Titus Bramble has been brilliant this season IMO. Without him they would have been relegated by now, no doubt in my mind.
Bit harsh. Wigan are a top team on their day and one of the worst on the others.
Titus Bramble has been brilliant this season IMO. Without him they would have been relegated by now, no doubt in my mind.
I think fu1hams comments were not too dissimilar to my own thoughts after watching James against Man City last week. He was decent but no more. He played in a very poorly performing Wigan side and spent most of his time on defensive duties. He didnt look out of his depth in that side, that was for sure and I wouldnt say that he looked championship standard unless you were to say the whole team did (and that might be a valid point).
As far as I am concerned, he is doing well, getting regular games under his belt and performing to a decent (if not top class) standard. I dont agree with comments such as 'I don't think we'll see what he is fully capable until he is playing with a better team'. The same thing is often said of McGeady and certainly of McCarthy when he was with Hamilton in the SPL, now he has had 3 months in the Wigan first team and we think we wont see the best of him until he is in a better side. Players simply dont get the opportunites to go to Arsenal and Barca and the likes that often (extreme to make the point I know). Wigan are a premiership side who have a good chance of remaining there for next season. McCarthy should be able to impress in a side that is competing at this standard, he is playing alongside established premiership players. I hope one day he does move on to bigger and better things but he has a good few years of development ahead of him yet and he needs to do it at all levels not just in a top team.
Im really pleased with how he's progressing.
NB: I havent seen much of Bramble this season apart from MOTD but he was muck against Man City - no question.
I thought you were off the drink Ronnie?
"No, I drink to help me mind my own business....can I get you one? (c) Ronnie Drew
Has everyone forgotten he's still only 19, and was still 18 at the start of the season? I can count on the fingers of one hand the number of 19 year olds who have made as many appearances as James this season.
That in itself is a mark of the talent of the lad. Leave him alone for a season or two until he turns 21 and then we'll start to see the best from him.
Arsenal Target James McCarthy: I'm Happy At Wigan Athletic
Latics prodigy ready to ignore interest from Gunners and Liverpool...
http://goal.com/en/news/9/england/20...wigan-athletic
Sorry if that's already been posted.
I would just hate for him to move to a club like Arsenal at this point and get lost in the mix. Or pick up a small injury then not be able to get back into the lineup for months or whatever... Sometimes the grass isn't greener.
No Somos muchos pero estamos locos.
That reads more like his agent at work.Arsenal Target James McCarthy: I'm Happy At Wigan Athletic
The fact that McCarthy at 18/19 has held a regular place in the Wigan team is a sign of definite progress.
Didnt he sign an Irish keeper? McDermott I think he's called.
Agree, if there is one manager who does not care where a player is from its Wenger. Simply interested in talent.
Has Wenger ever paid any money for an Irish Player.
I am generally a big fan of Wenger and he certainly has done well for Arsenal in the transfer market.
Not going for Shay Given when he could have had him for 5/6 million must be a managerial crime though.
Wenger has never really bought a really really expensive player where the ante would be upped if his judgement on such a player were wrong.
I was surprised to learn that, before Arshavin, Wenger's most expensive purchase was Wiltord.
Wenger might make a play for James Mac as part of FIFA telling French people to be more considerate of Irishness.
Also according to Wikipedia, Wengers parents own a bistro in france, which will be useful if he wants to cook for Mac to impress him and get him to agree to come to London.
No Somos muchos pero estamos locos.
Well remembered and he did not really do the business but Wenger generally does well in the transfer market. He normally buys for a good price and often sells on when the player is getting past his peak.
It would be interesting to see if Wenger was given loads of dosh would he be able to do as well (or better) buying the big money buys.
At this stage though I am not sure if he would go for big money buys even if he is given the dosh.
Wenger was under severe financial constraints at Arsenal before they moved to the new stadium, which is generating way more for them than Highbury.
While I don't see him spending City or Chelsea levels of cash, I do think he'll be able to spend more than in previous seasons on new players
Not saying he has a vendetta but in the recent past two players, notably Given and Dunne who are def good enough to play for them and arguably Arsenal needed (and still need imo) were not ignored by Wenger.
Fair enough, none actually made it through but I was referring to the fact that he doesnt sign Irish players as opposed to any comng through the youth system.
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