James McCarthy

[Darth Vader]

Hes boss

 

[blue to the bone]

We see how good he is when we doesnt play !

 

[RFUS]

Said before our defensive implosion timed perfectly with him being injured.

It's both a compliment to him and an indictment of how poor we must defend as a team, that we need him so much.

 

[Number_25]

He's our legs in midfield.

 

[EFC78]

We are a top team when he or Besic plays alongside Barry. The team just doesn't work well when we don't have someone like those two to support Barry. Cleverley is a very good player to have in our squad but he's a different player from McCarthy and Besic.

After watching Besic and McCarthy against Leicester last season though, i'm not sure they would work too well together. However, that was one game where we didn't have the impact of the fair players like Barkley (wasn't on the form he is now) and Deulofeu to give the ball to.

Our season fell apart during the Bournemouth game when McCarthy went off. Thankfully there is still time for us to put that right given how the table looks at the moment. 6th is still up for grabs.

 

[Polish_Blue_Army]

It is not the coincidence that McCarthy's presence = us winning

 

[thirdmantackle]

Does all the basic stuff better than everyone else.
First name on the teamsheet when fit

 

[royvernon39]

After watching Besic and McCarthy against Leicester last season though, i'm not sure they would work too well together.

I thought that too at the time. But Besic is now much more of a threat going forward and I hope that those two get a chance to play together this seaon. Besic has not played much this season but he has improved so much and he gives EFC that extra touch of quality.

 

[Bluerover]

I know I have said this before in other posts but he is our Peter Reid and Lee Carsley player.

Not spectacular, not sexy, not Barkley but we really miss him when he isn't there.

In many ways he is our most important player.

The keys of our being successful are a solid keeper that brings organisation and confidence to the defence; a strong controlling midfield; then we can have all the creativity we want in attack.

Prose first then poetry!!

 

[bicycleheader]

Just me or has he looked a bit more comfy on the ball this season also?

 

[Charlie Sweet]

We are a top team when he or Besic plays alongside Barry. The team just doesn't work well when we don't have someone like those two to support Barry. Cleverley is a very good player to have in our squad but he's a different player from McCarthy and Besic.

After watching Besic and McCarthy against Leicester last season though, i'm not sure they would work too well together. However, that was one game where we didn't have the impact of the fair players like Barkley (wasn't on the form he is now) and Deulofeu to give the ball to.

Our season fell apart during the Bournemouth game when McCarthy went off. Thankfully there is still time for us to put that right given how the table looks at the moment. 6th is still up for grabs.

Sorry but Besic is nothing like near McCarthy's class. Not by a very long stretch of the imagination.

 

[rochdaleblue]

You only appreciate something when it has gone and boy how we have missed Macca in the middle of the park. I say middle of the park, but the lad covers every blade of grass every game. Top player and no coincidence we've improved since he's come back in the side.

 

[Simon baker]

Sorry but Besic is nothing like near McCarthy's class. Not by a very long stretch of the imagination.

McCarthy is nailed on to be man of the match whenever we play a team whereby we have limited possession as his ability to track runners & break up play is top class. Besic dominated for 2 1/2 games against Tottenham city & chelsea & was the only player to start With any sort of form v Swansea before injury.

McCarthy simply doesn't have the footballing ability to dominate games. That's not diminishing him as a player it's simply a fact he is a quality player but it's football & his biggest attribute is what he does when he doesn't how the ball.

Besic is a totally different player which a much higher ceiling of ability.

 

[HibbertsLeftFoot]

In the long run, there has to be a way for McCarthy and Besic to play together.

Those two plus Ross.

Yes, Lid.

 

[mkrudden]

Bumping this thread as a reminder to those who forgot how good he is and how important he is.

Our most important player? Surely up there?