James McCarthy M free agent b.1990

[elroy]

While I have no doubt james will be a decent player, I have not seen anything to justify the near messiah status we place on him.

[Fergie's Son]

He is still very young. Plenty of time to develop into a solid player. Good sign that he played for the U-21's. Shows a renewed commitment.

[elroy]

He is still very young. Plenty of time to develop into a solid player. Good sign that he played for the U-21's. Shows a renewed commitment.

Or indicates towards a poor relationship with Trap.

[TrapAPony]

TRAPATTONI: James McCarthy is the future - not the now.

http://ciarano.tumblr.com/post/10081651442/trapattoni-james-mccarthy-is-the-future-not-the-now

[Closed Account]

TRAPATTONI: James McCarthy is the future - not the now.

http://ciarano.tumblr.com/post/10081651442/trapattoni-james-mccarthy-is-the-future-not-the-now

Refreshing to read.

[LFCSixty/Eighty]

Interesting to read how Trap says that McCarthy against Uruguay '....did not ask for the ball, he wasn’t calling for it'

Surely the response to that would be whether Andrews and Whelan do?? In the last 2 games I didn't see either of our midfield duo do what Trap is suggesting McCarthy should be doing. He seems to pick and choose what players he has a go at to justify his own argument.

[the bear]

andorra would be an ideal match to blood him. i'd put him and fahey cm

[BonnieShels]

Spot on Bear.

[paul_oshea]

maith an bear.

[Charlie Darwin]

Interesting to read how Trap says that McCarthy against Uruguay '....did not ask for the ball, he wasn’t calling for it'

Surely the response to that would be whether Andrews and Whelan do?? In the last 2 games I didn't see either of our midfield duo do what Trap is suggesting McCarthy should be doing. He seems to pick and choose what players he has a go at to justify his own argument.
Well if people are talking about McCarthy coming in and getting us playing some ball in midfield, I think it's valid to point out that he's show no evidence of being that type of player. Whelan and Andrews do a very disciplined screening job in front of the back four, a role that McCarthy doesn't really have the physical attributes for.

[Stuttgart88]

Seriously, no messing around with Andorra like it's a friendly. They play on a ploughed field where Russia only won 1-0.

[the bear]

Seriously, no messing around with Andorra like it's a friendly. They play on a ploughed field where Russia only won 1-0.

do you mean with me suggesting Fahey and Mccarhty CM? Surely messing around would be playing 2 screening players in cm against minnows like andorra

[Stuttgart88]

Yes, I was. I'm not saying Fahey would be messing, but JMcC probably would and both of them together definitely would.

I'm not showing Andorra too much respect - I'm showing us a total lack of it!

[the bear]

Fahey should start everygame, mccarthy needs a chance to prove himself soon so he can become a serious option, whelan and andrews aren't even good screening midfielders.

in the bigger picture whats the point in him making any changes if hes just gonna bring whelan and andrews back for armenia anyway

[Dunners]

Gents - Trap wont make any changes for the remaining games unless its forced upon him, we now know that much about him

If it was up to me then McCarthy would be in the first team line up but unfortunatly its not. So we will have to wait a while longer to see young James in the first team

[mark12345]

Gents - Trap wont make any changes for the remaining games unless its forced upon him, we now know that much about him

If it was up to me then McCarthy would be in the first team line up but unfortunatly its not. So we will have to wait a while longer to see young James in the first team

Spot on. And what does all that tell us? It tells us that no matter what Trap is advised to do, he is his own man and makes his own decisions.

He has been advised by everyone with a pulse that Whelan and Andrews are not upto it for international football. But he is right and we are all wrong! They are 'his' players and good luck to him if he can prove us all wrong. But if we don't qualify then he should be held accountable.

There are better options than Whelan and Andrews, Fahey and McCarthy being just two of them.

[ArdeeBhoy]

Absolutely.

Like Trap would even consider the fans opinions for a nano-second. :rolleyes:
Though suppose will afford some begrudging respect for that. But remain deeply unconvinced by some of his tactics.

[cufc champions]

While Trap needs to listen to our opinions, James McCarthy has to listen to Trap and turn up for friendlies that is how anyone new has broken into the team over the last two campaigns. Trap needs to trust James in his system before he will trust him into the action in a compeititive game.

[Stuttgart88]

Absolutely.

Like Trap would even consider the fans opinions for a nano-second. :rolleyes:
Though suppose will afford some begrudging respect for that. But remain deeply unconvinced by some of his tactics.AB,

I'm not sure Trap has any need to listen to the fans. You're not alone in having reservations about tactics. We're not blind, nor are we stupid.

It's a results business and the glass is half full in that regard. We seem incapable of beating the decent teams but we don't lose to them (much) and we are good at skipping over the many banana skins put in our way.

I think where you are in the minority is not wanting us to qualify. I'd gladly qualify and lose all 3 group games emphatically, rather than go for another campaign without tangible benefit. If we did qualify I could see us doing a NZ in WC10, or at best a Slovakia 2010.

[Closed Account 2]

As it stands I wouldn't start McCarthy for either Andorra or Armenia, I might have him on the bench and bring him on, but I don't think he has the tactical discipline to win the ball or mark the opposition as well as Fahey or Whelan or Andrews. I think a lot of people seem to see James McCarthy as some sort of panacea, he has the potential to be a very good player for us, but I don't see him as automatic starter for us at the moment.

[Murfinator]

McCarthy has been poor in his previous international cameos, has a questionable attitude and his form this season for Wigan has been diabolical. He's coasting on reputation and potential at the moment. Wouldn't have him anywhere near the squad right now, should be a priority for the next friendly fixtures to try him out.

[Charlie Darwin]

Shouldn't be anywhere near the squad but should be a priority for friendlies... so your solution to a player with questionable attitude is to send him mixed signals?

[passinginterest]

Hasn't he been dropped by Wigan recently? I think the least he needs to be doing is playing well for his club again before we can start demanding he starts crucial qualifiers. Fahey is probably ahead of him to come in alongside Whelan or Andrews if Trap does decide to put a more attacking option in the middle.

[Fixer82]

Lads where is Paul Green gone these days??

[theworm2345]

Lads where is Paul Green gone these days??
Had a serious knee injury towards the end of the season.

[Charlie Darwin]

Yeah, he had surgery during the summer and is expected to miss most of the season, if not all.

[Paddy Garcia]

Hasn't he been dropped by Wigan recently? I think the least he needs to be doing is playing well for his club again before we can start demanding he starts crucial qualifiers. Fahey is probably ahead of him to come in alongside Whelan or Andrews if Trap does decide to put a more attacking option in the middle.

Is Fahey now a starter for Birmingham then?

[tetsujin1979]

Fahey's out following an operation, McCarthy starts tonight for Wigan against Palace in the league cup

[IsMiseSean]

McCarthy starts tonight for Wigan against Palace in the league cup

Currently 2-0 to Palace. Darren Ambrose on the scoresheet, wasn't he suppose to be declaring for us at one point?

[ArdeeBhoy]

AB,

I'm not sure Trap has any need to listen to the fans. You're not alone in having reservations about tactics. We're not blind, nor are we stupid.

It's a results business and the glass is half full in that regard. We seem incapable of beating the decent teams but we don't lose to them (much) and we are good at skipping over the many banana skins put in our way.

I think where you are in the minority is not wanting us to qualify. I'd gladly qualify and lose all 3 group games emphatically, rather than go for another campaign without tangible benefit. If we did qualify I could see us doing a NZ in WC10, or at best a Slovakia 2010.

Don't think I ever said didn't want us to qualify, just the manner in which were, er, going about this.

Though would put infinitely more value on reaching the WCF's over the Euros.
To the extent would have swapped being robbed last year for the next 3 European Championships.

However, by 2016, would almost expect us to qualify for the Euro Finals whilst they have 24 teams...


Whether JMcC & various others can assist in all of this is another matter. Especially under the current regime, or similar!

[Stuttgart88]

Don't think I ever said didn't want us to qualify,
oh yes you did (I think :))

[ArdeeBhoy]

Ok, stand corrected?
:eek:
What point are you making anyway?

My previous post indicates my current position...

[The Fly]

er...Ok, stand corrected?
:eek:
What point are you, er, making anyway?

My previous post indicates my current, er, position...

Fixed. ;)

[geysir]

http://www.viennamedical.com/images/three-positions-small.gif

[ArdeeBhoy]

:confused:

[Sullivinho]

McCarthy committed to Ireland* (http://www.skysports.com/story/0,,19692_7220860,00.html)

Consider the ignominy of the James McCarthy thread slipping to page 3 corrected.


*may contain trace massive amounts of déjà vu.

[tetsujin1979]

Not involved at all today for Wigan

[Fergie's Son]

Injured or just not playing well?

[OwlsFan]

Not even on the bench on Saturday. Can't find any reference to him being injured. Hopefully, not another shooting star.

[Irwin3]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011/oct/28/squad-sheets-wigan-athletic-fulham

He was a doubt before the match (also reported on BBC website) so he was probably injured.

[SkStu]

in fairness, i beginning to think we might've been sold a dud. In terms of attitude and ability!

[Yard of Pace]

in fairness, i beginning to think we might've been sold a dud. In terms of attitude and ability!

Lads, I think you're being a little harsh in burying a lad's career who's still only 20 and plays in the most demanding area of the pitch.

[Dunners]

Absolute nonsense the lad has been playing first team football (under extreme pressure in the SPL)since the age of 16
More than likely he needs a rest out of the spotlight / first team action . He will bounce back , quality will always shine through.

Wigan awards May 2011 - Young Player of the Season , Goal of the Season , The Molson Coors Player of the Season

Not bad for a dud's 2nd season in the EPL

[SkStu]

jaysis lads, im not writing him off just saying he been pretty underwhelming this season, a season where it wouldnt be totally unreasonable to expect him to push on and start dominating games.

The Molson Coors Player of the Season, eh? The one we all dream about winning!!! ;)

[Charlie Darwin]

Is it reasonable to expect a 20 year old to be dominating games? Who else has done it at that age in recent years, Fabregas maybe? He's a young lad who had an injury that disrupted his pre-season. I wouldn't make any judgments on his form until Christmas.

[SkStu]

Yes it is reasonable. Thats how he was sold to the world as a 16 year old. Four years later, despite occasional flashes of ability, he still has it all to prove. Roy Keane was dominating games from midfield for Notts Forest at 20 years old. Fair point on the injury but all in all he has taken backwards steps this season when major progress was expected.

[Charlie Darwin]

I think Keane is actually a fair comparison in terms of Forest being perennial relegation candidates like Wigan but I think they were different types of player too. McCarthy is a bit shyer, more of a link-man than a leader. I think he's a player who benefits from having great players around him and he doesn't at the moment. I think a bigger club will sign him at the end of this season and that's when we'll see if he can step up.

[OwlsFan]

. I think he's a player who benefits from having great players around him and he doesn't at the moment.

He won't be much use to us then.

Let's see how he goes when he comes back from injury.

[Junior]

Yes it is reasonable. Thats how he was sold to the world as a 16 year old. Four years later, despite occasional flashes of ability, he still has it all to prove. Roy Keane was dominating games from midfield for Notts Forest at 20 years old. Fair point on the injury but all in all he has taken backwards steps this season when major progress was expected.

6 league games so far this season (+1 LC Game). Wigan have 2 draws (Swansea & Norwich) & 1 win (QPR) so far this season - so basically only points against promoted sides. They are in awful form and James is not likely to be dragging them up the table singlehandedly.

He has been injured, he has played a handful of games in a team that are awful at the moment and obviously low in confidence. He hasnt taken a step backwards in my opinion - he's just stood still - done nothing of note. Will be an important season for him personally and Wigan as a club.

[Hibs4Ever]

Think Wigan might wanna update his page on their site

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