James McCarthy

[Royal Blue Jersey]

What paragraphs!?

Here's one:



There's around fifty others of me rating the lad MUCH higher than 90% of the people on here. I haven't said a bad word about him

Hm, I am confused. I can't believe that paragraph was written by you, it seems in contrast with all the rest of the things I've read. If you rate him so highly, why were you so critical of his debut?
I think playing the solid, simple effective passes in that game was what we needed. No hoofs, no suicide passes, no hollywood balls, just making sure we retained possesion. I thought when he come on we really steamed ahead in that game; being able to keep hold of the ball meant whenever Chelsea lost posession we looked dangerous on the counter. Him & Barry are what we needed.

 

[Royal Blue Jersey]

So you have no idea what we're talking about but decided to call that "nail on head" - ridiculous.

I'll help you out - it was about 5 yards inside our own half, McCarthy had possession, he turned to face and then nudged a one yard pass to Osman to carry the ball instead of doing so himself. There was no obvious tactical reason for doing so.

It may turn out to be a one off, but it's worth keeping an eye out for, because he did the same in his early days at Wigan when he looked like a scared sheep. It could even be a positive that I've pointed it now, as it could excuse poor performances in the coming months as I firmly believe McCarthy will take six months at least to find his footing here.

I suppose we've come down to a difference of opinion. My heart was racing with all the stress of that game and I recall that pass vividly, it was the first thing he did - and I remember applauding it. It was exactly what we needed, just slow the game down, allowing himself to find space easier for the return ball. I was happy with that pass. It's how you ease yourself into a game as a sub (or in general, for that matter): get the simple things right, build from there. Would you really find it sensible for a player with a £13m albatross of a pricetag around his neck to stroll onto the pitch and attempt a Gerrard crossfielder and have us lose the ball?

Keep it simple, keep possession, build from there. It's the Martinez way, lid.

 

[Tubey]

Hm, I am confused. I can't believe that paragraph was written by you, it seems in contrast with all the rest of the things I've read. If you rate him so highly, why were you so critical of his debut?
I think playing the solid, simple effective passes in that game was what we needed. No hoofs, no suicide passes, no hollywood balls, just making sure we retained possesion. I thought when he come on we really steamed ahead in that game; being able to keep hold of the ball meant whenever Chelsea lost posession we looked dangerous on the counter. Him & Barry are what we needed.

It was written by me - it's right here: http://www.grandoldteam.com/news/fans-view/2013/jul/04/sorting-the-chaff-from-the-wheat (or in case people think I edited it on the sly, here: http://www.grandoldteam.com/forum/t...he-Chaff-from-the-Wheat?highlight=chaff+wheat)

Bold bit - simply put, I wasn't. I said he was mediocre, average, whatever word you care to use - not "bad", not "awful". Just bog standard. 5/10. Did what you'd expect from a midfielder coming on in those circumstances. That's not a "bad" thing, as it would be true of the vast majority of players coming on to shore up the midfield for the last 20 minutes.

I was solely pointing out very specific moments of play that I was irritated by because the few concerns I actually do have about the lad were displayed in those 20 minutes. I'm mentioning them because I don't want to see him do it again.

That doesn't mean he didn't run about, throw a few tackles, retain possession etc. because he did. This is no crusade against James McCarthy - what has happened here is that the GOT bandwagon has grabbed the pitchforks because I've dared to say something other than post a bland "he did alright like" and analyse his game properly.

I suppose we've come down to a difference of opinion. My heart was racing with all the stress of that game and I recall that pass vividly, it was the first thing he did - and I remember applauding it. It was exactly what we needed, just slow the game down, allowing himself to find space easier for the return ball. I was happy with that pass. It's how you ease yourself into a game as a sub (or in general, for that matter): get the simple things right, build from there. Would you really find it sensible for a player with a £13m albatross of a pricetag around his neck to stroll onto the pitch and attempt a Gerrard crossfielder and have us lose the ball?

Keep it simple, keep possession, build from there. It's the Martinez way, lid.

Good post - I hope that is the case.

 

[Foot Long Hot Dog]

I
That doesn't mean he didn't run about, throw a few tackles, retain possession etc. because he did. This is no crusade against James McCarthy - what has happened here is that the GOT bandwagon has grabbed the pitchforks because I've dared to say something other than post a bland "he did alright like" and analyse his game properly.

You take patronising to a whole new level at times Tubey

Setting your opinion ahead of your peers, as you supposedly "analysed his game properly" is the reason you've had so many bites here imo. Your opinion is no more valid than anyone else's, despite the fact that you've dressing it up in an overly verbose manner.

It was a 20 minute cameo ffs, you can't pontificate about your 'concerns' around the lad after a sub appearance in a game like that & not expect to get a reaction from those who watched the same game & saw a solid start from the lad.

 

[andybaker]

fellaini when he came was complete 5hite IMO for about 18 months.

Fans were right to argue about that one because 18 months is enough time to base an opinion on.

20 minutes is genuinely mental. There should be no argument because there shouldnt be any judgement.

 

[Tubey]

fellaini when he came was complete 5hite IMO for about 18 months.

Fans were right to argue about that one because 18 months is enough time to base an opinion on.

20 minutes is genuinely mental. There should be no argument because there shouldnt be any judgement.

So you're just blatantly not reading anything I'm writing - you know, the "it'll take him six months to settle in", the "I haven't made a judgement about him based on those 20 minutes" or anything. Fair enough.

 

[Tubey]

You take patronising to a whole new level at times Tubey

Setting your opinion ahead of your peers, as you supposedly "analysed his game properly" is the reason you've had so many bites here imo. Your opinion is no more valid than anyone else's, despite the fact that you've dressing it up in an overly verbose manner.

It was a 20 minute cameo ffs, you can't pontificate about your 'concerns' around the lad after a sub appearance in a game like that & not expect to get a reaction from those who watched the same game & saw a solid start from the lad.

Oh look, another one who hasn't read anything I've typed. Yay.

 

[steken1]

So you're just blatantly not reading anything I'm writing - you know, the "it'll take him six months to settle in", the "I haven't made a judgement about him based on those 20 minutes" or anything. Fair enough.

This has dragged on a bit longer than you where expecting, eh?

 

[Tubey]

This has dragged on a bit longer than you where expecting, eh?

Could say that yeah haha - unbelievable really. You'd swear I'd proper laid into him the way the bandwagon is acting

 

[andybaker]

So you're just blatantly not reading anything I'm writing - you know, the "it'll take him six months to settle in", the "I haven't made a judgement about him based on those 20 minutes" or anything. Fair enough.

In that instance...i didnt even mention you. Noone should be making any judgements on a player who comes on for 20 odd minutes into what is going to be one of the most frantic games we see at GP this season.

In reality, he could have only really came on and f*cked it up. In a game against opposition that good and in that pace, he could have been 5hat out. You could argue a point for it being a positive that you didnt really notice him but not much more for me.

 

[steken1]

Could say that yeah haha - unbelievable really. You'd swear I'd proper laid into him the way the bandwagon is acting

I didn't agree with you but it weren't particularly venomous. Nice to see so many sticking up for our players anyways. Used to just be, deserved, slatings of Neville every week.

 

[eternal_defiance]

http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11671/8925035

As for the game with Chelsea, McCarthy added: "The gaffer said I'd get a chance and I enjoyed it even if it was a difficult game. I'm just glad we got the points.

"It was a hard game to come on in. It was just about seeing it out at the end.

"The atmosphere was different class. As a kid you dream about playing in front of big crowds at places like this. The fans got right behind the team and they were brilliant."

 

[Moomin]

http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11671/8925035

As for the game with Chelsea, McCarthy added: "The gaffer said I'd get a chance and I enjoyed it even if it was a difficult game. I'm just glad we got the points.

"It was a hard game to come on in. It was just about seeing it out at the end.

"The atmosphere was different class. As a kid you dream about playing in front of big crowds at places like this. The fans got right behind the team and they were brilliant."

Even his comments move to the side like a crab.

 

[pfim]

He did fine, kept it simple, which was what the game required.

This comment isn't a referendum on the remaining years of his life.

 

[hafnia]

I don't post on here very often as it is so fast moving, when I clicked on the McCarthy thread I was expecting a unanimous:-

"did well, allowed our overrun midfield a bit of respite in the face of quality opponents throwing the kitchen sink in to try and get a goal"

How a player can be be slated for making a short pass to his own man at 1-0 up - keeping the ball and switching the tempo from them to us is beyond me... I think there is a clear lack of understanding as to what is needed at certain times and passages of play in the game. If he was Iniesta and he made a 5 yard pass to Xavi would he be slated? No. It's because thats what Barca do, keep the ball, don't hit 20 yard high risk passes.

Yet in the same thread Dirk Naismith gets praised for a great game.... he worked well without the ball but blimey, on the ball he is a liability.

McCarthy gave the other midfielders comfort - he was availiable for a pass, intelligent movement and pressing, good work rate, great mobility... 7/10 no more, no less. Did everything you would expect of him...

A players first 20 minutes for the club as a sub in the middle of a frantic game and he gets slated for making a short sideways pass.... deary me.