James McCarthy

[ToffeeDoug]

He is very good indeed at some important aspects of the game and no better than average at the rest. There is a lot there that can be developed further but he seems reticent to do it, I'm screaming at him at times just to steam through central midfield with the ball when he has the space to run into, but so often he'll pass up the opportunity, stop dead and knock it sideways.

 

[Mikey_Fitzgerald]

He is very good indeed at some important aspects of the game and no better than average at the rest. There is a lot there that can be developed further but he seems reticent to do it, I'm screaming at him at times just to steam through central midfield with the ball when he has the space to run into, but so often he'll pass up the opportunity, stop dead and knock it sideways.

That's far more likely down to an edict from the manager than McCarthy's own personal desires

 

[Whistlin' Dixie]

I'm confident that if McCarthy ever leaves, we'll make a profit on him

Might well do, with the way prices have been inflated over the years.

 

[Mikey_Fitzgerald]

Might well do, with the way prices have been inflated over the years.

I just don't see how 13 Million for James McCarthy is overpriced when you consider Jordan Henderson was signed for something like 20

I personally think McCarthy has justified that fee with numerous excellent performances on the pitch

Yes, he's out of form at the moment, but that doesn't undo all he did before

 

[Mikey_Fitzgerald]

I should point out that I was sceptical when we signed McCarthy

You can view the original thread and see me questioning the fee

I soon changed my tune once he hit his stride for us

 

[Whistlin' Dixie]

I just don't see how 13 Million for James McCarthy is overpriced when you consider Jordan Henderson was signed for something like 20

Mate, they'd have spunked £100m on ali dia if they had the opportunity (And he'd have been 'der best in de werllllld' for all of 20 seconds lol)

They're more responsible for the inflated prices more than most.

 

[ToffeeDoug]

That's far more likely down to an edict from the manager than McCarthy's own personal desires

Perhaps, I have wondered that but we just don't know, however, there are times when he seems to freeze in attacking situations and maybe lacks the confidence to try something a bit different.

 

[Mikey_Fitzgerald]

Mate, they'd have spunked £100m on ali dia if they had the opportunity (And he'd have been 'der best in de werllllld' for all of 20 seconds lol)

They're more responsible for the inflated prices more than most.

We'll have to agree to disagree mate, but I fail to see how someone could watch James McCarthy for as long as you've watched him and genuinely believe that he was over priced at 13 Million in today's current climate

His body of work speaks for itself

 

[Saint Domingo]

McCarthy brings much more to the table than Gibson

Gibson is merely a decent CM with good distribution. He is one of the most over rated players to wear an Everton shirt in the past decade

I stress that I'm not saying he's bad here. He's solid but he's also ridiculously injury prone and no where near as good as some make out. You'd think he was on the level of a Pirlo or a Platini the way some big him up

McCarthy can do everything he can and can also land a peach of a tackle like nobodies business. He's also younger, hungrier and spends less time on the physio table. He's been excellent for us pretty much from the day he signed up until this recent period of poor form. Gibson has managed little more than a cup of coffee in the first team during that same period of time

13 Million was McCarthy's value, he wasn't overpriced in the slightest

In every sane universe you play an in-form McCarthy over an in-form Gibson

No he can't. Crucially, McCarthy probably has one of the poorest passing ranges of any premier league midfielder this season. He struggles to hit key forward passes. This is where Gibson trumps him as he can hit a killer ball at any point.

This is not a direct comparison, but the reason the likes of Pirlo Xavi, Alonso, Scholes were indulged by top sides for as long as they were is that ability to control a game through their passing range. Gibson has elements of this, McCarthy doesn't, he's good off the ball but cannot dictate the tempo of a game. He can run as much as he wants but cannot hurt the opposition because they know as soon as he is pressured the ball goes backwards or sideways.

 

[Mikey_Fitzgerald]

Perhaps, I have wondered that but we just don't know, however, there are times when he seems to freeze in attacking situations and maybe lacks the confidence to try something a bit different.

As we've seen regards Leighton Baines, this manager is rather quick to pounce on those that don't fully commit to his "vision"

 

[ToffeeDoug]

I just don't see how 13 Million for James McCarthy is overpriced when you consider Jordan Henderson was signed for something like 20

I personally think McCarthy has justified that fee with numerous excellent performances on the pitch

Yes, he's out of form at the moment, but that doesn't undo all he did before

But in nearly three full seasons, just how much has his game developed further or has he rather stood still (not on the pitch, obvs)

 

[Mikey_Fitzgerald]

No he can't. Crucially, McCarthy probably has one of the poorest passing ranges of any premier league midfielder this season. He struggles to hit key forward passes. This is where Gibson trumps him as he can hit a killer ball at any point.

This is not a direct comparison, but the reason the likes of Pirlo Xavi, Alonso, Scholes were indulged by top sides for as long as they were is that ability to control a game through their passing range. Gibson has elements of this, McCarthy doesn't, he's good off the ball but cannot dictate the tempo of a game. He can run as much as he wants but cannot hurt the opposition because they know as soon as he is pressured the ball goes backwards or sideways.

I don't know what James McCarthy you watch mate but it's clearly not the excellent CM I've been watching for 2 and half years

He passes the ball just fine

It seems to me like you're grasping at straws to be honest

 

[Mikey_Fitzgerald]

But in nearly three full seasons, just how much has his game developed further or has he rather stood still (not on the pitch, obvs)

He's hasn't stood still in the slightest

He's better now than he was the day we signed him

He's just had a bad run of form, as Barry did last season

 

[Saint Domingo]

I don't know what James McCarthy you watch mate but it's clearly not the excellent CM I've been watching for 2 and half years

He passes the ball just fine

Come on. You know as well as I do that his distribution is not at the level of some of the better midfielders in the prem (it's not even at Barry's level!). Besic and Barkley both have a more incisive passing range.

It's like saying Joe Allen is better at passing than Xabi Alonso because his completion stats are better. 'Just fine' isn't good enough. Just fine is the reason we're 14th. McCarthy is great off the ball but on it he is in the lower half of the prem in terms of creativity and distribution in my opinion.

 

[ToffeeDoug]

He's hasn't stood still in the slightest

He's better now than he was the day we signed him

He's just had a bad run of form, as Barry did last season

So his game has developed in new directions and he is a better all round player? That is what I mean, not just being better at the things he was good at anyway.