James McCarthy M free agent b.1990 [Archive] - Page 41

Drumcondra 69er

10/02/2011, 12:32 PM

Very worrying. OR will some on here say his own manager is out of touch, nothing to worry about. Get over it. Dose of cop on. etc

http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/martinez-mccarthy-must-not-rush-international-decision-2534815.html

Martinez:(paraphrasing) James said he needs to focus on his club career and forget about international for now.

That doesn't say he has changed his mind, for the little hope of the naysayers out there but its still a strange thing to come out and say given whats going on. What i dont understand, because it might be suggested, is why Martinez would have an agenda in this case.

Don't like the sound of that but it definitely seems that Scotland have been onto him again. Don't see how you could blame Trap for that if he's been told that the player's thinking of switching.....

Martinez said: "I do not know if it is a decision for him to make now or not. We need to give him plenty of time. We need to respect him.

"He wants to help Wigan. For me that is fantastic. It (international football) is something he needs to think about with his family, with his friends.

"It is something very, very deep. But I do not think he has focused on that at all, although it is great to have two nations fighting over you.

"James is probably the most mature 20-year-old in football. It is a compliment to him. I don't think it is going to affect him. It is going to give him a more arrogant feeling if you want."

Martinez insists he kept the Republic of Ireland fully informed about McCarthy, who was withdrawn after he scored twice in the 4-3 victory against Blackburn.

He said: "It wasn't the right time for him to go. He could not have coped with the physical demands. That's it really.

"I spoke with the Republic of Ireland staff to make sure they knew the programme James was on.

"When James got injured late in October he was so disappointed he just wanted to get back fully fit as quick as a he could. He told me then he needed to forget his international career and that was the conversation we had.

"If you look at his performance on Saturday, James McCarthy is going to be one of the top footballers in Europe. What a player to have for your country or club."

The Fly

10/02/2011, 12:36 PM

No other player has received such vile and hatred thrown towards him for declaring for us,...

I think Aiden McGeady would dispute that.

geysir

10/02/2011, 12:38 PM

"he likes Ireland, he likes Scotland, he must decide". What lines are there to read between? (poor grasp of English, and hopefully the whole situation, notwithstanding)

It might mean James is still undecided. My interpretation is that Trap expected James to turn up, was dissapointed he didn't turn up and wants him to turn up, in other words he has to decide to turn up - next time.
Sometimes you have to hear the question to get the context of the answer.

Trap also went on to say 'James, where is your home'?
But when you hear him speak it, he was so obviously parodying in an exaggerated manner, the extent and banality of the media hype.

shakermaker1982

10/02/2011, 12:39 PM

Fixer82

10/02/2011, 12:40 PM

The standard is, unless the manager gives permission to stay with your club, the player should be prepared to turn up, regardless of fitness to play.
Ray Houghton said as much last night and a young player should be chomping at the bit to turn up. Fahy was in and out and back in again, if he was aggrieved with this, he could manage to put it into some perspective, he turns up and makes his contribution.
Selecting James to play for the next game is an obvious conclusion to the lingering questions around him.
What fit committed player can refuse a call up to an important qualifier?

Houghton made a good point about Bellamy and Bale being out through injury but turning up anyway for the game. Being part of a squad should not just be a bout getting on the pitch. Him turning up for half a day even would have avoided all this grief

Wolfie

10/02/2011, 12:44 PM

"When James got injured late in October he was so disappointed he just wanted to get back fully fit as quick as a he could. He told me then he needed to forget his international career and that was the conversation we had.

My interpretation of that quote is that he's referring to McCarthy's mindset in how he dealt with the disappointment of injury and missing the international game specifically last October.

To pararphrase - McCarthy is disappointed about the injury and missing the game but he won't dwell on it.

The context of key reference "forget his international career" means he won't dwell on the international game he has just missed but will focus on getting fit and back playing.

You could then assume that his return to fitness and the first team would lead to international appearances in the future.

You'll note, the glass is half full for me today.

paul_oshea

10/02/2011, 12:45 PM

I don't like those quotes from Martinez. What does he achieve by saying something like that? Surely he wants to deflect attention away from his 20 year old and not have Irish and jock reporters pestering the kid for the next few weeks?

Ya shaker i could understand if it were England and martinez was aware of him moving on in the future and trying to increase his stock value. But this doesn't make any sense for him to have an agenda and that's why I read more into it. There is no reason why martinez would come out and say something like this knowing it just keeps the issue running and is a source of distraction for James when his only consideration should be ensuring wigan avoid relegation.

Stuttgart88

10/02/2011, 12:48 PM

Houghton made a good point about Bellamy and Bale being out through injury but turning up anyway for the game. Being part of a squad should not just be a bout getting on the pitch. Him turning up for half a day even would have avoided all this griefTrue, but Bale and Bellamy are mainstays of the Welsh squad, and senior members (despite Bale's age). Also, it's all about galvanising support for Speed in his first game, one of the old "lads". Good for them, but it's not exactly damning of any of the Irish players not available not to have done the same.

Damien Duff has done the same in the past.

Stuttgart88

10/02/2011, 12:51 PM

elroy

10/02/2011, 12:54 PM

True, but Bale and Bellamy are mainstays of the Welsh squad, and senior members (despite Bale's age). Also, it's all about galvanising support for Speed in his first game, one of the old "lads". Good for them, but it's not exactly damning of any of the Irish players not available not to have done the same.

Damien Duff has done the same in the past.

Good point and i agree, its not like James is well established squad member ala Duff, Keane, Given, JOSH etc.

On the martinez comments, i think if you added "for now" to the end of

"he needed to forget his international career", it would make much more sense and reads fine. Im fairly sure thats how it should be interpreted.

James, under pressure from the Scots, last time out came out and reiterated his desire to play for us and commitment to us. That was what 12 months ago. We have no reason to believe it should or has changed and the fact that Trap has said he will call him up to the next squad is good for me. Hes not for changing after 5 years in the Irish set up.

shakermaker1982

10/02/2011, 12:55 PM

SwanVsDalton

10/02/2011, 12:55 PM

Ya shaker i could understand if it were England and martinez was aware of him moving on in the future and trying to increase his stock value. But this doesn't make any sense fir him to have an agenda and that's why i read more into it.there is no reason why martinez would cone out and saying something like this knowing it just keeps the issue running and a source if distraction for James when his only consideration should be ensuring wigan avoid relegation.

Isn't that his motivation though? If he said no comment, he would've had to field the question over and over. Instead Martinez is insisting James is focusing on club duty and IF there's a decision to be made, it'll be made in due course. He's essentially washing his hands of the situation in hope it doesn't come up again, leaving him and McCarthy to focus on Wigan's relegation.

Martinez clearly couldn't give a fig about who McCarthy plays for and has no inside knowledge on the situation. Rightly, he just wants his player to focus on Wigan.

Stuttgart88

10/02/2011, 12:57 PM

If he stuck around after playing for Don Givens then he'll hardly leave now!

paul_oshea

10/02/2011, 1:14 PM

http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/more-scottish-football/talk-of-mccarthy-scotland-defection-news-to-mcarthur-1.1084344

Here's his team mate McCarthur's view on the rumours. He's in the dark.....slight positive?

So Mccarthur is able come out and say something yet he isn't.

“But you never know, things happen behind the scenes that you don’t know about. I have spoken to him about it many times but I can’t really comment on it, it is James’ decision. You would need so speak to him."

He could just come out and say "James is not for changing, he has pledged his future to ireland in the past and that remains the same" unless of course there is some truth to it.

paul_oshea

10/02/2011, 1:15 PM

Isn't that his motivation though? If he said no comment, he would've had to field the question over and over. Instead Martinez is insisting James is focusing on club duty and IF there's a decision to be made, it'll be made in due course. He's essentially washing his hands of the situation in hope it doesn't come up again, leaving him and McCarthy to focus on Wigan's relegation.

Martinez clearly couldn't give a fig about who McCarthy plays for and has no inside knowledge on the situation. Rightly, he just wants his player to focus on Wigan.

No he isn't he could say completely, James has not changed his mind, as far as I'm aware. He is leaving it completely open, and knowing hte fuss it has caused it will drag on for sometime. This is not washing his hands of it.

SwanVsDalton

10/02/2011, 1:25 PM

He could just come out and say "James is not for changing, he has pledged his future to ireland in the past and that remains the same" unless of course there is some truth to it.

But why would he say that? He obviously would like McCarthy to play for Scotland, regardless of the truth. He's never going to say anything affirmative about Ireland. The fact he didn't say something like: "Well I've spoken to James and he seemed receptive to coming over..." or "James hasn't ruled it out" is far more indicative, and positive, for me.

No he isn't he could say completely, James has not changed his mind, as far as I'm aware. He is leaving it completely open, and knowing hte fuss it has caused it will drag on for sometime. This is not washing his hands of it.

Again why would he say that? It's pretty clear Martinez doesn't have the first clue about McCarthy's international feelings, and would probably rather have it that way since Wigan have more important things to worry about. He merely pointed out club football is coming first and James will make up his mind if he needed to. As much as we'd all like Martinez to say something like you described, it doesn't mean he should or even that he could. Martinez very obviously doesn't owe us or Scotland any kind of explanation.

And in terms of washing hands, wouldn't indicating he had some kind of inside track on McCarthy's feelings ie "he hasn't changed his mind afaik" going to make the media ask him even more questions? For me it was a self-preserving, club-before-country answer and I can't blame him for giving it.

Stuttgart88

10/02/2011, 1:25 PM

So Mccarthur is able come out and say something yet he isn't.

“But you never know, things happen behind the scenes that you don’t know about. I have spoken to him about it many times but I can’t really comment on it, it is James’ decision. You would need so speak to him."
Is that not his post-match SKY TV quote just regurgitated?

Even if it isn't, it's more understandable that a guy actively on international duty should be more available to comment than a guy in Wigan.

I'm not saying you're wrong in any of this Paul, just that there's nothing substantial that says that McC is changing. You can cite the absence of anything positive as proof, but I'm sure Aristotle would have had ideas on the logic of that.

Maroon 7

10/02/2011, 1:26 PM

I don't like those quotes from Martinez. What does he achieve by saying something like that? Surely he wants to deflect attention away from his 20 year old and not have Irish and jock reporters pestering the kid for the next few weeks?

Seems to me like Martinez wants to have McCarthy all to himself (at least until the end of this season considering they are in a relegation battle) and is delaying the inevitable for as long as possible by pulling him out of squads and the like. Of course the more this happens the more talk goes around that McCarthy is considering switching sides.

Actually all Martinez has done is heap more pressure on McCarthy as both Irish and Scottish journalists will now be hunting the boy for the next few months trying to get to the bottom of the story.

SwanVsDalton

10/02/2011, 1:38 PM

Actually all Martinez has done is heap more pressure on McCarthy as both Irish and Scottish journalists will now be hunting the boy for the next few months trying to get to the bottom of the story.

I don't think there's an answer he could give that wouldn't have done that. Focusing an answer on club commitments was probably the best he could do for Wigan.

Besides all James has to do is issue a short, swift statement and it all goes away...

paul_oshea

10/02/2011, 1:41 PM

Actually all Martinez has done is heap more pressure on McCarthy as both Irish and Scottish journalists will now be hunting the boy for the next few months trying to get to the bottom of the story.

Exactly and he doesn't come across as a thick, he appears quite astute, so why wouldn't he just leave it, or say nothing has changed as James has not changed on the issue. Instead of throwing highly flammable liquid on the fire.

There is no way a modern day manager with have a gumption does not know about his squad SvD

Stutts, i didnt say he is for changing, i just said all along there was more to this than was thought by some.

Maroon 7

10/02/2011, 1:50 PM

I don't think there's an answer he could give that wouldn't have done that. Focusing an answer on club commitments was probably the best he could do for Wigan.

Besides all James has to do is issue a short, swift statement and it all goes away...

True but he might not even be aware that this is suddenly becoming a story. Footballers can be remarkable unaware of what's going on around them especially as he's living in England rather than Scotland or Ireland.

If he doesn't know he certainly will soon enough as journalists will be trying to contact him 24 hours a day to get the story.

Either way we'll probably know for sure in a month when the squad for Macedonia is announced.

SwanVsDalton

10/02/2011, 1:50 PM

There is no way a modern day manager with have a gumption does not know about his squad SvD

He likely has an inkling, but still why would he say anything else? What would he say?

"James is switching to Scotland." Media explosion. "He's staying with Ireland." Media explosion. Either way the same, and he comes across as a manager who is getting involved where he doesn't belong.

He says it's James' decision. He says it's club football for now. It's utter wishful thinking to believe he should come out (possibly wearing a leprechaun hat) and say: "James McCarthy is 100% for Ireland."

Martinez isn't the one fanning the flames here - it's media stirring and resultant hysteria.

Stuttgart88

10/02/2011, 2:00 PM

SKY Sports News text service quotes Martinez, as the Indo does, saying that he was withdrawn because of injury but they omit any reference to switching. It's not like SSN to miss out on a bit of gossip or speculation, especially when they own the rights to show this tournament.

paul_oshea

10/02/2011, 2:02 PM

stutts you have a great life altogether.

Stuttgart88

10/02/2011, 2:03 PM

You don't know the half of it.

Charlie Darwin

10/02/2011, 2:03 PM

I don't think there's an answer he could give that wouldn't have done that. Focusing an answer on club commitments was probably the best he could do for Wigan.

Besides all James has to do is issue a short, swift statement and it all goes away...
He's made his position clear countless times. Perhaps this accounts for his tiredness?

paul_oshea

10/02/2011, 2:05 PM

He's made his position clear countless times. Perhaps this accounts for his tiredness?

He wasn't tired though, injured, RSI.

SwanVsDalton

10/02/2011, 2:36 PM

He's made his position clear countless times. Perhaps this accounts for his tiredness?

Oh yeah I totally agree. Personally I don't think James has to say anything since he's already said it approximately 20,000 times.

geysir

10/02/2011, 2:47 PM

But the nation needs a Tommie Gorman style interview with James.

Sullivinho

10/02/2011, 3:00 PM

http://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/soccer/mccarthy-for-macedonia-as-trapattoni-clarifies-position-144822.html

Positive stuff from the Examiner. Direct quote from Trap saying McCarthy will be called upon for the Macedonia squad.

CraftyToePoke

10/02/2011, 3:07 PM

The latest on Tartam Army Forum here http://taboard.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=125814&st=90 , a fair bit of softening toward the idea in the last day on there but nothing definite either, no one ITK as far as I can tell either, they are just reading between the crumbs of the Martinez, Levein and McArthur interviews.

I would like to think this is just McCarthy letting it all pile up on Trap, making him cap him. and If it is the case, Trap has it all coming, as he has been an idiot in this. But I think McCarthy has definitely asked for time here.

All we had to do was make him feel wanted, should have been pretty simple.

Drumcondra 69er

10/02/2011, 3:11 PM

Hyland stirring it for the 3rd day in a row in tonights Herald, what an utter dick.

SkStu

10/02/2011, 3:15 PM

whats he saying TC?

geysir

10/02/2011, 3:20 PM

Hyland sounds a lot like Noely on a bad day, when his paranoia is up.

paul_oshea

10/02/2011, 3:24 PM

Noely is a great contributor here, he has been in the states though that might be why:). Hyland being here is (in) the thick of it!

paul_oshea

10/02/2011, 3:25 PM

Stuttgart88

10/02/2011, 3:26 PM

yeah, what's he saying?

Is there some sort of competition among Irish hacks to see who can undermine the team's chances the most? The Tom Humphreys Trophy or something.

Charlie Darwin

10/02/2011, 3:28 PM

Ken Early's getting involved now too, although he actually makes reasonable considered points instead of tabloidy jabs.

http://www.joe.ie/football/football-opinion/ken-early-traps-antics-could-cost-us-james-mccarthy-009508-1

ifk101

10/02/2011, 3:29 PM

Player attacks hurting Ireland (Paul Hyland)

http://www.herald.ie/sport/soccer/player-attacks-hurting-ireland-2534045.html

paul_oshea

10/02/2011, 3:29 PM

I wonder if James has been getting doses of caledonia (not the dolores keane version - the dougie version) playing in his ear and a james joyce fondness now that he is miles away.

shakermaker1982

10/02/2011, 3:30 PM

http://www.herald.ie/sport/soccer/player-attacks-hurting-ireland-2534045.html

****

I don't want O'Hara neither. If you want to play for England then fair enough. What I don't want is ***** waiting and waiting until it's obvious Capello will never cap you and then you deem us worthy -nice reserve option.

ShamrockIreland

10/02/2011, 3:32 PM

No they didn't. They ran around him like he wasn't there. :-)

Kingdom they ran through him, around him and over him from what I remember. I think he touched a ball that was so poor it found a Russian who jumped over his tackle. :)

Sullivinho

10/02/2011, 3:35 PM

That link was pages back, get with the programme ffs.

I'll be sure to do that when I've gotten with everything else on a busy day. Sir yes Sir!

CraftyToePoke

10/02/2011, 3:40 PM

I'll be sure to do that when I've gotten with everything else on a busy day. Sir yes Sir!

Less of your lip sonny boy, this is a very serious matter and you are being very inappropriate.

geysir

10/02/2011, 3:41 PM

What could be more important than this?

Sullivinho

10/02/2011, 3:48 PM

Less of your lip sonny boy, this is a very serious matter and you are being very inappropriate.

Apologies, my Cork is showing ;)

What could be more important than this?

I agree. Sure I've been in Castlemilk all day gauging opinion!

SkStu

10/02/2011, 3:49 PM

Kingdom they ran through him, around him and over him from what I remember. I think he touched a ball that was so poor it found a Russian who jumped over his tackle. :)

and i know for a fact that, off camera, Arshavin ran between his legs.

Predator

10/02/2011, 3:53 PM

CraftyToePoke

10/02/2011, 3:58 PM

I don't want O'Hara neither. If you want to play for England then fair enough. What I don't want is ***** waiting and waiting until it's obvious Capello will never cap you and then you deem us worthy -nice reserve option.

The answer is easy with O'Hara, if he ever ends up in green, which I dont think he will, just boo his every touch until he goes away again,not pretty but necessary maybe, let fan power shut this 'Ireland as a second option' down for these guys once and for all. Send a message. They are in a bubble, a bubble we can pop.

Another press day looks like drawing to a close without clarity from the McCarthy camp. Thats the worrying bit.

ShamrockIreland

10/02/2011, 4:07 PM

Let's hope McCarthy gets capped next month and we can all let this die down. If he chooses Scotland (which I doubt) imagine the stuff he'll have to go through again. To me it seems unlikely he will switch but it's not impossible. As for O'Hara not him again he is English and has never wanted to play for us.He would only represent us because he has no future with England. I don't want him anywhere near the Irish squad. He was interviewed about the Irish squad last year and didn't seem very positive about us.