James McCarthy M free agent b.1990

**Eirambler** · 20/03/2011, 6:33 PM

I think this is my favourite quote of the whole saga so far:

Originally Posted by some tosspot in the TA Board

I can see why he's picked Ireland - more chance of a game.

Would he get in the midfield 5 ahead of Brown, Fletcher, Adam, Dorrans, Morrison, Naismith, McFadden, Bannan and Commons?

**paul_oshea** · 20/03/2011, 6:43 PM

he probably wouldn't get in ahead of the first team.be good if we had their midfield we would be vastly improved.

**boovidge** · 20/03/2011, 6:58 PM

Originally Posted by Eirambler

I think this is my favourite quote of the whole saga so far:

comedy gold

**Charlie Darwin** · 20/03/2011, 7:20 PM

Originally Posted by paul_oshea

he probably wouldn't get in ahead of the first team.be good if we had their midfield we would be vastly improved.

They do have far better midfield options than us but he would walk into their team, as he should ours.

**Junior** · 20/03/2011, 7:31 PM

Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin

They do have far better midfield options than us but he would walk into their team, as he should ours.

Im not sure who the starting 4 or 5 is for Scotland these days but Brown, Fletcher, Adam, Commons are all in good form and experienced. The rest that are quoted I am less sure about curretnly but Naismith has plenty of domestic and european experience with Rangers, McFadden has played at a high level for a number of years, McCarthy wouldnt just walk in to their team. We have to be careful with the amount of focus we are giving young James (rightly so, as he is undoubtedly one of our finest prospects) but if you speak to fans of premiership teams or football fans in general not of an Irish persuasion, McCarthy is not high on their list of standout players this season many have not even heard of him.

I think he will be great for us given a bedding in period.

**carloz** · 20/03/2011, 7:37 PM

Im not sure who the starting 4 or 5 is for Scotland these days but Brown, Fletcher, Adam, Commons are all in good form and experienced

Fletcher has been in very poor form this season, and has always failed to produce for Scotland.

but if you speak to fans of premiership teams or football fans in general not of an Irish persuasion, McCarthy is not high on their list of standout players this season many have not even heard of him.

Got to disagree here. Most who actually follow the game and watch a good deal of football rather than just MOTD would probably have McCarthy as the second most impressive young player in England this season behind Whiltshire. One of the main reasons Wigan are bottom at the moment is the horrible run they went on when McCarthy was injured

**Charlie Darwin** · 20/03/2011, 7:47 PM

Originally Posted by Junior

Im not sure who the starting 4 or 5 is for Scotland these days but Brown, Fletcher, Adam, Commons are all in good form and experienced. The rest that are quoted I am less sure about curretnly but Naismith has plenty of domestic and european experience with Rangers, McFadden has played at a high level for a number of years, McCarthy wouldnt just walk in to their team. We have to be careful with the amount of focus we are giving young James (rightly so, as he is undoubtedly one of our finest prospects) but if you speak to fans of premiership teams or football fans in general not of an Irish persuasion, McCarthy is not high on their list of standout players this season many have not even heard of him.

I think he will be great for us given a bedding in period.

Playing well in the SPL is not the same thing as playing well in the Premier League. Granted, Rangers have had a good cup run but the better players in that Celtic side are those from outside Scotland.

**Stuttgart88** · 20/03/2011, 7:49 PM

Originally Posted by carloz

Most who actually follow the game and watch a good deal of football rather than just MOTD would probably have McCarthy as the second most impressive young player in England this season behind Whiltshire. One of the main reasons Wigan are bottom at the moment is the horrible run they went on when McCarthy was injured

I think Seamus Coleman would have to be up there.

**Fergie's Son** · 20/03/2011, 8:10 PM

Originally Posted by geysir

The name is James

Eh pedantic much? He has gone by Jamie before.

**Junior** · 20/03/2011, 8:22 PM

Originally Posted by carloz

Fletcher has been in very poor form this season, and has always failed to produce for Scotland.

So are you saying McCarthy would be in ahead of Fletcher for Scotland? If so, I disagree. If not then you're commenting on a period of club form for Fletcher. Most comments I read about in Man U's recent defeat to Liverpool was how could Fletcher be dropped (He had been ill during the week it transpired) and how that was a major tactical error of Ferguson.

Originally Posted by carloz

Got to disagree here. Most who actually follow the game and watch a good deal of football rather than just MOTD would probably have McCarthy as the second most impressive young player in England this season behind Whiltshire. One of the main reasons Wigan are bottom at the moment is the horrible run they went on when McCarthy was injured

Thats quite a statement to make, 'Most who actually follow the game'. Perhaps your acquaintances are better briefed on the premiership squads than mine

and you dont need to tell me of McCarthys qualities, Im well aware. Perhaps I do your average fan an injustice but I stand by my original comment that those I speak to would be fairly unaware of McCarthy or aware of him but not in the 'this kid is going to be something special' kind of way.

Its neither here nor there I suppose as long as he fulfills his potential for us.

**Stuttgart88** · 20/03/2011, 9:02 PM

Originally Posted by geysir

The name is James

Seamus McDonagh used to be "Jim" before his calling

**Junior** · 20/03/2011, 9:08 PM

Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin

Playing well in the SPL is not the same thing as playing well in the Premier League. Granted, Rangers have had a good cup run but the better players in that Celtic side are those from outside Scotland.

Dont dispute that the Premiership is better than the SPL. So whos place will McCarthy take when 'walking' in to that Scotland Midfield (Hypothetically of course!!!!!)

**Charlie Darwin** · 20/03/2011, 9:11 PM

Commons or Naismith, I'd imagine.

**Stuttgart88** · 20/03/2011, 9:11 PM

I think this debate just highlights what has been obvious for years. We have our worst central midfield in a generation or more. The rest of the team is grand, by and large. I think players like Fletcher and Scott Brown would walk into our CM, and Charlie Adam has been the surprise pacakge of the year. Our wide options are more than decent however, quite a bit better than Scotland's I reckon.

**paul_oshea** · 20/03/2011, 9:20 PM

I'd have to agree with Junior on this I don't think James is that well known, even among(some of) the average scottish fan.

Most of the premier league club supporting people I know haven't heard of him.

**Charlie Darwin** · 20/03/2011, 9:40 PM

I bet most of them support United or Liverpool too and maybe some even go to the pub to watch the games in their replica shirts. How many people know who Matt Jarvis or Jordan Henderson are? More than McCarthy, sure, but they've at least got the media-friendly angle of being English. People who know their football rightly regard McCarthy as a major talent alongside those players.

**amaccann** · 20/03/2011, 9:45 PM

It would be kind of funny that after all this, after all the rumours & innuendo, McCarthy languishes on the subs bench (or worse), because he doesn't fit Trap's style / system.

**Crosby87** · 20/03/2011, 9:58 PM

An Irish couple here on vacation asked me directions the other day and the fella had a Duff Jersey on so I asked if they were fans of the team. He said they go to a lot of the games and are fans...We got to talking and I brought up McCarthy....he had no idea who he was! I thought that was a bit odd.

**paul_oshea** · 20/03/2011, 10:05 PM

Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin

I bet most of them support United or Liverpool too and maybe some even go to the pub to watch the games in their replica shirts. How many people know who Matt Jarvis or Jordan Henderson are? More than McCarthy, sure, but they've at least got the media-friendly angle of being English. People who know their football rightly regard McCarthy as a major talent alongside those players.

Many people might not know their football then.

there is a couple of lads who sit beside me at work one is a newcastle season ticket holder(who is your typical annoying NU supporter) the other is an arsenal fan, who never misses a home game in any competition. Im interested to see if they are aware of him and how they rate him. I must ask, I mean 2 people isn't a fair representation but id like to know anyway. My guess is they know he is with wigan and thats it.

**Junior** · 20/03/2011, 10:06 PM

Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin

Commons or Naismith, I'd imagine.

Possibly but it would be a 'marginal' decision at this stage imo. He wouldnt be just 'walking' in to the side.

You're dead right Stutts - It because we have Green, Gibson, Andrews, Whelan that we are crying out for McCarthy to make his debut and get involved. If we had 2 from Adam, Brown or Fletcher (Could have had the Achill man!!!) then I dont think we'd be so concerned / desperate.