James McCarthy

[Hafnia]

From the article... Because if the past two seasons have proven anything, it is that Everton are a far better team when James McCarthy is playing.

 

It's plainly obvious for anyone who knows the game - he's a massive part of what's good about us. He's not going to win matches all by himself but he is vital to our success. See Carsley when we got 4th. See Makele and Matic in those Chelsea teams. See Gilberto Silva in that Arsenal team. None have been THE stand-out player but ask those who know and I'd image they'd speak highly of each.

 

In my opinion, McCarthy and Stones are our 2 most important players.

Great post.

[Cornish Steve]

From the article... Because if the past two seasons have proven anything, it is that Everton are a far better team when James McCarthy is playing.

 

It's plainly obvious for anyone who knows the game - he's a massive part of what's good about us. He's not going to win matches all by himself but he is vital to our success. See Carsley when we got 4th. See Makele and Matic in those Chelsea teams. See Gilberto Silva in that Arsenal team. None have been THE stand-out player but ask those who know and I'd image they'd speak highly of each.

 

In my opinion, McCarthy and Stones are our 2 most important players.

 

Agree with your post. I'd only add that it's the central spine - Stones, McCarthy, Barkley, Lukaku - that together are most important.

 

I'd also add that it's often bad for a team to have a single superstar. They can disrupt the balance of the team. Whey they are injured, the team takes a bigger hit than most.

[StevO]

Someone show me a successful team with no work horse in the midfield, where all of the team were flair players intent on attacking. Doesn't exist!

It's no coincidence that Real Madrid declined when they didn't realise how important Makelelle was, and then he goes to Chelsea and they have so much success.

You have to have stability in the team, that comes from this type of player. The reasons we were so successful the season before last was McCarthy and Barry doing so much leg work for the other players.

Can't build a house without foundations.

[Hafnia]

The best Everton side I seen never had exciting players in the middle. Reid and Bracewell - hard tackling, disciplined players who got the ball to the likes of Steven and Sheedy. Mccarthy is cut from that mould.

[duncanmckenzieismagic]

The best Everton side I seen never had exciting players in the middle. Reid and Bracewell - hard tackling, disciplined players who got the ball to the likes of Steven and Sheedy. Mccarthy is cut from that mould.

 

I agree with the |Peter Reid comparison, in fact Ive described McCarthy in here as Peter Reid with legs, but Bracewell had a lot more to his game. His range of passing was superb

[Hafnia]

 

I agree with the |Peter Reid comparison, in fact Ive described McCarthy in here as Peter Reid with legs, but Bracewell had a lot more to his game. His range of passing was superb

The over shoulder ball to Steven in 85 v Sunderland springs to mind. One of the best passes I've seen.

[EvertonianFL]

We only finished with 47 points all season .

 

Yes, I am well aware of just how shite we were this season, however my stats include ALL games he appeared in, not just Prem games

[EvertonianFL]

definitely doing barry a disservice there very underated.

 

I disagree with you completely there...sorry mate. Gareth Barry, albeit a consummate professional and tactical veteran, is certainly not our answer in the midfield. I'm not sure he could keep pace with a tractor in reverse. Too slow, no lateral speed, and commits some silly fouls as a result. He appeared in 44 games last year and received 13 yellow cards and one red (which was a double yellow I believe against Chelsea). Not that this correlates at all, but in the games Barry was booked, we had 3 wins, 5 draws and 5 losses. Sounds like our season summed up.

[Cornish Steve]

 

I disagree with you completely there...sorry mate. Gareth Barry, albeit a consummate professional and tactical veteran, is certainly not our answer in the midfield. I'm not sure he could keep pace with a tractor in reverse. Too slow, no lateral speed, and commits some silly fouls as a result. He appeared in 44 games last year and received 13 yellow cards and one red (which was a double yellow I believe against Chelsea). Not that this correlates at all, but in the games Barry was booked, we had 3 wins, 5 draws and 5 losses. Sounds like our season summed up.

 

As I remember, that red was because he took a yellow for the team - when someone else screwed up.

[duncanmckenzieismagic]

http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/frustrated-eamon-dunphy-delivers-equine-verdict-on-james-mccarthy-s-performance-1.2249344

[Hafnia]

http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/frustrated-eamon-dunphy-delivers-equine-verdict-on-james-mccarthy-s-performance-1.2249344

 

This clown dunphy still getting air time? He's an Irish Adrian Durham and mccarthy is his Arsenal. He waxes lyrical over Wes hoolahan though....

 

He's been accused of racism against Scotland before now is this just another dig?

 

Either way I watched the game the other night and really enjoyed it. Mccarthy was influential till his yellow card. Had a 7/10 game for me.

[Hafnia]

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/james-mccarthy-irish-donkey-everton-9457006

[Lowensda]

Yeah, he's a drunk.

[Matt]

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/james-mccarthy-irish-donkey-everton-9457006

That has to be a joke, right?

 

Or is this MC's Irish alias?

[MC11]

That has to be a joke, right?

 

Or is this MC's Irish alias?

I'm not the only one who thinks he does a whole load of nothing. A water carrier at best and pretty useless with the ball at his feet. A specialist in jockeying and side way passing. The key here is he's "overrated". If he wasn't thought of so highly I wouldn't have a problem but he's an average footballer. Nothing special. He has a high work ethic that's about it

[Matt]

I'm not the only one who thinks he does a whole load of nothing. A water carrier at best and pretty useless with the ball at his feet. A specialist in jockeying and side way passing. The key here is he's "overrated". If he wasn't thought of so highly I wouldn't have a problem but he's an average footballer. Nothing special. He has a high work ethic that's about it

So thats a yes then

 

[duncanmckenzieismagic]

This clown dunphy still getting air time? He's an Irish Adrian Durham and mccarthy is his Arsenal. ....

 

He's been accused of racism against Scotland before now is this just another dig?

 

Either way I watched the game the other night and really enjoyed it. Mccarthy was influential till his yellow card. Had a 7/10 game for me.

 

I know which player I would prefer to see in an Everton shirt

[markjazzbassist]

would be nice if mccarthy is in this list this year

 

 

looks like colback would have been a decent signing after all.

Edited June 26, 2015 by markjazzbassist

[Sibdane]

Matic... what a player.

[Paddock]

Matic... what a player.

Said it for a while. The lads a beast.

 

Best dcm in the prem by a street for me.

[Kant]

When Fabregas is in a defending list, that particular attribute must not be very important!

 

Now, seriously talking, I can't but agree with two defensive maestros:

Paolo Maldini - "If I have to make a tackle then I have already made a mistake."

 

Xabi Alonso - "I don't think tackling is a quality. It is... something you have to resort to, not a characteristic of your game. I can't get into my head that football development would educate tackling as a quality, something to learn, to teach, a characteristic of your play. How can that be a way of seeing the game? I just don't understand football in those terms. Tackling is a [last] resort, and you will need it, but it isn't a quality to aspire to, a definition. It's hard to change because it's so rooted in the English football culture, but I don't understand it."

[Matt]

When Fabregas is in a defending list, that particular attribute must not be very important!

 

Now, seriously talking, I can't but agree with two defensive maestros:

Paolo Maldini - "If I have to make a tackle then I have already made a mistake."

 

Xabi Alonso - "I don't think tackling is a quality. It is... something you have to resort to, not a characteristic of your game. I can't get into my head that football development would educate tackling as a quality, something to learn, to teach, a characteristic of your play. How can that be a way of seeing the game? I just don't understand football in those terms. Tackling is a [last] resort, and you will need it, but it isn't a quality to aspire to, a definition. It's hard to change because it's so rooted in the English football culture, but I don't understand it."

I would disagree with them both, but at the same time agree with ideals behind each statement.

 

Maldini (an idol growing up) - It's not necessarily him who has made a mistake, you need to tackle to make up for someone elses mistake. But, the need to tackle is a result of mistakes.

 

Alonso - It bloody well is a quality to aspire to, because if that last resort is done badly, you end up suffering. But again, it should not be the focus of the game (personally I love watching a good, crunching tackle. Reminds me that the game isn't played by a bunch of wimps).

[Kant]

Well the ideal is that your positioning avoids you to do a sliding tackle. By sliding to tackle the player is committed, and if the player misses the team loses one defender and its team positioning. For example (in-game fictional examples):

- From central positions: Let's say that McCarthy goes for a tackle and misses. The rival will be able to face 1 v 1 a CB unprotected, even shoot from range.

- From the wings: Let's say that Coleman is 1 v 1 against Sterling. Sterling dribbles and Coleman tries to tackle and misses. Sterling will cut inside, and face Stones, making all the defenders switch right to cover Coleman's mistake by changing man and leaving the far post unmarked or weakly marked by a LB/LM.

 

If the player was tactically aware and good at reading the game he could anticipate the pass and intercept it.

 

I'm not denying that a good strong tackle can get some players mentally stressed and have an impact on their games -the intimidation effect-. However most of the times I'd rather the player stay on his feet unless he's the last man a-la-Stones sometimes and never allowing a penalty and red card. Also tackles are seen by refs as violent and if mistimed, are almost certainly a yellow card. Sadly, even fair but strong tackles are awarded yellow cards these days...

[Matt]

Well the ideal is that your positioning avoids you to do a sliding tackle. By sliding to tackle the player is committed, and if the player misses the team loses one defender and its team positioning. For example (in-game fictional examples):

- From central positions: Let's say that McCarthy goes for a tackle and misses. The rival will be able to face 1 v 1 a CB unprotected, even shoot from range.

- From the wings: Let's say that Coleman is 1 v 1 against Sterling. Sterling dribbles and Coleman tries to tackle and misses. Sterling will cut inside, and face Stones, making all the defenders switch right to cover Coleman's mistake by changing man and leaving the far post unmarked or weakly marked by a LB/LM.

 

If the player was tactically aware and good at reading the game he could anticipate the pass and intercept it.

 

I'm not denying that a good strong tackle can get some players mentally stressed and have an impact on their games -the intimidation effect-. However most of the times I'd rather the player stay on his feet unless he's the last man a-la-Stones sometimes and never allowing a penalty and red card. Also tackles are seen by refs as violent and if mistimed, are almost certainly a yellow card. Sadly, even fair but strong tackles are awarded yellow cards these days...

Good point, didn't think about it like that. Point still stands though, you need to master the "art" of tackling because no one is ever going to be positioned perfectly.

[Shukes]

The best defenders stay on their feet...then when it comes to tackle they time it perfectly.

A defensive player that can't tackle would be a real worry.

[markjazzbassist]

this argument reminds me of hockey. the europeans play a technical skll based game with little to no hitting because their is no need, their speed and finesse negate it. the americans and canadians play a more physical style with tons of checking/hitting and a slower more defensive pace. i admit the european game (hockey) is way more attractive and fun to watch.

[Hafnia]

A person that tackles is not necessarily the person who has made the mistake.

 

It is conceivable that the opposition will have possession for periods of time which leaves the following to happen for them to concede psoession:-

 

they kick the ball out of play or the keeper saves the ball

they commit a foul or get caught offside

they pass to an opponent/the opponent intercepts

the opponent tackles them

 

tackling is an art.

[Btay]

Neville on Ronlado.

Ill have that every week thank you very much.

[Cornish Steve]

this argument reminds me of hockey. the europeans play a technical skll based game with little to no hitting because their is no need, their speed and finesse negate it. the americans and canadians play a more physical style with tons of checking/hitting and a slower more defensive pace. i admit the european game (hockey) is way more attractive and fun to watch.

But that's because, in North America, hockey is a good excuse for a fight. If there were no checks or hitting, there would be fewer fights.

[Cornish Steve]

When I coached u14 to u18 teams, I made clear that the goal of the defender was to stop an attack through positioning. Their tendency was to jump right in with an attempted tackle which invariably helped the other team.