James McCarthy M free agent b.1990

**eirebhoy** · 21/07/2009, 11:45 AM

Originally Posted by Ghost2hammers

How good is this kid? sorry dont really watch the scotch league.

I'm sure when people start to watch him at Wigan they'll be asking what the fuss is about. At the moment he's an 18 year old with the football brain of a 28 year old. He knows how to pass very well, he knows what positions to be take up, etc. He rarely gives the ball away and can defend well. He's a good dribbler. He has all that a player needs, now like Stephen Ireland he has to turn into a playmaker. Martinez is the man to help him do that imo.

If you've seen Chris McCann play then he's similar to him but 3 and a half years younger and probably better technically.

**geysir** · 21/07/2009, 11:50 AM

Won't do him any harm to get away from the game by game focus and abuse, on the side issue of his declaration for Ireland.

**Razors left peg** · 21/07/2009, 12:35 PM

so so glad he hasnt joined Wolves. I wouldnt trust Mick McCarthy to develop him as a midfielder after seeing the way Darron Gibson was put onto the right wing for most of his time at Wolves. I get the feeling that Wolves with go with 2 big athletes in midfield for the season that will run for the team all day but wont create much, so that wouldnt have suited James McCarthy

**tetsujin1979** · 21/07/2009, 12:37 PM

Originally Posted by Ghost2hammers

How good is this kid? sorry dont really watch the scotch league.

I saw him play for the U-19s against Portugal when he was 17, and thought he was the best outfield player on the pitch. Didn't see a lot of SPL games last season, but given the amount of games he played, in a solid side, he must be doing something right. Martinez wanted him when he was manager of Swansea and pursued him again at Wigan. Give him 3-4 years there, develop the player and get him exposure in the Premier League, and sell him on again at a tidy profit.
Coventry did a similar thing with Robbie Keane. While other teams were interested, nobody was willing to take a chance until Strachan bought him in. One season later and he was off to Italy.

**Hibernian** · 21/07/2009, 12:47 PM

Originally Posted by eirebhoy

I'm sure when people start to watch him at Wigan they'll be asking what the fuss is about. At the moment he's an 18 year old with the football brain of a 28 year old. He knows how to pass very well, he knows what positions to be take up, etc. He rarely gives the ball away and can defend well. He's a good dribbler. He has all that a player needs, now like Stephen Ireland he has to turn into a playmaker. Martinez is the man to help him do that imo.

If you've seen Chris McCann play then he's similar to him but 3 and a half years younger and probably better technically.

Ya agree with those points overall.

the thing about this kid is that he has be playing first team football for last few years and has moved up a division each season with Hamilton so he has progressed each year to higher level.

Think he doing right thing now in going to the Englishg premier league at good time.

I myself taught Wolves would have been the better option but he has his reasons and I hope he turns out to be the player he is supposed to become..fingers crossed.

**Manc Irish Wolf** · 21/07/2009, 1:42 PM

Originally Posted by Razors left peg

so so glad he hasnt joined Wolves. I wouldnt trust Mick McCarthy to develop him as a midfielder after seeing the way Darron Gibson was put onto the right wing for most of his time at Wolves. I get the feeling that Wolves with go with 2 big athletes in midfield for the season that will run for the team all day but wont create much, so that wouldnt have suited James McCarthy

Who are the two big athletes? I'd say that the Captain of Serbia after 10 games (with two goals) may well have been brought in for his ability to play football. Anyway isn't McCarthy meant to be a box to box player anyway? - so surely he fit's that description. Talking of development - it is shocking how poorly Ward, Foley & Kightly have progressed from the lower (& Irish) Leagues under his tenure. Might be an idea to watch the players/teams you comment upon rather than regurgitating the same stereotypes - not a Roy Keane loving Man Utd fan are you by any chance?

Absolutely gutted to the core he joined Wigan. However, they are a good, stable footballing side with a good young manager and are relatively closer to home Although, think the swinging factor may well have been the Hamilton Youth Coach who is at Wigan now. Hope he does well and we buy him in a couple of years.

**Manc Irish Wolf** · 21/07/2009, 1:49 PM

Originally Posted by tetsujin1979

I saw him play for the U-19s against Portugal when he was 17, and thought he was the best outfield player on the pitch. Didn't see a lot of SPL games last season, but given the amount of games he played, in a solid side, he must be doing something right. Martinez wanted him when he was manager of Swansea and pursued him again at Wigan. Give him 3-4 years there, develop the player and get him exposure in the Premier League, and sell him on again at a tidy profit.
Coventry did a similar thing with Robbie Keane. While other teams were interested, nobody was willing to take a chance until Strachan bought him in. One season later and he was off to Italy.

Bit off topic, however apparently Strachan didn't buy Keano - he was off ill and the deal was orchestrated by the Coventry Chairman (and disgraced MP) Geoffrey Robinson. Rumour has is that Coventry didn't even own him (Robinson did) and he was brought in at the request of Inter to see if he would make the grade as their manager at the time was a big fan (think it was passarella?). Sorry, Keano's move to Coventry was a heart-breaking one.

**youngirish** · 21/07/2009, 1:50 PM

Originally Posted by Manc Irish Wolf

Who are the two big athletes? I'd say that the Captain of Serbia after 10 games (with two goals) may well have been brought in for his ability to play football. Anyway isn't McCarthy meant to be a box to box player anyway? - so surely he fit's that description. Talking of development - it is shocking how poorly Ward, Foley & Kightly have progressed from the lower (& Irish) Leagues under his tenure. Might be an idea to watch the players/teams you comment upon rather than regurgitating the same stereotypes - not a Roy Keane loving Man Utd fan are you by any chance?

Absolutely gutted to the core he joined Wigan. However, they are a good, stable footballing side with a good young manager and are relatively closer to home Although, think the swinging factor may well have been the Hamilton Youth Coach who is at Wigan now. Hope he does well and we buy him in a couple of years.

From the sounds of things Wolf I think the deciding factor was that he believed he would get more game time at least initially at Wigan than he possibly would at Wolves which I think might turn out to be a good decision on his part particularly in a world cup year.

**Razors left peg** · 21/07/2009, 2:32 PM

Originally Posted by Manc Irish Wolf

Who are the two big athletes? I'd say that the Captain of Serbia after 10 games (with two goals) may well have been brought in for his ability to play football. Anyway isn't McCarthy meant to be a box to box player anyway? - so surely he fit's that description. Talking of development - it is shocking how poorly Ward, Foley & Kightly have progressed from the lower (& Irish) Leagues under his tenure. Might be an idea to watch the players/teams you comment upon rather than regurgitating the same stereotypes - not a Roy Keane loving Man Utd fan are you by any chance?

Absolutely gutted to the core he joined Wigan. However, they are a good, stable footballing side with a good young manager and are relatively closer to home Although, think the swinging factor may well have been the Hamilton Youth Coach who is at Wigan now. Hope he does well and we buy him in a couple of years.

I was just judging on the midfielders that were keeping Gibson out of center midfield during his time there, I dont remember exactly who they were but my discription of 2 big athletes seemed pretty appropriate.

**Junior** · 21/07/2009, 3:26 PM

Originally Posted by Manc Irish Wolf

. Anyway isn't McCarthy meant to be a box to box player anyway? - so surely he fit's that description.

Just on this point, I only watched McCarthy last season for Hamilton but he certainly wasnt a box to box midfielder for them. Played more in an advanced role, quite often behind a lone striker (forget the guys name now).

As he's a tall, strong and atheltic, Hamilton obvioulsy couldnt waste this and had to utilise his ability in the air and defending but I wouldnt call him a box-to-box player by any stretch.

He might develop in to one though.....

**NeilMcD** · 21/07/2009, 3:40 PM

Got to be happy that somebody like Martinez will be his manager and he will be encouraged and coached playing good football. Also away from the abuse he was getting in the SPL should be good for him too. A good move and a mature move it has to be said.

**eirebhoy** · 21/07/2009, 4:07 PM

Originally Posted by Junior

Just on this point, I only watched McCarthy last season for Hamilton but he certainly wasnt a box to box midfielder for them. Played more in an advanced role, quite often behind a lone striker (forget the guys name now).

As he's a tall, strong and atheltic, Hamilton obvioulsy couldnt waste this and had to utilise his ability in the air and defending but I wouldnt call him a box-to-box player by any stretch.

He might develop in to one though.....

Technically gifted players in the SPL tend to be pushed further forward to take advantage of that. Same with Scott Brown. If Brown was playing in the likes of Italy or Spain he'd be playing a much more defensive role. I'd describe McCarthy as box to box. Certainly his SPL debut against Dundee Utd when I watched him closest he was stopping loads of attacks at one end and winning free kicks at the other.

Martinez today:
"There were several clubs chasing James. It is fantastic he has chosen Wigan.

He had a very difficult decision to make and, fair play to him, he took his time to weigh up all his options, take advice and make his mind up.

That shows a huge amount of maturity for a boy of his age, but then maturity is probably the one word I would use above all others to describe him.

He has the ability to become a big player in the future and it is great to have him on board."

**geysir** · 21/07/2009, 5:07 PM

Originally Posted by Manc Irish Wolf

Bit off topic, however apparently Strachan didn't buy Keano - he was off ill and the deal was orchestrated by the Coventry Chairman (and disgraced MP) Geoffrey Robinson. Rumour has is that Coventry didn't even own him (Robinson did) and he was brought in at the request of Inter to see if he would make the grade as their manager at the time was a big fan (think it was passarella?). Sorry, Keano's move to Coventry was a heart-breaking one.

That makes a good read.
Sound like there was also some pain at not having that lucrative sell on clause

AFAIR, Strachan had been stalking Robbie's career for some time and was there for the signing. Coventry sold some player, Huckerby? to finance the Robbie transfer fee.
Inter managed to persuade Coventry to agree to a first buy option type contract. Maybe they had to pay Coventry for that.

**zackmorris** · 21/07/2009, 6:33 PM

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,195...446987,00.html

McCarthy explains move.

**tetsujin1979** · 21/07/2009, 8:44 PM

Discussing the move on NewsTalk at the moment with Murdo MacLeod

**Predator** · 22/07/2009, 11:35 AM

It's a massive step-up from SPL to EPL. It will be interesting to see if McCarthy can live up to the hype.

**tetsujin1979** · 11/08/2009, 4:11 PM

From today's Herald: http://www.herald.ie/sport/soccer/br...a-1856522.html

"We'll have to watch and see how young McCarthy gets on at Wigan; see can he handle the Premiership. He's a very good young player. I think Giovanni has shown that if someone demonstrates that they can do it, he's not afraid of putting them in."