Not played in the right role he isn't. Not at all.
As a holding midfielder whose primary job it is to break up the play and give it to a more talented player alongside him who can then dictate the pace/tempo of our play, and maybe occasionally make darting third-man runs from deep, McCarthy is spot on. He proved it in a pretty poor Ireland side all things considered.
That first year he was great.
But he is the epitome of the Roberto Martinez reign of Everton. Was boss the first year, then flattered to deceive for two years.
We, as Evertonians, usually take to the hard working player, Andy Johnson springs to mind, whilst people fume over the likes of Lukaku for being lazy. Yet stats at end of the season show the lazy one to score more, whereas the tireless player is knackered.
McCarthy runs around a lot, but doesn't really do much, he tackles, but doesn't score enough, isn't a great attacking source and really if we're looking to improve like we say we are, he's someone who won't take us to the next level.
I appreciate the first year, but you don't win things living in the past.
Oh, and please, please, vault me on this in a years time please, because I'd love to be proven wrong.
