James McCarthy M Celtic b.1990

**Stuttgart88** · 14/08/2011, 1:35 PM

I reckon Keith Fahey can feck off as well. Not fit to play for Ireland, fit enough to play and score for his club a few days later. Serious commitment issues.

**Sullivinho** · 14/08/2011, 1:57 PM

Don't forget Kevin Doyle. Fit as a fiddle yesterday, that head bandage wasn't fooling anyone. Is there no end to that man's deceptions??

**DannyInvincible** · 14/08/2011, 2:18 PM

Originally Posted by youngirish

Possibly because they are.

He has more or less stated in the past that he would have played for Scotland if they hadn't ignored him at schoolboy level. His only link to Ireland is that a single grandparent was born there. He shows no obvious appetite to play for the team unlike someone like Kilbane or McGeady who whilst also not being Irish born seem geniunely proud to show up for even fairly meaningless international games.

Anyway your post seems to imply everyone's getting on McCarthy's case because he pulled out of the last squad through injury when this is not the realtity of the situation at all. I'm getting on his case because he pulls out of nearly every squad with an excuse yet still manages to turn up every weekend for Wigan.

He missed three months of Wigan's season last year.

Anyway, it is my understanding that the McCarthy family are very much a Glaswegian Irish family with a strong Irish identity and a pride in their roots. McCarthy's grandfather was a Coyle from Gweedore and he must have Irish roots further back as well, considering his surname. McCarthy also happens to be Scottish - that doesn't negate his Irishness - so I'm sure he would have considered playing for Scotland, just as Ray Houghton said he would have despite having a father from Buncrana in Donegal. Didn't Aiden McGeady play for Scotland at schoolboy level?

**greendeiseboy** · 14/08/2011, 2:31 PM

[QUOTE=DannyInvincible;1519326]He missed three months of Wigan's season last year.

Anyway, it is my understanding that the McCarthy family are very much a Glaswegian Irish family with a strong Irish identity and a pride in their roots. McCarthy's grandfather was a Coyle from Gweedore and he must have Irish roots further back as well, considering his surname. McCarthy also happens to be Scottish - that doesn't negate his Irishness - so I'm sure he would have considered playing for Scotland, just as Ray Houghton said he would have despite having a father from Buncrana in Donegal. Didn't Aiden McGeady play for Scotland at schoolboy level?[/QUOTE]

He played for the Scotland schools team which is different to playing representative football for the National underage teams.

Didn't Daniel Kearns play for the Nothern Ireland schools team one week and played for an ROI under age the following week a couple of years ago.

**geysir** · 14/08/2011, 2:35 PM

Sharkey played for NI schools one day and the next day he was on duty for a ROI underage friendly in Cork.

**AlaskaFox** · 14/08/2011, 5:20 PM

Originally Posted by geysir

Sharkey played for NI schools one day and the next day he was on duty for a ROI underage friendly in Cork.

Did he ever team up with Liam George? Crimebusters of the sea.

**SkStu** · 14/08/2011, 7:34 PM

Originally Posted by AlaskaFox

Did he ever team up with Liam George? Crimebusters of the sea.

hehe - that post gave me a real (teenage) kick!

**an_ceannaire** · 15/08/2011, 8:12 AM

Why are ue not having a go at Doyle so lads in the same vein?
Macca had a niggle, the premiershipw as starting this weekend
why take the chance playing in a meaningless joke of a friendly and risk aggrevating it thus risk missing a large portion of the biggest season of your life so far?
Get off the stage lads
He was right. It was a nothing match.
And if ye are having a go then why not have a go at Doyle too. Doyle is like the spoiled child in here, he can do no wrong!

**ifk101** · 15/08/2011, 8:25 AM

Originally Posted by an_ceannaire

And if ye are having a go then why not have a go at Doyle too. Doyle is like the spoiled child in here, he can do no wrong!

Must. Try. Harder.

**elroy** · 15/08/2011, 9:17 AM

I think many of us arent appreciating the realms in which a professional athlete works in. If not 100% fit for a friendly, should the player turn out? I would say probably not. The risk is there that they may aggreviate the injury and cause further damage. The alternative is a few extra days training/physio at their club and the reality sometimes is that 3-4 days can make the difference.

There are many times when our players, certainly less than 100% fit have turned out for competitive games. Friendlies not so, and cant say I blame them. If players are fit and dont turn up because they are tired etc (ala Stokes), then there is no excuse for that. In fairness to James, in this case there was little doubt that he picked up an injury and probably it was best to remain in Wigan to get it treated/recover rather than risk further injury in a friendly.

**PatJR** · 15/08/2011, 9:42 AM

A player has no business playing in a friendly if he is not 100% fit. It makes zero sense for the player, country or club.

**tetsujin1979** · 23/08/2011, 7:59 AM

McCarthy signs a 5 year deal at Wigan: http://www.wiganlatics.co.uk/page/Ne...428838,00.html

**BonnieShels** · 23/08/2011, 8:01 AM

Just heard that on newstalk. Now if he would only turn up for his national team.

**paul_oshea** · 23/08/2011, 9:33 AM

Interesting one, thats an investment for Wigan as they see it, especially given the other deals that were signed i.e. only 2 and 3 year deals.

2 years time if he has progressed even further still 3 years left on his contract, big money big return on investment for Wigan,if a club tries to prize him away.

If James is going to turn into the player that many believe he is capable, his agent was a dose in getting him to sign this deal.

**ArdeeBhoy** · 23/08/2011, 9:35 AM

Hmm, no-one wants to sign 'our great white hope'...

**greendeiseboy** · 23/08/2011, 10:44 AM

Originally Posted by ArdeeBhoy

Hmm, no-one wants to sign 'our great white hope'...

That's what I thought. Then again it could be good business by Wigan who now have him tied down until he's 25 so if they do decide to sell him they'll cash in.

On another note I watched the game v Swansea on Saturday and he is way off form at the moment, he's clearly not fit - he was hauled off early in the 2nd half after an anonymous performance which included a booking.

Let's see what happens in the next few weeks when the squad is trimmed down and if he's still in it, will he'll turn up - wouldn't hold my breath.