James McCarthy M free agent b.1990

**irishfan86** · 27/08/2009, 9:13 PM

Basically when Bruce left, and all of their best players were sold, I sensed trouble for Wigan.

Laid on them to get relegated, especially given that Martinez likes to play fancy football. Think West Brom part deux.

I don't mind losing my bet if McCarthy is a key figure in them staying up, but it would be a nice return....

**carloz** · 27/08/2009, 9:31 PM

Originally Posted by irishfan86

Basically when Bruce left, and all of their best players were sold, I sensed trouble for Wigan.

Laid on them to get relegated, especially given that Martinez likes to play fancy football. Think West Brom part deux.

I don't mind losing my bet if McCarthy is a key figure in them staying up, but it would be a nice return....

If they can repeat their first day performance against Villa on a regular basis then they will be mid table. I do worry about the quality of players they have sold but they might be lucky by the fact there are a lot of poor teams in the league this year who look like relegation fodder

**eirebhoy** · 27/08/2009, 11:05 PM

Catermole was a strange sale. He's needed. The quality is there imo.

**tetsujin1979** · 27/09/2009, 12:48 PM

McCarthy vows to make the grade at Wigan: http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/scot...-Athletic.html

**as_i_say** · 28/09/2009, 11:22 AM

was he even on bench yesterday against chelsea?

**Deckydee** · 08/10/2009, 10:07 AM

Interview with him in regards to Italian match on Soccer Republic.

'U-21s pre italy game'

**boovidge** · 08/10/2009, 12:53 PM

Can't find it.

**rebelmusic** · 08/10/2009, 1:27 PM

It's in the vids section, "U21's Pre Italy Match"

**Deckydee** · 21/10/2009, 6:44 AM

Just watching him again (soccer republic) taking free kicks. Hes got some boot on him

**Colbert Report** · 03/11/2009, 10:52 PM

In eleven games so far, McCarthy has made only one substitute appearance, a 17 minute cameo against Manchester United on August 22. Too early to be calling him a bust? The hype around this guy was unreal, it certainly doesn't seem as though he deserved it. How long do you need to get your fitness levels up to Premiership quality? Surely three months is enough.

Has he been injured or something?

**Jicked** · 03/11/2009, 11:58 PM

Originally Posted by Colbert Report

In eleven games so far, McCarthy has made only one substitute appearance, a 17 minute cameo against Manchester United on August 22. Too early to be calling him a bust? The hype around this guy was unreal, it certainly doesn't seem as though he deserved it. How long do you need to get your fitness levels up to Premiership quality? Surely three months is enough.

Has he been injured or something?

He's still a boy for god's sake, far too early to call him a bust. It does show how ridiculous arguments for him to have been included in Irish squads on the back of people seeing that he got a game with Hamilton was though. He is only 18, if we was a regular in a Premier League team then he'd be one of the best players in the world, up there with the likes of Rooney and Fabregas. Instead it will probably take him until he's 20/21 to break through like most other extremely talented youngsters, and he'll go on to have a great career. He might not be a Rooney or Fabregas but he will still surely be a very good player for us in the future despite that.

**tetsujin1979** · 04/11/2009, 12:03 AM

Yes, there was a lot of hype around him, but it's easy to forget, he's not 19 until Thursday week! Robbie Keane was already 19 when he first played in the Premiership with Coventry, a similar sized club to Wigan.

McCarthy started against Blackpool in the league cup as well. Which Wigan lost. 4-1.
And he was on the bench last weekend against Portsmouth. Which Wigan lost. 4-0.

He was injured in preseason and didn't play for the reserves until September, when he scored on his debut VS Man United's second string. Since then he's played 4 times for the second XI, and seems to have done well in all games
some quotes from the official site:

VS United: http://www.wiganlatics.co.uk/page/InReserve/0,,10429~1798343,00.html

Despite falling further behind from David Ball's goal, Barrow's side refused to give in, and it was James McCarthy this time who kept the fight going.
McCarthy will certainly be proud of his strike, latching onto a cleared cross 25-yards out and hitting a sweet volley into the right-hand corner. A good performance all round from McCarthy, who seemed to have shaken off his niggling thigh injury.

VS Blackburn: http://www.wiganlatics.co.uk/page/InReserve/0,,10429~1806159,00.html

James McCarthy was also given a start and was arguably man-of the-match, controlling the midfield and moving forward with plenty of intent.

VS Hull: http://www.wiganlatics.co.uk/page/InReserve/0,,10429~1832381,00.html

Although Bullard's exit from the game allowed the likes of Jon Routledge and James McCarthy the freedom to express themselves and make an impact on the game, Latics looked to be the side that would go on and win the game.

VS Bolton: http://www.wiganlatics.co.uk/page/InReserve/0,,10429~1811488,00.html
McCarthy went off at half time with the score 0-0. Bolton went on to win 3-0.

They were supposed to play Burnley tonight, but the game was called off due to a waterlogged pitch. Given that he'd started the previous 5 games in a row, there's no doubt in my mind he would have started against the Clarets.

Wigan are still adapting to a new style of football under a new coach, and are actually playing some good stuff. They're on a strange run at the moment, including wins over Chelsea, a draw with Man City and losses to Hull and Portsmouth. Martinez isn't going to throw him in at the deep end after the United game, but there's a fairly packed December coming up so I'd expect to see him play some part against Birmingham, Stoke, Bolton and Blackburn. Remember, Martinez tracked him when he was still the manager at Swansea, and even had a bid rejected. McCarthy was one of his first signings when he took over at the DW, so he definitely thinks McCarthy can cut it in the top division.

I saw him play for the U19s VS Portugal when he was still 17, and in the first team at the Accies, and genuinely thought he was the best outfield player on the pitch.

Let's not write him off just yet.

**Jicked** · 04/11/2009, 12:05 AM

Frank Lampard didn't become a fixture in a Premier League side until he was over 20, I don't think we have to start worrying about McCarthy's progress just yet.

**drummerboy** · 04/11/2009, 8:09 AM

Reckon he might be better off going out on loan to a championship team in January.

**paul_oshea** · 04/11/2009, 8:13 AM

CR is a bit of a sensationalist, been over the other side of the pond for a bit too long I reckon. I wouldn't worry too much about Mccarthy yet.

**elroy** · 04/11/2009, 9:19 AM

Dont think its any harm if the lad has a quiet year of progression this season. Im not a big fan of the SPL and felt he needed to move on and develop. Wigan is a good club for him,away from the bright lights of London, good manager who will give him the opportunity in the first team.

Remember Roy the boy was in his early 20s before he really started making an impact so give the lad time yet. There is no doubt over his potential.

**Junior** · 04/11/2009, 9:27 AM

Good post Tets - thanks for that info.

He'll be a great player for us in time. A nice gentle introduction to the PL is what is required, plenty of reserve football a bit of Carling Cup / FA Cup and a few bench appearances all in good time.

I agree with CR in that all the talk of a senior call up was nonsensical, like it was for Sheridan etc.....

**dynamo kerry** · 04/11/2009, 10:46 AM

Originally Posted by Junior

Good post Tets - thanks for that info.

He'll be a great player for us in time. A nice gentle introduction to the PL is what is required, plenty of reserve football a bit of Carling Cup / FA Cup and a few bench appearances all in good time.

I agree with CR in that all the talk of a senior call up was nonsensical, like it was for Sheridan etc.....

visibility in scotland is much higher for irish players considering the level of the game.

there's probably irish guys at peterborough who are very good that we simply don't know about - unless they are in u-17 squads etc.

little bit of an exaggeration but the scottish lads are overhyped. sheridan especially.

**geysir** · 04/11/2009, 10:55 AM

Is there hype around Sheridan? or are you confusing praise with hype?
He looked alright in the last u21 game against the Swiss.

**Junior** · 04/11/2009, 11:07 AM

Originally Posted by geysir

Is there hype around Sheridan? or are you confusing praise with hype?
He looked alright in the last u21 game against the Swiss.

I think a bit of both has happened. Certainly there were posts looking for him to be in the senior setup - based on him appearing in the first 11 for Celtic - This was nonsensical imo.

Praise - Definitely been alot of this also and rightly deserved - thrown in to the deep end at Celtic (played at Old Trafford in the Champions League game) scored a few good SPL goals. Lots of rough edges and plenty of flaws in his game to iron out before getting anywhere near the Senior 11. I watched the Swiss U21 game and he did play very well. Hes getting physically stronger, ran the channels well - plenty more to do but fingers crossed he makes the grade.

Doesnt appear to be getting a starting berth at Plymouth though?

EDIT: Sorry he does have his own thread I know......