James McCarthy M free agent b.1990

[tetsujin1979]

Billy Reid says there is no official contact from Palermo, and he'd like to see McCarthy stay in the SPL - http://www.football365.com/story/0,17033,8652_3681098,00.html

[tommy_c12000]

Sincerely doubt if he'll go to Italy. Would much prefer him to go to Spain but ultimately I think he'll stay with Hamilton for the coming season

[irishultra]

I'm going to say that won't happen, but because of its randomness you never know.

[SilkCut]

:eek: If that's the case I'd hate to see what our record would be like if he didn't take them seriously.

Sorry mate, phrased badly. I mean he sticks with players who are 20/21 doesnt use the talented younger players quickly enough.

[macdermesser]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/h/hamilton_academical/7458053.stm

interview with him on the bbc site. comes across as a down to earth and confident lad

[paul_oshea]

i thought the interviewer was getting a bit flirtatious at the end there asking him about "concrete beds".....:D

[musicinmouth]

Article (http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/sport/display.var.2409465.0.scottish_bid_for_accies_star let.php)on Scotland trying to persuade him to play for them...

http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/sport/display.var.2409465.0.scottish_bid_for_accies_star let.php

I hope they call him up to the senior squad soooon...

[eirebhoy]

It's only a friendly tournament against poor opposition but Duff's hattrick against the same quality of opposition made the papers so I think it's valid. :)


The Final of the Centenary Tournament was a well-contested match between Sunderland and Hamilton Academical.

And it was the Scottish side who looked the stronger in the first forty-five minutes.

Inspired by the lively James McCarthy - later to be named Player of the Tournament - the Accies were busy in possession and made the young Sunderland outfit work very hard.

http://www.hartlepoolunited.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10326~1351720,00.html

Can't wait to follow him in the SPL.

[irishultra]

Call him up for the u-21's at least god damn it.

[musicinmouth]

I know that he's always spoken about how he wants to play for us, but with Scotland trying to get him to change allegiances, I think we need to do something.

I think if we lost James McCarthy to Scotland, it would be the worst thing to happen to Irish football in ages. I really hope that someone sees sense and ties him down to Ireland very quickly... I think he deserves a chance in the senior squad, he's clearly good enough and strong enough to play at senior level.

[irishultra]

Give him a chance against Norway, but also give Dave Mooney and Kieth Fahy a chance as well.

I don't know but I thought Gartland was amazing against Dynamo Kyiv. I don't watch much Drogheda matches in full(highlists MNS and when it was on TV3), but perhaps he's too mistake prone to even be given a shot.

[newbie]

Give him a chance against Norway, but also give Dave Mooney and Kieth Fahy a chance as well.

I don't know but I thought Gartland was amazing against Dynamo Kyiv. I don't watch much Drogheda matches in full(highlists MNS and when it was on TV3), but perhaps he's too mistake prone to even be given a shot.

Mooney a chance yes as he is scoring every week. Fahey?? no chance! why?
Gartland again....no chance!

[Razors left peg]

Mooney a chance yes as he is scoring every week. Fahey?? no chance! why?
Gartland again....no chance!

Its not so much that Mooney is scoring every week that I think he could be an option for us( although that obviously helps) its more that he is a big lad with decent feet and could give us something we dont have at the moment

[drinkfeckarse]

McCarthy's been on fire pre-season. Hopefully he can kick on now and improve his game even further. Looking forward to seeing more of him this season.

[bwagner]

I just wanna say that it sickens me these guys will not respect a grandson's acceptance of his Grandfather's dying wish....Typical Scots

[Wheels]

McCarthy has been named in the U21 squad:

Republic of Ireland under-21 squad (v Austria, 19/8/2008):

Goalkeepers: Stephen Henderson (Bristol City), Shane Redmond (Nottingham Forest).

Defenders: Seamus Coleman (Sligo Rovers), Simon Madden (Shamrock Rovers), Eddie Nolan (Blackburn Rovers), Darren Dennehy (Cardiff City), Shane Lowry (Aston Villa), Ian Bermingham (UCD).

Midfielders: Jimmy Ryan (Accrington Stanley), Owen Garvan (Ipswich Town), Josh O’Keefe (Blackburn Rovers), James McCarthy (Hamilton Academical), James Berrett (Huddersfield Town), Michael Spillane (Norwich City).

Forwards: Sean Scannell (Crystal Palace), Cillian Sheridan (Celtic), Keith Treacy (Blackburn Rovers), Alan Judge (Blackburn Rovers).

[Razors left peg]

McCarthy has been named in the U21 squad:

Republic of Ireland under-21 squad (v Austria, 19/8/2008):

Goalkeepers: Stephen Henderson (Bristol City), Shane Redmond (Nottingham Forest).

Defenders: Seamus Coleman (Sligo Rovers), Simon Madden (Shamrock Rovers), Eddie Nolan (Blackburn Rovers), Darren Dennehy (Cardiff City), Shane Lowry (Aston Villa), Ian Bermingham (UCD).

Midfielders: Jimmy Ryan (Accrington Stanley), Owen Garvan (Ipswich Town), Josh O’Keefe (Blackburn Rovers), James McCarthy (Hamilton Academical), James Berrett (Huddersfield Town), Michael Spillane (Norwich City).

Forwards: Sean Scannell (Crystal Palace), Cillian Sheridan (Celtic), Keith Treacy (Blackburn Rovers), Alan Judge (Blackburn Rovers).

Brilliant... and not before time. Thats not a bad front 4 either

[eirebhoy]

Looks like he'll stick with the 4-5-1/4-3-3 judging by that squad.

[Razors left peg]

Looks like he'll stick with the 4-5-1/4-3-3 judging by that squad.
yeah Sheridan the only out and out striker. Has he been involved with the first team at all in pre season?

[eirebhoy]

yeah Sheridan the only out and out striker. Has he been involved with the first team at all in pre season?
He came on in the first 2 games but has been injured since. I think Strachan wanted him to play a big part in pre-season and treat him as one of the 4 first team strikers this season. He really rates him.

[Razors left peg]

He came on in the first 2 games but has been injured since. I think Strachan wanted him to play a big part in pre-season and treat him as one of the 4 first team strikers this season. He really rates him.

Hopefully,we could use a good target man

[musicinmouth]

Looking forward to seeing James McCarthy on tv against Dundee United tonight... Also, Roy O'Donovan will be playing for Dundee United...

[passinginterest]

I though McCarthy was very impressive. Serious box to box midfielder, nice touch, intelligent, the Hamilton midfield dominated for long spells against a highly rated Dundee United midfield. For someone so young he was well able for the physical battle, although he looked a bit tenderised as he walked off to a big ovation when substituted in the 90th minute.

[see's it]

I though McCarthy was very impressive. Serious box to box midfielder, nice touch, intelligent, the Hamilton midfield dominated for long spells against a highly rated Dundee United midfield. For someone so young he was well able for the physical battle, although he looked a bit tenderised as he walked off to a big ovation when substituted in the 90th minute.

Dundee are the most unphysical team in the league,it will be interesting to see how he gets on for the rest of the season

[co. down green]

Accies boss Billy Reid seemed happy enough with McCarthy's performance (http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/sport/display.var.2423221.0.reids_boys_ham_it_up_and_sav our_spl_peak.php).

"James was absolutely sensational," gushed a smiling Reid afterwards


No-one more epitomised their swashbuckling performance than 17-year-old James McCarthy who was a constant menace. Indeed, that three of United's four bookings came courtesy of fouls on the midfielder tells its own story.

McCarthy, in tandem with fellow midfielder James McArthur, ran the show in the middle of the park and his searing runs and clever timing as he sucked United players into silly fouls suggested a maturity beyond his years.

[shakermaker1982]

Do you think he'll make Trap's squad for the Norway game or is it too soon?

[musicinmouth]

I think it should be a top priority to get him playing in the senior team ASAP to tie him down to Ireland... He has been called up to the Under 21 squad... but I'm not convinced of Don Givens' man management skills... I think if you're good enough, then you're old enough... And he would definitely benefit from working with people like Brady and Trapattoni... So I really hope he gets called up.

[tetsujin1979]

If he impresses in the U-21 game, then maybe he should be called into the squad for the qualifiers, similar to how Scannell was called into the training squad for Portgual in May.

[boovidge]

Theres no harm in calling him up for the friendly match even if he doesnt get a game. He's playing at a decent enough level and is obviously a talent for the future so some senior squad experience would be a great benefit. We shouldnt throw him in just because he's still eligible for Scotland though.

[galwayhoop]

personally i'd rather see promising young players making up 4 or 6 places within the squad instead of journeymen and has-beens. it is a way of blooding them early and getting them used to whats involved.

[eirebhoy]

I basically ignored every other player on the pitch last night to watch McCarthy closely. I wrote this last night.

He got battered tbh. I'm not exaggerating when I say he was as closely watched as McGeady regularly is in the SPL. 2 players were booked for tackles on him and another player should definitely have been booked too for taking him out as he was running forward. Hamilton's first goal was from a freekick McCarthy won.

He didn't really see too much of the ball but the same goes for McArtur and Neil alongside him. He was the key to Hamilton's 3rd goal though. He had the ball and Utd had a player on his back pressurising him with another keeping an eye on him. Mensing was left in space because of that and McCarthy did really well to find him with a pass. That opened things up and the goal was scored after a couple more passes.

It was off the ball where he really impressed. He must have stopped about 10 Dundee Utd attacks through tackles, interceptions or just basic pressure. I can't remember him ever having to run at full pelt to track back and he was always in the right position at the right time. He knew exactly what shape the team needed to keep. If he was chasing a player back he'd stop at a certain point and signal for someone else to track him. He seems to have an excellent ability to read the game for someone so young.

Craig Levein watched 6 of Hamilton's pre-season games and clearly had McCarthy marked down as the man they need to watch.


That report says it was actually 3 bookings for fouls on him. I didn't know that.

[irishfan86]

I was really impressed with his performance, and I'm delighted he's playing with a side that want to keep the ball on the ground and play real football.

Hamilton's style sort of reminds me of Falkirk.

[Razors left peg]

I think we have a genuine superstar on our hands here. For someone so young to carry himself on the pitch with such authority is amazing. He wasnt outstanding last night but he does the simple things so well and his movement off the ball was excellent.Last night was the first time Ive seen him play like most people and the first thing that struck me was his physiqe,he didnt look like a skinny teenager playing amonst men(although his face looks about 12). It looks like he has everything in his game, he can pass, defend, get forward and look like a genuine goal threat.I would love to see him railroaded into the senior squad ASAP to pick up the experience of training with senior international players... on a day when we have seen 2 lads refuse to join up with the squad I think this lad is definately something to get excited about for the future

[Wheels]

I think what I like most was how unspectacular he was... With young "superstar" players you tend to wonder where they are for most of the game and then they do something spectacular... and you think, if he did that all the time he'd be a world-beater...

but with McCarthy, he seemed to just be a consistent, solid pro. Several crunching tackles went in on him and he just got up and shrugged them off... he worked hard through the whole game... didnt' try to win the match single-handedly... it was just a very mature performance.

Everything he says in interviews seems just as mature. A cool head both on and off the pitch. Exactly what is needed. We might have a Fabregas on our hands.

I look forward to seeing more games to find out if he is consistently consistent!

[Ireland4ever]

....and so the James McCarthy love-in continues!:D:D
Lads, being honest i havent seen any of McCarthy yet. Is he as good as yee make him out to be, my only concern is that if he is that good why has Trapp not called him into the senior squad yet? Hes eighteen this year, surely he's not too young?

[Wheels]

Well he's still only 17 right now... and has only played one game in the SPL. He looks to be the real deal, but we'll have to wait and see.

I think they're doing the right thing. A few games U17, a few U18, a few U19... now a few U21 then senior... don't put too much pressure on him :)

[Colbert Report]

Hamilton won again today, 1-0. So much for the thought that they'd be the Stoke City of the SPL this season. Our boy Jamie McCarthy was subbed off in second half injury time.

[Wexford Delboy]

Pity hes after pulling out of the u21 squad

[Razors left peg]

Pity hes after pulling out of the u21 squad

Anyone know why?

[musicinmouth]

Aw, that's terrible if he's pulled out of the U21 game.

There was a message from him on another forum (http://www.youboysingreen.ie/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=3150&KW=james+mccarthy):

"I'd just like to say a big thanks to all the Ireland fans who have been so supportive of me and the other lads coming through. It's great to have made the under-21s, I can't wait to play at that level for Ireland.

"I'm really looking forward to it. I'm very happy with the progress I've made so far for club and country. Hopefully Ireland fans will be seeing a lot more of me soon."

[boovidge]

someone post that up on the tartan army board :D

[boovidge]

The Independent on Sunday had the headline "McCarthy shines but Driver strike punishes accies" and described McCarthy as Hamilton's "prize asset".

Get him in the squad Trap!

[musicinmouth]

if he plays a competitive under-21 game for us this week, does that tie him down to us forever? or can he still change his mind?

[TheBoss]

He can change this mind up to his 21st Birthday.

[irishfan86]

if he plays a competitive under-21 game for us this week, does that tie him down to us forever? or can he still change his mind?

He will not be tied until one of two things happen:

1) He gets a senior cap.

2) He turns 21 after representing us at U-21 level.

Therefore, if he plays for us at U-21 level, he can still switch to Scotland, so long as he does it before he turns 21.

[boovidge]

do Scotland have to cap him before he's 21 or does he just have to "declare" for them?

[irishfan86]

do Scotland have to cap him before he's 21 or does he just have to "declare" for them?

As long as he notifies FIFA of his change of allegiance before he turns 21, he's switched.

[irishultra]

He's not going to change.

[musicinmouth]

I don't think he will either... but I don't have a lot of confidence in Don Givens to encourage or inspire him...

[boovidge]

He's not going to change.

Yeah i dont think so too. I just wanted clarification of the rules.