James McCarthy

everton1953 · August 1, 2018

Somebody mentioned earlier "creative midfielder" and its inappropriate application to McCarthy. Out of interest, who does anyone think was our last creative midfielder?

trueblue84 · August 1, 2018

everton1953 said:
Somebody mentioned earlier "creative midfielder" and its inappropriate application to McCarthy. Out of interest, who does anyone think was our last creative midfielder?

Arteta.

EDIT: maybe pienaar

Caolam · August 1, 2018

He is a bit like an important item which you think you might need at a later dare, you put it away in a safe place and then forget you had it.

TheBlueGibbon · August 1, 2018

trueblue84 said:
Arteta.

EDIT: maybe pienaar

This, or, at a push Osman.

PeregrineT · August 1, 2018

Nyhus said:
Not being shocked that a player get a once in a life time horror leg break is dumb, no matter how many times he’s had muscular injuries, makes no sense. They are not the same thing at all. Why do i have to explain this?

Seriously, are you okay? Who said what about shocked? You've just randomly pulled some stuff out to be angry about that no ones even talked about.

Zatara · August 1, 2018

Always injured, sell him.

Toffeelover · August 1, 2018

Zatara said:
Always injured, sell him.

Me, I would give him away.

everton1953 · August 1, 2018

Arteta brings back fond nostalgic memories of an intelligent footballing midfielder. Will we ever get another one in the not too distant future?

Dymak · August 1, 2018

everton1953 said:
Somebody mentioned earlier "creative midfielder" and its inappropriate application to McCarthy. Out of interest, who does anyone think was our last creative midfielder?

Barkley. Our form has plummeted and we have barely created anything since he stopped playing for us.

Eggsyblueskin · August 1, 2018

Regardless of what we think of him given the fact that he is still some way from fitness, you would hope that we have a fully fit and operative midfield before he becomes available for selection again.

Lanolin · August 1, 2018

everton1953 said:
Somebody mentioned earlier "creative midfielder" and its inappropriate application to McCarthy. Out of interest, who does anyone think was our last creative midfielder?

Depends what we class as creative I suppose. In the classical sense of somebody who struts around playing clever passes with little flicks and good vision it would be Arteta, but Barkley was creative in the sense that his forward runs created space and he was always looking for the killer pass, even if it often eluded him.

We haven't got anyone remotely creative at the moment I don't think (although I have to admit to not having seen a huge amount of Richarlison). I've said before, despite giving him plenty of stick, McCarthy could be useful if we could find a bit more creativity because then you can just ask him to do what he's good at, but he's too limited to be of much to a side like we've had for the past few years.

Verbal Kint · August 1, 2018

Hopefully be stays fit and gets a good run. Morgan Schneiderlin wouldn't lace his boots.

twoblue · August 2, 2018

dublinbluenose said:
Out of himself Gana and Schniderlin he is the most effective, his problem has been his body was broken under Martinez and he was rushed back under Koeman.

He was unlucky to break his leg as our midfield was performing better with him back in the team, he brings a better tempo than our other midfield options. Hopefully he has Seamus Coleman-like recovery powers.

Judging by the his injury record... unlikely

fareastblue · August 3, 2018

Lanolin said:
Depends what we class as creative I suppose. In the classical sense of somebody who struts around playing clever passes with little flicks and good vision it would be Arteta, but Barkley was creative in the sense that his forward runs created space and he was always looking for the killer pass, even if it often eluded him.

We haven't got anyone remotely creative at the moment I don't think (although I have to admit to not having seen a huge amount of Richarlison). I've said before, despite giving him plenty of stick, McCarthy could be useful if we could find a bit more creativity because then you can just ask him to do what he's good at, but he's too limited to be of much to a side like we've had for the past few years.

What happened to Barkley?
He totally disappeared after moving to Chelsea.

Flynnthistle · August 3, 2018

fareastblue said:
What happened to Barkley?
He totally disappeared after moving to Chelsea.

By all accounts he's been really impressive for Chelsea pre season. Apparently looks very fit and strong and sarri has publicly talked of his importance to Chelsea this season. He's a fantastic player who was criminally under valued here. It's sad things have turned out how they have.