Hafnia

The way I see it our 1984 team was made up of unfulfilled talent. Injury or whatever, we got Reid and gray who were written off. Great talent just needed the break. Even sheedy was a bit of a chance from Liverpool

telling press how he should be played and who should play with him, what team he feels he should play for. He's a pain in the arse. He even got involved in anelkas quenell scandal. Far too much to say.

Heavy night Brett?

http://www.soccerhighlightstoday.com/2013/12/belgium-coach-wilmots-jose-mourinho-is.html?m=1

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/worldcup/belgium-v-russia-world-cup-2014-romelu-lukaku--let-fellaini-help-me-up-front-9554387.html

Getting on my tits people mentioning Roy Keane. fuck all to do with a career ending injury, which he should have received a lifetime ban for. Disease spreading actions are vile, simple as that.

I think this world cup is a big wake up call for him. Maybe he will stop shouting his mouth off and focus on becoming the player he thinks he is. Football is an unforgiving game. Michael bridge, Alan Smith, Robbie Fowler, Stan collymore, all players who starred at first and lost their way. Injuries or whatever, you need to drain every last ounce of talent out at every game.

.Fitness aside... A rolls Royce of a PLAYER. Best young player I'd seen at the time in a mature role. Those two feet. Class.

I think Romelu has put an awful lot of pressure on himself to be honest, its not like Aguero has set the world cup alight - but he doesn't say soo much, nor does he throw tantrums. Besides, I need asguero to start banging them in - got money on him.

Cleverley is a component player, along with McCarthy and Barkley he can instill a high tempo passing game, he keeps it ticking over. Stick him in a team where the team mates aren't of the same mindset and he will be a waste.

http://www.squawka.com/news/thats-why-chelsea-loan-him-out-fans-react-as-romelu-lukaku-struggles-again/128976

Lynch pin is "something that holds the various elements of a complicated structure together" - as a player who fills in for a full back and who sits in front of back four and does that very well - I concur. Without him we would be a far less effective team, no one does his role consistently as good. Barry included.

Thats fair enough, I think fans want to see more from him. I think Tom Cleverely is a curious case. I recall once someone making the point that he is far removed from the Stevie G all action hero - he would never influence a 3-0 comeback against AC Milan because him positional indiscipline wouldn't have allowed kaka all that space. I watched him after that and he is extremely simple - sometimes annoyingly but you get him. He would work well with Jimmy Mc

I think there is a big difference between a player who struggles mentally versus technically. If someone can tell me why Tom Cleverely is not a good midfielder then I will take the debate to them. All I see is "he's rubbish" no tangible reasons, so yeah thats why I will question how people arrive at that conclusion. For me he lacks confidence, its been beaten out of him. That can be repaired. Technically I think he is a very capable passer of the ball, has a great engine, not the strongest in the tackle but gets himself there, he has great tactical awareness, and can set the tempo and play 1-2 touch football - thats where he stands out, he gets play moving quick. He needs the players around him to compliment his style of play. He is a cog of a team not a "stand out player" - very similar in ways to McCarthy. He is a footballer that goes under the radar. open to debate.

As I have said, I await the day when part time football observers start spouting "That James McCarthy at Everton is a very good player, you need to watch him closely" - holding their bottle of becks, regurgitating what Robbie Savage said 2 years after he actually was doing it. The whole "Michael Carrick is a top player" thing made me laugh, fans started that after his downturn in performances.

hmmm, not sure. Missed an awful lot of football, bit part appearances etc. At a low price worth a gamble, great athlete, needs his confidence rebuilding. We can become a halfway house for demoralised tralented footballers - plenty of opportunity to make money.

I could actually say likewise to be honest Mark. Gareth Barry cough cough :wind up: I don't get all the OTT slating of players based on reputation - because lets be honest its very common. Yes, I do not get Lukaku - but my opinions are based on watching him closely in an Everton shirt over a period of games. Surely people have learned on this forum that from seeing players like Gibson, Barry etc come in and do a very good job on little expense versus their true value that some criticism is harsh and often "reputational" based to say the least. I feel really sorry for Cleverley, he is far better than people make him out to be, some lads will have cracked on less criticism. He has been given some disgraceful treatment and I really look forward to him proving people wrong. Along with Kone... another poor sod.

Seriously some times I think you are a young adult, then other times I think you are a child. You can't retrofit valid comments I have made about other footballers in this case Lukaku to invalidate my praise of McCarthy. However, in order to clarify this for you.... McCarthy has "ALL" the tools and consistency to be a top defensive midfielder - he is as close to a complete defensive midfielder at the age of 23 that you are going to see. He doesn't need to be a top goal poacher or awesome in the air - he is an excellent fit for his role, he has all the attributes. Now Lukaku - it is well established that his touch is poor, it is, there is no getting away from it. Now call me picky if you want, a 6ft 3 forward with a poor touch isn't ideal when he is playing the lone striker role. It just so happens that he may need to bring others into play when he is tightly marked in order to "retain" the ball. Without retaining the ball, the other team gets possession. Great he scores goals when its in and around the box and when he gvets a run on his man... Mo Johnson did that, the game is different now. I felt a little sorry for Lukaku last night as his performances were scrutinised versus Origi's - they didn't quite get to the crux of the issue, Origi is a more "capable" forward. In 3 games he has scored 2 and got an assist and offered his team mates so much more - becuase technically he is more capable for the "role".

brilliant, I'm just so glad i'm so skilfull and didn't have to rely on such dull traits as I type fromm my desk. I could be James McCarthy...

Poor Tom Cleverley, slated by fans who slate him without ever really understanding why they are slating him. "Where's that petition - let me sign it... no lets boo him aswell - how dare he be the next Paul Scholes, give me Xavi, iniesta, actually that Barkley looks good, lets get him in and destroy his confidence!!!" I suppose Paul Pogba understands how Cleverley feels, he's laughing his head off now aint he. I would get Welbeck and Cleverley, both players need to be at a club where there isn't some ridiculous expectation on them. United are destroying all their young talent, Phil Jones was never as bad as he is now - and I think his goose is cooked.

Simply put:- against the better teams it is vital that McCarthy plays and plays well, I have seen enough to know that without him our midfield lacks mobility, bite, and the tempo to cause stronger teams problems. Yes he doesn't score, yes he doesn't make defence splitting passes, he doesn't dribble the ball, he doesn't take free kicks, he isn't an aerial threat... all those good things that makes 12 year old lads want to get his name put on their shirt. However if a 12 year old wanted to learn how to "play football" and watch a player and understand how to help his team not concede and how to get the skilfull players on the ball, watch James. Attributes:- his first touch is very very good, he knows exactly where the ball needs to be taken to - either on the turn, lay off the way he is facing, to release a player on the move. He doesn't take more touches than he needs - you will not find him getting caught in possession. His engine is incredible, covers kilometer after kilometer, you never see him bent over trying to catch his breath. His tackling is solid, snappy and he knows "when to foul". All in all, he has the makings of a very dull, unexciting footballer who you can miss for 90 minutes whilst watching Lukaku or Mirallas hoping to see something. In those 90 minutes he is often doing an exceptional job a boring one, but exceptional one.

I actually think he's got a better first touch than Rom

He is, and ronaldo, better than the two put together.

I used to say that about Freddie mercury, it turns out it would have messed up his vocals.... Suarez could burst a football with his teeth.

fuck it, I'm gonna do cotto a favour here.... McCarthy is best player in the premier, Coleman's shite and only scores when McCarthy does his defending for him.... What else... Errrmmm McCarthy even though he only scored one goal deserves all the credit for everyone else's goals....