James McCarthy M free agent b.1990

[AlaskaFox]

Here's what he said in full after the match:
“I’m delighted to have come on, but just as important is the three points,” said the 20 year old. “Hopefully now we can kick on and end up top of the group. They got the goal back, but we still dug in, and it was a real team performance, everyone was magnificent. I was a bit nervous on the bench, but the boss gave me a shout. I was delighted to get on the pitch, get amongst it, and get some game time under my belt. It’s great to get a big cheer from the crowd, I thought the crowd were magnificent tonight. The boys made me feel really welcome all week, and in training. I just went on and tried to do what I do for my club. A few [family members] came over and will be happy, and there will be a few back home watching too. The most important thing was to get the 3 points, and we went and done it, and we’re all delighted in the changing room.”
From : http://greenscene.me/2011/03/ireland-2-1-macedonia-post-match-quotes/

I don't see anything wrong from that. Seems like a guy who was happy to be involved.

[Stuttgart88]

How do people feel about his pre-planned substitution purely for the reason of getting him stuck with Ireland? Doesn't it seem a bit dis-trusting of the player to need to do something like this? Surely if he's committed to Ireland he'll wait however long it takes for him to break into the first team and if the management doesn't believe he has the commitment to do that maybe he shouldn't be here in the first place.

One of his post-match comments got to me a little. He said when he got on the pitch he "tried to do what I do for Wigan". And adding in his strange position and getting wires crossed with other players at times it felt like he wasn't in tune with the team plan at all, which is understandable given the lack of time he's been involved but it isn't understandable why Trap is playing someone in a competitive game unfamiliar with the gameplan IMO.I thought it made sense to take Keane off and bring on an advanced midfielder. If the move was at least a touch cynical, the furore parts of our own media, the hidden enemy, made last month made the change justifiable.

[tetsujin1979]

Linked with Liverpool and Chelsea in this mornings papers. Chelsea wee mentioned in the January transfer window, but the Liverpool link is new. The price quoted is £8 million

[Eirambler]

Linked with Liverpool and Chelsea in this mornings papers. Chelsea wee mentioned in the January transfer window, but the Liverpool link is new. The price quoted is £8 million

I've never wanted to see a team relegated more than Wigan this season - McCarthy should get a great move for himself, Martinez will hopefully **** off somewhere and Sammon would benefit from a season in the Championship. I also have a particular personal dislike for Gary Caldwell. Its a win, win, win, win!

[Drumcondra 69er]

How do people feel about his pre-planned substitution purely for the reason of getting him stuck with Ireland? Doesn't it seem a bit dis-trusting of the player to need to do something like this? Surely if he's committed to Ireland he'll wait however long it takes for him to break into the first team and if the management doesn't believe he has the commitment to do that maybe he shouldn't be here in the first place.



Given how the media has run and run with the story I thought it made sence to play him. Plus the substitution was logical enough in terms of closing out the game. It may only have been 6 minutes but he looekd comfortable when he got on. I expect him to get a good amount of game time in teh next 3 games and think he'll be pushing for a spot v Macedonia in June. It's a myth that Trap doesn't introduce new player during a campaign, he will as long as he's seen them in friendlies beforehand. Lawrence, Andrews and St Ledger weren't in the team at the start of the last campaign for example yet were fixtures by the end of it.

[AlaskaFox]

Bad move to go to Chelsea, we need him to play week-in, week-out.

[BonnieShels]

How do people feel about his pre-planned substitution purely for the reason of getting him stuck with Ireland? Doesn't it seem a bit dis-trusting of the player to need to do something like this? Surely if he's committed to Ireland he'll wait however long it takes for him to break into the first team and if the management doesn't believe he has the commitment to do that maybe he shouldn't be here in the first place.

One of his post-match comments got to me a little. He said when he got on the pitch he "tried to do what I do for Wigan". And adding in his strange position and getting wires crossed with other players at times it felt like he wasn't in tune with the team plan at all, which is understandable given the lack of time he's been involved but it isn't understandable why Trap is playing someone in a competitive game unfamiliar with the gameplan IMO.


I didn't get that impression at all.

He was brought on to close out the game. Pretty straight forward I thought.
Bear in mind we were a little hamstrung by Doyle's early substitution so it was probably inevitable that he would have come on as late as he did in the circumstances.

[Drumcondra 69er]

Honourable mention to LFCSixty/Eighty by the way, really like that chant, a few of us were trying to get it going in the SS last night, hope it catches on! :)

[Sullivinho]

How do people feel about his pre-planned substitution purely for the reason of getting him stuck with Ireland? Doesn't it seem a bit dis-trusting of the player to need to do something like this? Surely if he's committed to Ireland he'll wait however long it takes for him to break into the first team and if the management doesn't believe he has the commitment to do that maybe he shouldn't be here in the first place.

McCarthy himself has on several occasions expressed a desire to put the issue to bed and get the monkey off his back. I reckon he's as pleased as anyone that he woke up this morning a confirmed Irish international.


Bad move to go to Chelsea, we need him to play week-in, week-out.

Absolutely. He needs first team football to keep tapping his potential and I can't see him walking into that Chelsea team. I wouldn't be surprised if Liverpool were looking at him as a long-term replacement for Gerrard.

[Fergie's Son]

He did quite well when he came including a cheeky shot on goal and a solid tackle. It is clear that he wants to be here. All of the naysayers (myself included) were wrong. Let's just relax and enjoy the fact we have a potentially top class player committed to playing for Ireland!

[kev mcq]

Was it just my imagination, or did I hear a couple of 'boo's from the crowd when McCarthy made his first few touches?
Or maybe you heard shooooooot :rolleyes:

[Predator]

I wouldn't be surprised if Liverpool were looking at him as a long-term replacement for Gerrard.According to the Liverpoo' fans I know, Jonjo Shelvey is just as good, if not better than McCarthy and is already being touted as the successor to Gerrard.

[elroy]

Biggest cheer of the night when he came on. Delighted that all the crap over the last few months (none of which arose from James's own comments) is now put to bed. Heres to a big future with us, hope we see more of him on Tues night.

[Razors left peg]

According to the Liverpoo' fans I know, Jonjo Shelvey is just as good, if not better than McCarthy and is already being touted as the successor to Gerrard.

Every single young player Liverpool have had in the reserves over the last few years is the second coming of pele, maradonna and beckenbauer all rolled into one according to any of my mates who are liverpool fans. So I'd take that with a pinch of salt :)

[SwanVsDalton]

In fairness Shelvey has been highly touted since his Charlton days. Remains to be seen if he'll make it though.

[liamoo11]

In fairness Shelvey has been highly touted since his Charlton days. Remains to be seen if he'll make it though.

Thats great Shelvey qualifies for us I believe maybe he can join young james in midfield for us and the pool

[Charlie Darwin]

Shelvey turned down an invitation from Ireland a year or two ago and claims he was offered a full cap so it doesn't look like he has any interest in playing for us.

[TrapAPony]

Shelvey turned down an invitation from Ireland a year or two ago and claims he was offered a full cap so it doesn't look like he has any interest in playing for us.

Not interested until we start qualifying for tournaments I'd imagine.

[Stuttgart88]

He looks a decent enough player but the word I got from my Charlton insiders was that he was a stand-out at youth level because he was just enormous. They reckoned he didn't have much improvement in him. That said, I saw him in a Europa Leage game and he looked to have a bit about him, including a great delivery.

[Sullivinho]

McGeady and Keane on James' competitive debut. (http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/Wigan-s-James-McCarthy-pleased-to-have-nailed-his-colours-to-Republic-of-Ireland-s-mast-article717662.html)

McGeady: "I was talking to him in the dressing room and he just said he was delighted that he came on and that's it put to bed now. He was getting phone calls from all sorts of people asking if he was going back to Scotland, but he said it was never in doubt and he was never going to do that. Now it's sorted."

Keane: "He's delighted more than anyone, to be honest with you, he's delighted just to get it out of the way. I was speaking to him before the game and he was desperate just to stop people talking about it. He's an Irish player now - there was never any question about it anyway because he always wanted to be. It was other people in the background slowing things up. But he is happy now because he was desperate to play for us."

[SkStu]

McGeady and Keane on James' competitive debut. (http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/Wigan-s-James-McCarthy-pleased-to-have-nailed-his-colours-to-Republic-of-Ireland-s-mast-article717662.html)

McGeady: "I was talking to him in the dressing room and he just said he was delighted that he came on and that's it put to bed now. He was getting phone calls from all sorts of people asking if he was going back to Scotland, but he said it was never in doubt and he was never going to do that. Now it's sorted."

Keane: "He's delighted more than anyone, to be honest with you, he's delighted just to get it out of the way. I was speaking to him before the game and he was desperate just to stop people talking about it. He's an Irish player now - there was never any question about it anyway because he always wanted to be. It was other people in the background slowing things up. But he is happy now because he was desperate to play for us."

No prizes for guessing which manager he is referring to there....

Trap.


joke, joke, relax, relax...

[dr_peepee]

Thought I heard it myself at the very start to be honest...

[OwlsFan]

Not a bit of it, the place erupted! A much as for Keane as anything else. Every touch was likewise cheered.

I was a bit embarrassed by the standing ovation for his appearance to be honest. As a young lad beside me said "Christ, you'd swear it was Lionel Messi coming on". It might be justified in 5 years time but he's just a young lad with some promise at the moment. I can understand the relief that he's now tied to us but I thought the reaction was ott. I was too busy biting my nails about the result to care too much who was coming on. Mind you he showed lots of maturity when he came on and did his best to keep possession unlike that ****-up against Italy at home in the last campaign.

Also where were the 25 thousand missing so-called fans? In the pub watching the game and spending money on drink rather than football? We used to fill Lansdowne for competitive games during the last recession. I know the tickets didn't cost as much then but it was relative.

A vital qualifier and the ground only about 3 fifths full.

[geysir]

Throughout the 70's, a ticket was about the price of 2 to 3 pints.

[Colbert Report]

I was a bit embarrassed by the standing ovation for his appearance to be honest. As a young lad beside me said "Christ, you'd swear it was Lionel Messi coming on". It might be justified in 5 years time but he's just a young lad with some promise at the moment. I can understand the relief that he's now tied to us but I thought the reaction was ott. I was too busy biting my nails about the result to care too much who was coming on. Mind you he showed lots of maturity when he came on and did his best to keep possession unlike that ****-up against Italy at home in the last campaign.

Also where were the 25 thousand missing so-called fans? In the pub watching the game and spending money on drink rather than football? We used to fill Lansdowne for competitive games during the last recession. I know the tickets didn't cost as much then but it was relative.

A vital qualifier and the ground only about 3 fifths full.

I was cheering him from the pub barstool. Think of all the stuff he's had to put up with, especially his last season with Hamilton and the abuse he took at every away ground. This kid never took the easy way out, which would have been to choose Scotland. That's why I cheered him.

[LFCSixty/Eighty]

Honourable mention to LFCSixty/Eighty by the way, really like that chant, a few of us were trying to get it going in the SS last night, hope it catches on! :)

Cheers Drumcondra 69er. Your too nice!! Chuffed to hear you like it. The more songs we can sing the better. I'm sure the players love when their name is being sung by the fans, makes them feel part of something. Saw Keane clapping the fans when they were singing his name during a break in play the other night so they def hear us!!

[LFCSixty/Eighty]

I was cheering him from the pub barstool. Think of all the stuff he's had to put up with, especially his last season with Hamilton and the abuse he took at every away ground. This kid never took the easy way out, which would have been to choose Scotland. That's why I cheered him.

Absolutely Colbert. the abuse he took was unmerciful and I think the fans were showing their appreciation towards him for sticking with us. There is surely nothing wrong with this.

[TiocfaidhArmani]

I was cheering him from the pub barstool. Think of all the stuff he's had to put up with, especially his last season with Hamilton and the abuse he took at every away ground. This kid never took the easy way out, which would have been to choose Scotland. That's why I cheered him.

Exactly. There was a video kicking about of him on the coach after a game against St Mirren and the racist abuse he was getting was vile. The guy has taken some abuse and stood through it all to play for Ireland. His family are all very much Irish as well, I can tell you they were proud as punch Saturday.

He's been getting it since he was 15 years old as well as he's been involved in the first team. Just shows the pride some have in being Irish despite not born there. God bless ya, James!

[TiocfaidhArmani]

He did quite well when he came including a cheeky shot on goal and a solid tackle. It is clear that he wants to be here. All of the naysayers (myself included) were wrong. Let's just relax and enjoy the fact we have a potentially top class player committed to playing for Ireland!

It was never in doubt for me, I know some of his family and they all consider themselves Irish. Never underestimate the pride those of Irish descent in the west of Scotland have in their Irishness. I lived in Glasgow for seven years, believe me some are hard about it. He comes from a traditional Scottish/Irish family.

McGeady is the same. The SFA even had him in Hampden with the national manager at the time, Berti Vogts, begging him to play for Scotland and he never turned.

[paul_oshea]

Ya could people see how delighted mcgeady was saturday? He seemed genuinely chuffed.

[Docboy]

As others have said above the cheer was just to let him know that he's part of the family. All of that abuse is now in the past and he can get on with his Ireland career. And let's be honest a quality CM is exactly what we've been crying out for and this lad may just cut the mustard.

[TrapAPony]

I'm sure the players love when their name is being sung by the fans, makes them feel part of something.

Don't ever sing about Keogh or Green so. :)

[Drumcondra 69er]

Cheers Drumcondra 69er. Your too nice!! Chuffed to hear you like it. The more songs we can sing the better. I'm sure the players love when their name is being sung by the fans, makes them feel part of something. Saw Keane clapping the fans when they were singing his name during a break in play the other night so they def hear us!!

No worries mate, posted it on YBIG as well, it got a good response over there too.

http://ybig.ie/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=22020&PN=104

[geysir]

On the Wigan club news site, manager Roberto Martinez is reported to be delighted.

"James has made his decision and can now put an end to all the talk,"
:rolleyes:
"and after playing for his country this week, can focus 100% on club matters. James is an outstanding professional already, even though he has only just turned 20, and he is a credit to both his club and his country."

[Scooby Doo]

On the Wigan club news site, manager Roberto Martinez is reported to be delighted.

"James has made his decision and can now put an end to all the talk,"
:rolleyes:
"and after playing for his country this week, can focus 100% on club matters. James is an outstanding professional already, even though he has only just turned 20, and he is a credit to both his club and his country."
Funnily enough, his nationality is currently listed as 'Scottish' on the Wigan website.

http://www.wiganlatics.co.uk/page/ProfilesDetail/0,,10429~41884,00.html

[strangeirish]

Funnily enough, his nationality is currently listed as 'Scottish' on the Wigan website.

http://www.wiganlatics.co.uk/page/ProfilesDetail/0,,10429~41884,00.html
I guess Martinez is as good at being a webmaster, as he is a manager...

[BonnieShels]

Funnily enough, his nationality is currently listed as 'Scottish' on the Wigan website.

http://www.wiganlatics.co.uk/page/ProfilesDetail/0,,10429~41884,00.html

We could go down the whole Citizenship v Nationality road?

...
...
...

Yeah...

Let's not.

[Scooby Doo]

We could go down the whole Citizenship v Nationality road?

...
...
...

Yeah...

Let's not.
Why not? I'm intrigued...really, should we be picking players who are born outside of the ROI? Discuss.

[BonnieShels]

Why not? I'm intrigued...really, should we be picking players who are born outside of the ROI? Discuss.

No... It'll end up a AB v EG dog fight... I'm too tired for that.

For the record my firm belief is "If you want to play for Ireland and you "feel Irish" (and have a right to a passport) then by all means tar isteach.
If you are waiting around to keep your options open "Get lost!"

I think this whole "feeling" Irish thing that Killer we say has is something that would be difficult for us born in Ireland to understand and it would actually I believe take for someone like Kevin himself or Shane McGowan or Mick McCarthy etc to explain.

NB. This may already be out there. I'm just saying is all. Also I'm loathe for this comment to hijack Jimmy Mac's page.

[Scooby Doo]

No... It'll end up a AB v EG dog fight... I'm too tired for that.

For the record my firm belief is "If you want to play for Ireland and you "feel Irish" (and have a right to a passport) then by all means tar isteach.
If you are waiting around to keep your options open "Get lost!"

I think this whole "feeling" Irish thing that Killer we say has is something that would be difficult for us born in Ireland to understand and it would actually I believe take for someone like Kevin himself or Shane McGowan or Mick McCarthy etc to explain.

NB. This may already be out there. I'm just saying is all. Also I'm loathe for this comment to hijack Jimmy Mac's page.
Think I should have ended that last post with a :p or a :rolleyes: smiley....

[BonnieShels]

Think I should have ended that last post with a :p or a :rolleyes: smiley....

You should've... you sucked me in and I'm not generally one to rise to the bait of others. Well... maybe dodge...

[Scooby Doo]

Sincere apologies sir! I share your weariness of the OWC/AB hot-air debate. Even now I click the 'submit' button with trepidation!

[Noelys Guitar]

I wobder if this had anything to do with Martinez's (with prompting from Dave Whelan)strange comments about McCarthy.
From todays Examiner in rlation to Kevin Doyle's injury

Moxey confirmed the club will not receive any compensation. "We get diddly squat," he said. "Unlike England and Scotland, the Republic of Ireland don’t offer insurance or compensation for players who get injured.

"FIFA’s guidelines do not require them to do so."

[Stuttgart88]

I heard that interview with Moxey on the radio last night and Moxey actually seemed to take it all in good grace, accepting it as an occupational hazard and a quirk of the system.

[BonnieShels]

Ya could people see how delighted mcgeady was saturday? He seemed genuinely chuffed.

He did indeed. Grinning from ear to ear. Was delighted for him.

[DeLorean]

Which one of ye guys called poor Roberto a spoofer (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_McCarthy_(footballer)#International_career)?

[tetsujin1979]

Which one of ye guys called poor Roberto a spoofer (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_McCarthy_%28footballer%29#International_care er)?
According to the page history - http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=James_McCarthy_%28footballer%29&action=history - it was the user from IP address* 83.71.1.162
Plugging this into IP Address Lookup: http://ip-address-lookup-v4.com/lookup.php?ip=83.71.1.162
tells us it's assigned to somewhere along Mespill Road.
If I had to guess, I'd say it was someone staying in the hotel that night.

*IP Address is the unique identifier assigned to any device (computer, console, mobile, etc) connected to the internet, think of it like a phone number

[geysir]

How accurate can that google map indicator be?
I looked up my own isp on the google map and the red spot is 16 km away from my home.

[tetsujin1979]

How accurate can that google map indicator be?
I looked up my own isp on the google map and the red spot is 16 km away from my home.
It's probably closer to where the ISP itself is located, rather than your own house, pinpointing your location would bring up any number of privacy concerns

[Paddy Garcia]

No... It'll end up a AB v EG dog fight... I'm too tired for that.

For the record my firm belief is "If you want to play for Ireland and you "feel Irish" (and have a right to a passport) then by all means tar isteach.
If you are waiting around to keep your options open "Get lost!"

I think this whole "feeling" Irish thing that Killer we say has is something that would be difficult for us born in Ireland to understand and it would actually I believe take for someone like Kevin himself or Shane McGowan or Mick McCarthy etc to explain.

NB. This may already be out there. I'm just saying is all. Also I'm loathe for this comment to hijack Jimmy Mac's page.

Agree with your points - though Shane McGowan was born in Ireland.

PS I'd not lose any sleep over hijacking Jimmy Mac's page - it akin to worrying about driving a polluting 4x4 in Fukushima.