James McCarthy M free agent b.1990

[SkStu]

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

yup, i will concede that.

[tommy_c12000]

Had a good game 2day on his return to the first team by all accounts:

http://boards.footymad.net/forum.php?tno=558&fid=516&sty=2&act=1&mid=2115897631

P (http://boards.footymad.net/forum.php?tno=558&fid=516&sty=2&act=1&mid=2115897631)erhaps a break was just what he needed. Let's hope he will continue to rediscover the form which once made him one of Britain's hottest properties

[Kingdom]

He started in the middle 2 of a 4 for once.

[BonnieShels]

And how did he play there.?

[Drumcondra 69er]

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.

Keane wasn't dominating games from midfield at 20, at that stage of his career he was playing a more pushed up role and was quite prolific in front of goal, he started dropping further back over the next couple of seasons before eventually moving to Man U but at 20 people were wondering if he'd be the next Tommy Gaynor.

Had he been dominating games even when he was pushing 22 you could argue that Forest wouldn't have been relegated in 93.

Agree that McCarthy seems to be standing still this season though and that Keane was playing more consistently at that age.

[cufc champions]

I watched the first half of the game Saturday and thought he played ok, he got about the park put in a few tackles and never lost the ball. A small bit more agression in his game would not go astray, I would also like to see him get a little further forward than he did on Saturday he seemed to stay in the holding role the vast majority of the time.

[Dunners]

I would also like to see him get a little further forward than he did on Saturday he seemed to stay in the holding role the vast majority of the time.

Maybe he thought Trap would be watching the video

[Kingdom]

I'm probably being over-cynical, but I didn't think McCarthy had been suffering from any injury recently, and thought it ironic that having finally shown a committment to the team, that he gets dropped by Wigan. Also thought it highly significant that he returns to the team in the position that he probably needs to show pedigree in soon if he's to get a game for Ireland. Is that too coincidental?

Look at it another way....Wigan are probably in pole position for relegation; if they do, they are likely to shed players: Moses, McCarthy, Rodallega to name but a few. What better way to add a few €'s onto young James value, than by him playing centre midfield for Ireland in the European Championships, particularily when he is still very young and has so much experience already, and has been tracked by some of the continents biggest clubs already. But the only way he will get selected to start for Ireland is......by playing centre midfield.

Is that too off-the-wall?

As it happens he did the simple things right that I saw - showed for the ball, played simple passes, and harried a lot.

[Paddy Garcia]

I don't believe that they are resigned to the drop. Has got his place on merit.

[kennedmc]

I'm probably being over-cynical, but I didn't think McCarthy had been suffering from any injury recently, and thought it ironic that having finally shown a committment to the team, that he gets dropped by Wigan. Also thought it highly significant that he returns to the team in the position that he probably needs to show pedigree in soon if he's to get a game for Ireland. Is that too coincidental?

Look at it another way....Wigan are probably in pole position for relegation; if they do, they are likely to shed players: Moses, McCarthy, Rodallega to name but a few. What better way to add a few €'s onto young James value, than by him playing centre midfield for Ireland in the European Championships, particularily when he is still very young and has so much experience already, and has been tracked by some of the continents biggest clubs already. But the only way he will get selected to start for Ireland is......by playing centre midfield.

Is that too off-the-wall?



I think what you are saying is a complete load of rubbish!!

[Sullivinho]

I'm probably being over-cynical, but I didn't think McCarthy had been suffering from any injury recently, and thought it ironic that having finally shown a committment to the team, that he gets dropped by Wigan. Also thought it highly significant that he returns to the team in the position that he probably needs to show pedigree in soon if he's to get a game for Ireland. Is that too coincidental?

Look at it another way....Wigan are probably in pole position for relegation; if they do, they are likely to shed players: Moses, McCarthy, Rodallega to name but a few. What better way to add a few €'s onto young James value, than by him playing centre midfield for Ireland in the European Championships, particularily when he is still very young and has so much experience already, and has been tracked by some of the continents biggest clubs already. But the only way he will get selected to start for Ireland is......by playing centre midfield.

Is that too off-the-wall?

As it happens he did the simple things right that I saw - showed for the ball, played simple passes, and harried a lot.

I'm not completely sold on that one Kingdom...but I'm damn sure Dave Whelan was in Dallas on 22nd November, 1963.

[geysir]

Kingdom's last sentence resonated with my way of thinking.

[SkStu]

As it happens he did the simple things right that I saw - showed for the ball, played simple passes, and harried a lot.

did you notice if he beat Paul Greenes number of successful attempts at harrying, Kingdom? ;) (who was it again that said that?)

Great post by the way - completely off the wall - but brilliant conspiracy theorising!

[Murfinator]

More likely he's suffering a spell of low confidence and is more appreciative now that he has the opportunity to be a part of the national teams squad, even if it is the bench.

[Crosby87]

Is Kingdom actually Oliver Stone? Stone says in Interviews his mother was Irish.
What the hell was the deal with Wall Street 2 then? Transformers Kid can't act worth a lick.
Must have spent too much time on here when you should have been doing better casting.

[The Fly]

Is Kingdom actually Oliver Stone? Stone says in Interviews his mother was Irish.


:good:



What the hell was the deal with Wall Street 2 then? Transformers Kid can't act worth a lick.
Must have spent too much time on here when you should have been doing better casting.

Know when to stop.

[boovidge]

Assist for the late Wigan winner today.

[Jaysus]

Assist for the late Wigan winner today.

That's James McArthur, the Scottish international. Easy mistake to make though.

[boovidge]

said on BBC it was James McCarthy!

[Diarmo]

By all accounts Wigan bossed the midfield today, good to hear. The more he plays ina 4 man midfield the better, it'll wean people off this mad idea that he's a "behind the striker" type of player. Also, it should mean he'll get a spot on the plane to Polkraine.

[Charlie Darwin]

Was he ever a behind the striker type of player? He's always been the deep sitting midfielder in a midfield 5 from what I've seen.

[Jaysus]

Was he ever a behind the striker type of player? He's always been the deep sitting midfielder in a midfield 5 from what I've seen.

He has decent technical ability too, McCarthy has the potential to be an excellent player.

[Acornvilla]

said on BBC it was James McCarthy!

Seen the replay there was McArthur

[Charlie Darwin]

Shearer also credited McCarthy on Match of the Day. Must be a BBC thing.

[kev mcq]

Shearer also credited McCarthy on Match of the Day. Must be a BBC thing.
I'm fairly sure he said McArthur.

[Charlie Darwin]

I'm positive he said McCarthy. I don't have access to the BBC iPlayer so we'll have to solve this with fisticuffs.

[The Fly]

I don't have access to the BBC iPlayer so we'll have to solve this with fisticuffs.

.....or you could ask someone with access to find out for you.

Such unevolved thinking Mr. Darwin.......Tut tut!

[Charlie Darwin]

Survival of the fittest, my insect friend. That's how we do things in nature :p

[Acornvilla]

Seen the replay there was McArthur

Fantasy football says McArthur

winning!

[Closed Account]

If you've ever played football, the minor fact who had the assist(mccarthur btw), isn't important.

[Acornvilla]

The act itself is very important, maybe people won't tally up assists and use them as a measure of a players worth,(if you read the various discussions involving McGeady around here you will see some regard it as very important) like they would with goals, but being that guy who creates chances for goals is a pretty good selling point.

[nigel-harps1954]

Was he ever a behind the striker type of player? He's always been the deep sitting midfielder in a midfield 5 from what I've seen.

Wasn't he that type of player at Hamilton? Scored a fair few goals up there from an attacking midfield position. Played striker a lot too there I believe.

[Charlie Darwin]

Ah, maybe, I only saw him a couple of times for them.

[Sullivinho]

The Wigan Mc's are doomed to be confused with each other, sure there's only a syllable of a difference between 'em. Forget commentary, I look for ginger and a shirt number, in that order.

[SkStu]

The Wigan Mc's are doomed to be confused with each other, sure there's only a syllable of a difference between 'em. Forget commentary, I look for ginger and a shirt number, in that order.

and you find Ben stupid Watson...

[tommy_c12000]

Really hard to find good Wigan forums. Best I could find on sat's match was this:

http://www.wigan.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=263826
(http://www.wigan.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=263826)
Seems like a good source. McCarthy gradually getting there fingers crossed

[TiocfaidhArmani]

http://thesun.mobi/thescottishsun/sport/3992533/Hampden-guru-Mathies-proud-legacy.html?mob=1

NATIONAL PRIDE ... Mathie says McGeady and McCarthy did not want Scotland calls
AIDEN McGEADY and James McCarthy.
They're the two names constantly flung at Ross Mathie as proof that the SFA's youth system has failed the national team.
But Hampden youth chief Mathie — who'll retire at the end of the year after 30 years with the SFA — has come out fighting over the criticism of his department.
He says ex-Celt McGeady was picked by Scotland three times but opted for the Republic of Ireland — and that McCarthy was similarly always intent on playing for the Irish.
Mathie, who'll be given a going-away lunch by the SFA this week, said: "The advice I give players is that the decision they make at the time is the right decision.
"Aiden was picked three times for Scotland squads and he withdrew every time because he was determined he was going with Ireland.
"We had a good relationship with Willie McStay at Celtic and with his dad, John.
"Aiden was the only youth player who was ever brought in to meet a Scotland manager.
"Berti Vogts told him he was one of the best players in the country and, as much as he could do, guaranteed he would play for Scotland.
"But Aiden was adamant that he wanted to choose Ireland and I wrote to him and told him it was a mature decision for a 15-year-old and wished him all the best.
"James McCarthy I still get accused of having missed. But he had always said it was his grandfather's dying wish that he play for the Republic. In that situation, rightly or wrongly, I wouldn't want to change someone's mind "If someone else wants to try, fine. I've never been like that.
"I firmly believe you can't go back and I respect the decision James made. Whether people respect mine is another debate, but I wouldn't go back on it.
"We watched him many times, both myself and Archie Knox. He was in Hamilton's first-team at the time and we thought he was okay, but we felt there were others who were similar.
"I'm delighted he's become the player he has. I don't watch him on TV on a Saturday night with any regrets.
"If he'd come to Scotland at a later age level you would be saying Scotland have a good player. I felt I made the right decision — other people will say it was wrong.
"Things balance out. We've a lad in our system just now called Ryan Fulton who's a goalkeeper with Liverpool.
"Ryan can play for Scotland or England and we've been aware of him for 18 months.
"In May he played for our under-15s against Belgium.
"After that, England approached Liverpool and asked him to go with them.
"But he's with us and told them he was committed to Scotland. So it can work both ways.
"There's an even stranger one with the sons of John Hendrie, the former Middlesbrough striker. One of John's sons, Luke, plays with England's youths and doesn't want to change, even though we've tried.
"His brother Jordan is with Bolton and he is playing for Scotland. So you could have brothers playing for different countries, like Joe and Gerry Baker did in the 1960s."
Mathie worked with Vogts during his spell as Scotland manager and says the German was responsible for a lot of good work behind the scenes.
He said: "A lot of the people Berti brought in are now internationals. He gave a lot of opportunities to a lot of players.
"I'm sure the experience Gary Caldwell received early on will have equipped him better than if he hasn't had it.
"Berti came over to the Milk Cup in Northern Ireland to speak to Darren Fletcher because he could have played for the Republic of Ireland.
"He sat and talked with Darren and Darren assured him he was committed to us.
"He set up a national teams department. I showed him the program we had at youth level and he said we needed to quadruple the number of games we played. He went in and got us money to play more often.
"He was also responsible for the youth squads going on winter training camps to Malta.
"The trip he made to Ireland was the one where Darren Fletcher played against the Republic and I'd agreed with Manchester United that he would play for an hour.
"I'd looked at my watch and the hour was up when Darren went through, lobbed the keeper to score, clashed with the keeper and broke a bone in his foot. I had the joyous job of ringing Sir Alex after that!
"Darren has been a fantastic presence, on and off the pitch.
"Everything he's achieved has been down to United, his application, attitude and ability."

[pateen]

Played the full game in Wigans 1-2 win over west brom on Saturday which can only be good.
Conor Sammon started too.

[tommy_c12000]

Played the full game in Wigans 1-2 win over west brom on Saturday which can only be good.
Conor Sammon started too.

McCarthy had a good first half. Faded a bit in the second half. But it was unquestionably his best performance of the year so far (wouldn't have been hard to outdo his previous performances). He is still far below his best. But at least he is moving (all be it slowly) in the right direction. The fans really like Sammon. His performances have been full of energy and he has proved a handful for defences. He needs a goal soon to copperfasten his premier league credentials though

[pineapple stu]

Was at that game at the weekend. Sammon was pretty much as he was for UCD - held the ball up well, was more hit than miss with his lay-offs, couldn't head the ball (which gave WBA three chances in the first three minutes) and didn't really look like scoring. However, in his defence, Wigan were on the back foot for much of the game (and defended superbly, which is unusual for them), and he had a great chance to score in the second half but Victor Moses - who'd already scored and won a penalty - decided to take on three defenders on the edge of the box rather than square to Sammon, who was unmarked five yards to the right. He made one lovely run in particular right behind the defensive line which opened up a big gap for Moses to run into.

I don't know if it's coincidence, but in the four games Sammo has started, they've picked up seven points (losing only to Arsenal) and scored seven goals. This compares to five points and seven goals from their first 11 games. He's very much in the mould of Cox and Walters (when playing for us), so if he gets an extended run (and scores a few), he could well be an option for the New Year.

Didn't really see much of McCarthy, but wasn't paying attention to him really. Super goal from Steven Reid too. Shane Long got into some good spaces, but his finishing left him down.

[Olé Olé]

What was Fletcher's Ireland connection again?

Very interesting article, shows the determination of McGeady and McCarthy and that no alterior motivations lay behind their decisions.

[tetsujin1979]

Not sure about his connection but I do remember an article that said Roy Keane has asked him if he would consider switching to Ireland before he made his debut for Scotland

[Scooby Doo]

Fletcher's mother was from Mayo, if I remember correctly??

[Closed Account]

What was Fletcher's Ireland connection again?.
His mother is from Achill.

[Charlie Darwin]

Fletcher's granny was from Mayo: http://www.mayonews.ie/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1215&Itemid=95

[Stuttgart88]

Trap and James McCarthy in text communication shocker (http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/league-of-ireland/trap-throws-down-gauntlet-to-mccarthy-2967896.html)

[pateen]

Shocker is right,
good to see though and seems like Trap actually watched the game too

[Crosby87]

Trap and James McCarthy in text communication shocker (http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/league-of-ireland/trap-throws-down-gauntlet-to-mccarthy-2967896.html)

I thought that was going to be a disaster by the title.
Good to see Trap texts, I understand when he first started here he was using smoke signals.

If you could assume the roster as it is right now, who would be on the bubble for making it?

[BonnieShels]

Here? Roster? Bubble? Do they speak English in "What"?

[Crosby87]

You need to get out more.