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James McCarthy

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GrandOldTeam said:
It's telling that his match thread is quieter than most.

For me, he needs to up his game. First season he was a revelation, second season very poor in comparative, and this season he's started a bit "meh"

More urgency needed both on and off the ball. Repeatedly last night he made himself unavailable for a simple pass from defence/throw ins. Above all, take more responsibility.

His position is too comfortable. If fit, he plays no matter what and that's probably brought in some complacency in his game.

Frustrating because he has it in him to dominate the midfield and really move us through the gears.
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i don't think he has been as bad as some make out, he isn't an eye catching player, and does his best work without the ball, but I do very much agree with this statement, the same is true of Barry
 
GrandOldTeam said:
It's telling that his match thread is quieter than most.

For me, he needs to up his game. First season he was a revelation, second season very poor in comparative, and this season he's started a bit "meh"

More urgency needed both on and off the ball. Repeatedly last night he made himself unavailable for a simple pass from defence/throw ins. Above all, take more responsibility.

His position is too comfortable. If fit, he plays no matter what and that's probably brought in some complacency in his game.

Frustrating because he has it in him to dominate the midfield and really move us through the gears.
Click to expand...

Totally agree. I went to (one of?) his first games for us at Fulham in the League Cup and I was concerned that one of the most expensive players we've ever bought was passing on responsibility to others when we needed a goal. There was no attempt to drive forward or take on a shot, basically to do anything other than give a simple pass to someone else. I thought he'd add more to his game as he got older but he hasn't really. Don't get me wrong, i love his work rate but i'm not sure on his footballing ability.
 
Fan of the diving. Need more snide in the team and i dont care.

We were losing against absolute tinpot, he may have never got the penalty but he showed he'd do anything to get us back in the game.
 

He can be so vital for us yet so very meh, in games like yesterday he's very lacklustre offering very little, in high energy games against the better teams he can be terrific. Needs to add so much more to his game
 
ijjysmith said:
Unless it actually wins a penno. Then it's absolutely fine with me.
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I would have wet myself if he would have got a pen for that but I wouldn't encourage it. It's always funny to see someone who is not really a snide try something like that but it should be left to them really.
 

I thought he played well last night.
I think that McCarthy was a little more defensive than usual last night as he was covering in front of an inexperienced back four.

I also think that as Barkley is now playing in the middle and his defensive instincts are not the strongest part of his game then defensive responsibilities this season fall more heavily on Barry and McCarthy.
 
Oh how'd we love a fit Gibson in our team. Barely gave the ball away and was always head up looking to get the ball forward. I thought macca would develop that side of his game, since he joined us. He has lost none of the energy we saw in the first season, but sadly his passing style and overall influence on the game haven't developed.
 
Just doesn't do enough to warrant his and Barry's inclusion for me. If we had a great defence I could understand if but we don't even with the two of them playing. We don't even dominate possession anymore. Plus we're also currently playing with two full backs who are staying back quite a bit of the time. What exactly are they there for if they don't score, don't create, and don't keep the door shut?

Gibson came on and did more in a half an hour stroll round than McCarthy has managed all season. For 13 mill you expect more. Fine with him if he is going to be the sole DM in the team and is properly challenged by Besic, if he's a guaranteed starter though regardless of form as extra cover alongside Barry then I don't see the point in him.
 

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