James McCarthy - I'm not impressed

[Efcjake]

I mentioned this in the WBA thread at half time, and Davek seems to have echoed my thoughts earlier here.

The problem isn't necessarily with James' play, but in my opinion is more to do with the positions he has been required to take up this season. When playing with Mirallas and McGeady he is sitting deeper than usual as both are under special instructions not requiring them to track back all the time. Couple that with the way Baines and Coleman get up to support the attack, and the fact that Naismith is playing further up than Barkley would and you can see why McCarthy is hesitant to push further up.

At points in the game we had 5 players just clustered on the half-way line while we attempting to maintain possession/start an attack ( McCarthy, Barry, Jags, Stones, and then one of Baines/Coleman depending on which flank we were attacking down.) This led to the entire team looking disjointed(With an "Attacking" 5 and a "Defending" 5) and gave WBA the ability to take the ball through the middle of the park when counter-attacking.

If Pienaar and Barkley were in the team I think you would see more of McCarthy getting involved on the ball further up the pitch like he did last year. He knew Barkley and Pienaar were going to track back when countered. I think the special instructions for tracking back given to Mirallas and McGeady, and Naismith playing more as a second striker than an attacking mid has led to instructions for McCarthy to sit deeper. I can't think of many touches McCarthy got in the final third of the field against WBA and I think this is why.

 

[banno]

Well you've mentioned Awful, Gash and Terrible since Saturday, so the fire is burning quite well already.

and I bet a few people agree with me. He is playing gash and we know he can play better. Don't take it to heart mate and be honest with yourself and let us know how you think he has played this season. You can use diplomatic words like off-form or words that relate to it like awful, gash and terrible. I know his form will come back but at the moment he is not playing well at all.

 

[Prevenger17]

What a pointless thread.

 

[mythbuster]

and I bet a few people agree with me. He is playing gash and we know he can play better. Don't take it to heart mate and be honest with yourself and let us know how you think he has played this season. You can use diplomatic words like off-form or words that relate to it like awful, gash and terrible. I know his form will come back but at the moment he is not playing well at all.

To be honest mate, I think somebody should start a new thread every time they perceive a player has not been great for 360 minutes.

 

[blue4eva77]

and I bet a few people agree with me. He is playing gash and we know he can play better. Don't take it to heart mate and be honest with yourself and let us know how you think he has played this season. You can use diplomatic words like off-form or words that relate to it like awful, gash and terrible. I know his form will come back but at the moment he is not playing well at all.

Average

Again my original point is that ' who, apart from Mirallas, has stood out and has been ON form '. This thread here and its becoming a regular thing on here is a moan for the sake of moaning. Jagielka had a half decent game, so lets pick somebody else to have a moan about. I didn't hear the McCarthy moaners the other week when Jags and Distin were being slaughtered. Thats the point.

Moan for the sake of moaning.

 

[banno]

Clearly many, many more think it's a load of crap.

As far as I can see the majority are in agreement that he is off form and not playing his best but have took exception to a thread being opened for it. Even the ones who are saying give him 10 games before having a go are really saying he is off form but don't have a go just yet. People are saying he is playing in a different role and this could be a reason but the one thing in common is most are saying he is off form which is true.

Its not a lynch mob attitude its just a state of fact and I am sure that along with me the majority know its just a blip and he will get back to form.

 

[Prevenger17]

As far as I can see the majority are in agreement that he is off form and not playing his best but have took exception to a thread being opened for it. Even the ones who are saying give him 10 games before having a go are really saying he is off form but don't have a go just yet. People are saying he is playing in a different role and this could be a reason but the one thing in common is most are saying he is off form which is true.

Its not a lynch mob attitude its just a state of fact and I am sure that along with me the majority know its just a blip and he will get back to form.

Mate, nobody is denying he's not playing to his usual standard. We're objecting to gash threads being made dedicated to a short routine blip in a player's form.

 

[banno]

Average

Again my original point is that ' who, apart from Mirallas, has stood out and has been ON form '. This thread here and its becoming a regular thing on here is a moan for the sake of moaning. Jagielka had a half decent game, so lets pick somebody else to have a moan about. I didn't hear the McCarthy moaners the other week when Jags and Distin were being slaughtered. Thats the point.

Moan for the sake of moaning.

Mate you are making more of it than you should be. Average might have been the wrong description as that was being kind. This is a McCarthy thread and Jags, Distin and others have also been pulled up about there lack of form so this is nothing out of the ordinary. The man is off form can you not accept that....its an observation and in here people are trying to discuss it and find out why he has dropped off. We still love him and he hasn't become a hate figure. You need to chill a bit as you seem to be getting a little irritated.

 

[bluemangroup]

What a pointless thread.

Good post that mate.

*like*

 

[mythbuster]

As far as I can see the majority are in agreement that he is off form and not playing his best but have took exception to a thread being opened for it. Even the ones who are saying give him 10 games before having a go are really saying he is off form but don't have a go just yet. People are saying he is playing in a different role and this could be a reason but the one thing in common is most are saying he is off form which is true.

Its not a lynch mob attitude its just a state of fact and I am sure that along with me the majority know its just a blip and he will get back to form.

He's been a 6/10 for me.

Hardly deserving of a thread titled "James McCarthy, I'm not impressed."

It's almost as if the op has had to bite his tongue for 12 months, and is only now sensing an opportunity to stick the boot in.

 

[Prevenger17]

Good post that mate.

*like*

Thanks for your support.

*like exchange*

 

[bluemangroup]

Thanks for your support.

*like exchange*

Don't patronise me.

*like*

 

[mythbuster]

Don't patronise me.

*like*

Get a room. xx

 

[rochdaleblue]

Thought he was one of our better players against arsenal (didn't he win mom award?). Ok he hasn't replicated his form of last season as yet (but who has?). Form is temporary class is permanent.

 

[Eggs]

.....like others he's getting up to speed. He's the type who covers every blade and it might just take him a bit longer. There's also an indication that he's playing with blistered feet, we just don't know if he's carrying a knock but still prepared to put a shirt on. He's great as far as I'm concerned.