James McCarthy came in for serious criticism from Eamon Dunphy and 2FM's 'Game On' on Monday evening. The midfielder was a peripheral figure during Ireland's draw with Poland.
The RTÉ analyst described the Everton man as "a terrible flop" and in particular found fault with what he perceives to be the 24-year-old's inability to play penetrating passes.
McCarthy is really turning out to be a terrible flop. He doesn't do anything. He could be a holding player perhaps doing what Whelan is supposed to be doing. Because for Everton occasionally - I don't agree with you that he's a different player for Everton, he isn't, he's just got better players around him. But he still doesn't really move the ball forwards. He never really changes the tempo of the game, this is the key. Wes Hoolahan changes the tempo of the game. He ups it, he passes the ball and then he goes for the next ball. He gets it again, he passes it again and he'll go for the next ball if he can. He's slipping little dangerous passes in and creating danger, you never see McCarthy doing that.
He also said that McCarthy is a player living on hype and stated that Stephen Quinn should have started against Poland.
Now he is wojusly overrated. Jamie Carragher said last week that if there was one player he could take for Liverpool it would be McCarthy. He said the only thing that was missing from his game was goals, that's nonsense. Jamie Carragher was a great player but he also thought Brazil would win the World Cup last year right until they were beaten 7-0 by Germany.
The point about McCarthy is interesting. He's a hyped player. He's a player that everyone thinks is far far better than he is. We haven't got time to waste with Whelan and McCarthy. We have Stephen Quinn who's a very very good player, good young busy player looking for the game, looking to do things and he should have started last night.
He went on to once again reiterate that McCarthy is "no good" though could play a part as a holding midfielder in Martin O'Neil's side.
Picture credit: Ramsey Cardy / SPORTSFILE
