James McCarthy M Celtic b.1990

**rebelmusic** · 20/05/2010, 12:25 PM

Bahharrrrggg was looking forward to seeing him. Boourns!

**Fergie's Son** · 20/05/2010, 6:36 PM

Is he actually tied to us now or no?

**Crosby87** · 20/05/2010, 10:30 PM

No Fergie I think he has to play in a non friendly senior match.

**Fergie's Son** · 20/05/2010, 10:50 PM

I thought as much. Shame he can't get in for the friendly matches. Really want to see him start to break into the team.

**Razors left peg** · 20/05/2010, 11:50 PM

Theres no danger of him not playing for us for years to come whether he is offically tied now or not. In his mind he is 100% committed and thats all that matters

**Charlie Darwin** · 21/05/2010, 2:04 AM

As far as I can tell, he is not officially tied, but luckily most players and managers seem to think a friendly does tie you so it won't really be an issue anyway even if he wanted to switch.

**Crosby87** · 21/08/2010, 11:52 PM

This could be a long year for young James. Wigan had a few bites in the start of the match vs Chelsea today, Jamie looked active, I like his pace, but.........It may be tough for him this year.
Bad team, relegation fodder, will struggle to score even one goal most games. I think some on here would call that "character building".
Hope those people are right and he doesn't sink in the muck.
Is it better to play on a bad team who gets blitzed all year in the prem or a good Championship side, when you are young? Just a question.
I realize it was a superior opponent today but my concern is, today is August 21st, and Wigan look awful, sort of hopeless. Hopefully, the situation does not totally deteriorate because I think he is our most interesting prospect and I would hate to see how this might end up affecting him.

**Charlie Darwin** · 22/08/2010, 12:30 AM

Ashley Young always shone at Watford when they were being given a hiding each week. It's a sink or swim situation but every player has one in some shape or form.

**tetsujin1979** · 22/08/2010, 1:16 AM

Roy Keane was in the Nottingham Forest team that was relegated, didn't do his career any harm

**shakermaker1982** · 22/08/2010, 11:14 AM

I thought he played well yesterday. He can look up and pass it forward which is something we lack at this moment in time in the middle of the park. Wigan were the better team for the first 45 but the first goal knocked the stuffing out of em.

**tetsujin1979** · 22/08/2010, 2:35 PM

Had a powerful shot from outside the area deflect onto the post as well

**aidinho** · 22/08/2010, 6:03 PM

Originally Posted by shakermaker1982

I thought he played well yesterday. He can look up and pass it forward which is something we lack at this moment in time in the middle of the park. Wigan were the better team for the first 45 but the first goal knocked the stuffing out of em.

watched him when Hamilton joined the SPL and hes nothing special, he's like a Darren Gibson like player I would say and the other Scottish guy that Wigan have signed with the same kind of of name McArthur I think is even worse.

**Closed Account** · 23/08/2010, 11:00 AM

Originally Posted by aidinho

watched him when Hamilton joined the SPL and hes nothing special, he's like a Darren Gibson like player I would say and the other Scottish guy that Wigan have signed with the same kind of of name McArthur I think is even worse.

In fairness if a players first name doesn't begin with A and his surname rhyme with speedy, then you don't seem to rate him, so forgive us if we don't take your opinion as gospel

**elroy** · 23/08/2010, 2:22 PM

Why is Trap not including the lad in the squad???

**Stuttgart88** · 23/08/2010, 4:18 PM

Because we have no shortage of experienced central midfielders and he's only 19 and in the U21s.

**Brendan 82** · 23/08/2010, 4:27 PM

There's no way he would change back now. He has already played for the Senior National team, albeit in a non-binding friendly but has anyone ever switched after having actually played for the Seniors? Seems impossible to imagine

**Stuttgart88** · 23/08/2010, 4:29 PM

I doubt it because until recently a senior friendly was enough to tie you.

**Brendan 82** · 23/08/2010, 4:30 PM

Yep, thought so; and I don't think he wants to set any such precedent. Case closed

**DannyInvincible** · 23/08/2010, 4:58 PM

Originally Posted by Brendan 82

There's no way he would change back now. He has already played for the Senior National team, albeit in a non-binding friendly but has anyone ever switched after having actually played for the Seniors? Seems impossible to imagine

McCarthy has never represented Scotland at any level, so it's not really an issue of him changing "back", just to be pedantic.

Beyond the odd protests from disgruntled Scottish journalists now and again, and although he's perfectly entitled to change association under current FIFA rules if he so wishes, there's no indication whatsoever that he will switch to Scotland as he has always been committed to Ireland and I don't see why that should change just because he wasn't called into the senior squad for the upcoming Euro 2012 qualifiers. He's been with us from under-17 level. He's still young at only 19 and he'll play his part soon enough; most likely a fairly major one for us, given his potential.

To the best of my knowledge, no-one has ever switched to another association after playing for our senior side, although Shane Lowry (Australian-born to Irish parents) of Aston Villa switched to Australia after playing for our under-17s and later our under-21s. He has yet to appear at senior level for Australia, however, despite committing to them.

Elsewhere, I am aware that Edgar Castillo won four senior friendly caps for Mexico before switching to the US, for whom he now has one senior cap, and Jermaine Jones had played three times for Germany's senior side in friendly games but has now decided to declare for the US. He was called into their squad earlier this month but pulled out due to fitness concerns. I'm sure there are other players around the world who have played for two senior teams since the rule-change.

**gastric** · 24/08/2010, 4:47 AM

Good point Danny! Considering he put up with crap from supporters in Scotland and has declared that the FAI chose him when Scotland showed no interest, why would he now listen to any requests from Levein?