James McCarthy

[Lanolin]

It's a fair point. Your position is essentially that his game is around stopping better players, and when we face inferior teams what will his role be?

My answer I suppose is that you always need a lad like that whoever you are playing. He can also help us press higher up the pitch and put poorer teams under more pressure at Goodison. It does my head in to see sides like Swansea, West Ham who are low on confidence getting to ease their way into the game at Goodison.

I also think he has ability on the ball. He's no Barkley by any stretch, but he can carry the ball, pick a pass and I believe get some goals. I think more than anyone he has struggled with the notion of playing two sitting midfield players. He's not clever enough on the ball to sit and pick passes like say a Carrick or a Barry. I think a change of system, and having him play like what say Wijnaldum does for Liverpool will help him and help Barkley. For me, he should be targeted with scoring 6-7 goals a season as well.

We'll never know if it's been the system or the lad himself that has prevented him doing this. However following last night you'd imagine he will be a nailed on starter over the next 3-4 games in the role he played last night (he should be!). He can have no excuses now, it is time to deliver a run of performances like last night and put the question to bed. If he doesn't then I suspect he will be moved on.

Yeah that's effectively how I see it.

I just feel sometimes when the whole team is legging it round flying into tackles he excels, because he's better than all the others at it and leads by example. At Watford though, for example, he was effectively asked to do the same job but had virtually no impact on the game. When the whole team isn't playing the same way, I often feels he lacks the nous to know when to do it and when to hold back. He can find himself out of position and even get caught the wrong side of the ball. Allied to his limited passing range, I just don't think he offers enough in games where we're not under the cosh. Maybe Koeman's style of football will bring the best out of him though, if he wants us to play like we did last night every week then he could come into his own.

 

[Khalekan]

My hope for McCarthy is that from now until he moves on sometime in january (which i believe he will push for and the club will not be that bothered about him going) that he keeps sticking those levels of performance in - he does that then he will be welcomed back fondly and on top we will get a much biggers transferfee for him - as he's shown he still has the ability to play at that level of performance.

Not gonna jump the gun and declare him the answer to our midfield problems, but what he has shown is if you throw a high energy player into a midfield 3 instead of Barry then Ross can play there without any worries at all.

Hopefully we stick with the 3 centre mids for the forseeable and bring in another 1-2 players who can play at the intensity of a 'on form' McCarthy but with more overall quality

Played really well last night though has to be said.

I don't believe for one minute he will be allowed to move on in January, even if he wants to, because Gana will be at the AFCON.

If he moves, it will be in the summer IMO.

 

[Tel001]

Last night McCarthy epitomised a lot that has been lacking in our displays lately - aggression. He can be limited with the ball and sometimes dawdles with it but that fire in the belly is just what we need. McCarthy still doesn't look fully fit but showed that he is prepared to battle for the cause. Roll on Monday and that same fighting spirit will be needed in abundance.

I agree.... players like him can set the tempo and get the crowd going just by putting in passion and making a couple of tackles... this kids other players and more importantly.. the crowd ...

 

[catcherintherye]

Yeah that's effectively how I see it.

I just feel sometimes when the whole team is legging it round flying into tackles he excels, because he's better than all the others at it and leads by example. At Watford though, for example, he was effectively asked to do the same job but had virtually no impact on the game. When the whole team isn't playing the same way, I often feels he lacks the nous to know when to do it and when to hold back. He can find himself out of position and even get caught the wrong side of the ball. Allied to his limited passing range, I just don't think he offers enough in games where we're not under the cosh. Maybe Koeman's style of football will bring the best out of him though, if he wants us to play like we did last night every week then he could come into his own.

I think that's a fair point. What I would say regarding Watford, as I did above is that there were different personnel around him. Firstly the wide men don't work as hard as the lads we had yesterday and have no interest in joining Rom like Valencia did. More importantly though, there was no Barkley. Barry is a fine player but offers only a fraction of what an in form Barkley does. McCarthy doing what he did last night, but with no Barkley to capitalise on the space and time that will create by occupying their midfielders will as you rightly say be ineffective.

I can't sit here and say we need McCarthy and Gana every game against poorer teams. That's a fair point. I think he will have to add some end product in the final third of the field (notably goals and support to Lukaku). However if he plays like last night he will be a massive aid to Barkley and give him the protection he needs to run the game.

My biggest issue with him is a) can he improve/build on his attacking game, as there is something to work on there and b) more importantly can he maintain that performance level. Whoever we are playing, if we have performances like McCarthy put in last night I think you can find space for him. The big question in all of this is now around Barry.

 

[bluestevon]

I don't believe for one minute he will be allowed to move on in January, even if he wants to, because Gana will be at the AFCON.

If he moves, it will be in the summer IMO.

Nah i think he will leave towards the last few days of the window mate (deadline day maybe), depending how Senagal do, Gueye could already be back by then (QF is on the 28th, SF on the 1st and final on the 5th)

we play on the 1st and 4th then not till the 11th.

Ofc if we buy no one he won't be sold full stop, but if by late January we have already brought in 1-2 players then we will definitely sell him, last nights performance aside the lad wants to leave the club by all accounts.

 

[catcherintherye]

I don't believe for one minute he will be allowed to move on in January, even if he wants to, because Gana will be at the AFCON.

If he moves, it will be in the summer IMO.

If he performs like last night over the next 3-4 games he will be undroppable. After last night, and hopefully a win in the derby (which if he plays like last night will go a long way to getting) why would he want to go elsewhere? If we can add 3-4 good players in and last night can be the benchmark, we can compete and beat anyone.

 

[catcherintherye]

Nah i think he will leave towards the last few days of the window mate (deadline day maybe), depending how Senagal do, Gueye could already be back by then (QF is on the 28th, SF on the 1st and final on the 5th)

we play on the 1st and 4th then not till the 11th.

Ofc if we buy no one he won't be sold full stop, but if by late January we have already brought in 1-2 players then we will definitely sell him, last nights performance aside the lad wants to leave the club by all accounts.

You can understand why he wants to go. I'm not saying he's not in the wrong but he's been messed about for 18 months. If as we are led to believe there was a clear the air meeting and he made his point to Koeman, gets a run a run and can produce the form we saw last night consistently I hope he stays. A lot of if's but's and maybe's there but I think in one performance he encapsulated what we have been lacking for 2-3 years. He does need to produce that form most weeks though.

 

[bluestevon]

You can understand why he wants to go. I'm not saying he's not in the wrong but he's been messed about for 18 months. If as we are led to believe there was a clear the air meeting and he made his point to Koeman, gets a run a run and can produce the form we saw last night consistently I hope he stays. A lot of if's but's and maybe's there but I think in one performance he encapsulated what we have been lacking for 2-3 years. He does need to produce that form most weeks though.

Thing is mate, there are players i would 100% trust to be able to play close or above the level he did last night but on a consistant basis, after 3 seasons of watching McCarthy i know he can't do that for 40 games a season, what for me was shown though - is that Barkley can work in a midfield 3 as long as the others both have engines like last night, and that Gueye when paired with another energetic midfielder looks nothing short of world class.

Still like to see Schneiderlin coming in

 

[squonk]

he only wants to leave cos he ain't getting first team football - quite normal for any player.

I'd guess if manages to re-establish himself in the first team he might stay, I certainly hope so. Barry isn't going to go on for ever.

 

[jackyboy]

Sell Cleverley, loan out Davies to a good side in the Championship. Sign Schneiderlin.

 

[Nil Satis Niasse Optimum]

McCarthy is better than Besic, who will continue to pick up injury after injury.

Barry is gone end of season.

Gibson is a waste of space.

So, from the summer or potentially from now, McCarthy is our second option in the position. If he can retain that importance through good form he'll definitely stay, if not it's best for everybody if he goes in the summer.

 

[catcherintherye]

Thing is mate, there are players i would 100% trust to be able to play close or above the level he did last night but on a consistant basis, after 3 seasons of watching McCarthy i know he can't do that for 40 games a season, what for me was shown though - is that Barkley can work in a midfield 3 as long as the others both have engines like last night, and that Gueye when paired with another energetic midfielder looks nothing short of world class.

Still like to see Schneiderlin coming in

That's a fair comment, all I would say is that he was good for the majority of his first season. If he is bang average in the next 3 games then I would be happy to move him on. If he can replicate similar form though, playing in his preferred position then I see no reason to keep him at least until the end of the window and until the summer unless a surprisingly good bid came in.

I would sign Schneiderlin too as you can't have too many good players. For too long Everton have operated on the basis of limited competition, get Schneiderlin in and if needs be your lad from Russia if they are available and make people earn their way into the team. Gueye goes in January so Schneiderlin comes in. There's also the left hand side that someone can play if Ross keeps playing well. Competition is key, and the best teams add players when they are on a good run.

For me they are separate questions. I'm not against moving people on, Cleverley, Gibson and potentially even Barry can go. If McCarthy doesn't build on last night him too. However it would only be fair to say McCarthy has put a very good seasons performance in for us. He then got injured and played through it second season and his role changed in the third. There are mitigating factors.

 

[Stutheblue]

Put more of a shift in last night. But needs to impress over several games to get back in the fold for me. Virtually all his performances this and last season have been average at best. Some shockers too. Fair play last night though.

 

[Hogwild]

James played well, but if we can sell him for enough to buy that Russian lad Dzagoev then it would likely be the right move. By all accounts that fella can also move forward and pick a pass, but gives you DM cover if you need it. A challenge would also be good for Barkley.

15M for each sounds about right.

 

[grandjoeblue]

Anyone seen his reaction to the winner? Its great.