McCarthy on disciplinary tightrope to make Mersey derby
James McCarthy is expected to play against Crystal Palace today even though he is one booking away from a suspension that would rule him out of the derby against Liverpool in a fortnight's time.
Roberto Martinez appears to have no plans to rest the Irish international for the trip to Selhurst Park and says that he will not risk him collecting a booking by giving him special instructions.
"I won't say anything to him," said Martinez of the 23-year-old who has quickly established himself as a vital cog in Everton's midfield machine. "Through experience you realise that when you've got something in your head, normally it goes against you. He needs to be normal and natural with his way of play and that will allow him to be himself."
McCarthy was booked early on in the season playing for Wigan Athletic against Barnsley and has collected another three for the Blues since his big-money move on transfer deadline day. One more booking would mean a one-game suspension from the Football Association, though his slate would be wiped clean if he can make it to the New Year without receiving another yellow card.
"James McCarthy isn't a player that gets bookings in his normal way of playing," his manager continued. "Last year he played every single game for Wigan and in 38 games he was never banned because of a yellow card. It's a situation where he's come to a new club and been adjusting and adapting and getting to know the players around him.
"That's probably why he's got the number of bookings that he has."
Quotes or other material sourced from
The Guardian
Note: the following content is not moderated or vetted by the site owners at the time of submission. Comments are the responsibility of the poster. Disclaimer
Posted
09/11/2013 at
02:02:04
One thing you can guarantee, Palace will be aware of the situation and (if they have anything about them) will be doing whatever they can to put him off his normal game and wind him up. It will be a test of the lads temperament. We desperately need him to pass the test!
Posted
09/11/2013 at
03:21:40
What benefit would Palace get out of getting Mcarthy a booking? Sorry Pablo your comment doesn't make sense.
Posted
09/11/2013 at
08:02:34
Because sport at the highest level is small margins Micheal, so if you can gain an advantage over your opponent you take it. If I was coming up against McCarthy today I would be reminding him of it for 90 minutes. The desired result would be to put him off his normal game either by getting him booked so he is wound up or having him to scared to go to ground. Either way your opponent is not at his best. A similar comparison would be the 'sledging' cricketer's give batsman when they walk to the crease. Just my opinion though, your entitled to disagree!
Posted
09/11/2013 at
09:36:53
With this in mind does anyone think rm might rest McCarthy and play two up front against palace?
Posted
09/11/2013 at
09:33:45
It just brings home the importance of some of the ridiculous bookings from some of the incompetent referees we've encountered this, and other seasons. What may appear to be a bit of poor judgement or downright bias can have major repercussions later in the season. McCarthy has been fortunate not to have seen a red on one occasion, before anyone finds it necessary to point that out, but that just underlines my point about poor officials. In the Spurs game the McCarthy, Howard, Mirallas and, especially, Lukaku, bookings were really bad decisions, whereas Soldado should have walked for his elbow on Jags. Now we may miss an influential player for a Derby game. I'd leave him out.
Posted
09/11/2013 at
10:10:58
It is pure stupidity to leave one of our best players out just because they might miss our next game. If we are winning comfortably then yes take him off. If as Pablo suggests Palace try to wind him up and put him off his game take him off (and yes I get what you mean Pablo). But don't risk 3 points just because of the derby, it is pointless
Posted
09/11/2013 at
10:19:36
It might well be a mistake Steve, but it would be an interesting gamble. Let's face it the way McCarthy plays he'll get booked sooner or later, and I'd be surprised if he could get through the derby without one. Some people would say it was just using your squad, but I get your point. I don't know enough about how Palace play to say whether you're right, but you probably are.
Posted
09/11/2013 at
10:22:09
Sorry Steve, don't agree. Palace have played 10, won 1 and lost 9, scoring just 6 goals. They have also conceded 21, which suggests to me that we should have a more attack minded set up from the off. I would play Delboy and have Mirallas either on the bench or playing off Lukaku.
If we have any aspirations for a top 6 finish we should be able to win at Palace without McCarthy. The Derby game will be difficult enough without one of our most influential players and with no suitable backup.
Posted
09/11/2013 at
10:32:00
Ray#859 We're going to have to be on our A game tomorrow. W1 L9 = good each way bet for Palace 1-0...Be honest now, how many times over the years have you seen it, the team without a win, the player without a goal for, well for as long as Jelavic...and who do they use to break the duck??
Posted
09/11/2013 at
11:05:48
James McCarthy is a class player and has no need to keep diving into players recklessly and getting booked nearly every week. Just close the opposition down and wait for THEM to make the mistakes. Otherwise, the opposition will make the most of any unacceptable contact to get McCarthy booked or even sent off. After all, McCarthy is getting booked in areas of the field where there is little or no danger of there being a threat of an imminent goal.
Posted
09/11/2013 at
11:57:06
Got to "rest" him. If we haven't got enough talent to do Palace, we really are up against it.
Posted
09/11/2013 at
12:21:14
Amen Derek, it's soul destroying the number of times we give teams points or a scorer a goal.
I remember a player many years ago (I think under Walker) and a Norwich player had never scored in his whole carer...then bang, ere you go lad!!
Twitchy bum time today for me
Posted
09/11/2013 at
12:33:02
Ray R. #859. Spot on. Last week it took West Brom 44 minutes to score against Palace. They weren't going anywhere till their manager took off a defender and brought on an extra attacker. Mirallis and Deulofeu would rip apart the slow motion Palace defence, especially when they tire late on. One or two of their players tend to throw in the towel if things are not going their way.
Posted
09/11/2013 at
12:55:38
Whether this will be popular or not I don't know. However, the best chance of three points is today so it is paramount we have our best team out. We will deal with the next game with the players we have available for it.
Posted
09/11/2013 at
13:00:19
Derek Thomas @ 861
Derek, over the last 55 years I have, as you suggest, seen us come a cropper many times to allow teams, players etc., the chance to get back on track, however, I do feel that there is a different "feel" about the place under Martinez. I hope I'm right.
Harold, I too, have noticed several Palace players who don't seem to have the backbone to knuckle down to it when things go against them, let's hope it happens again today.
OH NO! Palace have just been featured on Football Focus...we're stuffed...
Posted
09/11/2013 at
13:13:14
I have been thinking what we supporters require from our Board, the Manager and Players. Something like 10 commandments. I'll start with Coomandment Number 1: above all else we must win and never lose against the Reds in any Season. The Board must always buy better players than the Reds each Season.the Managers Contract should have a clause " 3 consecutive losses brings instant dismissal.The Players should have a special Derby bonus incentive.
Once our local dominence is sorted then we can worry about silverware.
If we finish lower than the Reds in two consecutive seasons the Board must resign.
Go on tell me I'm dreaming and/or come up with other Supporter demands. Remember there was a time when all those demands were met. As for today at Crystal Palace if the above applied would the manager risk McCarthy??
Posted
09/11/2013 at
13:32:43
It seems very obvious that he should be rested, I'm surprised to hear Martinez say he is not a player whose style of play typically picks up bookings when the evidence (numbers and watching how physical he plays) beg to differ.
Posted
09/11/2013 at
13:45:22
You're dreaming.
Posted
09/11/2013 at
13:43:10
We really don't need to play McCarthy. We have enough midfielders to cope today, but we really do need our best midfield against the Red Shite. If he gets a booking against them, then it gives him a rest for Man Utd and Arsenal.
My team for today: Howard; Stones, Jags, Distin, Baines. Coleman, Pienaar, Barry, Deulofeu, Mirallas, Lukaku.
Posted
09/11/2013 at
14:32:18
Top 10 good enough? League Cup good enough ?
FA Cup dreaming? Top 4 dreaming? 3 points today dreaming?
Beating Reds next ......in YOUR dreams Ray??
Posted
09/11/2013 at
17:12:43
Keith, not dreaming, but I've just had a nightmare.
Posted
09/11/2013 at
17:16:06
We'll get torn a new one in a forthnight!
Posted
09/11/2013 at
17:33:13
Ray my dreaming is over! It's back to nursery rhymes " once upon a time there was a great team Everton ..and then the big bad......" So it's back to the reality of nightmares for me too.
About these ads
© ToffeeWeb
1 Posted 09/11/2013 at 02:02:04