James McCarthy

BlueToff · October 19, 2015

Layne said:
He really didn't. He's been poor for 90% of the season. His trademark moves being standing in space covering no one, pointing to others to get a man and running full balls at an opposing defender that causally passes the ball away leaving him miles up the field on his backside.

Here's the ratings from multiple sources:

View attachment 14586

A 7 is not bad at all, if you're using ratings as a basis.

He's a key part of the team and we miss him when he doesn't play - that's a fact.

Chang Elephant · October 19, 2015

Needs to up his game to get back to where he was 18 months ago. Playing next to Barry won't help him.

RFUS · October 19, 2015

Chang Elephant said:
Needs to up his game to get back to where he was 18 months ago. Playing next to Barry won't help him.

Why is that? Barry has been very good this season.

Unless you mean he needs a more attacking player next to him, as we're too defensive in midfield. Though if so I'd argue that Barry deserves his place in the XI far more.

Chang Elephant · October 19, 2015

RFUS said:
Why is that? Barry has been very good this season.

Unless you mean he needs a more attacking player next to him, as we're too defensive in midfield. Though if so I'd argue that Barry deserves his place in the XI far more.

Just see Barry as far too slow and creaking and that puts pressure on McCarthy to cover ground and worry about players walking past his partner. I'd start Besic next to him.

SpurtingLesbian · October 19, 2015

Chang Elephant said:
Just see Barry as far too slow and creaking and that puts pressure on McCarthy to cover ground and worry about players walking past his partner. I'd start Besic next to him.

would agree except Barry covers more ground than Jamesey does.

Bobby went into this season saying he was going to rest Barry at times to give him a breather and let Besic have some game time to progress. Now that Besic is back to full fitness I hope we'll see a bit more of him soon either along side McCarthy (as you'd think) or flipping the triangle, alongside a slightly withdrawn Barkley (with McCarthy behind) with two wingers pushing forward more.

RFUS · October 20, 2015

Chang Elephant said:
Just see Barry as far too slow and creaking and that puts pressure on McCarthy to cover ground and worry about players walking past his partner. I'd start Besic next to him.

As SL says, Barry covers more ground than anyone else. It's actually quite remarkable.

Ultimately I think McCarthy has seemed worse partly because the balance of the team is off. Maybe there's more expectation with regards to him creating/getting forward as our marauding fullbacks have been injured.

However I just don't think he has much ability going forward. So I really do not see how playing Besic — who's less creative than Barry — will bring anything else out of James or the team. In fact I think the team would be even more defensive and toothless.

SpurtingLesbian · October 20, 2015

RFUS said:
As SL says, Barry covers more ground than anyone else. It's actually quite remarkable.

Ultimately I think McCarthy has seemed worse partly because the balance of the team is off. Maybe there's more expectation with regards to him creating/getting forward as our marauding fullbacks have been injured.

However I just don't think he has much ability going forward. So I really do not see how playing Besic — who's less creative than Barry — will bring anything else out of James or the team. In fact I think the team would be even more defensive and toothless.

I think Besic playing with Ross just in front of McCarthy would get us pressing higher up the pitch again like we did in Bobby's first season and give us better ball retention further up the pitch where we'd want it..

RFUS · October 20, 2015

SpurtingLesbian said:
I think Besic playing with Ross just in front of McCarthy would get us pressing higher up the pitch again like we did in Bobby's first season and give us better ball retention further up the pitch where we'd want it..

Not entirely sure Besic further up the pitch appeals to me. We definitely need to improve ball retention but I'd be wanting a Pienaar type over former CB Besic to fulfil that requirement!

SpurtingLesbian · October 20, 2015

RFUS said:
Not entirely sure Besic further up the pitch appeals to me. We definitely need to improve ball retention but I'd be wanting a Pienaar type over former CB Besic to fulfil that requirement!

Just thing Besic might give us a bit more snap and harrying. Like a Naismith but without giving the ball away. Remember, playing the triangle the other way around he'd be an extra player in there as you'd still have a winger outside/infront of him and the LB overlapping. Could always drop him back alongside McCarthy if it's not working

Saint Domingo · October 20, 2015

SpurtingLesbian said:
would agree except Barry covers more ground than Jamesey does.

Bobby went into this season saying he was going to rest Barry at times to give him a breather and let Besic have some game time to progress. Now that Besic is back to full fitness I hope we'll see a bit more of him soon either along side McCarthy (as you'd think) or flipping the triangle, alongside a slightly withdrawn Barkley (with McCarthy behind) with two wingers pushing forward more.

There's clearly a difference between what Martinez says and what he does. He blamed Barry's poor form on fatigue last year and said that had injuries not occurred he would have rotated him more. He has played every game this season. Whilst he has played, Gibson, Osman, Besic and Cleverley have all sat at various times on the bench or played out of position. Martinez has genuine alternative options but is not using them. Barry is clearly his first choice and will play every gamer been though he is too old to be a regular starter.

SpurtingLesbian · October 20, 2015

Saint Domingo said:
There's clearly a difference between what Martinez says and what he does. He blamed Barry's poor form on fatigue last year and said that had injuries not occurred he would have rotated him more. He has played every game this season. Whilst he has played, Gibson, Osman, Besic and Cleverley have all sat at various times on the bench or played out of position. Martinez has genuine alternative options but is not using them. Barry is clearly his first choice and will play every gamer been though he is too old to be a regular starter.

He's first choice yes, there hasn't been anyone match fit enough to take over yet, they are just about getting there now. Barry's been good but it's still early on in the season and he's had the international break to recharge a bit.
Cleverley will play in the slightly more advanced role when fit. Besic will get his chance, I hope Bobby will freshen things up a bit next weekend. We looked knackered and stale against ManU, Outthought and outplayed by a pumped-up CL team rebounding from a hammering.

It's us that need to bounce back next week with some new ideas and vigour

Zatara · October 20, 2015

Cant believe people are discussing McCarthys "vision", "assists" and "goals".

He's a defensive midfielder.

Ash Woods · October 20, 2015

Zatara said:
Cant believe people are discussing McCarthys "vision", "assists" and "goals".

He's a defensive midfielder.

Somebody should remind HIM of that

ijjysmith · October 20, 2015

Zatara said:
Cant believe people are discussing McCarthys "vision", "assists" and "goals".

He's a defensive midfielder.

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

Fletch · October 20, 2015

He just needs to win the ball and then pass the ball, thats all you need to do in that roll, and sometimes moves across for the full backs if they have pushed on.