James McCarthy

bicycleheader · December 22, 2016

Papa Shango said:
He is nowhere near as bad as some people make out.

With the right set up he is a very effective player.

he definitely lost his way big time in the mess since Bobbys 1st season though. Understandable that people remain unconvinced. I was a big fan and wanted him here for a couple of years before he joined. Thought he would have more character than he has shown. Hopefully Koeman can get a tune out of him as he definitely is worth a squad/1st Team place if so

Papa Shango · December 22, 2016

bicycleheader said:
he definitely lost his way big time in the mess since Bobbys 1st season though. Understandable that people remain unconvinced. I was a big fan and wanted him here for a couple of years before he joined. Thought he would have more character than he has shown. Hopefully Koeman can get a tune out of him as he definitely is worth a squad/1st Team place if so

I think his injuries have affected him more than people realize. He played through them for a while and it caught up to him massively.

Darth Toffeeman · December 22, 2016

Him and Besic have been like this for over 12 months now.
Find a bit of form, play well, get injured.
Repeat.

bicycleheader · December 22, 2016

Papa Shango said:
I think his injuries have affected him more than people realize. He played through them for a while and it caught up to him massively.

Darth Toffeeman said:
Him and Besic have been like this for over 12 months now.
Find a bit of form, play well, get injured.
Repeat.

It's a massive shame.

Imagine both of them in full form. Would change the attitude of the whole team.

Darth Toffeeman · December 22, 2016

bicycleheader said:
It's a massive shame.

Imagine both of them in full form. Would change the attitude of the whole team.

I think it would help Barkley too. For all of the great work Barry does, he is too slow now. The lack of legs around Ross. at CM had made him hesitate in possession, which throws him off his natural game and he overthinks. Then he loses confidence to the point where he now appears broken.

Very frustrating.

Eggs · December 22, 2016

Papa Shango said:
I think his injuries have affected him more than people realize. He played through them for a while and it caught up to him massively.

...I think it's a fair point. Regarding his persistent hamstring problems, players start protecting them. They might not sprint where once they would sprint, they might not lunge where once they would lunge. Hamstrings finished my footy off, they still go now and I'm an old man.

It might not be a coincidence that McCarthy played full throttle for a game and a half before the problem arose again. I remember Ian Rush starting to suffer in the 80s and they linked the problem to his lower back. Interesting. I do know that once the muscle tears it leaves scar tissue that is prone to pop again. It's something the club need to consider in contracting the player going forward.

MikeH72 · December 22, 2016

So there's 0 points until the new year confirmed then assuming Barry will start and finish both games. Can't wait.

Ashtonian · December 22, 2016

Get in!!! MCCarthy injured for 2-3 weeks.

Means i don't have to waste my time watching us when i could be celebrating santa as we have seen the games now more times than It's a good life at christmas.

marsh · December 22, 2016

mikeh72 said:
So there's 0 points until the new year confirmed then assuming Barry will start and finish both games. Can't wait.

So its all Barrys fault now

Khalekan · December 23, 2016

bicycleheader said:
he definitely lost his way big time in the mess since Bobbys 1st season though. Understandable that people remain unconvinced. I was a big fan and wanted him here for a couple of years before he joined. Thought he would have more character than he has shown. Hopefully Koeman can get a tune out of him as he definitely is worth a squad/1st Team place if so

It is worth noting that Jimmy Mac was being lavished with the same praise Gana is now during that first season.

Osamabindiesel · December 23, 2016

McCarthy adds that sociopathic attitude that a lot of the good holding mids had. I don't think he is the greatest player, but he was really solid before injuries and can cause havok in the center of the park.

Osamabindiesel · December 23, 2016

Khalekan said:
It is worth noting that Jimmy Mac was being lavished with the same praise Gana is now during that first season.

Agreed but Gana is easily the better player IMO. A player with that combination of pace, skill and tackling ability is impossible to replace.

Mikey_Fitzgerald · December 23, 2016

Well, this thread has turned

Suddenly people lamenting the lack of Jimmy Mac, after the knives were out a few weeks ago

suey_11 · December 23, 2016

Mikey_Fitzgerald said:
Well, this thread has turned

Suddenly people lamenting the lack of Jimmy Mac, after the knives were out a few weeks ago

We are fickle football fans we are allowed to act like toddlers on the internet.

Eggs · December 23, 2016

Darth Toffeeman said:
I think it would help Barkley too. For all of the great work Barry does, he is too slow now. The lack of legs around Ross. at CM had made him hesitate in possession, which throws him off his natural game and he overthinks. Then he loses confidence to the point where he now appears broken.

Very frustrating.

..Barry has always been slow, his longevity is because of his quality. What he has always lacked is athleticism to get around the pitch. Barry can probably carry on sitting in front of the back four like you and I sit on our setee but RK clearly wants more dimension from his midfielders. We need that to progress.