James McCarthy

[Joey66]

Barry's first booking wasn't harsh. He pulled back a player who had gone past him. That's always a yellow.

It was unnecessary, since the back line was already set up behind him and there weren't any other attackers in dangerous positions, but it certainly wasn't harsh.

He got pulled back first did you see him indicate that?

 

[mlyons]

It's still a yellow every time. Attackers are always favored there.

 

[mkrudden]

So he should just tackle? And that's it?

Isn't that what Matic does? What about Mikel? Coquelin? Lucas?
No one ever berates them for not being as good as others with the ball, instead they are lauded for their engines, their ability to win the ball back and their simplicity in getting the ball to more proactive, creative players.

But no, not our James. He should be compared with Roy Keane, one of the greatest box to box midfielders this league has ever seen.

It's all a bit bonkers.

 

[Brennan]

State of the posts in here. Deary me.

 

[Tubey]

He's done better than I could possibly have expected when he first joined, so now that I'm seeing the player I thought we'd get non-stop, I'm not going to bash him for it.

We've seen the form he is capable of, and he's the type of player who will kick into gear and find that level again in my opinion. Although yeah, the sooner we see less of the "Wigan" James McCarthy and more of the "Everton" one, the better.

 

[MartSlinger]

Going through a period of bad form and i hope he can get through it because he really is important to the team.

 

[sageyefc]

Isn't that what Matic does? What about Mikel? Coquelin? Lucas?
No one ever berates them for not being as good as others with the ball, instead they are lauded for their engines, their ability to win the ball back and their simplicity in getting the ball to more proactive, creative players.

But no, not our James. He should be compared with Roy Keane, one of the greatest box to box midfielders this league has ever seen.

It's all a bit bonkers.

The ones youve listed there can also pass

 

[Huyton Layne]

I'll rewatch the game but I saw Sanchez playing on the wing and McCarthy being very central for me it was Seamus that shut Sanchez down. Only thing I saw him do was panic pass and put teammates under pressure.

 

[Carlito]

It annoys me how he's always the spare man in the box, but never thinks to close down shots that anyone could see coming a mile away, e.g Giroud's jarg overhead yesterday.

 

[Blue Cheese]

He's just not at the races at the moment, really need him to take it to the next level. Get a grip on games more. Him with a ball player next to him would suit him much more in my opinion.

 

[BlueToff]

He's just not at the races at the moment, really need him to take it to the next level. Get a grip on games more. Him with a ball player next to him would suit him much more in my opinion.

It's what RM tried with Gibson next to him, but Gibbo just wasn't match fit and you could tell - he hardly got on the ball at all meaning McCarthy was pretty much hapless as well.

When Barkley came on aI think we saw the old McCarthy. He made some excellent runs and was suddenly back to being a rock in midfield.

 

[SpurtingLesbian]

He's just not at the races at the moment, really need him to take it to the next level. Get a grip on games more. Him with a ball player next to him would suit him much more in my opinion.

Was half hoping that Cleverley would have been back and he could have rested James. Gibson and Cleverley in the Midfield would have perhaps been ok (fitness allowing). James has looked knackered since he came back from Ireland Duty.

 

[TraffordBlue]

I don't buy into this does the work you don't notice nonsense. Roy Keane played a similar role and you always knew he was very much on the pitch.

McCarthy isn't a bad player but how overrated he is really does blur the expectations people have of our team. I don't think he offers the defence brilliant protection, in fact I think our back 4 is one of the more vulnerable in the league. His passing is limited and his goal record speaks for itself.

He's a defensive midfielder.

Schweinsteiger - 10 games - 0 goals.
McCarthy - 10 games - 0 goals
Schneiderlin - 8 games - 1 goal
Matic - 10 games - 1 goal
Coquelin - 8 games - 0 goals
Fernandinho - 4 games - 2 goals
Lucas - 8 games - 0 goals

Only Fernandinho has a respectable goal scoring record of all of those listed.

He is overrated by some I would admit that, but he's also over criticised by others.

I'm looking forward to the time that Martinez allows him to excel by not persisting with the same tactics too often. It doesn't always work having Barry and McCarthy playing for example. Some players are too similar e.g Besic and McCarthy.

McCarthy is very good in his position but I do think he and a lot of them need to improve at the moment.

 

[Pittsburgh Footy]

Was half hoping that Cleverley would have been back and he could have rested James. Gibson and Cleverley in the Midfield would have perhaps been ok (fitness allowing). James has looked knackered since he came back from Ireland Duty.

James was huge in the last 10 of the match and in extra time. Bailed us out a few times, need his pace in there blowing up chances for the opposition, he will find his groove

 

[mkrudden]

He's a defensive midfielder.

Schweinsteiger - 10 games - 0 goals.
McCarthy - 10 games - 0 goals
Schneiderlin - 8 games - 1 goal
Matic - 10 games - 1 goal
Coquelin - 8 games - 0 goals
Fernandinho - 4 games - 2 goals
Lucas - 8 games - 0 goals

Only Fernandinho has a respectable goal scoring record of all of those listed.

He is overrated by some I would admit that, but he's also over criticised by others.

I'm looking forward to the time that Martinez allows him to excel by not persisting with the same tactics too often. It doesn't always work having Barry and McCarthy playing for example. Some players are too similar e.g Besic and McCarthy.

McCarthy is very good in his position but I do think he and a lot of them need to improve at the moment.

brilliant post