James McCarthy

[Milkman]

I'm not McCarthy's biggest fan, he's quite a limited player - you can see that with his long passing. He rarely plays a forward pass or drives with the ball, and it looks like he shies away from receiving a pass sometimes.

But then I understand he's playing to Martinez's tactics. Somebody mentioned that he'll pick up wingers with the full backs, which is true, but it seems that that's the plan. The wingers are told not to track back, so the centre mids go wide and then there's nobody left to cover the middle. It's probably one of Martinez's worst tactics to be honest. Both of Watford's goals at the weekend came from having a big hole in centre midfield.

 

[Walken]

Some people are so incredibly precious over James McCarthy. If anyone even dares to suggest that a 13 million pound player bought from Wigan Athletic may have some limitations, or if they feel he is 'only' worth a 'mere' 20 million, then his fanboys start having total, total breakdowns. His cult following are adamant that his limitations should not be discussed, and that we should all convince ourselves that he is absolute top draw, that he could easily get a spot in a top four side, and that the top four side would improve as a result of having James McCarthy. If you don't agree with this then it's "The absolute worstest thing I've ever read on GOT".

For me, he is a very limited central midfielder that reminds me of Steve Sidwell. Before the fanboys have a full blown panic attack at such a comparison, that's the Steve Sidwell who was good enough to be signed by Jose Mourinho's Chelsea, but it is also the Steve Sidwell who was ultimately found wanting at such a level, and was soon moved on. I believe the same would happen to McCarthy if he was to actually get this supposedly inevitable move to an elite club (as has happened with Fellaini, the fanboys' previous best CDM in the world). However I think Everton is the biggest club McCarthy will play for, and that Everton are in need of better central midfielders if they actually want to surpass mid-table mediocrity.

Could have sworn felli was utds best player last season

 

[Dymak]

Could have sworn felli was utds best player last season

If he was, it wouldn't have been at CDM. It will have been as an attacker, with Manchester United making use of the utterly disgusting 'agricultural' method of playing a long pass. The 'agricultural' method isn't going anywhere, thank christ, as football would be crap without it. It beats poncing about going absolutely nowhere by a good few furlongs.

 

[hetion]

Saw him marshalling the midfield a lot today. He's a big influence vocally in the middle of the park.

Nice to see him hurtling towards the ref with that (very optimistic) penalty shout in the first half too.

 

[LocalNative]

Saw him marshalling the midfield a lot today. He's a big influence vocally in the middle of the park.

Nice to see him hurtling towards the ref with that (very optimistic) penalty shout in the first half too.

Much better today he was. Big improvement on last week.

 

[parkendkev]

That's more like the JMac we all know. So much better than last week.

 

[Guest89]

His contract extension was the footballing highlight of the summer for me. Our most indispensable player (along with maybe Lukaku) given how we set up.

 

[harry]

I'm not McCarthy's biggest fan, he's quite a limited player - you can see that with his long passing. He rarely plays a forward pass or drives with the ball, and it looks like he shies away from receiving a pass sometimes.

But then I understand he's playing to Martinez's tactics. Somebody mentioned that he'll pick up wingers with the full backs, which is true, but it seems that that's the plan. The wingers are told not to track back, so the centre mids go wide and then there's nobody left to cover the middle. It's probably one of Martinez's worst tactics to be honest. Both of Watford's goals at the weekend came from having a big hole in centre midfield.

I think when he drive forward he looks very good, agree with his passing range though.

 

[LinekersLegs]

Prefer it when Barry sits back a little more and McCarthy is given the freedom to push forward, seemd a lot happier today -gave Coleman a sweet kiss on the top of his head to congratulate him for his assist!

 

[Gwladys St. Glory]

\gave Coleman a sweet kiss on the top of his head to congratulate him for his assist!

They would appear to be attached at the hip...see them together in pics all the time, either at the club or Internationally.

 

[ijjysmith]

Tackler

 

[LinekersLegs]

They would appear to be attached at the hip...see them together in pics all the time, either at the club or Internationally.

Yeah, was one of the groomsmen at Coleman's wedding as well. Guess it helps when you have such a close friend in the squad as you can provide encouragment when the inevitable rough patches happen and make the boring bits like travel etc a bit more enjoyable.

 

[quasi modo]

Did he play further forward today? Seemed it on the TV, especially in the first half. Looked like Barry sat the deepest.

 

[Huyton Layne]

Unsure if he's under instructions to make terrible passes and mark empty space. 4/10 today. If anyone should be dropped to accommodate having a DM, Cleverly and Barkley on the field then it should be this Faux Irish lad.

 

[AaronTheBlue]

worst game from him for a while today, not his usual self.