James McCarthy

[Vaughan]

in a few weeks you'll all be raving about him. kneejerk

 

[Vaughan]

i do agree though there's no way he should be playing alongside barry at home to relegation battlers

 

[mkrudden]

So McCarthy's turn now?

 

[Dithering Dougie]

So McCarthy's turn now?

One poor game is all it takes to go from hero to zero it's seems mate.

Imagine Dixie getting slatted for not getting a hat trick in every game!

 

[mkrudden]

One poor game is all it takes to go from hero to zero it's seems mate.

Imagine Dixie getting slatted for not getting a hat trick in every game!

Mate, it's just gone bonkers hasn't it.

 

[Dithering Dougie]

Mate, it's just gone bonkers hasn't it.

He was a £30m player last week when Spurs were rumoured to want him, he's a 30p player this week. Crazy.

 

[Walken]

So McCarthy's turn now?

it's different posters though, I'd like to highlight than the anti-osman community hasn't jumped on board this particular train

 

[Dymak]

Some people are so incredibly precious over James McCarthy. If anyone even dares to suggest that a 13 million pound player bought from Wigan Athletic may have some limitations, or if they feel he is 'only' worth a 'mere' 20 million, then his fanboys start having total, total breakdowns. His cult following are adamant that his limitations should not be discussed, and that we should all convince ourselves that he is absolute top draw, that he could easily get a spot in a top four side, and that the top four side would improve as a result of having James McCarthy. If you don't agree with this then it's "The absolute worstest thing I've ever read on GOT".

For me, he is a very limited central midfielder that reminds me of Steve Sidwell. Before the fanboys have a full blown panic attack at such a comparison, that's the Steve Sidwell who was good enough to be signed by Jose Mourinho's Chelsea, but it is also the Steve Sidwell who was ultimately found wanting at such a level, and was soon moved on. I believe the same would happen to McCarthy if he was to actually get this supposedly inevitable move to an elite club (as has happened with Fellaini, the fanboys' previous best CDM in the world). However I think Everton is the biggest club McCarthy will play for, and that Everton are in need of better central midfielders if they actually want to surpass mid-table mediocrity.

 

[Tubey]

Some people are so incredibly precious over James McCarthy. If anyone even dares to suggest that a 13 million pound player bought from Wigan Athletic may have some limitations, or if they feel he is 'only' worth a 'mere' 20 million, then his fanboys start having total, total breakdowns. His cult following are adamant that his limitations should not be discussed, and that we should all convince ourselves that he is absolute top draw, that he could easily get a spot in a top four side, and that the top four side would improve as a result of having James McCarthy. If you don't agree with this then it's "The absolute worstest thing I've ever read on GOT".

For me, he is a very limited central midfielder that reminds me of Steve Sidwell. Before the fanboys have a full blown panic attack at such a comparison, that's the Steve Sidwell who was good enough to be signed by Jose Mourinho's Chelsea, but it is also the Steve Sidwell who was ultimately found wanting at such a level, and was soon moved on. I believe the same would happen to McCarthy if he was to actually get this supposedly inevitable move to an elite club (as has happened with Fellaini, the fanboys' previous best CDM in the world). However I think Everton is the biggest club McCarthy will play for, and that Everton are in need of better central midfielders if they actually want to surpass mid-table mediocrity.

He's nothing like Steve Sidwell. Completely different players. In fact, the only similarity is that they play midfield and have red hair.

Criticism of McCarthy is fine - I made enough when he signed and that's been played out. The problem I spotted at Wigan was that he was too passive in too many games and didn't take responsibility to make things happen. Yes, that has returned somewhat of late in his game, but he's shown more than enough to earn the benefit of the doubt for a few loose performances - and that's all he's had; not a terrible run of form, just a few less than stellar ones.

He's our best central midfielder at this moment in time, and even on his bad days he's still usually far from being the worst player on the pitch. The reason people are flabbergasted at the criticism of him is that it's over the top, especially considering we have far bigger problems.

 

[Dymak]

He's nothing like Steve Sidwell. Completely different players. In fact, the only similarity is that they play midfield and have red hair.

Criticism of McCarthy is fine - I made enough when he signed and that's been played out. The problem I spotted at Wigan was that he was too passive in too many games and didn't take responsibility to make things happen. Yes, that has returned somewhat of late in his game, but he's shown more than enough to earn the benefit of the doubt for a few loose performances - and that's all he's had; not a terrible run of form, just a few less than stellar ones.

He's our best central midfielder at this moment in time, and even on his bad days he's still usually far from being the worst player on the pitch. The reason people are flabbergasted at the criticism of him is that it's over the top, especially considering we have far bigger problems.

Fair enough. Although I would say Sidwell was also a defensive midfielder who was commended for having a good engine, but was also limited with his lack of creativity, just like McCarthy is. I also think that Tom Cleverley may give McCarthy a run at being 'our best central midfielder', if he was actually allowed to play in his proper position and wasn't being wasted on the wing.

 

[Saint Domingo]

Some people are so incredibly precious over James McCarthy. If anyone even dares to suggest that a 13 million pound player bought from Wigan Athletic may have some limitations, or if they feel he is 'only' worth a 'mere' 20 million, then his fanboys start having total, total breakdowns. His cult following are adamant that his limitations should not be discussed, and that we should all convince ourselves that he is absolute top draw, that he could easily get a spot in a top four side, and that the top four side would improve as a result of having James McCarthy. If you don't agree with this then it's "The absolute worstest thing I've ever read on GOT".

For me, he is a very limited central midfielder that reminds me of Steve Sidwell. Before the fanboys have a full blown panic attack at such a comparison, that's the Steve Sidwell who was good enough to be signed by Jose Mourinho's Chelsea, but it is also the Steve Sidwell who was ultimately found wanting at such a level, and was soon moved on. I believe the same would happen to McCarthy if he was to actually get this supposedly inevitable move to an elite club (as has happened with Fellaini, the fanboys' previous best CDM in the world). However I think Everton is the biggest club McCarthy will play for, and that Everton are in need of better central midfielders if they actually want to surpass mid-table mediocrity.

Defensive midfielders at top clubs have to have a good passing range and McCarthy doesn't as simple as that. I don't see how any player who struggles to make a forward pass can be considered top draw. He has absolutely zero guile which makes him and Barry an awful pairing. These two seem to be untouchable though despite being at the heart of a failing team.

Consider this, in Moyes' last season a midfield of Osman and Neville (Gibson was rarely fit) came top 6 ahead of Liverpool. In that season it included a Goodidon Derby where we came down from 2 goals down with a dominant performance in the middle of the park. We now have a 30 mill pound striker upfront but are coming 11th because we can't service him! The blame has to lie with Barry and McCarthy. Gibson and Barkleu should be our first choice partnership and Osman should always get in ahead of Barry.

McCarthy is no more than a decent defensive mid. The fact he is always hurtling across the pitch throws into question his positional intelligence as the likes of Gibson, Carsley seemed to shield the defence much better without much movement. Sometimes you see McCarthy double covering full backs or chasing wingers down the flank. Wasted effort. As Watford showed the danger comes from the middle of the pitch when you have an errant DM. I thought we overpaid at the time, I thought Osman and Pienaar carried the midfield in the first year, and now without them it is showing what average players McCarthy and Barry are.

Absolutely miles away from the 07/08 midfield if Arteta, Pienaar Cahil Osman and Carsley. Any of them would walk into this side with ease.

 

[Tubey]

Defensive midfielders at top clubs have to have a good passing range and McCarthy doesn't as simple as that. I don't see how any player who struggles to make a forward pass can be considered top draw. He has absolutely zero guile which makes him and Barry an awful pairing. These two seem to be untouchable though despite being at the heart of a failing team.

Consider this, in Moyes' last season a midfield of Osman and Neville (Gibson was rarely fit) came top 6 ahead of Liverpool. In that season it included a Goodidon Derby where we came down from 2 goals down with a dominant performance in the middle of the park. We now have a 30 mill pound striker upfront but are coming 11th because we can't service him! The blame has to lie with Barry and McCarthy. Gibson and Barkleu should be our first choice partnership and Osman should always get in ahead of Barry.

McCarthy is no more than a decent defensive mid. The fact he is always hurtling across the pitch throws into question his positional intelligence as the likes of Gibson, Carsley seemed to shield the defence much better without much movement. Sometimes you see McCarthy double covering full backs or chasing wingers down the flank. Wasted effort. As Watford showed the danger comes from the middle of the pitch when you have an errant DM. I thought we overpaid at the time, I thought Osman and Pienaar carried the midfield in the first year, and now without them it is showing what average players they are.

Absolutely miles away from the 07/08 midfield if Arteta, Pienaar Cahil Osman and Carsley. Any of them would walk into this side with ease.

You're comparing apples and oranges. Moyes' midfield didn't consist of two very deep defensive midfielders who are asked to be water carriers, hole fillers and nothing else. We played more direct as a whole and only left one midfielder deep, usually Neville.

Blame the system here, not the players.

 

[Saint Domingo]

You're comparing apples and oranges. Moyes' midfield didn't consist of two very deep defensive midfielders who are asked to be water carriers, hole fillers and nothing else. We played more direct as a whole and only left one midfielder deep, usually Neville.

Blame the system here, not the players.

Blame the manager then. Both played 4231. Moyes however seemed to learn from his mistakes, uninspiring seasons with Rodwell and Fellaini, or Carsley and Neville at the base of midfield where followed by good ones where Moyes saw more creativity was needed and we saw partnerships like Osman and Arteta or Gibson and Osman. He realised moving Fellaini uptop so he'd stop clogging up the midfield improved the team.

Martinez has seen numerous times that if you move one of Barry or McCarthy and replace them with s progressive midfielder our play improves. Yet he doesn't want to do it. If Busquets is your template for a world class DM then McCarthy is nowhere near it. We could have spent 4 mill on Besic and played him instead with 13 mill spent on a proper playmaker.

 

[Dario Terracotta]

Don't know whats up with him,whether he has a long standing injury he is playing with at the moment,Barry being woeful alongside him I don't know,he doesn't look the same player,really needs to up his game.

 

[Tubey]

Blame the manager then. Both played 4231. Moyes however seemed to learn from his mistakes, uninspiring seasons with Rodwell and Fellaini, or Carsley and Neville at the base of midfield where followed by good ones where Moyes saw more creativity was needed and we saw partnerships like Osman and Arteta or Gibson and Osman. He realised moving Fellaini uptop so he'd stop clogging up the midfield improved the team.

Martinez has seen numerous times that if you move one of Barry or McCarthy and replace them with s progressive midfielder our play improves. Yet he doesn't want to do it. If Busquets is your template for a world class DM then McCarthy is nowhere near it. We could have spent 4 mill on Besic and played him instead with 13 mill spent on a proper playmaker.

I do. Repeatedly. It's clearly a management issue how we have been playing for a good year now - it's only a handful of people who don't see that really.