James McCarthy

[PhilM]

You are clearly a Gana fan. He has too many limitations for me to get enthusiastic about him. Hard worker, yes so am I.

Is this a criticism of McCarthy or not? Gana has his own limitations with regards to his passing and attacking outlet, which any level-headed fan will admit.

However, arguably Gana is equal if not better at most of the accolades people attribute to McCarthy, so I know who I'd want starting the role they both compete for.

 

[Eggsyblueskin]

McCarthys best games are the ones he never played.

 

[CRIMHEAD]

You are clearly a Gana fan. He has too many limitations for me to get enthusiastic about him. Hard worker, yes so am I.

He practically leads the league in tackles every year. He's a much better passer than people give him credit for - his range is much better than many think, he wins balls all over the pitch, he's incredibly quick, athletic, tracks back well so that our outside backs and others can press forward in attack. He also can run with the ball a bit and doesn't immediate just pass the thing back to the CB like our other DMs. Doesn't take a ton of risks as he's a good decision maker with the ball, but that's a good thing. We are terrible when he doesn't play. Terrible.

It's not about liking him, it's about appreciating how important it is to win the ball back from an opponent and how bad our entire team is at it other than him.

McCarthy is tough, can play CB and LB if need be, but he's tremendously limited. He can tackle, no question, his passing is okay and I like how he forces tempo...but if someone thinks Gana is limited, man. I like the fact that he's got some fire and pride, unlike Morgan. But there is NO REASON to keep Besic, McCarthy, Morgan, and Beni in the same side when we've already got Gana as a defensive mid. If McCarthy was healthy, I'd bin Morgan (although I'd bin him anyways) and sadly Besic, only because I don't trust his decision with the ball regardless of his skill and talent.

 

[everton1953]

I was "not in favour of " Gana from the start for the very unfair reason that Chelsea got Kante, and some Blues pretended they were sort of equal. Gana is not fit to lace Kante's boots; the difference in ability is so great (as was the transfer fee). I was and am jealous, and so I am inclined to look at Gana's faults. I know he cost us little and we are not a big club these days, but the Gana signing was to me indicative of our situation which is that we cannot attract top players.

 

[Lanolin]

He's become an injury prone player, but I do think it's a tad harsh to blame the broken leg on him being injury prone. That could have happened to even the fittest player with an unblemished record.

I remember @Eggs pointing out he had issues with him hamstring and I agree with this. This is the big question for me too. I think he needs to play at a certain tempo to be an effective footballer and I worry that his hamstring injury will never allow that to occur. He seemed to play within himself for a long time (which coincided with his form dipping) and partly was because I believe he was carrying (and worsening) an injury and then part of it was due to lack of trust in his body.

One positive with a leg break and what has been a prolonged absence really for 2 years is he may have been able to go away and get his body right and fully re-strengthen/re-condition the muscle area. That has to be the hope.

McCarthy at his best, the player we saw in Martinez's first season or sporadically over the last 2 years walks into our midfield. He gets around the pitch well, can pass, can take the ball forward but most importantly has a good football brain without the ball so is adept at pressing opponents in the right way.

He is also a leader and relishes big games. I remember last season against United when they had a training match, and Pogba was majestic and dominated the game. McCarthy came on with about 20 minutes to go and flattened him with what was quite a naughty tackle (but because he has a football brain he got away with it) and it changed the whole dynamic of the match. The crowd was up, suddenly our players had a bit of a go. It hit me that McCarthy doesn't go into his shell at such moments, but he relishes them and has a real chip on his shoulder. With the exception of Pickford and Coleman thats really missing in this squad. The same was true the season before against Liverpool and Arsenal where he was fantastic ion both games.

The question is can he get back to that regularly. Hopefully with Martinez gone and expert medical advice they have taken the time to sort out many of the underlying issues around his fitness while the time he's been off with the leg break.

I actually think this is his biggest weakness. He just presses constantly, it's all he knows how to do, and after his first season here teams got wise to it and started sucker punching him. If you can bring yourself to, watch some of the lowlights from Martinez's last 2 seasons, and watch how many times opposition midfielders arrive unmarked in our box to score or assist. He has no positional discipline at all, he just chases the ball like a kid, and good teams let him come charging in and play a quick one two to leave him for dead. It's like watching a particularly stupid bull being toyed with by a Matador.

 

[catcherintherye]

I actually think this is his biggest weakness. He just presses constantly, it's all he knows how to do, and after his first season here teams got wise to it and started sucker punching him. If you can bring yourself to, watch some of the lowlights from Martinez's last 2 seasons, and watch how many times opposition midfielders arrive unmarked in our box to score or assist. He has no positional discipline at all, he just chases the ball like a kid, and good teams let him come charging in and play a quick one two to leave him for dead. It's like watching a particularly stupid bull being toyed with by a Matador.

That may be a fair point and I can't say I observed it that closely. My own view is that he presses quite well and actually took to the positional discipline Koeman wanted quite naturally, which I do count as a tick in the box as many players couldn't get a handle on that.

My own view is he was not fit and struggled with the physicality which greatly reduced his best asset. But football is about opinions!

 

[blueblue]

McCarthys best games are the ones he never played.

Not true. McCarthy would walk into our current midfield, he is infinitely better than Schneiderlin.

McCarthy sustained a horrible leg break because of his bravery playing for Everton. I think we should remember that.... I wish we had more with that attitude.

 

[CRIMHEAD]

Not true. McCarthy would walk into our current midfield, he is infinitely better than Schneiderlin.

McCarthy sustained a horrible leg break because of his bravery playing for Everton. I think we should remember that.... I wish we had more with that attitude.

His attitude is fine, but he's crocked as a result. Think he's just damaged goods at this point.

 

[hktoffee]

Not true. McCarthy would walk into our current midfield, he is infinitely better than Schneiderlin.

McCarthy sustained a horrible leg break because of his bravery playing for Everton. I think we should remember that.... I wish we had more with that attitude.

His priority must be Ireland? Like the other CM we have got, he can't pass.

 

[Lanolin]

Not true. McCarthy would walk into our current midfield, he is infinitely better than Schneiderlin.

McCarthy sustained a horrible leg break because of his bravery playing for Everton. I think we should remember that.... I wish we had more with that attitude.

It was brave yes, and fair play to him for that. It really shouldn't be forgotten though - especially in a conversation about his footballing ability - that it was his own fault he had to make that tackle in the first place. He had the ball and had options in front of him, but - as usual - he didn't pass the ball forward and instead turned back towards his own goal. He then dallied on the ball and gave it away, meaning he had to try to get back to cover his own mistakes. I love effort don't get me wrong, but I quite like ability too.

 

[sageyefc]

SOON.

Soon we can sell the crab

 

[Pittsburgh Footy]

His attitude is fine, but he's crocked as a result. Think he's just damaged goods at this point.

But he's not. Seamus just came back from a similar horror break

Proves it can be done.

 

[blueblue]

It was brave yes, and fair play to him for that. It really shouldn't be forgotten though - especially in a conversation about his footballing ability - that it was his own fault he had to make that tackle in the first place. He had the ball and had options in front of him, but - as usual - he didn't pass the ball forward and instead turned back towards his own goal. He then dallied on the ball and gave it away, meaning he had to try to get back to cover his own mistakes. I love effort don't get me wrong, but I quite like ability too.

I may well be wrong but my memory was that he was trying to recover the mistake of somebody else... but ,I may well be wrong about that.

 

[Lanolin]

I may well be wrong but my memory was that he was trying to recover the mistake of somebody else... but ,I may well be wrong about that.

You are.

 

[Connor]

Soon we can sell the crab

Agreed, Besic will be sold soon