James McCarthy M free agent b.1990

**Irwin3** · 23/05/2011, 11:21 PM

Does the word unprofessional even cover this?

**DannyInvincible** · 23/05/2011, 11:30 PM

So is the ankle scan story a "cover-up" for a pretty bad hangover?

**tricky_colour** · 23/05/2011, 11:49 PM

Twisted his ankle when the bouncers threw him out!!

**Scooby Doo** · 24/05/2011, 12:29 AM

Very disappointing if true - not the fact that he allegedly went on the lash, but that he supposedly made zero effort to speak with Trap and the FAI.
I'm very excited about James being an important player for us but if all this is true then he can fook off till he cops himself on as far as I'm concerned.
Many of us would give our left one to get five minutes in the green at Lansdowne!

**DannyInvincible** · 24/05/2011, 12:33 AM

Article by Ewan Murray in the Guardian: http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2...nd-nations-cup

"Somebody has been called up and hasn't answered yet," Trapattoni said. "I will not say that name." The manager said a 10-day period of non-communication had taken place.

The player's identity emerged as McCarthy.

There's also the suggestion McCarthy wouldn't be keen to represent Scotland on Sunday for reasons that I suppose are understandable given the history but the least he could have done would have been to discuss his issues with Trap first. I'm sure Trap would have listened to his concerns, if it is indeed the case that having to play against Scotland would have been a concern.

**Scooby Doo** · 24/05/2011, 12:35 AM

Also, in this clip James confirms his intention to 'have a good celebration' on Sunday night. Again, the celebrating is not the issue, it is the lack of professionalism that he has demonstrated - assuming that reports that he has not contacted Trap or the FAI since are true.

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,195...946170,00.html

**DannyInvincible** · 24/05/2011, 12:42 AM

They've this in the Daily Mail.

Taking the Mc: The Wigan defender has angered Ireland boss Trapattoni

Isn't that Gary Caldwell?

**geysir** · 24/05/2011, 12:48 AM

Selecting the date for the game against NI, just 2 days after the crucial end of season games, is the main madness.

**Stuttgart88** · 24/05/2011, 6:33 AM

It's a communications issue again, but yes, it's daft to expect guys who were involved in a virtual cup final late afternoon on Sunday to be here for a friendly on Tuesday.

**republicofwhite** · 24/05/2011, 7:33 AM

AFAIK, He doesn't drink, or didn't drink before up until recently... Slippery slope?

**ifk101** · 24/05/2011, 8:32 AM

I suppose at least Stokes had the decency to say he wasn't coming over.

**Stuttgart88** · 24/05/2011, 8:55 AM

McCarthy likely to miss all the upcoming games due to an ankle injury according to RTE, citing "sources close to the player".

**mypost** · 24/05/2011, 9:42 AM

Originally Posted by DannyInvincible

There's also the suggestion McCarthy wouldn't be keen to represent Scotland on Sunday for reasons that I suppose are understandable given the history but the least he could have done would have been to discuss his issues with Trap first. I'm sure Trap would have listened to his concerns, if it is indeed the case that having to play against Scotland would have been a concern.

That's a load of blx if you ask me. Did Ray Houghton not bother to turn up against Scotland? Does Aiden McGeady not bother to turn up against Scotland? If you want to play for Scotland, play for them. If you want to play for Ireland, you turn up on call and you put your personal issues to one side for 90 minutes.

From watching him against Macedonia, I can't say he impressed me. But there's a touch of the "Stephen Ireland's" about this. I don't accept the reasoning. What happens if he has to play against an ex-club, or a team where he lived before. Does he pull out of them too?

Originally Posted by Stuttgart88

yes, it's daft to expect guys who were involved in a virtual cup final late afternoon on Sunday to be here for a friendly on Tuesday.

And when there's 3 points and a trophy at stake at the weekend, it's daft to call tonight's derby a "friendly".

**Lionel Ritchie** · 24/05/2011, 9:53 AM

Originally Posted by mypost

From watching him against Macedonia, I can't say he impressed me .

neither can I ...but that's because it's impossible to evaluate a three minute cameo unless the guy scores a hat-trick.

Originally Posted by mypost

And when there's 3 points and a trophy at stake at the weekend, it's daft to call tonight's derby a "friendly".

What!?! Oh so now this competition means something?

**DannyInvincible** · 24/05/2011, 10:06 AM

Originally Posted by mypost

That's a load of blx if you ask me. Did Ray Houghton not bother to turn up against Scotland? Does Aiden McGeady not bother to turn up against Scotland? If you want to play for Scotland, play for them. If you want to play for Ireland, you turn up on call and you put your personal issues to one side for 90 minutes.

Aye, to be honest, I wouldn't make much of such an excuse either. It's probably just people in the media trying to put two and two together without having actually heard from McCarthy himself. There's been nothing to indicate that McCarthy said he'd be reluctant to face Scotland.

**Junior** · 24/05/2011, 10:26 AM

Lads, a bit of kop on please. Did we not just have all this type of crap for the last 12 months? Now McCarthy is a fully capped Irish International (For what its worth, I never thought there would be some u-turn to Scotland) posters are getting all upset by a few unsubstantiated sensational media headlines. McCarthy would be more than capable and willing to face Scotland, that is not the issue. Now whether its injury or over doing it with the celebrations on his clubs great result on Sunday I dont know but do we really need to start effing and jeffing the lad already?

**ifk101** · 24/05/2011, 10:47 AM

Junior,

The squad was announced weeks ago. The following quote is from an article published this morning;

"McCarthy has still not spoken to the FAI and there has been no communication between the player and the organisation or the Ireland boss."

http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2011/0524/mccarthyj.html

McCarthy hasn't contacted anyone connected with the FAI since the start of May.

**Junior** · 24/05/2011, 11:01 AM

Sorry my poorly written post didnt make it clear. I agree non-communication is unprofessional and inexcusable really with agents, clubs PR & Medical teams (though Wigans has been found wanting in the past in fairness) there to ensure this doesnt happen. Or even little old James himself, should have ensured the FAI were completely up to speed with what was happening.

However a little perspective is required. I havent read the article but it still seems to be a tad sensational based on the lines you extracted. Im not sure McCarthy needed to contact anyone 'since the start of May'. Surely it was only once he was injured (Sunday) or went on his little celebratory bender (Monday morning) that he should have contacted the FAI? So we are probably talking 24hrs at the most and Im sure contact has now been made.

Its the more sensational nonsense I was referring to though, the 'reluctance to face Scotland' comparisons to 'Stephen Ireland', 'slippery slope' etc..... James had probably the biggest game of his career to date on Sunday which meant the Carling Cup was rightly not at the top of his agenda.

**Kingdom** · 24/05/2011, 11:05 AM

Tony O'D was his usual smug self on Morning Ireland today. He commented on the McCarthy situation, took the **** then out of Keith Andrews.

**Stuttgart88** · 24/05/2011, 11:07 AM

Originally Posted by ifk101

McCarthy hasn't contacted anyone connected with the FAI since the start of May.

When is he supposed to make contact? Do you accept a call up or just say nothing unless you're dropping out? My guess is that he'd only be expected to have made contact in the last two days, so the "all of May" thing is misleading.