers give their opinions on the games.


It was a bit nervy towards the end, especially after what had happened against West Brom during the week. I think given the conditions that Mike Dean was a bit too lenient – James McCarthy got a bad knock and he's just come back from a serious operation. We are grateful for McCarthy's return, he is a key player for us in the middle of the park linking defence and midfield. Without him we tend to look a bit disjointed. We've got some tough fixtures against Manchester United and Manchester City coming up but after that we are playing some teams around us and they are the matches that matter most.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011/feb/05/wigan-athletic-blackburn-rovers-premier-league

[tricky_colour]

There are plenty and too many to bother listing. A lovely goal, well taken and Im delighted for McCarthy and for us having him to represent us at some point in the (hopefully very) near future. However, lets not go overboard with the praise, akin to redtop headlines.

We don't see too many goals like that though, if Berbatov had done it everyone would be raving about it.
It was created out of nothing really, as the commentator says on this clip "you didn't expect that"
http://soccertvlive.blogspot.com/2011/02/video-wigan-4-3-blackburn-highlights.html
Really looking forward to him doing something similar for Ireland!

[Charlie Darwin]

Ken Early on Twitter:

trap asked whether mccarthy might become scottish again. "i don't think so, he like us, i like him, i show him my estimation. he grow."

shay given: "when i was very young i was very excited to be in the squad. maybe young players' mentality has changed."

shay given on mccarthy: "we'd welcome him with open arms. he'll be a big player for us. possibly he's doing lots of rehabilitation work."

trap asked if now is the time to see mccarthy face to face. "i went to meet one player before. it was ... disaster. you remember his name?"

trap: "in life, there is only three situation. birth. life. death. e tax. that is true."

Daniel McDonnell:

Trap press conference dominated by James McCarthy chat. Effectively shifting responsibility from club to player. Not good.