James McCarthy M free agent b.1990

[DannyInvincible]

So, McCarthy hasn't been training with Everton either since returning to Merseyside.

'Roberto Martinez: McCarthy was desperate to play for Ireland against Scotland': http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/international-soccer/roberto-martinez-mccarthy-was-desperate-to-play-for-ireland-against-scotland-30753748.html


"James was desperate to be involved with his national team but he couldn't make it," Martinez told evertonfc.com ahead of the visit of Crystal Palace.

"We will try to get him fit for West Ham but it is a bit too early to tell. He hasn't been able to train with the team and that is a worry on a Tuesday leading up to a Saturday game.

"It's James' second injury of this nature in the last month and that's a bit of a worry.

"We need to give him perfect treatment and make sure he is fully fit.

"Darron Gibson played against Scotland and got a bit of soreness in his knee.

"He had a year-long lay-off with his ligaments, so we need to be cautious but I'm very confident he will be available to train very soon.

[Stuttgart88]

Spin, Danny, spin.

[Charlie Darwin]

Martinez and McCarthy won't be happy after watching the Scotland-England game together in Motherwell. Holding hands. But at least they got the three points that mattered.

[paul_oshea]

Everyone at everton is injured it will be a complete new 11 come Saturdays game...

Or you would believe.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

If McCarthy doesn't play Everton's next game I will literally eat a hat.

And I would be very surprised if the same circus act doesn't come around again in March for the Poland game.

[Charlie Darwin]

If McCarthy doesn't play Everton's next game I will literally eat a hat.

And I would be very surprised if the same circus act doesn't come around again in March for the Poland game.
You eating hats?

[Charlie Darwin]

McCarthy starts for Everton at West Ham RABBLE RABBLE RABBLE

[DeLorean]

It's at Goodison :) Good stuff, glad he's back. Coleman starts too, Gibson and McGeady don't even make bench.

[tricky_colour]

Roy will delighted Seamus is fit again.

[DeLorean]

Strong tackle that drew a yellow today. The West Ham players went nuts, including our, erm, not so own, Mark Noble. Reaction was over the top as it wasn't that bad I didn't think. His tackles seems to have a bit more menace these days though.

[Crosby87]

As long as its not against people he didn't grow up with. (Brags Martinez).

[KK77]

Considering he hadn't kicked a ball up until last Tuesday he did really well to play and play the full match. The perfect treatment does the trick.

[DeLorean]

Strong tackle that drew a yellow today. The West Ham players went nuts, including our, erm, not so own, Mark Noble. Reaction was over the top as it wasn't that bad I didn't think. His tackles seems to have a bit more menace these days though.

https://cdn3.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/pwFvqHFDMge8kdoq8IEvo1ro-A4=/0x37:3000x2037/730x487/cdn0.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/44210060/459409544.0.jpg

I love this one of Naismith taunting Tomkins, after his pathetic attempt to get Mirallas sent off.

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2014/11/23/2367F74800000578-0-image-18_1416762167589.jpg

[tricky_colour]

I think I mentioned on the Robbie Brady thread about bad acting, Tomkins was really terrible.

I don't think he was sent off for faking injury rather because he was so bad at it.

Naismith was lucky the ref had his back to him or he might have gone too.

[DeLorean]

James Collins is a scary looking man. Noble looks like the peace maker in the picture about but he was actually going mad himself after the tackle. Why might Naismith have gone Tricky? He'd hardly get sent off for pointing and laughing, a yellow maybe at a stretch. Osman is gas in the picture too.

[tricky_colour]

James Collins is a scary looking man. Noble looks like the peace maker in the picture about but he was actually going mad himself after the tackle. Why might Naismith have gone Tricky? He'd hardly get sent off for pointing and laughing, a yellow maybe at a stretch. Osman is gas in the picture too.

Well yes, a yellow would be the card, it's not a red card offence, but it could go down as unsporting conduct or descent or something like that, he
is not really doing much more than Osman, it is just the way he is doing it. Naismith is being very provocative, trying to wind him up. Osman is not
so bad it is more warning.

Anyhow both clubs are being charge by the FA with the catch all failing to ensure the players conduct themselves in and orderly fashion.

James Collins is certainty a big bloke at 6'4 and red haired (well beard), not one to be messed with.

[DannyInvincible]

'McCarthy has 'serious' issue, says worried Martinez': http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/premier-league/mccarthy-has-serious-issue-says-worried-martinez-30783892.html


"It's the hamstring that he had a bit of trouble with beforehand and we need to assess it with a lot of intention," he said. "It's a serious problem because it's a problem he's had before and we need to make sure we find the root of it.

"I would have had regrets if the injury had happened in the 80th minute, because clearly then it's because the tissues were fatigued and you're running a bigger risk.

"Thursday was different. It was after 10/15 minutes, the soft tissues should have been in good condition."

The Spaniard suggested that a hectic schedule is essentially the cause of McCarthy's woe.

"It will not affect him mentally because the reason that he has been affected with these sort of injuries is because of the amount of games that he has been playing," Martinez continued.

"We need to understand that as a young man, he has played a huge amount of games. I think it's over 160 Premier League fixtures, which is an incredible figure and his body is getting used to the demands of playing European football, international football and the domestic competitions.

"That could go as far as nutrition and making sure the balance between resting and playing the games is right. We are going to help him in that respect."

[tricky_colour]

Problem is McCarthy is being rested too much by not playing for Ireland, if he played for Ireland he would be stronger and fitter.
You don't build up strong muscles and hamstrings by sitting games out.

[Stuttgart88]

McCarthy to Arsenal in January rumour

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/arsenal-news-transfers-15million-moussa-4721956#rlabs=1

It'd make sense. To play for Arsenal it's a requirement to be proficient at collecting soft tissue injuries.

[Charlie Darwin]

Starts for Everton today. Can't believe Martinez has hoodwinked us again.



(I'm joking, he's not playing.)

[DannyInvincible]

I notice TOWK's been pretty quiet round this and the Everton Irish thread since James went off against Wolfsburg...

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

In my defense, James did pass a fitness test to play for Ireland against Scotland, our own manager said he would have played if it was a club game and Everton mislead us about the extent of his problems.

I wonder if Martinez will blame his own habit of playing McCarthy in every single league and midweek European game for his injuries like he did Gibson picking up injuries with us?

McCarthy has never got injured on International duty.

[Stuttgart88]

Did he pass a fitness test? Or was it that a scan showed no damage? There's a difference. I think the player himself didn't feel right to train on the Thursday. It'd appear that his own knowledge of his body and his lack of trust in his hamstring was pretty was well founded in hindsight, no?

[Closed Account]

Did he pass a fitness test? Or was it that a scan showed no damage? There's a difference. I think the player himself didn't feel right to train on the Thursday. It'd appear that his own knowledge of his body and his lack of trust in his hamstring was pretty was well founded in hindsight, no?
Yes, it'd be disingenuous to say he passed a fitness test when he never took one.

[DannyInvincible]

In my defense, James did pass a fitness test to play for Ireland against Scotland, our own manager said he would have played if it was a club game and Everton mislead us about the extent of his problems.

But James himself, combined with the fact he'd not trained the whole week in advance, stated he didn't yet feel one hundred per cent right. Are you suggesting he was deceiving our management and medical staff? He clearly wasn't, seeing as the issue (of which you were not merely sceptical, but completely disbelieving) arose pretty quickly again and is now keeping him out of club action. Clearly, there's a lower fitness threshold or expectation for club football because clubs are the employers, but that's a separate matter; the fact remains he didn't feel right and, whilst possibly of a level of fitness deemed sufficient to play in a club game (although I think that's open to speculation), he may not have been at a level of fitness deemed safe enough to throw him into an international game.

Can you provide the direct quote(s) where Martin stated what you claim he said? I thought Martin said something along the lines of James maybe being able to play if he'd had an extra two or three days or so. I don't recall him ever accusing Everton of misleading us.

[Stuttgart88]

In fairness I think O'Neill did say that had it been an Everton game he thinks he'd have played. This could be interpreted as the player lacking commitment but instead I think it reflected the reality that Ireland is borrowing an Everton asset and hence have more of a responsibility to ensure he doesn't take unnecessary risks. Everton can pressurise or risk their own players into playing, Ireland don't have that luxury.

I think it was Keane who made accusations wrt Everton, and O'Neill was more diplomatic saying there are channels to discuss these things directly.

That's how I remember it.

[Charlie Darwin]

I think the most important piece of information we can take from this saga is that James McCarthy knows his body better than anybody from this message board. Surprising I know, but we have four months until the next game to wrap our heads around it.

[DannyInvincible]

I think it was Keane who made accusations wrt Everton

And Keane said it in a waggish manner, according to reports. Either way, events since have proven that the scepticism (if genuine) and conspiracy theories were unwarranted.

[paul_oshea]

Yer hero on here,martinez referred to luck playing a big part in games and inferred that was the difference today.

[paul_oshea]

Whatever about Mccarthys injury or injuries he always played with Everton regardless. The same can't be said for us.

[Charlie Darwin]

Yes Paul, Martinez is our hero. Despite nobody having said a positive word about him since about 2012.

[tricky_colour]

Whatever about Mccarthys injury or injuries he always played with Everton regardless. The same can't be said for us.

But he does not get so long to recover for internationals, normally he will have seven days but for a midweek international it is only three.
Martinez will probably say that himself at some time in the future.

[DannyInvincible]

Whatever about Mccarthys injury or injuries he always played with Everton regardless.

But that's just not true. He's out at the minute and he missed out for Everton prior to our games against Gibraltar and Germany.

What gave you the (completely incorrect) impression that Martinez was my hero?

[DeLorean]

I think Martinez is a classy operator and a gent of the game. He has been an invaluable part of McCarthy's progress as a footballer, Coleman has kicked on to another level under him and he brought McGeady back from the dead when things got frosty in Moscow. I think we have a lot to be grateful for as Irish supporters to be honest, not that we were on his mind or anything.


Whatever about Mccarthys injury or injuries he always played with Everton regardless. The same can't be said for us.

He has played for Everton regardless of whether he's been injured or not?

Going to be offered a new contract according to this? (http://www.irishmirror.ie/sport/soccer/transfer-news/evertons-arsenal-transfer-target-james-4724082)

[DannyInvincible]

I think Martinez is a classy operator and a gent of the game. He has been an invaluable part of McCarthy's progress as a footballer, Coleman has kicked on to another level under him and he brought McGeady back from the dead when things got frosty in Moscow. I think we have a lot to be grateful for as Irish supporters to be honest, not that we were on his mind or anything.

And yet some people still resent him and think he has it in for us.

Just because you mightn't have time for the conspiracy theories, it doesn't mean you have an irrational love for Martinez. In fact, you can still acknowledge the beneficial influence he has had on the careers of Coleman, McGeady and McCarthy without necessarily viewing the man as some sort of hero figure. He's a football manager - a good one - who does his job and protects the interests of his club. He doesn't owe us anything. That doesn't mean he has some particular problem with us either. He actually says he has a positive relationship with Martin.

[DeLorean]

Practically all of McCarthy's Irish caps have come under Martinez management at club level anyway. He has played a lot of friendlies that nobody would have been too fussed if he had missed. I find it hard to believe that Martinez would start digging his heels in, without good reason, for crucial qualifiers all of a sudden. Missing the Gibraltar/Germany games was justified by missing the game at Old Trafford shortly before, yet people focus on the fact that he recovered in time for Everton's next league game. It has become abundantly clear, with hindsight, that his hamstring hasn't been right for a few weeks and that the Scotland game came too early for him, as MON himself accepted.

[geysir]

Mick McCarthy would have played him. A quick run up and down the hotel corridor and few twists would have sealed Mick's fitness test.

[Charlie Darwin]

yet people focus on the fact that he recovered in time for Everton's next league game.
It's almost as if the longer you leave an injury the more it heals.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Lost in all the self-congratulation and validation arising from McCarthy's injury is that Naismith, Barry, Distin, Stones, Barkley, Baines, Pienaar and Mirallas have all missed game time within the last two months due to injury, yet there only seems to be so much analysis and introspection over it when McCarthy is involved.

A scan (fitness test typo my bad!) showed that McCarthy could play against Germany. McCarthy, under some pressure from his, club elected not to. O'Neill said he would have played if it was a league game but McCarthy made a judgement call. Fair enough their concerns may have had a greater basis than I gave thought to but equally Everton played him continuously after the Germany game and why start him in a midweek European game if it was such a problem for him to play Internationally? Their injury problems are so bad this season that McCarthy's knock against Wolfsburg may be unrelated to the one accrued before the Scotland game. It would certainly explain why they felt the urge to start him twice in the space of <5 days. Indeed their injury problems are such this season that perhaps they should look inward and worry about their own medical teams expertise rather than complaining about players representing their country!

If I'm paranoid, what is Martin O'Neill then? People said we should take Everton's word for it & reserve diplomacy when Coleman & McCarthy missed the Germany game. Then they blamed our guys incompetence for not being more assertive about analysing their fitness. Then they say McCarthy knows his own body such and such this and that after our guys get to analyse him and judge him to be ready for the Scotland game.

Yes, McCarthy didn't train enough to realistically put himself into contention but that's the rub. When he should have been given the same training regiment as everybody else you had all this pussyfooting about because of Everton sticking their beaks in.

Who knows? Maybe I am judging Martinez too harshly because of some of his past behaviors! I said that in the very first comment related to this entire subject. It would have saved everybody a lot of hassle if they took that into consideration at the start!

[Charlie Darwin]

Lost in all the self-congratulation and validation arising from McCarthy's injury
Ha!

And hang on, where was this scan before the Germany match reported?

[DeLorean]

Lost in all the self-congratulation and validation arising from McCarthy's injury is that Naismith, Barry, Distin, Stones, Barkley, Baines, Pienaar and Mirallas have all missed game time within the last two months due to injury, yet there only seems to be so much analysis and introspection over it when McCarthy is involved.

I think you're one of the few who engages in self-congratulations, even when you haven't been proved right in the slightest. Why would we analyse injuries to non-Irish players?


A scan (fitness test typo my bad!) showed that McCarthy could play against Germany. McCarthy, under some pressure from his, club elected not to.

I presume you mean against Scotland? Do you have proof for the bit in bold?


O'Neill said he would have played if it was a league game but McCarthy made a judgement call


Naturally it is a blow, James McCarthy was always an outside chance. He has improved immensely since Sunday. He had another scan, which came back clear and that is good news for the lad, but with it being a muscle injury we needed him to do something by today. In the end WE decided it was better not to risk him.


Indeed their injury problems are such this season that perhaps they should look inward and worry about their own medical teams expertise rather than complaining about players representing their country!


I have a good relationship with Martin O’Neill, the Ireland manager, we keep in touch frequently and we share information, and at this club we are very proud when our players represent their countries.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

My point is people shouldn't read so much into McCarthy picking up an injury after playing twice in four days for his club when virtually three-quarters of their first team have had injury layoffs this season.

Proof as in Everton putting him and Coleman under pressure not to play Intl. matches?

[Charlie Darwin]

So you're suggesting that McCarthy was perfectly fit to play for Ireland had he wanted to, but having been fit to play for Everton he picked up an entirely new soft tissue injury in the exact same place as before?

[DannyInvincible]

Lost in all the self-congratulation and validation arising from McCarthy's injury is that Naismith, Barry, Distin, Stones, Barkley, Baines, Pienaar and Mirallas have all missed game time within the last two months due to injury, yet there only seems to be so much analysis and introspection over it when McCarthy is involved.

Self-congratulation and validation? Rather than letting it slip under the carpet, I simply wanted you to admit you might have been unreasonable for once, but even now you're still clutching at straws. It's desperate.

And, indeed, why would we waste time going through the injuries of non-Irish players? What's their relevance?


McCarthy, under some pressure from his, club elected not to.

Where's your evidence for this?


Their injury problems are so bad this season that McCarthy's knock against Wolfsburg may be unrelated to the one accrued before the Scotland game.

It's not. It's the same hamstring. It don't think he took a knock either. It's an ongoing soft-tissue problem. My understanding is that he pulled up on thirty minutes or so and had to come off. Maybe someone who saw it can confirm this?


It would certainly explain why they felt the urge to start him twice in the space of <5 days. Indeed their injury problems are such this season that perhaps they should look inward and worry about their own medical teams expertise rather than complaining about players representing their country!

Everton haven't complained about their players representing their country. Have you got quotes? Why do you just make stuff like this up? It's beyond ridiculous now.


If I'm paranoid, what is Martin O'Neill then?

O'Neill doesn't hold the same views on this as you do.


People said we should take Everton's word for it & reserve diplomacy when Coleman & McCarthy missed the Germany game. Then they blamed our guys incompetence for not being more assertive about analysing their fitness. Then they say McCarthy knows his own body such and such this and that after our guys get to analyse him and judge him to be ready for the Scotland game.

Who said we should have taken Everton's word and reserved diplomacy? I don't think anyone said that. You're just erecting straw-men again. If we didn't enforce our right to call players over for assessment when we were sceptical, we've no-one to blame but ourselves. That's always been my position.

And haven't events since proved that James was possibly justified in his concern for his own body? A doctor can assess his leg but he can't actually feel what James himself feels.


Yes, McCarthy didn't train enough to realistically put himself into contention but that's the rub. When he should have been given the same training regiment as everybody else you had all this pussyfooting about because of Everton sticking their beaks in.

He wasn't fit enough to train. Where are you getting this stuff about Everton sticking their beaks in? Provide evidence of this.


Who knows? Maybe I am judging Martinez too harshly because of some of his past behaviors! I said that in the very first comment related to this entire subject. It would have saved everybody a lot of hassle if they took that into consideration at the start!

What past behaviours exactly would warrant you holding prejudice against him or a feeling that he has it in for us or would rather McCarthy not playing for us?

Now, for heaven's sake, please stop trying to squirm your way out of this and just admit you were wrong because you'd jumped to rash conclusions without being fully informed.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

You are similarly lacking in contrition whenever you are proven wrong. And yes it is self-congratulation and validation. You are constantly making non-sequitur, passive aggressive comments and then accuse me of "playing the victim" whenever I reply and/or get upset about it. You have a constant need to be proven right. Let it (our difference of opinion) go.

Plenty of evidence. I think our managerial team know better than you and I. And FAI doctors.

Why was he playing two club matches in the space of four days if the injury was so serious? That's all I want to know. When players are not rotated at clubs competing at several fronts, this is what happens. 3/4 of their first team have picked up similar injuries this season. Maybe they should be more introspective avout it. He still has a duty to play Intl. football.

Like when it was agreed that Coleman wouldn't play the USA game? For one example..

He doesn't hold the same views as you either!!!

That is what people said. Their opinions changed of course when the FAI and the mgmt. team did start asserting themselves.

Managers said that he couldn't ultimately play the game because he wasn't training. It was implied that he could have trained & would have been in a suitable condition to play the game.

Martinez past behaviors when McCarthy was still waiting for his first competitive Intl. cap.

Now please respect my opinion. I may be wrong, as I stated in the very first comment related to this entire thing. So may you. I don't need to say I'm wrong just to satisfy your ego. Get over yourself please.

It's not my problem that accepting you are right in your own mind isn't sufficient for you. It's really not my problem that you need to be validated too.

[DeLorean]

Why was he playing two club matches in the space of four days if the injury was so serious? That's all I want to know.

It was two games in six days actually, a significant difference I would think. And stop playing stupid, they obviously thought the injury had healed significantly that it wouldn't be a factor. The West Ham game was thirteen days after the initial strain, our game was just five days. Are you seriously saying that you don't think an injury has a much better chance of clearing up when the recovery time is practically trebled? MON, himself, said the Scotland game came just too early but that he'd be fine for the weekend. He got through the Saturday untroubled, therefore furthering their belief that he was out of danger. Clearly he wasn't.

[DeLorean]

Martinez thinks the game against Hull tomorrow will come too early for McCarthy. I bet he would have played had it been an Evert... erm... a club... erm, nevermind.


Roberto Martinez does not expect to have James McCarthy available to face Hull City on Wednesday evening. The Republic of Ireland midfielder’s hamstring injury will continue to be monitored right up until kick-off, though the Blues boss accepts the visit of the Tigers may come too soon.

McCarthy, who missed Sunday's trip to Spurs, also sat out two matches in October due to a similar hamstring injury and Martinez says the Club’s medical staff are trying to get to the bottom of the problem.

The Spaniard added: “There has been a little bit of a reoccurrence. It’s not a major problem and is down to the amount of games he has had to play. He’s a young man – albeit he is already very experienced - and we need to find the right formula for him with the training exposure and being able to cope with all the games in such a busy season.

“It is something that we want to eradicate. He is a sprinter in terms of the way his muscles are built and you have to be very careful.”

evertonfc.com (http://www.evertonfc.com/news/2014/12/02/mccarthy-expected-to-miss-hull)

[KK77]

Hopefully the magic formula will be found though in saying it's down to the amount of games he's played shouldn't leave the medical team with a huge job to find the magic formula.

[tetsujin1979]

He's been playing senior football since he was 16, burn out could become a factor in his future fitness

[BonnieShels]

When Martinez came out with this recently I first thought about that fact Tets.

We could do with him out for a month or two tbh.