James McCarthy M Celtic b.1990

**EastTerracer** · 25/03/2011, 1:26 AM

Originally Posted by gastric

For anyone watching downunder, the game will be shown at 6.40 am live on Sunday on ESPN 2. God bless Tommy Smyth, the old onion bag! The only ongoing coverage over here of the Euro Qualifers is of Ireland, probably a junket to keep Smyth happy. Love him or hate him, you can be guaranteed some GAA references, some mention of Irish fundraising in the US or his love of Man U as part of his commentary on the game

Tommy gets to very few games in person so I suspect he'll be doing his commentary from a small room in Bristol, Connecticut (ESPN HQ).

**Charlie Darwin** · 25/03/2011, 1:32 AM

Originally Posted by EastTerracer

Fantastic photo from Friday's Irish Times. No wonder James is a "leetle bit shy"

Is he wearing a kilt?

**tetsujin1979** · 25/03/2011, 9:32 AM

the same photo, from a slightly different angle, is in the Independent

**ken foree** · 25/03/2011, 2:27 PM

Originally Posted by EastTerracer

Tommy gets to very few games in person so I suspect he'll be doing his commentary from a small room in Bristol, Connecticut (ESPN HQ).

he is a complete tool.

**boovidge** · 25/03/2011, 3:50 PM

Originally Posted by tetsujin1979

the same photo, from a slightly different angle, is in the Independent

A Scotland fan must have photoshopped this by now.

**ped_ped** · 26/03/2011, 8:32 PM

Should we close this thread now?

**SkStu** · 26/03/2011, 8:34 PM

this thread is only beginning.

**tricky_colour** · 26/03/2011, 8:49 PM

I was expecting to see Martinez jump out of the crowd to try and persuade him to change his mind.

**amaccann** · 26/03/2011, 8:57 PM

Was it just my imagination, or did I hear a couple of 'boo's from the crowd when McCarthy made his first few touches?

**Noelys Guitar** · 26/03/2011, 8:59 PM

Originally Posted by amaccann

Was it just my imagination, or did I hear a couple of 'boo's from the crowd when McCarthy made his first few touches?

That was Levein and Martinez.

**tetsujin1979** · 26/03/2011, 9:19 PM

Originally Posted by amaccann

Was it just my imagination, or did I hear a couple of 'boo's from the crowd when McCarthy made his first few touches?

Not a bit of it, the place erupted! A much as for Keane as anything else. Every touch was likewise cheered.

**Irish_Praha** · 26/03/2011, 9:23 PM

I don't think we will ever see the likes of this on Foot.ie again. A player with a 135 page thread before he even makes his compettive debut.

**Poor Student** · 26/03/2011, 9:41 PM

I just want to say, phew! Glad he's been pinned down to play for us. Now let's hope he can force his way into the team as soon as possible, we need his quality in the centre of the park.

**cestlavie** · 26/03/2011, 9:53 PM

Now lets hope he will play him as he is the future.

**Charlie Darwin** · 26/03/2011, 9:55 PM

How long until Dunphy decides he's a spoofer?

**Eminence Grise** · 26/03/2011, 10:53 PM

Dunphy will never admit he's a spoofer. And, God knows, he's been given plenty of opportunities!

For his verdict on James, I give it till last orders, or closing time at the veeery latest....

**Crosby87** · 26/03/2011, 11:31 PM

Originally Posted by tetsujin1979

Not a bit of it, the place erupted! A much as for Keane as anything else. Every touch was likewise cheered.

Agree seemed to give a huge boost. Felt it all the way here actually. Found it uplifting. We cheered.

And Gastric who the hell where those announcers? That was the ESPN3 feed. God I worship ESPN for adding free Intl football to their arsenal but I am not sure I have ever heard such bad announcers! They talked to each other and laughed 90% of the time! If i ever encountered the two of them in a bar I would leave them the hell alone..... I Had the bar put on the RTE radio right quick which was a complete PITA! For once it was in sync with the play though thankfully!

**Fergie's Son** · 27/03/2011, 5:30 AM

He seems keen and has put the issue to rest once and for all. Welcome home James.

**TiocfaidhArmani** · 27/03/2011, 9:13 AM

Originally Posted by Fergie's Son

He seems keen and has put the issue to rest once and for all. Welcome home James.

It's great to see a member of the diaspora wear the green

**Murfinator** · 27/03/2011, 10:34 AM

How do people feel about his pre-planned substitution purely for the reason of getting him stuck with Ireland? Doesn't it seem a bit dis-trusting of the player to need to do something like this? Surely if he's committed to Ireland he'll wait however long it takes for him to break into the first team and if the management doesn't believe he has the commitment to do that maybe he shouldn't be here in the first place.

One of his post-match comments got to me a little. He said when he got on the pitch he "tried to do what I do for Wigan". And adding in his strange position and getting wires crossed with other players at times it felt like he wasn't in tune with the team plan at all, which is understandable given the lack of time he's been involved but it isn't understandable why Trap is playing someone in a competitive game unfamiliar with the gameplan IMO.